I apologize, I thought that HellSatan had given it up…
Chapter 159: Perfect Hidden Justice
I apply my blood to the slave sealing ink and leave the rest to the slave dealers.
“Don’t register something else with it like last time.” (Naofumi)
“I already understand.” (Slave Dealer)
I’ll file a complaint if I get another random slave mixed in.
“Now then, while the registration happens, you will have free time, so why not check the Coliseum upstairs? Yes.” (Slave Merchant)
“Fine.” (Naofumi)
On the Slave Merchant’s orders, the Slave Dealer begins to lead me towards the Coliseum.
According to the Slave Dealer, today they are holding free matches.
The spectators bet on who will win, and many will lose all of their money.
We get out of the dungeon area, and begin climbing some stairs.
“The crowd is quite large.” (Naofumi)
The matches have yet to start, and the reception desk is quite lively.
The atmosphere is like that of a baseball stadium.
“For my uncle’s work, I will be drawing in customers. Yes.” (Slave Dealer)
“Hero-sama should participate as well.” (Slave Dealer)
“And why would I do that?” (Naofumi)
I can only defend, so how the hell am I supposed to win?
“There are also team games. I’m sure you will be a popular competitor.” (Slave Dealer)
“I’ll consider it based on the rewards.” (Naofumi)
I might be able to make a bit of money here…
If Rafatalia and Firo fight with me, I don’t see how we would could lose.
“Another Coliseum we manage has special events for monsters. Yes. Perhaps you may be interested in entering your Filo Rial there.” (Slave Dealer)
If Taniko or Rat heard of that, they’d throw a fit. They’re both against the exploitation of monsters.
Having Firo fight for money doesn’t sound bad though.
“I’ll consider it.” (Naofumi)
“I’ll wait for a favorable response. Yes.” (Slave Dealer)
The Slave Dealer leads us to some spectator seats reserved for him.
Hmm… There are quite a few people with evil eyes. Quite a few of them look very muscular.
… And there I witnessed something I hadn’t been expecting.
“I-Itsuki!?” (Naofumi)
Mixed in with the other contestants is, without a doubt, Itsuki.
I get up and head down towards the field.
“Is something wrong? Yes.” (Slave Dealer)
“Yeah.” (Naofumi)
I tell the Slave Dealer that I saw the Hero of the Bow among the contestants.
“Here, anyone can enter the games, so it’s not odd for a hero to participate. Yes.” (Slave Dealer)
“Participants can register under any name they wish.” (Slave Dealer)
“What is he registered as?” (Naofumi)
I read out the number printed on Itsuki’s chest.
“Um…” (Slave Dealer)
The Slave Dealer receives a list from a muscular man with a sack over his head.
“That number, 982.. That person seems to be registered under 『Perfect Hidden Justice』.” (Slave Dealer)
I thought I would fall over.
Perfect Hidden Justice!? What sort of bad joke is that?
(TL: The imagination begins to explosively develop in the eighth grade.)
Doesn’t he feel embarrassed? Even I’m feeling embarrassed here.
“Can you arrange to talk with him?” (Naofumi)
“Yes, my authority will allow it.” (Slave Dealer)
The Slave merchant gives orders to his subordinates, and we are led to the contestant waiting room.
“Oy. Been a while.” (Naofumi)
I call out to Itsuki.
I’ll find her later.
“I… right… everyone…” (Itsuki)
“Yes, everyone’s looking at me… yes. Everyone… looks at me…” (Itsuki)
“Listen when someone’s talking to you!” (Naofumi)
Itsuki continues to mumble something to himself. I can’t really tell what he’s saying.
I hear a gong-like sound from the center of the Coliseum.
“I’m… a Hero of Justice!” (Itsuki)
My words don’t even register to him. Itsuki follows the other competitors and leaves the room.
“The hell is up with him?” (Naofumi)
It’s as if he didn’t even notice me.
“Well… I looked into that competitor, but he seems to visit a coliseum every day. Yes.” (Slave Dealer)
“Yes. He has made himself known in this country as a mysterious archer. He has been recorded to become ecstatic when he hears applause.” (Slave Dealer)
“…Did something happen?” (Naofumi)
His desire for praise had always been strong, but now he sounds like a mental patient.
I can kinda imagine what his experience with the Turtle must have been like.
“Shadow.” (Naofumi)
Let’s see if she’s here.
(TL: This is gender-neutral in Japanese, but it seems public consensus is that Shadow is female.)
“What is it-gojaru?” (Shadow)
… She really appeared.
“The ride on the Hero of the Shield’s carriage was terrible-gojaru.” (Shadow)
If I worry about it I won’t get anywhere. I won’t confront her on the matter.
“Why were you unable to locate Itsuki when he’s in such plain sight?” (Naofumi)
“The Hero of the Bow has a habit of concealing himself, so there was little information on his appearance and location being circulated-gojaru.” (Shadow)
Well, that’s true. The Heroes have changeable weapons, and common faces. If they change to a common weapon, then they are unidentifiable from the rest.
Though he still uses a bow, I guess he is smart enough not to change it in battle.
“Do you think you can capture him here?” (Naofumi)
“Well, that’s true… can you continue following him?” (Naofumi)
“Understood. Ah, right.” (Naofumi)
I turn to Rafatalia
“Rafatalia, should we report this to Rishia?” (Naofumi)
“I… see…” (Naofumi)
He seems to have become mentally crippled, fighting in the coliseum only for praise.
There’s a possibility she will continue trying to talk to him and… Perhaps snap and stab him?
I can only see bad endings to that scenario.
And where are his comrades?
“Anyways, I’ll start my investigation-gojaru.” (Shadow)
“Understood-gojaru.” (Shadow)
“I’ll meet up with her, and keep her away, so please… keep it a secret.” (Rafatalia)
“Understood, leave it to you.” (Naofumi)
I use the slave system to track down Rishia. It gives me a general idea of her location.
I can’t use it to find people who aren’t in my party, and I can’t use it to find people who are too far away.
“It seems she’s in the Plaza south of here. I’ll leave it to you, Rafatalia.” (Naofumi)
“Understood. I’ll definitely keep her away.” (Rafatalia)
Rafatalia runs off.
Those two do get along quite well.
“Anyways… I wonder what happened to him.” (Naofumi)
“You should have brought that up sooner.” (Naofumi)
“I see…” (Naofumi)
Ren’s story did give off the feeling that the turtle awakened almost immediately after he destroyed the statue.
“The Hero of the Bow was the first one to cause a commotion, and all of his companions were with him, or so it was recorded-gojaru.” (Shadow)
“…The Hero of the Bow destroyed a statue half a day before the other two. After that, taking advantage of the commotion, numerous treasure hunters began plundering the nearby ruins causing mass confusion. The Hero of the Spear used the chaos to enter a temple and break a statue, and almost immediately following him the Hero of the Sword destroyed one as well-gojaru.” (Shadow)
“And after a while, the Spirit Turtle awakened just as the Hero of the Bow testified-gojaru. In a panic, the guards released him so he could go fight it-gojaru.” (Shadow)
And after that he went missing.
That kid is a mass of half-assed justice.
So the reason Ren and Elena were able to enter so easily was because of the Chaos caused by Itsuki’s group.
The game starts, and I watch Itsuki fight.
But Itsuki is easily able to win.
So he’s at least stronger than the average fighter.
But his eyes look strange. Whenever the crowd gets louder, he raises both of his arms in the air and shouts out.
The Itsuki I know is just a bit more mature. He was a relatively docile hypocrite.
I haven’t talked to him yet, so the cause is still a mystery.
I guess I should at least try.