Chapter 82
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: A Visit to the Arena
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“Wow.”
Iolin’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at the building.
It was a bright expression rarely seen at the academy.
Abel nodded in response.
“Even if it’s the lowest-ranked colosseum, it’s still one of only three official ones in the capital.”
“I see.”
“Want to take a look inside?”
“Inside too? To watch a match?”
“No. Matches are only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
“Then we can’t go in?”
“Of course there’s a way.”
In principle, you couldn’t enter except on match days, but he’d come here knowing that because he had a method.
“Follow me.”
Abel led Iolin toward the front of the colosseum.
Up close, there was a man standing guard at the main entrance.
A massive build. A fierce visage.
He was the type no one would want to approach.
But Abel casually walked up to the man and greeted him.
“Hello! Long time no see!”
Iolin alternated glances between the man and Abel, wondering what was going on.
The man did the same, looking back and forth between Abel and Iolin before speaking.
“……Didn’t you quit? I heard you entered the academy.”
“Ah, I’m not here on an errand today.”
“Then?”
“My friend wants to see the inside of the arena.”
The man frowned even more at those words, staring at Abel.
“A tour?”
“Yeah.”
“Of this place?”
“Of course.”
After a moment of silence, the man sighed and replied.
“Sigh. Just this once. Bringing a friend for a tour.”
“Haha. Got it.”
“Wait. I’ll call someone.”
With that, the man opened the door and spoke into a communication artifact.
Soon after, someone came running from inside.
“Oh! Abel!”
The newcomer was another burly, muscular man like the one at the gate.
Abel greeted him with a pleased expression.
“Yeah. Uncle Doyle. Long time no see.”
“Call me bro!”
The man called Doyle grinned and ruffled Abel’s hair. Then he tilted his head slightly toward the side and said.
“And this is the friend?”
“Ah, yeah.”
“I’m Iolin.”
Iolin bowed her head calmly in greeting.
Doyle looked back and forth between Iolin and Abel, then grinned again.
“You’ve got good timing. Want to tour the inside? Follow me! Kyle, I’ll take them!”
“Sure.”
The gatekeeper stepped aside, allowing Abel and Iolin to enter.
Passing through the door, a grand hall came into view.
It wasn’t flashy, but the interior gave a strong, intense impression overall.
“This is the main hall. This way to the arena. And…….”
Abel already knew all this, so he let Doyle’s words go in one ear and out the other as he sank into thought.
The Vulcanus Colosseum was operated by the Vulcanus Workshop.
More precisely, the Vulcanus Workshop itself belonged to the Vulcanus Merchant Guild, with the workshop and colosseum under it.
‘The guild master’s basically a figurehead, though.’
Abel had frequented this place often on errands.
But he’d never fought in a match here.
The reason someone who’d battled in underground colosseums for years had never fought here once was simple.
‘The qualifications are pretty strict.’
Unlike shady underground venues, this was an officially ‘certified’ facility.
You needed a verified identity and a certain level of relevant experience to compete as a fighter.
Naturally, that didn’t apply to Abel, who’d been a penniless wanderer with zero track record.
“Alright, alright. Now let’s head into the arena proper.”
By then, Doyle had finished his lengthy explanation and led Abel and Iolin further in.
Following the familiar path, a large door soon appeared.
Doyle flung it open, revealing the arena interior in full view.
“What do you think?”
Doyle looked at Iolin expectantly.
Iolin stared at the arena, then flinched at his gaze and said.
“It looks well-built.”
“Right? It’s smaller than others, but the design is way better. And safety’s top-notch too.”
Doyle seemed pleased even with her brief words and started chattering on about unasked topics.
“Plus, the matches here are on a whole other level. No comparison to other places.”
Still, nothing Doyle said was wrong.
It might be the lowest-ranked colosseum, but that didn’t mean its quality was low.
Doyle chattered excitedly for a while before suddenly turning to Abel as if remembering something.
“By the way, you know there’s an event tournament at the end of this month?”
“Event tournament?”
“Yeah. You asked about it a bunch of times before.”
“Ah…… Right.”
Abel nodded.
At that moment, Iolin asked curiously.
“What’s an event tournament?”
“Oh, this friend doesn’t know.”
Doyle looked delighted at the chance for more explanation.
“Event tournaments are matches separate from the regular schedule, as the name suggests. Even non-colosseum riders can enter.”
“Even if you’re not affiliated with the colosseum?”
“Yeah. As long as your identity’s verified and no disqualifiers. Abel begged me to let him join several times.”
“Ahem. That was ages ago.”
“Ages? It was only three or four years ago.”
Abel shut his mouth at Doyle’s annoyingly sharp memory.
But Doyle’s mouth didn’t stop.
“So, wanna give it a shot this time?”
“Cadets can enter too?”
The question came not from Abel, but Iolin.
Doyle nodded vigorously.
“Of course. I told you—verified identity and no disqualifiers.”
“But cadets…….”
“The academy approves it.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
Doyle continued smoothly.
“Event tournaments are usually crammed into one weekend day, so no conflict with classes.”
“Ah…….”
“Plus, participating cadets get real combat experience.”
“That makes sense. First I’ve heard of it, though.”
“No surprise. You’re a first-year cadet, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
Doyle nodded at Iolin’s reply.
“First-years rarely enter. The academy doesn’t even announce it to them.”
“Why not?”
“They lack the skill. Even academy cadets have less than a year of training as first-years.”
“Oh…….”
Iolin nodded as if understanding.
Abel thought while listening to them.
‘Originally planned to try in my second year.’
Event tournament.
Also called irregular tournament, it was a pretty lucrative event.
The academy encouraged it, so good results earned extra ‘points.’
Plus, they gave prizes and cash to the top three.
Abel organized his thoughts and asked Doyle.
“What’s the prize for this tournament?”
“Heh. Already eyeing prizes? Well, motivation needs incentive. Let’s see, this time it’s…….”
Doyle pondered briefly before explaining the prizes.
Abel showed no reaction until the first and second prizes.
They were decent, but not tempting enough.
‘With my current strength, aiming for first is unrealistic anyway.’
Abel knew his place.
Even if he was top-tier among first-years, the overall rider pool was far beyond him.
Second-years and above often joined this tournament too.
“And the third prize is……. Ah, got it!”
But when Doyle mentioned the third prize.
Abel asked in surprise.
“Helena’s Tear is the third prize?”
Helena’s Tear.
It was a key material needed to upgrade ‘Lupus.’
* * *
“Thanks for today.”
“No big deal.”
Abel waved off Iolin’s thanks.
“It was fun for me too, touring around after so long. Good change of pace.”
“Good to hear.”
Iolin nodded slightly at Abel’s response, then boarded the carriage.
“I’ll head back first.”
“Alright. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah.”
That was the end of their farewell.
Abel watched the carriage depart.
He still had business to attend to, so he wasn’t returning yet.
Naturally, that business was the delightful hellish training with Carlton.
Iolin said she was fine, but he couldn’t make her wait hours, so he’d sent her ahead.
“Ugh. Wonder how much he’ll drill me today.”
Abel muttered with a shudder.
Of course, it was just talk—he never skipped training.
He stopped whining and headed into the inn.
“Oh, you’re here!”
No sooner had he entered than a familiar voice greeted him.
Turning, he saw Carlton seated at a table in the corner.
Abel bowed politely in greeting.
“Yes. I hope you’ve been well.”
“Yeah, yeah. Was worried you’d run off and not show.”
“No way. I’m loving the training. Can’t wait for each day.”
Abel lied without changing expression and walked over to Carlton.
Carlton grinned at him and said.
“Then let’s start right away? No need to leave early or anything?”
“No. None.”
At that, Carlton immediately stood and headed out.
Abel followed him to the inn’s backyard.
“Like I said at first, the first month focuses on basics.”
“So today’s just swinging the sword again?”
“Exactly. You get it.”
Carlton grinned and nodded.
“Here, take this.”
“Yes.”
Abel took the training sword without complaint and assumed position.
“Begin!”
At Carlton’s shout, he started swinging.
Whoosh-!
The blade cleaved the air with a heavy whoosh.
The weighty feel tensed his muscles instinctively, but Abel steadied his breath and focused solely on the swings.
Carlton watched silently from the side, only correcting him occasionally when his form slipped.
For several hours.
“Ten more minutes!”
Carlton shouted that when Abel was drenched in sweat.
Abel’s arms trembled, but he kept swinging. Finally, after ten minutes.
“Stop!”
The hellish training ended at last.
Rather than collapsing, Abel leaned on the training sword.
“Huff, huff.”
“You’re always diligent, but extra today.”
“Huff, yes. Got a reason.”
Carlton handed him a dry cloth and asked.
“A reason?”
“Yeah.”
Abel wiped his sweat with it and replied.
“I’m entering the colosseum tournament.”