Episode 137
“… … “How did you come to know about me?”
The look Mr. Narmer gave me was clearly ‘wary.’
As if he was reliving his first meeting with me, he took a step back and began to be thoroughly suspicious, and asked again in a slightly cold voice.
“Who sent you here? Have you ever approached me from the beginning?
case… …
“no. calm down. “It’s not what you think.”
I needed to reassure Mr. Narmer.
If someone came up to me and asked, ‘Are you a player?’ I would respond in the same way.
“Let me introduce myself again. My name is Ruin Ardel, the eldest son of the Ardel family. He won the Daejejeon last year. “Have you ever heard of it?”
I took out my ID card, and Mr. Nar Mer nodded.
“When I first heard the name, I was confused, but I was convinced when I heard that he had broken 200 pine boards. “You were the famous next-generation wizard.”
After confirming my identity, fortunately, the guard’s gaze softened a little.
But that’s it.
It seemed like there was still some doubt left.
“Who heard about me?”
“No one. “I heard nothing from Nadia and Wazner except that there was a ‘master’ who taught me martial arts.”
“But how were you sure of my accomplishments? “I usually hide my chakra, so even Nadia and Wazner don’t know.”
“I have fought against 7-star level wizards.”
“So?”
“It looked stronger than that, so I just assumed it was an 8-star.”
“You guessed it… … . I should have told you. Because I’m hiding my chakra
There would be no way for you to notice my accomplishments. Moreover, mana and chakra are different realms… …
“It’s not just chakra.”
“yes?”
“Chakra, mana, come… … . These are not the only things. The attitude towards people, the eyes that change every time you speak, no. Just by looking at his gait, you can confirm that he is an exceptionally talented person.”
Evidence that can be recognized even without the player’s eyes.
I like Mr. Narmer’s pure white shoes.
He pointed and said.
“I knew it from day one. Even when you step on the mud, you leave no footprints.”
Mr. Narmer clumsily stepped back, leaving footprints in the dirt… … .
I said with a grin.
“There is no need to leave footprints now.”
Even when it rains, the water does not drain properly, so all the floors in the humid slums are covered in mud.
However, only Mr. Narmer’s shoes are clean.
This is the result of his long efforts and habits.
Mr. Narmer no longer denied my point and nodded.
“… … “You are very interested in martial arts.”
“When I first learned, I learned how to walk by being beaten with a cane. So, I started checking the gaits of people who had mastered martial arts.”
Learning to walk by being whipped by Sir Goulter at the academy.
This came to mind.
Ah, the old days.
“You have a keen eye for attention. But is that the only reason?”
“no. There was plenty of other evidence as well. If my guess is correct, you must have participated in a gladiator competition in the past.”
His eyes changed slightly, and I smiled again.
“That’s right.”
“… … What does that have to do with my accomplishments?
is it?”
“I was just guessing. As to why a master of this level would ignore all the wealth and fame and live in a slum like this… …
“What is my answer?”
“well. If I had to guess, it wouldn’t have been something like emptiness. “After overcoming human limitations, the emptiness that suddenly came upon me.”
Mr. Narmer raised his eyebrows for the first time at my words.
“Wrong.”
I did it because this situation was fun
was not a laugh.
Although the face is clearly smiling, it feels sad and sad.
that.
“It’s contempt. “Contempt for myself.”
It was the venom of a man who hated himself so much.
“Please come in here. “I have a story to tell you.”
Mr. Narmer’s name was different.
But the name was not revealed.
“I forgot. No, I threw it away.”
I threw away the name.
It seemed like a name with a story behind it, so I wasn’t curious either.
He also said that he was once a soldier.
For the Oyota people, he was the most honorable position, the elite warrior of the Shadow of the Desert.
He was a talented martial artist who decapitated 31 gladiators and won the gladiatorial contest.
but.
Oh, the moment of disillusionment that came to him.
“I killed the child. Although they say it was because of orders, they killed an innocent child. At first I refused. But, my boss said this. ‘Why are you acting so nice all of a sudden? ‘You’re not that kind of guy.’ yes. I was a murderer who killed people without hesitation. “A murderer who smiles without hesitation when strangling someone.”
“Regret came really suddenly. Suddenly, the face of the dying child appeared and I heard a scream. Every night, it came to me in my dreams, screamed at me, and tormented me. I have dried up. But there was no one to blame. I am the one who killed that child. If anyone was going to blame it, they had to blame me. So I cut it.”
Mr. Narmer lifted the side of his bushy head.
There was one ear missing.
“At that time, Nadia, who had been begging on the street, appeared. ‘mister. ear … … ‘ He wiped the blood with his sleeve. She looked at Nadia’s face and begged for her life, and she saw the girl’s face when I killed her. I couldn’t leave Naia alone. “By taking in and raising her orphans one by one, she ended up here.”
“Was it a little corny? I’m sorry if that’s the case, but I feel relieved. This is my first time. “Telling this to someone.”
“Is this something Nadia doesn’t know about?”
“Nadia doesn’t even remember her first meeting with me. She was such a pretty girl… …
“It sounds like you’re not pretty right now?”
“Home home, I didn’t mean that. “It was prettier in the old days.”
“haha!”
We burst out laughing at the same time.
Was it corny?
No, not at all.
Everyone has a story.
He despised his past self and was reborn.
He collected hungry children wandering the streets, gave them food, and taught them writing and martial arts.
Those children grow up and become full-fledged soldiers.
As if he was trying to repay a favor given to him, even if it meant stealing.
Like the name Espe Lanaja.
His good deeds became ‘hope’ for children.
“I no longer practice martial arts that kills people.”
“yes. He said so. Nadia and Wazner. “He didn’t try to kill me when I first met him.”
“The martial arts I will teach you may not be the martial arts that kill people. “I no longer want people dying in gladiatorial arenas.”
“yes. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Finally, I would like to ask you one more question. What do you hope to achieve from the gladiatorial contest?”
“It’s not blood and slaughter, so don’t worry.”
“You can do it.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“The reason I came to Esperanaza is because there is something to be gained from gladiator competitions.”
“May I ask what it is?”
“I would like to tell you, but I don’t know. “All I know is that I have to win the gladiatorial contest.”
“There are two main things you get if you win a gladiatorial contest. wealth and honor.”
wealth and honor.
I don’t need these.
What I want is a piece of Draka’s relic.
Mr. Narmer said.
“But Gentiles are different.”
“… … is that so?”
“Although foreigners can obtain wealth in Oyota, they cannot obtain honor. The shadow of the desert can only be an Oyota person. Gentiles get something else instead.”
“What is that?”
“The rumor I heard is that it is a very useless stone… … . “No stranger has ever won a gladiatorial contest, so I’m not sure.”
The answer was this.
When the lowest grain of sand becomes the hot sun.
The day when a stranger becomes the best gladiator among the Oyota people.
I will obtain a piece of Draka’s relic.
“then.”
Mr. Narmer stood up.
Then he put his hands together and bowed his head to me.
When I looked at him with a puzzled look on his face, Mr. Narmer smiled sheepishly.
“This is how teachers and students greet each other in Oyota.”
” ah.”
I also stood up and greeted Mr. Narmer in the same way.
“Then, please take care of me.”
“That’s me.”
♦ ♦ ♦
“oh my god. As soon as I came to Esperanaja, I looked through the Shmuda Desert Warrior Statue… … . Yesterday, there was an uproar due to the pine plate breaking. Are you learning martial arts from your teacher now? “Well, we’re all from Oyota.”
“Still, doesn’t your brother look very happy, sister?”
“… … “That’s true, though.”
“They said he was a wizard, but I had no idea he used his body so well.
“The last time you dealt with us in Asilo, you seemed to be very gentle.”
Nadia Noor.
Although she didn’t want to agree with Wazner’s words, she had no choice but to admit it.
“… … joy. “It’s a fish out of water.”
Narmer and Ruin Ardel.
The two were practicing martial arts, wearing pure white uniforms commonly worn by martial arts families.
It suited the look very well.
all.
His skills were so outstanding that he seemed like someone who had been practicing martial arts for a very long time.
‘… … Looking at it like this, I think he looks a little handsome… …
Nadia Nur suddenly remembered that thought and quickly shook her head.
What are you talking about now?
To this little boy who is probably 10 years older than me.
“sister. “Her face turned red.”
“W-what are you talking about?”
“… … Why are you suddenly angry?”
“Yes, because you say strange things.”
“Well, did I do that?” “Your face suddenly turned red, so I asked you if you were in pain.”
“Anyway, sister. ‘Can you win the gladiatorial contest?’
“… “Championship?”
Yes, it was.
The reason why Ruin Ardel came here was not because of the gladiator competition.
Throw it.
Nadia Nur spoke, leaning on the side of the veranda, recalling the time when Ruin Ardel had completely subdued her in Asilo.
“… … Is it possible.”
“Of course it is, right? Because you are very strong. However, it is true that he is a little worried. He is unable to use magic, which is his specialty… …
“Who is Master that you are so worried? “The person who taught me martial arts is my father.”
“okay. As expected, I was worried for no reason. “There is no martial artist as great as my father.”
The two were thinking the same thing as they said this.
A martial arts skill learned from his father, Narmer.
‘That guy’ who couldn’t win even with this
‘Tarman Hashimkh.’
The one who kicked them out.
The martial arts he uses are piercing, tearing,
Gar is literally a martial art for killing.
On the other hand, the martial arts taught by Narmer is characterized by being as smooth as water, but lacks destructive power.
The compatibility itself does not match.
Although they were no match for Tarman Hashimk… … .
Why?
“When I look at my older brother, I get the feeling that he is a very dependable person for his age. “You’re like that too, right?”
Ruin Ardel feels something different.
Nadia Nur nodded quietly.
“yes. Strong. “That guy.”
