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I should have a talk with the Patrol Unit... make a few rubles while I'm at it.

Taking to yourself, Yevgeny?

O-Olav? How did you know I was here?

I knew you wouldn't show up to the place, so I tried my luck and waited here.

I... I was waiting so long that I had to go for a walk!

Excuses, Yevgeny. If you're scared, you might as well just admit defeat and go home.

S-Scared? Ha, very funny, Olav...

Maybe I won't bloody that pretty face of yours if you—

The man never gets the rest of the sentence out, as he finds himself staring at a fist mere inches from his nose.

Enough talk, idiot. Put your hands up.

You...

Try not to bite your tongue, if you really have to talk.

I-I'll kill you, suka!

Bring it on!

(He's got some weight to his fists. Looks like he's not all talk.)

Come on, stop dodging and fight me!

Your fault for being slow! Gotta work harder if you wanna hit me!

I'll have your head!

(His elbows are raised. Now!)

Take this!

Her fists finds the man's ribs. Her foe raises his chin in pain, creating an opening.

Shura seizes the opportunity and closes the distance, landing a heavy blow on his chin.

Now!

*Cough* *cough* My tooth!

Ha, big one too.

Wh-Why won't you just die?!

Die, die, I'm the real champion—

Yevgeny, you dumbass—

Wha—who's that? What's that?

Blame... not the time... offended... you won't...

(Can't hear what he's saying, or see his face.)

Hehe, farewell.

Stop—damn it, just before the match...

(Is that a gold coin?)

The weapon is kicked away and clatters across the ground. Stunned, the man is unable to react.

The Ursus girl grabs his arm and wrestles him to the ground, choking him in a headlock.

What's with the gold coin tattoo?!

You... *cough*... help... can't... breathe...

Speak!

Argh...

I've been looking for it for years. It was you all along!

It was you who infected me with Oripathy!

... *choke*...

This is all your fault!

I should have been the winner, the one to have my hand held high, the one to win that prize money!

Help... *choke*...

It's all your fault, your fault...

I should have won that prize money... it would have paid for the old man's medical bills...

Why did you do that?

It wasn't me... the big boss... you wouldn't throw the fight... pissed him off... argh...

What are you trying to say? You didn't have a choice? You were forced? Let me tell you. You're a coward. This is who you are, and you'll never change, right?

I... sorry... was wrong... please... don't...

Don't kill... me...

No... enough... shut up...

Shut up!!!

Don't kill me. Don't kill me.

It is a common refrain for those on the edge of death.

A plea that goes unheard in the chaotic noise and smell of blood in the underground rings.

But Shura can hear it.

She cannot ignore it.

...I can't kill you. I just can't. Dammit.

I said this was a match... I won't go back on my word.

I don't kill in the ring. That's a rule I'll never break.

Ugh...

Look at you, dripping saliva and snot.

To think that a piece of shit like you ruined my life.

No, it's not worth it. Not for you.

Argh...

You're lucky, trash. Get out of my sight.

Ugh... *cough* *pant* *cough*

My fists are too good to waste on revenge.

Too good for you.

*Cough*... I'm sorry... I won't do it again... don't kill me... *cough*

Keep that tongue of yours to yourself. I'll pick up where I left off if I ever hear about you blabbing to the Patrol Unit.

I, I won't... don't...

Get out of my sight. I never want to see you again.

Alright, boss, you can come out now. I heard your footsteps ages ago.

So you weren't sleeping when I left?

How could I sleep without the sound of you punching sandbags downstairs?

Oops, sorry. I didn't think you could hear me up there.

Honestly. Well, never mind.

I thought you were going to kill him.

And you didn't think to step in? Man, you're cold-blooded. That scares me.

Give me a break. I'm not that kind of person... and neither are you.

You'll really trust me so much, eh?

I know you have your principles, Shura.

Yeah... I still think of myself as a boxer, even if I don't box anymore.

The match ends when my opponent is knocked out. A boxer doesn't go any further.

Even if it's not someone worthy to call an opponent?

I've boxed for years, boss. Opponents come and go, in all shapes and sizes, but the ring beneath my feet...

Uh-huh?

...It's always there.

The ring matters to me. Every punch I throw, I have to be proud.

Well, you weren't exactly boxing in a proper ring just now.

But the ring's always in my heart.

You fought in underground rings, weren't you? It's not easy to stick to principles in a place like that.

Yeah. Too many things down there not fit for the light of day. Throwing matches, betting... that's rookie stuff.

You get to see all the blood and gore you could ever want, if you have a deep enough pocket. Boxers there are less than animals... we're toys at best.

Maybe I would have become like them, a monster that only knows how to kill.

Hey, what's with that relieved look on your face, boss?