My Second Chance In Life In Another World

CHAPTER 60: THE COST OF TRUST

As I arrived behind the fifth-year students' dorm, the first person I saw was Alad, along with Werk and two other men.

"Oh, you actually came? Is Crestia truly that important to you?" he said, amusement in his voice.

"Where are they?" I asked, my gaze piercing.

"If that stare is a weapon, I might already be dead. Just calm down. Rushing won't solve your problem," he said, a vicious smile on his face.

I had no choice but to follow him, fearing for Crestia and Cirris' safety if I defied him.

"That's right, know your place. I don't mind that attitude," Alad said, still grinning.

"Now, follow me. Don't make any suspicious moves, or your precious Crestia will suffer," he added, leading the way.

We moved through the shadows of the fifth-year students' dormitory and reached the room at the end of the corridor. Alad knocked three times.

"Who is it?" a voice from inside the room asked.

"Your long-lost best friend," Alad replied, and the door swung open, allowing us to enter.

Is this the fighting ground? This room?

"We'll wait for Werk and the others first. Don't even think about doing anything. You're in my territory now," Alad warned, taking a seat.

After a tense ten-minute wait, someone knocked three times at the door.

"Who is it?" the man asked once more.

"Your long-lost best friend," Werk's voice replied from behind the door.

The man let Werk and the other two inside.

With everyone assembled, Alad stood up and revealed a hidden door under the carpet.

So, this was the entrance to the fighting ground. It wasn't surprising that its location remained a well-guarded secret.

We followed Alad through the secret passage until we reached the actual fighting ground.

I was taken aback by the vastness of the area. It was much larger than I had imagined, dwarfing three of those rundown casinos in Craud City.

"Alad! Brought another one?" a white-haired guy called out, his gaze fixed on me.

"No, this one's my plaything," Alad responded with a sinister chuckle.

"Is that so? Good luck, boy," the white-haired man said before departing.

"Keep walking. We're going to my room," Alad ordered, giving me a not-so-friendly nudge.

I couldn't help but focus on the center of the fighting ground as I walked. It was the arena, as Crestia had described it. Two students dueled inside with real swords, and onlookers placed bets on the outcome.

"Hey! Move it!" Alad's shout startled me out of my daze.

I realized I had been standing still, entranced by the fight in the arena.

We continued walking and entered another door leading to private rooms in the fighting ground.

Inside the room, Alad took a seat on the bed while I remained standing.

"Okay, let's talk about what you need to do to save Crestia," Alad said with a smile.

"Huh?" I blurted out, confused.

"Do you think I'd just let you walk away with Crestia after bringing you here? Are you an idiot?" Alad retorted.

I was seething with anger, but I couldn't provoke him here. Crestia's safety was my top priority.

"What you need to do is simple. Fight fifty consecutive battles in that arena outside. No breaks until you've defeated fifty students," Alad explained.

Fifty battles without rest? Was this guy insane?

"Oh, it seems you lack motivation. Cirris, bring her in," Alad called to Cirris.

Wait, Cirris? I thought he's also captured?

As questions swirled in my mind, the door opened, and I saw Cirris holding Crestia, who was tightly bound, blindfolded, and gagged.

"Crestia!" I shouted, seeing her condition.

Crestia seemed to hear me and appeared relieved, but she couldn't move with her hands and feet tied.

Crestia's safety brought me some relief, but there were more urgent matters to address.

"What are you doing, Cirris?" I asked, my gaze intense.

"Oh, right! You still think Cirris is an ally, huh? HAHAHAHAHA!" Alad laughed.

"I'm sorry, Will. I deceived you because Alad promised to forgive my debt if I do ehat he asked," Cirris confessed.

"So you betrayed me and Crestia, who trusted you, just to do what he asked?" I questioned.

I understood his predicament, having sold out a friend in the past to avoid being bullied. But after I had placed my trust in him and chosen to help, was this what I got in return? I couldn't accept it.

"I'm truly sorry, Will. Please forgive me," Cirris pleaded, his voice trembling, indicating his inner turmoil.

But then, his demeanor suddenly changed.

"Just kidding! Will, do you think I'd say just that?" he asked, smiling.

Huh? What was happening?

"Great acting, Cirris. I'll give you 97 out of 100," Alad commented.

What on earth was going on?

"You see, Will, I enjoy deceiving people," Cirris explained, noting my bewildered expression.

"Huh?" I managed to utter.

"Watching them trust me, only to be betrayed in the end. Isn't that the best?" Cirris said with a malevolent smile.

This guy had gone off the deep end. Was this the same Cirris I once knew?

"Okay, okay, enough of this show. Let's get back to our conversation. Will, we're going to play a game," Alad announced.

My mind was struggling to keep up with everything that had unfolded so rapidly.

"This game is called 'Who Will Take the Punishment?' Isn't it exciting?" Alad asked with enthusiasm.

"Okay, let me explain the rules. It's simple. There are three rounds of punishment, and you must choose between two options each time," Alad elaborated.

"Cirris, remove her blindfold," Alad instructed, and Crestia's blindfold was taken off.

Crestia spotted me and began to cry. She must have been terrified through this ordeal. My failure to see through the situation earlier had led her to suffer like this.

"Don't worry, Crestia. They won't hurt you anymore, not while I'm here," I reassured her.

"What a heroic line! Let's see if you can maintain it during the game," Alad said with excitement.

"Let the game 'Who Will Take the Punishment?' begin!" Alad announced, a wicked smile on his face.