[Aaron Side Story Episode 14]
2. Swords waiting to be drawn (8)
It’s dawn, but morning is getting closer.
A hazy mist enveloped the landscape.
‘It’s the beginning.’
Bian’s gaze turned to the hourglass on the table.
There are no clocks in the gladiator quarters. Therefore, it was supposed to set the time of the action through the hourglass that the old man had smuggled.
The top of the hourglass is completely empty.
It’s about time.
Bian got up from the bed and looked at the beds next to him.
As a low-ranking gladiator, he is not given his private quarters.
‘also.’
Roommates are in different places.
This was also the result of a number of cumbersome preliminary work.
Therefore, the only time that planning was possible was now.
Bian made up his mind and went out into the hallway.
‘First, confirm the location of the guards…’
Several guards stand guard at the lodging where he is staying.
Confirming their patrol location was Bian’s role in the first plan.
If his colleagues flock together, they will naturally become suspicious, so they are supposed to join through a sequential process.
Bian left the room.
According to the captain’s information, a guard is not far away…
“…?”
does not exist.
Bian looked around him.
from end to end of the hallway.
The guards were nowhere to be seen.
strange thing.
Bian asked the gladiator who stood blankly beside him.
“Where have the guards gone? Do you know?”
He shook his head with a puzzled expression.
He looked as if he didn’t even know what he was talking about.
‘weird.’
This is not what was expected.
Bian started running.
He steps out of the hallway and enters the hall.
Gladiators were gathered there, making a noise.
“Where has everyone gone?”
“well. Didn’t you arrange a set?”
“Come to think of it, I heard a strange noise while sleeping.”
Bian approached the gladiator.
“Sounds strange? What did you hear!”
“What is it?”
“say!”
“Uh uh just running around? Was it the voice of the guards? I think I heard a fight…”
Bian hadn’t heard anything like that.
Maybe it was because the room was at the end of the hallway.
“Was that what it was?”
“I think I heard it too…”
Bian ran again.
He ran out of the communal quarters reserved for lesser gladiators.
Passing through the middle aisle, I was able to check Bian.
‘This is… bloodstains!’
Red blood is splattered here and there.
It was a sign of battle.
And he could be seen as he exited the aisle and reached the training ground.
“…!”
This is a dedicated training ground to the east of the arena.
This is the place where I first met the captain, Kainil.
It was also the second convergence point in the plan.
The bodies of hundreds of nobles were scattered there.
“I’m sorry.”
Kaineil said in a firm voice.
He scanned the corpses with a keen eye.
“He died not too long ago. It must have been an hour ago at the most.”
“Leader? Who is this…?”
“I do not know.”
Kai Neil shook his head.
“Anyway, we have no choice but to proceed as planned. let’s go.”
A feeling of uneasiness crept up.
Bian suppressed this and followed Kainil.
Originally, a fierce battle should have been fought from this point on.
“…”
As he passes through the aisle, his companions join him one after another.
There was never a single collision with the guards who were supposed to be there.
That’s how Cainil’s gang arrived at the final confluence.
The exit of the arena and the place leading to it.
“We are almost together.”
Kai Neil looked at his allies.
The number of comrades is twenty-three.
two are missing
An old man who was a contact with the Liberation Army
Mumyeong, a gladiator who was regarded as the core force.
Coincidentally, only the two of them did not gather here.
‘It’s completely different from the plan.’
I don’t understand.
why did he do that?
But he can’t stop.
Kai Neel reprimanded his comrades for their confusion.
“let’s go.”
There were traces of a fierce fight in the aisle he had passed through.
He even identified the corpses of several hundred nobles.
Looking at their outfits, they were all guards guarding the arena.
Kainil was convinced that it was individuals, not groups, who had eliminated them.
It is even more so if you listen to the words of a colleague who joined from the other side of the aisle.
It seems there were no signs of a battle there.
‘Why?’
did you ever notice
Kai Neil bit his lip.
“Where have the guards gone?”
“I think someone killed it.”
“Did you do this by yourself? how?”
The hum in the back intensifies.
Kainil didn’t care and walked on.
The arsenal, which should be guarded next to the exit, was also unlocked.
Only two of his bodies lay there with his throat cut.
The gladiators, who were prepared to fight to the death, were in a state of exhaustion.
And right here.
The passage in front of the exit, the final battleground.
It is a place where security is stricter than anywhere else.
“Hut!”
someone took a breath.
It has to be.
“It is the man’s work.”
“Who are you talking about? Who would do this…”
“cotton.”
Kainil murmured in dismay.
Clearly, this hallway is optimized for many-to-one.
The place where the left and right sides were blocked did not allow them to be surrounded.
That means you can move forward and iterate one-to-one.
But isn’t it strange?
Was it this strong?
That guy… was this much?
It might be possible if there was only one Kainil.
It could be anything up to two people.
Up to three is difficult, but you can try gambling.
Starting from four, you must prepare for death.
however.
“How many people did you kill alone…?”
Only near the exit, close to 10 nobles are lying in pieces.
Including the corpses we saw in the corridors and training grounds, there were at least 20 to 30 people.
‘Did you induce it? All the guards in the arena?’
So I killed them one by one and cut them to pieces before coming to the exit.
And after killing all the guards guarding the exit and the guards, they escaped?
If that were the case, was there a need to make such a plan?
Have you had to rack your brains for days and nights to devise an escape plan?
Just kill them all and escape.
they are not human
Even a skilled gladiator would have to risk his life to face one hundred nobles.
But did you just slaughter all of this?
“monster….”
someone muttered.
No one objected to it.
‘Did our plans mean nothing to that man?’
Kainil sighed.
How funny would that have looked?
Escape is always possible if he puts his mind to it.
‘anyway.’
Kai Neil looked around him.
All the guards blocking the arena’s exit either ran away or died.
Colleagues are in confusion because they do not know the English language.
“Let’s move. Reinforcements may come.”
Action comes first.
Leading by Cainil, the gladiators pushed through the exit.
The mutilated corpse and the thick smell of blood made them aware that this was reality.
Niflheim, land of fog.
It was early in the morning and the city was covered with a light fog.
However, you can fully enjoy the scenery of the city. It was a world they had never seen since they were enslaved in the arena.
“Freedom… is it?”
There must have been an uproar in the arena by now.
Soon all the gladiators will find out that the guards are gone and escape.
‘This is this city.’
It was morning, but there was no warm sunlight.
The city was immersed in a gloomy fog and sticky dampness.
The party started walking toward the southern gate.
“…”
Beyond the dark alley.
There was a girl squatting with a tattered blanket wrapped around her, looking this way.
Eyes like dead fish.
There was not the slightest glimpse of hope in life.
Not one.
Every time Kai Neil and his companions passed the boulevard, their eyes lurking all over the alleys came to them.
They were all human.
I stare at Kaineil and the others in a dirty and lonely alley.
It must have been quite unfamiliar to see gladiators walking down the street armed, but there was nothing like surprise in their eyes.
Their minds are not sober enough to feel various emotions similar to jealousy or surprise.
He grew up as a slave from birth, gave up and lost everything, and as a result, his emotions died.
They were nothing more than livestock in human skin.
“…shit.”
someone cursed
“Where have all the hundred nobles gone?”
The avenue is empty.
Humans were hiding in alleyways, but the hundred nobles were nowhere to be seen.
Only a dreary mist settled down on the main street that was originally lively.
“Most likely escaped.”
Kainil explained briefly.
“According to outside information, there was a civil war going on. They’re probably fighting somewhere. The others must have fled out of town long ago.”
“Didn’t I say that the only way out is through the south gate?”
“The only known exit is there, but there must be other places.”
“Then wouldn’t it be better for us to go to that exit as well?”
“We go to the south gate as planned.”
Kai Neil shook his head.
Obviously, there is an exit from the city besides the South Gate.
However, humans in the city cannot use that exit.
Such a hidden route is a place only allowed to those with power.
In order to evacuate refugees from the entire city, the south gate must be secured.
‘At this point, I can say that the rumors of destruction are true.’
Cainyl concluded.
The city has long since lost its function.
close to ruins
Rumors of destruction couldn’t change it to this extent.
It’s not a rumor.
The group moved quickly.
The number of people gradually began to increase.
Dressed in dirty and torn rags, they are heading somewhere.
Like moths attracted to fire.
Humans who became livestock walk to the south gate.
A party of gladiators made their way through them.
“…”
Soon the group arrived.
In front of them, a magnificent castle gate built in the distant past in the era of humans revealed its majesty.
To the north of the gate is a large circular plaza.
Refugees stood in groups in the plaza.
‘Is it as expected?’
The officially known exit from the city is the South Gate.
If so, those who wish to live have no choice but to gather in the plaza facing the south gate.
Refugees dressed in rags are gathering in the center of the plaza and making a fuss.
The number is roughly in the hundreds.
“Hee!”
Fear is in the eyes of the refugees who see the armed gladiators.
They hesitated and retreated in fear.
“Do not be afraid. I don’t mean to harm you.”
Kainil’s words are useless.
As the party advanced, they retreated like the ebb tide.
Someone in the group sighed.
They have lived with persecution all their lives.
This reaction is unavoidable.
‘All… women and children.’
To prevent a rebellion, I heard that human men in the city are not allowed to live for long.
But was it true
Most of the refugees are women and children. It is only very rarely that the elderly are mixed in.
The group made their way to the center of the plaza, crossing the refugees fleeing from them.
It wasn’t long before they saw it too.
A group of hundred nobles armed and gathered at the entrance of the south gate.
The reason the refugees couldn’t get out was because of them.
They are dressed the same as the guards in the arena.
Iron helmet and armor. And a spear in his hand.
However, the snake-like pupils are vertically curved.
Horns sprouted from between the helmets.
The eyes of one and Kaineil met.
“Kuhh…”
He let out a grim smile, but didn’t come close.
He must have been ordered to guard the door.
“They are the defenders.”
“The number is lower than expected?”
The group giggled.
That was right.
According to the report of an old man who went out to scout outside, there are usually close to 20 troops guarding the south gate.
However, the number you see now is only ten.
I can’t help but think that the incident happened.
An event so urgent that even the troops of the South Gate had to be brought in.
The image of the man appeared in Kaineil’s mind.
‘…’
I couldn’t find his man at the south gate.
Then where did he go
‘Did he lure it on purpose?’
for us?
However, the relationship between his man and Kai Neil is not close enough to wish for this level of devotion.
For now, Kainil decided to put an end to the accident.
Planning came first.
“Kiruk Kiruk.”
“Kihihi…”
They’ve captured a group of gladiators, but they’re holding their ground.
“If it’s ten, it’s worth it.”
“We weren’t just playing.”
The number of people in the party is 24.
It conserved much more power than originally planned.
The gladiators began to prepare for battle.
“I have something to do before we fight.”
“what?”
“It is a promise with them.”
Kai Nil pulled out a trumpet made of horn from his bosom.
This item is the signal for the start of the operation that was handed over from the Liberation Army contact person.
Pooh.
Kainil blew his trumpet vigorously, and a low tone resonated throughout the plaza.
“…?”
Most of them did not understand why, but a few gladiators who knew about the existence of the Liberation Army shone in their eyes.
‘As soon as the trumpet is blown, the liberation army will attack outside the south gate.’
Kainil and the others attack from inside the South Gate.
It’s a two-sided attack.
“…”
however
Nothing happened.
“What are you doing, boss?”
“It’s strange. Why aren’t you coming?”
“Rather than that, where is that trumpet?”
Cainil blows the trumpet again over the group that has become tumultuous.
Pooh.
“…”
It’s still.
Kainil’s complexion turned pale.
“Great captain? Where is the Liberation Army?”
“Didn’t you say reinforcements are coming? That old man must be…!”
“What is the liberation army and what is the reinforcement army? Could it be that you hid it from each other?”
“quiet!”
Silence came over Cainil’s work.
“Nothing happened. You can start planning.”
“Captain, the Liberation Army must be…”
“There is no such thing.”
“yes?”
“There is no such thing as a liberation army.”
Kaineil murmured.
Bian hastily intervened.
“Are you lying? Wasn’t there evidence? The flag and the horn and…”
“stop.”
Kaineil closed his eyes.
Bian looked at the ground with blank eyes.
‘As expected…was it a lie?’
Kainil visited the old man’s room 20 minutes before the start of the operation.
He was there to make a final check.
It wasn’t difficult to hide because the two’s accommodation was close.
That’s how Kainil saw it.
The dead body of an old man with his neck hanging.
Of course, he was horrified, and when he saw the suicide note next to his body, he was even more horrified.
The old man’s confession was written in the will.
what mistake he made
Kai Neil found out the truth from the suicide note.
The Liberation Army doesn’t really exist.
Kainil’s plan, based on reinforcements, went awry.
However, he can’t even inform his colleagues of his cancellation of plans.
In the past few months, the security of the arena has become extremely tight.
Groups of three or more are immediately suspected. The three of them visiting an unknown inn was close to a huge gamble.
Their usual way of communicating is from point to point.
But, within an hour of canceling the plan, notify all your colleagues throughout the arena?
Moreover, it is night now.
There is a ban on going out at night.
Even if I knew it yesterday, it would have been difficult.
So the plan is irreversible.
If one person who didn’t hear about the cancellation was caught moving as planned, all the other colleagues would be doomed.
Cainil had to start a plan that was doomed to failure.
‘Still, the situation worked out well thanks to the man’s whim.’
The reinforcements were fake, but instead a similar role was played by an unknown gladiator.
“From now on, we will break through the south gate.”
“…yes.”
sereung.
Kai Neel drew his sword from its scabbard.
It was time to move on from behind.
“…?!”
The entire party’s footsteps stopped.
They couldn’t help but look at the situation around them in awe.
Two boulevards connected by circular plazas.
Suspicious shadows fell from the roofs of the buildings on the left and right.
“Kihihi…”
The floor and roof were over 5m high, but they landed casually.
It was an armed nobleman.
“Wait a minute…”
“This is different!”
The number of enemies increases rapidly.
Those who appeared from the roof of the building were blocking the exit and forming a siege.
‘Was it an ambush!’
I didn’t notice because I was hiding on the roof of a high-rise building.
It was a trap.
Kainil stepped back and counted the number of them.
Twelve at the south gate.
Twelve on the western avenue.
Eleven on the northern road they passed.
Therefore, the number of the hundred nobles who besieged the refugees was… 35 in total.
“Liberation Army… Where are the Liberation Army!”
“The number is higher than expected! I haven’t even heard of this!”
Hundred nobles approached.
Gladiators and refugees retreated into a corner.
to the east of the circular plaza.
But there is no exit there.
A huge barrier stands in the way.
the passage is blocked.
“Hey!”
“Buy and live…”
Confusion among the refugees was added.
They flocked to the barrier on the east side of the plaza, where there were no hundred nobles, and began to tremble.
People tried to climb over the wall, but in vain.
There is no place to go up.
“Leader.”
Someone said to Kaineil.
He was a good man, even if he was his confidant, with whom he had a relationship for a long time.
“Where has the liberation army gone? Did you lie to us?”
“…”
“Yes, even an ambush is good. But if there is a liberation army, isn’t it worth fighting them? Where have they all gone?”
Kainil gritted his teeth.
enough to bleed.
Whatever you say, it’s just an excuse.
“…sorry.”
“We trusted the captain. I mean you risked your life But what is the result? Do you mean we all have to die for your self-gratification?”
Distrustful gazes are fixed on him.
“We said we were prepared to die, but we didn’t say we would die pointlessly.”
“…sorry.”
“There was no Liberation Army?”
Kainil lowered his head.
that was the answer
“Right. That’s what happened.”
“…”
“Good. Is that what the old man did? Seeing that he hadn’t been seen since before, the captain probably didn’t even know. I hope you understand.”
Kainil couldn’t even say thank you.
It was because he was the one who put them in danger.
“I think we need to change our policy.”
“You change?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Fighting head-on would be dog death. In that case, we must break through the siege and escape.”
the man said
“It cannot be said that their ambush was aimed at us. If they had known we were escaping, they would have stopped it right away. Then their purpose is not us.”
The man glanced back.
Refugees trembling in fear of death were gathered there.
‘As expected.’
Kainil could have expected that much.
Perhaps the order imposed on them is to wait for the refugees to gather in the square and then ‘clean’ it.
Kainil and the others were only involved in it by accident.
The bow was there.
“Do you mean that? Shall we use them as bait and escape?”
Anguish was written on the man’s face.
After a while he replied.
“exactly.”
“…”
“If I could have kept it, I would have kept it. But there is no chance of winning. I think saving our lives comes first.”
“Are you serious?”
“Then what are you going to do? Fight and die with them? Is that… your decision we followed?”
The duty of a gladiator is to be calm.
They are not allowed to feel sympathy or pity.
Such clumsy emotions become a fatal weakness in battle.
Cainil was an advanced gladiator.
Being a high-level gladiator meant that he had fought the battle more calmly than anyone else.
He did not give up on his fellowship, but he did not hesitate to meet with him.
He couldn’t have survived this far if it wasn’t for that.
The same goes for the gladiators gathered here.
The connection and disconnection must be clear.
“Isn’t there a captain way? Shouldn’t we live with it? You can do it again next time to save others!”
“Captain, please make a decision!”
“If there is no Captain Liberation Army, this is the only option!”
Yes.
What they said was the truth.
As long as the existence of reinforcements is revealed as a fake, the rescue plan has lost its effect.
If so, the next course is retreat.
As a leader, he has a duty to bring his comrades back to life safely.
A rescue plan can be devised next time.
Survive first.
Opportunities to wield the sword to save others are endless.
So let’s compromise.
Taking a step back is a virtue of a captain.
Let’s live and wait for the next opportunity.
This sin has to be paid for someday.
That is….
‘…’
A picture appeared in Kaineil’s mind.
A blade thrust into his own throat.
His man says to himself.
Lay down your life to help with the plan.
Kai Neil nodded his head.
He made up his mind and gave his life to him.
‘Was that resolution a lie?’
He thought he might as well die.
If I could lay down my life to make my plan work.
But was that a deception?
Did you have a different mind?
What certainty does that man have that he won’t kill himself? Did he act like that?
What if the man knew he was going to kill himself?
‘under.’
would have made excuses
I would have rationalized
The plan needs me as the leader.
so you can’t die
Kainil remembered the nameless gladiator.
He envied his man.
He had to give his all in the battle against his comrades.
I’m not strong enough to fight while watching.
That’s why he couldn’t save his comrades.
He had to end his life with his own hand before the king could dispose of him.
If he had been a man, he would have been different.
He may have been able to keep his comrade alive by satisfying the audience enough.
where is the man now
I only knew one thing.
That she is fighting somewhere.
“Give me the captain’s orders.”
“If you are in the north, the siege is weak. Enough to escape!”
“I will be in the lead. Leave it to me if you break through…”
“stop!”
Kainil exclaimed.
The group was enveloped in silence in an instant.
in between that silence
A sob was heard.
Refugees who foresaw death were crying.
“Again… are you going to run away?”
Kaineil murmured.
“what…?”
“He said he couldn’t help it… He said he could do it next time… Are you thinking of stepping down again?”
“…”
“When are you going to do it? When is the next one you guys are talking about?”
“Chief, are you crazy?”
A man came out.
“We live first! If you are alive, you can always do good!”
“So you’ve been living for nearly thirty years, but what kind of good deeds have you done?”
“…”
“Are you going to rationalize that? You can do it next time. As long as you live, opportunities will come. So there is no choice but to abandon them. Are you going to just retreat like this?”
The man’s face turned red.
Is it anger or shame?
No one could have known.
“It has to be now or not. It has to be done right now! If a person who wants to save a person leaves the person in front of him alone, what kind of contradiction is that!”
“What are you talking about…!”
“Because it is a lie! Because it’s a lie!”
Kainil was furious.
“Since you don’t really want to save it, you’re deceiving yourself. Things don’t follow. no method. So next time. next time. in the next order. next time! Then! But the next one will never come!”
that
It’s called hypocrisy.
“That trash and myself are different. I have a heart to help people and someday I will. All this time, we were just playing around with words, thinking about it like this.”
Kainil laughed.
A lamentation and ridicule of his own life.
“The captain, then what are you going to do?”
“Don’t force me.”
Kainil took a slow breath.
The man in front objected.
“I don’t know if the Liberation Army can help. But I didn’t say that the rumor was fake. It’s all lies. There is no liberation army…!”
flutter.
A dazzling white flag flutters.
White symbolizes freedom.
It was the symbol of the Liberation Army.
“…”
Behind Caenil.
Someone was standing with a flag out.
he said with a smile on his face.
“Can I sleep if I throw those people away and run alone? Will it come out without even trying? Why did we abandon it? Why did we abandon it?”
he grinned.
“Isn’t that right, boss?”
“…thanks.”
“We lived like dirty rags. Still, it seems okay to do the laundry properly when you go, right?”
“you’re right!”
A youthful young man stepped out.
It was sad.
“If there is no Liberation Army, we just have to free ourselves.”
“Hey, did you grow up? I know how to say that.”
“That’s…”
“Wah ha ha! done. You spoke well.”
The middle-aged giant stroked Bian’s head with a rough hand.
And he stepped forward with an ax spear.
“Like the captain said, leave the cowards. I’ll just whine in my mother’s arms later. I wasn’t bad.”
The pair’s eyes change.
They, who had retreated little by little, were moving forward.
“Let’s do it. let’s do it.”
“If you die, you die.”
“It is as the chief said. If you jump out to live here alone, what’s the difference between you and those bastards?”
There were some who were worried until the end.
They were the ones who reprimanded Kainil for deceiving them.
Kainil said lowly.
“It’s not your fault. If we fight, there will be a gap. Run away then.”
“ha. I’m really going crazy.”
The man scratched his head.
“To put it nicely, we die together while protecting it. After all, isn’t it just dog death?”
I don’t know if I can protect it, but if I fail, I’ll just be exterminated along with the refugees.
To a man with a cold personality, this action was pointless.
Kainil laughed and said.
“You have to choose.”
“select? You have no choice, do you?”
“what are you talking about? I didn’t force it.”
“Don’t you think the atmosphere itself compels it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Oh shit! Genjaang! It’s amazing. Good, good, this!”
He roared and joined the crowd, pulling out his twin swords.
This allowed none of the 24 to break out of the line.
“Kiik…!”
“Get out of here, human! I have no intention of fighting you!”
One of the hundred nobles who were besieging came forward.
“Our order is to dispose of that trash. You guys have nothing to do with it!”
“Shut up, you bastards.”
“…?”
“What makes your tongue so long? I’ll kill them all, so come.”
Kyaaaagh!
The white nobles, who had lost their reason, began to raise their nails.
Some of them even threw away the spears they were holding.
It is customary for human guards to wear armor and use spears as weapons.
The true weapon of the Hundred Nobles was their own bodies.
“These… they invite death.”
“Shaaak!”
“kill! meat! eat!”
35 vs. 24.
run away from the numbers
Individual combat power cannot be seen as superior.
The odds are hopeless.
But Cainil doesn’t give up.
He chose not to give up.
Recall all the fighting experience and training you have gained as a gladiator.
Arena competitions are not limited to individual competitions.
Occasionally, team competitions were held and teams competed against each other.
In that team match, Kai Neil and his teammates were arguably the strongest in the arena.
“everyone! Straight up!”
“under!”
The formation changed at Kainil’s command.
24 people stood side by side in a straight line as if measured with a ruler.
Each of them poses with their arms outstretched in front of them.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you thank you….”
Behind Iljajin are refugees.
Their whispers were heard by Kaynil.
Now is not the time to hear that greeting.
When that time comes, after everything is over.
After protecting them.
“Kiaaaagh!”
“Kuaa!”
Kainil looked ahead.
Hundred nobles are screaming and running.
Their long, outstretched fingernails shone viciously.
“All ready for battle!”
Kai Neil gripped his longsword tightly.
There is no fear.
It just burns quietly.
A fire in my heart that I thought had been extinguished a long time ago was burning.
Kainil smiled.
Yes, it felt like this.
To use the sword not for the pleasure of the hundred nobles, but for oneself and for others.
“come.”
“Kyaaaagh!”
The hundred nobles in the lead rushed like beasts.
Kai Neel took a step forward and swung his sword.