Yulina speaks to the organizers of the event.
''I''d like to include my own guards in the fight,'' she said.
''Of course you''re welcome. But are you sure? From the looks of it, your guards don''t wear armor or anything.
I''m just carrying a sword at my waist, and I don''t have any armor or anything else.
He seemed to be insulted by that.
''His way of fighting doesn''t require protective gear, you know. As long as he doesn''t have to eat a single sword.
Oh! That came out big again! All right then, your escort is this way, sir.
There seems to be a waiting room for those fighting in the arena, and they seem to be ushered into it.
I walk past Yulina and Nina and get in front of them.
''Don''t take it easy, Eric.
Don''t lose.
The moment we passed each other, they gave me those words.
Nodding lightly, I proceeded down the path as the organizers told me to.
Originally the arena itself was located in the basement of this mansion, but the fact that we''re descending the stairs means that the anteroom seems to be further underground.
After passing through the dimly lit path, you will come to a large room with just a few lights on.
It''s smaller than the party room, and its opulence is hard to compare.
Stone walls and a stone floor.
There were dozens of men there.
All of them seem to be fighters.
They all look at me once as I come in, but they quickly avert their eyes.
I don''t know if they''re concentrating or nervous, but I can barely hear them talking.
They''re each sitting on the ground at random, or leaning against a wall, or swinging their swords.
Almost all of them are wearing thick armor, just as the organizer said earlier.
Along with that, the weapons are large axes and two-handed swords.
Are they able to smash the top of their armor?
Certainly if we were to fight in the arena, it might look better that way.
I sit down appropriately, resting my back against the wall.
I don''t know how I''m going to be called into the arena, but I''ll wait quietly.
That''s what I thought........
''''Hey, hey, are the weak allowed to enter here?
........I''m going to get tangled up with some strange people.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
After Eric and I parted ways, Nina and I looked for someone.
We looked around the audience surrounding the arena and finally found him.
We walked up to him and spoke to him.
''Lord Fermo,''
Hmm? Oh, well, well, Lord Shuna, Lord Nina.
Fermo, a slaver, sits in the audience, with three slave women sitting next to him.
He seems to be planning to watch the game with a drink in his hand and a snack for the women.
''May I sit next to you? As you can see, it''s crowded everywhere.
Of course. You guys, stand back.
The two women who weren''t holding a knob stood up and moved to the back of the seat.
''Thank you,''
I was distressed at the sight of it and tried to bow to the women, but I couldn''t let this man see that kind of attitude right now, so I bailed lightly and we sat down.
''Oh, I can''t see my escort, are you in the ladies'' room or something?''
No, I sent my guards into the arena.
''Oh! Really? Well, Lord Shuna is a confident man. This is your first time competing in the arena as an escort, right?
Yes, of course. As I''m sure Lord Fermo is aware the guards are not from this country either.
He said that in a small voice.
The crowd in the arena would be too loud for the others to hear even a small voice, but saying it in a small voice would make it sound more like a secret story.
That way we can make this man realize that he has a weakness for us.
As I thought, Fermo says with a disgusting laugh.
''Hmmm, you''re right. But jumping in for the first time, you have a lot of nerve.''
It''s not so much the guts as the trust. There''s no way my guards will lose.
I said confidently.
There''s no way Eric can lose to the participants who come out here.
He''s the most powerful knight in the Begonia Kingdom.
Do you bet on this, Fermo-dono?
I don''t have that much money, just for fun.
''Well, then why don''t you make a bet with me? Of course, you won''t be asking for money from us.
Okay, then what?
All I ask for is information.
...I see.
Fermo stares at me with narrowed eyes.
Information is sometimes more expensive than gold.
Fermo knows that, and he''s wary of it.
''What are you betting on, Lord Shuna? Are you as informed as I am? Or money?
''Money from us. Well we''ll pay twice as much as we would for those three women.
'' Are you sure? These three are among the highest and most expensive of my slaves, you know? And you''re willing to pay double that?
Yes, of course.
Fermo was even more skeptical.
''I see, what is the bet?''
My guards will win or not, of course I''ll bet on them winning.
''I see. But this game.....
Yeah, that''s my advantage.
I know Eric''s strength and this man does not.
It can''t be fair.
''So when we lose, let''s pay for information as well as money.
What information?
The weaknesses of those in this party who, like me, are from another country.
What? You''re not from another country? Is that true? Are you suggesting there are more than you?
Yes, based on my own research.
Of course, all of this information was obtained by Tina.
Fermo is a slave trader outside the Kingdom of Harzion.
That''s why he''ll want to have information on people from other countries at his fingertips.
''Wait, you''re new to this party. Why do you have that information?
''Of course I looked it up here today. I can''t tell you how to look it up.
Is that information credible?
Naturally, he would be suspicious.
''Aquina Paracolity. You know it, don''t you?
Yes, sir.
I''m buying your slaves.
Huh!
You are a nobleman of the Nemnoon Empire, and in this country you hide it and visit your shop as a merchant.
Well apparently you are very good at gathering information.
I guess they believe me a little.
I have to thank Tina for the information she''s gathered.
So, what do you want to do? Do you want to place a bet, sir?
''....Hmmm, interesting. Fine, what information do you want to pay for when you lose?
I''ll tell you about it when you win. Don''t worry, I''m not looking to make you look weak. Unlike you.
Fermo and I looked at each other and grinned at each other.