The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

CRACK—!

The main road quickly turned into chaos due to the havoc caused by the huge bird called Koopa.

"KYAA!"

"A-A bird!

"Someone, please, do something!"

Karuna had collided directly with Koopa and was thrown far away, unable to get up.

That's how shocking Koopa's appearance was.

Jamad also couldn't take a clear offense. He was forced to respond defensively to Koopa's assault.

"Ugh…"

'Are they going to defeat Jamad?'

Crack…

At that moment, Jamad's body swelled up.

[Jamad used Meteor Fist.]

…

In response to that, the one called Ziliac clashed his fists.

[Ziliac used Dark Fist.]

…

BOOM—!

A shock that looked like a bomb explosion spread from within the city.

"Agh!"

"Ugh…"

Ziliac and Jamad retreated simultaneously.

It was dizzying, as if the surroundings had been wiped out.

"Yurim…"

"Seol… we need to run away."

He didn’t think that they would be able to escape from Jamad and Karuna even if they ran away. They would always eventually be caught.

'If we go back, the only thing waiting for us is hell.'

For a child, enduring the workload in the dockyard was a life-threatening endeavor.

Especially since they tried to escape and failed, they were probably going to be tortured. They might even die from being whipped.

"Those two must win. Otherwise…"

"Seol, you're wrong. Jamad is stronger."

"…"

Yurim had a special power—she could see instantaneous movements.

Yurim was probably right.

'I have to think. How can we escape then?'

Crack—!

"Damn it… As strong as I heard."

"The Veil is weaker than I thought. Was it just a false reputation?"

"Hahaha! Keep laughing for now."

Yurim shook her head after hearing their conversation.

"They will retreat soon. I can feel it from their movements. We…"

"Yurim, listen."

"Yes…?"

"For us to get out of here…"

I quickly explained my plan to Yurim. It was ridiculous with many loopholes, but it offered much more hope than returning to the dockyard.

"Are you sure?"

"They should be more trustworthy than Jamad."

"No, I was talking about me…"

It seemed she was scared.

"I believe in you."

"I'll do it…"

BOOM—!

BOOM—!

Their hand-to-hand combat was intense.

If it continued like this, someone would fall soon.

To stop that, Koopa swooped in with incredible speed.

Swoosh—!

Yurim's eyes flashed.

And I was standing at a crossroads.

Yurim could see the current moment, but I could see everything.

Karuna was pushing past the people and approaching us. The plan had already half failed.

'Damn it…'

I turned around and sent her flying.

At that moment…

Paaf—!

Koopa rushed through the battlefield like lightning… carrying two people.

"Hahaha! Jamad! Just as I heard! I couldn't win today, but the next time we meet… Huh? Who is she? How did she get here?"

"Seol, we did it! We did it… Seol?"

"Kiri! There's a kid…"

"I don't know. Since reinforcements have arrived, let's retreat for now."

Paaf—!

Koopa took Kiri and then flew up into the sky.

Yurim was getting farther away.

Creatures that could fly were beautiful because they were free.

On the other hand, I needed to prepare to be cast into hell.

"I will show you hell…"

Karuna whispered into my ears.

"Yurim! Take care!"

"Seol!"

"Leave! Don't come back to this place!"

"That guy… he's smiling."

"Our mission is over… Now, we just have to see with whom Jamad contacts and follow them."

"Damn it…"

"We can't save everyone."

And just like that, Koopa disappeared.

Step…

Step…

Jamad approached me with a friendly smile and whispered to me.

"You better brace yourself."

People probably thought he was checking my stats, but the truth was completely different.

That day, Yurim and my destiny became the opposite.

I was sent to deeper into hell while Yurim went to the surface.

* * *

Paaf—!

Paaaaf—!

I was freed from being a dockyard slave. Instead, I was taken to Jamad's villa with my eyes covered.

"Good job."

"Yes."

Jamad didn't particularly do anything bad to me.

Paaf—!

Paaaaf—!

The old man standing next to him tried to dissuade him.

"I-If you're thinking of killing him…"

"Ah, damn it. I got too excited. It will be troublesome if I break him."

"Y-Yes… So please, leave it to me."

"Hmm… Well, it is kind of ridiculous getting overly angry at a kid."

He didn't particularly do anything bad—at least compared to what I was expecting.

Although hell had unfolded, I still had a place to eat. It was fortunate that Jamad was a man who didn’t hold grudges.

He didn't release his anger directly.

He seemed used to handling such matters.

Instead, an old man called Gollun tortured me.

Tss…

Tsss…

Ugh!

Uuggh!

I can resist it…

If Jamad had tortured me directly, my frail body wouldn't have lasted two days. But this old man tortured me skillfully.

My fingernails and toenails would eventually grow back. And although the torn flesh might leave some scars, they would probably heal.

I couldn't tell how much time had passed.

I ate meager meals, endured torture, and fell asleep. Then I woke up, ate again, endured more torture, and fell asleep once more.

I started feeling anxious if I wasn’t tortured. Because that probably meant that I would be disposed of and forgotten.

The old man called Gollun was skilled at playing with people's hearts. He never smiled at me even once.

He learned as much as possible about me and used that information when necessary.

"Yes. Today is your ninth birthday. Happy birthday."

Tssss…

Tsss…

Ugh!

My cries, howling to the point of tearing my vocal cords, didn't leave my mouth. My childhood was accompanied by sharp blades and grotesque pincers.

And so…

[Terrible pain cultivates endurance beyond human limits.]

[Awakening! You awaken a new skill.]

[You awaken Passive: Pain Tolerance.]

It soon became the eleventh winter I encountered.

My birthday would soon come again.

I wonder what kind of present Gollun had prepared for me.

Maybe this time, it would end without a hitch.

"Good morning, cold-blooded."

"Hihi…"

Gollun no longer put a muzzle on me. It was no longer necessary since I no longer screamed.

When I looked at Gollun, who was torturing me with an expressionless face, he looked at me as if he were seeing something horrible.

Now, I could have a conversation while enduring pain.

"Old man, why are you working under Jamad?"

"I used to be a thief. I was about to retire when Jamad captured me, and I've been living like this since then."

"Hihi… sloppy work is just like you, old man."

"Close your mouth… This will hurt."

Crunch…

"Ugh… It does hurt."

"Seol."

"…"

"The friend who abandoned you is probably spending her winter happily somewhere. Maybe she's close to a stove, having sweet dreams. Don't you regret what happened that day?"

Grin…

"Not at all. I have never regretted that moment a single time…"

"Throughout my life, I've never seen anyone like you. Although there were many who talked a lot."

"Am I truly a human anymore? After all, I'm living in hell."

"…"

I grew up in a dark room, deprived of knowledge or wisdom. Just as plants withered and died without sunlight, humans were no different.

"Let's stop for today… I'll come back again tomorrow."

"See you."

It seemed that Gollun wasn't pleased about coming to see me.

Jamad hadn't paid a visit to the villa since I turned nine. After all, he roamed across the continent and had to manage businesses in all sorts of places.

I had also been forgotten by the villain who had cast me into hell. I wasn't a target for revenge.

I was just someone unpleasant.

"You must die today."

"What…?"

It was a chilly winter.

It was what Gollun told me on the day of my birthday.

I could finally escape from hell, but I couldn't tell if that was actually better or not—I didn't want to die.

"Shh… There are still plenty of Jamad's people in the mansion. Listen to what I say and respond minimally. Never raise your voice. No, when I signal, raise your voice loudly."

"What do you…"

"If you understand, just nod. You're perceptive. You will understand what I'm saying soon."

Nod…

Gollun kept explaining.

"It's been over two years since you came here. Jamad ordered me to dispose you of once it became two years."

"…"

"You must die. How long can you hold your breath?"

"Five minutes…"

"You monster."

"I practiced because I was bored."

The only way I could entertain myself here was by seeing how long I could hold my breath before accidentally passing out.

"Today, someone will check if you've been disposed of. They will probably arrive at the mansion soon."

"You must die. Remember my words."

Clank…

Gollun smeared me with blood he had prepared beforehand and wrapped me in a burlap bag.

"He's coming. Hold your breath from now on. Since you're someone who can do that, there might be a chance."

Haab…

From that moment on, I held my breath.

Immediately, someone opened the door and came in.

Creak…

"Ugh… It reeks of blood."

"Of course… Yes, so, what are you trying to confirm?"

"The guy who was here. We were sent to confirm if he was disposed of. Hmm? Where is he?"

"He's here. Where else would he be?"

"This burlap bag? Oh my… He’s lost a lot of blood."

"If you've confirmed it, leave."

"Wait, we need to finish the job properly."

"Don't untie it. It's a special cloth, so…"

"That won't be necessary…"

Thud…

'Ugh!'

A knife went into my thigh.

"Seeing that there was no scream, it seems that he's definitely dead…"

"See? The only thing you did is spill more blood."

"Hahaha! I'm sorry. Then, I'll report that it has properly been handled."

"Get lost."

Creak…

I was feeling severe pain.

If I didn't do anything to stop the bleeding, it seemed like things could get dangerous.

"Huub…"

I felt Gollun pick up the burlap bag and move it somewhere.

"Then, take care of it."

"Do I have any other choice?"

"Wait a moment. Give me some time to talk to him."

"It must be quick… Staying for too long is dangerous."

"Understood…"

Rip…

I could hear the burlap bag being torn.

"Are you alive?"

"Oof… Didn't you say I had to die?"

"Were you holding your breath all this time…?"

"Nine minutes. I broke my record."

"You crazy bastard…"

"Old man, tell me. Where are you taking me?"

"I'm not taking you anywhere… You're leaving."

"Leave? Me?"

Gollun responded.

"Yes. You’ll be leaving here and taking a slave ship. They said it's an environment where slaves can live comfortably. So go there and relax."

"Why are you doing this for me…?"

Swoosh…

"Take this. It's a hemostatic agent."

"Tell me. I…"

"It's a birthday present.

"What…?"

"Congratulations on turning eleven, Seol."

I was given a real birthday present.

I could endure any pain, but the turmoil in my heart was unbearable.

Tears streamed down my face.

"…"

"You can be proud of having endured me for two years. Leave."

"Why… Why…"

"I don't know. Maybe it's my age, but I became greedy about what I couldn't steal from Jamad that day."

"Then… you should have sent me with a body in better shape."

Dagak…

Dagak…

The carriage began to depart.

I heard Gollun muttering.

"I'm still sloppy at handling things."

I saw Gollun's expression—he was smiling.

It was the first time Gollun had shown me his real face.

I received both hell and heaven from him. Although it was contradictory, he was the second person after Jamad who had changed my fate.

* * *

My battered body was loaded onto a slave ship.

Dozens of young children had been loaded into a place dirtier than a chicken coop.

We couldn't move at all.

"Sob… Sob…"

"Who's the bastard that's crying?! Shut up!"

"But…"

"Just shut up."

Some children had already adapted to the situation, while others hadn't.

'This is comfortable.'

If I thought back to how I was being tortured until recently, this place was like paradise.

'If you can't move, just don't move.'

It was a twisted kind of optimism one wouldn't be able to reach without having experienced hell.

Clack…

The slave ship started moving.

I didn't know how far we would go.

The departure seemed to be going smoothly.

However…

Exactly three days later, the slave ship became noisy.

"Pump out the water!"

"Damn it! Raise it up!"

It seemed the slave ship had encountered a storm.

Bleh…

Bleeehhh…

The cabin soon became a sea of vomit.

'Correction. This place is also hell.'

Not even I could easily dismiss the sea sickness I was experiencing for the first time.

I thought things would soon calm down.

However, maybe I was taking my fate too lightly.

Crack—!

A shock moved up from the bottom of the ship.

'This…'

Soon, the ship fell into a chaos that couldn't be compared to before.

"There's a problem with the dock!"

"Cover the hole!"

"The water is rising too fast!"

"The slaves…"

"We must first handle these problems!"

"There… There's a light over there… A ship is coming!"

"Pirates! They're pirates!"

Sob… Sob…

The kid who had told the other one to shut up earlier started crying.

This kind of pandemonium was probably too much for him.

'Is this ship going to sink…?'

If it sinks, I could hold my breath for twenty hours. But I would still most likely die, right? I felt a slight sense of guilt toward Gollun, who had helped me escape.

Crack…

"Agh! Who are you?!"

The ship tilted.

'I can't swim…'

At that moment, someone kicked the door and opened the cabin where the slaves were.

BOOM—!

"Ugh… It stinks."

It seemed like the smell of the floor was too much even for him. I silently listened to what he said.

Who was he?

Was he the captain of the ship?

"Don't give up, young lambs! Hahaha!"

I heard an unfamiliar voice.

He soon announced his presence.

"The Great Pirate Santos has come to free the slaves from the storm!"

"Santos! It's dangerous! We must leave quickly!"

"There are plenty of slaves here! Let's take them out!"

"You're just trying to save them!"

"What? They're all money!"

"Damn it… You and your excuses… Okay!"

Along with the storm, a new destiny opened for me.