Chapter 18
The moment the fountain-like spray of blood soaked the sandy floor, the cheers that had filled the arena vanished like magic.
All eyes in the thousands were fixed on one point alone: the howling Garner and the slave boy standing before him.
What broke the silence was not a scream or a cheer, but someone’s question.
“...Did you just see that?”
“What just happened?”
“Did Garner get taken down?”
The spectators were dumbfounded by the scene before them.
They had clearly thought Garner’s greatsword was about to claim another victim. But when they came to their senses, it was Garner rolling on the floor, not Leon.
Even with their eyes open, they hadn’t been able to see what happened.
Not Hazel, Garner’s patron.
Not the gladiators in the arena.
Not Bardik, Leon’s master.
They could only stare dumbly at the result that was already before them.
Only a tiny handful had been able to see through that fleeting truth.
“Sir Zain, what was that just now...?”
Renoa had already shot to her feet. Her pupils had widened in disbelief.
“It was mana. To think a slave could use it, and at his age, no less. No, more than that, his swordsmanship...”
Even the escort knight Zain had trouble keeping his composure.
Unlike during the minotaur match, when he had remained calm from start to finish, this time he swallowed dryly and stared at Leon.
Back then, Zain had judged Leon’s skill to be terrible.
His movements, as though he had never learned any martial arts at all, felt rough and raw.
Like a wild wolf merely struggling to survive.
But what Leon was using now was unmistakably swordsmanship.
The principles of the sword, which could only be learned through thousands and tens of thousands of repetitions, were etched into Leon’s blade.
In just one month.
Even with Zain’s common sense, he couldn’t calculate how a slave boy with no foundation at all had grown so much in such a short time.
“Was he pretending to be weak back then?”
“In my brief personal opinion, that doesn’t seem impossible. Even if he only awakened his talent later, the time span is absurdly short compared to his rate of growth.”
“Hah.”
At Zain’s guess, Renoa let out a dry laugh.
Could the battle with the minotaur have been a staged show?
Had he deliberately sealed his mana despite being able to use it?
‘No, that was definitely a life-and-death struggle.’
Renoa immediately shook her head.
That look in Leon’s eyes at the time, that desperate struggle to survive. That much could never have been an act.
What if.
Really, what if.
“If it wasn’t an act?”
“If that truly wasn’t an act, but talent... then his potential is beyond my ability to predict.”
Yes, if it wasn’t an act, then there was only one conclusion.
This boy had swallowed up, in the span of a single month, a realm that some people never reached even after devoting their entire lives to it.
-clench.
Renoa clenched her fist. Her nails dug into her palm, bringing a stinging pain.
The first thing Renoa had felt toward Leon was sympathy. That he and she were no different in their unfortunate circumstances.
The second was admiration. Watching him fight without giving up despite being born under ill fortune.
The last was envy. Because a mere slave was dreaming of a place she herself would never reach in her entire life.
“How cute.”
To think a slave would try to take what he himself couldn’t possibly have.
She couldn’t allow that.
If he had wings that could let him fly through the sky. If he could fly far away in search of freedom.
“Then I’d have to cage him so he can’t fly.”
Leon, unaware of Renoa’s thoughts, smiled brightly and waved at her.
For a moment, he even looked like a puppy wagging its tail.
***
The match ended when Garner could no longer continue after losing one arm.
The winner was Leon.
No matter how much Leon had been on the rise lately, most people still thought he couldn’t beat Garner.
There was no need to explain the difference between a mana awakener and a non-awakener.
Even children knew that.
So most of the audience cheered Leon on in their hearts, while betting their entire fortunes on Garner’s victory.
And the result.
Losing faith meant death, so those who couldn’t believe lost wealth as precious as their lives.
After the match, the two gladiators returned to the waiting room. Garner, now down an arm, sobbed.
“My arm... my aaarm...”
“I told you, idiot! I told you not to listen to that guy! It was an obvious provocation, and you went and got yourself worked up like a fool!”
“Hic. Garner. Not an idiot.”
Watching Garner get scolded by Hazel, Leon thought,
‘If I fought Doban with an arm and a leg on the line, I think it would be a pretty good match.’
It seemed like it would make for a rather entertaining spectacle.
Unfortunately, because the cut was clean, all he had to do was reattach the severed arm.
Garner didn’t look like he would accept the result.
“Oh, Leon! My lovely Leon! I had such firm faith that you would win!”
Bardik came running over to greet Leon in his socks. Behind him, Renoa’s party approached.
Leon bowed politely.
“I greet you, my lady.”
“Mm.”
“I’ve secured victory safely.”
“Mm.”
“Did I live up to your expectations?”
“More than that.”
Leon couldn’t suppress the smile spilling from his lips.
Ah, this will do.
“Manager.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Could you talk to me for a moment?”
“Of course. I’ll escort you this way.”
Bardik led Renoa away. Whatever they had to discuss alone at a time like this was obvious without even looking.
‘They’re going to pay my buyout and let me go.’
How moving. He’d never thought a day like this would come. How long had he waited for this moment?
Unlike before, this wouldn’t be him running away after his master died; he’d be freed legally. He could finally unshackle these damn chains.
There would be no need to worry about being dragged back into slavery again. This time was different.
If he became a free man, his skills would disappear and he’d get weaker, but it would still be enough to protect his own body.
Unable to sit still from swelling anticipation, Leon scurried back and forth through the hallway.
Soon, a servant called to him.
“The master is calling for you.”
“Oh, then I’d better go right away.”
When he went to the reception room, Bardik and Renoa were sitting across from each other. Judging by the atmosphere, their conversation seemed to have already ended.
“Did your talk go well?”
“Yes.”
Grunting, Bardik struggled to his feet. He placed both hands on Leon’s shoulders, his expression a mix of relief and regret.
“Leon. You were the best slave in my life. No, the best gladiator.”
“Oh, come on, it wasn’t that much. It was all thanks to you, sir.”
“I believe you’ll adapt well anywhere.”
“Thank you, sir. It must have been a difficult decision... I’ll live well and make sure you see it.”
Leon and Bardik exchanged warm farewells.
Soon, a servant brought over a scroll rolled up tight. Leon instinctively knew it was his slave contract.
Bardik and Renoa signed it one after the other.
Then a translucent window appeared before Leon’s eyes.
======
Notification: Ownership of your person has been transferred.
■ Previous owner: Bardik
■ New owner: Renoa Edelheid
======
“...Huh?”
Leon’s eyes shook violently as he read the status window with excitement.
‘New owner, Renoa Edelheid...?’
He’d thought a notice of emancipation would appear, but it wasn’t that. It was a notice that his owner had changed.
And that owner was Renoa.
He rubbed his eyes, wondering if he’d read it wrong, but the words were still crystal clear.
He realized something was wrong immediately after that. An overwhelming sense of foreboding washed over him.
“U-um, sir? I think something’s wrong.”
“What is it?”
“Didn’t the young lady pay my buyout?”
“That’s right. I care about you very much too, but because of that I had no choice but to sell you.”
Bardik hadn’t wanted to sell Leon. Honestly, he believed Leon would be worth far more than that.
But the amount Renoa offered was too large to refuse. It was hard to believe it was merely a slave’s price.
And the other party was none other than the Edelheid family’s young lady.
A merchant had to know when to haggle and when not to.
This was plainly the latter.
“What’s wrong, Leon? Your face looks bad.”
At the teasing voice from beside him, Leon jerked his head around stiffly. It was Renoa. She was grinning.
The moment he saw that sinister smile, Leon forgot that the other party was Renoa and shouted fiercely.
“You said you’d let me go if I won this match!”
“Hmm, did I? Well, I don’t really remember.”
“What?”
Renoa tilted her head left and right with an innocent expression that didn’t suit her.
It might have looked cute with her looks, but to Leon right now, that expression was nothing but horrifying.
Then the corners of Renoa’s lips curved. She wore a smile more elegant than usual, and therefore even more cruel.
“Even if I had said that, why should I keep a promise with a slave? I suppose you’re not fully aware that you’re a slave.”
Watching Leon panic, Renoa couldn’t contain the laughter spilling out of her.
The sight of a person with freedom right before him tumbling off a cliff was extremely entertaining.
“Leon, as of today you’re mine. Stay by my side for the rest of your life, then die by my side. That’s your role.”
Leon staggered and unconsciously stepped back.
This couldn’t be happening.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
‘Then what the hell did I go through all that agony for!’
Renoa’s slave?
Being sponsored by her had already been hell, hadn’t it?
Anything but that.
If he was locked away, he’d never get out for the rest of his life.
Leon clung desperately to Bardik’s leg.
“Master! Please don’t sell Leon! Leon likes Master best in the whole world! Leon will behave! Please don’t abandon Leon!”
“No, Leon. Someone as outstanding as you shouldn’t rot in a dreary underground arena like this. It’d be far better for you to shine at the young lady’s side.”
“Master!”
“Leon!”
“Maaaster!”
“Leeeon!”
Unfortunately, Leon’s pitiful cries never reached Bardik.
“Sir Zain, let’s go.”
“Yes, young lady.”
Zain tore Leon away from Bardik.
He lifted him with one hand. Leon floated into the air like luggage.
“No! Don’t! Stop! Leon wants to stay here!”
Leon struggled violently and tried to escape, but he couldn’t shake off Zain’s grip.
That day, Leon made a vow.
I will never trust Renoa again.