Surviving in a Damn Fantasy World

It’s been quite a while since Alden escaped.

So…

“Hey!”

“Yes, yes!”

“How many days have I been here?”

“Six, six years and two hundred fourteen days…!”

“Damn, that’s a long-ass time.”

Yeah, roughly three years since Alden escaped.

Time really flies.

“Good job.”

I lightly tapped the back of the head of a young gladiator who had a strong military demeanor and left the training ground.

In this country, you’re considered an adult at 16.

So, I’ve been stuck here since I was a snot-nosed kid until I became an adult?

Feels pretty crappy.

I kinda get how Alden felt when he escaped.

It’s been a while since I went from being a champion candidate to the champion, but the desire to leave hasn’t changed.

So, with a grim expression, I walked through the corridor and entered my private cell, sitting on the bed.

“Phew…”

After making sure no one was around, I practiced the Qi Manipulation Technique I learned from Alden.

The air isn’t great.

But this place is overflowing with energy.

Contrary to being a stuffy place with poor ventilation.

Life force.

Positive energy is abundant.

It’s a place where gladiators who risk their lives every day live.

I absorb the life force they emit and build up my aura.

After practicing for a while.

I opened my eyes.

And picked up the wooden practice dagger on the desk.

And then…

Swoosh-

I tried to channel the energy I had just gathered…

Crack-

The wood just split.

“…Not working yet.”

I can manipulate the energy.

But I’m not skilled enough to infuse it into objects.

Plus, I’m isolated, so I can’t ask anyone.

I don’t even know if I’m doing it right.

But still…

I circulated the energy around my body.

This overflowing sensation always feels good.

It’s been about three years since Alden ran away.

In that time, I’ve never missed a day of practicing the Qi Manipulation Technique, despite the hellish schedule.

To make sure I’m never caught.

So that one day, I can escape like Alden in the worst-case scenario.

Still, I’m better off than Alden.

At least I don’t have those restraints he had.

And so, after finishing my training for the day.

“Hey, Champion.”

While taking a stroll near the training ground, one of the Coliseum staff stopped me.

“What?”

“Here, your schedule is set.”

The staff handed me a schedule.

On the paper, a mass-produced product from the Magic Tower, my usual packed schedule was written.

Now, fighting orcs and werewolves is standard, and battles with other gladiators are also scheduled.

Plus, the week usually ends with a highlight match.

This week, who am I fighting…

“…Is this correct?”

…Is it my turn now?

[King of the Mountain]

“Yeah, the higher-ups have high expectations, so do well.”

…I wondered when this match would happen.

Since Alden escaped.

The Coliseum has been struggling to set up a match to take down that ogre for three years.

Ogres are top-tier large monsters.

From the facilities to contain them to their food, the maintenance costs are no joke.

Even if they occasionally hold monster vs. monster event matches, it’s still a burden.

“But, even Alden couldn’t defeat that monster…”

But.

Isn’t it too much for me to take down?

Even as the current champion, honestly, I don’t think I could beat Alden even if there were two of me.

That Alden chose to run from that ogre, so it’s clearly too much for me…

“Don’t worry, we’ll assign plenty of other gladiators to help.”

The staff replied as if there was nothing to worry about.

…So it’s a raid format?

Well, if there are plenty of high-level gladiators, maybe it’s possible.

But still.

“Understood.”

I felt like this place was coming to an end.

These crazy bastards, do they have no sense?

Even if it’s me, they’re planning to use high-level gladiators as bait to draw aggro.

“Don’t even dream of running like that guy.”

“Yes.”

I guess.

I need to prepare for the end too.

**

Time passed.

A week later.

As scheduled, I entered the Coliseum for the highlight match to end the week.

“Waaaah–!!”

“Champion!”

The audience seats, usually only two-thirds full, were packed today.

Seems like they really promoted this match.

Well, after Alden’s escape, the number of spectators dropped significantly.

This is a good chance to wash away the mistakes of three years ago.

[And!! Here comes the Champion!!]

The announcer shouted through a small loudspeaker.

“Kyaaah!”

“Look over here!!”

The excited audience cheered loudly for me.

This scene and sound.

It always pisses me off.

What’s so great about it, you bastards.

But still, it’s a relief.

[And- his opponent is… the eternal tyrant of this Coliseum! The King of the Mountain!]

Hearing that, today will be the last.

Over there.

On the other side of this massive Coliseum.

An ogre, its entire body chained up, stares out from behind the iron bars.

…The pressure is insane, it’s about three times the size of a person.

I saw it once from a distance before.

Facing it directly makes my body tremble.

Now I understand why the strong Alden ran away.

[And! Joining today’s event! The pride of our Coliseum, the high-level gladiators!]

While showing the ogre.

“Waaaaah!!!”

“Uoooh!!”

From other places, iron gates opened.

And gladiators with various weapons rushed out.

They’re all lightly armored like me.

Since blood needs to be visible for the show, they usually wear such outfits…

But to make them face an ogre like this.

What kind of madness is this…

[The match of the century! Let’s begin!]

Honestly.

It looks doable.

Because…

“Let’s go!!”

“Tie it up!”

The high-level gladiators here are excellent.

Regular gladiators train and fight monsters daily, risking their lives.

Those who rise to high-level are proof of their strength.

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy, I might have to sacrifice at least an arm.

[Now! The ogre is released!]

As the ogre was released.

“Attack!”

“I’ll take its head!”

The excited gladiators charged.

I also gripped my sword and ran towards the ogre with the others.

[And! The Champion is running!]

Listening to the excited announcer, I looked up at the sky.

No, more precisely, I gauged the height of the audience seats that always look down on us like the sky.

One jump won’t be enough.

If I knew how Alden escaped, I could use it as a model.

But since I don’t, I have to plan my own route.

“Phew…”

I circulated the aura in my body.

Compressing it to the limit before releasing it.

Don’t even dream of running?

Screw that.

It’s a bit early.

But I’ve been preparing for this day.

[Finally! The Champion and the ogre clash!]

The excited announcer shouted as I charged towards the ogre.

That announcer bastard, I should stab him one day.

Too bad I can’t.

Tap-

I kicked off the ground and jumped.

With the aura circulating, I jumped to the ogre’s shoulder height in one go.

[Oh! The Champion is flying!]

Gaaaaah–!

In an instant, I reached eye level with the ogre, and it roared.

Hearing that, my body froze.

…This must be the fear I heard about.

A cry that evokes primal fear, something only strong monsters have.

But.

If you manipulate aura, it’s different.

I circulated the energy in my body to unfreeze it.

And landed on the ogre’s shoulder.

Then.

“Gasp.”

I focused all the aura I had been circulating into my legs.

And jumped towards the sky, as I had practiced countless times.

[Uh, uh…?]

Along with the announcer’s dumbfounded voice.

My body soared towards the audience seats.

[Hey, you bastard-!]

In front of the audience seats, there was a strange barrier.

Probably set up as a precaution after Alden.

But.

Crackle-!

It’s not something a sword can’t tear through.

I tore through the barrier with my sword and landed on the audience seats.

“Uh, uh…!”

“Kya- kyaaah-!”

The audience, who always looked down on me, screamed in shock and ran away.

“Phew…”

…The aura consumption was more than I thought.

Can I escape the Coliseum like this?

I know this is a wealthy city, but I have no idea where to go.

I was brought here blindfolded, and gladiators don’t get to go out.

But, I have to try.

I ran through the audience seats, looking for an exit.

Where most people were heading.

There.

Just as I was about to leap to escape…

“You can’t pass!”

“Stop him!”

Reacting quickly to my appearance, guards from the Coliseum and some audience members blocked the exit.

…About twenty.

Some of them have unusual energy.

Breaking through seems impossible.

Even if I do, I can’t expect to come out unscathed.

Then…

I changed my plan and turned.

I didn’t want to use this method… but I have no choice now.

I quickly looked around for a suitable target.

The weakest and most expensive-looking in this arena.

Yeah. That girl will do.

I kicked off the ground and ran towards a girl in an expensive dress.

“Lady!”

“Step aside!”

Two men who seemed to be her guards drew their swords and blocked me.

But I’m desperate now.

I pushed through roughly.

Walking the tightrope between life and death is familiar.

“You bastard…!”

But these guys are elites, not panicking but ready to kill.

Swish- slash-

A frontal thrust, a side slash.

Two blades came at me.

They also seem to be aura users.

…I didn’t think aura was this common.

She must be from a significant family.

Yeah, this should make her a valuable hostage.

Clang!!

I parried the thrust.

And dodged the low slash aimed at my neck by bending back.

A slight delay and my throat would’ve been cut.

But with my heightened senses from a past drug mishap, I was confident I could dodge.

“…!”

“Lady!”

After getting past them.

“Everyone stay still!”

I pointed the sharp sword made for the champion at the neck of a blonde girl.

“You, you bastard…!”

“Do you know who this is!?”

The unusual reaction around her means I chose well.

“I don’t care, just clear the way!”

…I never thought I’d pull such a foolish hostage situation in my life.

After escaping, there’ll probably be pursuers?

Taking a noble girl hostage means several times more pursuers than I expected.

…But I’m confident in escaping and covering my tracks.

Magic is a wild card, but I’ll have to try.

But then…

“Don’t kill, just subdue.”

The girl I took hostage said something strange.

Don’t kill?

At that moment.

A dizzying sensation made all my nerves tense.

As I tried to bring the sword closer to the girl’s neck.

Boom!!

A strong impact sent my body crashing into the audience seats.

“How dare you.”

Then.

The voice of an elderly man.

“Cough!”

My whole body was dizzy from the impact.

What hit me?

Swoosh.

While I was still disoriented.

The two men who were guarding the girl immediately pointed their swords at my neck.

“We are ashamed…”

“Lady, we are truly sorry.”

Apologizing to the girl, the men’s eyes were ready to kill me.

And the old man who appeared next to the girl.

He must be the monster who sent me flying.

…This is the end.

Maybe I should’ve just fought the ogre and lost an arm.

Or maybe breaking through the twenty would’ve been better.

Anyway.

“Any last regrets?”

This is the end.

…It’s ridiculous.

Isn’t this similar to when I failed to escape the slave market in my past life?

Blocked by overwhelming power. A sensation I never felt in my past life.

Well, it’s the result of relying on my meager experience and strength, so maybe it’s a destined end.

Just as I felt the end of my second life.

“I want to keep him.”

“Lady?”

The girl’s words turned the situation around.

“Hey you.”

I had targeted her based on her expensive clothes, so I hadn’t properly seen her strangely glowing red eyes staring at me.

“Want to be my dog?”

Or.

“Do you want to die?”

My answer was already decided.