Chapter 11 : Chapter 11

Chapter 11. Arena (1)

“By a new sword, you must mean Fetel’s blade.”

Fetel’s sword.

That weapon would surely become good nourishment. It contained the time of a swordsman who had reached the realm of 「Sword Walker」 and a seasoned knight. But Liam only scoffed.

「Ridiculous. Young descendant, you are not yet at the level to eat that sword.」

“…If I’m not at the level?”

「That ailing knight’s sword is far too large and heavy for you as you are now. It would take far too long to digest. Most importantly, wouldn’t that waste an entire month?」

I stared blankly at Liam as I spoke.

“Since I’ve become a Sword Beginner, I thought I’d at least undergo special training for a month.”

「Special training?」

“Yes. I’ve developed enough flexibility and stamina, so I thought I’d now do the usual strength training swordsmen always go through—or perhaps have you personally pass down swordsmanship to me…”

「Hah, you still think with the eyes of an ordinary man.」

Liam burst into laughter with a “Puhehe.”

「Haven’t I told you countless times? The Karavan family is special. We are not like the others.」

“……”

「For those of us with Steel Blood flowing in our veins, mindless training is unnecessary. Karavan grows great within battle itself. Like a sword that grows harder the more it is hammered.」

Liam looked at me with chilling eyes.

“But battles with the intruders that come here no longer provide any nourishment.”

「That’s true. Fighting wild beasts would be better at this point.」

“Then…?”

「Fortunately, in this broken-down Iron Kingdom, there are plenty of humans who desire struggle.」

Liam’s gaze softened with nostalgia.

「I wonder if that culture still remains in the Iron Kingdom.」

“…?”

「A place where people gather without regard for status or birth, desiring nothing but blood and battle. A place more than enough to temper you.」

A crooked smile formed on Liam’s lips.

「In my era, that place was called the Arena.」

***

「Arena.」

A massive coliseum in the center of the steel city, 「Ferma」, located in the eastern Iron Kingdom. Battles of interest were always being held there. ‘Racial Duels,’ pitting warriors of different races against one another. ‘Beast Duels,’ where ferocious beasts fought to determine which was strongest. ‘Wild Duels,’ throwing man and beast together in deadly combat…

No one knew who first designed it, but surely he was a man deeply versed in human nature. To determine what was stronger, or who was superior—that was humanity’s primal instinct. And so, this great coliseum had stood for centuries, hosting all manner of duels up to this very day.

Among them, the most popular was the ‘Struggle Duel.’ Fighters of all kinds rolled through the dirt, brawling like dogs, while spectators bet money on their chosen combatants.

“I heard it’s still running prosperously even now.”

「Of course it is. Human instinct never changes. Whoever designed it was a genius.」

“Only, now they call it the Arena instead of the Arena of old.”

「Well, with time, names change.」

The Arena of Liam’s era had survived with only its name altered.

「If you go there, you’ll have a rare experience. Nowhere else on the continent sees such mud-slinging brawls and such a diverse gathering of warriors.」

“…Is it really that big of a place?”

「Yes. You’ve been stuck in this musty backwater, so of course you don’t know.」

“No, I’ve heard the name. I just didn’t recognize it when you first said ‘Arena.’”

At that, Liam gave a wry chuckle.

「Asking if it’s big already shows you’re a country bumpkin, young descendant.」

“…?”

「It was that coliseum that allowed Ferma to be called the steel city and rise as one of the Iron Kingdom’s great metropolises.」

Well, hearing it wasn’t the same as feeling it.

Liam seemed to know that, for he explained no further. Instead, he repeated what he always said.

「Better than explanations is to see it yourself. Look with your own eyes and judge.」

***

The reason I had remained in this empty village and silent mansion until reaching the realm of 「Sword Beginner」 was twofold. First, I had felt no pressing need to leave. Second, I hated the idea of my precious space being defiled by intruders.

「Now you needn’t worry. You have a reliable neighbor.」

As Liam said, the second reason was solved.

“Sir Fetel, I’ll be away for a time. So until I return, I’d like you to guard this village from intruders defiling it.”

“For such a request, as much as you need.”

Like the honorable knight he was, Fetel accepted my request.

“I will guard the masterless huts of this village. And as for that fine mansion where your precious memories must lie, I shall allow no one to enter. On my honor.”

Hearing a rigid knight stake his honor on it was reassuring. It was good to have trustworthy neighbors.

Seeing Fetel’s firm reply, Liam said:

「To fulfill your ambitions, you’ll need your own growth, yes, but also strong allies. You can’t guard everything alone—unless you are as great as I am.」

“…That last part was unnecessary.”

「Hah, if the records had survived, I wouldn’t need to say such things. How irritating.」

Even as he joked, Liam wasn’t wrong.

The path ahead was long, and I couldn’t reach the heavens if I shut myself away in this tiny domain. In the end, I had to venture into the wider world.

And for that, I needed neighbors who could guard my cherished domain. Reliable, strong, compatible people.

「Well, don’t worry too much.」

“Why not?”

「If you grow strong enough, people will gather around you. That is the law of the world.」

It sounded vague, but Liam was always right. Nodding, I finally left the village. It was the first time in my life I had traveled so far.

Ferma, the steel city, was certainly one of the Iron Kingdom’s greatest cities, far from this backwater hamlet. But I could not fear the journey. As I’d seen from the swordswoman Mary’s memories, facing a wider world would be a great boon.

「Get on the carriage, child.」

With the sound of clattering hooves, the driver’s “Hyah!” and the crack of the whip, I watched my domain recede. Stroking the long, slender needle I had newly obtained to replace the broken one.

After five days of carriage travel, I reached my destination.

***

The Steel city, 「Ferma」.

One of the Iron Kingdom’s greatest cities and a holy land of swords, famed for its mastery of steel. All weapons of the Iron Kingdom were forged here, and all weapons found use here.

And in its center stood the colossal coliseum, 「Arena」—Ferma’s very symbol. Its size was so immense, it seemed impossible that humans had built it. This magnificent structure forever rang with both screams and cheers.

“…It really is absurdly huge.”

「Don’t gape so much, you look like a yokel.」

I stood dumbfounded at the overwhelming size of the Arena. But it wasn’t only that—the entire city bustled more than anything I’d ever seen. Compared to my quiet domain, this crowded place was overwhelming. Merchants haggled prices, barkers pulled at passersby, buyers shouted as they showed off new goods.

Minstrels sang loudly in the streets with instruments in hand. Gypsies danced, enticing strangers to spend a night. Drunks grabbed collars and brawled in the roads. All manner of people tangled together in chaos.

“Ah—that’s—”

What caught my half-dazed eyes were the dwarves. Short as children but broad and stocky, with thick beards and faces smudged with soot, they laid out blades on the ground and bellowed.

“Weapons for those in need, over here!”

It was my first time actually seeing another race.

Dwarves.

As numerous in the Iron Kingdom as humans, they dwelled in the middle slopes of the 「Sky Mountains.」 They were said to be born as friends of fire and steel, as if the gods had created them to be blacksmiths.

They could handle burning iron without burns, create anything without instruction, and felt pure joy in crafting weapons or tools. In truth, calling them a different race was inaccurate. Because.

「It has been long since I’ve seen our kin.」

According to Liam, the Karavan family was of dwarf-mixed blood. Meaning, half of my blood was also dwarven.

「So they’ve grown into dwarven youths. They must’ve come to show off the weapons they forged.」

“…Those are youths? They look like men in their thirties.”

「Can’t you see the boyishness in their faces? Look closely—」

To me, they all looked like grown men, but Liam clearly saw differently. He went on and on about how to tell dwarven ages, until noticing my boredom, he changed the subject.

「As expected of dwarves. Even the weapons made by youths are outstanding in quality.」

“I’d like to wield a dwarven sword someday.”

「You will. But not yet—it’s far too soon.」

For now, I was barely managing the scraps of blades rolling in slums. Letting out a dry laugh, I turned my eyes from the dwarves’ swords.

The new environment had been fascinating at first, but soon it became exhausting. Searching for an inn for the night, I asked Liam:

“So if I fight warriors in the Arena and devour the swords of those I defeat, I’ll quickly grow stronger, right? That would—”

「No, that won’t do.」

No?

Matches in the Arena only ended when one’s life was taken, and victors were entitled to the loser’s gear as spoils. I thought naturally I’d consume them. But Liam shook his head.

「Such vile swords won’t help you. Devouring any mismatched blade will only ruin you. If that path worked, I’d have told you to eat every sword in the slums already.」

“Ah…”

「Do that, and you’ll be devoured by the swords instead. You must not allow that. You must control the sword completely—not let the sword control you.」

To lose myself—that expression I somehow understood.

Then what kind of swords should I eat? I couldn’t yet see what was inside the blade by looking.

Liam, noticing my troubled face, said:

「Don’t worry. Until your ‘eyes’ open, I’ll personally choose the swords for you.」

Reassuring words.

「So always give thanks that the great I am here to help you, child.」

“…Yes, sir.”

If only he hadn’t added that last part.

After wandering a while, I found a modest inn, paid coins, and spent the night. Despite the city, the inn was no better than trash—the bed was awful, the meal worse.

「When you become a Swordmaster, you should challenge that rude innkeeper to an honor duel.」

“I agree.”

Well, the lack was on my side, so it couldn’t be helped.

After a dreadful night, I left early in the morning for the Arena.

「So many eager to fight.」

Even at dawn, a long line stretched before the Arena. They weren’t spectators but warriors filling out applications to compete. As I endured the tedium, Liam spoke.

「It will be thrilling. I too often recall those fiery days in the Arena.」

Like the old man he was, Liam rambled about his past, but thankfully it helped pass the time.

Soon the line shrank, and led by guards, I entered to find a kindly faced receptionist.

And then—

“Here to participate in the matches?”

“Yes.”

“Then please show your medal first.”

“…?”

A term I hadn’t heard before. Blinking,

I quickly turned to Liam.

He, with a straight face, said:

「In my day, there was no such thing.」

Damn it.