"H-How is it?"
Rai asked, still catching his breath.
I turned to him.
And with a smile—
"It's perfect for me, thanks."
I said that.
Swish—
Swoosh—
I swung it with my right hand a couple of times.
It swayed off from my intended path, and I couldn't swing it fast.
The short sword was still heavy for this body of mine, not gonna lie.
Fwip—
But after gripping it with both hands—
SWISH—!
I was able to swing it with stronger force and better accuracy.
"Yeah, I can use this."
I mumbled under my breath.
And hearing my words—
"Haha..."
I saw Rai's face light up.
He seems happy to help.
"Thanks."
I simply said to him.
And with a smile on his face—
"Anytime!"
Rai replied proudly.
He's a good kid.
'I don't know why he got attached to me, though.'
Probably because he likes seeing a familiar face and now feels comfortable around me.
Anyway—
"How much battle points did this cost me?"
I asked that to Rai, eyeing the short sword in my hands.
And immediately—
"Three battle points."
Rai replied.
I don't know if that was a good price or not.
So for now, I decided to trust Rai and assume it's a fair deal.
"I have two points left then. Did you get me clothes?"
I asked him again.
And hearing my question—
"Erm..."
A slight frown appeared on Rai's face.
"Hmm, why?"
I turned to him.
And opening his mouth—
"I ordered you a set of basic clothing."
Rai muttered that.
And before I could even say anything—
"It's just that they have no stock at the moment in the storage, so you'll receive it in three days."
He added.
'Bruh... So I'd only be able to change into clean clothes after my fight?'
I asked in my head, my brows slightly furrowing.
'Whatever.'
I shook my head and brushed aside the thought.
"How much did that cost me?"
I followed.
"One battle point."
Rai replied.
"Hmm..."
I nodded my head.
'So I still have one left.'
I need to use it wisely.
Something that could probably help me.
'Now think... What do I need the most?'
I thought about it for a while.
Then, after a few seconds of silence—
Fwish—
I shifted my attention back to Rai.
"Rai, I need you to use my remaining battle point on food. I want you to give it to me tomorrow."
I said.
And without hesitation—
"Got it."
Rai nodded his head.
"Thanks."
I muttered.
"Haha, don't worry. I'm just doing my role. Let's both survive this place."
He responded.
He's really just an innocent kid.
"..."
A frown appeared on my face.
He's not fit for this place.
'This world is more fucked up than my previous world.'
I thought to myself.
"Rai."
I called to him again.
"Hmm? Still have more requests?"
He asked, tilting his head.
I shook my head.
Pat—
I placed my right hand on his shoulder.
And while looking him straight in the eyes—
"My name is Kaiser. Let's both survive this place."
I declared that.
'Let's both survive and leave this place...'
Then I continued in my head.
*****
Rai and I chatted casually for a while after that.
He told me that he doesn't know anyone in his cell.
The two boys who were with us in the carriage were servants too, but they got separated from him.
He's now stuck in a cell with four adult men.
And according to him—
They're making him run errands just because he's the youngest.
There are a lot of shitheads in this place, really.
Whether it's the guards, the staff, the boss, the slaves, the fighters, or even some of the servants.
I just let Rai vent all his frustration out on me.
"..."
I listened quietly.
He's just a kid.
Meanwhile, I'm only a kid physically.
Damian, on the other hand, is dumb as hell, so he's fitting right in here pretty good.
After letting out everything he'd been holding in—
"Thanks."
Rai muttered that to me with his head slightly bowed.
"No problem. Anytime."
I replied with a shrug.
And just like that, after about an hour or so...
The servants left, and we, the gladiators, were once again left in this copper place hellhole.
...
...
...
Fast forward, it was now night.
"Rest well, kid!"
Brock said.
"Thanks, you too."
I replied.
And with that—
THUD!
We both entered our room and closed the door behind us.
Click—
I immediately locked the door after getting in.
So this is what happened today—
The guards brought us lunch earlier, and we just finished eating dinner too.
In this place, everyone already has their own portion.
Also, the food is better.
And if you want more, you can just pay with battle points.
You could probably even steal someone else's rations—though luckily...
No one's tried that yet here.
I stuck with Brock, Khan, and Jin the whole time.
They didn't seem to mind and just kept throwing advice my way.
They're like veteran gym goers guiding a newbie through his first workout.
And honestly, I appreciate them for it.
The stares from the other fighters eventually died down too.
They lost interest in me pretty quickly.
They just accepted that I'm some kind of fighter too, despite being a kid.
That's how my day went.
'I can't believe this is only my second day here.'
I mumbled with a frown.
Tap— tap— tap—
Pat—
I walked over to my bed and sat down.
And there—
"..."
I looked down at the short sword in my hands.
And while eyeing it—
"The others have weapons too, huh. They're probably storing theirs in their rooms."
I muttered that, referring to the other fighters.
'This place is way more dangerous than the cell I was stuck in before.'
I thought to myself.
Thud—
I placed the short sword on the small table beside the bed.
And with that—
"Haaaa..."
I laid down.
BAM!
"Geh?!"
I forgot the bed was just wooden planks and slammed my back straight into it.
'I want a softer bed.'
I thought bitterly.
Then—
"..."
I closed my eyes.
*****
The next day.
I holed up in my room.
I tried to familiarize myself with the short sword.
I swung it over and over, trying to get a feel for it.
I experimented with different grips, trying out various angles and movements.
I was preparing for tomorrow.
Brock knocked on my door and invited me to hang out with them.
But after I told him what I was doing—
He simply wished me luck and left.
I kept swinging my weapon again and again.
Little by little, I was getting used to its length and weight.
I practiced imagined attacks, playing them out in my head and trying them with my body.
Pushing myself, testing the limits of this child body of mine.
I left my room in the afternoon to eat lunch with Brock and the others.
Chatted with Rai a bit too.
Then later, around dinner, when I stepped out again—
After eating with Brock, Khan, and Jin—
"Here!"
Rai showed up and handed me about half a kilo of roasted pig meat.
"Thanks."
I said, taking it from him.
"No problem! Good luck for tomorrow!"
He beamed.
And with that—
I went back to my room.
I ate the roasted meat greedily.
My stomach was full.
My energy restored.
My condition is good.
And with that—
I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes.
My third day ended peacefully.
...
...
...
Then, the next day arrived.
It was time for my first fight.