Chapter 45 : Chapter 45

Chapter 45. Sword Demon (1)

The reason I was headed for the 「Arena」 was simple.

「You must go to the coliseum of the Steel City, young descendant.」

“It’s not a coliseum, it’s an Arena, Master. How long are you going to keep calling it that? I get that it’s an old habit, but still…”

「Stop nitpicking and listen.」

It was because my great master—who always pointed me toward the right path—told me to. Even if he was a man from an ancient age who kept using outdated words, when it came to the sword, there was no one more trustworthy.

「And stop entertaining blasphemous thoughts.」

“Yes, sir.”

Anyway, Liam told me to go to the 「Arena」.

As usual, my skeptical nature couldn’t help but ask.

“Is there a specific reason I must go to the Arena?”

It wasn’t sarcasm. I genuinely wanted to know. Because the 「Arena」 wasn’t on my list of destinations. The reason was simple.

“I don’t think the Arena will be of much help to me right now.”

「And why do you think that?」

“Because the me of now is too different from the me of then.”

After my last match there with Seol Yoon, I had become a fighter bearing the Silver Medal. Back then, I was a 「Sword Beginner」 who had absorbed only two swords.

But now? Now I had a victory against a knight who had reached the level of a 「Sword Runner」—even if he was incomplete.

I could even duel Seol Yoon—the so-called Black Bride, who had been evaluated at a Gold Medal level even back then—on even terms. And the Seol Yoon of now was far stronger than she had been then.

To put it simply—“Frankly, Silver Medal–level duels won’t help me anymore.”

I had become too strong to gain anything from fighting Silver Medal fighters.

What I needed now were stronger opponents.

Liam nodded.

「You’re not wrong.」

Seeing my master readily agree, I continued.

“Then… is it because of the Hall of Honor? Did you tell me to go there so I could rush through promotion matches and get a good sword?”

「That is indeed one of the reasons. There are countless treasures there—blades you might call jewels. But that’s not the decisive reason.」

Not the decisive reason? What did he mean by that?

「Steel Blood grows endlessly as it devours blades. But what matters most is the process of digestion. No matter how great the sword you consume, if you cannot properly digest it, it will never melt into your body.」

“……”

「It’s like the process of forging a masterpiece sword. Even if you throw every rare, famous metal of the continent into the furnace, you won’t create a great blade. Only by carefully selecting the ore, melting it down, hammering it again and again without rest—can a true sword be born.」

Liam’s eyes met mine.

「Whatever you devour, you need a proper trial to temper yourself. To become unbreakable steel.」

“Then…”

「There lies such a trial in the coliseum—a trial that will make you solid. That’s why you must go.」

He called the Arena a coliseum again. But this time, I didn’t correct him.

I only looked at him with questioning eyes. And soon, he added:

「Have you ever heard of the Infinite Duel?」

A nostalgic expression appeared on Liam’s face.

「It is a battle that every Karavan, bearer of Steel Blood, must experience. A trial drenched in blood, where one dances on the razor’s edge between life and death.」

“……”

「It’s the kind of battle you need right now, young descendant.」

The way he described it—“Sounds… absolutely dreadful.”

「Say it with spirit.」

Just hearing about it made my head hurt.

Still—“I suppose I’ll have to go anyway.”

I was going to follow Liam’s words regardless, and we both knew it.

“If it’ll make me stronger.”

「I knew you’d say that, young descendant.」

We shared a resolute look.

Yes.

“…You’re going to the Arena? All of a sudden?”

At least until I told Seol Yoon I was heading for the Steel City of Ferma.

“Did your skills go up so much that you’re itching to trample weaker fighters and feel superior? That’s not a good look, and it won’t help you.”

“That’s not it.”

“Then what? You’re at least a Gold Medal–level fighter now. Maybe even higher in a life-or-death duel. But the Little Gladiator of the Arena is still a Silver Medal. Why waste your time—”

And then I said it.

“It’s not to trample the weak. I’m going to challenge the Infinite Duel—the trial that’ll make me stronger.”

“What… Infinite Duel?”

Her face twisted.

“Little Gladiator, where did you even hear about that?”

“Why do you look so concerned?”

She fell silent for a moment, then gave me a peculiar look—one that clearly said You idiot.

“You’re not even qualified for it.”

“What?”

Right.

“The Infinite Duel’s open only to fighters with at least a Gold Medal.”

“That’s fine, I can earn that quic—”

“That’s not the problem. To even participate, you need a letter of recommendation.”

“……”

“A letter signed by someone with enough authority for the Arena to recognize.”

Just like that friendly receptionist who had said all sorts of unpleasant things the first time I’d come to the Steel City Arena…

“……”

I slowly turned to look at Liam.

「I didn’t know.」

He gave me that same shameless expression as before.

「We didn’t have that back in my day.」

“Son of a—”

「Watch your tongue—」

***

The Infinite Duel. An age-old event that had existed since Liam’s time—back when the Arena was still called the coliseum. Once an endless series of duels, it had now become a grand spectacle.

“The Infinite Duel is one of the Arena’s main events. Luckily, I checked—the next one’s in three weeks. You just need to register before it starts. So if you meet the requirements within three weeks, you can still enter.”

“Thank you.”

“You really didn’t know, did you? The Infinite Duel’s held only once every four years. It’s not something you can just sign up for on a whim.”

During its season, not only the Iron Kingdom but strong warriors from all over the continent flocked to the Steel City. It was one of the continent’s most renowned events—a magnet for every fighter chasing glory, fame, or fortune.

So yes, Seol Yoon’s exasperated look made perfect sense.

How foolish I must have seemed, announcing I’d just join the Infinite Duel.

I glanced accusingly at Liam.

「In my day, all you had to do was say you wanted to fight, and people lined up to oblige.」

“……”

「These modern times are too soaked in peace. No romance left. Hardly my fault.」

Yes, well. I should be used to it by now.

He was a Karavan Swordmaster with not only a steel heart and steel path, but apparently also a steel face.

“Three weeks, huh. Then I’ll need to head to Steel City.”

“You’re still going?”

“Yes. I may not know about the letter, but I can at least handle the first condition.”

I sighed as I said it.

No matter what, Liam had said joining the Infinite Duel would help me. Shameless as he was, he’d never been wrong about the sword. So as his descendant and disciple, I had to follow his will. As long as it wasn’t too late, I’d do it.

“…Do you have anyone who can write that recommendation letter for you?”

“I’ll find someone.”

At that, Seol Yoon frowned again. Then she sighed.

“I’ll go with you.”

“With me?”

“Yes. I’m more familiar with that place than you are.”

She was right. Seol Yoon, the famed 「Black Bride」, had once been a celebrated fighter in the Steel City. Even if I had broken her unbeaten streak, her name still carried weight.

“I may have made enemies among the Arena staff because of you, but if I say I’ll participate, they won’t kick me out. Those bastards would sell out their own mothers if it’d fill one more seat in the stands.”

“……”

“Then let’s go—to the Steel City of Ferma.”

And thus, a new journey began.

***

By now, I could leave my territory without much worry.

Mage Hailyn was a reliable neighbor—perhaps more dependable than even Knight Fetel or Seol Yoon when it came to defense.

Who would dare attack a land guarded by a Mage? And she wasn’t just good at defense—she managed the territory beautifully too.

Taking Hailyn in had been an excellent decision.

“Take care, both of you! I’ll look after things here!”

With that small girl’s farewell, we boarded the carriage and departed. As before, it took exactly five days of nonstop travel. At the end of those five days, I found myself once again in the Steel City—「Ferma」.

At its center stood the massive, ornate coliseum.

The bustling noise, the clamor of people—all things my quiet domain lacked.

“Guess it’s true. With the Infinite Duel coming soon, the city’s packed.”

Just as Seol Yoon said, Ferma was louder than I remembered.

A greater number of armed people filled the streets, and among the merchants, weapon sellers were everywhere.

I even saw dwarves shouting prices among them.

Absent-mindedly, I brushed the hilt at my waist.

「I remember you saying before that you wanted to use a sword forged by a dwarf. Didn’t expect you’d get one so soon, did you?」

“It was a gift.”

A dwarven steel sword from Lady Daisy—the price of giving Fetel a glorious end.

As I brushed the blade’s edge, I could feel how far I’d come.

There was a huge difference between the me who had once come here and the me now.

「Not even the riffraff are picking fights anymore. Before, anyone who made eye contact with you tried to start something. Now, some even look away first.」

Just as Liam said, the way people looked at me had changed. When I’d been a small, scrawny Sword Beginner, they’d all looked down on me. But now, with a sturdier body like that of a grown warrior, few dared.

As we walked through Ferma, Seol Yoon spoke up.

“I have to go somewhere for a bit.”

“Where?”

“Need to contact someone. I’m thinking of joining the Infinite Duel myself—though I’ll probably get eliminated right away, still…”

I gave her a puzzled look.

“…Can you even get a recommendation letter?”

“Of course.”

She said it casually.

“I graduated top of my class at the Academy.”

Right. Seol Yoon was a genius—a top graduate of 「Temple」, one of the Iron Kingdom’s three great academies.

People still admired her brilliance, and geniuses always loved other geniuses.

She surely had plenty of powerful acquaintances willing to write her a recommendation.

“I’ll contact maybe twenty people or so. After that, I’ll take a promotion match for the Gold Medal. If I ask, they’ll arrange one anytime.”

“Ah.”

She had the connections—and the influence—to do it.

I’d forgotten that, seeing her cooped up in our quiet domain.

Yes, Seol Yoon was an elite.

“You should reach out too. Maybe someone’s willing to vouch for you.”

“……”

She tossed that out casually and disappeared.

A recommendation? Who in the world would give me one?

I just stood there, staring blankly, then turned to Liam.

「What a shame. If this were my era, I could’ve written you a hundred of those letters. Hell, the fact that you were my descendant would’ve had everyone bowing and scraping—」

“Enough with the old stories. What do we do now?”

Reality was cold.

Liam coughed lightly.

「Well… let’s get that Gold Medal first. We’ll think after that.」

I couldn’t help but mutter under my breath.

“This is screwed…”

「……」

***

I decided to deal with the urgent matter first. After waiting my turn in line, I entered the 「Arena」—and immediately saw a familiar receptionist. The same woman who smiled sweetly while spouting all sorts of nonsense.

She smiled when she saw me, accepted my medal and records… then froze.

“So… you’re saying you’re the Little Gladiator?”

“Yes.”

“The one who fought the Black Bride and earned the Silver Medal?”

“That’s right.”

“Th-That can’t be! I mean, the face looks kind of similar, sure, but nothing else matches—the height, the build, the muscles—”

Her face went pale.

“D-Did you kill him and steal his medal? Sorry, but impersonation’s forbidden here. If you want to participate in the Arena, you’ll need to go through proper procedures. We can’t—”

“I am the Little Gladiator.”

“Please, stop. We use enchanted registration systems to prevent identity fraud, you know? If your data doesn’t match, you’ll be punished.”

“Then check it.”

At my words, she bit her lip and pulled out a transparent device from under the table—a long rod tipped with glass.

She shone it over my medal, then at my face. Her jaw dropped.

“…Oh. It’s really you.”

For a moment, she was speechless. Her polite smile was gone, replaced by genuine shock.

Not wanting to waste time, I spoke directly.

“As you can see, a lot’s changed. I’ve grown stronger too. Honestly, the Silver Medal doesn’t match my current level anymore.”

“You’ve… certainly changed a lot.”

“So I’d like to request a promotion match for the Gold Medal.”

When I went from Bronze to Silver, the Arena had arranged the match for me—though only because they wanted to use me for spectacle.

But I had no intention of wasting time now on pointless Silver Medal duels. So I said it plainly.

But—“I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

The answer was unexpected.

“You haven’t completed enough official matches.”

“……”

“No matter how strong you’ve become, there are still rules.”

I glared at her.

“The Silver Medal fighters won’t stand a chance. The fights will end instantly.”

“That’s fine.”

Her polite smile returned, perfectly calm again.

“Some of our audience loves one-sided matches, you know? They enjoy watching a predator tear through the helpless—like a wolf among sheep. So don’t worry.”

And there it was again—that familiar madness of the 「Arena」.

“I actually enjoy that sort of thing myself. So, prove it. You know the rules here—everything’s decided by duels. Don’t say you’re strong. Show it—with your sword.”

***

Prove it with your sword. The receptionist was right. So I didn’t say anything more.I simply filled out the match applications and left.

Not just one application—fifteen.

Fifteen duels, spread across two days.

Seven on the first day, eight on the second.

She wanted proof? Then I’d show her—thoroughly.

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