Chapter 124 – Nesos (10)

Drip.

The teacup was filled.

A scent like strong, rich coffee stimulated the tip of my nose.

It was quite a tempting aroma.

“It is a premium Ramela tea.”

Ramda, the owner of Animus, personally filled each of our three teacups as he continued to speak.

“Ramela is extremely difficult to cultivate, so the amount produced is small, and securing a supply is like plucking a star from the sky. Of course, here at our Animus, we receive a steady supply of a certain amount.”

Drip, drip, drip.

Then, he finally filled his own cup.

This was the way they entertained customers who came for the loan service.

“Please, drink.”

Ramda raised his cup, inviting us to drink the tea.

“But isn’t Ramela a drug?”

“That’s right. It is a drug. But is there a problem?”

He answered my question very calmly.

Coming to the house was illegal in itself, so what was so special about doing drugs? That was the meaning.

Ramda gave a sly smile.

“Gambling is a drug anyway. And a drug is just a drug. Some drugs are okay and some drugs are not? There is no such law in the world.”

“An interesting logic.”

“Did it sound that way? But in fact, Ramela and gambling are a perfect match. A considerable number of players who visit our Animus enjoy Ramela tea, and they are all satisfied because the awakening effect of this tea is significant.”

I had heard that the awakening effect was indeed significant.

It was said to temporarily enhance not only concentration but also judgment.

But what Hans had emphasized more was Ramela’s addictiveness.

He had described it as a trap from which one could not escape after just a single intake, so I was just curious as to what kind of reaction it caused in the body.

‘I can roughly guess just from the scent.’

Those who borrowed money from Ramda would drink Ramela.

And those addicted to Ramela would have to visit Animus again and continuously drink Ramela.

Unless one never started, it would be difficult to escape from this infinite loop.

And the one who condoned this atrocity of Animus was none other than the lord of the night market, Nepaya.

“Forget the Ramela, what if I just want to get a loan?”

At my short remark, the air in the room instantly turned cold.

A wave of killing intent rushed in.

It wasn’t just Ramda and the three of us in this place.

The warriors lined up along both walls had reacted to my words with a silent killing intent.

And the fellow sitting next to Ramda. He hadn’t said a word yet, just keeping his ears open, but I could tell at a glance that he was a considerable expert.

The level seen by Mana Eyes was on a completely different dimension from the others.

‘So it’s this guy.’

The one whose presence I could feel from outside the door.

When the major event began, eliminating this guy first would be the proper order.

“You’ll refuse the Ramela and just borrow money? That would be troublesome. Drinking Ramela at Animus means becoming brothers. And if you are not a brother, it would be troublesome to lend money.”

It was something I wasn’t informed of by the guide when I first came to Animus.

Of course, I already knew about it from Hans.

“This is the first I’m hearing of this. Then what if one refuses to become a brother? What happens then?”

At my words, the killing intent vibrated faintly once again.

Ramda wore an expression as if my reaction was amusing.

“Since you’re curious, I’ll tell you. If you refuse to become a brother, you can never come to Animus again. Of course, this is the same for other houses. But are you really thinking of refusing to become our brother?”

“The atmosphere makes it seem like something terrible will happen if I refuse.”

“I can’t guarantee it since there hasn’t been such a case until now. Usually, once people enter my room, they leave as brothers……”

Shhhhh.

At that moment, the man sitting silently next to Ramda shifted the position of his sword hilt.

It was a trivial movement, but a considerable amount of magical power was released.

A clearly intentional act.

He was threatening the three of us.

This was why once you set foot in this room, you couldn’t help but become a slave to Ramela.

“You said your name was Johan? You are a very peculiar case. It’s your first time at Animus, and it has been reported that you have won a lot of money so far.”

“Can you know that even while sitting here?”

“Because the dealers report periodically. But Johan, did you really come here to borrow money?”

I nodded my head.

“Well, it doesn’t matter why you came here. The fact that you came here is what’s important. By the way, are the two people next to you friends? Or escort warriors?”

From Ramda’s perspective, it was understandable to mistake them for escorts.

Even though the speed of my body’s recovery had increased considerably since meeting Heo Gyeong-woo, the energy my body emitted was still lacking compared to ordinary warriors.

“Let’s just say we’re friends.”

“Good. Then I’ll ask again. Will you become our brother? If you refuse, we will never see each other’s faces for the rest of our lives.”

It felt very strange.

I had a choice, but if I made a different choice, they could threaten me in any way.

Ramda was already showing his intimidation, and the guys lined up silently on both walls were faintly emitting killing intent.

‘I am curious.’

How these guys would react if I refused and just stood up.

Then a thought suddenly occurred to me.

If I was curious, I just had to try it myself.

There was nothing holding me back.

“I’ll be taking my leave now.”

“Hoh. You’re really just going to leave?”

“I’m of the mind that I may gamble, but I don’t do drugs.”

“I’m baffled. As I said, no one has ever entered here and just left.”

Lloyd’s expression was rigid.

On the outside, he was putting on a serious face, but the flesh under his eyes was trembling.

As soon as my words ended, Lloyd jumped up and turned the doorknob. But.

Clunk.

The door wouldn’t open.

“What’s this! Johan! I think the door is locked?”

The killing intent inside the room was gradually intensifying.

In the end, this was it.

You were free to enter, but you couldn’t leave this room without drinking Ramela.

“Hey, Johan. The door suddenly malfunctioning like this seems like a sign from the heavens to think it over one more time, what do you say?”

Ramda’s sly smile.

I, too, grinned and continued.

“The person next to you. He’s been staring at me so scarily since a while ago. And he hasn’t said a single word, what does he do?”

“Ah! You mean Berun? He is the best warrior in Animus. The great Nepaya personally sent him here.”

“I can see he’s a scary person, but is he a mute?”

At my words, Berun glared at me.

He looked as if he was about to shoot lasers from his eyes.

On the other hand, Ramda burst out laughing at the mute comment.

“Wahahaha. Indeed, Johan. You are a very amusing person. To treat Berun as a mute.”

“Was I wrong?”

“Actually, Berun is a bit taciturn. Even I haven’t heard his voice much.”

“Then, I’ll let you hear it now.”

“Pardon? What do you mean……”

I immediately flicked a coin.

I had seen Animus’s atrocities with my own eyes, so there was nothing more to talk about with Ramda.

The coin’s target was Berun’s forehead.

Of course, I didn’t think I could put a hole in his face.

As the top expert in Animus, he would be able to block this much.

“Heoeop!!”

But I was able to hear his voice.

He raised his guard to block it, but he let out a groan from the greater-than-expected impact.

“So he wasn’t a mute after all.”

Ramda had a look of dismay.

“That was too reckless. If it were me, I would have just drunk the Ramela!”

“Are you sulking?”

“Let’s just say I’m a bit shocked. You’re the first person like this.”

Chaeeng!

Chaeeng!

Chaeeng!

At Ramda’s glance, all the warriors in the room drew their swords at once.

Berun spoke for the first time.

“You, you bastard!”

“I see why you were so taciturn. What’s with that voice, it doesn’t match your face.”

Unlike his fierce impression, his voice was as delicate as a young girl’s.

Berun immediately pleaded with Ramda.

“I will kill him!”

“Instead, do it cruelly. Johan is the one who insulted me.”

Berun nodded and extended his sword towards me.

With this as a signal, the battle began.

Chaaeeeng!

Berun’s power was transmitted through Bastian’s blade.

Like a native of Nesos, he was overflowing with power.

Enough that even I would have been slightly shocked if it weren’t for the Holy Sword.

Chaaeeeng!

Among the people of Nesos, those who had properly learned swordsmanship were few.

The reason was said to be that they were so overflowing with mana and power that they didn’t feel the need for swordsmanship.

But when a person of Nesos properly honed their swordsmanship, a monster was born. Berun was exactly such a case.

Kwaaaaang!

First of all, his sword was heavy.

The sword striking down from above my head was like a boulder.

Kwang!

Kwaaang!

The sword that flew in unpredictably from the side felt like a stone launched from a catapult.

In the end, no matter where it came from, it was a stone.

“I will kill you!”

But the thing I couldn’t get used to the most was his voice.

His appearance, and the style of his swordsmanship, were completely like that of a stone statue, but what pierced my ears was the whining sound of a mosquito.

Friend! Let us not be deceived!

It seemed the Holy Sword was also subtly bothered.

Kwaaaaang!

Another giant boulder followed the mosquito sound.

I had faced countless swordsmanship styles, but in terms of uniqueness, Berun could easily be ranked within the top three hundred.

‘Swordsmanship like a pile of rocks.’

I don’t know who devised this swordsmanship, but I wanted to applaud the idea that utilized the strengths of the people of Nesos well.

The problem was that it ended right there.

It was heavy, unpredictable, and fast, but it lacked the subtlety of swordsmanship.

I had appreciated and adapted enough, so now it was time to end it.

Swishhhh!

Bastian drew a sharp arc and cut the boulder.

Blood spurted from behind the boulder that had been split in two.

“Oooohp!!!”

And a delicate groan.

Berun fell to the floor with a thud.

“N-no!!”

At Berun’s death, Ramda took a step back.

But it wasn’t just Berun who had fallen.

The walls of Ramda’s office were already soaked in red blood.

A masterpiece by artist Min Ha-rin.

Swish!

Swishhh!

Swishhhh!!

As if starved for blood, Min Ha-rin was swinging her sword.

Ramda shouted in a trembling voice.

“Stop it! I said stop!!”

“What are you going to do if I stop? Are you going to offer me Ramela again?”

Ramda let out a horrified scream.

An order to the outside, for everyone to gather here. But it was already too late.

Because no matter who came, there was no way to survive.

Swishhhhhh!

After cutting down the last one, Min Ha-rin panted and looked at me.

“Senior. Since my hands are already dirty. I will finish it!”

I nodded my head.

Even if she cut down Ramda, it wasn’t the end here.

There were still a considerable number of troops to face after leaving this room.

With Min Ha-rin’s condition today, it seemed fine to get her hands very dirty.

Thanks to that, I could rest a bit.

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