Chapter 132
Chapter 132
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: The Mysterious Gladiator (6)
She scattered blood around her with red hair whipping through the air and crimson eyes blazing.
Fortunately, the splattering red blood wasn't hers—it belonged to the soldiers and gladiators lunging at her.
"Get the hell out of here!! If you don't hand over Ken, I'll kill every last one of you━!!"
Her clear voice rang out like a bell, vibrating through the air around them.
Everyone nearby shuddered just like I did, shoulders trembling as they slowly backed away.
The beautiful woman was unexpectedly someone etched clearly in my memories.
Even though this body's memories were a complete blank.
I had a vivid recollection of her as a person in this world.
Was this what they called fate?
Overwhelmed with emotion, I couldn't tear my eyes away from her, silently chanting her name in my mind.
'Ms. Rapne...'
Her name was Rapne Bell Martinez.
From the game I used to love playing, Epiris Academy.
She was the villainess in that game—the one who made it so addictive, my absolute favorite.
'She's ten million times prettier than her in-game illustrations...'
I was utterly captivated by her.
Even back when I played the game, I'd been smitten by her stunning looks and fiery personality.
But seeing her in the flesh now? It was like my soul was being pulled right out through my eyes.
And so, I stared blankly at her spearwork, which felt like a mesmerizing dance.
Then.
"Ch-Champion━!!"
Someone jolted me out of that trance-like immersion.
It was a gladiator who'd just been kicked in the gut by Ms. Rapne and sent flying all the way over here.
"P-Please help! We're grateful you respect our strength, but no one else can stop that woman!"
He must have misinterpreted my quiet observation of Ms. Rapne's fight.
Come to think of it, the whole reason I'd come here was to stop her.
'Ugh... Of all the ways our first meeting could go, it had to be crossing blades with my favorite character...!'
It felt like a thousand needles stabbing into my chest.
What I really wanted was to share a leisurely cup of tea with her, just the two of us.
"Champion...!"
"Please!"
"You're our only hope!"
But I was in a position where I had no choice but to fight.
'No helping it—I'll put up a decent show, let her knock me out, and play dead.'
That was the best option right now.
No matter that I was Perlion's champion; my opponent was Rapne Bell Martinez.
In the game, she was the academy's undisputed number one in any martial arts category—no one could match her.
Someone like that would easily crush a champion from some backwater city-state like this.
Steeling myself, I stepped past the fallen gladiators toward her, gripping the iron greatsword I often used in matches.
Clang━! Claaang━!
Boom━━━━━━━━━!!
Right on cue, she dispatched three gladiators and soldiers in a single blow.
Ms. Rapne turned her back to me, shoulders heaving with ragged breaths fueled by rising fury.
Gazing at her beautiful silhouette, I cautiously spoke up.
"R-Rapne... Ms. Rapne!"
'I-I said it!'
Her name on my lips for the first time.
Just that sent my heart racing and heat rushing to my face.
If not for this bizarre helmet, my flushed expression would have given me away.
But.
"......"
The moment I called her name, Ms. Rapne abruptly halted her heavy breathing and stood still.
Then, clenching her trembling fists tight, she slowly turned her head.
As if she'd finally found what she'd been waiting for.
'Whoa... Just as I thought...'
Sadness clouded her face as she looked back.
Overwhelming emotion welled up, turning to tears that moistened her large, lovely eyes.
She gazed at me with an expression on the verge of tears, blank yet heartbreaking.
That beautiful face lasted all of one second.
"......Who the hell are you?"
She scowled at my helmet, irritation plain on her face.
Oh no—now that I thought about it, everyone called her the Crimson Mad Dog.
Of course she'd be pissed if some stranger who'd never introduced himself suddenly called her by name.
I'd been so nervous, lost in my own head.
"I-I'm the gladiator champion of Lendil! Pigeant of the Freak Helmet!"
Nailed it.
Not my real name, but I'd successfully given her mine.
Of course, it didn't improve her mood.
"Fine... You're next, then..."
She let out a weary sigh, like she was done with it all.
Then fixed me with a sharp glare.
In that instant.
She vanished from in front of me.
Kaaaang━!!
"Guhhh!"
"......You're on a whole different level from those guys, huh?"
Her golden spear came flying at me from the side.
I swiftly swung my greatsword to block the strike, which left an afterimage in its blinding speed.
In the split second our weapons clashed.
She eyed my helmet, sizing up my skill.
"......I'm getting serious now."
Serious.
That single word made my heart pound.
In a life-or-death situation like this? I really must be crazy.
━Whoosh!
Distracted by that foolish thought, she disengaged and vanished again.
She reappeared above my head in a flash, thrusting her spear down at me.
Kaaaang!!
Metal screeched against metal, sparks flying.
I broke into a cold sweat fending off her relentless, overwhelming speed.
She was leagues beyond any gladiator I'd faced in the arena.
'This is Ms. Rapne's [Nerve Acceleration]...!'
The pinnacle physical unique skill in Epiris Academy, inspired by some cyberpunk game's ability.
Clang!
Klang!
Booom━━━━━━━━━!!
Clashing spear and sword over and over, it hit me.
That skill gave her an absolute edge in close combat.
Her elusive style made it seem like she was teleporting.
Unlike actual teleportation magic that instantly relocated the body.
[Nerve Acceleration] accelerated her internal time perception, boosting her physical stats to superhuman levels for hyper-fast movement.
Letting her fight freely in what felt like slowed time to everyone else.
Maybe that's why Ms. Rapne's eyes widened in surprise when I kept blocking her ambushes with my greatsword.
On the next strike, we locked weapons again, faces inches apart.
Screeeeech!
Steel ground against steel under immense pressure, shrieking in agony.
"You're... stronger than I thought."
"Th-Thank you."
"What was your name again...?"
"Pigeant... ma'am."
"Pigeant..."
She stared blankly at my helmet, murmuring my title.
Then, she smiled faintly.
"Alright. I'll remember your name."
"R-Really?!"
"......Why are you so happy about that? ...Creepy."
"S-Sorry...!"
For a moment—fake name or not—knowing I'd etched myself into her life, even briefly, filled me with joy.
The ideal woman I adored most remembered me.
Her surprising words made me blurt out something that sounded off, and Ms. Rapne recoiled in disgust.
Cheers erupted around us.
"Ooooh!! Champion!! We knew you could do it!!"
"He's holding off that Crimson Mad Dog without breaking a sweat!!"
"You got this! Champion!! We believe in youuu!!"
To them, our blade-locked standoff looked like an intense battle of wills.
"Hmph... Quite the fan favorite, huh?"
"S-Sorry about that. It's just how the arena is..."
"Lots of people know you?"
"...Yeah, a fair few."
As our weapons sparked and wailed, we exchanged brief words.
At the end of that exchange.
Ms. Rapne studied me intently.
"Good."
Whoosh!
She pulled her spear back and stepped about five paces away.
I felt a pang of regret as she distanced herself.
Ignoring me, she leveled her spear tip at me with a serious expression.
Very different from the snarling fury when we'd first locked eyes.
And amid the roaring cheers.
She mouthed something only I could catch, her voice too soft for others amid the soldiers' and gladiators' clamor.
But her lip movements were crystal clear.
'Help me.'
No doubt about it.
Even if I was wrong, it didn't matter.
Even if it was my imagination, I wanted to believe she was asking me for help.
So, uncertain as I was.
I nodded quickly at her mouthed words.
Ms. Rapne smiled beautifully then.
And vanished from my sight in an instant.
I sensed her reappear behind me moments later.
But I didn't react.
Because she'd asked me to 'help her.'
To help, I had to stay put.
Sure enough, she whispered softly in my ear from behind.
"...Thanks."
And immediately, the cold edge of her spear pressed against my throat.
"Everyone back off━!! One step, and your champion dies right here━!!"
I'd become her hostage.
'Ah, her... pressing against my back.'
Squish.
With her arm around my shoulder to hold me still, her front was flush against my back.
And naturally, that meant her illustration-worthy massive breasts.
Were pressed snugly against me.
"Wha—wha—whoa—whoaaa...!!"
Flustered, heat exploded across my face as I spiraled into panic.
Ms. Rapne noticed and whispered, "Nice acting. Just keep it up!"
My panic must have looked like realistic hostage terror to her.
And to everyone else too, apparently.
"Y-You bastaaard!! That's low, even for the Crimson Mad Dog━!!"
"T-Taking a hostage━!! You call yourself a martial artist?!?"
"Shut up!! Hand over Ken or let me inside, now!!"
Thankfully, they valued my life.
Especially the gladiators.
They clutched their heads in confusion like me, retreating step by step.
"Y-You idiots! What are you doing?! He's just a gladiator slave, champion or not!! Ignore the hostage and attack!!"
But the soldiers—their apparent captain—berated the retreating gladiators.
'From the soldiers' view, I'm just another gladiator...'
But that was only the soldiers' perspective.
There were plenty of gladiators here too.
And they fired back at his order in fury.
"What the hell are you blabbering about?!"
"Don't you know who that is?! One of his matches is worth three years of your pay!"
"We were ordered to help you lot, sure—but we're not sacrificing our champion for it!!"
"Our master wouldn't have agreed to your request if he thought we'd go that far!!"
The gladiators flushed red, raising their weapons.
Their tips now aimed at the soldiers threatening Ms. Rapne.
At that, she giggled softly in my ear.
"You're more popular than I thought."
"Y-Yeah... I didn't expect this either..."
I'd figured they'd ditch me without a second thought, but the champion title carried real weight.
Feeling my value acutely now, Ms. Rapne gripped my arm tighter.
"Good. You'll be helping me out for a while."
Squish.
Her ample chest pressed even more firmly against my back.
Of course. I'd follow her to the ends of hell.
I pledged my loyalty to her.