I became a gladiator of the Eastern faction.

From that day on, my goal was to achieve 30 victories as a champion.

With that, I could gain my freedom regardless of my wanted status.

I wouldn’t have to hide anymore, skulking around with this helmet on my head even outside the arena.

[ The winner is the gladiator from the East! The “Odd Helmet,” Peasant, has claimed victory in his first championship match!! ]

Of course, I didn’t take off my helmet.

It had become my symbol, and in this coliseum where battles were part of a grand show, wearing the helmet was mandatory.

“Haaah…”

After winning my first championship match, I returned to my waiting room—now my living quarters.

‘A champion really is on a different level.’

The cold, prison-like waiting room where I had first woken up had transformed into a cozy suite.

A spacious, luxurious room high up in the coliseum, decorated with vibrant colors and ornate furnishings.

Unfamiliar, expensive-looking paintings hung on the walls, and the bed was so plush that it felt almost unreal.

On the table, fresh fruit was always present, seemingly replaced daily to maintain its freshness.

In some ways, it was better than a high-end hotel.

‘Of course, none of this is truly mine.’

Everything I enjoyed now was merely on loan, collateral for holding the title of ‘champion.’

While my body was comfortable, my mind remained uneasy.

Especially because—

“Ufufu, gladiator, you’ve worked hard today.”

“Oh my, look at those firm arms.”

Eorite, my current owner, had been sending women to me daily.

Apparently, the previous champions had always requested women, so she continued the practice, even though I hadn’t asked for it.

“Please, stop sending anyone. I’m really fine without them.”

“I didn’t expect you to refuse women. Could it be… there’s something wrong with you in that regard?”

Not at all.

If anything, being too healthy was the problem.

Occasionally, some of the women who came to me, seeing my unmasked face, tried to seduce me outright.

In those moments, it was genuinely difficult to resist.

Of course, one might argue that I should just give in and let it all out—

…But strangely, I didn’t feel like it.

Even I couldn’t fully understand this part of myself.

The desire was there, yet it was as if an internal brake was holding me back, telling me that I absolutely shouldn’t.

Why was that?

I liked women, and it wasn’t as though I had some obligation to maintain purity.

Even so, the whole situation was troublesome, so I resolutely rejected Eorite’s offerings.

“Let’s just say I do have a problem, then. …Please, stop sending anyone.”

“Ufufu, you’re quite an unusual man.”

Eorite probably knew there was nothing physically wrong with me.

Her curious gaze lingered on me, amused.

“By any chance, do you have someone waiting for you outside?”

“Someone waiting?”

“A partner, or perhaps someone you’ve promised yourself to?”

“No, nothing like that…”

In that moment, my chest felt like it dropped.

‘Huh? What is this?’

My heart didn’t race, but there was a subtle, suffocating sensation.

It was as if my chest was urging me not to deny it.

‘Could it be?’

Did someone really exist?

The original owner of this body—did he have someone he had given his heart to?

As the thought crossed my mind, my chest throbbed once more.

‘Wait, this doesn’t feel like just one… two, no, three?’

How could I possibly discern an exact number based on a heartbeat?

All I could rely on was this body’s instincts, which seemed to suggest there wasn’t just one.

I simply added numbers one by one until the signals in my chest stopped at three.

“Haha, no way it’s three…”

“Hmm? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, nothing, just talking to myself.”

Three partners? Even if he (I) was a wanted criminal, having three was absurdly scummy.

It had to be a mistake.

He looked too decent to be that kind of scoundrel.

That was what I chose to believe.

Months passed since I became the coliseum’s champion.

“Huff, huff…”

Thankfully, I managed to survive and maintain my position as champion without any major issues.

[ Streak━━!! A winning streak!! The ‘Odd Helmet,’ Peasant, achieves his 10th consecutive victory!! Only four champions in history have reached this milestone!! ]

“Hell yeah!! That’s it!! Peasant!! I’ve bet my whole life on you!!”

“Peasant!! You’re amazing! I love you━!!”

With each victory, my fame grew, and so did my popularity.

This gladiatorial combat was essentially the nation’s sole large-scale entertainment, akin to a modern-day idol industry.

‘But only ten wins so far…’

My deal with Eorite required 30 victories.

Months had gone by, and I had only managed to win ten matches.

The title of champion required challengers for battles to occur, and those challengers had to earn their spot by surviving a tournament.

Because of this, I couldn’t achieve 30 victories as quickly as I’d like.

If it were up to me, I’d fight every day, reach 30 wins in a month, and be done with it.

As it was, days without matches were spent lounging in my private suite.

Occasionally, Eorite, thinking I might be bored, would send women my way again.

But ever since I firmly refused her offers, the frequency had decreased, and those who did come mostly stayed for a brief conversation before leaving.

‘Why am I so restless?’

Today was another match-free day, and I was relaxing on the suite’s terrace, gazing at the scenery.

My body was at ease, and the environment around me couldn’t have been more luxurious.

Yet, for some reason, I felt a gnawing sense of urgency deep inside.

An urge to win more matches and leave this place as soon as possible.

‘But even if I leave, what’s out there for me?’

After surviving more than ten matches, I had come to realize how incredibly strong this body was.

Of course, not every fight had been without danger, but this body possessed extraordinary strength and combat instincts.

Even with twenty more battles ahead, I couldn’t imagine losing.

If that was the case—

...Shouldn’t I just remain here as champion?

This suite was extravagant, and I was treated like a VIP.

My ‘job’ amounted to one fight a week, if that.

Between matches, I had relative freedom within the coliseum.

I even learned after becoming champion that gladiators with enough wins were paid a salary.

At this point, calling myself a ‘slave’ felt like a stretch.

‘If I keep winning, maybe one day I’ll live as a free citizen.’

When that day comes, I could move freely in and out of the coliseum.

Eorite had mentioned something along those lines before.

‘Maybe staying here is the best option?’

Looking at the clear sky and the picturesque streets from the terrace, the thought crossed my mind.

Out there, I didn’t know what awaited me.

I didn’t even know what I’d do if I left.

After all, this was the world of Epiris Academy, a game.

As a game world, its history would unfold as written.

And solving that history was the role of the game’s protagonist, not mine.

In that case, staying here, where I had everything I could need and was treated according to my abilities—

It seemed like the best choice for me.

...And yet.

Thump, thump.

Every time I had such thoughts, my heart would start pounding.

As if to stop me in my tracks.

As if to warn me that I couldn’t stay here.

Why?

This place, no matter how I looked at it, wasn’t bad.

Of course, the deadly matches weren’t ideal.

But for someone with the ability to survive, it wasn’t so terrible.

Then why?

Why did I feel so stifled?

Why was there this persistent loneliness?

No matter how rich and comfortable this place was—

I felt I had to leave, even if it meant crawling through the dirt as a slave.

The reason was simple.

‘I… want to see someone.’

Sometimes, as I gazed at the scenery, that thought would surface in my mind.

‘I want to see someone.’

But who, or what, was I longing to see?

I had no idea.

Still, my body made its desires clear.

‘I want to see them, more than anything.’

Whatever was making my heart pound—whoever or whatever it was—

I had to meet them, even if it killed me.

As I sat there, lost in melancholy under the blue sky with drifting clouds—

“They’ve appeared━━!!”

A soldier from Rendil came running toward the coliseum annex, crossing the garden.

His face was pale with fear, and he shouted desperately as he ran.

“The Crimson Mad Dog has appeared━━!!”

A Rendil soldier in the coliseum?

Why?

And more importantly, what did he mean by Crimson Mad Dog?

I didn’t know what it was.

But I would find out soon enough.

━BOOOOOOM!!!

A massive explosion echoed from Rendil’s northern gate.

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