Chapter 58 - Really? 'The Outlaws'?

After escaping the bedroom, Kaizoku and Sylphy ran left down the dark corridor toward the sound of enthusiastic cheering.

Before they could exit the corridor, iron bars suddenly dropped from above, blocking their only path.

"No! Our way out..."

Kaizoku cried, kicking the iron bars in frustration.

Sylphy heard footsteps coming from a door to their right.

She pulled Kaizoku away from the door and prepared for a fight.

"Why are you pulling me- oh..."

Kaizoku's complaint died as someone emerged.

A short, pot-bellied man stepped out, wearing a gray fedora and neat clothes like Thomas. His white mustache twitched as he brushed off his suit, not yet noticing them.

When he finally looked up, he regarded them with a blank expression.

"What are you doing here? Want to join as fighters?" the pot-bellied man asked.

"Huh?" Kaizoku and Sylphy exchanged confused looks.

Kaizoku whispered to Sylphy, "We don't have a choice. We're demon lord fugitives—we'll never escape safely. Remember, we're in enemy territory."

They both lowered their heads in resignation.

"Well? Your names?" the pot-bellied man prompted.

"Uh... I'm Billy McCarter, and this is... my partner, Mary Maxwell," Kaizoku answered with a forced smile.

Sylphy could only sigh and play along.

"Alright... Individual or group fighters?"

"Uh... Group," Kaizoku replied nervously, worried their disguise would fail.

"Got a group name?"

"Uh... The... Ah! The Outlaws," Kaizoku declared confidently.

"Seriously?" Sylphy whispered, but stayed in character.

"Shhh..." Kaizoku hushed her.

"The Outlaws... Very well. When your group name is announced, the gate will open. You must out and face your opponent. Understood?" the pot-bellied man said while writing their group name on the paper.

They both nodded nervously.

"Good. Just wait for your turn."

The pot-bellied man disappeared down the dark corridor.

"Really? The Outlaws? That's for lawless criminals," Sylphy scowled.

"Come on, it fits! The demon lord and his followers see us as criminals. We're outside their laws. Bandits and bounty hunters would chase us if they knew our real identities. Better play it safe," Kaizoku teased.

"Grrr... Whatever! Let's just survive this fight and escape this horrible place!"

They sat against the wall, waiting to be called to fight against... someone? something? They had no idea what awaited them.

"Right... Why don't we first ask who our opponents are, now I'm starting to get a little worried." said Kaizoku nervously.

Sylphy stood up from her seat to see what was beyond the large iron bars blocking their path now.

Just a round place with very light whitish yellow sand soil. Plus the screaming sounds made Sylphy very curious about what was going on.

"It would be even better if we asked his name and who our opponent was. The man looks very serious, doesn't he?"

Kaizoku lowered his head and answered Sylphy's words, "That's right, his clothes are similar to Thomas's. Do you think that he is Thomas's subordinate too? Who hasn't been told that we are in here?"

"I don't know, Kai. It's too much things to be worried about, but we still need to keep our spirits up..."