Seras tilted her head with a question mark on her face.
"But why would they interfere in the final blood fight, which could be called her moment of glory?"
The popular blood gladiator would end her final fight with a victory.
That would undoubtedly be a happy ending.
For the blood gladiator.
But what about the blood fight-loving customers who would be left behind?
"After the popular blood gladiator leaves, the blood arena will need the next popular star. Now then… what do you think would be the most effective way to create the next popular star overnight?"
"Ah."
Seras seemed to have realized it too.
"That is right. The person who kills the popular blood gladiator will instantly rise to become the next popular star."
The highest form of generational change.
The operators wanted to prepare the next crowd-puller.
By using the popular star's final blood fight.
"They probably let the ones who were not that good at drawing crowds win and granted them freedom."
There were people who had gained their freedom.
It was not zero.
That was the important point.
They showed a small number of success stories.
What was born from that was the false hope called "possibility."
"However, Eve Speed is the undefeated champion. Her popularity is overwhelming. If they want to create a star who surpasses that popularity—"
"They will almost certainly try to kill her in tomorrow's final blood fight… in order to create the next popular star."
"That is how it is."
The one who kills Eve Speed.
That person would gain the title of Undefeated Slayer.
By the next day they would be sitting in the seat Eve once occupied.
Seras did not look fully convinced.
"But she is popular with the citizens who love blood fights, right? Everyone comes to see her win. In that case, would they not want to see Eve Speed seize victory in the end and gain her freedom?"
That was how it would be from Seras's view of humanity.
"Unfortunately, that is probably not the case."
"What do you mean…?"
"The customers who gather at the blood arena like 'Eve Speed who entertains them.' I do not think they actually like Eve Speed herself."
Those two things may seem similar, but they are different.
Eve Speed when she is not a blood gladiator.
To them, that would be an existence with no value.
"I see… when you think of the customers who enjoy blood fights, what you say makes sense, my lord…"
Seras had been leaning close enough that our bodies were almost touching. I pulled back a little and changed the subject.
"Well, that is not the important part."
There was only one thing that mattered.
"The duke who is part of the operating side will almost certainly interfere with something in Eve's blood fight tomorrow."
"So tomorrow we will stop that interference?"
Seras sounded eager.
Her feelings seemed to lean toward Eve's side.
"No, I have no intention of doing that."
"Eh?"
I looked at the blood arena.
"There is no need to politely wait until tomorrow."
▽
Around the time the sun was beginning to set.
I confirmed the figure of the leopard person leaving the blood arena.
"…"
I glanced down at my pocket watch.
She had come out exactly as the information said.
During the morning information gathering I had obtained different information from Seras.
Eve Speed often went out at this time.
I had gotten that information from the blood arena guards.
However, there had been a problem.
Could she go out the day before an important blood fight?
Would Eve herself want to go out?
That had worried me.
But perhaps it was the privilege of the strongest blood gladiator.
Or thanks to the trust she had built up.
She could apparently go out without any issue.
Eve did not head toward the main street.
She was heading toward a district that looked unsafe.
Eve entered a dark alley.
Partway through she stopped.
Her hand rested on the sword at her waist.
With her back still turned, Eve asked,
"Do you have some business with me?"
As expected, she had noticed she was being followed.
A dark alley.
There was no sign of other people around.
Well, this should be fine.
Eve slowly turned around.
"…It is you."
"I came because I have something to talk to you about, Eve. May I have a little of your time?"
"I believe we already established that the story about the Forbidden Witch was nothing more than a rumor that took on a life of its own."
"That was a lie, right?"
"…You are a rude man."
"Do you owe a debt of gratitude to the Forbidden Witch?"
"I do not."
Seras took one step forward behind me.
"That was a lie."
"I see."
I stopped the act.
"So you do owe a debt of gratitude to the Forbidden Witch."
Eve's eyes sharpened.
I could tell her wariness had swelled.
"Who are you?"
"Let us both—"
I returned my expression to normal.
"Stop trying to deceive each other here, Eve Speed."