“Is it an iron fist?”
Either way, aren't they all the same? When Erne snickered, Ken, who was already very angry, swung his fist. Despite his size, he moved quite nimbly.
Erne dodged by slightly twisting his neck and dug in. Raising his knee, Erne struck Ken in the stomach and tripped him the moment he stumbled.
Ken fell to the floor with a thud. Erne kicked Ken in the side as he tried to get up, then placed his foot on his chest and held him down as he struggled.
"Judge."
“10, 9, 8...”
For ten seconds, Ken struggled hard but couldn't get up.
“1.”
The referee counted down the heat, and Ken, panting with a miserable expression, took out his anger on the floor.
Ken didn't know it, but it was a natural victory for Erne. So he didn't think he'd be happy, but after winning, he felt pretty good.
No, he should say he felt a little bit of joy. He didn't think he would be that happy about winning because it was such an obvious win, but it was unexpected.
“Whoa!”
Judith's cheers echoed through the audience, which was filled with sighs and curses as most people turned to Ken the Iron Fist.
When Erne turned his head toward the sound, he saw Judith jumping around and waving at Erne among the old men who were worn out by life.
You even know how to laugh out loud.
As Erne looked at Judith, who was about to die, in amazement, the voice of the judge confirming victory pierced his eardrums.
“The skinny one wins!”
“...What, what kind of guy is that?”
The slender man continued his advance.
“Hehehe.”
The corners of my mouth went up so much that they almost hung on my temples.
Erne won each of the first three games, and my bet of ten silver coins increased to one hundred and then three gold coins.
“The skinny one wins!”
The referee raised the flag towards Erne. However, the expression on Erne's face after winning was not very good.
“Hey, referee. I’m player number 36.”
Erne protested to the referee, holding out the number he had received when registering as a player.
“I know, you skinny guy.”
No? You don't seem to know?
“Where do you see me as skinny?”
Even during his childhood in the slums, when he starved every day, Erne grew up faster than other children. Even among the Knights, he was considered large, but he was by no means skinny.
“You don’t have to feel bad. People who look like you are all called that when they come here.”
“Guys who look like me?”
Erne muttered in a voice that seemed really annoyed.
“Then I should call you a handsome guy.”
He brushed back his sweat-soaked hair. Even under the dim light, his cool, sharp eyes, his manly forehead, and his high, straight nose bridge were revealed, though they were half-hidden.
“...What the heck, I’m out of luck.”
Even though the opposing player was lying on the floor, trying to catch his breath, he said something. It would be unlucky for an ugly guy to say it, but it was even more unlucky for a handsome guy to say it.
“Get down, you skinny guy.”
The referee must have thought the same thing because he never told Erne was he was handsome.
“Are you jealous? That’s ugly.”
Erne looked at them and sneered bitterly before leaving the stadium. He could hear the referee and opposing players swearing behind him, but they couldn't hit Erne with any blows.
What can I do with someone who was born handsome? Erne returned to the waiting room and took off his shirt, which was dirty with sweat and the other person's blood.
Although they dismissed it as a trivial fight, it was still a match, and a hot heat was felt over the taut muscles.
As he was trying to wash himself off with the towels provided in the waiting room, the curtain at the entrance to the waiting room suddenly opened and Judith came running in.
“Erne!”
Judith hugged Erne tightly. Then she rubbed her face against his bare chest, which was not covered by a single thread.
“Hey, hey, over there.”
Erne grabbed Judith's shoulder and tried to pull her away, feeling the soft texture against his bare skin, but the more he did so, the more Judith clung to him.
No, why is your power so good? With this power, you could have gone out to the game in my place.
“I knew Erne could do it. Hehe.”
Every time Judith's breath brushed against his skin, his already swollen chest muscles flinched.
“Yes, I get it, so don’t laugh at me.”
Don't laugh so sinisterly.
“Calm down.”
Erne forcefully threw Judith off.
“It’s dirty. It’s all sweat.”
“It’s dirty. You do it to earn money. I can wash it for you.”
"No."
Whoever wants. Erne snatched the wet towel from Judith's hand, who was stealthily taking it.
“It’s a good time.”
Inside the waiting room, the other players giggled as they watched Judith and Erne.
“Are you a lover? Or a wife?”
"No."
“Are you embarrassed, you skinny guy?”
“No!”
Neither shy nor skinny. Judith, drunk on money, was seen laughing slightly through Erne's angry eyes.
Well, I guess she's a bit embarrassed to show it off.
Ten gold coins. I made the money I could have made by making and selling a hundred silver coins with a few bets. Ten silver coins were called 10 gold coins, so what if I bet 10 gold coins next time?
“100 gold.”
Maybe you can earn more than that. If so, what if you bet 100 gold coins? Paying off 200 million gold in one go isn't just a dream.
“Sir Erne.”
Back at the mansion, Judith leaned against Erne's door and called out to him quietly.
“Is there anything you want to eat?”
Eat well to fight well.
Judith smiled heartily.
Erne is so useful. Today, Erne's beauty seemed to shine especially brightly.
“Why are you like this? Just do as you usually do.”
Is it true that the treatment is this different just because I brought her some money? Erne clicked his tongue openly, but it didn't put the slightest bit of a dent in Judith's smile.
“Is there anything you want to eat? Then should I give you a massage?”
“Are you just filling your own selfish desires?”
“Selfishness? Sir, my selfishness is only directed towards money.”
Erne was speechless at the 100% pure sincerity, even though she hadn't even been given the truth potion.
“Please do the same tomorrow as today.”
“Ha, I have to hear that nickname again.”
“Don’t worry about it, it’s all because they're jealous of your beauty. A handsome man should put up with it, what can we do?”
Are you no joke at flattery? Erne was quite unfamiliar with Judith's bright smile. Whenever Erne showed off even a little, Judith would immediately look at him with an expression that said he was unlucky.
Of course, he was not offended by this flattery, but is it really okay for a person's attitude to change so quickly for a little money?
Erne was faced with a philosophical question for the first time in a long while, following a day when he was questioning the meaning of life.
“Just go away.”
Erne waved his hand, pushing away Judith who was rubbing his shoulder as if to say goodbye.
“Are you going to sleep?”
“No, I need to think about what money means to humans.”
Erne waved his hands as he lay down on the bed, but Judith did not let him go easily.
“Is now the time to think about that? How can we fight more excitingly and raise the stakes? That’s what we need to think about.”
“Aren’t you going to the game tomorrow?”
“If you do that, I will step down.”
Judith put her hand on her belly button, bowed politely, and then quickly walked away.
She can't do it. I don't know what she can't do, but she can't do it.
Erne shook his head and collapsed on the bed. Judith's rustling sounds drifted in through the door that had always been slightly open since the assassin incident.
Erne scratched his chest for no reason, feeling a ticklish spot where Judith's hair had tickled him.
Fighting was the norm, and winning was the natural outcome.
But has my victory ever been someone's joy? He's fought countless times and won every time, but there was no one to share that joy with. Until now.
He never thought it was strange. It was always like that, so natural. In fact, this feeling was even more unfamiliar to Erne now.
If he wins tomorrow, will Judith be as happy as she is today? Erne, who was absentmindedly thinking of Judith's smiling face, flinched.
Last time you said it was special, but this time you want to see a smiling face? Erne let out a breathy laugh.
“...I guess we got used to each other because we lived and ate together in the same house.”
That's why adaptability is scary. Even if it's just on paper, he wants to see a woman who pushes her husband into an illegal dumping ground smile.
“Am I abnormal?”
Erne was now beginning to doubt herself.
“Yes, omyes, Erne, no, Erne. We, we’re done now.”
Judith hugged the bag of gold coins and looked at Erne with eyes filled with emotion. It had already been five days since he had entered the arena.
Erne never lost, and Judith's bets never failed. One of the players passing by Erne cheered, "If you're going to win, win this time too, you skinny guy." Erne's face crumpled.
“He always wins, so why is his nickname still ‘Skinny Guy’? If you can’t acknowledge that he’s handsome, why don’t you call him ‘Strong Guy’, or ‘The Guy Who Wins Well’, or any other adjectives?”
“What is that, childish?”
“Is the skinny guy okay?”
“It’s better than being called a dirty bastard.”
Isn't it too much to say that it's not your nickname?
Whether Erne looked at her with discontent or not, Judith's eyes sparkled as she thought about the next game.
“Then, we will definitely win this match, Erne.”
Judith clenched her fists and walked briskly to the betting area.
I wonder if she'll end up like her brother. Tsk tsk...
Either way, aren't they all the same? When Erne snickered, Ken, who was already very angry, swung his fist. Despite his size, he moved quite nimbly.
Erne dodged by slightly twisting his neck and dug in. Raising his knee, Erne struck Ken in the stomach and tripped him the moment he stumbled.
Ken fell to the floor with a thud. Erne kicked Ken in the side as he tried to get up, then placed his foot on his chest and held him down as he struggled.
"Judge."
“10, 9, 8...”
For ten seconds, Ken struggled hard but couldn't get up.
“1.”
The referee counted down the heat, and Ken, panting with a miserable expression, took out his anger on the floor.
Ken didn't know it, but it was a natural victory for Erne. So he didn't think he'd be happy, but after winning, he felt pretty good.
No, he should say he felt a little bit of joy. He didn't think he would be that happy about winning because it was such an obvious win, but it was unexpected.
“Whoa!”
Judith's cheers echoed through the audience, which was filled with sighs and curses as most people turned to Ken the Iron Fist.
When Erne turned his head toward the sound, he saw Judith jumping around and waving at Erne among the old men who were worn out by life.
You even know how to laugh out loud.
As Erne looked at Judith, who was about to die, in amazement, the voice of the judge confirming victory pierced his eardrums.
“The skinny one wins!”
“...What, what kind of guy is that?”
***
The slender man continued his advance.
“Hehehe.”
The corners of my mouth went up so much that they almost hung on my temples.
Erne won each of the first three games, and my bet of ten silver coins increased to one hundred and then three gold coins.
“The skinny one wins!”
The referee raised the flag towards Erne. However, the expression on Erne's face after winning was not very good.
“Hey, referee. I’m player number 36.”
Erne protested to the referee, holding out the number he had received when registering as a player.
“I know, you skinny guy.”
No? You don't seem to know?
“Where do you see me as skinny?”
Even during his childhood in the slums, when he starved every day, Erne grew up faster than other children. Even among the Knights, he was considered large, but he was by no means skinny.
“You don’t have to feel bad. People who look like you are all called that when they come here.”
“Guys who look like me?”
Erne muttered in a voice that seemed really annoyed.
“Then I should call you a handsome guy.”
He brushed back his sweat-soaked hair. Even under the dim light, his cool, sharp eyes, his manly forehead, and his high, straight nose bridge were revealed, though they were half-hidden.
“...What the heck, I’m out of luck.”
Even though the opposing player was lying on the floor, trying to catch his breath, he said something. It would be unlucky for an ugly guy to say it, but it was even more unlucky for a handsome guy to say it.
“Get down, you skinny guy.”
The referee must have thought the same thing because he never told Erne was he was handsome.
“Are you jealous? That’s ugly.”
Erne looked at them and sneered bitterly before leaving the stadium. He could hear the referee and opposing players swearing behind him, but they couldn't hit Erne with any blows.
What can I do with someone who was born handsome? Erne returned to the waiting room and took off his shirt, which was dirty with sweat and the other person's blood.
Although they dismissed it as a trivial fight, it was still a match, and a hot heat was felt over the taut muscles.
As he was trying to wash himself off with the towels provided in the waiting room, the curtain at the entrance to the waiting room suddenly opened and Judith came running in.
“Erne!”
Judith hugged Erne tightly. Then she rubbed her face against his bare chest, which was not covered by a single thread.
“Hey, hey, over there.”
Erne grabbed Judith's shoulder and tried to pull her away, feeling the soft texture against his bare skin, but the more he did so, the more Judith clung to him.
No, why is your power so good? With this power, you could have gone out to the game in my place.
“I knew Erne could do it. Hehe.”
Every time Judith's breath brushed against his skin, his already swollen chest muscles flinched.
“Yes, I get it, so don’t laugh at me.”
Don't laugh so sinisterly.
“Calm down.”
Erne forcefully threw Judith off.
“It’s dirty. It’s all sweat.”
“It’s dirty. You do it to earn money. I can wash it for you.”
"No."
Whoever wants. Erne snatched the wet towel from Judith's hand, who was stealthily taking it.
“It’s a good time.”
Inside the waiting room, the other players giggled as they watched Judith and Erne.
“Are you a lover? Or a wife?”
"No."
“Are you embarrassed, you skinny guy?”
“No!”
Neither shy nor skinny. Judith, drunk on money, was seen laughing slightly through Erne's angry eyes.
Well, I guess she's a bit embarrassed to show it off.
***
Ten gold coins. I made the money I could have made by making and selling a hundred silver coins with a few bets. Ten silver coins were called 10 gold coins, so what if I bet 10 gold coins next time?
“100 gold.”
Maybe you can earn more than that. If so, what if you bet 100 gold coins? Paying off 200 million gold in one go isn't just a dream.
“Sir Erne.”
Back at the mansion, Judith leaned against Erne's door and called out to him quietly.
“Is there anything you want to eat?”
Eat well to fight well.
Judith smiled heartily.
Erne is so useful. Today, Erne's beauty seemed to shine especially brightly.
“Why are you like this? Just do as you usually do.”
Is it true that the treatment is this different just because I brought her some money? Erne clicked his tongue openly, but it didn't put the slightest bit of a dent in Judith's smile.
“Is there anything you want to eat? Then should I give you a massage?”
“Are you just filling your own selfish desires?”
“Selfishness? Sir, my selfishness is only directed towards money.”
Erne was speechless at the 100% pure sincerity, even though she hadn't even been given the truth potion.
“Please do the same tomorrow as today.”
“Ha, I have to hear that nickname again.”
“Don’t worry about it, it’s all because they're jealous of your beauty. A handsome man should put up with it, what can we do?”
Are you no joke at flattery? Erne was quite unfamiliar with Judith's bright smile. Whenever Erne showed off even a little, Judith would immediately look at him with an expression that said he was unlucky.
Of course, he was not offended by this flattery, but is it really okay for a person's attitude to change so quickly for a little money?
Erne was faced with a philosophical question for the first time in a long while, following a day when he was questioning the meaning of life.
“Just go away.”
Erne waved his hand, pushing away Judith who was rubbing his shoulder as if to say goodbye.
“Are you going to sleep?”
“No, I need to think about what money means to humans.”
Erne waved his hands as he lay down on the bed, but Judith did not let him go easily.
“Is now the time to think about that? How can we fight more excitingly and raise the stakes? That’s what we need to think about.”
“Aren’t you going to the game tomorrow?”
“If you do that, I will step down.”
Judith put her hand on her belly button, bowed politely, and then quickly walked away.
She can't do it. I don't know what she can't do, but she can't do it.
Erne shook his head and collapsed on the bed. Judith's rustling sounds drifted in through the door that had always been slightly open since the assassin incident.
Erne scratched his chest for no reason, feeling a ticklish spot where Judith's hair had tickled him.
Fighting was the norm, and winning was the natural outcome.
But has my victory ever been someone's joy? He's fought countless times and won every time, but there was no one to share that joy with. Until now.
He never thought it was strange. It was always like that, so natural. In fact, this feeling was even more unfamiliar to Erne now.
If he wins tomorrow, will Judith be as happy as she is today? Erne, who was absentmindedly thinking of Judith's smiling face, flinched.
Last time you said it was special, but this time you want to see a smiling face? Erne let out a breathy laugh.
“...I guess we got used to each other because we lived and ate together in the same house.”
That's why adaptability is scary. Even if it's just on paper, he wants to see a woman who pushes her husband into an illegal dumping ground smile.
“Am I abnormal?”
Erne was now beginning to doubt herself.
***
“Yes, omyes, Erne, no, Erne. We, we’re done now.”
Judith hugged the bag of gold coins and looked at Erne with eyes filled with emotion. It had already been five days since he had entered the arena.
Erne never lost, and Judith's bets never failed. One of the players passing by Erne cheered, "If you're going to win, win this time too, you skinny guy." Erne's face crumpled.
“He always wins, so why is his nickname still ‘Skinny Guy’? If you can’t acknowledge that he’s handsome, why don’t you call him ‘Strong Guy’, or ‘The Guy Who Wins Well’, or any other adjectives?”
“What is that, childish?”
“Is the skinny guy okay?”
“It’s better than being called a dirty bastard.”
Isn't it too much to say that it's not your nickname?
Whether Erne looked at her with discontent or not, Judith's eyes sparkled as she thought about the next game.
“Then, we will definitely win this match, Erne.”
Judith clenched her fists and walked briskly to the betting area.
I wonder if she'll end up like her brother. Tsk tsk...
As Erne entered the players' waiting room, sticking out his tongue, a voice rang in his ear.
“They said it was an immortal corpse?”
“They said it was an immortal corpse?”
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