Dragon Life - Chapter 73

Chapter 73

I don’t think there’s anything more versatile than a jersey .

I don’t think there’s anything more versatile than a jersey .

It doesn’t shrink, it’s breathable, it’s fine even if it gets dirty, with its only small downside being, it stands out in this world .

―― No, this is fatal .  

“Cute”

“Bu, but this is embarrassing!”

“It’s fine since it’s cute”

“Take it off! I’m taking it off now!”

“Nope”

“Why!”

“That’s because magic doesn’t work on Ito-kun . This is the only way to hide it, right?”

Even then, this outfit is way too embarrassing!

It was a mistake to go to a slightly bigger town to shop for clothes to replace my conspicuous jersey . They’d mistake me for a guy so I’d just wear pants! Or so I had stupidly thought . Although they were pants, they were half length pants . Everything below my knees was exposed . There were even navy blue socks and a belt . Light brown boots . On top, a white blouse with a necktie, and a deep green striped vest . The vest had a large hood attached, supposedly able to completely cover and hide my head… The heck, what is this young boy! I was dumbstruck when I looked in the mirror! With my jaw dropped like an idiot too! If you ignore the sword hanging on my waist that Al gave me, one would seriously wonder: which mediocre noble family did this boy come from? I, who lovingly uses a jersey, doesn’t suit this tidy look! I can’t deny that I feel like I’m being worn by the clothes instead .

Originally, we attempted to temporarily change my hair colour with Celia’s magic, but failed . What Honoka-nii said about ‘if you don’t believe in magic, you won’t be able to use magic either’ seems to have been true . Celia was surprised too, thinking it was weird .

“Hey Al, he’s cute right??”

My child is cute, right? Is how it sounds like .

Al turned to look at me, and walked closer with his head in his hands .

“Ah? Hmm, isn’t it like clothes making the man?” [1]

“Ooh, I’m surprised that Al even knows such phrases”

“What did you say? Are you picking a fight, Celia”

These two were always like this . Try being in my shoes, having to stop them .

“Look here, Itoka suits dark colours more . Dark colours are in trend now, so there should be plenty . Like this”

That is impossible . No matter how you look at it, it’s a butler uniform thank you… wait why is such a thing even being sold .

“I don’t want him to wear a servant’s uniform . ”

“A fighting servant is cool too”

No I’m not a servant .

This is hopeless, at this rate, their debate will undoubtedly result in being forced into an even more crazy outfit . Convinced of this, I hurriedly stand between Al and Celia .

“Ce, Celia! Actually I like this outfit-”

“Oh really? Then let’s go with this! It’s decided!”

Celia smiled joyfully and stroked my head before running towards the store clerk .

Although I had revealed that I was the same age, probably because I look young, I can’t escape being treated like a small child .

In other news, to have been bought clothes, how pitiful . I have to quickly become independent and earn money to be able to look for Touka and the rest . At the same time, I’m glad that I met Celia and the rest . If I was alone, I don’t have the confidence that I’d be able to survive in this world . That’s why, I’ll search for Touka while accompanying Al . My goal is not known to them, but I also don’t know why they need a black-featured like me . But, for now, this is fine .

“If you don’t like the clothes, you should have just said that you disliked them”

I wonder if my displeased expression came through . I seem to be the type that wears her heart on her sleeve .

“I don’t dislike it . More than that, I’m grateful that you are buying it for me… but I can’t give you guys anything in return”

“So that was it… in that case you can just return us with your body right?”

What was that .

Al looked over me while grinning . It’s the same teasing gaze he had when we first met . I instinctively draw back from him .

“I didn’t mean it in a strange way . In this town, there’s a place where you can earn a lot of money quickly, you know?”

That is precisely something that only sounds strange . Earn money quickly? It’s blatantly suspicious!

“I firmly refuse”

“Well, don’t say that . It’s for your sake too, ‘kay?”

“For me?”

I wonder what it is .

“Wait Al! You better not be thinking of taking Itoka to the arena!”

Celia, who finished handling the payment, came back with puffed cheeks . Absolutely not! She exclaimed while hugging me to protect me from Al . There’s a really nice smell . Probably since I’m shorter, only what’s below her neck came into view, is inevitable . Yup, there was no way around it . … Could I bite her?

“You can’t bring him there . It’s too dangerous . What are you going to do if he dies!”

It’s a matter of my survival?!

I, whose thoughts were in fluffy mode from being hugged by Celia, came back to my senses at that sentence . Flustered, I turned towards Al, to see him with a satisfied smile .  

“That’s the plan”

Arena, stadium, Colosseum . Plenty of names . Each host their own different events . In some, wealthy people come to watch slaves fight as entertainment, some are used as an execution ground, or others purely for plays or sports, every town had different activities, but this town’s arena were none of these . People from outside could participate in a fight, and earn prize money if they win . The prize money is determined by the audience’s bet . For example, a high rank, strong person fought a weak opponent . The audience would obviously think that the strong person would win, and bet more on him . But if the strong person wins, the prize money would only be the amount that was bet on the weaker person . That’s why, if you want to earn money here, you need to challenge and win against someone of a stronger rank . The rules to win are very simple . Until the opponent surrenders, or dies .

―― No, I’d just die normally . I have confidence that I’ll die . I’m totally going to die . But I don’t want to die . Just look at that guy . It makes you doubt if he’s even human . If I get hit, it’s definitely going to crack my skull .

Who would choose to put their life at risk just to earn quick cash? I obstinately refused, but obviously, Al still forcefully dragged me out to at least observe . The large arena in the heart of the town . Before I entered the town I did think that there was a huge building, to think that it was actually the arena .

“Hold up are we really going in?”

“Of course . We already came all the way here, so let’s go”

The entrance was crowded with people, so I held Celia’s hand so we wouldn’t get separated . It’s great right . You’re envious, aren’t you .

There were separate entrances for participants and audience members, and we followed Al to the separate entrance for participants . There was a small hall like space, where the wall had many posters of people’s portraits displayed . They almost looked like bounty or wanted posters, but if you look closer, it’s different . The posters had people’s faces and names, and also a rank from A to G written .

Al came back after chatting a little with the nearby arena staff .

“The next match is between <Trap Face> and <Horror Blow> . Who do you want to bet on?”

Uwah what’s up with those names . Is it something like an alias . I wonder if everyone here has similar names .

“<Trap Face> is rank E while <Horror Blow> is rank B . You should obviously bet on <Horror Blow>”

Even though you were so against it earlier, now that you’re here, you’re so eager Celia . Your eyes are somewhat sparkling . Don’t tell me, you enjoy gambling? Is that so?

“Who do you prefer, Ito-kun?”

“The rank E <Trap Face>”

There’s no need to think . I’m the ally of the weak . Even if the bet amount is coming from Al’s pocket money .

Putting that aside, if you don’t bet, you can’t watch the match I guess . Of course, my part was paid by Al . Umu, no problems here .

I thought the arena would be unexpectedly huge, but in reality, the actual field stage was narrow, while the audience stands were much more spacious . Apparently, your seats also vary based on how much you bet . We were at the standing seats for the cheapest bets . It’s a little hard to see, but there’s nothing blocking my view . I’m not that interested anyways . Besides, these seats are from Al’s pocket money . I can’t complain about them .

I was sandwiched between Celia and Al, leaning against the fence while waiting for the match to begin .

After a short while, a single girl stood at the centre of the field . Originally I thought she was a participant, but with that outfit covered in frills looked unsuitable for a fight . So I figured, she’s probably a referee, and she stood at what seemed like the spot for referees, hitting the floor with the stick she held in her hand . At that moment, a pattern on what I thought was a referee post started shining, and surrounded her .  

She then shouted with a full smile .

“Thank you for waiting, arena guests! This time, once again! Everyone’s idol, Kurumi will be hosting the event!”

I was surprised . It’s not a volume humans can reach . It was a voice loud enough to reach the standing seats where we were .

“Celia, that, how does it work?”

“Using magic . That magic circle can make one’s voice louder within a 50 meter radius . ”

Like a mic from modern times . What a handy magic .

“For the next match! The showdown of <Trap Face> vs <Horror Blow>! Please show your support!”

“Uoooh! Kurumi-chan!”

“You’re cute today too!!”

“Kurumi-chan please look this way!!”

What idol concert is this .

Kurumi-chan then waved and posed at the crowd . A faked innocent pose at that .

“Kyaa you all are great! Thank you! Kurumi will work hard as the host!”

Her flying kiss caused the man standing next to faint . From here, I can see well huh .

“Now, it’s time for the players to enter! From the east! <Trap Face>! A promising newcomer who entered a few days ago! Will he be able to defeat <Horror Blow> and be promoted to rank D!”

The one who appeared on the field, was a boy who was younger than I expected . He wasn’t just young . He’s a kid . A young child with pale chocolate-coloured hair who looks like he wasn’t even in elementary school yet . Plus he only had light equipment that looked like a poncho put on, without anything that could be a weapon in his hands . Even from here I can tell . With such a delicate body, he would probably be knocked out shortly . To have someone so unfitting appear is kinda anticlimactic .

“From the west! <Horror Blow>! A veteran of veterans from this arena! Thank you for the flowers as always!”

From the opposite side, a muscular man appeared and received Kurumi-chan’s next flying kiss . “I won’t forgive you if you try to get a head start!!” and so the crowd began bashing him . While I pondered if the man was crazy for Kurumi-chan, he screamed at the protesting crowd: Shut up you noisy lot! The bashing just got worse though . It seems that Kurumi-chan really is an idol here .

“Now! Let’s begin the match! Let’s make this a wonderful battle without regrets! Ready…”

“Fight!!”

That sounds like a familiar starting line from a fighting game, I wanted to retort, as the match started . [2]

The man approached the young boy while cracking his shoulders .

“Oi oi young sir, aren’t you in the wrong place? If you cry and kneel now, I might let you retire while still unscathed, ya’know?”　

Thanks to Kurumi-chan’s mic magic, everyone could hear that declaration . It really is handy .

“Oi, say something . Or are you too scared to talk? Wouldn’t it be better for you to run back to your mom?”

Provocation by ridiculing . That appears to be this <Horror Blow> player’s fighting style . Picking a fight about the things his opponent has or lacks, creating a gap in their focus and using it to end the match . It’s mental violence .

“This isn’t a place for you to play, ya’know? Run with your tail between your legs to your mom’s chest while crying, brat . Mama~ I’m scared~ like that!”

He cackled in irritatingly . But that man’s words didn’t even cause the boy to tremble, as he just stood there . Was he too afraid to move, or was he looking for a chance to attack, I was too far away to be able to tell .

However, I could tell that the man’s words were just cheap and vulgar words of provocation . Just listening to it makes me feel sick .

“Or do you want to cry to your older sister instead? You were with her earlier right? She was quite the beauty . Instead of this inexperienced brat, I’d prefer to have her as an opponent! Change it, change!”

This isn’t going anywhere! And yet he continued to ridicule the child .

At that point, the boy finally moved . It was just his right arm . Leisurely lifting it horizontally, he pointed his index finger at the man . As if pointing a gun .

“Hah? The heck d’you think you’re doing? Just what is—”

“Don”

―― Dooon!!!

Suddenly, an explosion echoed, following the boy’s voice . The entire venue went quiet, and they all turned to the field to try and grasp what just happened .

In that place, the ground where the man was standing was gouged out, surrounded by a cloud of dust . The man’s figure was not there . Gone, I thought, but the man had fallen over a few meters away . While covered in blood .

No one knew what had happened .

No one was able to see what happened .

Only that, along with the sound of an explosion, the ground was gouged out and the man collapsed while covered in blood .

“It’s over . Right, onee-san?”

In that silent space where no one said anything, an adorable voice could be heard . It seems he was talking to Kurumi-chan .

“Eh? Ah, ye, yep! Then! The match was decided in just a n instant! There were many who were misled by his pretty face and lost, but no matter how many times you watch you don’t understand what happened! Like for real what just happened!!”

I see, a pretty face that acts as a trap face huh .

Perhaps satisfied that the end of the match was announced, the boy left from the same entrance he came from .

“…That was amazing . ”

“That is likely, high level magic . You’d have to be at least a royal mage to be able to use magic without magic circles, magic tools or chantless magic like that . ”

“It was shocking that such a small child did it . A lot has changed since I was there”

Celia laughed wryly, saying that there used to be an age limit in the past .

“ . . since I was there? Perhaps Celia, were you a participant before?”

“Ah”

At what I said, I messed up .  That kind of face .

“This girl used to be pretty merciless too . Was it about a year ago? <Rose’s Thorn> was quite famous for a while”

“Stop calling me by that name! I want to forget that past!”

Celia was holding her head with her face completely red .

Your black history huh . I get it .

“Back then, you were so cold . ‘If you come close to me, you’ll be stabbed by a poisonous thorn’ was it?”

“Argh stop it! I’m begging you please stop it!”

Amused by the overreacting Celia, Al grinned happily as he continued to recount various events from the past . It’s like a boy teasing the person he likes . A guy who bullies won’t be liked, Al .

“Ahhhh, are you by any chance <The Rose’s Thorn>-sama?!”

As if he was listening in on our conversation, a guy approached us . That guy’s loud voice caused the surroundings to respond with: ‘Eh? <Rose’s Thorn> you say?’ ‘<Rose’s Thorn> is returning you said?!’ ‘You mean that <Rose’s Thorn>?!’ ‘Is she here?!’ ‘<Rose’s Thorn>-sama is?!’” and so the crowd buzzed .

“Wawawa, I’m a huge fan of yours! <Rose’s Thorn>-sama! Can, can I please get your signature!!”

Once they heard <Rose’s Thorn>, a wall of people formed . Mostly made of men .

“““<Rose’s Thorn>-sama!!”””

“Sto, Stop that! Stop repeating it so much!”

And so Celia ran away while half crying . After that, ‘Please wait! <Rose’s Thorn>-sama!’ the men shouted as they chased after her .

I just grinned while Al stood dazed next to me, watching the scene unfold .

Translation Notes:
[1] マゴにも衣装って: I couldn’t find the exact translation, but based on context, I assumed this is what he meant .
[2] If anyone knows which fighting game the author is talking about, let me know! I thought it was street fighter but I couldn’t find anything