Vowing to Teach the Lord a Lesson (1)
Renes led me to a place guarded heavily right from the entrance. The armaments and the number of personnel were on a whole different level from anywhere else, and I could guess what kind of facility it was from the sight of various creatures caged inside.
"This is……."
"It's where we keep the fighters for the arena. To make our matches less boring, we bring in contenders from all over the continent."
From simple beasts to grotesque creatures defying common sense, and even humanoid sub-species like the goblin I'd fought first…… As she said, the variety was immense, but they all shared one glaring commonality.
Most of them were female—or at least prominently exhibited female traits.
"Kieeeek! Kiiiiieeeeeek!"
The female sub-species clutching the bars as if to shatter them and screeching were undoubtedly driven by lust aimed at me. Realizing that sent chills down my spine, but Renes just chuckled as if savoring my reaction and strolled ahead leisurely.
"Oh come on, why look so scared? Even though you're a man, purely in terms of combat power, you wouldn't kneel to any of these caged beasts."
Is that supposed to be reassuring? Even if I could win, handling them would be overwhelming—not to mention enduring those stares was torture enough. It felt exactly like the joke from my past life about "visual rape." And unlike humans, these savage things lacked any moral compass, crossing lines even more brazenly.
"Right, for a special kid like you, I need to prepare a worthy opponent."
Of course, my feelings meant nothing to this woman. She stopped in front of a massive iron door and casually addressed the heavily armored knights guarding it.
"Is that thing still securely locked up inside?"
"Yes, this way……."
The door opened at their hands, and Renes and Martina stepped into the enveloping darkness. Fear gripped me at the unfamiliar place, halting my feet. Renes turned back, teasing.
"Why are you just standing there? Don't tell me you're too scared to come in after all this."
How could I not be terrified? First a goblin obsessed with raping men, then a brutal criminal who treated them as punching bags, then the laziest yet genuinely strongest knight…… I could guess the next opponent would be even more absurd without facing it.
"……Your fourth opponent is in here, right?"
Unable to resist, I stepped inside, greeted by a gigantic iron cage. It was too dark to see clearly, dust thick in the air as if long neglected. The eerie atmosphere choked me, and that's when I noticed Martina trembling before the cage.
"Martina?"
"……."
She hunched her shoulders, eyes downcast in silence. This passive demeanor, unseen even when Renes had beaten her before, felt utterly unlike her. What could be beyond that cage to make even someone like her react this way?
"Bear with the stuffiness. Turn on the lights, and it'll go berserk—you won't see straight."
Renes stood before the cage, making a noise, and something inside began to stir. Then—BOOM! The ground shook. No, the whole building trembled. From a single footstep. Whatever was in there had just stepped forward, sending shivers through our location.
-Grrrrrrrrr……
A ferocious beastly growl followed. My breath caught instinctively as I fixed my gaze into the darkness beyond the bars. House-sized in bulk. Yet its silhouette was humanoid—arms, legs, head…… But its body rejected any comparison to a normal person, swollen grotesquely. Muscle or fat, it was caked everywhere…….
-Thud, boom.
As it moved again, the ground quaked under its presence. Soon, a flash gleamed from the darkness, heading my way. Two red lights flared from an impossible height for a human…… Were those its eyes?
"GRRROOOOAAAAARRR!!"
It bellowed and charged, smashing a fist into the cage. The bars dented, and gripping the mangled metal with full force, the giant loomed over me, mumbling.
"Maaaan…… cooome…… fuuuuck……."
A voice boiling with desire. I instantly knew: this monster saw me as breeding stock. Left alone, it'd rip the bars apart and ravage me. And if that happened, I'd be helpless.
Sensing that on instinct, Renes signaled Martina coldly.
"Martina."
-Shing.
Martina drew her sword, aura flaring before the cage. The monster eyed her intimidating presence, then released the bars and retreated into the depths.
"Huuurt…… baaad. No……."
It slumped with a thud, turning away in clumsy speech. As the tension eased, I forced my constricted throat to croak at Renes.
"What the hell is that thing?"
"An ogre."
"Ogre……?"
"Dumb and slow, but its strength is tops among sub-species. Skin so thick and tough, most magic or aura bounces off. Capturing one takes an army, with heavy casualties."
One creature rivaling an army…… Fuck, is this psycho lord insane? Matching me against that?
Horror surged, but her next words hit harder.
"Actually, capturing this one required Helia and Martina. Helia took a major wound in the process."
"What!? Helia injured!?"
I grabbed Renes' shoulder in shock, unable to ignore it. Worry for the absent Helia overwhelmed me.
"Helia's hurt? How bad? Her life— is she okay!?"
"Don't worry. It was crippling, but priests will heal her good as new."
Crippling injury? Even if treatable, how could she say it so casually? Fury boiled—I was about to yell when she gripped my hand on her shoulder first.
"Anyway, warrior. Staring like that, now you're getting cocky and climbing up."
"You call that……."
-WHAM!
A fierce force struck from behind. I crumpled, and Martina pinned me down, forcing me prone before Renes.
"You can't do that—touching your master's body freely."
"Gah!! Martina, why……!"
Smug Renes and Martina crushing me. I strained to resist, but she pressed harder, whispering desperately.
"Endure it, Adrian. Touch the lord more, and you won't get off easy. Vent on me later as much as you want……."
"Fuck that! Why should you take my rage at that bitch! Why should I hold back seeing my woman humiliated like this!"
"You fucking cunt! How much of a pushover do you think I am to treat me like this!"
Unable to contain the fury, I propped up my torso despite the restraint, glaring daggers at Renes and roaring.
"Treating me like a criminal and bossing me around wasn't enough—now you want me to fight that monster!? Why go this far! What did I ever do to you! What crime justifies this bullshit without a second thought!!"
All my pent-up rage exploded. But she just chuckled mockingly, lowering to meet my eyes as I lay fallen.
"Aw, our warrior's really pissed~ Facing that monster, losing it is natural."
That face—I'd smash it if my hands were free. But confident I couldn't, she playfully stroked my cheek instead.
"Think the other way. A male gladiator captivating everyone versus a ferocious beast that took two of the Three Knights to capture…… That'd be the ultimate show, drawing unprecedented attention in history, right?"
"Ultimate show…? You threw your subordinate into mortal danger for that!?"
"Puhahaha! What weird talk~ Using loyal subordinates for this city's prosperity is obvious, no!?"
Her hands seized my face, squeezing as if to peel the skin off.
"Yes, my top priority—first and foremost—is developing this city. Drawing more people, more money…… Using everything available is natural, isn't it?"
Her eyes wide, breath ragged, almost manic. Then she softened, caressing my face and whispering.
"In that sense, you're my greatest find. Unlike the dime-a-dozen weak men, you surpass most women in talent…… How could I, wanting this city's revival, let you go easily?"
"Treasure my ass. You tried to kill me with criminals……."
"Even treasures are mere tools. Sometimes you gotta discard them without attachment."
With a smirk, she released my face. At her gesture, Martina lifted off me. Free, she closed in mockingly, boasting.
"You know it, right? The more people expect from you, the more they crave your downfall."
Stark reality. The arena cheers always hid desires for my ruin—pathetic collapse, filthy violation. In this world, even the most alluring man was treated as fodder for base lusts.
"When will he break, or win again…… Balancing on that knife-edge draws eyes. Only then are you most alluring. Only under someone who sets that stage can you maximize your value."
And before me stood one exploiting that harsh truth. Teaching me that, she whispered gleefully in my ear.
"So prepare thoroughly for the remaining time. For me and this city, at least."
You'll never let me go, no matter what. That conviction dripped casually from her whisper.
The ogre match was set for a week later. I needed to prepare, but I couldn't bring myself to the training ground. Rebellion against dancing to Renes' tune? Or resignation to inescapable control……? Either way, no training mood. Wandering aimlessly, my feet took me to the temple I'd heard of before.
"Ah, Adrian."
"Helia's here, right?"
"Yes, recovering in the inner ward."
Guided by Priest Mirka, I reached the room. Heavy-hearted, I entered and faced Helia sitting on the bed.
"Helia……."
"Ah, Adrian."
She gasped joyfully at seeing me. But I couldn't feel glad. Bandages everywhere, face gaunt—signs she'd been at death's door.
"……I'm sorry. As your guide, showing such a pathetic sight."
Yet she apologized to me. Despite the crisis from my presence. Seeming guiltier for endangering my future.