Chapter 23: Underdog Diablo

“Place your levels, you fools! I’m putting a hundred levels on myself! Hurry up! Hahaha!”

Diablo climbed onto the table and laughed.

“Forty levels on the Swordmaster!”

“Thirty-five on the Commander!”

“Loyalty counts! All in on our brother!”

“Hey, you don’t know how to bet! This is when you go for the underdog! A hundred levels on El Diablo!”

“Oh, a genius! I’ll put thirty on El Diablo too!”

“Hahaha! I’m going for the underdog as well!”

“Let’s go!”

Everyone raised their hands in agreement.

“Hey, underdog? Are you crazy? Have you decided I’m going to lose or something? Shut up! Don’t bet on the underdog! If you don’t clear it, get lost!”

Diablo seemed to be enjoying himself too.

‘Were the stakes actually levels?’

I folded my arms and watched.

Then Treya approached with a smile.

“Heh heh. You’re more composed than I expected. I thought the old Commander would draw his sword and lose his temper.”

“Huh? Pfft. And you’re the one talking? Who do you think taught me that temperament?”

“True. I did educate you. But there’s no stopping this now. We’re no longer in a superior-subordinate relationship… Wouldn’t it be harsh to still treat each other as such after death?”

Treya answered with a playful wink.

“Then why are you still speaking formally? You said we’re no longer in a hierarchy. Why not speak casually? Or should I start first?”

“Heh heh. It’s just my choice. Those ten years when I couldn’t follow you… That time feels bitter.”

“Bitter? Thanks to you, I became the Swordmaster of this world.”

“Why do you credit me for what you achieved yourself? Excessive modesty is just annoying.”

“You have quite the sharp tongue.”

“When haven’t I?”

Treya smiled.

Ten years I couldn’t follow him, huh.

Now that I think about it, that was true.

Treya died protecting me at the Emperor’s hand.

Even now, if I close my eyes, I vividly see her pierced by the spear, telling me to go ahead first.

It was a scene I had met many times in nightmares after long years of torment.

Well.

It should be fine now.

I smiled lightly and waited for the betting to end.

Seeing the man himself was perfectly fine, this nightmare would be the last.

“This is boring as hell. You get twelve on me, and three hundred thirty-one on you? Is this a bet? I’ll pay you back… I’ll make you cry blood tears by winning! All of you, prepare yourselves!”

***

After a long wait, Diablo climbed down and grumbled.

“Hey rookie. The underdog bet is still alive.”

“Underdog! Underdog!”

“El Diablo, fighting!”

“Dia-chan, ganbare!”

The subordinates mixed with demons laughed.

This was a laughable scene.

That cruel demon being treated like a clown.

Moreover, Diablo not taking it seriously and laughing it off was incredible.

“All right. Forget the bet, let’s place some ourselves. I’m putting a hundred levels. How much will you put, mortal?”

Diablo approached and asked me.

“Unfortunately… I only have sixty-three levels. But a match with you is enough. I want to keep some levels for amplification.”

I answered, recalling my previous level.

I couldn’t afford to lose levels, sadly.

Of course, it wouldn’t matter if I didn’t lose, but I refused to waste it out of greed.

“Oh, losing levels doesn’t mean your current game level drops. What’s consumed is your cumulative level.”

Then Treya, who was behind me, spoke up.

She tilted her head and asked.

“Cumulative level? Is that different from normal level?”

“That’s right. Cumulative level means the total levels a hero has accumulated. When summoned into a game, you start at level 1, but even if you get defeated, your previous level remains.”

“For example, if you reached level 16 in the first game and lost, your cumulative level is 16. When summoned to a new game, you start again at level 1, but your cumulative level becomes 17. The level people talk about in the square is the cumulative level. Do you understand?”

Treya explained without even pausing for breath.

Wow.

That was long.

There was so much to know.

Basically, the ‘level’ in the current game and the ‘cumulative level’ in the square are different?

That was the gist of it.

“Enough! You bet all sixty-three levels. I’ll boldly bet a hundred. And one more thing.”

“One more?”

“If you beat me, I’ll give you this notebook. This notebook. Something you’ll want! Hahaha!”

Diablo laughed while holding something up.

A book?

It didn’t look like a scroll or magic tome.

It was oddly old and worn.

“Not really… something I want. What is it?”

“Hahaha! You should want it! What is it? It’s a dictionary of words and systems used in Valhalla! A must-have for a stubborn old fool like you! How about it? It’s totally in your favor.”

Diablo held out the book and said.

‘A dictionary used in Valhalla?’

Hmm…

That was an intriguing story.

I’d been feeling sorry relying on Gobori all the time anyway.

“Fine. That sounds like it’s in my favor. I don’t know what tricks you have.”

“Khkh. That look! That craving look pleases me! I accept your bet, mortal! This is the duel we couldn’t finish! We’ll end it here in Valhalla! Cheer, you fools! Shout, mortals! Khahaha!”

Diablo answered with a sinister laugh.

What followed was simple.

There was a rectangular arena in the corner of the channel, and when I stepped onto it, text appeared like on a stage.

[1:1 Free Match]

[★★★★ Diablo of the Crimson Flame]

VS

[★★ Wandering Swordsman]

Each had their health displayed above their heads.

The health bar I’d seen on the ‘dwarf’ on screen was now fixed above my head.

“Huh?”

“Two stars?”

“Commander is a Wandering Swordsman too?”

The hall stirred.

‘What was going on?’

‘Was there a problem?’

I glanced back and saw Treya with a surprised look as well.

“What? Is there a problem?”

I asked Treya.

She shook her head in shock.

“No, no problem. We thought you’d get a better class… Right. Pinless came back as a duplicate hero. That’s my fault. Please forgive me.”

“Forgiveness is too much. I’m sorry for not meeting expectations.”

I shrugged it off roughly.

Well.

I was the world’s only, first Swordmaster, but I got the same name as a low-ranking knight who died seven years ago—Pinless.

The subordinates had every right to be disappointed.

But it was something I could prove with skill.

“Oh! That’s a shame! I thought you’d get at least three stars! A two-star Wandering Swordsman is just a rat-man from the underground sewer! This actually works out. The odds I bet on will skyrocket! Khahaha!”

Diablo laughed facing me.

“What are you talking about, you damn red?”

“Die!”

“Commander! You must win! Win like before!”

“Nationwide Wandering Swordsman Union, fighting!”

“H421 Wandering Swordsman, fighting!”

“Jeonbangyeon forever!”

“Wah!”

The watching subordinates shouted.

Could it be…

‘Are they all Wandering Swordsmen here?’

Everyone including Pinless?

I laughed.

It seemed everyone here was a Wandering Swordsman, including me.

“Commander.”

“Hmm?”

“A hero’s power doesn’t lie in their stars. You are who you are… you will surely win. Win no matter what, Commander.”

Treya spoke from the edge of the arena.

Well.

There was nothing to be intimidated about.

As Treya said, I am who I am.

Besides, this was a ‘match,’ right?

The main content of Valhalla that Rose and Gobori had told me about.

This was my chance to experience it firsthand.

“No need to worry. No matter my rank, I’m still me. Come on. El Diablo. I’ll make you remember exactly who killed you today.”

I brandished the Uruk Slayer and said.

Good. My heart’s beating! The heart I lost once because of you! Once again, your sword—hngh…!

“Yeah! Hahaha!”

Boom!

Diablo roared.

The deadly aura was heavier than when enjoying the feast.

A sharp wind slashed across the whole arena.

[★★★★ Diablo of the Crimson Flame: Great Demon’s Majesty Effect!]

[Opponent’s attack power and movement speed decreased by 10%!]

‘Hmm?’

Text appeared in midair.

“Begin!”

“Is he really starting with a debuff?”

“Commander, fighting!”

Everyone watching shouted.

As soon as the text appeared, Diablo charged.

[★★ Wandering Swordsman: Wild Dog Hunter Effect!]

[Not affected by intimidation!]

“Oh!”

“He resisted it!”

“As expected from the Commander!”

Simultaneously, another text appeared.

‘Was ‘majesty’ considered intimidation?’

If so, no need to worry.

I adjusted my grip on my sword with both hands.

I twisted my body and dodged Diablo’s attack,

Whoosh, thwack!

“Ugh!”

I sliced through his exposed red back.

My sword landed the first effective hit.

“Krgh… Not bad! This is how a worthy rival fights! This is enjoyable!”

“Didn’t you say you changed your tone? This new tone’s better.”

“Hahaha! When fighting, I’m not the arena me! Kraaah!”

Diablo roared loudly and charged.

Whoosh! Swipe!

A fierce claw swiped right in front of me.

‘Should I block?’

No.

I never risked things I couldn’t do.

With the pride of my world at stake, I wasn’t going to take risks.

“Hahaha! This is the taste! Hahaha!”

Diablo shouted.

‘He’s gotten stronger.’

***

After several clashes, I realized it.

This demon was not the Diablo I remembered.

Unlike before, when he just relied on his body, he now moved intelligently to pressure me.

Kaak!

I struck Diablo’s arm and slipped.

He had solid forearms, after all.

Our swords clashed head-on, but only left scratches.

A pretty good sword. To leave a mark on me. A fitting weapon for you, huh…

“It’s a sword.”

Diablo checked his arm and said.

I dusted off my sword and approached Diablo.

“You’re pretty good yourself. I heard you died from carelessness. Guess it was true.”

“Flattering me! And this! This is the battle where I can recognize myself as me, and you as you! This is what I’ve longed for! Khahaha!”

Diablo spread his arms and laughed.

‘What should I call this scene?’

More pitiful than funny.

I could see what kind of treatment that proud demon had received.

Rather than mocking him, I treated him like a fellow warrior.

“A worthy rival. Truly.”

“Flattering! Overheat!”

[★★ Diablo of the Crimson Flame: Overheat Skill!]

[★★★★ Diablo of the Crimson Flame’s attack and defense increase by 30% each!]

Whoosh!

Flames burst from Diablo’s body.

The fire was fiercer than any flame I’d known.

“Oh! Skills are cheating! Commander is here today!”

“Woah! No fair!”

“Don’t be a crybaby!”

“Skills are OP!”

“Woo!”

Everyone watching shouted.

“Hahaha! Where’s the ban on skills in a match? If there is, so be it! If not, so be it! Just accept it! Hahaha!”

Diablo wrapped in flames charged.

‘Could he use skills too?’

Well, if that’s the case, no need to hesitate.

“Haste!”

[★★ Wandering Swordsman: Haste Skill!]

[★★ Wandering Swordsman’s attack and movement speed increased by 10% each!]

I whipped up a gust of wind and dodged the charge.

“Oh?”

Diablo, who charged, looked flustered.

“You taught a skill to a two-star swordsman?”

“Amazing! I want to go to that user too!”

“Why am I the only one without a skill?”

“As expected from the Commander! You learned it yourself!”

“Wandering Swordsmen don’t have self-taught skills!”

Everyone watching was excited.

‘Was this unusual?’

Well, when Rose used a scroll on me, she freaked out too.

I twisted and sliced Diablo’s back.

Thwack!

Diablo’s health dropped to half.

“Ow, damn it! Oh, that hurts! I thought it was fine when you cut me before, but now it hurts! What’s that sword? What weapon is that? Ack!”

Diablo touched his back, whining.

He was back to his usual tone as a bonus.

[★★ Uruk Slayer]

[+Attack Power 80%(+50%)]

[+Critical Chance 30%]

“A five-star Uruk Slayer. Attack power 130% and critical chance 30%. Good?”

I asked, holding the sword.

“Oh, why give a five-star sword! Your user’s crazy! Why give you a five-star weapon?”

Diablo was shocked.

“Eek! Five-star!”

“Pearls before swine…”

“Hey! Who’s the swine here?”

“Right, our Commander, right? Sorry!”

“Wow. That’d hurt a lot if it hits. Look at El Diablo bleeding!”

“Commander! Kill him for sure! Fighting!”

Everyone watching had similar reactions.

‘Come to think of it, this was from the first card I drew, wasn’t it?’

My attachment to this sword was growing stronger.

“Want to stop if it hurts? I’m not trying to kill you. Want to continue?”

I asked Diablo for a moment.

“Hahaha… Stop? Kill me?”

But Diablo was relaxed.

He flared crimson flames higher than before.

“Unfortunately, a match doesn’t end until one side dies! And I am the winner of this battle! I will end it with this strike! A power you two-star mortals can never use! End Times Fire Breath!!!”

Diablo opened his mouth and roared.

[★★★★ Diablo of the Crimson Flame: End Times Fire Breath!]

‘Huh?’

Suddenly flames erupted from Diablo’s throat.

Right.

Heroes with three stars or higher can use a ‘strike’ as a skill, right?

It looked like that kind of strike.

Kra-ka-kka!

Bright red flames exploded toward me.