Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Mysterious Gladiator (4)
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I became the East Gladiator.
And from that day on, my goal was thirty wins in the champion matches.
Once I achieved that, I could gain my freedom, regardless of the wanted posters.
I wouldn't have to wear this helmet and skulk around outside anymore.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The winner is the East Gladiator! Pigeant of the Freak Helmet!!! He claims victory in the champion's first duel!! Of course, that didn't mean I took off the helmet.
This helmet had become my signature, and in the arena where it was all a show anyway, I had to wear it.
"Hoo..."
After winning my first champion match, I returned to my waiting room—which doubled as my living quarters.
The champions really are on another level.
The cold, prison-like waiting room where I first opened my eyes.
Now, the place I occupied was a cozy suite, completely different from back then.
A spacious room on the upper floors of the arena, adorned with vibrant colors and all sorts of decorations.
Expensive paintings of unknown origin hung on the walls, and the bed was absurdly plush, made from luxurious fabrics.
The fruits on the table were always fresh, replaced daily.
In some ways, it was better than a high-end hotel.
Of course, none of this is actually mine.
All the luxuries I enjoyed now were just on loan, collateralized by the "champion" title.
While my body was comfortable here, a nagging discomfort lingered in the corner of my mind.
Especially...
"Hee hee, Gladiator. You worked hard again today."
"Oh my, look at those firm arms."
The women that Eorite—my current owner—sent every day.
Apparently, all the previous champions had demanded women like this, because even without me asking, she kept sending them.
"Please, just stop sending anyone. I'm really fine."
"I never imagined you'd refuse women. Do you have... issues down there or something?"
As if.
If anything, I was too healthy—that was the problem.
Occasionally, among the women who visited, some caught sight of me without my helmet and deliberately tried to seduce me.
Those times were really hard to resist.
Of course, one might think I could just go for it and get it out of my system.
...But for some reason, I didn't want to.
I couldn't explain it myself.
My libido was definitely there.
Yet it felt like there was a brake in my heart, holding me back, telling me I shouldn't.
Why...?
I liked women, and I had no particular reason to stay chaste.
In any case, since the women were more trouble than they were worth, I firmly refused Eorite.
"Fine, pretend it's your problem then. ...Just don't send them."
"Hee hee, what an odd man."
Eorite surely knew my performance was fine.
That's why she looked at me with even more curious eyes.
"Just to be sure, do you have someone waiting outside?"
"Someone?"
"A partner, or someone you've promised yourself to."
"No, nothing like..."
At that moment, something sank in my chest.
Huh? What... what is this?
My heart didn't race particularly fast, but there was a tightness somewhere.
It flinched as if pleading with me not to deny it.
No way...
Did I really have someone?
Did the original owner of this body leave his heart with someone outside?
The thought made my heart pound again.
Huh? It doesn't feel like just one... two? No, three?
How could I know the exact number from a mere heartbeat?
This body's instincts just told me it wasn't one, so I kept counting up.
And the signal from my heart stopped at three.
"Haha, no way it's three..."
"Hm? What was that?"
"Nothing, just talking to myself."
Even as a wanted criminal, three partners? That was too scummy.
It had to be my imagination.
He looked decent enough in the portrait, so I believed he wasn't that much of a playboy.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Several months passed since I ascended to the arena's champion.
"Huff... huff..."
Fortunately, I hadn't died and smoothly held onto my champion seat.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Streeeeak!! A win streak!! Pigeant of the Freak Helmet!! With this victory, he's achieved an incredible 10 consecutive wins!! A record only four champions in history have matched!! "Shiiit!! That's it!! Pigeant!! I've bet my whole life on you!!"
"Pigeaaaant!! You're the best! I love youuuu━!!"
The more victories I racked up, the more my fame and popularity grew.
This gladiator tournament was essentially the country's one and only massive spectacle.
In a way, the gladiators here were like modern idols.
But only ten wins so far...
My deal with Eorite was for thirty wins.
A few months in, and I'd barely hit ten.
Champion matches only happened when challengers appeared.
And those challengers had to win a tournament to even qualify.
So, even though I wanted to rush to thirty wins, it was impossible.
Deep down, I wished for a duel every day to hit thirty in a month.
On days without matches, I mostly lounged around in my private suite.
Eorite occasionally sent women again, worried I'd get bored.
But after I refused them before, the visits dropped off, and when they came, I just chatted and sent them away.
Why am I feeling so impatient...?
With no duel scheduled today, I was relaxing on the suite's terrace, gazing at the scenery.
My body felt at ease, and the surroundings were top-notch.
Yet, for some reason, impatience bubbled up from somewhere deep inside.
Hurry up and win these duels to get out of here.
It's not like there's anything waiting out there.
After more than ten duels, I'd realized this body was ridiculously strong.
Of course, not every fight had been risk-free.
Still, its base strength was insane, and its combat sense was top-tier.
I couldn't imagine losing any of the remaining twenty.
So why not...
...just stay here as champion forever?
A luxurious suite, VIP treatment every day.
The only "work" was maybe one duel a week.
After that, I had relatively free rein inside the arena.
And surprisingly, gladiators got paid after enough wins—I only learned that after becoming champion.
At this point, calling it slavery felt embarrassing.
If I keep winning, I might eventually live like a free citizen.
I could come and go from the arena freely.
Eorite had hinted at something similar.
So isn't staying here the smart choice?
Gazing at the clear sky and the picturesque streets from the terrace, the thought crossed my mind.
What was out there anyway? I had no idea.
No clue what I'd even do outside.
This was the world of [Epiris Academy], a game.
As a game world, it'd follow the game's history.
And that history was for the game's protagonists to handle, not me.
So maybe staying here, where everything was provided and I was treated according to my skills, was best.
...But.
Thump, thump.
Whenever that thought arose, my heart started racing.
Like it was about to burst.
As if screaming that I didn't belong here.
Why?
This place wasn't bad no matter how I looked at it.
The kill-or-be-killed duels weren't ideal, sure.
But for someone capable of surviving like me, it wasn't so bad.
Yet...
Why did it feel so suffocating?
Why this loneliness?
Even if this was the most prosperous, comfortable spot in the world.
I had to get out—even if it meant being a slave crawling in the mud.
The reason was simple.
...I miss them.
Sometimes, staring at the scenery like this, those words echoed in my head.
I miss you.
But who? What?
I had no idea.
Still, my body demanded it clearly.
I miss you so much it hurts.
Something that made my heart pound like this.
Something I had to meet, even if it killed me.
Lost in melancholy while staring at the blue sky with drifting clouds—
"It's heeeere━!!"
From the arena's annex main gate toward this building.
Someone came running across the garden.
Face pale with terror, shouting desperately.
"Th-the Crimson Mad Dog has appeared━!!"
The runner was a Rendel soldier.
Why's a soldier here at the Perlion arena...?
More importantly, what he was shouting caught my attention.
Crimson Mad Dog.
I had no clue what it was.
But I found out soon enough.
━KABOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion roared from Rendel's north gate.