Became a Failed Experimental Subject-Chapter 28: It’s an Arena

The people with dull eyes stood waiting for the doors to open, and at the exact scheduled time, the apartment building lit up entirely and opened the entrance.

As soon as the iron gate that had been blocked by men in suits was opened, the people began entering one by one, paying money as they passed through, then running up the hill.

Next to them, cars were also entering one by one, paying the toll. Watching this, I reached into my pocket.

Of course, I had no money.

The thief had clearly taken everything when he stole the bracelet.

“Uh? Sir? The entrance fee—”

“Don’t have any.”

“Ah, um.”

When it was my turn and I boldly said I had no money, the man looked around awkwardly.

Right next to me, a shabby-looking woman was being dragged out by two men.

“I-I’ll pay you after! How much is the damn fee anyway! I said I’ll pay after I get it! Huh? Just let me in! I swear I’ll pay you back today! Please?”

“Get lost, you broke bitch!”

“I just need to wait a bit in there! I’ll pay! There’s a bunch of bastards in there who stole my money! I just need to beat their asses and get it back—!”

“Hey, drag this bitch out!”

The man looked back up at me, then exchanged glances with the other guy and both shook their heads.

Apparently, they figured it’d be impossible to drag me out like that.

“Sir, I’m sorry, but if you don’t have the entrance fee...”

“There’s a bastard in there who stole my money. I’ll make him pay it back.”

“Hmm...”

The men looked at each other again, and this time the two of them started trying to push me out together.

Naturally, I didn’t budge. Instead, I pushed them back and walked in, and the two men jumped in surprise and backed off.

“What kind of strength is that... Sir, are you an esper? A body-enhancement type?”

“Not an esper.”

“Eh? But we’re espers. A regular person being stronger than us makes no sense?”

“Seems like you two are just weak. Are you eating properly?”

“Wh-what the... wait, just come inside for a second.”

Still stunned, the two men led me through the gate and into a small open space beside it.

“Sir, if you’re an esper, how about just entering the arena? Arena participants don’t pay the fee—in fact, you might even make money and have some fun.”

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“There’s no way we’re kicking this guy out anyway. Let’s not get hurt and just let him in. If we say he came to fight in the arena, the higher-ups won’t say anything, right?”

“Hm, yeah, you’re right. Whatever happens in the arena isn’t our problem.”

“Doesn’t matter what it is, as long as I can get inside.”

“Okay, settled. You’re an arena participant, sir. Right this way—fight first, and then spend your winnings however you want.”

“Hm.”

The men grabbed me by the arm and brought me to a building next to the apartment entrance.

Inside were various outfits and melee weapons, and a rough-looking esper—probably a body-enhancement type—sat there exuding killing intent.

“What’s this?”

“Ah, yes, someone showed up asking to enter the arena today.”

“Pick your outfit and get ready—wait, what the hell? Why are you so tall?”

“Alright then, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Hey, listen, we don’t have clothes in your size. Just go out as you are or take your top off, whatever. Firearms are banned—might get shot by guests. Bows too. If you brought one, put it down and grab one of these weapons.”

“Hm. Where do I go?”

“Listen here, don’t get cocky just ’cause you’ve got a good build. Take the damn weapon when it’s handed to you.”

I wasn’t particularly interested in weapons, so I looked away, and the man let out an annoyed sigh.

“You came here risking your life over money, didn’t you? At least raise your chances of survival while you can.”

“It’s fine.”

“Tch... whatever, do what you want. Just don’t be stubborn if you’re about to die. Cleaning up corpses is a pain in the ass.”

He pointed to a corner of the building, and when I headed that way, a path like a walking trail behind the apartment revealed itself.

As I climbed up the path reeking of blood, it led to an open space in front of the apartment.

There, under a giant tent, a crowd of people—presumably other arena participants—had gathered.

“I just need to kill one... just one...”

“Huff... huff... huff... please, let it be a weak one. Please...”

Men and women alike were trembling with anxiety, each gripping their weapon in fear.

Looking around, I saw some were espers, but others were just ordinary folks with decent builds.

I sat down casually on a bench inside the tent, not thinking much, and soon the rough-looking man from earlier came inside with the weapons.

“We’re starting soon. Who wants to go first?”

“M-me! Me!”

“I’ll go first!”

“Alright, you. You were the fastest, so get out there.”

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“Please... please...!”

“What! What! That’s discrimination! That’s gender discrimination!”

Everyone raised their hands, fighting to go first, and the man wearily pointed at one of them.

He then took a man who looked to be in his twenties and led him out, and moments later a voice amplified by loudspeakers echoed from outside the tent.

[Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for visiting Guryong Fortress again today! In just a moment, we’ll begin today’s main event—the Monster Arena!]

“Yeeeees! Finally! Let’s goooo!”

“Woooooo!”

Curious about the noise, I poked my head out the tent’s exit, leaving behind the people trembling on the benches.

Outside the tent, in a courtyard surrounded in a U-shape by apartment buildings, stood a massive iron cage, and spectators packed the seating area around it.

Even up in the apartments, people leaned out their windows, shaking their bodies excitedly.

From inside, animal-like growling echoed out—it was an outright chaotic scene.

[First up, today’s challenger! What’s your name? Yes! I’m Kim Euihwan! Let’s give a big round of applause to Fighter Kim Euihwan~!]

“What the hell! That guy’s a total twig!”

“He’s just a normal dude, right? He’s gonna die instantly!”

“Fuck! They’re starting with some weak-ass sucker again!”

As Kim Euihwan stepped onto the stage with a sword, the crowd jeered loudly, and the announcer brought out a big button-like device.

Behind the stage, a large screen lit up with a spinning roulette.

Ten types of monsters appeared on it with names and images—two were weak enough that an ordinary person might barely be able to kill them, four were murder-class that only espers could hope to handle, three were between murder and destruction-class, and the last one was pure destruction-class.

[Alright, let’s not drag this out! Fighter Kim Euihwan, stop the roulette!]

“Please... please... please...!”

The announcer handed over the button, and the man pressed it while desperately praying. The roulette, spinning fast, gradually slowed.

When it stopped, the needle pointed right at the top center—“Blade Cat,” the weakest of the murder-class monsters.

[Oh wow! Would you look at that! He got the weakest monster! The prize is 1 million won! Will he pull it off?!]

“Booooo! Boring!”

“Boooooo!”

“Fuck! That bastard got the easiest one!”

“Shit! I should’ve gone first!”

The crowd erupted in boos, and even from inside the tent, the other participants were shouting and angrily tossing their weapons.

[And now, let the betting begin!]

On the big screen, the words Human and Monster appeared, and a machine-like beeping began as the numbers climbed.

Human: 90% | Monster: 10% — Betting closed, the screen announced.

The announcer shoved Kim Euihwan forward.

[90% on the human! Fighter Kim Euihwan, piece of cake, right? Go pick up your million!]

“Ajaaaaah!”

Grinning, the man stepped toward the center cage.

On the other side, men in suits rolled out a smaller cage containing the monster.

Inside, the Blade Cat appeared to be asleep—likely dosed with heavy tranquilizers.

The suited men stepped inside the cage, injected something into the sleeping beast, and quickly withdrew. Kim Euihwan stood ready, sword in hand, clearly nervous.

[You know the rules! The fight starts when the monster exits the cage. Attacking before that is a foul!]

A few moments later, the Blade Cat opened its eyes and stretched like a regular cat.

Then, spotting the human in front of it, it licked its lips and extended the blades on its tail and claws.

“Uwaaaah! Dieeee!”

“Kyaaaang!”

As Kim Euihwan swung his sword, the Blade Cat darted around the cage, easily dodging.

The first clean hit came from the monster—Kim Euihwan’s arm was gashed deeply by its claws, and in panic, he began swinging his sword wildly.

Seizing an opening, the cat leapt at his throat.

Its blade slashed his carotid artery, and Kim Euihwan fell to the floor clutching his neck, eyes wide.

[Unbelievable! Kim Euihwan has lost! Killed by the Blade Cat! He didn’t even surrender!]

“Boooo! Fucking assholes! You screwing with us from the first round?!”

“That dumbass motherfucker! Die! Die already!”

[Ah~! Kim Euihwan is no longer moving! The Blade Cat is tearing out his throat! We have a ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) result! Glory to the 10% who placed their bets on the monster!]

“Die! Die! Die!”

“What the fuck? Why the hell would a loser who dies to that thing even show up to the arena? He should be hauling bricks somewhere.”

The man who went out first died like that, drowned in boos from the crowd, and the rough-looking man who returned to the tent looked annoyed.

“Next!”

“Me! Me! Me!”

“Me! Pick me! Pleeeease!”

“Please, please, pick me! Oppa! Ooooppa! Huh? I’ll do anything you want, just please!”

When the man called for the next contestant, everyone in the tent shot up their hands, begging to be chosen.

The rough man clicked his tongue and pointed at a woman. She jumped to her feet, cheering.

“Kyaaaah! Oppa! I love you! Just wait a little! I’ll grab that million and win big at the casino!”

“Don’t care. Just go out and kill the cat.”

Panicking that he might change his mind, the woman grabbed a sword and rushed out.

[Oho! Our second contestant! Yet another lovely young lady challenging the arena today! What’s your name?]

[I’m Kim Minji! I’ll take that cat down right away!]

[Yes! Miss Kim Minji! Go grab that one million won! Let’s start the betting!]

Once again, the sound of betting rang out. Just like before, the majority of bets went to the human.

Kim Minji made quick work of the cat, killing it easily and stepping out of the cage.

[Congratulations! You’ve taken down the Blade Cat that even some espers can’t handle!]

“Ahahahahaha!”

“You’re so pretty, Kim Minji!”

[So, Miss Kim Minji, what do you plan to do with your one million won today?]

“I’m gonna hit the jackpot at the casino, of course!”

[We hope you win big!]

“Hey, miss! If you lose all your money, come to Room 301, Building 102! I’ll give you a little something extra!”

[Sir, do you really mean that? Will you be giving her a real bonus, huh?]

“Hahahaha!”

Laughter from the audience filled the air. Meanwhile, men in suits came in and dragged out the corpses of the monster and Kim Euihwan.

Now I understood how this arena worked.

It was simple. If you killed the monster shown on the roulette, you got money. If you died, the next person had to finish the job.

In my case, I just needed to take down one of them. Any one would do.

“Next—”

“Me.”

“Oh, it’s your tu—I mean, yes, go ahead...”

There was no reason to sit around anymore. I raised my hand, and the people in the tent moved aside, watching me cautiously.

[Next up, our new contestant enters! Wait... huh? Is this guy even human?]

“Whoa, what the hell? How tall is he?”

“Kyaaa! He’s hot!”

“Um... What’s your name, sir?”

I walked out of the tent and onto the stage. The emcee only came up to about my chest, and I stood there towering over him.

The announcer pulled the mic away from his mouth, looked up at me, and asked my name.

Right there on the spot, I casually made one up.

“Call me Park Dundeun.”