Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: The Beginning of the Prophecy (3)
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Royal Half.
In simple terms, it was a hybrid born between two purebloods.
Naturally, the two purebloods who became parents were of different races.
For example, if a pureblood dwarf and a pureblood werewolf had a child, it would be treated as a "Royal Half."
"......"
"My next opponent... is him, you say?"
"......Yeah."
In this world, purebloods were noble, a direct indicator of strength.
The nobler the blood, the purer the power inherited from mighty ancestors.
The dirtier the blood, the weaker that power became, inevitably leading to a frail birth.
But.
There was exactly one exception.
The Royal Half.
Among hybrids, the Royal Half—visible only in a single generation—possessed exactly half pureblood from each side.
Thus, while not quite on the level of a pureblood, a Royal Half's strength was... dangerously potent.
'This is...'
I realized why Karga wore such an anxious expression.
And this match was likely the moment when the prophecy from my dream would come true.
"......"
I clutched my chest, recalling the vision of it pierced through.
I'd wondered how that could happen.
To think my opponent was a Royal Half.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' gazes at you with anxious eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Ancestor 'Star Prophet' gazes at you with pity.
The two ancestors who knew the prophecy's contents reacted much like Karga.
And then.
"You can... run away."
Karga spoke to me in a cautious voice.
"......Pardon?"
"No, run away, Number 17."
"Run away...? It's impossible for a gladiator slave like me."
"......I'll help you."
"You, Karga...?"
She erased her anxious expression and looked at me with resolute eyes.
Then she stepped forward and grabbed both my hands.
"If I go with you, you can escape the city without raising any suspicions."
"But..."
"Don't worry about food. I'll pack plenty. You... you can definitely get far away."
With those last words, Karga's ears and tail drooped downward.
What emotion was this? Regret?
No, more importantly, the issue at hand.
'Run away...'
Escaping this Colosseum was something I'd considered on my first day in this world but quickly abandoned.
Back then, I had no strength or allies.
But if Karga helped, it changed everything.
She was a free citizen, even Taira Pendrack's own sister, the ruler of this city.
With her, leaving the city would feel like a casual stroll.
"......"
"Hurry, if you're running, now's the time. Delaying won't help anything, Number 17."
But if I ran.
Could that avoid the prophecy?
"......Are you deaf? I said run away now...!"
Karga tugged at my hand, but I didn't budge.
Instead, I gripped her hand and flashed a smile.
"No, I'm fine, Karga."
"Fine...? How could you be fine...! Your opponent's that Royal Half...! On a whole different level from a regular hybrid!"
"Don't worry. What you're concerned about won't happen."
Even if I ran, the prophecy would come true.
Only stories fixed by strong fate appeared in the Star Prophet's eyes as prophecy.
If I fled, it would probably play out with the Royal Half chasing me down and piercing my chest.
So running wasn't the answer.
There was only one solution.
"I'll survive."
"......"
"I promise. So believe in me."
"Number 17..."
No matter who the opponent was, I wouldn't go down easily.
This game was one I'd grinded insanely hard in.
I might not win... but I wouldn't die.
"Are you serious...?"
"Yes, completely serious. I can't run... though I appreciate the offer."
"......"
If I ran, Karga might even get punished.
I couldn't burden someone helping me this much.
Fortunately, Karga seemed to accept my words and stopped trying to drag me away.
Except.
...Squeeze.
"......Don't die. Absolutely. Got it?"
"Yes, got it."
Her face, so out of character, trembled with tears as she pulled me into a hug.
Whoa... what incredible size...
A touching moment, but as a man, I was even more moved by the heavy softness against my chest.
"Remember that... I won't forgive you if you die..."
But as the emotion lingered…
Karga's sad voice snapped me back to reality.
She wasn't aware of the awkward situation like I was; she was purely hugging me out of worry.
'Why does a mere slave like me get this much care from her?'
At a glance, it felt like a lover's affection.
But by this world's common sense, that was impossible.
The Male Pheromone's effect?
But even so, Karga's feelings seemed genuine.
Genuinely terrified of my death, grieving for it.
It was hard to chalk it up solely to the Male Pheromone.
"Yes, don't worry. I'll definitely keep my promise."
I didn't know the reason.
But being valued by her was something to be grateful for.
I stroked her back to reassure her.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The opponent's identity was set.
I even had a rough idea of how my chest would be pierced.
An unavoidable situation.
So all I could do was prepare.
Clang! Clang!
"Ho, armor this time, huh? I wondered what gear you'd be using after so long, and it's this."
"The axe is enough for a weapon."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' watches your actions closely. Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' nods in approval.
The only preparation left was equipment.
'As much defense as possible...'
Clang! Clang!
I hammered away diligently in Godin's forge.
"By the way, where'd all that money come from? Never thought a mongrel slave like you would buy materials yourself."
"Thanks for the leftovers, but they weren't enough."
"Haha! True, true. A true artisan is stricter with materials than anyone!"
Unlike the axe, this armor used materials I'd bought myself.
All top-quality, expensive stuff.
Minotaur leather as the base, with a moonlight steel plate over the chest.
Knowing exactly where it'd pierce made designing easy.
Naturally, Karga had provided the funds.
'Really... I have to repay her somehow.'
Unlike her fierce first impression, Karga treated this slave with surprising warmth.
Her sharp gaze remained, of course.
But now, it carried hints of shyness or fluster, making her seem cute.
"Right, three days till the match?"
"Yes."
"Can you finish by then?"
"...Of course."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
To repay my debt to Karga, I had to survive.
Dead men can't pay debts.
I hammered with even more focus than for the axe.
The work continued until sunset.
"Hoo..."
"Hey, Number 17! Wrap it up! Forge is closing soon!"
"Ah, yes! Got it!"
"And a guest's here!"
"Pardon? A guest?"
"Yeah."
As the forge neared closing, I heard about a visitor from Godin, hurriedly finished up, and rushed to the entrance.
'Karga?'
Maybe she'd come to walk me back.
I couldn't keep my owner waiting, so I ran.
But it wasn't Karga waiting.
"Ah, Gladiator!"
"Tiriel?"
It was the Colosseum clinic director, Tiriel.
Spotting me, she flapped her wings happily and approached with a bright smile.
"What brings you here so late?"
"Ah, well..."
Her smiling face darkened at my question.
"......I heard. About your opponent this match."
"Ah..."
"A VIP at the clinic mentioned it as a rumor. ...Do you know who it is?"
"Yes, I heard. An Elf Shadow Knight."
"......"
Like Karga, Tiriel stared at me silently, worried.
She probably thought I'd die, too.
"Don't... absolutely don't die, Gladiator."
And as expected, she approached softly, pleading.
To survive.
I nodded with a smile.
"Yes, don't worry. I absolutely won't die."
A bit flag-like, maybe.
But what else could I say?
"Helping the slums... that benefited me too. ...I haven't properly repaid you yet. Please, survive."
"......"
Come to think of it, in that prophetic dream.
Tiriel had appeared there too.
Casting healing magic on my pierced chest, crying.
'Was that just gratitude... or...'
For a foolish moment, my mind wandered to silly thoughts.
No way—I was a mongrel slave.
She was just kind and affectionate by nature.
"Shall we head back? It's late, air's getting cold."
"Yes..."
I suggested leaving to stop any more nonsense thoughts.
And on the way back.
Slip.
"Eek, T-Tiriel...?"
"I just... felt anxious. ...Am I bothering you?"
Walking beside me, Tiriel gently intertwined her hand with mine.
The slender, soft feminine touch made my heart race unwittingly.
'Is this just... affection?'
The tremor in her hand felt like more than simple fondness.
Tense as we walked, Tiriel smiled softly and spoke.
"...After this match, would you go to the shopping district with me?"
"Shopping district?"
"Yes, there's a new restaurant there. They say it's amazing."
"......Is that okay? I'm a mongrel slave."
My reply carried double meaning.
Questioning the thought sparked by her holding my hand.
She couldn't know that, though.
"Yes, it's fine. ...I don't care about that at all."
"......"
Her answer only confused me more.
What were her feelings, really?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Preparing for the match amid everyone's worries.
Time flew by incredibly fast.
"Win this one too! Show 'em the power of your armor!"
Thud!
Godin, who'd assisted me while I crafted.
"Keep your promise, mongrel. Absolutely. Don't lose."
My owner Karga, who'd even considered helping me flee out of worry.
"I'll be cheering for you, Gladiator. I believe in you."
Tiriel, who'd promised a meal after victory.
And.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' bestows a blessing upon your creation!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' cheers for you! Ancestor 'First King of the Beastkin' looks at you with pride! Ancestor 'Star Prophet' clasps her hands in prayer!
Morduin, who'd blessed my armor, to the other ancestors sending cheers for this match.
"Hoo..."
The moment of the decisive battle arrived, and gripping my axe, I stepped into the Colosseum arena.
Blinding sunlight bathed me, roars from countless spectators deafening my ears.
"“WAAAAAAAAAA——!!!”"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
We've been waiting! Now begins the match of the famous mongrel gladiator, Gladiator Slave Number 17!!
The announcer's voice amplified the crowd's excitement even further.
And.
Creak, grind...
The iron gate at the opposite entrance began rising.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
And above all! Thanks to your passionate cheers!! We've prepared a very, very special fighter today!!
Step, step, step.
From beyond emerged a girl.
Not the grim-faced gladiator I'd expected.
A slender, beautiful girl.
But she had distinctly different traits.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
She is none other than a hybrid born between the Fairy Clan and the Seraphim Clan!! Her name is Ireila!! She's competing thanks to the aid of our VIP guest, the noble Elf lady Elena Silbaren!!
Like Tiriel, she had pure white wings on her back.
Her ears were pointed like an elf's.
Her hair was the same pure white as Astril's.
Her eyes gleamed emerald, like Elisis's.
'That's... the Royal Half.'
A noble hybrid born truly between two purebloods.
With a tense expression, I glared at the girl approaching slowly.