Touring the Imperial Capital (3)

After leaving the Adventurer Guild, we had lunch at an upscale restaurant.

I was so nervous that I couldn't really taste the food, but it was probably more delicious than the food at our inn. I'd love to bring Kinue-san here and have her steal the flavors.

However, I was mentally exhausted after eating, so I decided to take a nap in a park.

The sightseeing can wait until another day… Actually, Rokuko and Haku-san went off to buy evening party dresses, so I was just sleeping in the meantime. Why didn't they buy them at that clothing shop earlier? Apparently they're different types of stores. That one was a clothing shop for everyday items, while tailored evening party dresses are from a different shop. It's like the difference between buying casual wear and a suit. Wait, so bunny suits and stuff count as everyday items?

… Well, I apparently slept for about five hours, but Haku-san and Rokuko came back right around when I woke up. It was evening.

"Yep, I figured Kehma would be sleeping."

"Eh, you were seriously sleeping? This whole time? I thought for sure it was just a polite excuse."

"No, Haku-ane-sama… Kehma is a man who sleeps when he sleeps!"

By the way, Niku apparently watched over me the entire time I was napping on the bench. I'd told her she could do whatever she wanted and even gave her one silver coin as pocket money to meet up with us later, but is this really what she wanted to do?

 

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And then, night fell. Finally, time for the underground arena.

At the arena, monsters and gladiators fight for spectators' enjoyment.

There are various rules and regulations, but the most popular is, as expected, the "anything goes deathmatch."

To get to the underground arena, we first returned to the villa, then traveled by carriage.

By the way, Haku-san had returned to her usual adult form. However, she was wearing a white mask that covered just around her eyes.

It was a simple, nearly plain mask, but it had three blue gems embedded below the left eye like shooting stars, giving it a high-class feel.

"… Why did you return to your original appearance?"

"Oh my, I want to watch from the special seats, after all? This form is more convenient for that. Here, a mask for you, Rokuko-chan. Kehma-san doesn't need one, does he?"

"Wow, thank you!"

Wait, so this is about disguising our social status? And Niku wasn't even asked. Well, neither Niku nor I have any status to hide anyway.

"… Just in case, wouldn't it be strange if Niku and I don't have them too?"

"I suppose you're right. Here you go."

Rokuko's mask had two gems attached, but the ones for Niku and me didn't have a single one. I feel like this is intentional. Something that indicates status even while incognito.

"You're my companions for this occasion, so please try not to do anything embarrassing, alright?"

"Yeah, I'll be careful."

"By the way, not wearing a mask means you're a gladiator. I wanted to see how well Kehma-san could fight, but oh well."

"… Hahaha. So masks without gems mean servant?"

"Fufufu."

So that's how it is after all? That was close.

The carriage entered a tunnel. And continued underground. Just when I thought that, the view suddenly opened up, and there was a magnificent colosseum.

While I was thinking how impressive the underground construction and building technology must be, I realized a dungeon could create all of this in one go. I've been building things in dungeons too.

When we entered the arena together with Haku-san, we were guided to VIP seats with a great view.

There were chairs only for Haku-san and Rokuko. Well, this much is fine.

The arena floor was entirely dirt.

Right now, it appeared to be a monster battle — a giant boar called a Big Boar was locked in fierce combat with a bipedal, humanoid bull called a Minotaur. The minotaur grabbed the big boar's tusks to stop its charge. Even while being pushed back and leaving grooves in the dirt floor, it used pure muscle power to throw the beast sideways and send it rolling. It was truly spectacular.

"Now then, which one will lose and end up as tomorrow's dinner～?!"

The commentator made a pretty good quip. I'm not Ichika, but it's making me hungry.

Oh, come to think of it, I haven't eaten dinner yet.

"Quite the spectacle, isn't it?"

"Yes, Haku-ane-sama. How should I put it… the sound, or rather the impact, is incredible."

Every time the two monsters collided, the air trembled with booming thuds.

Eventually, the minotaur succeeded in getting a mount position on the toppled big boar, pummeling its soft belly repeatedly before letting out a victorious roar of "Bumooooh!"

"By the way, the loser really does become ingredients for a restaurant. That's why this pairing is pretty popular. Both are also cheap in terms of DP."

"Ah, so they really are monsters summoned with DP."

"Yes. Dolce… though you wouldn't know her. She's another of my party members, like Misha. I've left this arena to her. She passes as a top-class tamer."

Well, if you can summon monsters that obey you from the start, you'd certainly seem like a top-class tamer.

"Now that everyone's getting excited, let me introduce the next fighter — eh, wait a moment. Is this okay? Eh, seriously? We got the okay from above? … Ah, excuse me. Ahem — Now then, let me introduce our next fighter!"

It seemed like there was some trouble with the announcer, but is there something off about the next fighter?

That question was immediately answered.

"A last-minute entry for today! From the Adventurer Guild, Guild Head Mishaaaa! The cat beastkin who runs the Adventurer Guild headquarters has come to test her strength! She looks like a young girl, and her intellect is also that of a young girl — this drowsy woman's true age is unknown! But her skill is guaranteed as a top-tier grappler! The destructive power of an A-Rank adventurer is no joke — her fists can shatter even adamantite! … Wait, she's an A-Rank adventurer, and the Guild Head at that — is it really okay for her to be in a place like this?!"

"Shut up! Aah geez, I wouldn't come to a place like this if Haku-sama didn't tell me to… well, she said she'd overlook my napping if I beat my opponent here, so here I go! Fufufu, but if all I have to do is fight normally, this'll be a piece of cake!"

Oh, it's Misha-san. When I glanced at Haku-san, she smiled at me.

So this is the punishment.

"And her opponent monster, chosen by the fighter herself — this arena's star monster, Big Tentacle Slime! A translucent body with writhing tentacles and a slime body — it's immune to physical attacks and unpleasant in various ways! A grappler deliberately challenging an opponent that negates physical attacks — now that's what I call a challenger!"

… Yep, this is definitely the punishment.

With a squelching motion, a slime shaped like a sea anemone — about twice Misha's height — slithered into the arena. Just as the introduction mentioned, its tentacles were writhing.

"Eh, no, what is that, I didn't hear about this. Wa— wait, hyaaah—?!"

The scream of an A-Rank adventurer echoed through the arena.

Meanwhile, Haku-san covered Rokuko's eyes from behind with her hands.

"Huh? Haku-ane-sama? I can't see."

"Just wait a moment, Rokuko-chan. I'm in the middle of punishing a wayward subordinate."

In the arena, Misha was experiencing something rather terrible.

For now, I covered Niku's eyes too.

Oh, but her movements dodging the barrage of tentacles at the beginning were amazing. She was practically making afterimages.