When our promoter, Sprex, heard about the practice match with Didete, he talked to Cradle about something, and the next day, he suddenly announced that I would be making my debut.

I looked down at the chubby, brown-haired promoter and asked seriously.

"I've only been learning about gladiators for a month. Besides, most of it has been about the rules within the gladiator group, and I've only practiced with a sword for about a week. Isn’t it too early?"

When I said that, Sprex turned his glittering eyes towards me.

"Momentum is everything in these things. I’ve already put your name on tomorrow’s match roster. Accept it."

"Good for you! Your opponent is one of the gladiators from Didete’s group from yesterday. If I remember correctly, he's a tough guy named Drasli. He used to be a criminal slave, but he’s quite skilled. He even headlined the main event three years ago."

"Was there anything good in that explanation?"

I calmly returned the question to Sprex and Cradle, who were trying to convince me.

"Ha ha ha! He’s a well-known guy! If you win, it’ll be a major upset!"

Cradle laughed as he said that, and Sprex nodded with a serious expression.

"You were pretty cheap for a slave. So even if you die, the group won’t lose much! Fight with ease!"

"It may not be a problem for the group, but it’s a big problem for me."

When I complained, the two of them laughed and patted me on the shoulder. If you want to motivate me, you should say it in a different way.

The Next Day

We were in the circular arena in the middle of the city.

Sprex seemed to have high hopes, as my match was scheduled as the first big event of the afternoon.

In the gladiator shows, where you could enter and leave freely if you paid, the most popular event was the main event in the evening. The next most popular was the semi-main event in the morning, and the third was the first match of the afternoon.

With 10 to 20 matches scheduled in a day, getting assigned to one of these three slots was a sign of popularity among gladiators.

Yet, I, an unknown, was in the first match of the afternoon.

"...Why?"

When I asked, Cradle laughed, pushing a wooden board with one hand and glancing back at me.

"Focus on the fight. The opponent is strong."

Cradle said this while pointing at the arena. You’ve got a match in a few hours yourself.

I thought that, but I only sighed in response.

I could already hear the cheers from here.

There are spectators and an opponent, so... all I have to do is step into the ring.

I entered the stage of the arena and looked around. I had observed an arena in the previous town, but this was the first time I was seeing it with an actual audience.

It’s a little different from a pro wrestling venue, but the excitement is overwhelming. I could feel strength naturally building in my body, so I lightly moved my arms and legs to loosen my muscles.

At that moment, a cheer even louder than before echoed through the arena.

I raised my head and looked at the opposite entrance.

There appeared a slender man with long, messy black hair. He wore flashy, simple armor in gold and red and held a short, thin sword and a round shield.

That must be Drasli.

Drasli started moving, his sword and shield hanging loosely.

Once you enter the arena, the fight begins immediately. That’s the rule of the gladiators.

In other words, there’s no telling when an attack will come.

I readied my sword and glared at Drasli.

"What’s this? You’re really a rookie, huh?"

Drasli said, looking at my stance, and began running to get behind me. He was drawing an arc as he ran, moving at quite a speed.

I kept my sword at the ready, shifting my body to face the direction Drasli was moving.

"Heh, slow, slow!"

Drasli said, lowering his stance, and swung his sword at my legs. I blocked with my sword in front of my legs, but Drasli flicked his sword upward with the momentum, aiming for my sword arm this time.

At the last second, I twisted my hand holding the sword and changed the angle, managing to block Drasli’s sword.

"Oh, your reflexes aren’t bad."

Drasli said this as he passed in front of me, trying to get behind me again.

Judging by the areas he was targeting, it seems Drasli is aiming for the tendons in my arms and legs.

"Hmph!"

I swung my sword in the direction Drasli was heading.

Once he gets too close, I won’t be able to keep up with his speed. I need to maintain some distance.

Thinking this, I swung my sword, not caring where it hit.

Contrary to my expectations, my sword hit with a good impact.

I turned around to see Drasli in a crushed frog-like posture. It seems he blocked my sword with his own, but he was knocked to the ground in the process.

Drasli quickly scurried across the ground like a cockroach, gaining distance and standing up.

"Tch, you’ve got some strength, at least."

Drasli said, wiping blood from his nose and raising his shield.

It feels light.

Not just the sword I’m holding, but everything feels light, especially considering I just knocked a man to the ground.

This must be the source of the unease I’ve felt during practice.

Thinking that, I pointed my sword at Drasli and advanced.

"Don’t think you can hit me that easily, rookie!"

Drasli yelled as he switched gears, preparing to block my sword with his shield. It seemed he intended to deflect my sword with his round shield.

Understanding that, I deliberately slashed at his shield.

"Urah!"

Drasli moved his shield to block, and my sword’s trajectory shifted toward the ground.

Seeing that he had successfully defended, Drasli grinned, showing his teeth.

While watching him, I let go of my sword and spun my body.

"Haah!"

Using my right foot as an axis, I turned and thrust out my left leg in a back-kick motion.

My foot moved as if sucked into the center of Drasli’s shield, and I kicked him and his shield away.

Right after feeling the cold, hard shield against my sole, Drasli was blown away as if hit by a car.

He tumbled once, twice, and then lay motionless on the ground.

As the audience momentarily forgot to cheer, I readied my sword again and glared at the fallen Drasli.

It had been a solid hit, but surely it wasn’t over with just one kick.

While I stood waiting, Drasli’s promoter came running to check on him.

Then, with a frustrated look, he glared up at me and shouted loudly.

"Matt wins!"

At that moment, a huge cheer erupted.

An unknown rookie had defeated a decently popular, well-known fighter. Of course, the crowd would be excited.

There were plenty of boos from the betting crowd, but many voices also praised the fight itself.

I felt a little unsatisfied, but if the crowd was excited, I’d consider it a passing mark.

I raised my sword in response to the audience.