## Chapter 131 – The Arena’s Barbarian
It had already been ten days since I was promoted to a D-rank adventurer.
I ran into Copson the other day and told him about my promotion. He instantly became consumed by jealousy, throwing such a fit that I had no choice but to force alcohol down his throat to calm him down.
Spending hours bragging to Copson, who was in a stupor from being drunk, was a truly enjoyable experience. There’s nothing in this world more satisfying than bragging to someone less successful than me.
‘You son of a bitch!’
Copson’s shout still echoed in my ears.
My lips curled up involuntarily.
Back in my home country, on the blue planet Earth, there’s a saying that you get a stomachache when your in-laws buy land or when a friend gets promoted. Surprisingly, that holds true in this world as well. Whether it’s this world or Earth, human nature is the same.
Anyway, this was the first time I’d seen Copson since then.
I hadn’t seen him for a few days, and then I ran into him again.
“Oh, Barbarian dude! Perfect timing!”
His energy was unusually high as soon as he saw me.
“Did you start drinking from the morning?”
“What are you talking about? Just listen to my story!”
As he said that, Copson had a young man with him who seemed rather anxious. Who is this? Is he Copson’s friend? The guy having a green bob cut was in pretty bad taste.
Birds of a feather flock together, I guess.
Anyway, Copson suddenly appeared and started rambling on. It wasn’t the first time he’d started talking to me out of the blue like this, so I was just listening patiently, but what do you know?
What kind of novel bullshit is this now?
“So, what do you think? It’s a pretty good gig, right?”
To summarize what he excitedly blurted out, it was this:
「Won’t you go out to the arena?」
That’s what it was.
“What incomprehensible nonsense are you spouting again…”
“No, no, you’re D-rank now, right? Isn’t it about time you played in the big leagues?”
I wouldn’t exactly call the arena the big leagues, though.
The arena is just a gambling den. Of course, watching monsters and gladiators spill blood and fight to the death is quite enjoyable, but you can do that kind of fighting just by going outside the city.
It’s nothing more than a gambling den to me.
I’ve lost quite a bit of money there back in Krasheim.
“Hey, Durvan. Look. Isn’t this guy perfect?”
“Hmm… I guess so.”
The green bob-haired man, who Copson called Durvan, began to observe my body from head to toe.
What is this guy? Is he picking out a bride?
“…So, who are you?”
“Ah, I’m Durvan, and I work at the arena. I’m Copson’s friend. Just call me Durvan.”
Copson’s friend, huh?
He seemed quite friendly, so I decided to treat him casually as well. A friend of a friend is pretty much a friend. People of the global village have always been friends.
“Oh, really? Then, Durvan, why don’t you explain in detail what this crazy Copson is talking about?”
“Well, actually…”
Durvan continued.
“The fighter who’s in charge of the arena’s opening got into a fight while drinking and is now in critical condition. Oh, the opening is an event where a decent fighter fights against weak monsters like goblins or kobolds to hype up the crowd before the main event starts. Anyway, that fighter got injured, so we can’t proceed with the opening… The match is tomorrow, and we’re worried about how to find a replacement.”
This guy talks too much.
“So, you’re a very talkative friend, huh?”
“So, I consulted with Copson, and he said that one of his friends is a D-rank adventurer? I thought it would be a good idea to ask him. If he’s D-rank, he’s definitely a reliable guy.”
So, the fighter who was supposed to fight in the arena got injured before the match, and they need to find a substitute. I understand the situation.
But is there really a need to find one?
There are plenty of gladiators.
Isn’t there no need to ask me?
“Ah, that’s because most fighters don’t want to do the opening. Fighters are divided into ranks, and the lowest-ranked fighter is the one who does the opening. So, we’re trying to find someone from the outside…”
“You want me to do it, is that what you’re saying?”
“Exactly. You’re D-rank, and you definitely have… yeah. Right. You have impact.”
“Impact?”
“Black hair. So, you really are from Mirkesha. With that kind of impact, no one will complain even if we use a substitute gladiator. The audience loves impact.”
In other words, Copson told him about me, and since I was a barbarian, he jumped at the chance and came looking for me. A D-rank adventurer from a barbarian tribe isn’t very common, after all.
I might be a little upset, but I haven’t heard about the money yet, so I decided to wait and see.
“Impact, huh… Impact is good. So, how much is the daily wage? It’ll be a pretty impactful amount, right?”
“You don’t have to worry about that. The opening is only two matches, which won’t even take thirty minutes, and the daily wage is 1 silver.”
“O, one silver for thirty minutes??!!!”
I was so impacted by that impactful amount that I made an impactful jump and shouted impactfully.
“So, you’re interested? Won’t you do it?”
In my eyes, Copson and Durvan were like a bluebird of happiness. No way, what a stroke of luck! Missing out on this golden opportunity would be the shortcut to becoming an idiot!
Still, I decided to ask for more details before jumping in.
“It’s not dangerous, is it?”
“I’ll show you the contract. If you’re an experienced D-rank adventurer like you, it won’t be dangerous at all. Above all… yeah, you’re physically fit. You’ve killed countless goblins, haven’t you?”
“That’s right.”
I received the contract from him.
I had no problem reading the text. According to the contract, I would be participating as a gladiator in charge of the opening of the arena that would be held tomorrow, and the monsters I would be facing would be three kobolds in the first match and three goblins in the second match.
…They were all complete pushovers that I could take down in a minute.
I get 1 silver for catching these six? That’s too good to be true?
“Hmm…”
Should I do it?
The money is pretty good for just slicing up some goblins and kobolds.
“Durvan.”
“Yeah?”
“Do I just put my stamp here?”
I offered him a handshake.
It seems Copson introduced me to a good friend.
Durvan smiled and shook my hand.
“Wow, I’m really grateful to both of you. If I couldn’t find a fighter, I would have had to forcibly pick one from the gladiators, and I might have been beaten to death.”
“Grateful my ass, I’m the one who’s more grateful. How can the daily wage be 1 silver?”
Durvan and I instantly became the best of friends. As soon as I put my stamp on the contract, the three of us put our arms around each other’s shoulders and strolled down the street. I was in the center, and I was the first to sing. Then Copson, and then Durvan sang.
As we got excited, our friendship deepened.
“Oh, before that. As it says in the contract, you know that you have to follow our arena’s regulations for the outfit, right?”
“Of course, of course.”
It said that I had to use the arena’s equipment instead of my own. But what does it matter? Even if I fought naked, three goblins would be pushovers.
I could just grab one of them by the leg and spin them around and they wouldn’t be able to handle it.
“And also… this is the most important thing, the performance is important. In other words, showmanship. Should I call it character? Anyway, the most important thing is to kill the monsters while showing your exaggerated self, like an actor in a play. That’s what impact is, impact. Showing impact.”
This is a job where I can show off my Taekwondo, Siljang Kwonbeop, and all the martial arts and self-made martial arts I’ve mastered while reading all kinds of martial arts novels. I’m confident when it comes to impact.
“I’m really good at that. Don’t worry.”
“I know that better than anyone. The barbarian when he fights is the berserker from the legends himself!”
We were so excited that we were about to go out for a drink, but Durvan was so horrified at the thought of losing another fighter that we called it off.
“Then, Khatt! Come to the front of the arena before tomorrow morning!”
“Okay! Take care!”
After sending Durvan off like that, only Copson and I were left.
“That Copson bastard, he’s brought me a worthwhile job for once.”
“Hehe, when you get your daily wage, you should use it to buy us some drinks.”
“Hell yeah, of course!”
“Hehehe, it’s so refreshing! Good! I’ll go to the arena tomorrow and gamble. This is it. It’s our barbarian’s debut. I’m definitely going. I’ll have to bet with all the money I’ve saved up.”
“Bet it all on me.”
“Unfortunately, you can’t bet on the opening.”
“That sucks.”
I had a simple meal with Copson and parted ways with him.
I came out this morning to go to the guild to look for work, but by meeting the bluebird of happiness, Copson, I was able to find a great job. 1 silver for just thirty minutes of matches, isn’t being a gladiator a really good job?
With a beaming smile, I returned to the lodging where Claudia was waiting.
She couldn’t get out of bed because we had another intense night last night. So, I came out alone. When I opened the door, she was still lying in bed and got up.
“Claudia, I’m back!”
“Huh? You’re a little late, aren’t you?”
“I met Copson. I ate with him while I was at it.”
I took off my equipment and sat on the bed.
“Ah, that friend? But why do you look so happy?”
“I got a really good job.”
“Really?”
I explained to Claudia about the arena.
Claudia nodded as if she was interested as she listened to the story. She’s a woman who likes this kind of thing anyway, so she seems quite excited that I’m going out there.
“So, you’re going to participate in the opening tomorrow morning, right? Let’s rest tomorrow. Come and watch the match. Well, all I have to do is beat up some goblins and kobolds.”
“Hmm… Now that I think about it, I’m really looking forward to it? Can I bet money on it?”
“No, you can’t bet on the opening.”
In that way, we rested today and I will participate in the match tomorrow. What’s left of today… yeah, let’s go on a date with Claudia.
***
When I arrived in front of the arena in the morning, Durvan waved at me.
“Khatt! Over here! Over here!”
“Oh, yeah. Durvan. Did you get home okay yesterday?”
“Yeah. Come on in.”
I followed his guidance and entered the arena. Isvant’s arena looked like a miniature version of the Colosseum. Compared to the ancient Roman one, it was smaller in scale, but at least the appearance and function seemed similar.
Durvan led me to the basement.
The basement was very bright. They were using some kind of otherworldly luminous body as lighting. A magic tool? Or did they use a special mineral like luminous stone? I don’t know, but it felt quite modern. They must be making a lot of money to have something like this.
Anyway, I walked down the narrow underground path.
“Well, now you’ll change into the provided equipment, receive some simple training, wait a bit, and then enter the match.”
“I see. The opponents are three kobolds and three goblins as per the contract, right?”
“Of course. What, do you think we’ll trick you and suddenly bring out an orc? We have to save those for the professional fighters to deal with. The opening is just an event to hype up the crowd. Make it as impactful as possible, got it?”
As we walked and turned the corner, sure enough.
There were warriors who reeked of a gladiator vibe.
For some reason, I felt like everyone except one of them should leave.
“This is the waiting room.”
“…”
Eyes were fixed on me.
All of them were exposing their bulging muscles, wearing maniacal armor, and grooming their weapons. Among them, there was even a serious veteran (pro) who was wearing a bikini armor despite being male, and I almost shat myself as soon as I made eye contact with him.
“Hey, Durvan. Who is that cu/te friend over there?”
One of the ferocious gladiators, who looked like he had some clout, pointed at me and asked Durvan.
He looked really strong.
No lie, if I fought a guy like that, my body would be torn to shreds in less than three seconds. Gladiators are synonymous with professional serial killers. Monsters who slice and dice people with weak armor and short weapons that are no different from stage costumes.
How can I mess with a guy like that? I just shut my mouth.
“Ah, this is Khatt, who will be taking over for Sodotar. I scouted him to be in charge of the opening today.”
“I see… O/pe/ning, you say. Keuh, keuh heh!”
ㅡKeuh heh heh!
ㅡKukukukuku!
ㅡKakakakakat!
“What? Did someone ring the laughter bell?”
For some reason, the gladiators suddenly started laughing.
“Heuhat hahaha!!!”
So, I laughed along with them.
In the suddenly created crazy atmosphere, I mingled with the gladiators and laughed as hard as I could. I wasn’t so clueless as to be the only one frowning when everyone else was laughing, even if I didn’t know what was going on.
You have to laugh when others are laughing.
