I Became a Gladiator in the World of Gender Reversal

30 – Breaking the Illusion-1

What appeared on the podium was an elderly gladiator.

However, the interest of the prospective gladiators was not the “Things” Of the elder gladiators.

They looked at the gladiator in front of them with a disapproving look on their faces, as if they had no idea whatsoever.

“I understand to some extent why you guys want to enter the Colosseum.”

Several of the prospective gladiators whose true intentions were exposed were startled and backed off.

The prospective gladiators who had been dozing off also quietly woke up in a changed atmosphere.

Actually, it was an open secret. Because gladiators weren’t that popular.

Competition is tiring. Humans who like fighting also like winning fights, not losing fights.

Gladiators have to fight even when their condition is bad, and they have to fight against themselves and strong opponents. It was tedious and exhausting work to desperately exercise and build a strong body for that purpose.

Unlike soldiers and knights, who had a chance to rise in status, gladiators were commoners no matter how high they climbed.

Money could be earned decently, but the high point was infinitely low.

No matter how strong she becomes, the fact that she cannot see a man’s face was quite an inconvenient factor in drawing a ‘happy future’ that ordinary women would imagine.

“You must have a lot of questions. Ask.”

The prospective gladiators hurriedly exchanged glances with each other, desperately looking at each other.

It was obvious what he was talking about. It’s not easy to put it into words, but everyone here knew it.

The second daughter of an aristocratic family, a retired soldier, a young and ambitious maiden, and even a famous adventurer or mercenary.

They were people who were not lacking no matter where they went. When each of them returns to their field of expertise, they are people who will have more than 10 subordinates.

If the guards even saw them gathered in one place, it would make them doubt whether someone was gathering private soldiers without permission.

However, they all gathered to become gladiators.

“That, the rumor… Is it true?”

“I won’t answer such a flimsy question. Ask clearly what kind of rumor it is, exactly what kind of rumor it is.”

“With a man, that…”

The prospective gladiator slurred her words, but she did. Of all those here she was the most courageous. The others were keeping their eyes shut and keeping their mouths shut.

“Working together… Together…”

“It is true that among the gladiators belonging to our Colosseum, Evan is a male. Didn’t everyone come after seeing that?”

In fact, about half of the people who came here witnessed the sword fight in person.

People who heard the story of a man wielding a sword in the ring and bought a ticket almost wasting a fortune.

The fight was fierce and honorable. Anyone with even the slightest knowledge of fighting could know that it was a real fight, not a well-organized play or show just for show.

However, hearing it directly from the practitioner’s mouth was a bit different.

Between them, the story that seemed like a dream was confirmed by the person in front of me.

“Well, then! Sword fighting! Can you do sword fighting too? With a man?”

“I can’t be sure. The official league hasn’t started yet, and right now Evan… Is going to play an event or two.”

Evan’s fight received a huge admission fee, and Daisy’s choice of the opponent was only possible because his sword fight took place right away as an event.

“I can’t guarantee it. There are not a few gladiators in the Colosseum, and there is only one female gladiator who can participate in the gladiator fight with Evan at a time. Even so, there is no possibility.”

The eyes of the prospective gladiators were full of hope and anticipation.

“Is it true that we eat together… Or train together?”

“It’s true. But, in order to have a meal together, you’ll have to look closely at the situation. Evan’s seat isn’t set aside, so I tend to find an empty seat and sit down.”

It wasn’t that there was an epidemic going on, but the gladiators secretly found empty seats on both sides and kept their distance during the meal.

“By the time Evan comes, the restaurant will be crowded, so don’t expect too much and just eat.”

“That… That’s…”

Although it could not be called a ‘meal with a man’ in the true sense, just being able to watch the person’s face from the seat next to it was incredibly valuable.

In order for an ordinary woman to have such an experience, she has to spend a lot of money in Selam and get into a ‘place to meet men.’

After countless women are thoroughly judged in front of a few men, a few women who are at least slightly younger, more attractive, rich, or of high status are selected.

After hearing the words ‘I’m interested’, she has to attract the man’s favor by sending him an expensive luxury item as a gift.

It was only after that was repeated several times that I was able to have a meal with a man who came to the table with a reluctant face.

The entrance fee to Evan’s sword fight was not small.

However, considering that ordinary women cannot see a man’s face even after paying several times that amount, depending on the point of view, it could be seen as efficient consumption.

If the Colosseum had just put the ‘meal ticket’ with a man on auction, it would have been able to make as much money as that.

“Well, it costs money separately…”

“Once you enter the Colosseum, meals are provided free of charge.”

It is a meal dedicated to men. No matter how bad the quality is, they will not give you rye and multigrain bread that is tasteless.

At the elder gladiator’s words, the prospective gladiators’ eyes were stained with anticipation.

“Hoo, what about training?”

“The training ground is for public use. Evan tends to stay there for quite a while, so there will be a lot of things to see.”

He is a man who trains his stamina by sweating profusely. Just by imagining that scene, blush started to bloom on the cheeks of the prospective gladiators.

“Well, then, by all means wear comfortable clothes…”

“Yes. You will be able to see that by yourself, so I won’t explain it further. Next question?”

“Is that man talking to me…?”

The eyes of the other prospective gladiators focused on the person who asked the question.

His eyes asked why he was asking useless questions. They were also curious about it, but it was a subject they were forcibly holding back.

“I’m not the type to talk first unless there’s a topic of interest. If other gladiators talk to me, I’ll accept them, but… Don’t make them too uncomfortable.”

Among the aspiring gladiators here, few had ever met the man in person.

The daughters of aristocratic families had only entered the first stage, that is, the stage of ‘providing sufficient support for Selam and being judged in front of men’, but that was all.

“If you make Evan uncomfortable, you may request a private training room or other changes may occur.”

“Ugh…”

The elder gladiator took a deep sigh and, without realizing it, became concerned about Evan.

Even the guys inside were not the ones who kept the line, but at least they were the ones who had fantasies about Evan or had suddenly seen Evan before hearing rumors about it.

“I know how you feel. Be satisfied in moderation, and don’t let any problems arise.”

Full of fantasies and dark feelings about Evan, I felt my heart thump when I thought of these prospective gladiators who would be more interested in men than sword fighting.

However, whether or not they knew the feelings of such an elder gladiator, the prospective gladiators started whispering among themselves.

After delusions that I half thought were rumors were recognized as true one by one, I couldn’t help but think, ‘Could this be too?’

“So, then… Is the rumor that they take a bath together true?”

“Are the rumors true?” I didn’t answer the same stupid question. Of course, it’s a nonsense.”

“Ha, but there is only one bath in the Colosseum…”

“Come in when no one is around and write separately. Next.”

“That, at night… There were rumors that women were about to break in…”

“If you have the courage, try it. I didn’t do it because I was scared. No, you guys aren’t some kind of adolescent girls, do I have to ask this question?”

At the words of the young elder gladiator full of annoyance, the prospective gladiators shut their mouths.

“You can also tell the difference between what you can do and what you can’t do, right? Let’s do it in moderation, in moderation…”

“Then, when can we go in?”

“Now I’ve got a bit of a question-like question. Unfortunately, I can’t accept everyone here as a gladiator.”

If it had been the Colosseum before Daisy operated it, no matter how many people came in, they would have accepted it with a smile.

In sword fights where life is staked, of course people die. The number of gladiators is gradually decreasing, and of course new gladiators are needed.

But not now. There was no loss of life even if a major accident occurred, and at most, the arm or leg was so severely wounded that it was impossible to fight again.

The Colosseum was not wide enough to accommodate all these aspiring gladiators.

“You guys are going to fight here. It’s kind of like a reserve league.”

Compared to the Colosseum, it was an infinitely small space, but the arena did not have to be large in the first place.

“Only the winner here goes to the real Colosseum. To the Steel League.”

In the eyes of the prospective gladiators, speculation gleamed.