Chapter 276

“Ughhh!”

Berric planted one leg firmly on his opponent’s fully sprawled-out stomach and let out a triumphant roar. He winked playfully at the spectators, basking in his victory, then turned his head toward the second floor where Ian was. Romandro and Jin had already risen, applauding enthusiastically.

“Berric! Well done, kid!”

“Good job, Berric.”

Ian, meanwhile, seemed busy exchanging documents with a mage. Still, Berric flashed a bright smile and winked at them too—look here, I won! Romandro laughed heartily and waved his hand, signaling him to stop with the antics.

Creak.

Descending from the arena, Xiao Xi handed Berric a towel and a water bottle. Berric was drenched in sweat but unscathed, while Xiao Xi’s entire body was covered in wounds—there was no way he could have won.

No, at that level, even if he had won, it would feel like a loss, right? Berric gulped down the water and asked,

“Xiao, you okay? I saw you getting hit over and over earlier. What’s going on? If you get hurt, how are you gonna fight the next match?”

Xiao Xi had strictly adhered to the rule of minimum strikes. Even if it meant enduring a lot for that moment, unnecessary attacks were off-limits.

Or rather, it was more accurate to say he simply didn’t want to. Having endured the horrors of violence as a slave, he knew all too well how terrible it was. When Xiao Xi silently offered the towel, Berric shook his head.

“I just don’t get it!”

“……”

“The winner, please come this way and sign the next duel consent form.”

“Ah, okay, okay! Winner Berric, coming through!”

At the official’s call, Berric eagerly ran over and grabbed the pen. When he’d asked Xiao Xi earlier, he was told the form included warnings about injuries.

Berric couldn’t read a word, but he knew the important part: if you drew a picture in the blank space below, you could participate in the next duel. No reason not to! He quickly sketched a cow and his eyes sparkled.

“So, what rank am I now?”

“Just a moment. The evaluation scores haven’t been finalized yet. You were 47th earlier, so I think you’ll break into the top 30 now.”

Regardless of win or loss, the officials watching from the second floor also gave evaluation scores that affected the rankings. Berric called out toward Captain Jarrett.

“Hey, mister! Give me some good points! I’m on a winning streak!”

“Shut up. Points deducted for attitude.”

“Aaah! Are you crazy? Don’t you even know the difference between public and private?”

“I don’t know about public and private, but I know about public and private.”

Jarrett clicked his tongue and jotted down a note: “Lacks common sense; most thoughts revolve around food.” And then…

“Berric, did you read the next duel consent form?”

“No? I can’t read.”

“…We’ll have to add illiteracy to the list.”

“Wait, is that a deduction? It’s fine if I can’t read!”

“That’s your opinion. The problem with ignorance is not knowing you’re ignorant. And Berric, think about it. Your opponent knows you, but if you don’t know your opponent, wouldn’t that make the fight really tough?”

“No? I just have to win, that’s all.”

“…Add lack of comprehension, too.”

“Got it! Got it!”

As Berric jumped up and down in protest, the official’s voice came from behind.

“Berric, please return to the arena you just left. The duel will begin immediately.”

“Captain Jarrett! Watch this! I’ll show you that not being able to read isn’t a problem! Then take back all those deductions!”

Clack, clack!

Berric bounded up the stairs two at a time. Now that he was properly warmed up, he was ready to crush his opponent! He turned his head sharply, sensing the shift in the crowd.

Who is it? That one? Or that guy? Ugh, who is it?

Creak.

The door closed behind him. Turning around, Berric saw Xiao Xi standing there. He tilted his head in confusion, then blinked.

“Xiao?”

“……”

“Who the hell made this match-up?!”

Berric shouted, looking up at Jarrett, whose expression was a strange mix of surprise, amusement, awkwardness, and welcome.

“This is seriously messed up.”

“……”

“But I’m pissed.”

Thwack.

Berric raised his fist into a fighting stance. He’d been pestering Xiao Xi to spar with him for a while now. Though he was happy for the chance, the thought that one of them had to lose annoyed him.

“Xiao, you know me, right?”

I won’t go easy on you, so give it your all. A strange light flickered in his red eyes, like flames igniting. Xiao Xi mirrored his stance and glanced up at the second floor.

‘Is this the master’s will?’

No. That couldn’t be. For the master, it was beneficial for both Berric and Xiao Xi to rise in the ranks. So this must be someone else’s intention…

‘Maybe to eliminate one of us early, or to cause injuries and drain stamina through this process. Berric seems to think it’s Captain Jarrett’s plan. Could be true. If he’s the captain, this might be another test—specifically, to evaluate Berric more closely…’

Wheeee!

The horn signaling the duel blared sharply.

At once, Berric charged forward.

Xiao Xi reflexively stepped back, dodging the punch.

“Xiao! One-hit moves don’t work on me! So—”

The wind whooshed past his ear. Was that really a human punch? Xiao Xi agreed with Berric’s words. Unlike the others, he couldn’t afford to take a hit while aiming for a knockout. One solid blow could be fatal.

Xiao Xi circled the arena, focusing on evading Berric’s attacks.

‘If only one of us can advance…’

Ian was watching them, having stopped reading the documents.

Xiao Xi clenched his teeth. If only one could move on, it should be Berric. Just by being a magic swordsman, he was valuable. Meanwhile, Xiao Xi was a worthless former slave.

‘Should I forfeit to avoid injuries? What would Captain Jarrett think? Berric could make up points in other duels—’

“Xiao! Focus!”

“…Ah.”

Berric snapped at him with an irritated glare. Even though their attacks hadn’t connected, he could tell Xiao Xi’s mind was elsewhere.

“I’m going to be number one! Then I’ll kill Captain Jarrett! And eat tons and tons of meat!”

Everyone gasped at the threat to the captain and looked at Jarrett. But he remained unfazed, scribbling notes.

Berric leapt forward, closing the distance to Xiao Xi.

“And Ian—”

“…!”

Smack!

Bang!

Before Xiao Xi could process the words, Berric’s attack landed squarely on his face, sending him tumbling backward.

Romandro shielded Jin’s view, and Jin winced, eyes squeezed shut. It was hard to watch family members hitting each other like this. Berric, the one fighting, seemed unfazed.

Swoosh.

Jarrett scribbled on his clipboard with a blank expression. Berric’s identity as a descendant of the Atan tribe was clear—his ferocity bordered on madness, with a blatant disregard for life and raw, unrefined morals.

Such traits were unacceptable within the imperial palace. Ian had been tolerating it, but if Berric joined the palace guard, it wouldn’t be allowed.

Jarrett fixed a sharp gaze on Berric.

‘The palace guard serves the emperor closely. The Atan tribe’s nature is too dangerous to keep nearby. Berric, if you don’t show a different side, there will be trouble.’

Smack! Thwack!

Xiao Xi lived with Ian and the others. From a human perspective, the question was whether he showed potential.

‘Ah, damn it.’

Berric felt Jarrett’s gaze burning into the back of his head. Though he misread the intention.

‘Looks like he’s testing if I’d even hit a friend. Damn, damn, damn…’

Smack! Smack!

Berric punched harder. Xiao Xi’s blood welled up slowly, but Berric’s strength seemed to be fading. This was boring. Strange. Something was off…

“This sucks.”

Realizing this, his competitive spirit deflated. Berric turned irritably toward Jarrett.

“Damn you!”

“…What?”

“This is disgusting. Don’t live your life like this!”

He even flipped him the middle finger, making sure Jarrett knew exactly how he felt.

Jarrett raised an eyebrow and urged him to keep writing.

“What’s so bad about it? You’re winning.”

“I don’t care! I don’t care! You dirty old man. I’ve called you ‘mister’ all this time, but you’re not even that anymore!”

Jarrett kept noting down personality flaws, disrespect, and rude behavior. But—

“How much more are you going to beat Xiao? You crazy bastard! Stop it, end it now!”

Berric’s shout made Jarrett pause. After a moment’s thought, he crossed out the note about the Atan tribe’s ‘raw morality.’ Berric kept demanding the bell be rung, but Jarrett refused.

“Who says it’s over? Your opponent hasn’t forfeited or passed out.”

“What kind of nonsense is that…”

Frowning, Berric looked back. Xiao Xi, covered in blood, was coughing but getting back up.

Rustle.

Jarrett flipped through papers and pulled out Xiao Xi’s evaluation. His skills were decent, and he didn’t show problematic aggression.

Would a soldier who gave everything for minimal attacks really be of use to the palace?

“Well, if he’s willing to give everything, he’d definitely make a suitable bodyguard. Sir Ian does have a good eye for people. And he knows how to put them to use at the right time.”

Xiao Xi wiped the blood trickling down and looked up at Ian, as if silently asking what to do next. But Ian offered no answer—only encouragement.

“Xiao, do as you wish.”

“…”

Passing out was an option. Fighting was an option too. He was no longer a slave; he had to decide for himself. Spitting out the blood that had burst in his mouth, Xiao Xi muttered under his breath.

“…Berrick.”

“Why?”

You’re fighting because of ‘Ian.’

I’m fighting because of ‘Ian.’ More precisely, I’m fighting to show Ian that I’m living well, free.

As Xiao Xi took a fighting stance, Berrick scratched his head in frustration. He was already in bad shape—did Xiao want him to keep beating him up?

Thwack!

But what could he do? He couldn’t just let an opponent who wouldn’t break go unchallenged. As Berrick charged, Xiao Xi focused all his senses, tracking his moves.

One strike.

There was no second chance—only this one moment to win.

“Ah, seriously!”

“…”

As Berrick closed in, throwing a punch, Xiao Xi dodged once more. This time, he didn’t step back. Instead, he slipped through the opening and moved close beneath Berrick’s body.

Smack!

Crack!

Their fists landed—one on the jaw, the other on the ribs—with a thunderous impact that echoed far and wide. The spectators winced as if they themselves had been hit, slowly parting their lips in disbelief.

The sound of those blows was fierce, almost awe-inspiring. That kind of noise only comes when attacks land perfectly, without a hint of error.

Boom!

Screech!

The whistle blew, signaling the end of the sparring match. Romandro gripped Jin’s arm tightly, letting out a frustrated groan, while Jin clicked his tongue.

“Oh dear.”

“Who won? Both are unconscious.”

“Berrick must have won. Even if they both passed out, he had scored points with his earlier attacks. It’s a decision by judgment.”

Swish.

Ian closed the folder and stood, approaching Captain Jarrett. Jarrett had been diligently scoring until the very end of the match.

“Captain Jarrett.”

“Yes, Minister.”

“Are you satisfied with the results? Did it turn out as you hoped?”

“…Not quite. But there are some gains.”

He pursed his lips as he spoke, and Ian smiled faintly. If he’d been informed earlier, he could have shown what he wanted without any loss of manpower.

It was a cheeky move, but one he couldn’t overlook.

Ian spoke quietly, almost as a warning.

“Be careful. The talents of the Imperial Palace belong not to you, but to His Majesty the Emperor.”