The reason I headed to the Arena was simple.
「You must go to the fighting pit of the Steel City, young descendant.」
“It’s the Arena, not a fighting pit. How long are you going to keep calling it whatever you want? I know it’s a habit of the elderly, but still…”
「Stop nitpicking and just listen.」
It was because my great Master, who always points me toward the right path, told me to do so. Even if he was a man of the distant past who insisted on using archaic terms, he was still a Master more reliable than anyone else when it came to the Sword.
「Don’t have such impious thoughts.」
“Yes, sir.”
At any rate, Liam said I had to go to the Arena.
As suspicious as ever, I questioned my Master.
“But is there a specific reason I must go? I wasn’t being sarcastic; I was genuinely curious.”
The Arena hadn’t been part of my planned destination for a simple reason.
“I don’t think the Arena will be of much help to me right now.”
「Why do you think that?」
“Because the ‘me’ from back then and the ‘me’ now are completely different.”
After my duel with Seol-yoon at the Arena last time, I became a fighter with a Silver Medal. At that time, I was a 「Sword Beginner」 who had only digested two swords.
But what about now?
Even if he was only a half-baked one, I have a record of defeating a Knight who had reached the level of a 「Sword Walker」. Furthermore, I can hold my own in a spar with Seol-yoon, who was praised as the Black Bride and already evaluated at the level of a Gold Medalist back then. In fact, there is a significant gap in skill between the Seol-yoon of now and the Seol-yoon of that time.
To put it simply:
“To be honest, duels at the Silver Medal level won’t help me. I’ve become too strong to gain anything from fighting those Silver Medalists.”
I needed stronger enemies.
Hearing my words, Liam nodded.
「You are not wrong.」
Seeing Liam readily admit it, I asked, “Is your goal the Hall of Fame rather than the duels themselves? Are you telling me to go so I can breeze through the promotion matches and obtain some decent swords?”
「That is indeed part of the plan I have in mind. That place is overflowing with blades that would be like treasures to you. However, that is not the decisive reason.」
It wasn’t the decisive reason? What did he mean?
「The Steel Blood grows by endlessly devouring blades. But more important than anything else is the digestion process. If you cannot digest them properly, no matter how great a sword you eat, you will not be able to melt it into your body.」
“…”
「It is the same as the process of creating a famous sword. Even if you gather and melt every rare metal renowned on the continent, a great sword will not be born. Only by carefully selecting the metals, melting them in a blast furnace, and then ceaselessly hammering and tempering the molten blade can a great sword be created.」
Liam looked at me.
「It means you need a trial that will properly forge you, regardless of what you eat. To become steel that never breaks.」
“Then…”
「There is a trial in the fighting pit. A trial that will make you hard. That is why you must go there.」
He called the Arena a fighting pit again. But this time, I didn’t correct him. Instead, I simply stared at Liam with eyes full of questions.
Soon, Liam added: 「Have you heard of the Infinite Duel?」
For some reason, my Master spoke with a nostalgic expression.
「It is a struggle that any Caravan with Steel Blood must experience. A thrilling trial where the scent of blood hangs thick in the air, and one walks a tightrope on the boundary between life and death. It is the fight you need right now, young descendant.」
How should I describe my impression of the Infinite Duel Liam depicted?
“I really… want to go…”
「Speak with some soul in your voice.」
Just hearing about it made me feel insanely exhausted.
“My head is throbbing, but I suppose I have to go.”
In the end, I would listen to Liam. Both my Master and I knew that.
“If it’s to become stronger.”
「I knew you would say that, young descendant.」
The two of us looked at each other with determined expressions. At least, that was the case until I brought up the topic of going to the Steel City, Ferma, to Seol-yoon.
“…You’re going to the Arena? Suddenly?”
“Do you feel like showing off by crushing fighters weaker than you just because your skills improved? That’s not good. It won’t be helpful.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then what? Right now, you’re a Gold Medal fighter at the very least. In a life-or-death duel, you might be even higher. But the Small Gladiator of the Arena is a Silver Medalist, isn’t he? Why waste your time like that…”
“It’s not to crush the weak. It’s to participate in the ‘Infinite Duel.’ To challenge a trial that will make me stronger…”
“What? The Infinite Duel?”
Seol-yoon fell silent for a moment before making a strange face. The expression that surfaced on her usually emotionless face was easy to read. It was a look of pathetic pity.
“Small Gladiator, where did you pick that up?”
“Why are you making such an unsettling face?”
“You aren’t qualified to participate in the Infinite Duel.”
“What?”
“The Infinite Duel only grants eligibility to fighters who have at least a Gold Medal.”
“What? If it’s that, I can solve it in no time—”
“That’s not the real problem. To participate in the Infinite Duel, you need a recommendation letter. A recommendation letter from someone with high enough authority to be recognized by the Arena.”
I stood there with a blank face before slowly turning my head to look at Liam.
「I didn’t know,」 Liam replied with a shameless face. 「There was no such thing in my day.」
“Son of a bi—”
「Ahem—!」
*
The Infinite Duel.
A historic event that had continued since Liam’s era, back when the Arena was called a fighting pit. While the Infinite Duel used to be held at any given time in the past, it had become a massive event in the present day.
“The Infinite Duel is one of the main events even within the Arena. Fortunately, I checked and found there are three weeks left until it starts. You just need to apply before it begins, so you’ll have to meet the qualifications within those three weeks.”
“Thank you.”
“You said you’d participate without even knowing this? Small Gladiator, the Infinite Duel is a main event held once every four years. It’s not something you can just join because you want to.”
During the period when the Infinite Duel is held, the strong from all over the continent gather in the Steel City. It is a renowned event, and all sorts of people who have something to gain from this duel pay a visit.
So, the pathetic look Seol-yoon gave me was justified. How stupid must I have looked, saying I’d participate in the Infinite Duel without a second thought?
I looked at Liam with resentful eyes.
「In my day, if I said let’s do it, everyone did it. As I thought, the people of this age are soaked in peace and have no romance. It is not my fault.」
Right. I should be used to it by now. Since my Master is a proud Caravan Swordmaster who possesses a 「Face of Steel」 that goes beyond the Heart of Steel and the Path of Steel…
“Three weeks. Then I’ll have to head to the Steel City first.”
“You’re still going?”
“Yes. Even if I don’t know about the second condition, I should at least fulfill the first one.”
I spoke with a voice mixed with a sigh. Regardless of the situation, Liam said participating in the Infinite Duel would be helpful. My Master might enjoy saying shameless things, but he was never wrong when it came to the Sword. If so, as his descendant and disciple, it was my duty to listen.
“…Is there anyone who can write a recommendation letter for you?”
“I’ll have to look for one.”
At my reckless words, Seol-yoon frowned again. After a moment, she let out a deep sigh and said, “I’m going with you.”
“Together?”
“Yes. I’ll be more familiar with that place than you are.”
She was right. Seol-yoon was a fighter who had made a name for herself in the Steel City as the 「Black Bride」. Although her undefeated record was broken by me, she was still famous.
“I might be in the bad graces of the Arena officials because of you, but they won’t kick me out if I say I’ll participate. Even if they’re sworn enemies, those guys will put anyone in the amphitheater if it means selling one more ticket. Then let’s depart. To the Steel City, Ferma.”
And so, a new journey was decided.
*
I could now leave the territory without much worry.
The wizard Hailyn was a reliable neighbor. Under the mission of protecting the territory, she was a more trustworthy asset than even Knight Petel or Seol-yoon. In this backwater, who would dare invade a land protected by a wizard? Moreover, her ability to manage the territory was excellent.
Bringing Hailyn into the territory was an excellent choice.
“H-Have a safe trip. Leave things here to me.”
Seen off by the small girl, we left in a carriage. This time, just like before, it took exactly five days. After moving without rest, I returned to the Steel City, Ferma.
I saw the magnificent amphitheater standing tall in the center of the elegantly built buildings. Along with it came the bustle and the voices of frantic people that couldn’t be found in our territory.
“There are certainly a lot of people, probably because the Infinite Duel is starting soon,” Seol-yoon noted.
As she said, Ferma was more bustling than I remembered. The proportion of people carrying weapons at their waists was high, and among the merchants, there were particularly many selling blades. I saw dwarves raising their voices among the various vendors. As I did, I carefully stroked my waist.
「I remember you saying you wanted to use a sword made by a dwarf someday when we came here before. Did you ever think you’d have one so soon?」
“I did receive it as a gift, though.”
The dwarf-made steel sword I received from Duchess Daisy as a reward for sending off Petel honorably. Stroking the hilt, I could truly feel my growth. There was a huge difference between the ‘me’ who visited here before and the ‘me’ now.
「People don’t pick fights easily either. Before, everyone would glare at you if your eyes met, but now, some even look away first.」
As Liam said, even the gazes directed at me had changed. When I was a small boy, a Sword Beginner with a frail build, everyone looked down on me. But now that I had changed into a young man with a sturdy build, not many people dared to look down on me.
As we walked the streets of Ferma, Seol-yoon said to me, “I’m going to go somewhere for a bit.”
“Where to?”
“There’s a place I need to contact. If you’re participating, I’m thinking of joining the Infinite Duel as well. Well, it’s obvious I’ll be eliminated in an instant, but still…”
Hearing Seol-yoon’s words, I looked at her with a questioning face. “…Can you get a recommendation letter?”
“Huh? Of course,” Seol-yoon said with an indifferent face. “I graduated at the top of my class from the Academy.”
Right. Seol-yoon was a genius who graduated at the top of her class from 「Temple」, one of the Three Great Academies of the Iron Kingdom. Since geniuses always love other geniuses, there would surely be authoritative people among Seol-yoon’s connections who would willingly write her a recommendation letter.
“I’ll have to contact about twenty people. After that, I’ll take the promotion match to get a Gold Medal. If I say I want it, they’ll probably set up a promotion match for me anytime.”
She had connections and the ability to ask for a promotion. I had forgotten because I only saw her socially awkward side in the territory. Right, Seol-yoon was an elite…
“You should hurry up and make some contacts too. Who knows, there might be someone who can write a recommendation letter for you.”
After dropping that one line, Seol-yoon vanished.
A recommendation letter? Where on earth would I have someone to write me something like that? I stood there dazed before turning my head to look at Liam.
「It is a pity. If it were the era when my name was known, I could have written a hundred of those measly recommendation letters. No, recommendation letter or not, everyone would have been groveling just at the fact that you are my descendant…」
“…Stop talking about the past. What do we do now?”
Reality was cold. At my words, Liam cleared his throat and said: 「First… let’s think about hanging a Gold Medal around your neck.」
Hearing Liam’s words, I unconsciously let my inner thoughts slip out. “I think I’m screwed…”
「….」
*
I decided to handle the urgent matter first.
After waiting patiently in line and entering the Arena, I saw the familiar face of the receptionist. She smiled when she saw me, but after receiving my medal and information, her smile vanished.
“So… you’re saying you’re the Small Gladiator?”
“Yes.”
“The fighter who hung a Silver Medal after having a duel with the ‘Black Bride’ not long ago?”
“That’s right.”
“T-That can’t be. Y-Your face seems to have a resemblance, but nothing else is the same. You don’t look like you’re the same age, your height and build are completely different, and your muscles…”
The receptionist’s face turned a bit pale.
“A-Are you perhaps impersonating him after killing him and stealing his medal? I’m sorry, but impersonation is not allowed in our Arena. If you wish to participate, you must go through the proper procedures. This kind of—”
“No, I’m telling you I am the Small Gladiator.”
“It’s difficult if you keep doing this. We register information with magic when issuing medals to prevent impersonation, you know? Y-You will be punished if different information comes up when we verify it.”
“Go ahead, verify it.”
At my words, the receptionist bit her lip and pulled a transparent object from under the table. It was a glass lens attached to a long stick. After shining it on my medal, she then shone it on my face. Then, she opened her mouth with a shocked expression.
“…Oh, it’s real.”
The flustered receptionist was speechless for a moment. Seeing as her characteristic kind expression had vanished, she seemed truly rattled. Since I couldn’t keep wasting time here, I spoke bluntly.
“As you can see, my appearance has changed a lot due to some circumstances. I’ve also become quite a bit stronger compared to before. It’s a bit awkward to say it myself, but the Silver Medal doesn’t suit my current level.”
“Oh, you certainly have changed a lot.”
“So, I’d like you to set up a promotion match for a Gold Medal.”
When I went from a Bronze Medal to a Silver Medal, the Arena side had set up the promotion match with clear malice, trying to sacrifice me for the sake of a box office hit. But I had no intention of continuing to fight duels at the Silver Medal level that wouldn’t be helpful.
However.
“I think that will be difficult.”
An unexpected answer came back.
“The Small Gladiator hasn’t completed enough matches yet.”
“…”
“You might have truly become much stronger, but there are still rules, you know?”
I glared at the receptionist and said, “Fighters at the Silver Medal level won’t be a match for me. It’ll be over too quickly.”
“That’s fine.”
The receptionist smiled, unbothered by my words. Her flustered look had vanished, replaced by a businesslike, professional smile.
“Among the audience, there are those who like overwhelming matches. They enjoy it like a special treat once in a while. There are many who get excited seeing an opponent fighter being helplessly crushed and reduced to a miserable state, like a predator unleashed among a flock of sheep. So, it’s fine.”
I felt a familiar emotion there that I had felt before. The madness of the Arena.
“Actually, I quite like that kind of thing too. So, first, prove for yourself that you’ve become stronger. You know, right? In the Arena, everything is decided by duels. Prove it with your sword, not your words.”
*
Prove it with your sword, not your words.
I thought the receptionist’s words were reasonable. So, instead of saying more, I filled out match application forms and returned.
The match application form I filled out wasn’t just one. I filled out fifteen match application forms.
And those fifteen matches would be held over two days. Seven matches on the first day, and eight matches on the second day.
Since she told me to prove it, I intended to show her properly. Truly, very properly.
