93 Episode 32. COSMOSE'S CORSE (4)

at a pinch

'Oh, Mr. Shocked. Why are you suddenly coming in?’

I never dreamed that I would hear such rumors as soon as I arrived at the audience. Jean who quietly sits near them and opens her ears wide.

"Runcandel's reserve rider? Haha, man." Why would such a great prospect come to the arena? There's no place like this at the bottom."

"I heard it a couple of days ago when I was drinking with the Cosmos pirates. There's a big boy in the contest, and he must be a backup rider for Looncandel.The more."

"Hmm, yeah? Let's see... A man worthy of a backup jockey in Looncandel now. Daytona, Heitona Looncandel and Jean Looncandel. Three."

"Gin Looncandel was in full swing last year. The whole newsletter covered the boy's five-star achievement. Anyway, the executive was very sure. You said one of the three must have participated."

It was quite interesting that Jin was listening to these floating rumors right next to him.

'You must be very proud of Looncandel's prestige. I've heard a lot about the news in the newsletter, but I can't believe I even know the names of Tonya's brothers.’

The Tonya brothers were about to become backup riders. Before their return, they also started their preliminary jockey activities in 1796, 7 years ago.

Also, reflecting on the nature of the competition, 'Cosmos' arena.'

I thought it was possible for the Tonya brothers, who were known as "malicious killers" in their previous lives, to participate.

Of course, the Tonya brothers of this life have been beaten by Jin since childhood, although they have become much gentler than their predecessors.

'If you're here, that's great for me. You can bring him in quietly and use him as my room keeper until the end of the competition. I've left all my other tired work to my brothers.'

Since then, the aristocrats have held a short debate on which participant will be the reserve rider for Looncandel.

Not only that, but other nobles nearby were also whispering among themselves and talking about the same subject.

'So most of the audience is nobility. Well, you know, rich guys always find something stimulating.’

Gasp!

A huge iron gate on one side of the amphitheater began to open.

Pirate Cosmos, a man who heads out into the middle of the stadium when the door opens. As soon as he appeared, the audience cheered in unison, and Cosmos seemed to be quite popular with them.

"You've been waiting a long time!"

"Cosmos!"

"Cosmos!"

It was quite a queer scene for the nobles to chant Cosmos' name with their recalled faces. They, who usually belittle the common people, are enthusiastic about a mere criminal.

" Ladies and gentlemen, who have come to the respective ranch. This pirate king Cosmos, I would like to thank you once again. Hahaha! More people than usual have come to see me this time, so I don't know what to do."

Just like that's perfect!

When Cosmos clapped once, fireworks suddenly went off from all sides. The sky was dazzlingly colored, and as the binge continued, the air felt hot in an instant.

"Come on, let's get started right away! Haha, guys! Group one, get two men out! Blow the trumpet!"

Bboooooooo! Bboooooo!

As the pirates at the edge of the stadium began to blow the trumpet, both iron gates rose and participants appeared.

Each group has 14 participants.

With up to 13 trillion won, a total of 182 fighters participated in the terrible competition. And there weren't many martial arts competitions in the world with this much talent.

"Wow! The hero of the first gruesome match......the last year's round of 16 and the cutie of shark pirates! Mentis! The opponent!"

Cosmos, who had said so far, narrowed his forehead and brought his face closer to the grandstand. The bitter look on his face seemed to be a problem.

"Oh, my God. I'm going to hear a complaint from the Captain of the Sharks later. And I'm going to bury a juxtaposed subordinate. Anyway, let me introduce you! The name, Paul Mick!"

"Who's Paul Mick?"

"I've never heard of a name before, but Cosmos' reaction makes me feel like a friend with something.”

While the nobles were talking in wonder, Mentis first stepped out to the stadium.

With a slender frame and a shark tattoo on his back, he strutted along with two curved swords, an image of an eternal pirate.

"Huh, brother Cosmos. Who's Paul or Mick? You scared him. I'm just trying to be disappointed, you know."

Cosmos turns a blind eye to Mentis, who tries to be naughty.

And as Paul Mick walked out of the waiting room, the audience quickly began to rattle.

"You're a child, aren't you?"

"What, I've heard that there are a lot of kids in this contest. This is a little too much."

"A little bend in the knee will sweep the long sword hanging on your back. Hahaha."

Jin was also a little embarrassed.

The boy, called Paul Mick, was not likely to be over fifteen at a glance.

Thirteen? Fourteen? Oh, my God, you put a kid like that in a contest? You're crazy!'

I almost ran into the stadium. I can't just watch a kid like that die right in front of my eyes.

Perhaps it would have been so if Cosmos' reaction had not been strange.

'Is that Dante High? No, Dante is three years older than I am.….’

And something amazing happened.

Cosmos gets ready to fall to one side, announcing the start of the game, while Mentis shrugs his shoulders to express his ridiculous feelings.

Squirt!

It happened in the blink of an eye.

Mentis's throat cut.

"Ah?"

"Just now..." ...what?"

"Who saw it right?"

Most of the audience were not even aware of the moment when Mentis' neck fell.

It was a matter of course. It was a move that Jin almost missed, even looking at the six star soon.

'It was the sword. I narrowed the distance momentarily, and when I had about five steps left, I used the sword to cut my throat. You're crazy. No way.’

No, not really.

None of the contestants in this competition would do such a feat unless it was Dante Heiran.

The audience quieted down in an instant. All those who had been talking until just now forgot what to say with their mouths wide open.

Flap!

The sound of Mentis' body falling on the ground almost reached the audience.

Cosmos was showing signs of embarrassment with his hands touching his forehead.

"Ha... by the way, Mentis was a last year's round of 16, so he had a lot to choose from. It's gone in vain....whatever, Paul Mick wins!"

Cosmos announced the winner, but the audience was still quiet. While everyone was in shock and bewildered, a man suddenly stood up from a luxury audience across from Jin and began to applaud.

"I'll bet everything on Paul Mick from now on! Paul Mick! Paul Mick! Excellent!"

And to my surprise.

The man was a familiar figure to Jean.

'You crazy, Veradine Zipple? Why is he here?’

While Jean opened her eyes wide and checked Veradin's face again, the audience began to cheer belatedly.

For your information, Veradin came to the arena under the orders of the elders of the Zipple. He said, "The next housekeeper of the Highlands is growing brilliantly, so take a look with your own eyes."

"Wow!"

"The little one is no joke!

"I'm also betting on Paul Mick this time! It's all over the place!"

And the two aristocrats of the Reich of Belado, sitting right in front of Qin, whispered, with conviction, like this.

"Look, has my information ever been wrong? That's the boy. The reserve rider of Looncandel!"

"Huh... ...surprising. Well, I can't do that at that age unless you're a Looncandel backup. I think it's Jean Looncandel."

"That's what I think. Too young to think he's one of the Tonya brothers."

Other aristocratic audiences nearby were nodding their heads as if they agreed with the idea.

Of course no one shouted out Jean's name out loud. It was because he knew that he could be retaliated by Looncandel if he blames his name and deeds.

That's why they're only whispering among themselves. Paul Mick is Jean Looncandel, Paul Mick was a backup jockey!

Jin, who is listening to it all, laughed in vain.

'By the way... I've never heard of Dante being so young. The face I saw in the newsletter in my past life was just a fine image, but it just doesn't look like a nineteen.’

Jean's Paul Mick, no. Dante and Veradin, who are still clapping their hands, looked at them one by one.

'Beradin probably came from the family asking you to take a look at Dante, right? He cares as much as Dante. I'm sure he'll recognize me and......it would be too much of a hassle to pretend to know.'

An uneasy foreboding never goes wrong.

At that moment, he found Jean staring at him.

"Oh? Wow!"

Veradin waving madly at the camp.

Jean, of course, turned back to Dante, pretending not to see it. But funnyly, Dante turned his head and stared at Veradin with a piercing look.

'He's... Veradine Zipple. No way, are you pretending to know me? That's all we saw at the last Jipple banquet, but you're very pleased. All right, I'll be glad to see you, Veradin!'

When Dante, so mistaken, waved at Veradin, Jean was forced to burst into a foot and laugh. I didn't read Dante's mind, but I thought I knew what was going on.

'Funny guys.’

Cosmos' men rushed to collect Mentis' body.

"Come on, ladies and gentlemen. Anyway, the Mentis of the Shark Pirates ended his short life like this. Shall we hear from the winner and move on to the next game? Paul Mick. How do you feel?"

"I feel like I've got rid of another villain from the world. May he not be a pirate in his next life."

a husky voice that is deeply contrasting with the appearance of pettiness And even ignoring pirates here, a pirate camp.

Many pirates gnawed their teeth, but no one came at Dante. It was only natural that I had just seen the extraordinary swordsmanship.

Cosmos burst out laughing and nodded.

"Hahaha, pirates are not a recommended job for growing children. But please don't forget that life at the bottom is perfect to begin with."

When Dante didn't answer and moved to the waiting room, Cosmos proceeded with the next game.

And Jean was thinking, looking at Dante's back.

'That guy...' Can I win?’