"WELCOME TO THE CRIMSON PIT!!!"
The man with the funny hat exclaimed loudly, his voice booming across the open coliseum, demanding everyone's attention.
"Huh?"
"What's that?"
"Ah, that's the guy that bought us!"
"He's up there on the platform!"
And after confirming that every single pair of eyes was locked onto him—
"Haha..."
The man let out a chuckle, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, as if he was thoroughly enjoying the moment.
Then, opening his mouth once more—
"From now on, every one of you will work here!"
He declared with a tone that left no room for argument.
"It's not even far-fetched to say that almost all of you will likely die here!"
He added, his voice laced with amusement, as if the very thought of our deaths entertained him.
"This place is an arena where everyone fights! Status? Age? Background? Experience?"
"None of it matters!"
He shouted, spreading his arms dramatically.
"As long as you're entertaining and you bring coins into my pockets, you're welcome to fight!"
His crazed smile widened, his eyes gleaming with greed.
"Of course, not all of you will be fighters..."
He muttered, his voice dipping lower, making everyone lean in slightly.
"The young ones... I bought you to be workers here, to be servants."
He followed up, his words sending a ripple of unease through the younger slaves.
"And the older ones? Obviously, most of you will be up for the roster!"
The man with the funny hat announced, his tone making it clear that there was no room for negotiation.
Then, after a brief pause, as if letting his words fully sink in—
"Now, I want all of you to form a line! I have staff members waiting to go through your papers, and once that's done, you'll all find out what position or role you'll be taking in this place!"
He declared that.
The man with the funny hat wasn't interested in explaining anything further.
And before any of us could even react—
"Move, you bastards!"
BAM!
"Geh...?!"
The guards started shoving people forward again, forcing us to form a line whether we liked it or not. Some stumbled, some gritted their teeth, but no one resisted.
No one here is stupid enough to fight the guards who are wearing armors and armed with weapons, after all.
'Man, my back hurts from all this shoving...'
I grumbled in my head, annoyed.
But rather than complaining, I simply moved along.
Tap- tap- tap—
I found my place in the line.
And upon doing so—
"Ah, hello!"
A familiar voice chirped ahead of me.
"Hm?"
I glanced forward—
And I saw Rai was standing right in front of me, smiling.
We're almost the same height...
Anyway—
"..."
I just stared at him for a moment
"Hello."
Then I simply responded after, shrugging my shoulders.
At my words—
"Phew..."
Rai visibly relaxed, his smile widening with relief.
He was probably just glad to have someone familiar near him.
I didn't blame him though.
After all, taking a quick glance around—
"..."
I noticed the crowd we were stuck with.
Most of them were grown men—big, burly, and intimidating. A lot of them looked completely unfazed by the announcement that they'd likely have to fight.
Meanwhile, the number of women and younger ones among us was small.
But I don't think that this is all bad.
Because basing on all of that—
'Rai and I will probably end up as servants.'
I concluded in my head silently.
The man with the funny hat made it clear earlier—the younger ones wouldn't be thrown into the pit.
That was fine by me.
It's the safest route for me.
"I'll just figure out a way to escape while I work as a servant here."
I muttered under my breath.
"...?"
Rai tilted his head slightly, confused.
It seemed like he didn't catch what I said.
Good.
I had no intention of telling him my plans.
And so—
"..."
I just waited in silence after that.
The line was moving slowly.
...
...
Until finally—
"Next!"
"Y-Yes!"
It was Rai's turn to be screened.
*****
Tap— tap— tap—
I silently watched as Rai nervously walked toward the staff member.
His movements were stiff, almost robotic, as if every step required extra effort.
But not long after—
Tap—
Rai stood in front of the table where the staff sat, their eyes barely leaving the papers in front of them.
"..."
The staff member eyed Rai from head to toe with an unreadable expression.
"Hmm..."
He muttered, shifting his attention to the papers in his hand.
And then, without hesitation—
"Rai, fifteen years old, son of a commoner farmer. Was sold by his father to pay off debts."
The staff declared, his tone casual and detached.
"..."
I froze at his words. A frown tugged at my face as I processed what I just heard.
Rai, on the other hand, remained silent, his face a mask of stoicism.
And seeing that—
'I guess that kind of thing is normal here...'
I thought to myself, feeling a slight discomfort at the reality of this world.
Anyway, the staff member continued without skipping a beat—
"..."
He glanced up at Rai's face again, then quickly flicked his gaze back to the papers.
"It says here that you'll be a servant. Go to the left gate behind me."
He stated, dismissing Rai with a wave of his hand.
"O-Okay!"
Rai stuttered, still visibly nervous.
"..."
He shot me a quick, uncertain smile.
In which—
'Just go.'
I returned with a casual wave of my hand.
Then—
Tap— tap— tap—
Rai started walking toward the designated gate, following the instructions without another word.
And just as he disappeared from view, the staff shouted again—
"Next!"
It was my turn now.
"Fuuuuu..."
I sighed, stepping forward without hesitation.
TAP—
I moved to stand in front of the staff, mentally preparing for whatever he'd say.
'This body of mine and Rai's are almost the same age. We both look weak and frail. It's obvious that I'll be a servant too.'
I thought to myself.
It was a no brainer deduction.
No point in delaying the inevitable.
"..."
I took my place in front of the table where the staff is.
'I'm curious to know the background of this body...'
I mused internally.
Meanwhile—
"..."
The staff member studied me closely, narrowing his eyes.
"..."
I just ignored him, letting him do his job.
And then, after a few seconds had passed—
"Hmm..."
He looked down at the papers again.
"Kaiser, sixteen years old... Nearly seventeen."
He read aloud.
And with that, after a week of being here—
I finally learned what my new name is.
'Guess I didn't retain my old one, huh.'
I thought.
'But sixteen years old...? Man, this body's too malnourished and small. It doesn't look sixteen, turning seventeen, at all.'
Then I added, frowning internally.
Though, the staff continued his assessment of me without actual care—
"A kid from the slums, parents are unknown. Was caught stealing by a bakery owner and was sold off to the slavery shop to pay for his crimes."
He recited, his voice monotone, as if he'd said it a hundred times before.
"Damn... what a background."
I muttered under my breath after hearing that.
Then—
Fwish—
The staff glanced at me again.
"..."
I just stared back at him, waiting for whatever he'd say next.
Then finally—
"It says here that you'll be a gladiator. Go to the right gate behind me."
He spoke.
The staff announced that as if it was the most normal thing in the world, like there's nothing wrong with it.
And me...
"Huh?"
I couldn't help but be confused, my voice sharp with disbelief.
A gladiator?
'Don't he mean a servant?!'
I exclaimed in my head.