BAM!
I slammed the metal dipper one more time on the fat bastard's face.
And after that—
"Fuuuu..."
I stopped for a while and let out a sigh. I stood up straight, kind of tired.
"..."
I stared at the fat bastard. He's still breathing pretty fine, just unconscious. His face is pretty messed up though, but he'll live for now.
"..."
Even his two henchmen were still lying at his sides, both unconscious too.
"Hmm?"
I looked around, weirded out by the silence.
And upon doing so—
"Wha..."
"..."
"No way..."
"What the hell..."
I saw the four other people in this place staring at me in shock. They couldn't believe what they just saw.
Well, to be fair, I wouldn't either if I was in their place.
'These guys are dickheads too. They had no intention of helping me earlier.'
I thought, seeing that none of them moved when the three approached me, even though they probably already knew what they were up to.
'Meh.'
But I just brushed it off. It's not like I can fight them because of it—I'd definitely lose if I did.
Also, I already expected people in this place to be selfish and like that. It's kind of obvious now, really.
And just then...
As I was catching my breath before continuing to beat the fat bastard—
"WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE?!!"
I heard a loud shout from the entrance of this place.
"Huh?"
And when I went to look at it—
"WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE THREE?!"
I saw a guard with wide eyes, looking at us all. Especially the fat bastard and his henchmen that were on the floor.
"WHO DID THAT?!"
He exclaimed, his voice echoing throughout the room.
And in that moment—
Fwish—
"..."
The four people in here turned to look at me, not wanting to be blamed for this mess.
'Bruh... This scene is oddly familiar.'
I thought to myself, slightly frowning.
Anyway—
"You?"
The guard asked, looking at me all confused.
"..."
I stared back at him. And with a shrug—
"Yeah, me."
I simply replied.
I don't need to lie, it's just going to turn into a bigger mess. I know no one here would take the blame for me.
I learned that through experience already.
And so with that—
"Are you going to bring me to the boss?"
I asked the guard, tilting my head.
"Can I at least finish bathing? I haven't even enjoyed the prize room for half a day."
I followed, feeling kind of disappointed.
*****
The guard didn't let me finish bathing. He immediately made me wear my shirt and follow him after confirming that I was the suspect of the mess in the bath area.
We just left the three bastards there, still unconscious. The guard said someone will tend to them later.
And right now—
"YOU AGAIN?!"
I'm back in the boss' office.
"WHY THE HELL DO YOU KEEP MESSING UP MY FIGHTERS?!!"
He roared, yanking off his ridiculous top hat and tossing it aside in rage. His swirly mustache flailed wildly as he shouted at me.
"I LET YOU OFF LAST TIME BECAUSE YOU PUT UP A GOOD SHOW IN YOUR FIRST FIGHT AND BROUGHT MONEY INTO MY POCKETS, BUT YOU DID IT AGAIN?!!"
He exclaimed, his face flushing red, thick beads of sweat forming and sliding down his temples.
"DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DIE?!!"
BAM!
He slammed both fists onto his desk hard, glaring daggers at me.
"..."
I just stared back at him with a blank expression on my face. Ignoring all of his shouting.
"Haaa... Haaa... Haaaa... Haaaaa..."
He panted heavily, chest heaving from all the screaming. And now that he's finally quiet—
"From what I did... you can just give me another punishment, right?"
I asked that, voice steady.
And at my words—
"What?"
The boss muttered, blinking in disbelief, like he couldn't comprehend what he just heard.
And locking eyes with him—
"If you're going to make me fight again, then let me fight that fat bastard. I'll beat him up properly in the match."
I declared that, my voice low and cold, a frown carving deep into my face. The rage and disgust toward that man still boiled inside me, unfading.
'I want to smash his fucking head in.'
I thought, recalling what he whispered to me in the bath area.
"..."
The boss stared at me in silence, the confusion on his face deepening until it turned into something heavier.
He opened his mouth... then shut it. Opened it again... but still couldn't speak.
"..."
I just stood there. Waiting. The coldness in my expression never wavered.
And seeing how dead serious I was with my words—
"... Fine."
The boss said that after thinking about it for a while. It seems like he's smelling money from my suggestion.
"There will be another event next week. I'll put you up against him in the opening match again."
He declared.
And hearing that—
"Got it."
I simply replied.
Fwip—
My hands clenching into fists.
...
...
*****
After my meeting with the boss of the coliseum—
Tap—
"Here, you're back to your cell."
I was brought back to the copper place where I had been staying. It was part of my punishment—my time in the prize room was cut short.
CLANG—!
The guard slammed the metal-bar gate shut as soon as I stepped in.
And now—
"..."
I stood silently, frozen.
I couldn't believe I was just in a nice place... and it was ripped away because of that fat bastard!
I wasn't even able to enjoy my bath for long!
'I'll definitely kill that pig in the match.'
I grumbled in my head.
And just then—
"AH! KID!"
I heard a familiar voice in front of me.
Fwish—
"..."
And when I looked up—
"Hello, misters."
I saw Brock, Khan, and Jin approaching me. I greeted them simply.
"What happened, kid? Why are you back so soon?"
Brock asked after reaching me, sounding genuinely confused.
"..."
"..."
Khan and Jin just stared at me, waiting for an answer. Both of them were clearly curious.
And well... It's not like I needed to keep it a secret.
So, with a shrug of my shoulders—
"You see..."
I started telling them what happened.
...
...
...
...
...
"KAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA—!!!"
"PFFT— HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
"MAHAHAHAHAHA—!!"
The three of them burst out laughing hysterically after hearing my story.
"Wow, you just woke up today and you already got a match scheduled for next week?!"
Brock exclaimed in a sarcastic, amazed tone.
"You're really something else..."
Khan muttered, still trying to hold back his laughter, a huge stupid grin plastered on his face.
"Haaaa... My stomach hurts... You're really funny, kid."
Jin added, openly mocking me.
"Fuck you guys."
I mumbled under my breath, frowning.
Then, after calming down a little—
"Why didn't you just tell them to stop and leave you alone? You wouldn't have gotten into this mess if you did."
Brock said that, wiping the tear at the corner of his left eye from laughing. He was talking about the fat man and his henchmen.
And hearing his words—
"Huh?"
I raised a brow. What he said didn't sit quite right to me.
"Mister."
I called out to him.
"Hm? What?"
Brock replied, looking at me. Even Khan and Jin turned to me curiously.
And with my lips parting—
"Evil doesn't stop when you tell them to. They stop when you make them."
I declared that casually with a straight face.
It was a quote that I heard from a game once, and even now...
I firmly believe it.