52. Arcana Online

52. Arcana Online52. Arcana Online

To be honest, I was planning to run the business for about a month to deceive the judge and then end it, but I changed my mind.

Not only are the sales good, but the faces of both players and monsters are bright.

Looking at the monsters who seem happier than before, along with scenery I've never seen before, I thought it might be okay to keep this going.

I got up from my seat and headed to a new area with Yong-yong.

Currently, Eldorado is divided into 4 areas, and a 5th area is being constructed.

Areas 1 and 2 are accessible to outsiders, but from area 3 onwards, it's not possible.

There are monsters who like players, but there are also children who don't, so we operate by dividing the areas.

If someone were to sneak in, it would be a big problem.

Of course, I mean the players.

As I entered area 3, monsters welcomed me.

"It's narrow, right? I'll expand it soon."

As I was spending time petting the monsters, a child from one corner approached me.

A child I brought from one of the 7 Magic Realms, 'The Area Where Sky and Earth Meet'.

It's in the form of a small golem.

It approached me and spoke while waving both hands.

"Hm? You want to go to area 1 too?"

It nodded.

Sometimes, monsters from areas 3 or 4 express their desire to go to areas 1 and 2.

I gladly permitted it and raised my hand, and the Silver Fox Clan twin sister Ran appeared.

"Did you call?"

"This child wants to go to area 1."

"I'll take them."

I waved to the golem toddling along holding Ran's hand and checked on the condition of other monsters.

While everyone was spending time leisurely, I heard a disgruntled voice.

"Grrrr!"

"Hmm? You want to hunt?"

"Woof woof!!"

A miniature-sized wolf says it wants to hunt, but where should it do that...?

I thought about it, but no ideas came to mind.

Should we invade somewhere...?

"Kyuung!"

"Huh? What did I...?"

"Kyuuung!"

"Ah, no! I absolutely had no intention of invading!"

While making excuses to Yong-yong, who was waving a red flag and calling for revolution, I petted the wolf and said I'd think about it.

"It's not possible right now, but I'll try my best."

"Woof woof!!"

When I said I'd give it a week, it felt like I was some kind of loan shark...

I met many children and heard their complaints, but most of them said they wanted to hunt.

I guess monsters will be monsters after all.

Is there no way? As I was pondering, a thought crossed my mind.

'Colosseum.'

Should I hold some kind of event match...?

We could set up some good bait... I mean, prizes for the players...

Our monsters won't lose anyway, right?

Even if they do lose, I can revive them...

Perfect.

"Alright! Shall we try it right away!?"

"Kyuung?"

*

*

*

Something started being constructed in a corner of Eldorado.

As one or two days passed, its outline became clear - a Colosseum...?

And flyers were being distributed.

[Event Match!]

An event where you can compete with pretty, cute, and lovable monsters!

[Grand Prize]

Unique-grade magic stone (current market price 200 million gold)

[Participation Prize]

Mascot designation rights (after 5 participations)

The event starts in 3 days.

Numerous players began to apply. seaʀᴄh thё NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

It's beneficial just to participate, but if you win, it's 200 million gold.

"How is it? Quite a crowd, right?"

"Kyuung!"

"What!? No way!"

It says it wants to participate too, but how could that be possible?

Are you planning to turn this place into a sea of fire?

I moved to area 3 with Yong-yong and told this news to the monsters.

"Enjoy to your heart's content!"

The monsters looked excited after hearing my words.

They all seem to be looking forward to it. They're deciding among themselves who will go first.

I prepared for this.

Even though the Colosseum is large, there's a limit.

But if you use money, it's a different story.

An item I prepared by asking Lala Trading:

[Expand Space Space!]

Expands a certain space.

With this item, we can expand the space.

Of course, it costs an enormous amount of money, but we can somewhat make up for it with the money we receive as admission fees.

Three days passed. I sat in the VIP seats with Judge Nia to watch.

The viewing seats are priced differently for each tier, from C-grade to VIP seats.

Many players participated, and quite a few gathered to watch.

As the whistle blew to signal the start of the match, players entered the arena one by one.

"Thank you all for participating in the 1st Chaotic Battle Royale! I'm Ran of the Silver Fox Clan, and I'll be your MC for this match!"

The usually lazy-faced twin sister Ran was now excitedly enjoying herself.

"Sister, you're so pretty!!!"

"Big sis, take me!!!"

The Silver Fox Clan is popular because they all have idol-like appearances along with fox ears and tails.

As the players cheered, she announced the start of the match.

"Now then, let's start the first match! The rules are simple! Just survive until the end!"

With those words, the players inside the space tensely gripped their weapons.

From the opposite entrance, cute monsters started entering one by one.

From golems making "pitter-patter" sounds as they walked, to small wolves walking with elegant steps.

Because all the monsters had cute appearances, jeers erupted from the spectator seats.

"You bastards!! Don't bully our beauties!!"

"Don't you feel sorry for them!!"

Just as the participants were about to say something in disbelief at those words, the whistle blew.

"The first match will now begin!!"

Along with the whistle signaling the start of the match, an anomaly occurred.

The golem that was cute and small just moments ago changed to a size exceeding 30m, and the wolf with elegant steps returned to its original size. A player who knew their identity dropped their weapon.

"Fe-Fenrir!? H-how can we beat that!?"

A monster that was active as the leader in the Magic Realm called 'The Snowy Mountain of Death Where Blizzards Rage'.

As it exhaled white breath, players started freezing.

When the giant golem charged, players scattered in panic.

As dozens of such monsters charged, the spectator seats were at a loss for words.

Perhaps because they realized the true identity of the children they were playing with cutely.

There were even players tremblingly looking at the mascots they had been cuddling and playing with.

I was watching this scene with Judge Nia.

"How is it? Isn't it fascinating to see monsters and humans living together?"

"It looks more like they're terrified to me."

"That can't be."

As I was watching the match with a light smile, the whistle blew, and the monsters returned, seemingly satisfied, while the players disappeared with a bright light.

"Travelers are revived anyway, right?"

"That's right."

Travelers' souls are known not to be bound to this world and travel numerous worlds, so they're known as beings who don't die even if they die.

Knowing this, Judge Nia didn't say much either.

"How has it been living here so far?"

"......"

She's exercising her right to remain silent, but will she tell me the results a month later?

"Shall we watch the next match now?"

"Yes."

As if using the 'Expand Space Space!' item, the space started to expand, and when I used a pre-prepared item, the empty space changed into a vast forest.

We created it like reality using illusion magic, which would have been difficult without Arcadia's cooperation.

Illusion magic installed with a unique-grade magic stone as the trade condition.

From the second match, the format changes.

"The next match is a treasure hunt!"

Some players who participated in the first match respawned and re-entered, while new players also joined.

This match is literally about finding treasure to win!

There's no need to fight monsters, just find the treasure somehow and you win.

Is that why more are participating than in the first match?

Numerous players participated, and when preparations seemed complete, MC Ran's voice echoed.

"Thank you for waiting! The second match will now begin!! In this match, you don't need to fight, just find the treasure hidden in the forest and return to the starting point!"

As the match started, some players ran out while others lurked around the starting point.

They're probably planning to ambush and steal from players returning with the treasure.

But there's one fact they don't know.

It's not just players at the starting point.