Episode 96
Chapter 32: The Battlefield of Cosmos (7)
The next day’s match involving Jin was no different from Dante’s.
It took only seven seconds for Jin to cut down his opponent, who had been grandly introduced as Helia’s Demon King or something of the sort.
Once again, the crowd fell silent, as if doused with cold water, and the scene of Veradin leading the cheers was replayed exactly as before.
“So, the favorites to win this year’s tournament are those two, huh?”
“That kid Jin Gray is impressive, but I doubt he can beat the Rune Kandel apprentice… Who are you betting on? Jin Gray? Or Paul Mick?”
“I’m still putting my money on Paul Mick. The day before yesterday, I watched his match and immediately wired all my cash back home. You should bet on Paul Mick too. Rune Kandel, after all. Who else could possibly beat Rune Kandel with a sword?”
“Hmm, that’s true…”
Though Jin had shown incredible skill, the noble spectators had already accepted Dante as the Rune Kandel apprentice. It was no longer just a rumor. So while most bets poured onto Dante, few chose Jin.
As a result, the other participants naturally became mere side acts. Even the veterans who had dominated last year’s tournament were pushed to the sidelines.
“Damn it, with those kids around, making money this year’s gonna be tough.”
Most of the participants entered the tournament simply for the thrill of killing, but the veterans who had had their fill were after the money.
More than the grand prize of a thousand gold coins, what mattered most was the payout from the gambling organized by the hosts.
“Maybe we should just gather the kids before the finals and bury them all at once? If the veterans band together, we can handle it easily.”
Since the bigger the bet on a player, the higher the payout, the veterans saw Jin and Dante as nothing but thorns in their side.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Didn’t you see how the one-eyed pirate crew got wiped out? This tournament is their stage now. If you want to keep your life, you’d better back off.”
“Damn…”
With even the veterans feeling this way, the other participants had no choice but to come to an agreement among themselves.
“Let’s just keep it easy on each other until the finals start. That way, we can all keep making a living here next year. And keep enjoying the taste of picking off the minnows.”
The veterans chose to fix the matches.
Once the games began, they would avoid killing each other, splitting wins and losses to share the bets.
And the announcer was relaying all this information to Cosmos.
“So, they’ve conspired to throw the matches and just split the bets…”
“What should we do? If the matches become dull, it could hurt next year’s turnout.”
Hmm.
Cosmos rubbed his gold tooth with his index finger and shook his head.
“Revise the entire finals bracket. Make sure Paul Mick and Jin Gray meet in the final match. No ambiguous encounters in the round of sixteen or earlier.”
“Is that safe?”
“The most important thing in a show is to give the audience what they want. This time, they want that more than a brutal spectacle. But block any big bets on the final match, and raise the odds for the others significantly.”
“Then who should face Jin Gray and Paul Mick in the finals?”
“Put them up against the one-eyed pirate crew. But don’t kill the other veterans. We’ll need them next year.”
“If One-Eyed Joe hears this, he’ll be furious.”
Cosmos chuckled.
“You idiot! If Paul Mick is the real Rune Kandel, do you think those guys will still be breathing after the tournament? The moment they mess with Paul Mick, the one-eyed pirates are finished. So don’t worry about it.”
“True enough.”
The finals proceeded smoothly.
Of course, since the matches were fixed, there were hardly any of the intense, brutal fights like last year.
The veterans would break a few bones here and there and wrap up the matches half-heartedly, drawing boos from the crowd each time.
Everyone could tell it was all rigged.
Yet no one left the stands. They endured the dull matches because they knew the final showdown between Jin and Dante was coming.
Whenever Jin or Dante faced the one-eyed pirates in the finals, the crowd erupted.
“Yeah! Paul Mick! Paul Mick!”
Even without any flashy moves or gruesome scenes, the cheers were loud.
Most of their matches ended in one or two moves—from the round of 64 all the way to the semifinals. Every match Jin and Dante fought was like that.
And finally, the long-awaited final.
“Today’s the day those two face off.”
The entire audience waited eagerly for their appearance, especially Veradin, who had spent the night restless, unable to sleep, and now sat in the stands with a pounding heart.
“Who do you think will win? Between the two of them?”
Veradin asked the knights he had brought as guards.
“Paul Mick.”
“I’ve been watching the matches too, and I think Paul Mick’s swordsmanship is superior.”
“Hmm, really?”
“And you, my lord? Who did you bet on?”
“I… bet on Jin. About 100,000 gold coins.”
“Excuse me?”
“100,000.”
“That’s a lot. If Jin Gray wins, do you think Cosmos can cover the payout? The odds are triple. I doubt a mere pirate has that kind of money.”
“No, they’re a surprisingly big pirate crew. They could pay out around 300,000 gold coins if they sell a few of their islands. Oh, looks like it’s starting!”
Cosmos strode to the center of the arena.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting! I’m your pirate king, Cosmos, and before the final match begins, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your support!”
He bowed deeply to the crowd.
“Wooooah!”
Many cheered, but just as many shouted insults.
“Get lost and bring out the kids already!”
“Yeah! Hurry up with the final, you pirate bastard!”
Cosmos couldn’t help but feel a bit bitter. Usually, by the time the finals rolled around, the crowd would be roaring with approval for the thrilling show he’d put on.
‘Damn nobles. They used to rave about how no show could match the tournament… Next year, I’m raising the ticket prices, that’s for sure!’
Hiding his displeasure, Cosmos stood up.
“Alright, alright! I know you’re all eager to see Paul Mick and Jin Gray’s match… Let’s all shout together! Pooooool—”
“Mick!”
“Mick! Paul Mick!”
Dante was far more popular than Jin. Now that he was rumored to be the Rune Kandel apprentice, it was inevitable.
When Dante stepped into the arena, some fans nearly went wild with screams.
“And his opponent! The unknown young swordsman, Jin Gray!”
When Jin entered, the cheers dropped noticeably. Instead, many clasped their hands in prayer. They were all gambling addicts who had bet everything they had on the ‘triple’ odds.
Even without the rumor about Dante being the Rune Kandel apprentice, people naturally expected Dante to win. He had demonstrated mastery over the ‘sword aura’ in every match, while Jin had not.
That’s why those who bet on Jin were praying.
“Jin Gray! Let’s go!”
Suddenly, Veradin jumped to his feet, eyes blazing, shouting.
“Let’s gooo!”
Other spectators who had bet on Jin followed suit, yelling loudly.
‘Where exactly do they think they’re going, these lunatics?’
Of course, Jin didn’t even glance their way and calmly left the waiting room.
But he felt a quiet pressure—not because of the gamblers who had staked their lives on his victory, but because he wondered if he could really beat Dante.
Jin Rune Kandel and Dante Hiran.
The two faced each other with calm expressions. Unlike previous matches, they deliberately kept about thirty paces between them.
One step closer, and it would be an attack opportunity for either side. Just standing there, a tense atmosphere crackled between them.
As the crowd gradually fell silent, Cosmos spoke again.
“Well, I never imagined I’d see such a scene in my tournament. It feels like watching a prestigious family’s martial arts contest… Now, let the final match begin!”
The pirates sounded their horns, and Cosmos left the arena as Jin and Dante slowly drew their swords.
At the same moment, their blades glowed with a radiant aura.
‘There’s absolutely no opening…’
Jin couldn’t launch an attack as he usually would.
He could tell without even clashing swords that Dante was a step ahead of him.
It was something he’d sensed from the moment he first saw Dante.
But Dante wasn’t rushing in either—not because he thought Jin’s swordsmanship was superior.
‘There’s something off about him. A strange unease I can’t explain.’
Since coming so close to the seventh star…
It was the first time Dante had felt this way while facing an opponent below six stars.
So he found himself torn. Should he go all out and finish it quickly, or should he start with a probing skirmish and then gradually tighten the pressure until the end?
Defeat was never part of his consideration. Dante didn’t believe he could lose to Jin.
“This uneasy feeling must come from the vague suspicion that you’ve prepared something to face me. In that case, it’s better to apply steady pressure and finish this slowly.”
With the mindset of cautiously testing the waters, Dante made his decision and stepped forward—not rushing to close the distance in a swift strike.
At that moment, Jin smiled quietly to himself.
“So you’ve decided to handle me carefully for now. That means the chance I just gained to beat you has gone up by about ten percent.”
Jin already had a plan in place—one that could secure his victory over Dante.
And like Dante, Jin never once considered the possibility of defeat.