The Hidden Ending Strategy of a Veteran in a Dead Game

Chapter 23: Proposal for Exploration

A sudden flash of inspiration struck me.

The moment I had the idea, I acted on it.

Thud!

“What—what’s going on?”

“Interrupting a sacred duel?! Unforgivable!”

I leaped from the terrace, landing squarely between the two men about to duel.

“What kind of duel takes place without an official witness? Were you planning to ask the soldier over there to testify for you?”

“Ahem. They say the Bayerle Family has eyes everywhere, Second Young Master.”

“Well, that’s not wrong. But do you think you can do anything in the Wolf’s Cradle without the family knowing?”

I sidled closer to them.

“That said, these things are much better with an audience. It’s great that you’re fighting honorably, but who’s going to recognize it if no one sees? At best, people will think, ‘Oh, they had a spat and fought it out.’”

I pointed toward the banquet hall.

Through the terrace, warm lights spilled out, and the faint hum of voices could be heard. Several people resting on the terrace were already watching this side with interest.

“See? Everyone’s already looking over here. Banquets get boring after a while. Drinking and chatting only go so far. Most of them have probably run out of things to talk about and are itching for something else to grab their attention.”

“What exactly are you suggesting?”

“I’m saying that if you’re going to duel, why not make it a spectacle? Fight and earn some fame while you’re at it.”

I turned to the man who had thrown his glove to initiate the duel.

His name was Bexter, if I remembered correctly.

I didn’t recall all the details, but his face was familiar.

For a pixelated game, the Macrona Empire had put a lot of effort into NPC illustrations. Even minor characters involved in quests had their own art.

"Bexter shows up during a minor quest, doesn’t he?"

I vaguely remembered him from the quest involving the appearance of demons in the Sillon territory.

He’d been thoroughly defeated, and the quest involved escorting him back home.

In return, he taught a secret technique called Flowing Blade.

It was a trash-tier E-grade skill, but that wasn’t the important part.

“The Fifth Star of Sillon, master of the Flowing Blade technique! If you’re going to showcase such skill, wouldn’t it be better with a crowd? Some of the esteemed guests are still inside. Who knows? They might be so impressed they extend an offer to you. If it were me, I’d applaud and cheer you on!”

“Ahem, when you put it that way, it’s a bit embarrassing...”

“Ah, no need to feel shy. And as for you, sir—”

I turned to the other man, who looked like he was bursting with anticipation.

“…Oho! Just from your stance, I can tell you’re someone who’s honed their body. Even through your clothes, the contours of your muscles speak volumes!”

“You know your stuff. That’s right. Everything starts with the basics, and the same goes for physical conditioning.”

“As expected of someone who’s mastered the sword. With your broad shoulders and powerful hands, women must find you irresistible.”

“Hahaha! I was quite popular in my younger days. Now, though, I live alone.”

Good, he seemed pleased. Compliments about appearance were direct and highly effective.

“Really? How surprising for someone as impressive as you.”

I leaned in and whispered.

“I happen to be the star of this banquet. From what I’ve seen, there are quite a few people here feeling lonely. While a direct introduction might be awkward, showcasing your dueling skills could leave an impression. After all, nothing draws admiration like manly valor.”

“Y-you think so? Hrmph! You’re right. A man should exude masculinity. Absolutely!”

Perfect. Both of them were now on board.

The only thing left was to gather an audience. The more people, the better. Whether participants or spectators, they wouldn’t be able to resist.

"After all, nothing beats the thrill of watching a fight."

Especially here in the Bayerle Family’s domain, where many of the guests were inherently competitive.

Get them riled up, and they’d happily join in or watch from the sidelines.

“Wait here for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

Tap! Clatter!

Scaling the wall quickly, I climbed back onto the balcony. I burst through the doors and shouted loudly enough to grab everyone’s attention.

“Hey! There’s a fight breaking out!”

A blunt announcement, but effective—it drew all eyes toward me.

“A duel between a master of swift blades, quick enough to toy with the wind, and a warrior as unyielding as a mountain! Oho, what a rare spectacle indeed!”

I hyped it up as if it were something extraordinary. While rallying alone was less effective, I didn’t need to worry about that.

“If Young Master Kellen is saying that much, there must be something to it.”

“Oh, I think I know one of them. Wasn’t he somewhat famous in… what was it? Sillon?”

“As expected of the Bayerle Family. It’s only natural that skilled individuals gather here.”

“Indeed. Let’s go take a look.”

As the center of attention for this banquet, I’d already proven my skills, so it was only natural that people were curious.

Even those who weren’t interested...

“Let’s sober up a bit.”

“Hahaha! How exciting! Staying cooped up and drinking is no fun. Let’s have some real entertainment!”

Many of the guests weren’t cut out for banquets.

The gathering included not only nobles but also mercenaries, troubleshooters, and wandering knights.

The crowd began to move toward the terrace.

Some of the more eager ones headed straight to the open area where the duel was taking place. Even those who valued propriety couldn’t hide their curiosity and peeked over.

I climbed onto the terrace railing, balancing effortlessly as I addressed the crowd.

“On the left! Master of swift blades, Bexter! On the right! The indomitable strength of Fumen!”

The sudden announcement caused both men to flinch.

“Let us, as witnesses, cheer on these honorable duelists!”

At my gesture, the crowd erupted into cheers.

“Wooooo!”

“Fight! Win!”

“Never seen these guys before—this should be good.”

Overwhelmed by the unexpected enthusiasm, Bexter and Fumen hesitated briefly but quickly regained their composure.

“Today, I’ll show you my true skills!”

“Let me teach you that youthful zeal is no match for experience!”

The two men adjusted their stances and clashed.

People always try harder when they know they’re being watched—it’s basic psychology.

Satisfied with the scene I’d set, I slipped back into the crowd.

The first match was underway. Now, all that remained was…

"Recruiting more participants and setting up the bets."

Watching alone wouldn’t do. A proper duel needed stakes to make it exciting.

Smirking, I set to work.

***

In the blink of an eye, the place turned into a gladiator arena.

No, it was a dueling ground for men to fight for honor!

In a world with limited entertainment, watching fights was a major form of amusement, and that was no different for the banquet attendees.

At first, participants cited all sorts of reasons to justify their duels, but now, fighting itself had become the main purpose.

“Wooo! Land a good hit!”

“Clearly, spears have the advantage in range combat.”

“Of course! That’s why soldiers are trained with them!”

The participants varied in their weapons and fighting techniques.

Some were battle-hardened mercenaries, while others had meticulously built their foundations through formal training.

“This match is hard to predict.”

“Hmm. If it gets dirty, the mercenary will likely have the edge, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Oh, surely not. Wait, is he—did he just spit in his eye?!”

In short, it was thrilling to watch.

“I’m betting 30 silvers on the guy with the axe.”

“Thirty silvers? That’s too low!”

“What, are we professional gamblers? This is just for fun.”

“Hmm-hmm. With my flawless judgment, having guessed the winner three times in a row, I’d say betting on him isn’t wise. I’ve put two gold on his opponent.”

The uncertainty of who would win made it all the more exciting.

Each onlooker proudly declared their judgment by placing bets. Initially, some were hesitant, but as they grew accustomed to it, they began participating without hesitation.

I weaved through the crowd, grinning ear to ear.

“Yes, yes, your bets have been received. We’ll deduct a small handling fee and distribute the winnings according to the odds, so just enjoy yourselves. Gaiden! Over here!”

I handed the money over to Gaiden, who was stationed at what used to be a dining table, now repurposed as a makeshift office desk.

With his face twisted in frustration, Gaiden continued scribbling on his magically floating ledger.

“Why am I doing this?!”

“Come on, little brother. Everyone’s having fun, and as hosts, we should be responsible. Don’t complain.”

“This isn’t what I studied magic for!”

He waved his quill angrily in the air, but I dodged easily.

“Didn’t you hear Father? The loser should bow to the winner.”

“He didn’t say anything of the sort!”

“I’ll give you extra pay, so don’t whine too much. I’m off to check on things!”

After soothing my grumpy sibling, I dove back into the crowd.

“You’re signing up as a participant?”

“I’m Dogo, a Rank-2 mercenary.”

“Any specialties or noteworthy feats?”

“Ahem! It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but I excel in chaotic melee combat.”

“Ooooh! A fearless infighter! Perfect.”

It was busy work—egging people on, broadcasting the matches, and gathering participants.

But it felt worth it.

"Hehe. Look at all that money stacking up."

I’d been skimming a 20% handling fee off the top, and the profits were rolling in.

It was a hefty fee, but most of the guests here were wealthy enough not to care.

They were too preoccupied flaunting their accurate predictions or lamenting their losses to worry about the money.

It might look like I was exploiting them, but…

“That one’s got potential. Make sure to get his contact info later.”

“Wow. I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but it turns out they were actually downplayed. A talent like that wandering around as a knight-errant? What a find.”

This wasn’t a one-sided deal.

Talented fighters found sponsors or opportunities to network, while wealthy patrons got a chance to recruit undiscovered talent.

"And some folks were clearly indulging personal interests."

That knight who won a duel was now flirting with a young lady from a frontier family.

Judging by her reaction, his efforts were paying off.

Of course, for every winner, there were losers. But that wasn’t a problem either.

“You’re too stiff! You’re putting too much force into every move, making your next action clumsy!”

“I-I see! Thank you, Sir Nohr!”

“Don’t just say it—practice! Swing lightly, like you’re cutting through air!”

“Yes, sir! I won’t forget your advice!”

I sent the losers to Nohr, who was happily offering unsolicited advice.

With his fondness for coaching and lecturing, Nohr had found his ideal role, and the participants were benefiting from the guidance of an 8th-Rank knight.

If that wasn’t a lucky opportunity, I didn’t know what was.

"A world where everyone’s happy... Isn’t this great?"

Though it was tempting to keep the event going, it was time to wind things down.

“Most of the fighters have had their matches.”

Even duels, no matter how entertaining, eventually lose their charm.

And with the banquet lasting multiple days, it was better to leave the audience wanting more.

Right on cue, the last match was wrapping up.

“Never look down on mercenaries again!”

“Urgh!”

“Applaud the victor!”

Clap clap clap!

“The hour grows late, so let’s conclude here for tonight. Don’t worry if you missed your chance—there will be another session tomorrow evening. If you lost today, you’re welcome to try again, as long as you’re in good condition!”

The spectators seemed satisfied, dispersing without complaint.

Tired guests headed to their lodgings, while those wanting to continue the party returned to the banquet hall.

The soldiers began tidying up the open space, their job being to maintain the estate.

“Not bad at all.”

Left alone in the now-empty area, I counted my earnings.

34 gold and 52 silver.

It was a substantial amount—enough to ease my immediate financial worries.

I grinned as I prepared to head back to my room, only to have someone block my path.

A man with broad shoulders and a missing front tooth stood before me, grinning in a way that looked more like a grimace.

“Jahal?”

“Ah, you remembered my name!”

“Of course. You were the one cheering for me at the end of the sparring match. Hard to forget.”

Jahal Argon.

He was the one who had shouted his support for me after the sparring match.

I’d been meaning to speak with him, though I hadn’t expected him to approach me first.

“This event was truly impressive. You seem interested in earning money, don’t you?”

We weren’t in the formal setting of the banquet anymore, so I replied casually.

“Who wouldn’t be? Nothing wrong with having money.”

“Hah! Wise words indeed. Speaking of which…”

The towering man glanced around before leaning in to whisper.

“I know of a location where treasure is hidden. I’m forming an expedition team—are you interested?”

I knew exactly what expedition he was talking about.

The Bessonhill Canyon Event.

It was tied to the five elements needed for the Harmony of the Five Elements.

Specifically, this event was how you obtained the Earth Element.

At the same time…

"It’s the event that marks the start of Season 1."