"That event was four days ago. You've been sleeping for that long."
The guard said that without much thought.
And hearing him—
"..."
I just went silent.
I couldn't believe I was out for that long.
Tap- tap- tap—
I kept walking, a bit dumbfounded.
'Why do I still feel sleepy, though?'
I asked myself internally.
I'm still zoning out a bit because of my headache.
...
...
...
After a few more minutes of walking—
Tap—
The guard and I arrived at our destination.
"We're here, kid."
The guard seemed pretty chill now after recognizing me.
"Mhm."
I just nodded as he opened the metal-bar gate.
Creak—
I didn't even wait for his instructions. As soon as I saw the gate open—
Tap—
I walked in silently without a word.
My head still hurts. I just want to rest.
"Huh? Erm... okay, I'll leave you then."
The guard mumbled, probably confused by how obedient I was being.
"..."
I didn't reply and just casually started heading back to my room.
"Hmm?"
I glanced around and didn't see anyone else here. They were probably all in their rooms, still sleeping.
If that's the case—
'Then it's probably still early in the morning.'
I thought, reaching out to open the wooden door of my room.
Creak—
Thud!
Click—
I closed and locked the door right after stepping inside.
"Ugh..."
Pat—
I dropped down onto my hard bed. And without further ado—
'Sleepy...'
"..."
I closed my eyes and went back to sleep.
...
...
*****
"Mhmmmn..."
A weak groan escaped my mouth as I woke up.
"..."
I opened my eyes, staying still for a few seconds, just staring at the ceiling.
Then—
"Hup..."
I sat upright on my bed with a frown on my face. My body still ached, but it was much more bearable now.
I wasn't sleepy anymore, and I had regained some of my energy.
The problem is—
Grrrrrrr-!
"I'm hungry..."
I mumbled as I looked down and grabbed my grumbling stomach.
'I haven't eaten for days.'
My frown deepened.
And so with that—
"I need to eat."
Fwish—
I stood up and immediately headed to the door.
Click—
Creak—
I undid the lock and quickly opened it.
Then—
Tap—
I stepped out of the room.
And as soon as I did—
"Huh?"
"Oh..."
I saw Brock just outside my room. He was with Khan and Jin. They were talking to each other, but Brock immediately noticed me when I came out.
He was facing my room, after all.
And after seeing me—
"KID, YOU'RE BACK!!!"
He exclaimed loudly, a wide smile on his face.
And upon hearing him—
"Hm?"
"What?"
Khan and Jin turned in my direction.
Fwish—
"...?"
Then the other fighters around also looked over, curiosity in their eyes.
And just like that... Everybody was looking at me.
'Ugh... that mister is still the same.'
I thought while I kept a poker face under everyone's gazes. I was pertaining to Brock.
"HEY!!!"
Tap- tap- tap—
Brock, Khan, and Jin immediately approached me. They all had smiles on their faces, looking genuinely relieved to see me alive.
"How long since you got back?"
"Did you just wake up?"
"Man, you look like hell, haha!"
They were throwing questions at me one after another, voices overlapping.
I have no strength to answer or even have a conversation right now because of my hunger.
"..."
I just stared at three old mister, not answering while my brows were furrowed together.
Then, I glanced toward the gate.
Fwish—
"..."
There were no servants nor guards in sight.
Not even a passing staff member.
'The fuck? What time is it?'
I frowned. Kinda worried that I might've missed Rai and the other servants' visit.
Fwish—
"..."
I looked back at Brock and the others—
"...?"
They raised a brow at me.
And parting my dry lips apart—
"...I'm dying in hunger here... Help me..."
I weakly muttered that to them.
"…"
"…"
"…"
The three of them went silent after hearing me say that.
Fwish—
They looked at each other. Then, after that—
"GAHAHAHAHA—!!!"
"HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
"KAHAHAHAHA—!!!"
They all burst out laughing in unison.
"…"
The other fighters were frowning at them, clearly annoyed—but Brock, Khan, and Jin didn't give a single fuck.
Anyway—
"Hah…"
Brock was the first to stop. Tears were forming at the corners of his eyes and his face was red from laughing so hard.
Pat—
He placed his hand on my shoulder, and with a wide grin—
"We get you."
He simply said that.
"Don't worry, we'll help you out—as the youngest here!"
He followed up.
"Mhm."
"Yep."
Khan and Jin nodded in agreement, both looking at me with amused faces. And before I could even ask anything—
"GUARDS!!! A WINNER WANTS TO CLAIM THEIR PRIZE!!!"
Brock yelled that at the top of his lungs.
"Ugh…!"
My head throbbed again from how loud he was.
The other fighters looked even more irritated at Brock now, but I noticed them glancing at me too.
And after that—
"..."
They just shrugged and went back to their business, like they were giving me a pass or something.
And as if reading my mind—
"They're letting you enjoy the day 'cause you won a fight, especially your first—everyone here remembers what it felt like after their first one."
Khan explained while patting me on the back.
"Yeah, and they liked your fight too."
Jin added.
I was about to say something, maybe ask a few things—but then—
"Ugh… Shut up, you barbarian."
A guard appeared outside the cell, frowning and glaring at Brock.
"Haha! Make me shut up then!"
Brock barked back with a grin, casually clenching his fists.
Fwip—
'Bruh.'
The idea of a fight between a guard and a gladiator happening right now was... oddly interesting.
The two of them locked eyes for a moment.
The tension in the air was getting intense.
But eventually—
"Whatever... What do you guys want?"
The guard just scoffed and asked that.
"…"
I was dumbfounded.
A guard backing off against a slave?
That's a first to me.
'Is Brock actually influential here?!'
I exclaimed in my head.
And once again, like he was reading my mind—
"It's not Brock... The guards just can't hurt the active fighting gladiators first. If they do, the boss gets pissed—and they could lose their job… even their life. So unless you swing first, they can't lay a hand on you, no matter what you say."
Khan explained with clarity.
And turning to look at me—
"Yeah, being a servant here is safer. But we gladiators? We get more benefits, more chances."
He said that seriously.
"So let's do our best."
Khan finished with that.
"Got it."
I replied plainly, but I took his words to heart.
And just then—
Fwip—
"Urgh?!"
Brock suddenly grabbed my right arm and raised it, showing me off to the guard.
Then, with a smirk—
"This guy's a winner from the last event. He wants to claim his prize."
He declared that proudly.
"That guy?"
The guard raised a brow and looked at me, doubt was apparent on his face.
But after staring for a moment—
"Ah… It's that kid."
He seemed to recognize me.
And with that—
Creak—
He opened the metal bar gate.
"Come on, kid. Let's get this over with."
He said casually.
"…"
I looked at Brock and the others.
And without a word—
Whoosh~
They all just nodded at me.
'Hmm, okay.'
I mumbled to myself.
And with that—
Tap- tap- tap—
I followed after the guard.