[96] Are You Scared Now?

"Can't I fight?"

Eiji rubbed his chin and asked in return.

"This arena shouldn't have a rule that forbids ordinary people from challenging adventurers, right?"

Of course, there was no such rule.

Moreover, since he had already signed the contract, even if he died in the ring, it would be his own fault, and the arena wouldn't be held accountable. There was no need to worry about being questioned afterwards.

Shakti didn't speak.

However, her eyes sharpened, and her expression gradually faded as she stared intently at Eiji.

The aura around her, which had been restrained, quickly surged, pressing toward him from the front.

In that instant, it felt as if a heavy pressure was bearing down on him, as though the blue-haired beauty before him was about to strike with lightning speed in front of the crowd, making one's heart tremble and their courage waver.

But the young man opposite her remained completely unfazed by the aura she deliberately directed at him. His calm demeanour could even be described as indifferent.

"...Although I'd like to say, for the sake of your life, I should forbid you from participating, you don't seem like a complete novice."

Shakti's sky-blue eyes relaxed slightly, and the aura around her gradually receded.

"Do as you wish."

The fact that he remained unmoved by the aura she released piqued Shakti's interest in this young man.

In this labyrinth city, anyone who made a living exploring the dungeon could be called an adventurer.

Although Lv.1 adventurers were, at best, considered lower-tier adventurers—essentially the weakest among them—they still made up more than half of the adventurers in Orario. They were beings who had received the blessings of the gods and embarked on the path of growth.

There was a significant gap in strength between ordinary people and adventurers. While it wasn't an insurmountable chasm, it was still a considerable divide, akin to the difference between an amateur and a professional.

Before this, almost no one would challenge an adventurer as an ordinary person. Such an act was far too unwise and not something a typical adventurer would attempt, as it could easily lead to severe injury or death.

But this young man was likely no ordinary individual.

Shakti decided to give him a chance to see how far he could go.

"Here's your number plate. Go wait in the preparation room."

After Eiji filled out the registration form and signed the contract on the parchment, the blue-haired beauty handed him a wooden number plate and turned to leave.

"You're Shakti, right? You're a good person."

Eiji suddenly spoke up.

After saying that, he walked into the preparation room without looking back.

The blue-haired beauty, Shakti, turned her head to look at the young man's retreating figure, a slight look of surprise on her face.

He must have sensed her intentions. She hadn't expected him to be so perceptive, and it stirred a faint flutter in her heart, which had remained single for over thirty years.

The key was, this guy was really handsome.

"I'll need to keep a close eye on the ring later to avoid any accidents..."

The next match was about to begin, and Shakti returned to a hidden spot below the ring.

After she left.

"Hey, give me a registration form!"

A burly, menacing-looking adventurer with a fierce expression walked up to the registration desk and snatched a form from the staff.

He filled in his name and a bold "Lv.1" on the form, signed the contract, and then walked into the preparation room with a menacing glare.

"Was that guy really Lv.1?"

The staff member, intimidated by his aura, didn't dare to speak until after he left. Watching his retreating figure, the staff member couldn't help but feel a strong sense of doubt.

The staff at the guild often interacted with adventurers, and they could somewhat tell the difference between upper-tier and lower-tier adventurers.

In Orario, only those who reached Lv.2 could be considered upper-tier adventurers.

***

In the preparation room.

When Eiji entered, there were three challengers left: two humans and one dwarf.

The three of them were either gripping their pants tightly, shaking their legs, or pacing back and forth, clearly unable to hide their nervousness. They were all restless, and even when they saw Eiji walk in, they had no interest in talking to him.

All three of their gazes were focused on the same spot.

Following their line of sight, Eiji saw a crystal-clear window that offered a perfect view of the ring.

At that moment, a new match had begun, and the dwarf, Hawks, was facing his sixth challenger.

Half a minute later, the match on the ring ended.

The process was uneventful, with the dwarf warrior securing yet another overwhelming victory.

The announcer declared a ten-minute break, after which the next match would begin.

In the preparation room, after witnessing the dwarf warrior's effortless six consecutive wins, the three challengers' expressions grew even more tense, especially the middle-aged man among the two humans.

His number plate was the smallest among them, meaning he was up next.

"By the way, are you scared now?"

Eiji leaned over and asked with curiosity.

"...A little."

Startled by Eiji's question, the middle-aged man glanced at him nervously, trying to maintain his composure.

"Actually, I'm pretty scared too. After all, I'm the only son in my family, and I have two elderly parents in their eighties. If I die here, I really don't know how they'll survive the rest of their lives!"

Eiji sighed, his face filled with concern for his non-existent elderly parents.

"I... I just remembered, I need to fertilize the fields at home...!"

The middle-aged man's face quickly turned pale, and he suddenly stood up, ignoring the staff member guarding the door, and dashed out of the arena.

After he left, the young man in his early twenties, who was next in line, suddenly looked panicked.

According to the number plates, he was next after the middle-aged man.

"Are you nervous now?"

Eiji shifted over and sat next to the young man, offering him some comfort.

"There's no need to be nervous. Look at that dwarf's muscular arms. One swing of his axe might chop you into pieces, splattering your blood like tomato juice. But if you just offer your head for him to chop, the pain will only last a moment. Although your brains might splatter, and it won't be a pretty death..."

"I-I-I-I-I just remembered, I need to open my shop! I have to go back!"

The young man imagined the scene and turned as pale as a sheet. After stuttering for a while, he lifted his trembling legs and quickly left the preparation room.

With the two humans gone, the most nervous person in the room became the dwarf sitting in the corner.

He was only about waist-high to Eiji, with thin arms and legs that looked like they wouldn't withstand a single swing of the dwarf's axe. Thinking about the scene Eiji had described, beads of cold sweat began to form on his forehead.

Then, he saw Eiji approaching him with a warm smile.

"...I'm still a virgin! I need to revive my family! I can't die here!"

His expression changed several times before he finally gritted his teeth, put on a look of determination, and followed the young man out of the room, disappearing without a trace.

"I didn't even say anything."

Eiji chuckled.

If their mental fortitude was this weak, why even come to fight in the ring?

Hmm, now that I think about it, I just indirectly saved three lives. That's quite a virtuous deed!

The door to the preparation room opened.

A staff member walked in, looking around in confusion before his gaze settled on Eiji.

"What happened here?"

"Nothing happened!"

Eiji looked puzzled.

He was a very polite person. What could possibly have happened?

The staff member, still confused, left the preparation room.

***

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