I was a country bumpkin who had spent his entire life in a village known for being the backwaters of the backwaters, and my Master was an ancient relic from centuries ago who had long since faded into the annals of history. Consequently, there was one simple fact neither of us knew.
“You don’t have a medal?”
To participate in a match at the 「Arena」, one required an item called a ‘medal.’
“It seems this is your first visit. If you don’t have a medal, please return after you’ve had one issued. I cannot provide you with an application form without one.”
The receptionist spouted absolute bullshit with a polite smile plastered on her face.
She prattled on about why the ‘medal’ was necessary and how the 「Arena」 system operated—details I didn’t give a damn about. I just stood there blankly before asking the only thing that mattered.
“Does that mean I have to stand in line again?”
“I’m afraid so.”
I looked back. The line, which had been long since early morning, hadn’t shrunk at all. If anything, it had grown even longer.
I had to wait through that again? With a grandfather who did nothing but drone on with old stories I didn’t care about…?
「Do not look at me with such disrespectful eyes.」
“….”
「I told you, I didn’t know.」
The receptionist looked at my devastated expression as if she were looking at a total hick. Her polite, smiling face seemed to scream, ‘Look at this idiot who doesn’t even know you need a medal to register for the Arena.’
My shoulders slumped, and I let out a deep sigh.
“Ha, fu—”
「I told you before, stop at ‘fu.’」
* * *
The ‘medals’ were coin-shaped tokens categorized by rank: Black, White, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
The circumstances behind the creation of these ‘medals’—which didn’t exist in Liam’s era—were simple.
「It wasn’t always like this. Back then, whether it was a blood-stained northern barbarian carrying an axe or some scholar trembling with a sword, we just shoved them into the stadium while clinking ale mugs together.」
“Wasn’t that hundreds of years ago?”
Unlike the barbaric and hot-blooded days of the 「Coliseum」, this battlefield, now called the 「Arena」, had grown excessively large. For hundreds of years, it had consistently generated profit, becoming a famous and symbolic landmark that turned a small town into a major city.
No matter how many madmen lived in the Iron Kingdom, life-and-death struggles couldn’t break out constantly for centuries. As time passed, fighters wanted to keep their lives even if they lost a duel, and the audience wanted fierce, exciting, real fights rather than seeing a match end in a hollow instant due to a power imbalance.
The medals were born for that reason.
To ensure that, at the very least, an absurd situation where a 「Sword Beginner」 faced a 「Sword Runner」 wouldn’t occur. To prevent a greenhorn who knew nothing from being pitted against a master of combat.
Simply put, they organized the weight classes.
Black Medals fought Black Medals, Platinum fought Platinum, and Gold fought Gold.
It was all to ensure the fights were worth watching.
Isn’t it more fun when weaklings fight weaklings and experts fight experts?
So…
“Times have changed,” I said, looking at Liam. “Besides, they say that these days, even if you win a duel, you generally don’t take the opponent’s life. They might put on a performance of killing them, but if you actually kill someone, you’ll face resentment and public outcry.”
「Hmph. What is this, some play performed by bards in a tavern? What a load of…」
While Liam scoffed at the transformed Arena, we arrived at the medal issuance office. Unlike the polite receptionist from before, a man with a menacing expression sat there.
“Here for a medal?”
“Ah, yes.”
The man picked his ear with a bored look.
“Got anything to prove your identity?”
“No.”
“Then how about a decent track record? Any history with a knight order, or carrying out requests for a famous guild? Or maybe you’ve participated in a war, even a small one? If not even that, at least an Academy diploma?”
“…I have none of those.”
At my second ‘no,’ the man let out a snort and looked at me mockingly. For some reason, that gaze rubbed me the wrong way.
“Figures.”
His next words were even more unpleasant.
But the most unpleasant thing of all…
“Take it. A medal that suits you perfectly.”
…was the dirty, stained bronze medal the man handed over. No, rather than bronze, it was more like…
「It’s the color of shit.」
“Master, you don’t have to say it out loud.”
And so, I received a ‘Bronze’ medal.
* * *
Bronze.
The absolute lowest of the medal tiers.
Since I had no means of proving my skills, it was only natural. Perhaps it was a rank that suited me perfectly. It had only been a month since I met Liam and truly picked up a sword, and I was just a greenhorn who had barely become a 「Sword Beginner.」
「Isn’t it better than meeting a powerful foe beyond your level and being slaughtered instantly?」
Well, Liam was right.
I finished my registration for the 「Arena」 with my ‘Bronze’ medal. I was told that the Bronze-tier duels would begin around this evening.
“I suppose so.”
With time to spare before the duel began, I wandered around the Arena, fiddling with the hilt of Needle hanging at my waist. There was nothing in particular I wanted to do around here, I had no money for entertainment, and above all, I didn’t like the noisy, unfamiliar atmosphere.
As I thought, I liked my village best.
A place that was appropriately quiet and peaceful, filled with precious memories.
「This battle will be a good experience.」
“You think so?”
「Indeed. You have no experience fighting an enemy at a similar level to your own, do you?」
Come to think of it, he was right.
「The uninvited guests were enemies far below your level, and that sickly knight named Petel was a powerful foe far above you. Someone you couldn’t even fathom how to handle.」
“That’s true.”
「That is why you haven’t properly used your true talent yet.」
True talent?
I looked at Liam with eyes asking what that was.
「Doubt. That paranoid suspicion you were born with.」
“….”
「You will likely find out soon. Just how sharp a weapon that can be.」
My Doubt had been helpful in many ways until now.
In many aspects.
Would it work even more dramatically when fighting a similar opponent?
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t form a clear picture in my head.
As I was lost in thought for a moment, Liam spoke up.
「Young descendant, what is that?」
“Pardon?”
Snapping out of it, I looked at Liam; he was staring intently to the left. Following his gaze, I saw a wall adorned with an elegant pattern. Numerous swords were displayed on the wall like ornaments. Beneath the displayed swords, countless names were written in sprawling cursive.
As I stared blankly at the swords, someone approached.
“It seems the young master has been captivated by the Hall of Fame.”
“Pardon? The Hall of Fame…?”
The person who approached was an old man with white hair. He was dressed like a refined gentleman, and a sense of kindness emanated from his eyes behind his monocle.
He gave off the impression of being the caretaker of this place.
“The weapons displayed here are the equipment of fighters who achieved great feats in the Arena in the past. Since the blades are already worn or have been used to their limit, they have little value as weapons… but they are exhibited here to remember their fighting spirit.”
“Ah…”
“If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I am the caretaker of this glorious place. You may call me Tom.”
My guess was correct.
Caretaker Tom wore a benevolent smile that naturally put one at ease. A warm face that looked like it would always offer words of wisdom. While I felt a brief moment of comfort, Liam spoke.
「Boy. Ask him what you must do to take a sword from here. Ask if you can receive one, or if you can buy one.」
At Liam’s words, I glanced at him.
Liam quickly added:
「There is a sword there that is perfect for your current level. A sword that would be quite helpful if you devoured it.」
Ah, I see.
I nodded and immediately spoke to Tom.
“The Hall of Fame seems like a place of great historical significance. Just by looking at the equipment they used, I feel the passion, the fighting spirit, and the unquenchable courage those fighters possessed during their lives blooming in my own heart.”
“Haha, you are a young master who knows a thing or two.”
“I imagine collectors would covet these. No, even if I were a collector, I would desire them greatly. To think there are blades that can set a man’s heart ablaze just by looking at them. Aren’t they more valuable and magnificent than any jewel?”
The words that followed were spoken without a hint of sincerity.
Quickly observing Tom’s expressions, I used my Doubt to spit out words he would likely enjoy. Sure enough, Caretaker Tom laughed brightly and began to chat comfortably about this and that. I listened to him sufficiently before finally bringing up the main point.
“Is there perhaps a way to obtain one of the swords over there?”
“Ah, of course there is.”
Was it thanks to winning his favor?
Tom answered readily.
“For those who prove themselves as fighters, they earn the right to take one of the swords kept in the Hall of Fame as a souvenir, corresponding to the color of their medal.”
“Could I hear more details?”
Tom nodded and explained.
“Every time your medal color changes, you may take one sword. Isn’t that a wonderful souvenir?”
Okay.
The moment I heard his words, I was able to set a goal.
‘I’ll have to get a silver medal around my neck.’
I had to get a Silver Medal.
Before returning to the village.
* * *
Besides raising my skills after becoming a 「Sword Beginner,」 another clear objective had been created. If I achieved several victories as a fighter and proved my level, the color of my medal would change. And when the color changed, I would receive a reward. To others, it might just be a souvenir, but to me, it was a reward more valuable than anything else.
「It seems we will be visiting the stadium often. Shouldn’t you raise your realm and bring back a useful sword whenever you have the chance?」
“It’s the Arena, not the stadium.”
I pointed out the error, but Liam didn’t even pretend to listen and just said what he wanted to say.
「The blades displayed in the Hall of Fame are like a treasure warehouse to you. There are so many swords infused with golden memories.」
“….”
「There are some things that have improved as times changed.」
It seemed the place called the Hall of Fame didn’t exist in Liam’s era.
While I was stretching my body to stay limber, Liam spoke.
「I’d like to steal them all, but that old man guarding the place, the caretaker, doesn’t seem like an ordinary fellow.」
“Not an ordinary fellow? I didn’t feel anything from him.”
「You wouldn’t have felt anything. The difference in level is far too great.」
While I was lengthening my muscles, Liam looked at me.
「That old man, he’s wearing armor—though it’s only half-formed.」
“Armor…?”
「He is a Sword Expert.」
A Sword Expert.
The rank right below a Swordmaster, a terrifying powerhouse who reigned as a god of the battlefield.
The moment I heard those words, my eyes widened.
I didn’t bother asking why such a monster would be working as a mere caretaker. Liam enjoyed a joke now and then, but he never lied when it came to the sword. Never.
Liam said:
「We’ll have to save raiding the Hall of Fame for much later.」
I wanted to ask why raiding the Hall of Fame was already a settled matter, but I didn’t have the luxury to nitpick right now. By the time I had sufficiently loosened my muscles, a guard carrying a long spear entered the room I was in. The guard spoke with a blunt voice that matched his blunt face.
“Ready?”
“I’m ready.”
It was finally time to make my debut in the 「Arena.」
