Chapter 2: Lady (1)

In every arena across the continent, regardless of location, one rule exists.

-A gladiator who achieves 100 victories without a single defeat is recognized as a ‘True Warrior’ and freed from slavery-

At first glance, it seems simple, but since the continent’s first arena was established, no one had ever achieved an uninterrupted 100 consecutive victories.

“–The continent’s first True Warrior! His name is… Levan, ‘The Masked Immortal Warrior’!!”

However, today, a gladiator achieved 100 consecutive victories for the first time on the continent and was freed from slavery.

And it wasn’t just any ordinary arena.

It was 100 consecutive victories at Rono Arena, infamous for throwing only monsters as opponents to gladiators.

A small-statured boy approached the man who had achieved this feat and placed a crown on his head.

“As the owner of this arena, I guarantee it. Levan, as of today, you are free from slavery and have become a freeman!”

Uwaaaah-!

The roar of the crowd surrounding the circular arena filled the surroundings.

The first 100 consecutive victories achieved under Rono Arena’s affiliation.

No one who had witnessed Levan fight could deny that feat.

Thanks to this, Levan’s whereabouts after being freed from slavery drew everyone’s attention.

It was already widely known that nobles eager to recruit him were overflowing.

Not only nobles, but gossips who loved to chatter would yell loudly in taverns, arguing that Levan was in no way inferior to a Royal Knight Commander or a Swordmaster!

And the protagonist, who was attracting everyone’s attention, was currently…

“‘…Ah, a bakery is a bit much. Why is the pay so stingy? And they demand so much. More importantly, why do I need a graduation certificate to bake bread?’

He was cutting out newspaper clippings, looking for a job.

****

“Yoo-hoo! Levan!”

Bang! With the sound of a door being kicked open, a green figure burst into the room.

“‘…What is this?’

“Please, knock when you enter–”

“Act like a man, Levan. Are you taking it?”

“You son of a bi–”

His long, lustrous green hair, though he was a man, and his small stature. His name was Faust, and he constantly had ‘act like a man’ on his lips.

He was the owner of the arena who had freed Levan a few days ago, and…

“After I so readily freed you, are you only looking at such petty jobs?”

Levan’s former owner.

****

“Of course, you had to free me, didn’t you?”

“Ha, I could easily mess things up with unprecedented matters like this if I put my mind to it, you know?”

Tsk, tsk. Faust clicked his tongue as if to say, ‘You don’t even know this?’

‘Shit.’

Levan knew that despite his words, Faust wasn’t truly that kind of person, so he quietly suppressed his anger inwardly.

After all, he had been a surprisingly good (former) owner for a s*ave.

“Bakery owner, tailor’s assistant, construction site, farmer… Ugh, what’s this? Butler?”

“Haa…”

Faust, who had entered as if it were his own room (which, in fact, it was his own room), read through the places Levan had checked off.

“Why are you looking at these?”

“Because I’m a freeman now. I have to earn money–”

“No, I mean! How many places are calling for you right now?!”

As Faust said, Levan was a very hot commodity right now.

He didn’t need to be looking at such job applications.

“Hey, before you were freed, do you know how many guys were whining to me about wanting to buy you? Go ask them for a job! You’d probably earn a bakery’s annual salary in just one month!”

Haa. Levan sighed and looked Faust directly in the eye.

“‘…I don’t want to see blood for a while.’

“‘…Hmm.’

An undeniable weariness emanated from Levan’s eyes as he replied.

For Faust, who roughly knew how Levan had lived until now, it was not a difficult emotion to understand.

“‘…Then what are you going to do with your life?’

“I’m looking at these to find out. Just hand over the newspaper–”

“Even bakeries require you to complete elementary-level education immediately, you know?”

“…………”

“Tailor’s assistants mostly hire women. Men aren’t often hired because their fingers are thick. And you definitely wouldn’t adapt.”

“…………”

“Farming? Is farming easy? Structurally, farming is where the field owner idles around, squeezes the subordinates dry, and takes everything for themselves.

It’s not something you can do just because you have a body, you know? Are you going to live your whole life as a field owner’s lackey? You just got freed, and now you want to be a s*ave again! How admirable, truly admirable!”

No matter how well he had been treated, Faust’s annoying attitude caused the gratitude and patience Levan had accumulated to melt away in his heart.

“Then what am I suppo–”

“To you, whose future seems dark because you don’t want to see blood! I have a proposal!”

Just as expected.

Faust was always the type to bring candy when he came to needle Levan.

Faust, with an unshakeable smile on his face, brought his left hand, which he had been hiding behind his back, forward.

“Ta-da!”

In Faust’s outstretched left hand was a document written on luxurious paper in an antique script.

“‘…What is this?’

“I taught you how to read, didn’t I? Take a look yourself!”

Tsk. Levan clicked his tongue briefly, as if annoyed, and took the paper from Faust’s left hand.

“‘Greetings, Faust. I was very impressed with the research results you presented this time. Truly, they were astonishing and fascinating results.’

“Mhm, mhm!”

Faust nodded his head, seemingly well aware of his own brilliance, enjoying Levan’s recitation.

His appearance was strangely irritating.

“‘–Therefore, I would like to invite you as a professor at Zeoff Academy…?’”

“Hey! Don’t skip it, read it all!”

“‘A professor at the Academy? You?’

Faust leaned into Levan, complaining about why he wasn’t reading all the parts that praised him.

“Why, can’t I be a professor?”

“‘No, it’s not that you can’t, but…’

Though he didn’t know exactly, Levan thought Faust’s age wasn’t that different from his own.

He figured Faust was at most two or three years older.

But he was just a freed commoner.

And Faust was an academy professor…

‘Damn it.’

An undeniable annoyance surged in Levan’s heart.

Indeed, the world was not equal.

“Oh, oh? Are you mad?”

As if sensing his irritation, Faust pointed his index finger at Levan and cackled.

“‘…Ha, so you came to tease me?’

“No! You know I wouldn’t do that, even if I treat you casually!”

Hmph, hmph. Faust cleared his throat for a moment before opening his mouth.

“Levan, I appoint you as my assistant professor!”

****

Levan, having heard Faust’s bombshell announcement, felt his head spin.

It hadn’t been long since he was freed from slavery, but too big a matter had entered his mind.

“‘Are you serious?’

“Have you ever seen me say something I don’t mean?”

“‘No, that, hah.’

Levan took a moment to compose himself and asked.

“‘Why me?’

“‘…Are you asking because you don’t know?’

Faust’s face crumpled as if he had heard a pointless question.

“Because you are the culmination of my research and my masterpiece itself!”

“…………”

“There’s no part of your body that my hands haven’t touched! I am truly your parent and creator–”

“Just the first verse.”

“Huh.”

Whew. Faust spoke cautiously to Levan, who was holding a hand to his forehead for a moment.

It seemed he also knew he had teased a bit too much.

“Well… it’s Zeoff Academy, Zeoff Academy!”

“…………”

“The Empire’s best academy! I’ve specially spoken to the dean for you. Normally, you’ll be enrolled as an academy student, and you just need to help me out occasionally!”

“…………”

“You saw the job applications earlier, didn’t you? They all demand academic qualifications. But if you have a Zeoff Academy diploma, just like that! It’s practically a free pass for most places, I tell you!”

“…………”

“Of course, you’ll get paid too! I’ll even hire you with a contract and–”

“Stop.”

At Levan’s firm word, Faust’s momentum died down.

Seeing that, Levan ran a hand over his forehead and opened his mouth.

“‘…So. When does it start?’

“‘…!’

Faust’s face, which had been dejected moments before, lit up with life.

“As expected! This is Levan! So manly! Our Levan!”

Levan slightly regretted accepting so quickly.

****

Upon hearing Levan’s question, Faust excitedly rattled off words like a machine gun.

–Hey! I’ve got everything ready! Zeoff Academy normally doesn’t accept mid-term transfers, you know? But I specifically! Strongly demanded it and got it done, I tell you!

–…But I have some matters to wrap up, so I can’t go right away. So you go first and just attend for now. Is that okay?

–Ah, don’t be mad! I want to go right away too, but what can I do when I have so much work piled up! If your admission gets delayed any further, you’ll have to attend for another year, and you don’t want that, do you! You’re aiming for the diploma anyway!

–I even specially secured an airship for you. Not just anyone can ride this, you know?

–I also made a more comfortable gas mask for you. You know you can’t take this off outside, right?

–Well, goodbye! Someone will be coming in a few days!

“Ugh.”

From the railing of the airship, Levan recalled the events of a few days ago.

The airship ticket Faust had supposedly secured was ridiculously tight on the date.

Levan felt annoyed by his attitude, which didn’t even consider his refusal.

“‘…Well, I should think positively. It’ll be better for me to adapt if I go as soon as possible.’

Still, Levan decided to think positively.

Although Faust had an autocratic side and was a little… no, quite a lot, of a tease, he was one of the few people Levan thought well of.

So, Levan traveled from Rono Arena on the outskirts of the empire by carriage to the airship port and boarded.

‘I wonder if I’m the only one who’s ridden an airship before ever riding a boat.’

The scenery outside, viewed from the airship, was undeniably beautiful, though he hated to admit it.

But the thought of Faust’s smirking face if he admitted it made Levan shake his head.

Levan, who arrived in just a few hours for a distance that would have taken quite a while by land, headed straight for the academy.

According to Faust, he was going to reside and eat within the academy anyway, so there was no reason to hesitate.

“Stop! Stop!”

The hired escort, who had guided him from Rono Arena, stopped the carriage.

As he stepped out of the carriage, the academy’s main gate immediately filled his vision.

It was a much larger and more magnificent building than he had expected.

“…………”

“Levan-nim, we have arrived.”

“Ah, yes.”

The escort who had gotten out of the carriage approached Levan.

“You can go straight through the main gate. If guards or faculty members such as professors try to stop you, just show them the badge I gave you.”

“Then… I’ll–”

“The Zeoff Student Council plans to send a student to guide Levan-nim. Levan-nim, please enter through the main gate and wait by the fountain you see over there.”

That’s all. Having finished his instructions, the escort bowed slightly and disappeared from Levan’s sight.

“‘…He’s certainly fast.’

But the instructions had been faithfully delivered.

Levan took out the badge from his bag, pinned it to his chest, and entered through the main gate.

“…………”

As he passed through the main gate, he felt the guards’ gazes strangely fixated on him, but he ignored them and walked forward.

And as the fountain, which the escort had pointed to, drew closer, Levan spotted a girl.

‘Is that the guide?’

Thump, thump. Levan walked towards the fountain without much thought.

However, as the figure of the girl in front of the fountain grew closer, Levan’s footsteps slowed.

Golden hair. Well-groomed appearance. Blue eyes.

Everything about her triggered a sense of déjà vu in Levan.

‘No way. No. It can’t be. That’s impossible.’

Haa-haa. Levan felt his breath quicken.

To the point where he wanted to rip off the gas mask covering his face, now so familiar.

But the girl, having spotted Levan at a slight distance from the fountain, hurried towards him.

“Hello! I’m Sonia Bismuth. I’m from the Student Council!”

“…………”

“Our Student Council… um… Levan! We’re in charge of guiding transfer students like Levan-nim! You are Levan-nim, right?”

“‘…………Ah.’

“Um… Are you feeling unwell? Why are you wearing that gas mask– Ah, Levan? Levan-nim?!”

Levan, realizing that the guiding girl was someone he knew, could only turn his head and flee.

Sonia Bismuth, the Student Council guide who had kindly spoken to him.

She was the person Levan had served as an attendant and–

“‘Why, how are you here…?’

The young lady who sold him into slavery.

****

My name is Ban.

I’m a back-alley orphan.

Ah, perhaps there was no need to add ‘orphan’.

There’s no way a kid living in the back alleys would have parents.