After observing me for a while, Commander Gruzhnil finally spoke to me for the first time.
"I have received information from my fellow brothers-in-arms that you are not from our planet and found stranded in the Realm of Terror together with that savage one. I was suprised that you were able to speak and understand our language the very first time you arrived here. We, The Graendall, attempted to talk with the other one as well, but he only rampaged and spoke filthy words that we could not understand at all. Thus, the one who was with you was given the title 'The Beast.'"
He explained this in a deep voice typical of a masculine warrior, yet it still sounded calm and grounded. Commander Gruzhnil continued, saying that both the discovery of me and Hellraider, along with everything we had done separately in the coliseum, were events that had never occurred before throughout the thousands of years of the Grivendal Empire's rule. They had never once seen anyone survive alone in hell. They were deeply impressed by Hellraider's brutality in exterminating monsters.
On the other hand, they were extremely confused and curious as to how someone like me could also survive alone against the onslaught of countless hellish creatures. Gruzhnil said that although The Graendall's defensive technology had advanced tremendously, it still didn't make expeditions into the Realm of Terror any easier. They required extremely meticulous preparation, and even then, casualties still occurred during such missions.
The culmination was when Hellraider and I were placed into what they called the "Judgment Arena." This so-called sacred event was indeed used to execute prisoners, but it granted them a chance to erase their sentence by becoming the sole survivor of the arena. Those who survived were also given the opportunity to join the military order but without immunity from future law.
They tested Hellraider in that arena, and it was fully proven that he was far stronger than they had anticipated. No fighter in their recorded history had ever killed with such brutality as Hellraider. Some among The Graendall even wished for him to immediately join them, seeing his immense potential for future hell expeditions, as he clearly understood how to eliminate every type of monster there.
As for my case, it was what truly shocked them. From the outside, I was indeed declared the winner. But the way I achieved it completely shattered a tradition that had lasted for centuries in the arena. The rules were clear: All fighters must be slaughtered until only one remained. That was the reason I was punished there
As the highest-ranking commander on the imperial core planet of Grivendal, Gruzhnil had to personally intervene due to the many anomalies that had occurred in such a short span of time.
"And lastly, I also received a report from one of the prison wardens where you were held, stating that you are able to speak directly with The Beast, correct?" Gruzhnil asked.
I simply nodded weakly, still wincing in pain after being whipped countless times. Perhaps if Gruzhnil had not been present, they would have whipped me again for showing disrespect to higher officials. But it seemed everyone deeply feared his authority.
"Very well! Release this man from his punishment! Heal his wounds and provide him with a room and proper food. Later, you will help us find a way to communicate with him."
"Th-thank… y-you… Y-your... H-Highness…" I said in broken words.
"Don't address me that way! Even though I wear this armor, I'm not of noble blood. Ah, it seems no one has properly explained where you are, not even the prison warden. You are now within the Grivendal Empire, and all of them are soldiers of The Graendall Military Order. My name is Gruzhnil, supreme commanders stationed on this planet. Grivendal rules over several planets, and this one is its center. Welcome!"
I was immediately released from my restraints and taken to the healing chamber. Several individuals—likely medical staff—began preparing medicines for me. It seemed they still relied on herbal remedies. I sat on one of the patient beds. One of the healers asked me to drink a potion they had prepared. The healer told me the taste would only be bitter at first and would soon change. I drank it all at once, and the flavor turned from bitter to sweet and cool in my throat.
I was reminded of my childhood, when my late mother once brought me to a traditional Eastern healer because I had suffered from fever and flu. The herbal medicine I drank back then tasted almost exactly like this. At that time, we didn't have enough money to visit modern medical facilities. I had often returned to that healer whenever I fell ill.
Another person, likely a medical assistant, began applying healing salve across the wounds on my skin. Bandages were wrapped around my chest, arms, and legs. The combination of this treatments produced a clearly tangible healing effect. They gave me more proper clothing as well.
I briefly thought about using the pain-relief spray from my interface slot. It seemed that only that, my binoculars, and my kitchen knife remained. But I chose not to. I had already caused enough commotion within The Graendall, and I didn't want to worsen it further.
Afterward, a soldier escorted me to the room prepared for me. It was far better than the cell where I had first awakened. There was a small window on the northern wall. I climbed onto the chair beneath it and peeked outside. It turned out I was still inside the coliseum structure.
Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door. I quickly climbed down and approached it. A guard slid a tray of food through the slot beneath the door. I took it and sat at the small table and chair provided. They had given me a large piece of roasted meat, bread, something like mashed potatoes, and what appeared to be vegetable salad. My stomach growled loudly at the sight. I realized I had not eaten at all since my time in hell. Even yesterday in prison, I had received nothing.
I ate ravenously, and everything tasted incredible—likely because I was starving. Perhaps it was only because Gruzhnil had intervened that I was given such food. Otherwise, I would have been fed the kind of rations meant for slaves.
That night, I lay down on the bed. It felt far more comfortable than those prison bed. I thought about what I should say to Hellraider. It would not be easy—he was still deeply angry, not only at me but also at how the people here had treated him. Yet The Graendall had placed their trust in me, so I had to keep trying. I would not use the "deceitful" method of speaking his real name again.
The next morning, as I enjoyed the sunlight streaming through the small window, my door was knocked on once more. I thought it might be breakfast, but instead two soldiers entered and told me to come with them. I complied and this time they didn't shackle me.
We walked deeper inside the coliseum, descending into a large underground chamber. When I arrived, many soldiers with several high-ranking officers had already gathered and Commander Gruzhnil was present as well. They were all staring toward a single cell. As I approached, I froze.
Hellraider was in a condition no different from the last time I had seen him. He sat on the floor, glaring furiously at the Graendall soldiers and me. I could not understand it. I was treated well because I was willing to cooperate, while Hellraider, with his uncontrollable rage and incomprehensible curses, remained like a feral beast trapped in a cage.
Seeing me, Commander Gruzhnil gestured for me to approach him. I slowly walked toward the cell, staring at Hellraider's face. He immediately locked eyes with me. I began speaking.
"L-Lord Hellraider… we have met again. We are both stranded here. I know you are still furious with me and have not accepted what they have done to you. But even after everything you did to me in hell, I don't seek revenge. I only wish to speak with you..."
Suddenly, Hellraider charged toward the bars, roaring with explosive rage as he grabbed them.
"GET AWAYYY YOU DAMNED WRETCH OR I'LL CRUSH YOUR SKUUULLLL…!!!!!!"
His voice thundered throughout the underground chamber. Everyone except me recoiled in shock. I steadied my breathing and spoke again.
"I truly understand how you feel, Lord Hellraider. But I must tell you this. Despite what has happened, not all of them here act with open cruelty toward us. If you are willing to listen, I can help you leave this place. They will treat you well… even better than they treat me."
But instead of calming down, Hellraider grew even more savage, like a predator in the wild.
"COME HERE… DIEEE… COME HERE… DIEEEEEEEE…!!!"
He repeated it endlessly, thrusting his arms through the bars trying to grab me. I could no longer find any words to persuade him. The soldiers stepped forward beside me and aimed their weapons at Hellraider. Instinctively, I spread my arms to stop them, signaling not to provoke him further.
"That is enough for today. We will try again another time," Gruzhnil said.
Soon after, the soldiers and officers left the underground chamber. As I followed them out, I glanced back at Hellraider's cell. He had retreated to the back and sat down on the floor again. In the corridor of the coliseum, Commander Gruzhnil approached me.
"What exactly did you say to make him so enraged?" he asked.
I was confused. So when I spoke to Hellraider, they truly could not understand my words at all? Why did it feel as though I was speaking two different languages at the same time, even though in my mind the words were identical and required no translation?
I answered Gruzhnil honestly that not all of them were evil, that they were willing to help Hellraider if he could try to understand and cooperate, and that I myself was proof they could treat an outsider kindly. Gruzhnil simply nodded and allowed me to return to my room.
That night, I was once again lost in thought. What words could I possibly say to reach even a small part of Hellraider's mind so that he would listen to me?
I had restrained myself from responding to his curses. I had not used his true name to "torment" him as I had in hell. But now a new burden weighed on me—The Graendall could not understand my language whenever I spoke to Hellraider, even though I had no intention of translating anything. I realized that I alone had become the sole bridge of communication between two.
I kept thinking about it until late into the night, when sleep finally took me.