She asked me to run with her but it didn’t change much. My stamina is far greater than hers. I can do seven times more than she. I don’t know if she hoped to best me this way but she couldn’t do that. After a while, she was exhausted but didn’t want to stop.

[ Eric ]

“Just take a break.”

[ Gelda ]

“No! I have to train a bit more…” She said but then heard something. “Okay! I’ll take a break! See you later!” She said as she ran away to the mansion.

[ Eric ]

“Ehh… Okay…”

I might take a longer break right now. Basnir was standing by the doors to the champions' house. Somehow he was sleeping while standing. I didn’t try to be quiet or anything but he immediately woke up when he heard me approaching.

[ Basnir ]

“Oh. It’s just you. Have you seen Verser?

[ Eric ]

“Unfortunately no. Why are you looking for him?”

[ Basnir ]

“He said something about escorting him to the arena but I don’t remember when are we going there so I’m just standing here.”

[ Eric ]

“Didn’t Gezznir usually go with him?”

[ Basnir ]

“That's right. Gezznir is preparing for his today’s fight.”

[ Eric ]

“I don’t see him at the training ground.”

[ Basnir ]

“He is praying. Since it’s his fight for the high rank, he is going to fight someone strong.”

[ Eric ]

“Now I really want to see this battle too!”

[ Verser ]

“If you want. You can come with us.”

[ Eric ]

“Thank you, Lord Verser.”

[ Verser ]

“Shall we go?”

For the first time, I was able to enter the arena through the gate for the rich. Compared to the other side of the arena. This part doesn’t look like it could fall apart any second. We had sits right under three great lords but there was no way for me to see them.

We entered the arena right after the end of some battle. Someone was fighting monsters and a lot of them at that. There were nine bodies of bear-like monsters. I couldn’t see who was the fighter because he was leaving the arena. All I could see was his back.

[ Announcer ]

“Like many people predicted. The Champion won against the monsters! Tae is a winner!”

This person is Tae? He changed. He isn’t as small as earlier. He looks a bit taller and bigger. This arena changed him physically. He really killed those nine monsters all by himself? Then the arena also changed him mentally. Normally he would try to escape after seeing this many monsters if someone’s life isn’t at stake. Just wait a bit longer.

[ Eric ]

“By the way. I found my friend. The one who I want to buy back.”

[ Verser ]

“... Which one is it?” Said Verser with disappointment.

[ Eric ]

“That’s the problem. He just left the arena.”

[ Verser ]

“He is the guy you’re looking for?! Champion in the third rank?! Few fights won’t be enough to buy him back.”

[ Eric ]

“I knew you would say that… For now, I’ll get as much as I can.”

It was time for Gezznir’s fight. The arena was cleaned and by clean I mean that they took away dead bodies and whipped out the blood. There still was a stench of death in the air.