Episode 9: Gotta Eat to Live (3)

The match was about to begin.

An overwhelmingly biased cheer was directed toward Icas.

Inside this arena, no one cheered for Zed.

Except for one person, Liu.

'God of War, Goddess of Fortune, God of Miracles, Mother of Life. Please, just let him come back alive…!'

She couldn't bring herself to open her eyes.

How could she bear to watch her lifeline being torn to shreds?

As Zed and Icas faced each other in the center of the ring, the audience's roar grew louder. Liu covered her ears and bowed her head deeply.

'What is this…?'

Icas, who had been so confident, hesitated.

The look in Zed's eyes, which he briefly met, was a bit strange.

'He's only fifteen, but how can he have such…'

It wasn't just his eyes that were strange.

Even the aura he exuded was subtly imposing.

Even in this small arena, Icas was a fighter who had defeated countless challengers.

As in any field, reaching the top requires effort and experience.

'Am I mistaken?'

No. The more he observed, the clearer it became that this was different from any challenger he had faced before.

His eyes were cold and firm, and even his breathing was steady.

It's common sense that a person facing a fight has rough breathing due to nervousness.

This kid wasn't even nervous.

'What stance is that? I've never seen it before…?'

Even his stance was unique.

His left and right hands, raised near his face, seemed to be in the optimal position to defend vital areas such as the chin, solar plexus, and sides.

And what about his feet, positioned shoulder-width apart, one in front of the other? They looked threatening and stable, as if a kick could come out at any moment.

It was a stance called 'guard' in modern martial arts, and it was unfamiliar in this world where the concept of fighting techniques didn't even exist.

'Shit…! Where should I attack? What is this?'

It looked like defense and counterattack would be possible no matter where he was struck.

He was momentarily taken aback, but he shook his head and regained his composure.

'A good stance doesn't guarantee victory. After all, I have the advantage in strength and speed!'

Don't be intimidated.

There's no way I can lose to this beggar!

Just as he was thinking that and swinging his fist...

"Guh?!"

Instantly, his head snapped back.

It happened before he could even figure out what he had been hit with. Zed hadn't even used half of half his full power, but Icas's nose was broken, and blood was flowing down.

'What, what?! What was that just now?!'

The audience was just as surprised.

It was as if ice water had been poured on the lava-like atmosphere.

It was then that Zed, who had been silent, spoke.

"You don't pull your fist back behind your shoulder."

"What…?"

"I can dodge a fist that slow even with my eyes closed."

"D, don't be ridiculous! You just got lucky!"

Icas desperately denied it and swung his arm again.

Of course, the result was the same. Except this time, two of his front teeth flew out from the jab he was hit with.

"Guh…!"

"A fist from a guard position, to the opponent's face."

"Ugh!"

"Lightly and concisely, in the fastest straight line."

"Keuh…!"

It felt like stars were spinning above his head.

Icas, who was being mindlessly beaten, instinctively tried his specialty, a kick.

But it never reached Zed.

He stepped back slightly and then quickly closed the distance, throwing another jab.

It was so fast that he couldn't even see how he did it.

"C, crazy!"

"What is that guy? Is Icas taking it easy on him?"

"What! If you have eyes, look properly! That beggar is overwhelming him!"

At the audience's reaction, Liu slowly opened her eyes.

Through the slits of her eyes, she saw Zed overwhelming an opponent several times his size.

'He's really winning…? Zed is beating Icas?'

At most, he was a boy of the same age as her.

Being young meant being inferior in experience and physique.

Nevertheless, Zed didn't care and was dominating the match.

The reason weight classes exist in modern martial arts is that the difference in weight is seen as a significant penalty.

Even in the same weight class, having longer arms or being taller is an advantage. It's only natural since they're fighting barehanded.

But Kim Jin-ho had never focused on 'disadvantage'. He knew that overcoming it was more important.

If the opponent's arms are long, quickly close the distance, and if they are tall, attack the body and lower body more.

That was the mindset of a winner and the proper attitude of a champion.

"Damn it! Just get hit!"

Icas vented his frustration at his opponent, who seemed so close yet so far. Zed repeated the process of only keeping the minimum distance to avoid attacks and then rushing in again.

That few centimeters determined the timing of effective hits, and it felt incredibly fast to the opponent. "Keuh!"

Every time his fist cut through the air, Zed's jab would fly in without fail.

A jab thrown very lightly, without even clenching his fist.

-Thud!

Like clothes getting wet in a drizzle, Icas's face was a mess, and the man who had been believed to be the strongest in this arena eventually fell backward.

The result of only using his left jab to fight.

It was a hollow yet overwhelming match.

"Hey, referee. Should I try fighting without rules too?"

"O, okay...."

Zed's cold eyes turned to the referee.

Icas was already unconscious, and if they didn't end it here, he might become incapacitated by a barrage of ground and pound attacks.

The frozen referee made eye contact with someone in the audience and then immediately waved both arms widely. It was a signal to end the match.

Zed narrowed his brow at the place the announcer and referee had been looking.

"R, really amazing! You beat Icas!"

As soon as he came down from the ring, Liu ran up and made a fuss.

Honestly, it was too anticlimactic for him. His body needed to warm up properly to feel refreshed, but this was like getting knocked out before even warming up.

'Should I have held back more?'

He had only fainted, there were no major injuries.

If he recovered well, he could continue to make a living as an arena fighter.

Thinking that he should hold back more next time, he went to the betting office with Liu.

Without saying much, the betting office employee handed over a few gold coins with trembling hands.

But the amount was less than he expected.

"What was the payout ratio?"

"62 times…."

"Then why is this all I'm getting? Are you scamming me because I'm young? Do you think I can't even do simple calculations?"

When he glared fiercely, the employee looked aggrieved. Liu had a look on her face like she needed to take a dump.

Ah.... This kid, could it be.

"How much did you bet?"

"Ahaha…. Well, you see...."

"I told you to bet it all."

"I hate gambling. And who would have known you would win…."

"So, because you didn't listen to me, you lost dozens of gold coins?"

"Even so, going all in is a bit much…. I had to save some money for dinner...."

He could have received at least twenty more gold coins.

With that money, he could have eaten Bertisan beef.

He was a little annoyed, but when he saw Liu looking dejected, he quickly let it go. Well, this kid had gotten the money by pickpocketing, so he had no right to say anything.

When he thought about it, it was Liu's money, not his.

"Well, what can we do since it's already happened. Let's go get dinner."

"R, really?! Then you won't be mad? Even though I lost dozens of gold coins?"

"To be exact, you didn't lose it. And I'm not greedy for money. I'm doing this because I have to eat to live."

Relieved, Liu stuck close to his side. Still, it was enough money to taste beef.

For a beggar, this was a success.

"Let's go."

"Yeah!"

The atmosphere in the arena was a mess because of Icas's defeat.

There was a guy crying about losing everything he had bet, a guy cursing the unconscious fighter, and a guy going to the betting office to protest.

"…?"

He was trying to get out of the noisy place when a middle-aged woman blocked the entrance.

She was wearing a thin dress that showed off her figure, and the strong perfume made his head spin.

"…Who are you?"

"Hehe. Hello."

"Why are you blocking the way?"

"You don't know me, so it seems like this is your first time here. I'm Herna, the manager of this arena. Can we talk for a moment-"

"I'm not buying anything."

"…Excuse me?"

"I don't care if you're Herna or Corona, so move."

The woman's face instantly turned to embarrassment.

Whether she did or not, he was about to leave with Liu when the bouncers behind the woman blocked the way.

He was starving to death, and they were being so annoying.

"Do you guys want to end up like that too? Should I let you sleep soundly for a few days?"

"...."

Despite his warning, the bouncers didn't budge.

Whether they trusted their numbers or were loyal to the woman.

"Let them through."

At the woman's words, the path opened as if the Red Sea had parted.

So, they were very loyal.

He was about to leave when he heard the woman's voice from behind.

"Come and see me anytime. I like strong people very, very much."

"Sorry. You're not my type."

"Hehehe. We'll meet again soon. Then we'll have a more comfortable conversation."

Conversation my ass.

He quickened his pace, feeling unpleasant for some reason. He felt chills down his spine looking at her sticky gaze.

"Zed…. You shouldn't be disliked by that woman."

As soon as they came outside, Liu cautiously opened his mouth. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and continued as if urging him.

"Herna is the manager of the arena, but she's also a hidden power in this city. You're bound to run into her if you're here. It's better to be on good terms with her, right?"

"You should have told me that information sooner. She looked like a money-loving old fox to me."

"That's her nickname. Old Fox. She's said to be in her forties, but she looks much older."

"Forty-nine is still in her forties."

Actually, he had roughly figured out Herna.

The person who was signaling to the announcer and referee was that woman.

In other words, she was Icas's backer.

'She must have a great nose for money.'

The arena had made a lot of money unintentionally.

Because the betting was so heavy that it paid out 62 times, but Liu was the only one who won.

Moreover, the money paid to Liu was only five gold coins.

'She's probably trying to use me.'

It was the same when he first entered the world of martial arts. As soon as he showed promise, he received calls from various managements.

Most of them were trying to use his talent as a means of making money, and he was scammed a few times.

Back then, he was just a naive boy from the countryside with big dreams.

'I was lucky to meet my current management.'

It was the current management that made him a champion.

Of course, the individual skills of the athletes are the most important, but the role of the management cannot be ignored.

'If she approaches me again, I'll have to think about how to use her in reverse.'

Being a power in the city would be quite useful. Especially for a beggar and an escapee.

He was not just a gullible country bumpkin being used. He was a champion who had risen to the top after going through thick and thin.

An old fox, huh?

He would see who was more cunning.

"We're here, Zed."

He was thinking about the past and arrived at the restaurant.

It was the restaurant that served Bertisan beef.

As he and Liu lined up, the doorman approached with a distorted face as if he had been waiting.

"Get out. This isn't a place for beggars like you."

"Why? Are you afraid we'll skip out on the bill?"

"Little punk, you're being disrespectful? Do you want to die?"

Clang!

He shook the old pouch at the doorman.

Inside were five gold coins and dozens of silver coins.

The guy checked it, scoffed, and shook his head up and down.

"Well, it's enough for one person."

"I know. I'm only going to eat that much, so just go away."

"Pfft! Okay, okay. You have money, so I won't kick you out. But what are you going to do with that?"

"I'm not going to put it on your nose, so don't expect anything."

"Tsk! These days, beggars have no manners!"

The doorman spat out curses and passed by. Would the treatment be a little different if he changed his clothes?

But if he bought clothes, he wouldn't have enough money to eat even one serving.

"Haa. I'm going to get dizzy waiting. I'm drooling just imagining it."

The line wasn't getting any shorter.

There were many more people waiting inside than he had seen outside.

The inside of the restaurant was filled with smoke and so many customers that it was deafening, and he found the scene a little strange.

Bertisan beef was quite a rare dish, but how could they serve so many customers?

"Hmm."

Most of Bertisan beef is consumed by wealthy nobles. And they eat in their palace-like houses, not in restaurants.

What kind of people are the nobles in this world that they would eat in the same space as someone they don't even know?

Moreover, the warden had said that it took a week to get Bertisan beef.

Logically, it doesn't make sense to take a week to get something you can buy in the city next door.

"Don't you think it's a little strange?"

"What's strange about it? It's our turn, let's go in!"

Liu walked as if running, looking excited. He was still uneasy, but he followed anyway. Well, he would find out if he checked it out.

"Two servings for one person here!"

Liu sat down in an empty seat and cheerfully raised his voice.

A moment later, a row of beef was placed on the table.

This was not the beef raised by natural grazing in the Berti plains in the southern part of the Empire.