Making Friends Through Strength

"Fuck, how could he lose with such a huge advantage?"

"I don't know why, but I bet on Alec to win. That guy's on his knees now, yet I feel so damn good!"

"Nice one, Broly!"

After the referee announced the result of the fourth match, the Arena Audience Seats erupted into noise.

Some congratulated the victorious boy, while others cursed Alec for being a fucking idiot.

There was no doubt that Alec's actions just now had provoked public outrage.

His sudden upset now delighted countless people.

Of course, there was also a group of gamblers who had lost themselves blind. They did not believe Alec had lost because Broly, his opponent, was genuinely stronger. Instead, they believed Alec had gotten too cocky and thrown away a victory that had been firmly in his grasp.

Rather than hating the boy who had won through luck, they hated that idiot Alec even more. Unfortunately, this was the Martial Arts Tournament. Otherwise, someone might have taken a knife and butchered Alec, who had passed out from having his crotch blown apart.

"Carelessness and underestimating one's opponent are major taboos for a Martial Artist. Alec really is an idiot."

In the contestants' area, the participants who had witnessed that reversal immediately offered their blunt assessments.

Had it really been carelessness and underestimation?

Esdeath frowned as she thought about it. She had seen the sudden burst of speed behind the boy's final Fatal Groin Strike.

Although she could not fully determine the specifics of that strike due to the distance and angle, her instincts told her that something about it was unusual. Yet she could not say exactly what was unusual.

Not far away, Merraid did not share that feeling. She merely thought the boy had erupted with his final reserves of potential.

Such sudden bursts of potential were quite common in assassin training. After all, even a cornered rabbit would bite.

Broly was carried off the arena on a stretcher by Staff Members. He was lying face down when they took him away. Mine had said there were no injuries on his body, so it was best not to let others inspect his condition up close.

After Broly was carried into the Martial Arts Tournament's Medical Room, Mine immediately led a group of companions inside as his Friends and Family Group. Citing the fact that they knew a Miracle Doctor, they refused to let the Doctor assigned to the Competition Venue examine and treat Broly. The group of children then carried their Big Brother away.

"Damn it, they actually don't trust us and would rather trust those Quack Doctors outside!"

The Martial Arts Tournament's doctors felt deeply insulted, but there was nothing they could do if the contestant himself refused treatment. Other than grumbling a little, what else could they do? They could hardly force someone to stay and receive treatment.

"Knock, knock, knock~"

A knock suddenly sounded. A girl with ice-blue Long Hair entered through the Medical Room door. After entering, Esdeath looked around but failed to find the person she was looking for, so she asked, "Where is the contestant who was just carried in?"

"He was taken away by his friends and family. They said they knew a Miracle Doctor outside and took him away for treatment."

The Doctor offered an explanation.

"Looks like I came too late."

Esdeath turned her head and saw Merraid standing beside the doorway, dressed revealingly.

"What, are you interested in him too?"

Merraid toyed with the hair by her ear as she asked Esdeath.

"I just wanted to confirm something."

Esdeath said.

"And you? Were you planning to investigate tomorrow's opponent in advance?"

She asked in return.

"No. I simply admire him somewhat and want him to be mine."

Merraid replied.

"Unfortunately, he has already been taken away."

"I know."

The two said nothing more. Esdeath walked past Merraid.

She returned to the contestants' area of the arena and continued watching the Round of 16 matches, hoping to find another opponent who would catch her eye.

But unfortunately, even after the eighth match ended, Esdeath did not find a third opponent worthy of her attention.

The first one was Merraid from the Fifth Group. Like Esdeath, she had easily dealt with her opponent. She was also a twelve-year-old contestant, and a girl.

The second was the even younger Broly. Though his performance had been somewhat poor, the speed displayed in that final Fatal Groin Strike had caught her attention.

Lost in thought, Esdeath walked out of the arena.

After leaving the arena and turning into an alleyway, she suddenly stopped.

"Who's there?"

As she asked, she tilted her head back at a forty-five-degree angle and looked behind her.

"It's me. I'm Broly from Group 7."

Broly appeared there, his body wrapped in bandages. He had come specifically to find Esdeath.

"It's you. You can move around freely so soon?"

Esdeath asked curiously.

"Thanks to a Miracle Doctor we know."

Broly avoided Esdeath's gaze and repeated the lie Mine had given him.

"You're a liar."

Esdeath suddenly said.

"Huh?"

"There's no smell of blood on you. Given the injuries you suffered in the arena, it would have been impossible for you not to smell of Fresh Blood—unless you had no wounds at all."

As she spoke, Esdeath moved closer. To make sure her judgment was not mistaken, she leaned in and sniffed Broly's scent.

"Other than the smell of medicinal herbs and soap, there's no bloody scent on you. You weren't injured at all. That battered state you showed in the arena was entirely an act. Am I right?"

Esdeath asked. Broly had already taken a bath, and even had fake injuries applied when he came out. He had not expected this new Wife to see straight through him at a glance.

"I didn't mean to lie to you. It was just that doing so would give me better Odds at the Gambling House. My companions and I were making money off that."

Broly explained.

"So you were manipulating the Odds. Whatever, I don't care about that. I only want to ask—you're very strong, aren't you?"

Esdeath asked.

"Yeah."

Broly nodded. Since arriving in this world, he had yet to encounter an opponent.

"You blocked my way here because you intend to eliminate me, your competitor, right now?"

Esdeath leaned forward, already prepared to fight.

She did not care where she fought, nor who she fought.

All she cared about was whether her opponent was strong enough.

"Uh, no. I came to be friends with you."

But faced with the fighting spirit she displayed, Broly scratched his head and revealed his true purpose.

"Be friends?"

Esdeath's rising aura stalled. She had not expected that answer.

"Can you be my friend?"

Esdeath looked at the hand the Boy held out, then at the eager expression on his face. Her urge to fight faded somewhat.

"We can be friends, but I never make friends with the weak. Weak friends always end up dying on their own too easily."

After saying that, Esdeath paused before continuing, "If you truly want to be friends with me, then talk to me again after you defeat me tomorrow."

"Okay."

Broly agreed, but after thinking about it, he added, "Oh, right. When I say being friends, I mean that you'll eventually become my Wife."

"Huh?"

Esdeath froze for a moment upon hearing that, but after she understood, she did not care.

"If you can truly defeat me, then I'll be prey you hunted. When that time comes, you can do whatever you want with me."