Volume 3 Chapter 45 To The Underground Arena
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The coachman felt the presence of someone setting up a platform at the carriage’s exit and quickly walked over, reaching inside.
But the white-haired witch smiled and ignored Kian’s hand, stepping lightly onto the cobblestones.
”Well then, let’s go.”
She waved her black umbrella, summoning her familiar.
She had the familiar carry her suitcase and swiftly slipped past the coachman, heading towards the arena.
Kian hurriedly followed Priscilla.
”The mask.”
She reached back and received a white mask from her familiar.
After putting it on her head, she turned to Kian.
”The underground arena is below this grand arena. It’s an old fighting facility made of stone and mud. We won’t enter from the front; we’ll go in through the back, so follow me.”
”Okay.”
They passed by many torches and headed towards the back entrance glowing with yellow magic stones.
A strong Châtillon soldier stood at the back entrance, but when Priscilla showed her invitation, he nodded knowingly.
”Is that the warrior summoned by Sir Guy?”
”Yes. Call my brother. Tell him Priscilla brought Lord Kian.”
”Yes, please wait a moment.”
”Have the other participants arrived?”
After glancing at Kian, Priscilla returned her gaze to the guard.
”Yes, everyone is here. No cancellations.”
”No cancellations…? The merchant guild from Tigris who lost in the preliminaries hasn’t returned to Azrael yet? I thought I wouldn’t have to see that old man’s face again.”
”He’s inside, drinking potato liquor. It’s funny how relaxed he is, even after Nakash fell and lost the mining rights.”
”Maybe he’s just given up. Wandering around here won’t bring him any good business…”
Priscilla said with a look of disbelief.
’The merchant guild from Tigris?’
(This is an old mining guild. It’s not just using regular people; it’s a famous merchant guild made up of dwarf experts. It’s the merchant guild that belongs to Nakash, and it specializes in dealing with tin, silver, and a rare metal called mithril in the territory. Mithril is hard to mine, so it is very valuable, or so they heard…)
’Is this what they call the rise and fall of fortunes? Times can change, and suddenly you can”t make a living.’
(Well, with such a big merchant guild, they shouldn’t go hungry… but they might have to downsize.)
”──Hey! You finally made it!”
After waiting for about 2 minutes, Kian and the others felt a loud presence coming from the back door.
The guards bowed and stepped aside, making way at the back door.
Priscilla stood tall as a giant figure suddenly appeared like the wind in front of her.
It was Guy.
He had his usual messy hair that he got from his father, but his beard was neatly shaved, and he wore a loose, luxurious robe.
Around his neck was a necklace of gold.
His fingers were adorned with several rings set with jewels.
He looked like a wealthy man too, but unlike Oswald, Guy’s build and presence made it not unpleasant at all.
Growing up surrounded by gold and jewels, he even had a kind of relaxed air around him.
”Priscilla!”
”Good to see you, big brother.”
”Ah, I’m in a good mood now. My sister, who always stayed shut in at the library, is finally being active!”
Guy smiled at the white-haired witch and then looked at Kian.
”Lord Kian, I’m glad you could come! I heard from Priscilla that you are already working on the ‘Night Crier’ quest. Your speed is a huge help! Keep this up, and I hope you’ll win in the gladiator matches.”
”I will do my best, Sir Guy.”
Kian watched as the guards, led by a big man with black hair, came out one after the other. He spoke carefully.
He felt the strong men’s gazes wrap around his backside, including the guard.
It seemed they were measuring the strength of his core.
”Do that. ──I need to tell you a few things about the match right away. Listen up. First, the preliminaries are already over, and only 4 warriors remain for the finals, including you. I’ve bought your entry right from the merchant guild that was supposed to fight. So, you go straight to the finals. Got it? Be careful because if you lose, it’s over.”
”Okay.”
”So, officially, you’ll be fighting as the representative of that merchant guild…. Here it is, ‘HMerchant Guild Harbor City Great Brewery.’ Your background is that you’re a former war slave from a gladiator academy under them. Here’s your detailed profile. Try to remember it well enough so outsiders don’t get suspicious when they ask questions. If that’s too much trouble, just say you don’t know. Being a quiet and unfriendly character might actually be liked by the crowd for a gladiator, probably.”
While shoving documents about the merchant guild and the gladiator academy, along with Kian’s fake profile, Guy spoke at a crazy speed.
This guy seemed really impatient.
Guy continued.
”The match is 2 nights from now. It’s a tournament format. So, you just have to kill 2 people to win. Today is the appeal day, but the gladiators are already inside waiting. Take this time to check out the enemy’s strength. You brought your appeal outfit, right?”
”Yeah, I have it.”
He pointed to the suitcase Priscilla had given him with his umbrella.
”Great! Wear that and wait in the underground waiting area. Follow the event coordinator’s orders to enter the arena and show your body to the audience. If they tell you to take off your bottoms, show your groin right there. Some guests come just for that. You might get gold dust sprinkled on your body, but don’t worry. A man with a golden body and a sculpted mask is a symbol of beauty. It’s common for noble ladies in Châtillon to get excited by this.”
”Got it.”
”I think other gladiators will bother you, but please try not to fight back too much. If you do, just don’t hurt them.”
”Is it certain that they will bother me?”
”They forced you into the competition. Of course, if they see a rival replaced by a strange Azraelian, they will be surprised and want to fight.”
Kian thought it was like wild animals picking a fight with something strange, but he decided to just smile and let it go.
”Alright, I think that’s about it. Go to the underground quickly before someone sees you. Oh, I almost forgot. Do you have any questions?”
”Is the reward okay? You will properly reforge the Windsong Blade, right?”
”Of course. If you want, I can forge other weapons too. But only if you win the tournament.”
”Then I have no complaints. I will let the audience see my manhood first. Gladly.”
”I’m looking forward to seeing how big or small yours is compared to mine.”
Guy quickly finished and turned to Priscilla.
”Priscilla, I’m sorry, but please take care of that. I can’t──it’s hard to talk. You know there’s an age gap.”
”Oh, is sister-in-law here too?”
”Yes. Poor thing, she must be bored. I wish I could pay more attention to her, but I’m busy with many things right now.”
”Hehe, I understand. I brought some rare alcohol today. I will get along with sister-in-law as usual, so don’t worry.”
”I’m sorry. You know the capital well and understand their culture, so you are her support. Please be nice to her.”
”Leave it to me.”
”Also, please deal with the merchant guild from the Tigris mine. Lishena is answering, but that old man won’t back down. If I talk to him, it will definitely turn into a fight, so please gently send him away instead.”
”What is that old man complaining about?”
”He wants the guild to send Rank 4 or higher adventurers to mine the Dacia mountains. Just last time, the guild master and I talked him out of it──said it’s a griffin nest. But this merchant guild’s got tradition, so we can’t just kick him out. Persuasion’s your specialty, right? Handle it.”
”Understood.”
”Might just be drunk and ranting. Locked him in the waiting room for now──good luck.”
The guy finished rapid-firing orders, then finally turned to Kian.
”I’ve got other guests to greet──excuse me. ──Guard, the mask. Thanks. Lord Kian, you’re clear to move. Good luck. Later.”
Without even waiting for Kian and Priscilla’s bows, the acting lord spun on his heel and vanished into the back.
A waft of men’s cologne lingered, leaving Kian feeling… complicated.
”Lord Kian, I’ll take my leave too. You──guide Lord Kian.”
”Yes, sir!”
”Then, farewell.”
Priscilla curtsied, skirts flaring, then hurried after him.
After the Châtillon siblings stormed off, a guard politely gestured Kian inside.
”The tournament’s run by the ‘Comune.’ They’re strict──especially in finals. No funny business. We’re already pushing it, buying your entry.”
Kian almost suggested just buying the prize from the winner──but figured there’d be strings attached.
He nodded.
The guard grinned and clapped his shoulder.
”Alright then, gladiator Kian──follow me.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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