Chapter 14
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 14: Irion Will Be Free Soon!
“Hey, blackie! Is it true you’re fighting Garner?”
“What? That butcher Garner? Are you out of your mind properly?”
The rumor that I’m having a match with the gladiator sponsored by the Valdemar family spread to the arena in no time.
Gladiators flocked in a group and clamored.
Aren't gladiators top-tier Teto (born with a golden spoon/privileged) jobs in their own way? I don't know why on earth they like gossiping so much.
Still, there was a distinct difference from the conversation between Renoa and Hazel I saw a while ago.
That was practically gladiatorial combat trying to kill a person with words, just without knives.
If the opponent showed even a slight gap, they would have stabbed the vital point with a hidden dagger.
‘Just looking at it was bloody.’
On the other hand, these gladiator bastards whose brains are also made of muscles don't use tricks. They spit it out of their mouths immediately without going through something called filtering.
Thanks to that, I just have to accept it straight without needing to think about the intention.
How convenient is that?
‘In my opinion, they should sell noble ladies’ conversations for money, not gladiatorial combat.’
They would really make a fortune.
It’s much more fun than gladiatorial combat.
“Hey, blackie. Can’t you hear what we’re saying? Did you let go of your sanity?”
“I’m listening.”
“What were you thinking setting up a match with Garner? Don’t you know who Garner is?”
“I don't know.”
“Ha, this bastard. A guy doing gladiatorial combat in Alderin doesn't know Garner.”
I didn't know the existence called Garner itself until this event happened, but it seemed he was quite a celebrity in the gladiator industry.
“Garner, that guy. He’s famous for being cruel even among gladiators. He sharpens his greatsword like a saw and slices the opponent alive.”
“Hmm.”
“Shall I give you one piece of good information?”
“What is it.”
“Just die now. Then at least you’ll go comfortably.”
“Get lost.”
That figures. I wondered why these bastards were doing something good for me.
Not long after, the match schedule was set.
Two weeks later.
It will be held in this underground arena.
I was worried what if I had to go on an away game, but fortunately, there was no such thing.
My home ground.
A familiar place is comfortable.
‘Two weeks later...’
There is quite a bit of time. I should raise my proficiency as much as possible until the match.
To do that, training is important, but there is something else just as important.
“Master.”
“What is it, Irion. Is there something you need?”
“No, that’s what I want to say. Do you have anything you need? Errands, or whatever, please give me some orders. As difficult as possible.”
To survive in this beggar-like slave life, I have to utilize the system to the maximum.
One of them is the Quest.
The Owner’s Order.
Although it’s a daily quest that occurs only once a day, the effect is certain. It gives several times more proficiency than just training.
You never know.
If I might be able to obtain a new skill.
“What kind of talk is that. How could I order errands to you who have an important match ahead. Don’t worry about the arena, just manage your condition well while training.”
He worked me like a dog until recently, and now he’s worried about me.
“Don’t be like that and please give me an order. My body feels itchy because I’m not doing errands.”
Bardick looks at me as if looking at a strange guy. As I demand desperately, he reluctantly gives an order.
“Hmm....”
“A difficult one. A really difficult one.”
“Truly a strange fellow. Then clean the livestock pens. We were short on hands because one of the staff didn't come.”
“Ah, I hate that. It smells like shit there.”
“Eei! You’re being annoying! If I say do it, do it without complaints!”
Demonic beasts and animals are as important as gladiators in the arena. Clean the dirty pens cleanly.
After receiving the order, I moved to the livestock pens.
The pens are on a floor even deeper underground than the underground arena. Since magic stone lamps don't reach here, you can’t see an inch ahead without a torch.
The deeper I go inside, the damper the air becomes. The smell of ammonia pricking the nose and the stench of fresh blood make breathing difficult.
Going deep inside like that, I saw the servants managing the pens.
“Irion? Why did you come here? Does Lord Bardick finally intend to use you as beast feed?”
“Cut the bullshit. I came to help clean. What do I have to do?”
“You?”
“Hurry up. I have to finish this and go train.”
At my indifferent reply, the guys looked at each other’s faces with bewildered expressions.
Then soon, recalling the fact that I am a slave, they wore fishy smiles.
“Change into boots, and take a mop. Wipe the floor from Zone 3 over there. Because the demonic beasts had diarrhea, it’s a total mess.”
I immediately changed into boots and took a brave step forward.
—Squelch——
“Ah.”
I stopped as if I stepped on a landmine.
The sensation sticking stickily to my foot. It doesn't let go easily as if I fell into a swamp.
Even if I want to pretend not to know what it is, the stench that would turn my stomach inside out conveys the information vividly.
“Fuck.”
For a moment, I wanted to throw everything and run away.
The quest reward flickering before my eyes.
In a situation where even dust-like growth is desperate, I cannot miss such a good opportunity. It’s the same as saying I want to die.
‘Let’s just close my eyes tight and do it.’
If I win just this match, it’s freedom.
What can’t I do for freedom.
Holding the wet mop, I ran with full power.
“Uaaaaaah! Busteeeer!!!”
“Uaaack! Ptui ptui! Shit water is splashing, you son of a bitch!”
I successfully carried out the order. As soon as I got out, I washed my body.
And immediately went to find Doban.
The reward received for carrying out the order this time is ‘additional proficiency during next training’.
The growth I need most right now is combat proficiency.
If some strange proficiency increases while doing something else for no reason, the effort I put in will be in vain.
“Ugh! What is this rotten smell?”
As soon as I came, Doban grabbed his nose and crumpled his face.
“Haha. I just came back from cleaning the livestock pens. I washed as cleanly as possible, but the smell doesn't go away well.”
In this era, soap is a luxury item that only rich people can use.
No matter if I receive Renoa’s sponsorship, the support I receive is only things helpful for the match.
There was no way a slave could use soap. Rinsing with water was the best I could do.
I scrubbed every corner, but there was a limit to completely removing that terrible stench with just water.
“But don’t worry. There is no hindrance to training.”
“There is a hindrance to me! No training until you get the smell out!”
“Oh my, Master. My match is in 2 weeks. The opponent is a notorious guy. I must train.”
“D-Don’t come close! Blargh.”
“Oh dear, you vomited. Now that we are both dirty, shall we train?”
There was a bit of commotion, but soon we could start training without problems.
Doban watched from a position far away from me, holding his nose.
“To treat your one and only disciple like this. This disciple is very disappointed.”
“Why are you my disciple? Are we a master-disciple relationship? It’s a symbiotic relationship. Don’t talk nonsense and focus.”
Anyway, such a heartless human. If he just spoke nicely, rice cakes would fall even while sleeping.
After grumbling, I soon started to concentrate.
Today’s training is the breathing technique continued from last time.
Although I repeated it hundreds of times according to Doban’s teaching, I couldn't grasp the sensation for this one at all.
But if I get impatient, even what could work won’t work.
“Huu......”
Calmly close my eyes and take a deep breath.
Then the rotten smell scratched past my airway. It was the stench soaked into my body while cleaning the pens.
‘Huh?’
The reason I find this training particularly difficult is that air has no form.
Since I can’t see it, I can’t imitate it, and there is a limit to receiving help.
But what is this?
The foul smell embedding deep into my lungs paradoxically presented a path.
Like Hansel and Gretel’s breadcrumbs, it was drawing that trajectory clearly at every passage where air entered.
A sensation like sticky liquid flowing down.
The consciousness that usually wandered not knowing where was where, this time dug into the lower abdomen using the nasty smell as a milestone.
‘...Is it here?’
The point where the smell concentrates most thickly. At the same time, the deepest bottom of my body.
The air mixed with the smell settled heavily in the location commonly called the Danjeon (Mana center).
I tried to trap the air there consciously.
——Zing.
In an instant, pleasant goosebumps rose near my lower belly.
As soon as the Danjeon, which was always cold, accepted the breath, it started to heat up hot as if it had been waiting.
It didn't stop there.
The heat that started in the stomach stretches out riding the blood vessels. Every single muscle and nerve swallows the heat.
‘Wow, doing this, it really feels like the body is getting hot.’
Not just a feeling, but for real.
Feeling that sensation with my whole body, I let the breath flow out slowly and thinly.
“Huu......”
Because of the high body temperature, steam leaks out even though it’s not winter. That breath no longer emitted a foul smell.
Only a strangely quiet energy remained as if impurities were refined.
At the same time, a system message blinking on the retina.
Eh. A new proficiency appeared.
I suspected it, but to think there really was a proficiency related to breathing.
You, you turn your head well!
Head-turning Proficiency!
Woah? This guy walks?
Walking Proficiency!
At this rate, will blinking proficiency appear too?
“How is it, Master? Doesn't it seem like it went well just now?”
Convinced that I succeeded without mistake this time, I spoke confidently.
“You, you, you...!”
One-eyed Doban was staring at me with his eye wide open as if his remaining eye would pop out.
Along with a surprised expression as if he couldn't believe it, he was even opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish.
Why is he doing that.