Gladiator

Karasuri Peninsula, Corta Principality.

A city-state that prospers through maritime trade, this place also possesses a facility rarely found elsewhere.

An arena.

In this world, warfare in many places still takes pre-modern forms, so martial arts like swordsmanship, spearmanship, and boxing still exist as practical combat skills.

However, with the development of guns and other weapons, these are gradually becoming relics of the past. Though combined with magic, they can still serve as frontline fighting forces.

Nevertheless, these declining martial arts make for excellent entertainment as bloody spectacles.

In Corta's arena, battles between monsters, between humans and monsters, and even between humans themselves are held, drawing crowds of fervent spectators.

Recently, a single boy appeared at that arena in Corta.

Still only in his mid-teens, he had swiftly risen to the top of the arena.

His special ability was deflecting his opponents' attacks.

Whether by sword or shield, he could absorb any attack directed at him.

The masses went wild over his overwhelming strength, but only a select few knew the truth.

That his gift was the source of that strength.

"Whoa, we finally found someone with Inertia Control."

Sei groaned. This would be quite a troublesome opponent in close combat.

"Ane-deshi, what's Inertia Control?"

Sei couldn't answer Bungol's question.

Neither could Mako. She did know the test results from Neosis, but putting it into words would go something like this:

"The negation of kinetic energy… maybe?"

Gantz and Kukuri were equally unconvinced, and Laila tilted her head in confusion as well.

"For example," Sei began. "Bungol, your current weapon is a war hammer, right? How do you use it?"

"Well, you swing it up and then bring it down hard. That's the basic way."

"What if you had to start from a position where the war hammer was already touching my body?"

"… I'd crush you with its weight and my strength."

"Which is harder?"

"Obviously, swinging it is easier."

"One aspect of Inertia Control is negating the meaning of that swinging motion. I don't fully understand the details either."

Controlling inertia was only a concept even on Earth, but Nears could be said to be more advanced in that it could achieve it through magic.

There were many types of magic whose principles remained unknown, such as space-time magic and creation magic, so this was nothing new at this point.

Incidentally, Ria had a rather poor opinion of this gift.

Not because it was difficult to counter, but because it gave an overwhelming advantage in weapon combat.

"But there's a gift that's completely superior to this one, you know…"

According to Mako, it had been considered a completely worthless gift.

Though in an arena where magic was prohibited, it would certainly be quite useful.

The young gladiator was apparently registered under the name Massa.

Since his real name was Masatoshi Yamane, he had probably just shortened his given name.

"Now then, how should we make contact…"

"Actually, it looks like he's about to have a match right now."

Kukuri had checked at the arena's reception desk. As always, he worked fast.

"Then let's go watch. Though it probably won't be very instructive."

And so the group paid a silver coin each—a somewhat steep price—and entered the arena.

"What is this…"

The arena's spectator seating was divided into VIP seats and general seating.

Sei had expected the audience to be nothing but gruff old men, but there were surprisingly many women.

Was this like those women who flock around athletes?

"There's nowhere we can all sit together. Let's split up."

Gantz took a seat near the front for a close-up view, while the others stood in the back.

The matches proceeded one after another, and with each one, Laila's expression grew more pained.

"Hey, I don't want to criticize other races' hobbies, but isn't this barbaric?"

"I agree. I think so too. Actually, the only ones who'd want to fight in something like this are probably Gantz and Bungol."

"Oh good. If every other race was like this, I couldn't handle it."

"Well, it's probably a good outlet for the hot-blooded types."

Even so, was this really acceptable as entertainment?

The arena was completely enclosed by magical barriers, and using magic to enhance physical abilities was also prohibited.

It came down to pure technique and strength… With Sei's stats, he probably wouldn't lose even without magical assistance.

The matches progressed until the main event of the day.

From the western entrance emerged an ogre wielding a battleaxe, standing over two meters tall.

From the eastern entrance came a boy holding a sword in each hand.

"Ah, that's Yamane-kun. No doubt about it."

"I see. Well, his abilities themselves aren't a problem…"

His base level and skill levels weren't particularly impressive. At most, his swordsmanship was somewhat high.

However, it was concerning that his Inertia Control itself had been raised to level 10.

"Now then, let's see how he fights…"

Sei focused intently on Massa, determined not to look away for even an instant.

And then he noticed—the swords he was using had thick blades.

(What's that about?)

That question was soon answered.

The moment the match began, Massa charged forward with swords in both hands.

The ogre tried to defend by using quick movements of his battleaxe, but the impact was greater than expected and threw off his stance.

The other sword struck in that opening, wounding the ogre.

In other words, that was how it worked.

Inertia Control didn't eliminate kinetic energy—it manipulated it. He was probably adding kinetic energy to his attacks as well.

"This is… you probably can't win without using magic…"

Below Sei's gaze, the ogre warrior was becoming drenched in blood.

The swords danced through the air, stopping the battleaxe's movements, and gradually the ogre's movements grew sluggish.

Without delivering a finishing blow, the match was decided when the ogre collapsed from blood loss.

"He's weak, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he's weak."

They had returned to the inn for a meal, and Mako and Sei's assessments matched.

"Yeah. That ogre was way too weak."

Bungol agreed, but Sei and Mako's assessment was different.

"The weak one was the one who won."

"Of course, the ogre was weak too."

"I mean, you seniors are just too strong…"

"Even so, the opponent was weak. The problem is…"

"He's completely adapted to this…"

Yes, that was the problem.

Like the former Awakened Hero, Massa appeared to have fully adapted to this world—to the arena.

"Well, he was just an ordinary boy on Earth."

Being a gladiator was, in a sense, a glamorous profession.

In terms of earning a living by one's fighting skills alone, it was more specialized in combat than being an explorer or adventurer, and the fame—or rather, the adulation received—was incomparable.

"How should we make contact…"

That was the first issue Sei was struggling with.

Contact the arena's star gladiator. Then persuade him to return home.

Put into words, it was that simple, but… he didn't seem likely to go back willingly.

"Maybe I should give it a try?"

Mako spoke up and devised a plan.

"The spear is quicker to master than the katana, yet it's an effective weapon in war."

So said Ria, a katana-obsessed master.

Sei thought about which time he had awakened from death when he heard that.

"Master, don't you think the katana is the strongest?"

In response to that question, Ria lightly shook her head.

"Old katana survived on Earth because they weren't used. While there are certainly famous spears as well, compared to katana, they were consumables—used in actual combat and thus didn't survive."

Despite her attachment to katana, Ria had said that spears were better suited for beginners.

"There are more techniques for the katana. It's easier to carry too. But in actual battles, I've used spears more often myself."

These were the words of someone who, three thousand years ago, had led cavalry charges from the front despite being the supreme commander.

"But the biggest reason is simply personal preference."

Spears are stronger than katana.

That was what Ria's words could be interpreted to mean.

"Yamane-kun! It's been a while!"

In a pattern they'd seen somewhere before, Mako stood before Massa.

Massa was walking down the street with a woman on each arm, attended by men who seemed to be a mix of lackeys and bodyguards.

Before him appeared a girl holding a spear. No matter how you looked at her, she was… what exactly?

"Huh? Tsubaki-san?"

"Choose! Either come back to Earth quietly without fighting me, or lose to me and go back to Earth reluctantly!"

"Huh? Sorry, I don't understand what you mean."

"No more questions!"

As Mako readied her spear, the men who appeared to be guards stepped in her way—and were instantly knocked away.

"Huh? Why?"

Even as he said that, Massa raised his twin swords. Mako showed no hostility, but she was clearly pointing a weapon at him. By this world's standards, it was natural to draw one's own weapon in response.

Mako raised her spear and swung it down.

Massa's swords caught it. With its kinetic energy negated, the spear contested against Massa's swords using only the weight of that single spear and Mako's muscle strength.

But what would happen when the spear's special feature was added?

Weight increase.

Normally, lighter weapons are advantageous for maneuverability. However, there are naturally weapons that require mass.

Mako's spear added weight several dozen times that of an ordinary war hammer.

Massa's swords were forced down, and Mako's spear struck his head hard.

"Ugh…"

While Massa was seeing stars, Mako thrust the butt end of her spear into his solar plexus.

Whether his Inertia Control failed to activate or not, Massa collapsed on the spot.

"And so, farewell!"

Hoisting Massa over her shoulder and ignoring the stunned onlookers, Mako dashed away from the scene.

"You know, I think there was a better way to do this."

Yamane-kun, having regained consciousness, glared at Mako with an extremely displeased expression.

"Yeah, I think so too."

Sei explained the situation to Yamane-kun, who had been abducted to an inn room.

That was his first response afterward.

"But Yamane-kun, you looked like a star. I wasn't sure if you'd willingly go back to Earth."

"If you tell me the world's in danger, of course I'd go back."

"Sorry about that. We had someone before who threw a tantrum and didn't want to go back."

"By the way, what would you have done if I said I didn't want to go back?"

To that question, Sei answered reluctantly.

"I would have killed you. I never expected to go through this world without killing anyone."

"Are you a mage?"

"More of a magic swordsman. So honestly, there are plenty of ways to force you to return."

At those words, Yamane-kun looked up at the ceiling.

Sei wondered if he could really kill the heroes again. But he had done it once before. If a situation like that arose again, he would have to kill them.

"Fine. I'll go back."

Having agreed, Yamane-kun said nothing more.

"Seriously, are you stupid? Are you an idiot? Do you have a death wish?"

After sending Yamane-kun back, Sei said this to Mako and heaved a massive sigh.

"There had to be a more peaceful method, one that didn't attract so much attention…"

"B-But we resolved it quickly, right?"

Yes, speed was essential in resolving situations. That was the basic policy.

"Even so, kidnapping the arena's star fighter in broad daylight…"

With Lavi's teleportation, the group had already left Corta Principality.

"There's only one more hero in this area…"

"That makes exactly half now."

"I see, so the journey's already half over…"

No matter how harsh and long a journey, once the end comes into view, it becomes bittersweet.

"But we still have a long way to go. Three continents remain."

"That's true. Then let's proceed carefully, without letting our guard down."

The carriage traveled along the mountain road.

When this journey ended, what would he feel?

Sei felt just a little anxious.