Kingdom of Sanania, Outer Circle, Slave Trading Office.

"What do you think? For such a big child, it should be no problem to be used as a slave, right? ”

The man took the boy from the father's hand and examined it carefully.

"Yes, two hands and two feet, it is sound."

After looking at it, the man gave the father a gold coin.

"One?"

"One for boys and two for girls, it's always been this price."

"If only it were a little girl."

The father's last words echoed in the ears of the boy who was traded for money.

On that day, the teenager had just turned eleven years old.

The boy's father was a sword fighter, and he was a very famous person at his peak, and it was at that time that his encounter with his mother began.

But the Colosseum was a bloody place, and since his father lost a foot, he has become an alcoholic.

After his mother, who could no longer stand it, escaped, he fell into the habit of gambling.

Even so, the boy still thinks that as long as he endures a little, he can go back to the way he used to be, and although it is painful now, as long as he survives until his father cheers up, it doesn't matter, right?

But today, too.

He finally sold his child.

......

The man who bought the boy led him into a room where more children were gathered.

There are a lot of children like this in this room, and there are all kinds of things piled up in the corners, even the garbage is piled up everywhere on the floor, and even the rats will find this room cluttered.

Suddenly, the boy saw something familiar to him in the corner, and he rushed over and picked it up.

It was his father's sword, and he remembered that his father had been so imposing in the gladiatorial arena with it, but now, the rust on the sword had made it unusable.

The man looked at the innocent child with a hypocritical smile.

Suddenly, his eyes changed a little!

Seeing the change in the man's eyes, the children around him were so frightened that they retreated and curled up in a ball, making way for the man.

Only this young man, his desire to survive made him instinctively swing the rusty iron sword.

The man was attacked unexpectedly and before he could dodge, the sword marks cracked open in his face, and blood soon covered the man's cheeks.

"This little ghost!"

The man punched the boy in the face.

The boy was knocked down before he could even scream.

"Damn, is this the sword fighter's cub?"

The man wiped the blood from his face.

But he seemed to think of something, and a smug smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"But this little ghost seems to make me a lot of money!"

......

This is a game for the nobles to drink blood for fun.

It's a battle to gather the fighters and put their lives at risk until the last man remains.

The battlefield of sword fighters.

In general, to assist a sword fighter in combat can be a person of any age.

However, if it is a battle between adults, the side with the imp cannot win.

So usually, no one chooses to bring an imp to the war.

Joining the teenager is a man with wheat-colored hair, Carl.

He came from the continent on the other side of the sea to the north, and was sold here as a slave.

And he also has an only child.

That's why he likes children very much.

The boy also got along with him.

In his free time, Karl would teach his swordsmanship to the boys.

But to be honest, his skill at wielding two long swords with ease was too reluctant for a kid who didn't even have muscles to use.

But even so, the boy worked very hard to learn all his skills.

While learning Carl's swordsmanship, he had the feeling that his father had taught him swordsmanship at home, which even made him forget that this was a place where he had to risk his life to fight.

……

Four years later, before the gladiatorial championship finals.

And what happens when an offering refuses to be an offering?

The combination of Carl and the boy slowly became more and more popular.

These two people are like real father and son, and everyone likes them very much.

However, there are also people who feel unpleasant because of this.

After all, on a whim, they were bought to exist as supporting characters, and it wouldn't be easy if they became the protagonists.

"If the snake bought on a whim is a poisonous snake, it has to have its teeth pulled out."

In a secret place, a deal is being made for this.

The flickering red candlelight reflected on the long scar on his face.

"What are you doing here?"

The boy finds Carl, who is alone.

"Huh? Ahh Having said that, Karl's eyes weren't quite right.

The teenager didn't notice this, just thinking about tomorrow's game.

Therefore, he was not aware of the shadow lurking in the black pillar.

……

Before the start of the game.

In the break room, the boy found Carl, who looked a little different from before.

"It doesn't matter, or are you a little worried because of the finals?"

Karl looked at the boy for a long time before he spoke.

"Can you promise me one thing?"

Carl gave the teenager a letter.

The cover of the letter was crookedly written with an address.

"I'll see my son here, his name is Lista."

"Lista?"

"Yes, it means to overcome the wind and loneliness and grow from it."

Karl was silent for a moment before speaking again.

"Can I go here to find my son after the game? When I find him, help me bring him a message. ”

"I promise you."

"That's right, thank you."

Carl touched the boy's head and smiled.

"Haha, boy, come, you use my double sword today, after today, this pair of double swords will be the sword of the champion."

The boy liked his smile, and he smiled as he swapped his swords.

"You really look like my son."

......

This tournament is a two-person matchup.

And the opponent has been attacking like a raging wave since the start of the match.

After several actual battles, the boy's movements became very flexible.

Even adults will find it very difficult to deal with him as an opponent.

The boy managed to pull out the sword stuck in the man's neck, and then looked at Karl.

Carl, who has been attacking behind the boy and is also the strong backing in the boy's heart,

Something was wrong this time.

Carl looked at the boy and smiled.

The broken sword in both hands had fallen to the ground.

His chest passed through the cold glow of an opponent's sharp weapon.

"Uncle!"

......

The teenager had to think about something.

How did the uncle get his son's address when he was sold as a slave?

Why did the uncle save his life as a sold slave?

Although I think it's unreasonable.

The boy cried very sadly.

But he still has a mission that must be accomplished.

Must go to Rochester.

Be sure to convey the uncle's sword as well as the uncle's last words.

The boy held the sword in his arms.

The cold metal touched the boy's skin, and there were bursts of white spots.

......

"Who are you?"

The child who opened the door had a strong sense of wariness in his eyes.

However, the head-to-toe dressed and chubby child had the same wheat-colored hair as Carl.

The boy was silent and handed him the two swords.

Two swords stained with blood and emitting cold glow all the time.

Looking at the sword, the kid subconsciously took a few steps back.

"What is this?"

"This is your father's sword, the sword of a champion."

The boy gave him Karl's sword, and told him that his father was no longer in this world, and so on.

But he didn't listen at all.

"No matter what you say, it's useless, go back."

“... Aren't you going to receive these two swords? ”

“......”

"But it's your father's honor!"

"Huh? Reputation? What's that?! ”

"But ......"

"Because Father, do you know what kind of place I lived in before? What reputation does this kind of guy have for begging for food at the feet of others, eating garbage to survive, stealing clothes from frozen children on the side of the road for the winter? Esteem? What's that? ”

"But there's a reason for that, and you don't know about it."

"I don't want to hear it!"

The child's words made him speechless for a moment.

"Don't listen, don't care. I don't need to know about this kind of thing. Because, I've long forgotten about that old thing. ”

"There must be something wrong ......"

"Greta, what's wrong?"

Feeling the commotion outside, a woman stepped out.

Holding a golden puppy in his arms.

"It's nothing, it's cold outside, you can go in quickly, I'll go in in a while."

"Ahh Who is this beggar-like child! ”

"It's just a beggar who came to beg for food, don't care."

"Uh-huh, I see, come in quickly."

The woman glanced at the boy and returned to the house.

The teenager saw a man in the house.

“...... Greta? ”

“......”

"Have you given up your name?"

“...... Well, I've given up all my name, my family, and my memories, so please go back. ”

Gretta, who gave up his name.

If that were the case, what would happen if Uncle Karl found out?

He lost his life because of me, what should I do with his last words?

The rainstorm had already drenched the young man, and it also covered the young man's uncontrollable tears, and he opened the letter.

"Son, the name Lista, the name that our family has passed down from generation to generation, is the name that represents our entire family, but our family has declined, and I have no choice but to live as a slave. You must inherit our family's name in the future, become a knight, and then restore our family's honor, and become me, and our family, the last honor. ”

The boy hugged the two swords again.

A father abandoned by his son,

and sons who were abandoned by their fathers.

A wry smile crossed the corner of the boy's mouth.

He looked up, his face full of tragedy.

"So it was decided, from today onwards, I will inherit the name of Lista."

......

Six years later, outside the city of Rochester.

Crackle Crackle......

Sparks ignited on the newly added dry wood in the campfire.

The man asked the girl next to him as he threw the dried branches he had collected into the bonfire one after another.

"So, how did a little creature like you come to this place?"

"Then uncle, why are you here?"

"Uncle...... Uncle! Please, I'm only 20 years old, call me brother! ”

"Hmph, then I'm not a little guy either!"

"The little guy has a good tone?"

"I'm not a little guy!"

"Oh, yes, I know, I know, then call you a little girl."

"In this kind of place where demons are mixed, how did a little girl like you come here? This is not a place for a little guy like you, and it's a delicate little girl like you. ”

"Hmph, don't you know that before asking someone, it's the basic etiquette to introduce yourself first?"

"Don't you see you're funny little guy?"

"Besides, I'm not a little guy!"

"Haha, okay, okay. Well...... Well, I'm traveling to join the Kingdom Knights. ”

"Knights of the Kingdom?"

"Right"

"Wouldn't it be better to go to Rochester?"

"I've been there a long time ago, but it's not easy for a half-person like me to get in."

“...... So? ”

"So, I found out there's a place on Kuhan's side called the Kabran Mercenary Regiment. If you can accumulate qualifications in this mercenary group, you can finally be recommended to Rochester...... That's it, I want to try my luck over there. ”

"Kuhan?"

"Well, you see I've said so much...... It's time to hear your own story, right? ”

“...... I'm looking for someone strong. ”

"Powerful people? Why? ”

"Because I'm going to get something back."

"Really? What do you think of me? Actually, I'm pretty good too. ”

Listening to the man's words, the girl chuckled, then stood up and said.

“...... Alright, it's time for me to go. ”

"Huh? Oh oh, well, then be careful yourself. ”

"Thank you, brother."

"Hahaha, thank you too."

"That's right!"

Picking up the baggage, the girl who wanted to leave suddenly stopped.

"My name is Lynn, brother, what's your name?"

"Lynn? So your name is Lynn? You can call me Lista. ”

"Well, Brother Lista. We'll see you later, and if my brother is as good as you say he is, I'll definitely come back to you. ”

"Haha, okay. I waited for that day. ”

Lista smiled and waved at Lynn, shook the twin swords of champions at his waist, and turned towards Kuhan.