The Extra's Odyssey

--(3rd person POV)—

"Ah, my hand slipped, sorry."

Mr. Pepe apologized and casually left the arena.

Leon stared at the departing figure of Mr. Pepe.

He then turned to the Vile reaper.

Vile reaper's limbs were completely crushed. There was a puddle of blood gathering below him and a hole in his head.

Vile reaper was dead.

Leon's grip over the handrails tightened. He reaffirmed his resolution.

"I was right about him."

Mr. Pepe was not a good person.

Till the end, Mr. Pepe played with Vile reaper by giving him hope of living only to kill him ruthlessly.

"I need to be stronger."

As he was now, Leon doubted he could defeat Mr. Pepe.

Leon could hardly fight against Vile reaper. Although at that time his mana reserve was almost empty, he doubted he could have won even if his mana reserve were full.

Yet, Mr. Pepe was able to win against Vile reaper.

"Stronger"

*

"Welcome, Mr. Pepe. I must say your performance was better than I expected."

Iris spoke to Nathan, who was sitting in front of her.

After his match had ended, Nathan had been called by Iris.

Now, he was sitting in the luxurious and spacious room of Sword Maiden.

On the side of the room, there was no wall. It was so that Iris could watch the match from the room. The wall had spells casted on it that made it impossible to see inside the room.

Behind Iris were her two guards, the butler and the purple-haired woman who was wearing a mask.

"…I'm happy that I was able to entertain the Sword Maiden."

Nathan answered curtly.

He had broken the rule again by threatening the commentator. Though Nathan knew that this wasn't why Iris had called him.

"Mr. Pepe, I think this belongs to you."

The butler quietly stepped forward and passed Oaths to Nathan.

Reading through the Oaths, Nathan realized that they were the Master-servant Oath for the battle slaves.

Nathan nodded and held the Oaths one by one.

He passed his ether into the Oaths, and they were absorbed in his body. With this, the ownership of the battle slaves now belonged to him.

The battle slaves were in the slave trader's room, yet Nathan could feel the connection that had formed with the Oath.

Suppressing his joy, Nathan talked.

"…I'll apologize for taking the Sword Maiden's time for such a small matter."

Iris smiled and spoke without hesitation.

"Don't mind it. Rather, we have already made a deal shouldn't we be close enough to call each other by our names? You can call me Iris."

"…Thank you, Miss Sword Maid-"

"Iris"

"…Miss Swo-"

"Iris"

There was a smile on her face as she corrected Nathan.

Nathan unamusedly agreed.

"...Thank you, Miss Iris"

"Without 'Miss'."

Nathan didn't speak anything for a few seconds.

This silence wasn't because it was taking time for Eth to explain to him what was happening, but because he didn't understand what Iris was trying to do.

Nathan had thought that Sword Maiden would try to ask him why he questioned Vile reaper about joining the tournament or demand compensation for breaking rules twice.

Why was she trying to get him to call her by her name?

'Could it be that she is..'

Nathan stopped his trail of thoughts before they could continue and shake his mind.

Instead, he forced himself to think differently.

'She might ask those questions after this.'

Maybe these small talks were only to confuse Nathan. She must be trying to confuse him to get answers out of him.

"…Thank you, Iris."

"You already know my name. Isn't it a proper courtesy to give your name too?"

"…I'm afraid I can't do that."

Iris didn't back down and continued.

"Giving your first name shouldn't be a problem, no? It's not like we can find you with it."

Nathan thought for a bit and agreed with her.

There won't be any problems by giving only his first name.

"…Leon"

"Isn't that your real name?"

"…Yes"

Iris didn't stop smiling, however, the same couldn't be said about her eyes. They were coldly staring at him.

(I think she knows we are lying)

'You bet'

Nathan still didn't give his real name, though.

There was no way he was going to give his name to anyone, let alone the Sword Maiden who kills people for entertainment.

Iris suddenly spoke in a cold tone.

"Isn't it time we decide about the compensation for the rules you broke? I'll be generous and let you continue, but threatening the commentators is the same as challenging my authority."

'There it is.'

Nathan sighed in relief. He was almost worried that she was going to let him go scot-free.

'So, all of before this was a causal talk, with no meaning behind it.'

Nathan wasn't a kid. If someone is letting you go without any repercussion after you kicked them in the curb, then that person wasn't good but dangerous.

'Be thankful to someone who helps you and doubtful about someone who unconditionally helps you.'

(It's not like that! You are just too paranoid!)

'Yes, yes'

Eth, who heard Nathan's thoughts, sighed in resignation.

Ignoring Eth, Nathan took a deep breath before answering Iris.

"…I'll give up on the championship."

*

--(Nathan's POV)—

I sunk into the sofa of the room provided to me.

"That was dreadful"

Being in the room with three high-level awakeners, even if they weren't releasing their pressure, was suffocating.

Our discussion wrapped up pretty easily after I said I'll back down from the championship.

Iris was interested in why I was giving up on the tournament now that my chances of winning were high.

To that, I answered that I had entered the tournament to gain real battle experiences. I didn't need the prizes now that I have defeated the strongest participant.

The only reason I won the match was that Eth can see and hear all around me, telling me about Vile reaper's location, and my art allowed me to attack anywhere within my range.

If not for these two things, I didn't doubt that I would have lost.

Knock- Knock-

"Come in"

The door opened, and Miller entered. Behind him were Tristan, Merlin, and two other battle slaves.