Chương 272: New Training experience

"Damn, kid," Silfur called out with a grin sharp enough to cut steel, "that was quite the performance you put on down there. Did the old man really get to you that easily?" Vale stopped halfway across the bridge leading toward the library district. Evening light spilled across the stone path beneath his feet, painting the ancient architecture of Irea in soft gold and crimson. Below the bridge, the ocean crashed violently against the cliffs beneath the kingdom, waves roaring far below like distant thunder.

The city itself was alive with noise, merchants shouting, guards changing shifts, nobles gossiping from balconies, but Vale barely registered any of it. He looked exhausted. His armor had been stuffed into a worn leather bag slung over one shoulder, while the onyx mask remained hidden safely inside. Dressed now in plain dark clothing, he looked far less like the mysterious warrior who had shaken the colosseum only an hour earlier and far more like an overworked traveler returning home after a long journey.

Still, the fatigue in his eyes remained. He stared at Silfur for a moment before sighing deeply.

"Yeah," he muttered.

"Well, I couldn't exactly stand there and watch them die." His expression hardened slightly as another thought crossed his mind.

"Speaking of which…" Vale narrowed his eyes at her.

"Did you know the colosseum fights were staged?" Silfur blinked once in surprise before crossing her arms casually.

"Of course."

"All the higher-status people know." Then she paused.

"Well… not all of them. Mostly the royal guards, the monarch, and people tied closely to the upper administration." A smirk spread across her face.

"You know, the people trusted enough not to ruin the illusion." Vale's eyes widened slightly.

"Wait," he said slowly, rubbing a hand over his face, "then why isn't that public knowledge?" Silfur rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Because that would destroy half the spectacle," she answered immediately.

"People don't want reality. They want tension. They want to believe every match could end in tragedy." She pointed toward him accusingly.

"And judging by the crowd reaction earlier, I'd say you understand that pretty well now." Vale groaned softly.

"Great. So I accidentally became entertainment for the masses."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"It is a bad thing." Silfur laughed hearing vale his words. Vale shook his head and resumed walking across the bridge.

"Relax," he muttered.

"I'm not planning to expose them." He passed by her, continuing toward the massive stone structure of the library tower looming ahead in the distance. Its impossible height stretched into the darkening sky, illuminated by glowing runes etched along its outer walls. Even after all this time, the structure still felt unreal to him, less like a building and more like some ancient monument abandoned by gods. Behind him, a sudden crash erupted across the bridge.

Vale glanced back just in time to see Azure land heavily against the stone path, one knee bent beneath him as small cracks spread outward from the impact point. Vale didn't even stop walking. At this point, he was far too tired to question anything anymore. He simply sighed.

"Guess I've got a lot to deal with now…" And strangely enough, despite the exhaustion dragging at every muscle in his body, despite the blood still dried against parts of his clothing and the lingering ache from fighting creatures several times his size… Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. The danger, the uncertainty, the overwhelming pressure of battle, it terrified him, yes, but there was also something exhilarating buried within it.

Every movement in the arena had mattered. Every decision could have ended in death. Yet somehow, standing in the center of that chaos, he had felt clearer than ever before. He reached the towering entrance of the library and pressed a hand against the enormous stone doors. Slowly, they groaned open. Warm golden light spilled outward from within. Vale stepped inside with a yawn, expecting silence.

Instead, the first thing he saw was Korin leaning against the receptionist's desk with his arms crossed, staring directly at him with a cold expression. Vale blinked.

"Oh," he said casually, raising a hand in greeting, "hey Korin." Korin stared at him for another second before finally shaking his head and laughing quietly to himself.

"You really are insane." Vale tilted his head in suprise.

"That's rude."

"You jumped into an arena against five category-two beasts," Korin replied flatly.

"You could've died." Vale rolled his eyes.

"You're acting like those matches aren't staged." Korin froze.

"…They're staged?" Now it was Vale's turn to stare.

"Wait," he said slowly, "you didn't know?" The two of them stood there exchanging identical expressions of confusion and disbelief. Then, before either could continue, another voice cut through the library.

"Alright," Drago said dryly from somewhere nearby, "judging by those expressions, I assume there are many questions that need answering." Both Vale and Korin turned. Drago stepped out from between two towering bookshelves with his hands behind his back, looking entirely unsurprised by the situation unfolding before him.

"Please," he said calmly, "come to my office." He snapped his fingers once. Instantly, the library shifted. Massive stairways hidden within the architecture began spiraling upward through the center of the tower like unfolding machinery. Librarians and researchers moved aside with practiced calm as the pathways rearranged themselves, creating a winding ascent toward the highest floors. Korin stared upward in disbelief.

"…I'm never getting used to that." Vale narrowed his eyes at Drago.

"You crazy old geezer," he muttered.

"You knew I was going to interfere." Drago merely smiled weakly.

"Let's discuss this upstairs." Without another word, he began ascending the staircase. Vale glanced toward Korin, who only shrugged helplessly.

"…Right," Vale sighed.

"Come on." Together, they followed Drago upward. The climb was long enough for silence to settle between them. Around them, countless bookshelves stretched endlessly into the tower's depths, filled with ancient texts, glowing manuscripts, and artifacts sealed behind transparent barriers. Scholars moved quietly between the aisles, barely sparing them a glance despite the blood still visible on parts of Vale's clothing. Eventually, they reached the office at the top of the tower.

Drago seated himself behind a large desk positioned before an enormous circular window overlooking the ocean beyond Irea. The view was breathtaking, dark waters stretching endlessly beneath the moonlight, but Vale barely paid attention to it as he dropped onto one of the couches with exhaustion. Korin sat beside him. Drago folded his hands together calmly.

"I assume," he began, "you've already figured out why I pushed you toward becoming a gladiator." Vale let out a tired chuckle.

"Training?" Drago nodded once in confirmation.

"Yes." Korin frowned.

"If it's training," he said, "why not have the exploration guild commanders handle it? Silfur, Ivor, Maximus, they're more than qualified."

"They are," Drago agreed.

"But that solution is temporary." His expression sharpened slightly.

"The commanders will soon leave on another expedition. Vale needs experience that can continue consistently, not occasionally." He leaned back slightly.

"And more importantly, the arena gives him something ordinary training cannot." Vale raised a brow.

"And that is?"

"Real beasts."

"Humans fight predictably," Drago continued.

"Beasts do not. Their instincts differ entirely from ours. Their movements, reactions, aggression patterns, even fear functions differently for them." His eyes settled on Vale.

"If you truly intend to survive what's coming in the future, then learning how to fight monsters matters far more than sparring with soldiers." Vale sighed heavily.

"You still could've asked me first." Drago looked utterly unimpressed.

"Would the colosseum owner have agreed to your conditions if you approached him casually?" Vale stopped talking knowing Drago was right. Drago continued before he could respond.

"Today was special. Five category-two beasts in one match is rare. A new fighter stepping into that arena and surviving against them?" He shook his head slightly.

"That bought you leverage." He pointed toward Vale.

"You proved your value first. That is why the boss listened." Vale leaned back deeper into the couch.

"…Fair enough." A brief silence followed before Vale spoke again.

"You already knew the fights were staged too, didn't you?"

"Obviously." Vale narrowed his eyes.

"Then what happened to Lucias?" For the first time, Drago's expression darkened slightly.

"A mistake," he answered quietly.

"One that should never have happened." Korin remained silent beside Vale now, clearly processing everything he had learned. Eventually Vale exhaled slowly.

"So what exactly do I get out of all this?" Drago blinked.

"…Experience." Vale stared at him flatly. Korin suddenly coughed awkwardly into his hand.

"So," he interrupted carefully, "is there anything I can help with?" Vale glanced toward him before sighing again.

"Yeah. Keep my identity secret." Korin smiled faintly.

"That much I can do." Vale nodded once before turning back toward Drago.

"I'll need new equipment too," he said seriously.

"Anything tied to my identity has to go." Drago's expression immediately brightened with interest.

"Now that," he said, leaning forward over the desk, "is a conversation I've been waiting for." His sharp eyes narrowed slightly.

"So tell me, Vale…" he said almost eagerly, "what kind of equipment are you looking for?"