Translator: rainbowturtle
Editor: LD & Jyazen
âHow did I pass through so easily?â
Hyeonu thought about it as he entered the city. He pretended to be calm while passing by in front of the guards, but he really needed to know whether it was due to luck. This was so he could determine what he needed to do for when he wanted to go to another city or just leave this city.
What if he just passed due to luck this time, and it didnât work the next time? What would happen then? He would have to fight hundreds or thousands of demons right there on the spot.
âIt isnât the title effect, so what is it?â
Hyeonu opened everything from his item windows, status window, and even his skills window. He couldnât find anything. That was natural since this was pretty much a bug created by coincidence. It wasnât a bug per se. Rather, it was a loophole. This was a gap.
Things done by humans couldnât be completely perfect.
***
Quencyâs planning team was once again filled with the sound of tapping keyboards today, and breaking through that was the sound of footsteps. The owner of the footsteps was a man with a neat appearance. He walked hurriedly with an urgent expression and then stopped behind Park Hyeonjun, who was staring at his monitor with blank eyes.
âTeam Leader-nim, Team Leader-nim!â The man called in a small voice that only Park Hyeonjun could hear. However, Park Hyeonjun didnât even glance at the man. He just kept looking at the monitor.
âTeam Leader-nim...â Choi Seongho, the man with the urgent expression, kept calling out to Park Hyeonjun.
Park Hyeonjun finally raised his head slowly and stared at Choi Seongho.âWhat is... going on? Is there a problem?â
This wasnât the first time that Choi Seongho had visited Park Hyeonjun. Just 10 minutes ago, he called for Park Hyeonjun in the same manner. Right now, he was expressing with his entire body that something was wrong.
âThat... There is a problem. Alley Leader has entered a city in the demon world.â
âWhat? What is this nonsense? Didnât you say he would be killed by the demons? Or he would have to tear up the scroll and go back?â Park Hyeonjunâs sunken eyes widened, and his dying eyes were forcefully revived.
âThat... An unexpected programming error occurred... The combination of the title and Alley Leaderâs stats caused a type of bug. The demon guard mistook him for a noble,â Choi Seongho quickly explained the situation. He gave a clear and neat explanation without missing any details and including any unnecessary words.
âKilling intent, dignity, and fighting energyâis it due to these three stats?â Park Hyeonjun asked. He was the general planning team leader, so he figured out the situation with this short explanation. Then he added, âIt is really ridiculous luck. How did he meet all of these conditions?â
The more Park Hyeonjun thought about it, the more ridiculous it became to him. It was simply absurd that Hyeonuâs stats happened to match the stats of the nobles in the demon world. Still, Park Hyeonjun had to believe it because such a person had indeed appeared.
âI donât understand that well about what has happened, but yes, there is actually a case like this...â Choi Seongho cocked his head puzzledly. He never wouldâve believed it if it wasnât for the video he received from the operations team a little while ago.
To double check, Park Hyeonjun asked Choi Seongho about the setting again: âWhat is the demonsâ setting?â
âIt is a race that takes strength as a virtue, where power is the only justice and belief. This is why we set âfightingâ as âeatingâ,âChoi Seongho explained the background of the demonsâ setting. The demons in Arena were no different from those in other games. They had a setting that could be seen anywhere.
âSo the general stats of demons are set as fighting energy and killing intent. The dark attribute for magic power is also the default setting. Only those with the dignity stat can become a noble, right?â
âThatâs right, Team Leader-nim.â
âMeanwhile, Alley Leader has the killing intent, fighting energy, and dignity stats, and they are all above a certain number. Additionally, his magic power attribute is dark?â
Thinking about the situation again, it just didnât make sense that this had occurred, but Alley Leader actually met all the demanding conditions.
âWe canât do any more patches... Just how far can Alley Leader proceed?â Park Hyeonjun asked in a helpless voice.
âBased on his skill, I think he can win one-on-one with a viscount, but he isnât a match for any noble above an earl. The scenarios related to the demon world will go as planned,â Choi Seongho answered in a voice filled with confidence.
This was the result produced from going through many simulations with accurate data. It was simply impossible for Alley Leader to kill a demon ranked higher than an earl. The demon world scenarios were related to high-ranking nobles above an earl, so they should inevitably progress as planned unless the higher-ranking nobles died.
âThen Iâm glad... Surely it wonât go wrong this time?â
âIt will never happen, Team Leader-nim,â Choi Seonghoâs heroic words were echoed by the planning team.
***
Hyeonu walked around the city leisurely. There was no need for him to rush. Mistakes would occur if he was impatient. This was the demon world where it could be said that enemies were everywhere. Every passing demon was an enemy, so Hyeonu had to act more leisurely at times like this.
âShall we take a tour of the city first?â
Arena was a game after all. It was okay to enjoy it when he could afford to do so. This didnât mean he was just playing around right now though. It was an investment for greater rewards.
âIf I can get something from here... I will get further ahead.â
Feeling at ease, Hyeonu went around the city with Tang-E. There was no one who looked at Tang-E strangely as many of the demons carried around demonic creatures like they were pets. Of course, Tang-E was cute, so they looked at him. However, there was no suspicion of there being anything amiss.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âMaster dude, the food here is better than I expected. It is very much to my taste.â
In addition, there were many things to enjoy on the streets. The food tasted pretty good, and there were performances by demonic creatures, appearing reminiscent of a circus. At this time, Hyeonu saw many demons lined up. âWhatâs over there? Why are they standing in a line?â
He was curious. Why on earth were there so many demons there? âTang-E, shall we go over there?â
âOkay. It must be something interesting for there to be so many people,â Tang-E agreed readily. He was also curious. What exactly was so interesting over there for so many to be gathered?
Hyeonu walked to the crowded place with Tang-E and heard the conversations of the nearby demons.
âWho are you betting on today? Should I place it on the Black Mane again?â
âYou should place it on the red horn, you idiot. Did you forget the other day when you placed it on Black Mane and got robbed?â
âDonât you know that Red Horn isnât coming out today? It was sold to another noble. Was it an earl? There are rumors that it has gone to a bigger Colosseum.â
âReally? Then I should bet on Black Mane. It might be very weak against Red Horn but not the others.â
After listening to the conversation of the demons, Hyeonu realized that the Colosseum was a real colosseum.
âTheyâre betting.â
This was the feeling he got just by listening to the words.
âShould I earn some gold?â
In any case, it was clear that the currency of the demon world would be gold. The demon world was just another field in Arena after all, albeit a hidden one. Once it opened later, it was a place he would be able to go to casually.
âMaster dude, letâs watch the fight. Itâs interesting.âTang-E shook Hyeonuâs leg with an excited expression.
Hyeonu hugged him and nodded.
***
âThank you very much for visiting Ergalâs Colosseum. What type of business have you come here for today?â
Just like at the city gate, Hyeonu was mistaken for a noble in the Colosseum. Hyeonu responded naturally without being panicked, âIâve come to Ergal Colosseum because it is very popular among nobles recently. What is famous here?â
Like an employee of a business in real life, the demon sincerely explained to Hyeonu: âOur Colosseum has a higher level of demonic creatures and demons than other Colosseums. The settlement terms are transparent, so many nobles like using it.â
âWhat else is there? Itâs a bit disappointing if it is just that...â Hyeonu smacked his lips together like he was disappointed.
The demon in front of him was astonished and looked back and forth. âIt isnât just that. There are naturally other things prepared. If the demonic creature in your arms has good combat power... You can also play at the Colosseum. Of course, we will also give you money for the fight. If you win, you will also be paid a winning fee. If your bet is successful, you will be given the dividends.â
They were appealing words. Hyeonu could participate in the Colosseum himself.
âOf course, Iâm not fighting personally.â
It could be a different experience depending on whether it was Hyeonu or Tang-E fighting.
âHow about it? Would you like to try it?â
âOkay. Iâll make money for my meals,â Hyeonu said while gently stroking Tang-Eâs head. Then he asked the demon, âDo I have to decide now? I want to watch a few matches before deciding.â
âOf course, just tell me any time, and Iâll have you ready to participate.â
âThen can you arrange for someone to guide me to my seat? I want to see the inside.â
At Hyeonuâs words, the demon once again looked surprised and took over as Hyeonuâs guide.âI will guide you myself. Come this way.â
Hyeonu followed the demon into the Colosseum, which was no different from the arena. The interior stadium was filled with sand and dirt. The only thing different from the arena was that there were tables and chairs in places that should be empty. In particular, the place that looked like the skybox of a baseball field appealed very much to Hyeonuâs heart.
âI wish I can sit there...â
The demon seemed to notice Hyeonuâs wish and guided him to one of the skyboxes.
âThis is a place prepared for nobles. If you infuse magic power into the bead in front of you, an attendant will come. Just tell the attendant what you want. Iâll be going now...â
Then the demon disappeared quickly like his tail was on fire. After that, Hyeonu immediately took out some food and placed it on the table.
âThe stomach should be full before fighting.â
It was all for Tang-E. Tang-E had to go out to fight in a while, so Hyeonu should at least take care of his food.
âTang-E, eat. Shouldnât you eat a lot before going out to fight?â
Tang-E couldnât hear Hyeonuâs words. He didnât care about fighting anymore. His eyes were on the food in front of him.
âYes, I should eat a lot, Master dude,â Tang-E said with a gulp.
His mouth was already full of saliva. It was flowing like this just at the thought of eating meat. Tang-E picked up a piece of pork and brought it to his mouth. Taking a big bite of it, he smiled happily.
âThe meat is delicious, Master dude.â
âYes, eat a lot.â
There was a subtle smile on Hyeonuâs face.