Arc 7, Chapter 66 "Hiain Yatz"
--Life on the solitary Gladiator Island of Ginunhive, was not so bad for Subaru.
Subaru's fighting style in "Sparka" was apparently well received by the gladiators who were sharpening their skills on the Gladiator Island, and he received the same welcome as in the main hall wherever he went.
Even in an environment where people are forced to fight, the style of the Vollachian Empire remains the same.
Therefore, it seems that the same principle of valuing strong people applies to all of them, and the "Sparka" that Subaru and his group had performed in their "union" was a good fit for them.
"He had a lot of nerve for what was, by all appearances, a skinny little kid."
This seems to be the approximate evaluation of Subaru.
It must have been very interesting for Subaru, a child who could twist with one hand if he wanted to, to put up a good fight against a gladiatorial lion.
Perhaps the fact that Subaru was a child of his age, unlike the fake Cecilus of the same age, may have helped this impression. That is how bad the reputation of the fake Cecilus was.
"I'm just living my life as me, so I really don't care what people think of me. After all, you can't complain when you see the results. Oh, I meant emotionally, not physically."
In the meantime, this is how he reacted when he overheard the reputation of the people around him.
He had a feeling that this was the case, but the fake Cecilus has no consideration for bending himself, or for living in harmony with the people around him.
He has a strong will that does not bend himself, and the ability to carry it through - which makes the false Cecilus's parochial ego affirming.
And that is correct under the rules of both the Gladiator Island and the Empire.
"But it's not a good trend to be hated for it. We can't survive on the island alone, as being in a 'union' does."
"You're talking about the ability to live through it....... That kid's arrogant behavior is also confidence that he can get through it......"
"I-I don't like it, but it's none of our business. If it's a creepy little kid, we've had enough of the two of us."
That was the impression of the "union" friends on the fake Cecilus.
It may sound harsh, but it is a natural thought. To begin with, unless they are very strong and in a safe zone, all gladiators are desperate to survive today and tomorrow.
That was the norm, with little time to care about the surroundings.
"Well, I have a bone to pick with Hiain who treats us like lurid little brats, but what do you think of Tanza? What do you think of Cessy?"
"......I don't care. More importantly, Mr. Schwarz."
"Yeah?"
"--Mr. Schwarz, do you really intend to leave?"
Suddenly, being asked this in a voice that sounded both appalled and reproachful, Subaru involuntarily rolled his eyes and turned around. "Huh?" Subaru said as he rolled his eyes and turned around.
In the common room given to the gladiators - a space that could be called a dormitory cell, Tanza, who shares a room with Subaru, frowned at his round eyebrows and sighed dismissively.
"Uh, not at all. I see that Mr. Schwarz has been having a good time with you and the other fencers over the past few days, but do you remember our first policy?"
"First policy......?"
"--tsk, you are thinking of leaving the island and returning to Chaos Flame."
For a moment, Tanza's voice hardened at the sound of Subaru, who had no idea what he was talking about.
As it was, the girl took her gaze away from Subaru, prefaced it with, "Excuse me."
"If I could, I would have followed Mr. Schwarz's policy. But if Mr. Schwarz is not going to be proactive, that's a different story. I have to go back to Yorna."
"----"
"Even now, I don't know anything about what happened in Chaos Flame. The only thing I know is that Master Yorna is safe, because she is still in my favor......"
As she says this, Tanza touches her own right eye.
What this gesture means is the same change in the residents that Subaru also witnessed in the Demon City - the same people who were affected by Yorna's "soul marriage technique" and whose eyes were burning.
It is probably not Tanza's natural ability to cut off a lion's head in one breath. It means that she is taking advantage of the power of favor given to her by Yorna.
"That means Empress Yorna is safe, right?"
"......Her body is. I don't know about her heart."
"That's, um, true. Empress Yorna cared about everyone in town."
Because she was too kind, she was treated as a rebel many times for not following the policies of the empire.
Subaru seems to understand a little of Yorna's situation and the feelings of Tanza and her friends who were protected by Yorna's ideas.
So he can understand Tanza's desire to return to Yorna immediately.
"But you can't be too hasty. Scrabbling in the dark won't get you what you want."
"But, sir! I can't take my time like Mr. Schwarz!"
"T-take your time......"
"Yes, I am. For the past two days, I've been walking around the island looking for a way to escape, but I've also been wasting my time talking with the 'union' and chatting with other gladiators......"
Tanza has been finger pointing at Subaru's behavior over the past two days.
Indeed, all Subaru had been doing for the past two days was talking to people, not looking for a loophole or a way to move the only drawbridge that connects to the outside world.
He would spend time with Weitz and the other members of the "union", but his priority was to learn about the rules of the island and interesting stories from people who had been on the Gladiator Island for a long time.
This was very leisurely in Tanza's eyes, and perhaps it looked like Subaru was preparing to put his bones in this island.
But if that's the case--,
"You are mistaken, Tanza. I have someone I want to see as much as you want to see Yorna. I absolutely have to go home."
"......Um, are they the ones you were with?"
"Except for Abel, that's one thing, and they're in other...... big walled cities too. And in the neighboring countries of the empire. I'm very busy."
"----"
Tanza shushed Subaru, who replied that he had someone he wanted to meet over there and over here.
Perhaps she thought that her feelings for Yorna were greater than those of Subaru, who had multiple partners, but she did not say it out loud.
That is enough to show how serious she is. If it was Yorna who taught her so many things, she's even impressed with Yorna's dedication to education.
"Still, I probably have a better head for it than you do."
"--? What kind of......"
And that was the moment when Tanza tilted her head at Subaru's words.
"--Bassu! The drawbridge is going up! The new arrivals have arrived!"
So, with a noisy voice, the fake Cecilus comes running down the corridor and shows his face. Tanza's shoulders jump at the force and loudness of his voice, but Subaru's reaction is the exact opposite.
"You got it!" he yells as he leapt up on the spot,
"It's faster than I've heard, does it come at this pace?"
"No, that's why the last time Bassu and his 'Sparka' were the exception. All but three of the same 'union' as Bassu and the others failed to escape, and Bassu and the others had to hastily make up for the shortage of personnel at the bottom of the lake......"
"It was."
As the false Cecilus shrugged his shoulders, the previous "Sparka" was held irregularly.
Originally, the prospective fencers, who were supposed to enter the solitary island with Weitz and the others, attempted to escape en masse before entering the island, but this failed, and the carriage overturned. The candidates who escaped from the drawbridge into the lake were all fed to the aquatic monsters.
As a result, the "Sparka" was not held for Weitz and the others, who were short in numbers, and it was shelved until the number of people who could form a "union" was replenished--,
"Weitz and the others must have been so disappointed to see me and Tanza there."
They had to do "Sparka" because of the personnel that was added, and the additions were Subaru and Tanza - and Tanza was sleeping.
In effect, it is "Sparka" with four people, including one child with a bad eye.
Surely, all three of them must have thought it was the unluckiest day of their lives.
"It was, however, the luckiest day of my life."
"Ah, you look pretty confident. So, so, Bassu, what do you want to do?"
"Yeah, I'm going to go see the drawbridge. Though I'd like to talk to some of the people from outside."
"That may be a little difficult. Unlike last time, I think 'Sparka' will start rather early this time, so we may not have a chance to make contact."
"I see...... it's tricky, but then there's a way to do it."
Cecilus puts his hand on his chin and raises his eyebrows at Subaru's reply.
It's easy to see that Subaru's response was either interest or liking. He is the type of person who can't hide anything from you, but you can't let your guard down.
There are a few people in the world who can kill a person even if he or she is very likable.
The rumored personality of the fake Cecilus on the island is just enough to treat him as if he were a bomb.
Of course, too much fearful contact will only shorten the fuse, so it is best to find the right balance.
Anyway--,
"Finally, we're making some progress. What do you say, Tanza?"
"No, sir, what do you mean? Are you and Mr. Segmunt having an affair?"
"I am not attempting such a thing! I have no idea what Bassu is thinking, and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to say much. He just asked me to let him know if the drawbridge was about to be raised. From here on out, it's all in his head!"
"......Mr. Schwarz?"
Tanza's gaze turned to Subaru, as if to accuse him of hiding something from her, which shows off his blatant ignorance. But Subaru had no intention of hiding anything from him.
She thought he was moving rather cautiously, though.
"Let's talk about it while we go see the drawbridge. It would be too stupid to miss it."
With Tanza looking like she has something to say and a happy fake Cecilus in tow, Subaru leaves the communal room and heads for the upper level of the island, where he can see the drawbridge. On the island, gladiators are allowed a great deal of freedom of movement, and except for those who are extremely vicious in their daily behavior, they are not restricted in any way except for sleeping and fighting to the death.
There are certain rules about bathing and meal times, which apparently need to be followed, but it was a far cry from the life of a slave or a prisoner in a prison, as he had imagined it.
The Gladiator Island has a gladiatorial arena in the center of the island, which is used as an event stage for grand entertainments that include spectators from the outside. Therefore, the gladiatorial arena and its surroundings are decorated in a very flashy and conspicuous manner for outsiders to see.
On the other hand, the space for the other gladiators to be free and live is simple and generally 'gray' except for the minimum facilities necessary for their daily lives.
"But we do have a healing room and a library."
"I heard that it was only after Governor Gustav became the island's owner that they started putting books in the library. Surprisingly, I hear they have become a favorite companion for everyone's rest and relaxation."
"Yeah, there were a lot of books. Wish I could have read them too."
Nodding at Tanza's story, Subaru scratched his temples with his fingers.
The letters of this world, which he thought he had studied, seem to have been kicked out of his shriveled brain too soon, and he can only read them as fluff.
He vaguely remembers parts of it, so it's not impossible to decipher it if he tries hard enough, but he has to use my mind like a treasure hunter to read a single page.
"If her sister finds out about this, she's going to give me a big hard time......"
For what it's worth, it was her older sister - Ram - who was the most supportive of Subaru's letter study. So if she knew about Subaru's current state, she would be very angry.
If not that, he has left Rem alone. Surely, Ram would be angry if she knew that. For that matter, Subaru wanted to be angry too.
"Mr. Schwarz?"
"--There are two things that are our barriers to getting off this island. One of them is the drawbridge that connects the island to the other side."
"......Yes, I am aware of it."
The stage for running a gladiatorial arena built on the solitary island in the middle of a lake.
The drawbridge, which must be bridged from both sides, half from the isolated island side and half from the Kishi River, to make it crossable, is a problem because it is usually raised so that it cannot be crossed.
"So it's usually lowered. It rises when it is applied."
"I don't know how many times you've told me that, but it doesn't ring a bell. That's why I want to see the real thing."
It's the false Cecilus's tone, like telling someone who is not listening, but the image of a drawbridge in Subaru's mind is one that inevitably divides one bridge into two from the middle, and each side wakes up and takes over the bridge.
Of course, with that image, the drawbridge would be the one to 'lower'.
"So, Mr. Schwarz, the second wall is......"
Tanza waved off the image in Subaru's head with her hand and wanted to hear where the conversation was going. Subaru took a small breath and said, "Hmm."
"Needless to say, it's a curse rule. A curse rule that Mr. Gustav puts on all the gladiators."
"----"
The rounded eyebrows are lowered at the end of the brow, making Tanza look difficult.
Of course, she didn't have to be told, but she knew the problem - that's the curse rule.
He said that the cursed mark given to all the gladiators of the Gladiator Island, the cursed rule, is activated by those who break it and takes their lives. This is the main reason why Gustav, as governor, continues to reign as the absolute ruler of this solitary island.
No one could defy Gustav, and defying him would cost them their lives.
Even if you don't disobey, you never know when you will lose your life for violating the curse rule unless the curse seal is lifted.
Only Gustav himself knows how to solve it and the details of the curse rule.
"What scares me is that I don't know the detailed rules. I'm just going about my day normally, and if I accidentally violate them, I could die without even realizing it."
"The first time Gustav became governor, there was some anxiety about it, but that anxiety seems to have faded away. I think it's safe to say that Mr. Gustav doesn't want to reduce the number of gladiators, and he's made it very clear what he doesn't want us to do."
"Very clear...... don't disobey the guards, no tussles other than death between gladiators, don't flee this island on your own, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"--I still have a problem with the last part."
The development of rules for living on the solitary island, that is the curse rule laid down by Gustav.
Nevertheless, it is true that this is in direct conflict with the objectives of Subaru and Tanza.
"Besides the back way, there are other ways to break the curse rule and stop being a sword guy, right?"
"Yes, there is. In your case, it is famous for a large scale entertainment held once a year, in which the Emperor is invited and the prize is awarded at a public death match. In addition to that, there is also a way for the audience to pay a large sum of money to be invited. Therefore, it is necessary for the sword fighters to look beautiful and glamorous."
"......Somehow, my image of the gladiator feeling."
It seems to be close to the image of a gladiator in the Roman Empire or something like that.
He doesn't know much about it, but it is a slave-like nuance where one is forced to fight with a sword, which is literally the same position as a gladiator.
He has heard of some famous gladiators who seemed to have rebelled with other gladiators, but--,
"I don't want to rebel, I want to escape, so I'm thinking more like the Great Escape from Prison."
A clue would be the pattern of prison escapes.
However, the knowledge from such movies and cartoons is also rather dim in Subaru's mind. It would not be possible to use it as it is, and Subaru has no choice but to find its own correct answer.
"Whatever it is, in order to get off the island, we have to do something about the drawbridge and the curse rule. For that reason, it is absolutely essential to observe the drawbridge, understood?"
"......I understand. Still, that doesn't explain why Mr. Schwarz spent so much time waiting for the drawbridge to move."
"Don't root for me......"
Subaru scratches his head and looks annoyed.
While they were talking, the three of them reached the desired elevation. The balcony was built in the middle of a mountain range that rises toward the center of the solitary island and overlooks half of the lake.
The place was more like a viewing platform than an open-air stand, but there were a few other visitors there besides Subaru and the other three. It seemed that other gladiators were also onlookers.
In the line of onlookers, a figure suddenly looked back and waved to Subaru and the others.
"I thought it was Schwarz. Why are you here?"
"Oh, Hiain was there, too. Chillin'?"
"I'm not chilling! ......I heard that the next sacrifice was coming, so."
It is the skalengecked Hiain that looks away and does not continue with the rest of the words.
He is a member of the same "union" as Subaru, and despite his strong attitude, he is quite a jittery person. He is not a bad person, but he is also not a character to be praised.
And the current excuse doesn't fully negate the part about the chilling purpose.
"Did Mr. Hiain want to see who would be next?"
"Ngh......"
"If you don't want to tell me, that's fine."
At Tanza's modest question, Hiain bends his big mouth and hesitates to answer. But soon, unable to bear the silence, Hiain said, "Yes!" and his voice trembled.
He rested his elbows on the railing, staring out at the lake below.
"I wanted to see the next guys' faces. No problem."
"I mean, it's not that bad, but for what reason? It would be out of character if I survived 'Sparka' and came to see if the next people who come see if they can survive 'Sparka'."
"I'm not going to do something evil! ......I don't think there are any of them."
Hiain denied Subaru's intuition, saying that he was different.
He'll trust that answer for the moment. Subaru also knows perfectly well that Hiain is not a bad guy, just a coward. He also seems to be the most unfamiliar with the rules of this Gladiator Island.
"......Why did you guys come?"
"We're not chilled out, we're not onlookers. Of course we are interested in the people they are bringing this time, but we want to see the drawbridge."
"You want to see a bridge? You're a kid...... You're a kid!"
"No, I do. You're talking too loud."
Subaru's lips curved at the hearsay of Hiain, who was speaking very loudly, perhaps to disguise his own feelings. Subaru then stood next to him and looked at the lake below.
Although the sun was still high in the sky, the area around the Gladiator Island was overcast and gloomy.
For some reason, these clouds never seem to clear in this area, and it is said that the sky is cloudy all year round. The sky is said to be cloudy all year round. The sky is a place that darkens people's hearts.
"Well, some people enjoy that kind of environment, and I like it."
"Surprising. I thought Cessy was a big fan of sunny days......, but he calls himself 'Lightning', so he doesn't care if there are clouds."
"I see. I had never thought about it, but now that you mention it."
With their hands over their mouths and shrugging their shoulders at the fake Cecilus, whose eyes lit up with surprise at their discovery, Subaru and his friends lined up in front of the railing and waited for the drawbridge in question to be raised in this way.
And not too long after--,
"Oh, ohh--!"
At first, they heard a rattle and the sound of gears and mechanical things moving somewhere.
The mechanism seems similar to the one used to raise the steel fence at the gladiatorial arena, but the drawbridge is on a much larger scale. After all, since a bridge of such great length has to be built, it must be made by turning gears that are either large or numerous in number.
A drawbridge slowly "rises" in front of Subaru's eyes--.
"----"
Slowly, slowly, the drawbridge appeared, sunk deep in the lake.
It showed itself by 'rising' out of the lake, moved in accordance with the mechanism of the spinning gears, as the false Cecilus had corrected it many times.
Instead of lowering a drawbridge that has been raised, it 'raises' a drawbridge that has been sunk.
It seemed that it was not exactly a single bridge that was raised, but rather a system of multiple bridges that were connected and rose from the bottom of the lake to become a single bridge. When the multiple bridges were lifted horizontally, they were connected to form one bridge, which was completed while draining a large amount of water.
The same mechanism was in operation on the Kishi River side, and a drawbridge was raised on the other side of the river. The two drawbridges that went up became one, and the Gladiator Island was released from its isolation for a time.
"The guy who's moving that bridge is......"
"There is a tower that controls the drawbridge, so I guess it is operated inside that tower. I've never actually been inside it, so I don't know what's waiting for me."
"Inside the control tower."
With a bridge of that size, it would be difficult to raise or lower it stealthily.
On the other hand, crossing the lake in something like a small boat would also be hampered by the presence of magical beasts in the water. It seems that they have not yet thought enough to prepare a realistic means of escape.
"......Apparently, that's the carriage carrying the following people."
Tanza, who was looking at the other side of the river beside Subaru, who was thinking about it, muttered to him.
A huge, black, gale horse pulls a cart slowly across the drawbridge. The gale horse looks like a warhorse equipped with armor, and it looks tough enough to be seen.
The carriage is guarded by soldiers riding something smaller than that gale horse. That is exactly what they said they were concerned about the last time the carriage overturned, and they are becoming more vigilant.
"Oh, it's you, isn't it, Mr. Gustav? It looks like you're here in person."
Meanwhile, a group waits for a carriage to arrive at the drawbridge on the island's isolated side. In the middle of the guards in their black uniforms, Gustav stands out, his chest heaving.
Was this also a precautionary measure after the last time the carriage overturned? Or, if it was Gustav, there was a good chance that he would have been present every time like this.
"It's a little over a kilometer to the other side of the river, maybe less than two kilometers. ......?"
It doesn't seem like it's a perishable because of the distance, but the drawbridge distance appears to be about that far.
Even with the weight-splitting mechanism, a drawbridge of this length is unimaginable. Even if magic or some other special magical tool was used for the foundation, it was still quite a feat.
And so, as he was checking the condition of the drawbridge he was after--,
"Ah--!?"
It was Hiain, who was looking at the drawbridge as well as Subaru and the others, who turned his voice inside out.
--No, he was not looking at the drawbridge, but at the carriage coming across. The carriage pulled by a huge gale horse finished crossing the drawbridge and the people in it were dismounted.
These are the people who will be handed over to Gustav as gladiators, or more correctly, as candidates for gladiators. Looking at their faces, Hiain's eyes widened.
"Those idiots...... got caught......!"
Covering his face with both hands, Hiain stares down below him through the gap between his large, watery fingers.
Subaru understood the meaning of his words when he saw the new faces. The people who had been brought in were all skalengeckers like Hiain - the color of their scales seemed to indicate that they were of a different detailed race, but they could still be broadly categorized as such.
And Hiain's reaction is such a knowing reaction to them.
"......, you used me as bait to get away with it."
Subaru narrowed his eyes at Hiain, who muttered bitterly.
During "Sparka", when he started over again and again and tried his best to get to know the heirs who participated with him, he also heard the circumstances that brought him to the Gladiator Island.
He told them that he was made to play a decoy with his ability to change the color of his scales and mimic them, and that he was used as a throwaway to buy time for his friends to escape from the slavers.
In other words, from Hiain's reaction, it's clear that they're--,
"The ones who used Hiain as bait."
"Guh......"
"Mr. Hiain......"
Hiain's expression changes at Subaru's words, and Tanza looks at him with concern. Tanza may not like him either, but he probably has feelings for the person with whom he has exchanged words.
But Hiain sniffed a "heh" at the boy and girl's gazes.
"T-that's a good one! You make a fool out of me and I'll make a fool out of you! You make me suffer and then you...... make me look like a fool!"
"Hmm."
"Wh-what, you got a problem with me!?"
Hiain's mouth twisted and spat out, and the false Cecilus closed one eye. When Hiain bit recklessly at the reaction, the false Cecilus shook his head and said, "No, no, no",
"I have no complaints. I'm just surprised and impressed at the same time, because I thought it was a mediocre statement by a mediocre beaten man."
"A mediocre beaten man......?"
"What else can I say? This is something I've been thinking about for a long time, but why do all these people who are supposed to play minor roles talk like that? Why don't they just look at one of these picture stories and see how silly they are?"
In front of Hiain, whose voice trembled, the fake Cecilus clasped his hands high with his own.
With a dry clang, the fake Cecilus drew the attention of those around him to himself.
"Look around you. I have not read all the stories of the past and present, but if you read the stories you see from one side to the other, you will find that there are many cast members. The famous ones say and do things that are appropriate for them, and the not-so-famous ones say and do things that are appropriate for their foolishness. And this applies to reality outside of the picture story more than you might think."
"Wh-what the hell are you talking about......?"
"Weak people say weak things! Strong people say strong things! The top actors say the coolest things, and the bottom actors whisper in a voice that is hard to hear! Oh, it's all so bizarre and strange, don't you think?"
"----"
"Why is everyone trying to get themselves into minor roles? Everyone is an actor who needs to live out his or her own life. Of course, I am the only one who can play the leading role."
With his eyes focused on himself, the false Cecilus makes a light sound with the sandals under his feet, focusing not only his gaze but also the attention of the sound on him.
And then--,
"You might want to think long and hard before you make any statements. That statement sounds kind of like a fish that will die soon."
"--tsk"
Hiain, who was looking right down at the fake Cecilus, clears his throat.
The fake Cecilus quickly stepped back with a smile on his face at Hiain's reaction. But Hiain seemed to be afraid of the fake Cecilus's eyes, and found himself breathing hard.
As it is, Hiain turned his back to run away from the false Cecilus--,
"Hiain."
"What the fuck! Leave me alone already! The only time I get involved with you guys is when we're in a 'union'......"
"What about the people downstairs? I thought they were your buddies."
Subaru stops Hiain, who is about to leave, and asks him, "What?" Subaru's words made Hiain exhale, "Ha!",
"I told you! They used me as bait and then they screwed up! I don't give a shit about those idiots!"
"--But when you dropped the bag down the cliff, you shared the food, didn't you?"
So, hearing Subaru's interrupting words, Hiain's eyes widened with an "ah".
To a horrified Hiain, Subaru continues, "There are others."
"I remember having to back out to get away from the thieves in the field, and when I couldn't start a fire, they did it for me...... My last memory may be a bad one, but,"
"----"
"It's too lonely to think that that last face is all there is to that person."
There is talk of human nature coming out in extreme conditions.
What a ridiculous story, and Subaru wants to tell that logic to stop screwing around.
It is ridiculous to assume that when a person is placed in an extraordinary, uncontrollable situation, the actions he or she has taken there will determine everything about him or her.
If so, are you saying that what Hiain, Weitz, and Idola did in the "Sparka" scene is their true nature?
You assume that he is a coward, a coward and a fraud and that's all he is.
You didn't run away, you didn't outwit, you didn't cheat, you had a moment of cooperation with Subaru, and this is how we are all saving lives.
So--,
"Maybe if you talk to him, you'll hear a different story."
Even those who think they love Subaru now did not start out loving it.
He saw the disgusted faces of those people. Still, Subaru wanted to like everyone. And he doesn't think that is something that is special only to Subaru.
"......Creepy little kid. He talks like he knows everything."
At Subaru's appeal, Hiain muttered hatefully.
From his point of view, it must have been very sickening to be told a story that he did not remember telling Subaru. Still, with a face that was more than a little creepy.
"They can't get past 'Sparka'. So, I can't do it anymore."
With that, Hiain walks away from the high ground, this time without stopping.
But does he realize it? The answer now is not how Hiain feels, but only the excuse that he can't do it because the situation is blocked.
If that situation changes, that excuse is no longer valid - and it is--.
"Mr. Schwarz, I'm sorry to hear about Mr. Hiain and his acquaintance, but......"
Tanza gently touches Subaru's sleeve as she looks off Hiain's back. Her round eyes were shimmering with impatience along with sympathy.
The obstacles they had to clear, one of which was the drawbridge, must have made them more eager to get off the island.
Naturally, it is much, much more important to Tanza to leave this island than it is to feel for Hiain. Of course, it is the same for Subaru.
Subaru also has things that are properly important and prioritized.
He doesn't need to compare Hiain and the ones Subaru has encountered in the past.
But--,
"--Bassu, it's called a thorny issue."
"Cessy......"
Fake Cecilus said to Subaru, who was fighting a boiling, burning sensation deep in his own chest.
Turning around, the fake Cecilus stands lightly on the railing in front of Subaru, saying, "Yo." A cringe-worthy sight to behold, he dexterously balances himself on the slender railing.
"Rarely can you have everything the way you want it, no matter how many of the best choices you make in a given situation. There is a prerequisite qualification for a being to have all of those things. The qualification of being the chosen leading actor. If you are not, and you want your share--"
"What if I want to?"
"There is only death."
As he says this, the body of the false Cecilus leans heavily against the other side of the railing. Seeing this, Tanza's eyes widen and she quickly tries to reach out her hand.
But sooner than that, the false Cecilus, bending at the knees, killed the momentum of his fall. And so the crouching false Cecilus came face to face with Subaru in front of the railing.
"So it's much easier to keep things separate."
"......Separate?"
"Yes, that's right. If you can't change your destiny, accept what lies before you as a matter of course. What you cannot get through by your own strength will inevitably stagnate on the road ahead. You have no choice but to make your own way."
The fake Cecilus says this while squatting and dexterously not twitching. As Subaru was being bombarded with these words head-on, the rumor of the false Cecilus came back to his mind.
He said that in "Sparka", in which he participated, he did not move until all his allies were wiped out.
Then, as soon as he was left alone, he killed the gladiator, and since then, he has been performing death matches without his "union" and has taken the lives of everyone he faces to this day.
"Is that why Cessy doesn't help people?"
"You have to be able to open up any obstacle with your own strength. If you accomplish things with the help of others, you will not be able to overcome the next time you encounter the same thing again. You can't borrow power forever. People will eventually die. Even I am not immortal."
He understands the intent. The logic, too, is not hard to understand.
But that's a theory that can only be said because the false Cecilus is a strong person who can cut through problems. That is very harsh and not kind.
"And you say that, but sometimes encounters change a person. Then that changed person may overcome the next obstacle. Besides."
"Besides?"
Standing on the railing with one leg, the fake Cecilus rests his elbow on his bent knee and rests his cheek on his cheek. Staring at his smiling face, Subaru peeled his teeth.
As an ordinary person who cannot live alone to this superhuman who can get through anything alone.
"Cessy said they should be separate, but it's this feeling of being divisible that's important."
"----"
"This feeling of being unable to separate is the driving force that saves someone. If people say this is the selfishness of a greenhorn kid, so be it."
Yes, Subaru would like to believe that.
This does not matter how big or small the body is. What Natsuki Subaru thinks, no matter how big or small.
Believe. Not divide it with adultish cleverness, but with blue-sky logic.
"Aha"
Hearing Subaru's declaration, the expression on the false Cecilus's face changed.
From a thin smile to a big, satisfied grin.
With that out of the corner of his eye, Subaru decided what he needed to do and started walking away.
"Mr. Schwarz! Mr. Segmunt, what should we......"
"Oh, that's good, Bassu! It fits my logic too. Cool people say cool things, and strong people say strong things. Both casts start by saying what they see fit. That's the very spirit, Rebel of Fate!"
"Mr. Segmunt!"
Tanza is on the railing, laughing at the fake Cecilus, and Subaru has no time to waste on them. But Subaru has too much time on his hands to waste on these two.
He has two places to go, and even if he can just stop by one of them, he needs to have a little discussion, persuasion, or some kind of accusation with the other one.
They'll get it ready--.
"Old man Null!"
Returning to the island at a quick pace, Subaru rushed to the healing room. When he opened the door roughly, his back, which had been rowing inside, panicked.
The old man with a thin body, a long beard that has been left unextended, and the impression of a cotton swab is a null old man who is holed up in a healing room working as a healer.
Null shakes his head and blinks at Subaru, who jumps in. To this opponent, Subaru prefaces his words with, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"--Is everything you asked for ready?"
△▼△▼△▼△
"There's going to be the next 'Sparka'...... is there any reason for us to watch......"
How he hates Weitz for making such an airy invitation.
Because they are paired up with members of the same "union", they often have no choice but to be together, but in the first place, Hiain doesn't get along with Weitz.
Knowing it's also the incompatibility between his impulsively prodding self and Weitz, who really has the guts - where his inability to pull back makes him sell words first.
Even though he knows this, he just can't get this to go away.
Because of this, he has had a lot of bad experiences. It was because of this mouth that he had to be sent to Ginunhive as a gladiator.
It is true that the people they were working with, they were used as a dumping ground to get them away from the slavers. But it was Hiain's gaffe that brought them to the attention of the slavers in the first place.
Even though he was frustrated because he couldn't find a straight job, even at his day job, he got into a barroom altercation with a group of people who were clearly signaling danger, and he was rooted to the spot.
After days of harassing pursuit and finally resorting to direct violence, the friends made a decision to protect themselves.
"I know, I know that......"
He was a coward, he was distracted, he bit, he invited problems because of it, and yet, until the last minute, his friends did not want to give up on Hiain.
They didn't want to be spoiled by that, so they dressed it up by saying, "If you can't help it, just dump me." Even though he said it, somewhere along the way he knew they didn't have the courage to abandon him.
At the end of the day, they were spoiled, assuming that if they couldn't muster the courage to cut off their friends, they were just as cowardly as they were.
"I know you're the most helpless......"
It is ridiculous to make a fuss about being abandoned, used as bait, or cast aside.
It was a very foolish thing to do, and Hiain knew it himself.
But he had to say so to protect his heart. He wanted to believe that he was not at fault, but that the other party was wrong and he suffered terribly because of it.
At least that's how he wanted to justify himself by cursing his friends and cursing them for saving his life.
"So why the hell are you guys getting caught too......!"
After all the trouble he went through to get himself caught like this and thrown into a hopeless situation, why did they get caught too? Deprived of a cause to curse, Hiain is just a jerk.
He has become just a jerk and has no choice but to watch helplessly as his friends die.
"This time, I heard that the 'union' was established with the personnel that were brought in. Unlike our time, I didn't realize they were thrown in as soon as they arrived......"
Looking down on the gladiatorial arena from the spectators' seats, Idola, arms crossed, his voice trembling.
He tries to hide his trembling voice, but he can't. Idola is also strong, but at his roots he is a coward not so different from Hiain.
Yet, Idola has the chutzpah to pretend. He doesn't. He was miserable.
"--We will now begin the 'Sparka'!!"
As the auditorium filled with a motley crew of gladiators, the thick voice of Gustav, the Governor, rang out.
Although there was no room at the time of their own "Sparka", there was a corner of the gladiatorial arena where Gustav had a stage overlooking the venue - or rather, a place where the big guys would be seated at the box office.
From there, Gustav looks down at the hall and spreads his four arms wide.
Immediately, a passageway leading to the back of the gladiatorial arena opens beneath Gustav, and a gladiator slowly emerges from behind the passageway, which is closed by an iron fence.
It was not like the magical beast that fought with Hiain and his friends, but a great big rat with bird wings on both its arms and its entire body wrapped in soft-looking fur.
But the only difference is in appearance, and the alarming instincts of the hyaenas tell them plainly that there is no great difference in their ferocity or danger.
In other words, the difficulty of "Sparka" is not reduced because it is a different gladiator.
"They're the ones you'll be seeing at this one......."
Amidst the low roar of the gladiatorial beasts, as Weitz said, the fence of the passageway in front of them opens, and the participants of this "Sparka" - the five skalokas - appear from there.
Each of them was shaking their scales with anxiety and nervousness, and all of their faces were familiar to him.
His last hope that he had misjudged them because they were so far away was crushed.
Hiain gulps and turns his face down, understanding that his escape is nowhere to be found.
For whatever reason, the cowardly Hiain survived "Sparka".
The friends who will be brought to the same place as Hiain and will not survive "Sparka" and will lose their lives - what in the world is the curse of this?
Did they suffer this as a result of his curse?
If that were the case, the effect of Hiain's curse would be great. He would have cursed, cursed, cursed everyone on this island - no, everyone in this empire - except myself.
"......stupid."
"--ah?"
For starters, if he's going to do it, start with the slavers who dropped themselves and their friends here.
Hiain, who had been running away from such an unhelpful escape from reality, was brought back to his senses by the mutterings of a stunned Idola.
Idola's eyes are wide open and he is looking at the gladiatorial arena in astonishment, wondering what has happened. And it is not only Idola, but also Weitz next to him - no, not only the two of them.
--The audience, a large number of gladiators in the audience, were groaning in amazement.
The reason for this is obvious: looking down at the gladiatorial arena, Hiain's face is the same as those around him.
Because, beside the five skalengeckers, there was a sixth figure who was not supposed to be there - a sixth figure--.
"Wh-wh-wh-what the hell are you doing, Schwarz--!?"
With a shiver in his throat, Hiain called out the name of the one who should not be there, the dark-haired boy.
The boy who had just parted from him on the high ground, the one who had spoken so cheekily to me, spun around and looked back at me when he heard Hiain's pitiful exclamation.
Then, in the midst of the skalawags trembling before the life-threatening "Sparka", he pointed to Hiain's face in the audience and said, "I'm not going to let you down."
What are you doing, he was asked and so on--.
"--The strongest reinforcement" he said.
You do not have permission to view link
Log in or register now.
--Life on the solitary Gladiator Island of Ginunhive, was not so bad for Subaru.
Subaru's fighting style in "Sparka" was apparently well received by the gladiators who were sharpening their skills on the Gladiator Island, and he received the same welcome as in the main hall wherever he went.
Even in an environment where people are forced to fight, the style of the Vollachian Empire remains the same.
Therefore, it seems that the same principle of valuing strong people applies to all of them, and the "Sparka" that Subaru and his group had performed in their "union" was a good fit for them.
"He had a lot of nerve for what was, by all appearances, a skinny little kid."
This seems to be the approximate evaluation of Subaru.
It must have been very interesting for Subaru, a child who could twist with one hand if he wanted to, to put up a good fight against a gladiatorial lion.
Perhaps the fact that Subaru was a child of his age, unlike the fake Cecilus of the same age, may have helped this impression. That is how bad the reputation of the fake Cecilus was.
"I'm just living my life as me, so I really don't care what people think of me. After all, you can't complain when you see the results. Oh, I meant emotionally, not physically."
In the meantime, this is how he reacted when he overheard the reputation of the people around him.
He had a feeling that this was the case, but the fake Cecilus has no consideration for bending himself, or for living in harmony with the people around him.
He has a strong will that does not bend himself, and the ability to carry it through - which makes the false Cecilus's parochial ego affirming.
And that is correct under the rules of both the Gladiator Island and the Empire.
"But it's not a good trend to be hated for it. We can't survive on the island alone, as being in a 'union' does."
"You're talking about the ability to live through it....... That kid's arrogant behavior is also confidence that he can get through it......"
"I-I don't like it, but it's none of our business. If it's a creepy little kid, we've had enough of the two of us."
That was the impression of the "union" friends on the fake Cecilus.
It may sound harsh, but it is a natural thought. To begin with, unless they are very strong and in a safe zone, all gladiators are desperate to survive today and tomorrow.
That was the norm, with little time to care about the surroundings.
"Well, I have a bone to pick with Hiain who treats us like lurid little brats, but what do you think of Tanza? What do you think of Cessy?"
"......I don't care. More importantly, Mr. Schwarz."
"Yeah?"
"--Mr. Schwarz, do you really intend to leave?"
Suddenly, being asked this in a voice that sounded both appalled and reproachful, Subaru involuntarily rolled his eyes and turned around. "Huh?" Subaru said as he rolled his eyes and turned around.
In the common room given to the gladiators - a space that could be called a dormitory cell, Tanza, who shares a room with Subaru, frowned at his round eyebrows and sighed dismissively.
"Uh, not at all. I see that Mr. Schwarz has been having a good time with you and the other fencers over the past few days, but do you remember our first policy?"
"First policy......?"
"--tsk, you are thinking of leaving the island and returning to Chaos Flame."
For a moment, Tanza's voice hardened at the sound of Subaru, who had no idea what he was talking about.
As it was, the girl took her gaze away from Subaru, prefaced it with, "Excuse me."
"If I could, I would have followed Mr. Schwarz's policy. But if Mr. Schwarz is not going to be proactive, that's a different story. I have to go back to Yorna."
"----"
"Even now, I don't know anything about what happened in Chaos Flame. The only thing I know is that Master Yorna is safe, because she is still in my favor......"
As she says this, Tanza touches her own right eye.
What this gesture means is the same change in the residents that Subaru also witnessed in the Demon City - the same people who were affected by Yorna's "soul marriage technique" and whose eyes were burning.
It is probably not Tanza's natural ability to cut off a lion's head in one breath. It means that she is taking advantage of the power of favor given to her by Yorna.
"That means Empress Yorna is safe, right?"
"......Her body is. I don't know about her heart."
"That's, um, true. Empress Yorna cared about everyone in town."
Because she was too kind, she was treated as a rebel many times for not following the policies of the empire.
Subaru seems to understand a little of Yorna's situation and the feelings of Tanza and her friends who were protected by Yorna's ideas.
So he can understand Tanza's desire to return to Yorna immediately.
"But you can't be too hasty. Scrabbling in the dark won't get you what you want."
"But, sir! I can't take my time like Mr. Schwarz!"
"T-take your time......"
"Yes, I am. For the past two days, I've been walking around the island looking for a way to escape, but I've also been wasting my time talking with the 'union' and chatting with other gladiators......"
Tanza has been finger pointing at Subaru's behavior over the past two days.
Indeed, all Subaru had been doing for the past two days was talking to people, not looking for a loophole or a way to move the only drawbridge that connects to the outside world.
He would spend time with Weitz and the other members of the "union", but his priority was to learn about the rules of the island and interesting stories from people who had been on the Gladiator Island for a long time.
This was very leisurely in Tanza's eyes, and perhaps it looked like Subaru was preparing to put his bones in this island.
But if that's the case--,
"You are mistaken, Tanza. I have someone I want to see as much as you want to see Yorna. I absolutely have to go home."
"......Um, are they the ones you were with?"
"Except for Abel, that's one thing, and they're in other...... big walled cities too. And in the neighboring countries of the empire. I'm very busy."
"----"
Tanza shushed Subaru, who replied that he had someone he wanted to meet over there and over here.
Perhaps she thought that her feelings for Yorna were greater than those of Subaru, who had multiple partners, but she did not say it out loud.
That is enough to show how serious she is. If it was Yorna who taught her so many things, she's even impressed with Yorna's dedication to education.
"Still, I probably have a better head for it than you do."
"--? What kind of......"
And that was the moment when Tanza tilted her head at Subaru's words.
"--Bassu! The drawbridge is going up! The new arrivals have arrived!"
So, with a noisy voice, the fake Cecilus comes running down the corridor and shows his face. Tanza's shoulders jump at the force and loudness of his voice, but Subaru's reaction is the exact opposite.
"You got it!" he yells as he leapt up on the spot,
"It's faster than I've heard, does it come at this pace?"
"No, that's why the last time Bassu and his 'Sparka' were the exception. All but three of the same 'union' as Bassu and the others failed to escape, and Bassu and the others had to hastily make up for the shortage of personnel at the bottom of the lake......"
"It was."
As the false Cecilus shrugged his shoulders, the previous "Sparka" was held irregularly.
Originally, the prospective fencers, who were supposed to enter the solitary island with Weitz and the others, attempted to escape en masse before entering the island, but this failed, and the carriage overturned. The candidates who escaped from the drawbridge into the lake were all fed to the aquatic monsters.
As a result, the "Sparka" was not held for Weitz and the others, who were short in numbers, and it was shelved until the number of people who could form a "union" was replenished--,
"Weitz and the others must have been so disappointed to see me and Tanza there."
They had to do "Sparka" because of the personnel that was added, and the additions were Subaru and Tanza - and Tanza was sleeping.
In effect, it is "Sparka" with four people, including one child with a bad eye.
Surely, all three of them must have thought it was the unluckiest day of their lives.
"It was, however, the luckiest day of my life."
"Ah, you look pretty confident. So, so, Bassu, what do you want to do?"
"Yeah, I'm going to go see the drawbridge. Though I'd like to talk to some of the people from outside."
"That may be a little difficult. Unlike last time, I think 'Sparka' will start rather early this time, so we may not have a chance to make contact."
"I see...... it's tricky, but then there's a way to do it."
Cecilus puts his hand on his chin and raises his eyebrows at Subaru's reply.
It's easy to see that Subaru's response was either interest or liking. He is the type of person who can't hide anything from you, but you can't let your guard down.
There are a few people in the world who can kill a person even if he or she is very likable.
The rumored personality of the fake Cecilus on the island is just enough to treat him as if he were a bomb.
Of course, too much fearful contact will only shorten the fuse, so it is best to find the right balance.
Anyway--,
"Finally, we're making some progress. What do you say, Tanza?"
"No, sir, what do you mean? Are you and Mr. Segmunt having an affair?"
"I am not attempting such a thing! I have no idea what Bassu is thinking, and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to say much. He just asked me to let him know if the drawbridge was about to be raised. From here on out, it's all in his head!"
"......Mr. Schwarz?"
Tanza's gaze turned to Subaru, as if to accuse him of hiding something from her, which shows off his blatant ignorance. But Subaru had no intention of hiding anything from him.
She thought he was moving rather cautiously, though.
"Let's talk about it while we go see the drawbridge. It would be too stupid to miss it."
With Tanza looking like she has something to say and a happy fake Cecilus in tow, Subaru leaves the communal room and heads for the upper level of the island, where he can see the drawbridge. On the island, gladiators are allowed a great deal of freedom of movement, and except for those who are extremely vicious in their daily behavior, they are not restricted in any way except for sleeping and fighting to the death.
There are certain rules about bathing and meal times, which apparently need to be followed, but it was a far cry from the life of a slave or a prisoner in a prison, as he had imagined it.
The Gladiator Island has a gladiatorial arena in the center of the island, which is used as an event stage for grand entertainments that include spectators from the outside. Therefore, the gladiatorial arena and its surroundings are decorated in a very flashy and conspicuous manner for outsiders to see.
On the other hand, the space for the other gladiators to be free and live is simple and generally 'gray' except for the minimum facilities necessary for their daily lives.
"But we do have a healing room and a library."
"I heard that it was only after Governor Gustav became the island's owner that they started putting books in the library. Surprisingly, I hear they have become a favorite companion for everyone's rest and relaxation."
"Yeah, there were a lot of books. Wish I could have read them too."
Nodding at Tanza's story, Subaru scratched his temples with his fingers.
The letters of this world, which he thought he had studied, seem to have been kicked out of his shriveled brain too soon, and he can only read them as fluff.
He vaguely remembers parts of it, so it's not impossible to decipher it if he tries hard enough, but he has to use my mind like a treasure hunter to read a single page.
"If her sister finds out about this, she's going to give me a big hard time......"
For what it's worth, it was her older sister - Ram - who was the most supportive of Subaru's letter study. So if she knew about Subaru's current state, she would be very angry.
If not that, he has left Rem alone. Surely, Ram would be angry if she knew that. For that matter, Subaru wanted to be angry too.
"Mr. Schwarz?"
"--There are two things that are our barriers to getting off this island. One of them is the drawbridge that connects the island to the other side."
"......Yes, I am aware of it."
The stage for running a gladiatorial arena built on the solitary island in the middle of a lake.
The drawbridge, which must be bridged from both sides, half from the isolated island side and half from the Kishi River, to make it crossable, is a problem because it is usually raised so that it cannot be crossed.
"So it's usually lowered. It rises when it is applied."
"I don't know how many times you've told me that, but it doesn't ring a bell. That's why I want to see the real thing."
It's the false Cecilus's tone, like telling someone who is not listening, but the image of a drawbridge in Subaru's mind is one that inevitably divides one bridge into two from the middle, and each side wakes up and takes over the bridge.
Of course, with that image, the drawbridge would be the one to 'lower'.
"So, Mr. Schwarz, the second wall is......"
Tanza waved off the image in Subaru's head with her hand and wanted to hear where the conversation was going. Subaru took a small breath and said, "Hmm."
"Needless to say, it's a curse rule. A curse rule that Mr. Gustav puts on all the gladiators."
"----"
The rounded eyebrows are lowered at the end of the brow, making Tanza look difficult.
Of course, she didn't have to be told, but she knew the problem - that's the curse rule.
He said that the cursed mark given to all the gladiators of the Gladiator Island, the cursed rule, is activated by those who break it and takes their lives. This is the main reason why Gustav, as governor, continues to reign as the absolute ruler of this solitary island.
No one could defy Gustav, and defying him would cost them their lives.
Even if you don't disobey, you never know when you will lose your life for violating the curse rule unless the curse seal is lifted.
Only Gustav himself knows how to solve it and the details of the curse rule.
"What scares me is that I don't know the detailed rules. I'm just going about my day normally, and if I accidentally violate them, I could die without even realizing it."
"The first time Gustav became governor, there was some anxiety about it, but that anxiety seems to have faded away. I think it's safe to say that Mr. Gustav doesn't want to reduce the number of gladiators, and he's made it very clear what he doesn't want us to do."
"Very clear...... don't disobey the guards, no tussles other than death between gladiators, don't flee this island on your own, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"--I still have a problem with the last part."
The development of rules for living on the solitary island, that is the curse rule laid down by Gustav.
Nevertheless, it is true that this is in direct conflict with the objectives of Subaru and Tanza.
"Besides the back way, there are other ways to break the curse rule and stop being a sword guy, right?"
"Yes, there is. In your case, it is famous for a large scale entertainment held once a year, in which the Emperor is invited and the prize is awarded at a public death match. In addition to that, there is also a way for the audience to pay a large sum of money to be invited. Therefore, it is necessary for the sword fighters to look beautiful and glamorous."
"......Somehow, my image of the gladiator feeling."
It seems to be close to the image of a gladiator in the Roman Empire or something like that.
He doesn't know much about it, but it is a slave-like nuance where one is forced to fight with a sword, which is literally the same position as a gladiator.
He has heard of some famous gladiators who seemed to have rebelled with other gladiators, but--,
"I don't want to rebel, I want to escape, so I'm thinking more like the Great Escape from Prison."
A clue would be the pattern of prison escapes.
However, the knowledge from such movies and cartoons is also rather dim in Subaru's mind. It would not be possible to use it as it is, and Subaru has no choice but to find its own correct answer.
"Whatever it is, in order to get off the island, we have to do something about the drawbridge and the curse rule. For that reason, it is absolutely essential to observe the drawbridge, understood?"
"......I understand. Still, that doesn't explain why Mr. Schwarz spent so much time waiting for the drawbridge to move."
"Don't root for me......"
Subaru scratches his head and looks annoyed.
While they were talking, the three of them reached the desired elevation. The balcony was built in the middle of a mountain range that rises toward the center of the solitary island and overlooks half of the lake.
The place was more like a viewing platform than an open-air stand, but there were a few other visitors there besides Subaru and the other three. It seemed that other gladiators were also onlookers.
In the line of onlookers, a figure suddenly looked back and waved to Subaru and the others.
"I thought it was Schwarz. Why are you here?"
"Oh, Hiain was there, too. Chillin'?"
"I'm not chilling! ......I heard that the next sacrifice was coming, so."
It is the skalengecked Hiain that looks away and does not continue with the rest of the words.
He is a member of the same "union" as Subaru, and despite his strong attitude, he is quite a jittery person. He is not a bad person, but he is also not a character to be praised.
And the current excuse doesn't fully negate the part about the chilling purpose.
"Did Mr. Hiain want to see who would be next?"
"Ngh......"
"If you don't want to tell me, that's fine."
At Tanza's modest question, Hiain bends his big mouth and hesitates to answer. But soon, unable to bear the silence, Hiain said, "Yes!" and his voice trembled.
He rested his elbows on the railing, staring out at the lake below.
"I wanted to see the next guys' faces. No problem."
"I mean, it's not that bad, but for what reason? It would be out of character if I survived 'Sparka' and came to see if the next people who come see if they can survive 'Sparka'."
"I'm not going to do something evil! ......I don't think there are any of them."
Hiain denied Subaru's intuition, saying that he was different.
He'll trust that answer for the moment. Subaru also knows perfectly well that Hiain is not a bad guy, just a coward. He also seems to be the most unfamiliar with the rules of this Gladiator Island.
"......Why did you guys come?"
"We're not chilled out, we're not onlookers. Of course we are interested in the people they are bringing this time, but we want to see the drawbridge."
"You want to see a bridge? You're a kid...... You're a kid!"
"No, I do. You're talking too loud."
Subaru's lips curved at the hearsay of Hiain, who was speaking very loudly, perhaps to disguise his own feelings. Subaru then stood next to him and looked at the lake below.
Although the sun was still high in the sky, the area around the Gladiator Island was overcast and gloomy.
For some reason, these clouds never seem to clear in this area, and it is said that the sky is cloudy all year round. The sky is said to be cloudy all year round. The sky is a place that darkens people's hearts.
"Well, some people enjoy that kind of environment, and I like it."
"Surprising. I thought Cessy was a big fan of sunny days......, but he calls himself 'Lightning', so he doesn't care if there are clouds."
"I see. I had never thought about it, but now that you mention it."
With their hands over their mouths and shrugging their shoulders at the fake Cecilus, whose eyes lit up with surprise at their discovery, Subaru and his friends lined up in front of the railing and waited for the drawbridge in question to be raised in this way.
And not too long after--,
"Oh, ohh--!"
At first, they heard a rattle and the sound of gears and mechanical things moving somewhere.
The mechanism seems similar to the one used to raise the steel fence at the gladiatorial arena, but the drawbridge is on a much larger scale. After all, since a bridge of such great length has to be built, it must be made by turning gears that are either large or numerous in number.
A drawbridge slowly "rises" in front of Subaru's eyes--.
"----"
Slowly, slowly, the drawbridge appeared, sunk deep in the lake.
It showed itself by 'rising' out of the lake, moved in accordance with the mechanism of the spinning gears, as the false Cecilus had corrected it many times.
Instead of lowering a drawbridge that has been raised, it 'raises' a drawbridge that has been sunk.
It seemed that it was not exactly a single bridge that was raised, but rather a system of multiple bridges that were connected and rose from the bottom of the lake to become a single bridge. When the multiple bridges were lifted horizontally, they were connected to form one bridge, which was completed while draining a large amount of water.
The same mechanism was in operation on the Kishi River side, and a drawbridge was raised on the other side of the river. The two drawbridges that went up became one, and the Gladiator Island was released from its isolation for a time.
"The guy who's moving that bridge is......"
"There is a tower that controls the drawbridge, so I guess it is operated inside that tower. I've never actually been inside it, so I don't know what's waiting for me."
"Inside the control tower."
With a bridge of that size, it would be difficult to raise or lower it stealthily.
On the other hand, crossing the lake in something like a small boat would also be hampered by the presence of magical beasts in the water. It seems that they have not yet thought enough to prepare a realistic means of escape.
"......Apparently, that's the carriage carrying the following people."
Tanza, who was looking at the other side of the river beside Subaru, who was thinking about it, muttered to him.
A huge, black, gale horse pulls a cart slowly across the drawbridge. The gale horse looks like a warhorse equipped with armor, and it looks tough enough to be seen.
The carriage is guarded by soldiers riding something smaller than that gale horse. That is exactly what they said they were concerned about the last time the carriage overturned, and they are becoming more vigilant.
"Oh, it's you, isn't it, Mr. Gustav? It looks like you're here in person."
Meanwhile, a group waits for a carriage to arrive at the drawbridge on the island's isolated side. In the middle of the guards in their black uniforms, Gustav stands out, his chest heaving.
Was this also a precautionary measure after the last time the carriage overturned? Or, if it was Gustav, there was a good chance that he would have been present every time like this.
"It's a little over a kilometer to the other side of the river, maybe less than two kilometers. ......?"
It doesn't seem like it's a perishable because of the distance, but the drawbridge distance appears to be about that far.
Even with the weight-splitting mechanism, a drawbridge of this length is unimaginable. Even if magic or some other special magical tool was used for the foundation, it was still quite a feat.
And so, as he was checking the condition of the drawbridge he was after--,
"Ah--!?"
It was Hiain, who was looking at the drawbridge as well as Subaru and the others, who turned his voice inside out.
--No, he was not looking at the drawbridge, but at the carriage coming across. The carriage pulled by a huge gale horse finished crossing the drawbridge and the people in it were dismounted.
These are the people who will be handed over to Gustav as gladiators, or more correctly, as candidates for gladiators. Looking at their faces, Hiain's eyes widened.
"Those idiots...... got caught......!"
Covering his face with both hands, Hiain stares down below him through the gap between his large, watery fingers.
Subaru understood the meaning of his words when he saw the new faces. The people who had been brought in were all skalengeckers like Hiain - the color of their scales seemed to indicate that they were of a different detailed race, but they could still be broadly categorized as such.
And Hiain's reaction is such a knowing reaction to them.
"......, you used me as bait to get away with it."
Subaru narrowed his eyes at Hiain, who muttered bitterly.
During "Sparka", when he started over again and again and tried his best to get to know the heirs who participated with him, he also heard the circumstances that brought him to the Gladiator Island.
He told them that he was made to play a decoy with his ability to change the color of his scales and mimic them, and that he was used as a throwaway to buy time for his friends to escape from the slavers.
In other words, from Hiain's reaction, it's clear that they're--,
"The ones who used Hiain as bait."
"Guh......"
"Mr. Hiain......"
Hiain's expression changes at Subaru's words, and Tanza looks at him with concern. Tanza may not like him either, but he probably has feelings for the person with whom he has exchanged words.
But Hiain sniffed a "heh" at the boy and girl's gazes.
"T-that's a good one! You make a fool out of me and I'll make a fool out of you! You make me suffer and then you...... make me look like a fool!"
"Hmm."
"Wh-what, you got a problem with me!?"
Hiain's mouth twisted and spat out, and the false Cecilus closed one eye. When Hiain bit recklessly at the reaction, the false Cecilus shook his head and said, "No, no, no",
"I have no complaints. I'm just surprised and impressed at the same time, because I thought it was a mediocre statement by a mediocre beaten man."
"A mediocre beaten man......?"
"What else can I say? This is something I've been thinking about for a long time, but why do all these people who are supposed to play minor roles talk like that? Why don't they just look at one of these picture stories and see how silly they are?"
In front of Hiain, whose voice trembled, the fake Cecilus clasped his hands high with his own.
With a dry clang, the fake Cecilus drew the attention of those around him to himself.
"Look around you. I have not read all the stories of the past and present, but if you read the stories you see from one side to the other, you will find that there are many cast members. The famous ones say and do things that are appropriate for them, and the not-so-famous ones say and do things that are appropriate for their foolishness. And this applies to reality outside of the picture story more than you might think."
"Wh-what the hell are you talking about......?"
"Weak people say weak things! Strong people say strong things! The top actors say the coolest things, and the bottom actors whisper in a voice that is hard to hear! Oh, it's all so bizarre and strange, don't you think?"
"----"
"Why is everyone trying to get themselves into minor roles? Everyone is an actor who needs to live out his or her own life. Of course, I am the only one who can play the leading role."
With his eyes focused on himself, the false Cecilus makes a light sound with the sandals under his feet, focusing not only his gaze but also the attention of the sound on him.
And then--,
"You might want to think long and hard before you make any statements. That statement sounds kind of like a fish that will die soon."
"--tsk"
Hiain, who was looking right down at the fake Cecilus, clears his throat.
The fake Cecilus quickly stepped back with a smile on his face at Hiain's reaction. But Hiain seemed to be afraid of the fake Cecilus's eyes, and found himself breathing hard.
As it is, Hiain turned his back to run away from the false Cecilus--,
"Hiain."
"What the fuck! Leave me alone already! The only time I get involved with you guys is when we're in a 'union'......"
"What about the people downstairs? I thought they were your buddies."
Subaru stops Hiain, who is about to leave, and asks him, "What?" Subaru's words made Hiain exhale, "Ha!",
"I told you! They used me as bait and then they screwed up! I don't give a shit about those idiots!"
"--But when you dropped the bag down the cliff, you shared the food, didn't you?"
So, hearing Subaru's interrupting words, Hiain's eyes widened with an "ah".
To a horrified Hiain, Subaru continues, "There are others."
"I remember having to back out to get away from the thieves in the field, and when I couldn't start a fire, they did it for me...... My last memory may be a bad one, but,"
"----"
"It's too lonely to think that that last face is all there is to that person."
There is talk of human nature coming out in extreme conditions.
What a ridiculous story, and Subaru wants to tell that logic to stop screwing around.
It is ridiculous to assume that when a person is placed in an extraordinary, uncontrollable situation, the actions he or she has taken there will determine everything about him or her.
If so, are you saying that what Hiain, Weitz, and Idola did in the "Sparka" scene is their true nature?
You assume that he is a coward, a coward and a fraud and that's all he is.
You didn't run away, you didn't outwit, you didn't cheat, you had a moment of cooperation with Subaru, and this is how we are all saving lives.
So--,
"Maybe if you talk to him, you'll hear a different story."
Even those who think they love Subaru now did not start out loving it.
He saw the disgusted faces of those people. Still, Subaru wanted to like everyone. And he doesn't think that is something that is special only to Subaru.
"......Creepy little kid. He talks like he knows everything."
At Subaru's appeal, Hiain muttered hatefully.
From his point of view, it must have been very sickening to be told a story that he did not remember telling Subaru. Still, with a face that was more than a little creepy.
"They can't get past 'Sparka'. So, I can't do it anymore."
With that, Hiain walks away from the high ground, this time without stopping.
But does he realize it? The answer now is not how Hiain feels, but only the excuse that he can't do it because the situation is blocked.
If that situation changes, that excuse is no longer valid - and it is--.
"Mr. Schwarz, I'm sorry to hear about Mr. Hiain and his acquaintance, but......"
Tanza gently touches Subaru's sleeve as she looks off Hiain's back. Her round eyes were shimmering with impatience along with sympathy.
The obstacles they had to clear, one of which was the drawbridge, must have made them more eager to get off the island.
Naturally, it is much, much more important to Tanza to leave this island than it is to feel for Hiain. Of course, it is the same for Subaru.
Subaru also has things that are properly important and prioritized.
He doesn't need to compare Hiain and the ones Subaru has encountered in the past.
But--,
"--Bassu, it's called a thorny issue."
"Cessy......"
Fake Cecilus said to Subaru, who was fighting a boiling, burning sensation deep in his own chest.
Turning around, the fake Cecilus stands lightly on the railing in front of Subaru, saying, "Yo." A cringe-worthy sight to behold, he dexterously balances himself on the slender railing.
"Rarely can you have everything the way you want it, no matter how many of the best choices you make in a given situation. There is a prerequisite qualification for a being to have all of those things. The qualification of being the chosen leading actor. If you are not, and you want your share--"
"What if I want to?"
"There is only death."
As he says this, the body of the false Cecilus leans heavily against the other side of the railing. Seeing this, Tanza's eyes widen and she quickly tries to reach out her hand.
But sooner than that, the false Cecilus, bending at the knees, killed the momentum of his fall. And so the crouching false Cecilus came face to face with Subaru in front of the railing.
"So it's much easier to keep things separate."
"......Separate?"
"Yes, that's right. If you can't change your destiny, accept what lies before you as a matter of course. What you cannot get through by your own strength will inevitably stagnate on the road ahead. You have no choice but to make your own way."
The fake Cecilus says this while squatting and dexterously not twitching. As Subaru was being bombarded with these words head-on, the rumor of the false Cecilus came back to his mind.
He said that in "Sparka", in which he participated, he did not move until all his allies were wiped out.
Then, as soon as he was left alone, he killed the gladiator, and since then, he has been performing death matches without his "union" and has taken the lives of everyone he faces to this day.
"Is that why Cessy doesn't help people?"
"You have to be able to open up any obstacle with your own strength. If you accomplish things with the help of others, you will not be able to overcome the next time you encounter the same thing again. You can't borrow power forever. People will eventually die. Even I am not immortal."
He understands the intent. The logic, too, is not hard to understand.
But that's a theory that can only be said because the false Cecilus is a strong person who can cut through problems. That is very harsh and not kind.
"And you say that, but sometimes encounters change a person. Then that changed person may overcome the next obstacle. Besides."
"Besides?"
Standing on the railing with one leg, the fake Cecilus rests his elbow on his bent knee and rests his cheek on his cheek. Staring at his smiling face, Subaru peeled his teeth.
As an ordinary person who cannot live alone to this superhuman who can get through anything alone.
"Cessy said they should be separate, but it's this feeling of being divisible that's important."
"----"
"This feeling of being unable to separate is the driving force that saves someone. If people say this is the selfishness of a greenhorn kid, so be it."
Yes, Subaru would like to believe that.
This does not matter how big or small the body is. What Natsuki Subaru thinks, no matter how big or small.
Believe. Not divide it with adultish cleverness, but with blue-sky logic.
"Aha"
Hearing Subaru's declaration, the expression on the false Cecilus's face changed.
From a thin smile to a big, satisfied grin.
With that out of the corner of his eye, Subaru decided what he needed to do and started walking away.
"Mr. Schwarz! Mr. Segmunt, what should we......"
"Oh, that's good, Bassu! It fits my logic too. Cool people say cool things, and strong people say strong things. Both casts start by saying what they see fit. That's the very spirit, Rebel of Fate!"
"Mr. Segmunt!"
Tanza is on the railing, laughing at the fake Cecilus, and Subaru has no time to waste on them. But Subaru has too much time on his hands to waste on these two.
He has two places to go, and even if he can just stop by one of them, he needs to have a little discussion, persuasion, or some kind of accusation with the other one.
They'll get it ready--.
"Old man Null!"
Returning to the island at a quick pace, Subaru rushed to the healing room. When he opened the door roughly, his back, which had been rowing inside, panicked.
The old man with a thin body, a long beard that has been left unextended, and the impression of a cotton swab is a null old man who is holed up in a healing room working as a healer.
Null shakes his head and blinks at Subaru, who jumps in. To this opponent, Subaru prefaces his words with, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"--Is everything you asked for ready?"
△▼△▼△▼△
"There's going to be the next 'Sparka'...... is there any reason for us to watch......"
How he hates Weitz for making such an airy invitation.
Because they are paired up with members of the same "union", they often have no choice but to be together, but in the first place, Hiain doesn't get along with Weitz.
Knowing it's also the incompatibility between his impulsively prodding self and Weitz, who really has the guts - where his inability to pull back makes him sell words first.
Even though he knows this, he just can't get this to go away.
Because of this, he has had a lot of bad experiences. It was because of this mouth that he had to be sent to Ginunhive as a gladiator.
It is true that the people they were working with, they were used as a dumping ground to get them away from the slavers. But it was Hiain's gaffe that brought them to the attention of the slavers in the first place.
Even though he was frustrated because he couldn't find a straight job, even at his day job, he got into a barroom altercation with a group of people who were clearly signaling danger, and he was rooted to the spot.
After days of harassing pursuit and finally resorting to direct violence, the friends made a decision to protect themselves.
"I know, I know that......"
He was a coward, he was distracted, he bit, he invited problems because of it, and yet, until the last minute, his friends did not want to give up on Hiain.
They didn't want to be spoiled by that, so they dressed it up by saying, "If you can't help it, just dump me." Even though he said it, somewhere along the way he knew they didn't have the courage to abandon him.
At the end of the day, they were spoiled, assuming that if they couldn't muster the courage to cut off their friends, they were just as cowardly as they were.
"I know you're the most helpless......"
It is ridiculous to make a fuss about being abandoned, used as bait, or cast aside.
It was a very foolish thing to do, and Hiain knew it himself.
But he had to say so to protect his heart. He wanted to believe that he was not at fault, but that the other party was wrong and he suffered terribly because of it.
At least that's how he wanted to justify himself by cursing his friends and cursing them for saving his life.
"So why the hell are you guys getting caught too......!"
After all the trouble he went through to get himself caught like this and thrown into a hopeless situation, why did they get caught too? Deprived of a cause to curse, Hiain is just a jerk.
He has become just a jerk and has no choice but to watch helplessly as his friends die.
"This time, I heard that the 'union' was established with the personnel that were brought in. Unlike our time, I didn't realize they were thrown in as soon as they arrived......"
Looking down on the gladiatorial arena from the spectators' seats, Idola, arms crossed, his voice trembling.
He tries to hide his trembling voice, but he can't. Idola is also strong, but at his roots he is a coward not so different from Hiain.
Yet, Idola has the chutzpah to pretend. He doesn't. He was miserable.
"--We will now begin the 'Sparka'!!"
As the auditorium filled with a motley crew of gladiators, the thick voice of Gustav, the Governor, rang out.
Although there was no room at the time of their own "Sparka", there was a corner of the gladiatorial arena where Gustav had a stage overlooking the venue - or rather, a place where the big guys would be seated at the box office.
From there, Gustav looks down at the hall and spreads his four arms wide.
Immediately, a passageway leading to the back of the gladiatorial arena opens beneath Gustav, and a gladiator slowly emerges from behind the passageway, which is closed by an iron fence.
It was not like the magical beast that fought with Hiain and his friends, but a great big rat with bird wings on both its arms and its entire body wrapped in soft-looking fur.
But the only difference is in appearance, and the alarming instincts of the hyaenas tell them plainly that there is no great difference in their ferocity or danger.
In other words, the difficulty of "Sparka" is not reduced because it is a different gladiator.
"They're the ones you'll be seeing at this one......."
Amidst the low roar of the gladiatorial beasts, as Weitz said, the fence of the passageway in front of them opens, and the participants of this "Sparka" - the five skalokas - appear from there.
Each of them was shaking their scales with anxiety and nervousness, and all of their faces were familiar to him.
His last hope that he had misjudged them because they were so far away was crushed.
Hiain gulps and turns his face down, understanding that his escape is nowhere to be found.
For whatever reason, the cowardly Hiain survived "Sparka".
The friends who will be brought to the same place as Hiain and will not survive "Sparka" and will lose their lives - what in the world is the curse of this?
Did they suffer this as a result of his curse?
If that were the case, the effect of Hiain's curse would be great. He would have cursed, cursed, cursed everyone on this island - no, everyone in this empire - except myself.
"......stupid."
"--ah?"
For starters, if he's going to do it, start with the slavers who dropped themselves and their friends here.
Hiain, who had been running away from such an unhelpful escape from reality, was brought back to his senses by the mutterings of a stunned Idola.
Idola's eyes are wide open and he is looking at the gladiatorial arena in astonishment, wondering what has happened. And it is not only Idola, but also Weitz next to him - no, not only the two of them.
--The audience, a large number of gladiators in the audience, were groaning in amazement.
The reason for this is obvious: looking down at the gladiatorial arena, Hiain's face is the same as those around him.
Because, beside the five skalengeckers, there was a sixth figure who was not supposed to be there - a sixth figure--.
"Wh-wh-wh-what the hell are you doing, Schwarz--!?"
With a shiver in his throat, Hiain called out the name of the one who should not be there, the dark-haired boy.
The boy who had just parted from him on the high ground, the one who had spoken so cheekily to me, spun around and looked back at me when he heard Hiain's pitiful exclamation.
Then, in the midst of the skalawags trembling before the life-threatening "Sparka", he pointed to Hiain's face in the audience and said, "I'm not going to let you down."
What are you doing, he was asked and so on--.
"--The strongest reinforcement" he said.