Chapter: 42

She smirked and pointed at her own face with her index finger, fully brimming with confidence in her skills. Given that she hailed from the top floor, her abilities were basically certified.

“How about it, Iris? Want to give swordsmanship a try?”

At that, Iris’s lips twitch a bit.

“Don’t know.”
“Huh? You’re not sure, huh?”

Iris shook her head vigorously, then slowly spat out one word.
“Sword.”

She didn’t know what a sword was? Did that mean she didn’t have a sword instructor? But after poking around, I stumbled upon a shocking revelation.
“Iris… You mean to tell me you’ve never learned to use a sword?”

Iris nodded. She stammered that the first time she ever held a sword was right here in the coliseum.
“Wow…! Our Iris is a genius!”

As I ruffled Iris’s hair in praise, her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink.
“Hehehe, I have to make her my disciple!”

Bianca’s eyes sparkled as she tried to hug Iris. I say “tried” because the moment Bianca made her move, Iris darted away like a cat, shifting from my left side to the right in the blink of an eye.
“I love this about you!”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at Bianca’s flustered expression, completely smitten with Iris.
‘Even if being a master and disciple is a stretch for now, they could totally become good friends.’
Right now, Iris was glued only to me, but I was sure a day would come when she’d be giggling and chatting with others.

To make that happen, it was definitely a plus to have someone like Bianca around.
Wooooaaaah -..

As I was lost in thought, cheers drifted in from outside the window. The noise was way quieter than on the previous floor, probably some magical soundproofing at work.
“Oh, is it already that time?”

Bianca clapped her hands and got up.
“Since you’re not into it, I’ll take my leave for today. If you change your mind, be sure to let me know next time I visit; I’ll be dropping by often!”

With an enchanting smile, Bianca waved goodbye as she made her way to the door. Iris and I saw her off.
“Goodbye! Come back whenever you feel like it!”
“Thanks!”

Bianca left us with a bright smile.
“She seems like a really nice person.”
“…”

Iris only stared at my face, not showing any reaction whatsoever.
Creak, thud.

The door shut, and silence enveloped the corridor.
*

“Hehehe.”

Bianca walked lightly down the opulent hallway, a cheerful smile plastered on her face. She stopped in front of an exquisitely ornate door.
Click.

The door opened quietly and smoothly, revealing a luxurious and comfy space fitting for the top floor of the coliseum.

Humming a lil’ tune, Bianca stepped inside and closed the door behind her. She strolled through the large living room and entered the armory.
“This time, this one should do the trick, right?”

She picked up a sword that looked just like the one Iris used. Smiling at her reflection on the sharp blade, she let out a chuckle.
“She’s never learned swordsmanship? That’s basically the genius of the century, right there!”

Bianca swayed her hips with excitement, her flushed cheeks in tow. Her shadow danced with her.
“If she’s that good without training, just imagine how amazing she’ll be once she starts! Ah, I can’t wait!”

With a casual flick of the sword, she exuded an enchanting yet menacing aura, true to a top-tier gladiator.
“Should I train her first, or just swallow her whole right now? Hmm…”

Bianca paused her sword dance, casually tossing the blade onto a rack, then sank into thought, stroking her chin.
“I’d better make her weaker than me first, then gobble her up. Gotta play it safe! Right?”

As she spoke, her shadow split apart, sprouting dense, sharp spikes that could rival a grown man’s arm!
Swish.

From what seemed like mere shadows, a shape gradually emerged from the floor, pulling itself up like a monster climbing out of sticky black muck. It resembled a gruesome face, complete with scattered sharp spikes and possibly someone’s gnawed remains.

Chik, kehhaek.

The monster’s voice, erupting as if from boiling water, was so disgustingly unpleasant it might make anyone listening spew. Yet, Bianca blushed as if she were listening to an adorable baby coo.
“Right? I’m so clever!”

Bianca hummed, smirking at her own thoughts.
“This upcoming match is going to be a piece of cake!”

Only ten individuals get to hold the power on the top floor. However, with new slaves coming in non-stop, countless challengers seek to claim their spot at the top.
In a place where only the strong survive, Bianca had managed to last an extraordinarily long time.

She became stronger, seemingly without limits, wielding dozens, even hundreds of weapons with finesse – an opponent truly tough to prepare for and counter.
Bianca had reached heights that made others hesitate even to speak about challenging the top tier.

Yet, she was labeled the “Lazy Genius,” as no one had ever seen her practicing her sword skills; she was always just lounging around or busy with some guy.
Her ability to survive came entirely from her shadow’s peculiar powers, which could absorb the abilities of whatever it consumed and pass them on to her.

With a friendly facade, she’d befriend capable slaves, and when they let their guard down, she’d swallow them whole to absorb their talents.
That was how she could sit on the throne of power.
“Hehehe, maybe when her brother kicks the bucket and she’s a sobbing mess, I’ll bring her in as a concubine?”

Her latest targets were Iris and Lian. Iris was the meal, while Lian was on her radar for a romantic side dish.
“Well, I mean, I’m basically her sister now, right?”

Once she devoured Iris, all of Iris’s abilities would be transferred to her, making her essentially just like Iris. She chuckled at her own miraculous logic.
She was bound to learn the hard way that ‘eating recklessly might lead to trouble,’ but for now, she was just blissfully happy.
*

A week had passed since I got used to my new digs.
I clapped my hands together and exclaimed, “Oh, right!” after hearing from the rat person that a new match had been scheduled. I had totally spaced on Gargandoa!

After the rat person left and while telling Iris I was off to the bathroom, I made my way there and quietly called for Gargandoa in front of the sink.
Swish.

A glow gathered on my palm, forming a dark red lump the size of my fist. Gradually, the light began to drip like liquid.
Gargandoa emerged from within that light, now shrunk down to the size of a mere knife instead of a dagger. I was stunned at its further diminished size.
[Save… me…]

Gargandoa sounded like a dying patient in need of help. I quickly gave my wrist a tiny slice. It didn’t sting at all, even if it looked like self-harm.
Slurp.

Like a sponge soaking up water, my blood flowed into the sword. After a moment, the cursed sword murmured weakly.
[Does it… taste good?]

The sword wobbled a bit as if it had been revitalized by the enriching flavor. Then it went on a blood-sucking rampage.
[Ahhhaa! This, this is it..!!]

It was so hungry it completely abandoned its dignified attitude and cried out like a child! The shallow cut wasn’t enough, so I prodded the wound, and a fountain of blood surged forth.
Whoosh.

The blood that sprayed into the air was quickly gulped down by the sword, saving my clothes from any mess.
[Haaah -… Haahh!]

Listening to it lose its mind in pure ecstasy made me feel a tinge of guilt.
‘Poor thing must’ve been starving.’

Watching it act like a fool transformed my perception of the cursed sword into that of a child.
Blood continued gushing into the sword, leaving the sink spotless except for the few drops that had fallen when I made the incision.
“Take it easy! There’s plenty to go around.”

I soothed the almost sobbing cursed sword like a grandma feeding her long-lost grandbaby. The sword didn’t care and just kept sucking up blood like it was a crazy feast.
And after a while, as the cursed sword nearly regained its original size, it said,
[How could you neglect me like this?!]