Chapter 131
Chapter 131
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Mysterious Gladiator (5)
Rendil's soldier had come to the arena for a simple reason.
"The Red Mad Dog is causing chaos at the north gate right now. We're trying to hold it off with every soldier we can muster, but we're short-handed."
We—meaning me and the other eastern gladiators—had gathered in the arena square on Eorite's summons.
The reason for the assembly was exactly what the soldier from Rendil Citadel had just reported.
In short, they were saying they needed our muscle because theirs wasn't enough.
'Is the enemy that tough that they have to pull in our forces too...?'
As the champion standing at the front, I tilted my head at the soldier's words.
These were soldiers, after all.
Professionals trained specifically to defeat enemies and defend the city.
A single one might not be much different from us gladiators.
But in group combat, they had to be superior.
For them to borrow gladiators' strength...
It felt just like borrowing a cat's paw.
'Is the Red Mad Dog a gang?'
I figured it probably was.
After all, there were bandit groups like the Yellow Turbans.
If the soldiers couldn't hold them back and needed gladiators too, the enemy had to be a formidable force.
'So some armed group is attacking Rendil.'
I couldn't guess the reason at all.
This place, Rendil, was just a city-state plopped down in the middle of the desert.
With the arena as its main entertainment, it was a pretty ordinary city and nation—nothing special.
There wasn't even much to loot.
'No, maybe that's exactly why it's easy prey.'
Thinking it over, smaller nations like this were probably weaker, so they figured it was worth a shot.
As I pondered Rendil's situation in my own way,
"Especially you, Champion. We're counting on you big time. His Majesty himself said he'll reward anyone who stands out, so we appreciate it."
The soldier looked at me with eyes full of respect.
'This is burdensome.'
Honestly, all that expectation just made me uncomfortable.
I didn't think I'd accomplish anything grand.
Sure, this body seemed to have top-notch combat skills.
But the mind inside was just a rookie with only a few months of real fighting under its belt.
'I'll play it by ear and bail if it looks like we can't hold them.'
My goal was singular.
Safely rack up 30 wins, gain my freedom as promised with Eorite,
and get out of this Rendil.
"Alright, heroes! Let's save Rendil!"
"“Ooooooh━!!”"
"...O, ooh."
Every gladiator except me had eyes burning with passion.
Did they have some sense of patriotism?
This was unexpected.
I figured they'd all be like me—annoyed or scared, full of negative vibes.
"Getting to see the infamous Red Mad Dog up close... My heart's pounding."
"Keh heh, yeah. Wonder if they live up to the hype..."
I overheard some gladiators chatting as we headed north.
What? Was the Red Mad Dog famous?
Curious, I turned and asked,
"Um... what’s this rumor about the Red Mad Dog?"
"Oh! Champion! Sorry, we were too loud."
"No, it's fine. I was curious too. About this Red Mad Dog rumor."
In the arena, the champion was treated like a hero, so everyone approached me like this.
One gladiator scratched his head before answering.
"Ah, the rumor... But Champion, word is you're not into women much, right?"
"Pardon?"
Was that rumor going around?
Eorite's doing, maybe.
No, it'd only hurt the champion's value, so probably spread by one of the prostitutes who visited.
'Whatever.'
It didn't affect me, so I just nodded vaguely.
"Mm, then it might not interest you. It's that kind of story."
"...That kind?"
"Yeah. Sorry for getting on your nerves, Champion. We'll be careful."
What the hell was it about?
Something even a guy not into women wouldn't care for?
...Maybe I should've said I was into women.
I dropped it and walked on indifferently.
They were just some armed group raiding the city anyway.
It was light curiosity, and hearing it was no big deal killed it.
Besides, we'd face the Red Mad Dog soon enough.
I could treat trivial curiosity as pre-show entertainment.
It wasn't long before,
━Kwaaaaang!!
the sounds from the gate grew louder.
'What kind of battle is this...?'
As the gate neared, the noise swelled, and thick clouds of dust rose over the walls.
This felt like a war.
I started understanding why soldiers alone weren't enough.
I'd planned to gauge the mood and slip away, but now my hands trembled slightly with tension.
'This might be... more dangerous than arena matches.'
The massive impacts grew, and soon screams joined in.
"D-Damn it!! If the front line falls, fill the gap immediately!! Don't let them break through!!"
"Grab their legs or something! Pin 'em down so they can't move!!"
"Hiiik! M-Monster! How the hell do we stop that━!!"
The screams came from soldiers.
All in matching uniforms, wielding similar weapons, scrambling about.
There were a lot of them, by the look of it.
'Even with that many, it's not enough?'
Finally, the north gate entrance came into view.
Beyond the wide-open massive gate, countless figures filled the scene.
Some ran around carrying the wounded.
Others fled with terror-stricken faces.
Pandemonium.
The word fit perfectly.
"Come on, you lot!! Let's charge!!"
A veteran-looking gladiator beside me raised his weapon and bellowed.
The rough-looking ones behind hoisted their weapons high.
"“Ooooooooh━!!”"
Then they all charged forward with excited faces.
'With that many, we should win.'
I smiled faintly at the bravely rushing gladiators.
It'd be fine.
They were survivors who'd endured daily deathmatches.
Sure, no teamwork in group fights, but their individual strength was undisputed.
This should handle the enemy armed group...
"Kraaaagh!!"
Thud crash!!
"Kyaaagh!"
Someone flew over the wall and smashed into an oak barrel on a nearby building.
One of the gladiators who'd just charged bravely.
'...Just now, ...he flew?'
My smiling face froze, mouth agape.
Was there a monster out there?
How do you throw an adult man that high?
...Though I could if I tried.
Anyway.
"Guh, guh... Ch-Champion."
The gladiator in the barrel regained consciousness and looked at me in agony.
"I-I'm counting on you. You can..."
Like a sidekick in a movie awakening the hero, he gazed at me desperately.
Then his head lolled without finishing.
"Haa..."
He wasn't dead. Still breathing.
But more importantly,
'This vibe says I have to go in.'
I'd hoped to hang back and let it sort itself out.
Looked like I had to join.
Finally, I stepped forward from where I stood.
"Ch-Champion..."
"It's the Champion!! Freak Helmet has appeared!!"
"Urgh, Champion! Please! You're our only hope!"
"Ooooooh! Everyone!! Clear the way!! Pigeant of Freak Helmet challenges the Red Mad Dog!!"
As I reached the back of the crowd, someone spotted me and shouted, sparking cheers from the masses.
They naturally parted, forming a path for me.
The gap widened.
I walked it uncomfortably, head down under burdensome stares.
"The Champion...!"
"Seeing the Champion fight live..."
"Show us the legend...! Champion!"
Everyone looked at me like kids idolizing a hero, expectations sky-high.
Without the helmet, I'd probably have fled from the embarrassment.
Bearing those heavy gazes, I slowly walked the parting path.
Kwaaaaang!!
A massive explosion like an airstrike hit, and another person flew over my head.
'...What the hell?'
The closer I got, the clearer it became.
The enemy wasn't that numerous.
So what was it?
A monster?
What could make this many soldiers helpless?
And its identity was,
"...━Give him baaaack━!!!!"
with a woman's voice growing sharper,
swish.
revealed as I passed the last soldier blocking my view.
━━Red.
The first thing my eyes caught was vivid red.
That red blazed with passionate fury, eyes glaring like it would devour everything, mouth wide in a snarl.
The Red Mad Dog itself.
And 'she' was,
eyes brimming with indescribable rage.
Letting out a desperate cry that sounded almost like sobbing.
"Give me Ken baaaack━!!!!"
The moment I faced her head-on,
my sole emotion was one.
'......She's beautiful.'
Love at first sight.