“Whew…”
I carried out the final crafting task for the construction of the arena.
I created the spectator stands and had the Killer Beetles transport them.
I checked to ensure they were placed in the designated locations.
“Alright! It’s done!”
At last, the arena was complete. Now, a place for the monsters to battle was ready.
“We did it, Lord Evilham!”
The Killer Beetles, who had helped with the construction, were also thrilled.
“Let’s announce to everyone that the arena is finished!”
And so, we ran all around the dungeon, spreading the word to the monsters about the arena’s completion.
As a result, many monsters gathered at the arena.
“Is there anyone here who’s eager to fight?”
“OHHHHHHHH!!!!!”
The monsters roared with excitement. I decided to pick a couple of the most enthusiastic ones.
“Alright, you and you. Step into the arena.”
I pointed at two monsters. One was a Goblin, and the other was a Killer Beetle.
The Goblin’s strength wasn’t exceptional, but it was known for its dexterity and its ability to wield weapons.
On the other hand, the Killer Beetle was all about raw power. As an armored insect, it boasted both high attack and defense, making it physically formidable.
“Go for it! Show them the pride of the Goblin race! Don’t lose to some bug!”
“Let’s show them what bugs can do! Don’t let some coward who needs weapons to fight beat you!”
The Goblins and Killer Beetles in the stands were getting riled up, taunting and cheering, raising the tension before the match.
“Alright, let’s go over the rules. Weapons and armor are allowed. However, each contestant can only use one weapon, and swapping weapons during the match is prohibited.”
If weapons and armor weren’t allowed, the Goblin, whose strength relied on its equipment, would be at a disadvantage.
Well, if it were Goblin versus Goblin, a bare-knuckle fight might have been an option.
“You are not allowed to kill your opponent. No follow-up attacks are permitted while the opponent is down. Victory is achieved either by knocking your opponent out of the ring or by incapacitating them and securing a ten-count.”
These are basic rules, I’d say.
“Additionally, even if a knockout isn’t achieved, the referee may intervene if the situation is deemed dangerous. The referee will be Little Ham. Of course, attacking the referee is prohibited. You must obey the referee’s decisions.”
“I will ensure a fair and impartial judgment. If you’re dissatisfied with the referee’s decision, you may file an appeal,” Little Ham added.
“Understood!” the contestants agreed.
With the basics established, the fight was about to begin.
I was also curious to see how this battle would unfold.
“When I strike this gong, the match begins. Ready… Fight!”
Clang! The gong I crafted rang out.
The Goblin, wielding a club, charged straight at the Killer Beetle.
“Take this!”
The Goblin swung its club downward. However, the Killer Beetle’s hard shell absorbed the attack.
Though slow, the Killer Beetle was heavy and solid. Breaking through its armor wouldn’t be an easy task.
“Counterattack!”
The Killer Beetle thrust its horn toward the Goblin. The Goblin managed to block with its shield.
Bang! A loud sound echoed from the shield. The Goblin winced slightly. Perhaps the vibration from the impact made its hand tingle.
For the weapon-reliant Goblin, the shield was its lifeline. If it accidentally dropped it, the battle could quickly turn against it.
“Not yet!”
The Goblin continued to strike repeatedly with its club. The Killer Beetle’s earlier hit had been quite effective, and it seemed the Goblin wanted to end the fight before its shield was destroyed.
“Ugh!”
Despite the Killer Beetle’s tough armor, repeated blows eventually caused damage.
If this situation continued, would the Killer Beetle be at a disadvantage?
The Killer Beetle tried to break free from the situation by charging forward.
“Whoa!”
The Goblin hastily raised its shield, but the Killer Beetle’s charge knocked the shield out of its hands.
“Woohooo! We did it!”
The Killer Beetles cheered as the Goblin’s shield was knocked off.
With that, the battle seemed to swing in favor of the Killer Beetle.
Or so it seemed. The Goblin quickly picked up its shield and distanced itself from the Killer Beetle.
“Quit running away!”
The Killer Beetle charged at the Goblin again.
A reckless charge. The Killer Beetle threw itself at the Goblin with full force.
The Goblin smirked and then leapt diagonally, dodging the attack and moving away.
“Take this!”
The Killer Beetle, in its charge, found itself heading out of the ring. Unable to stop or slow down, it fell outside the arena.
“Killer Beetle is out of bounds. The winner is the Goblin!”
“Yes!”
The Goblins in the stands erupted in excitement at the victory of one of their own.
Meanwhile, the Killer Beetles seemed downcast.
While the two had been equally matched in combat ability, it seemed the Goblin had outsmarted the Killer Beetle.
Strategy was just as important as strength in battle. The clever Goblin had gained the upper hand.
“Tch, that’s frustrating! Losing by going out of bounds.”
“You should’ve watched the terrain more carefully.”
The Goblin had used the terrain to force the Killer Beetle out of the ring.
It was a victory based on using the rules and environment to the fullest. Still, if the Killer Beetle had been outsmarted, it must have felt frustrating.
“Well done, Goblin. It’s unfortunate for the Killer Beetle, but this is what combat under rules is all about.”
“If it were a no-rules fight, I wouldn’t have lost!”
“Oh, you said that? How about a deathmatch then?”
The Killer Beetle and Goblin seemed ready to start another fight. This was something I needed to stop.
“Stop it. Don’t challenge each other to a deathmatch. If anyone else wants to fight next, step up.”
After seeing the intense battle, the monsters in the stands began to volunteer for the next fight.
With the arena now so lively, it felt like the effort I put into crafting it was worth it.
Although the crafting had been difficult, seeing the monsters satisfied made it all worthwhile.
The battles continued, and the tournament went on until everyone was exhausted.
“Whew… this is exhausting.”
It seemed the monsters had carried their fatigue into the next day due to the excitement of the tournament, and it affected their work.
This was completely unexpected. The arena’s popularity had been too much of a good thing.
It was a lesson in the importance of balance—enjoyment should always be within limits.
“It looks like everyone’s tired. If the tournament is affecting productivity, we might need to limit the number of matches per day. What do you think, Little Ham?”
“Yes, I agree, Lord Evilham. I think limiting the number of matches would be wise.”
Since the result of having unlimited matches was this, it would be better to impose a limit on the number of fights.
There might be complaints from the monsters, but based on today’s decrease in work efficiency, they should understand.
Ultimately, entertainment needs to be approached in moderation.
While entertainment is necessary in life, it can’t sustain life on its own.
We must produce and work to survive.
At least now, after a life of labor and no entertainment outside of meals, the dungeon has something that functions as a real attraction. I’ve re-acknowledged the importance of listening to the monsters’ voices.
Having complaints isn’t always a bad thing. They can lead to new ideas and improvements.
