In the morning I woke up to a new atmosphere—my own place to live. The house given to me was only one floor, not luxurious and not large either. The layout was standard and the interior design still looked traditional, far from what could be called futuristic. Yet for some reason I liked it; it reminded me of medieval-themed fantasy fiction.
I wondered when Hellraider would be able to get a decent place like this. Honestly, if he could accept my presence, I would gladly offer to let him live together with me in this house, occupying the other bedroom.
Yesterday afternoon, when I watched him training in combat again with Gruzhnil as his mentor, I felt happy. Hellraider had begun to act a little more like a normal human being. I was grateful that Gruzhnil could make him more civilized again. I didn't go to meet either Gruzhnil or Hellraider that day. I thought it was better to leave them for a while and observe from a distance.
I went out to buy some groceries to cook. On the dining table in my house earlier, there was a bag containing quite a lot of coins for me. Perhaps the money was given by Gruzhnil or Grelmure under The Emperor's orders. Honestly, I had not yet fully learned the culture and social customs here. However, I could understand what they said, and I could speak with them without having to translate first, so it was not too difficult for me to blend in.
I observed that the native people of Grivendal generally had body proportions and facial features similar to humans on Earth. Their hair colors were dominated by black, brown, blonde, and occasionally bright yellow. Most of their skin tones were fair, with some being brown.
I wondered whether people with darker skin had ever experienced discrimination here. I didn't find any such information in The Mayhem lore. Perhaps since Gruzhnil, who also had brown skin, had become the most respected supreme commander, such discrimination maybe no longer existed. The clothes they wore were also typical of ancient Roman society, though some had futuristic patterns and certain technological elements. Most people here traveled on foot. I saw several Graendall soldiers patrolling back and forth.
The buildings were Roman in style but also infused with technology. There were still many trees and imperial and military order banners lining the streets. What was unique was the presence of floating robots carrying holographic banners that appeared to display nothing but Graendall propaganda.
On the main roads, there were some vehicles passing by, though not heavily trafficked. Most were public transportation such as buses and patrol vehicles. Interestingly, these vehicles did not have wheels; instead, several small rockets underneath lifted them, allowing them to hover above the road. I also learned that only the military was allowed to fly above the city.
I arrived at what seemed to be a large grocery store that sold daily necessities quite comprehensively. Fortunately, it was not crowded at the time, allowing me to ask more about local food ingredients. In the refrigerated display, I saw various kinds of meat that at a glance resembled cuts of meat from my world. Prices were listed as well. I checked the amount of coins I had and compared it with the price—it was rather expensive. I didn't know when Gruzhnil or Grelmure would give me more coins again so I had to be frugal.
There was another kind of meat, paler in color and seemingly poultry, that was far more affordable. I asked the butcher, a stocky bald man with a thick mustache, about it. He was absorbed in a tablet-like device and barely saw me. After I cleared my throat and asked again, he glanced up, slapped his forehead, then searched his device before showing me an image of a turkey-like animal native to this planet. That was enough for me. I bought some, and he wrapped it up before handing it over without another word. He probably assumed I was simply an overly curious local rather than someone from another world. Perhaps that was just how he was.
Next, I stopped at a vegetable and bread stall. The middle-aged woman running it greeted me with a warm smile. When she asked where I was from, saying she had never seen me before, I told her the truth—I wasn't from this planet. She looked for a moment before her eyes widened in recognition. She had seen recordings of my fight in the Judgement Arena circulating across their version of the internet.
Excited, she told me her son was a Graendall soldier who had escorted me into the arena. Then I remembered—he was the soldier who had shouted at me when I insisted I was innocent. Embarrassed, she apologized on his behalf and insisted on giving me extra vegetables and bread. I accepted them with sincere thanks.
Back home, I prepared breakfast. I'd been cooking for myself since high school. Aunt Nancy and I had always preferred homemade meals and rarely ate out. I made grilled Grivendal turkey, vegetable soup, and fresh bread. While eating, I imagined someday I cooked for Hellraider.
I went to the coliseum to see Hellraider again. I assumed he would be training in the arena but he didn't seem there. I immediately entered the building and went to his room. When I arrived, he was not there either. Where had Hellraider gone today? Was it his turn with Gruzhnil to meet Emperor Gregustus? I doubted it.
Suddenly, I was approached by a Graendall soldier whom I recognized as one of the elite troops who had trained as Hellraider's sparring partner. His face still had bandages, but the bruises and swelling had improved.
"You're looking for him, right? He's in the weapon storage room. I suggest you don't disturb him too much," he said, then left.
I immediately searched for the room the elite soldier mentioned. I asked patrolling guards along the way. When I arrived, I saw a man sitting on a bench and indeed it was Hellraider who sharpened his sword with a whetstone. As if sensing my presence, he glanced at me. I stopped walking and sat on a nearby bench. He stared at me sharply and took several deep breaths while stopped sharpening his sword.
"You… why are you here??? Don't you know what I'm holding?!?!" Hellraider said in a slightly growling tone.
I realized Hellraider was holding a real sword, and without caution, he could attack me or throw it at me at any moment. Still, I was confident he would not do that to me. It crossed my mind that if he truly wanted to attack, I could simply say his real name and he would immediately collapse.
"I'm sorry if I disturbed your time, sir. I just wanted to make sure you're alright. If you feel uncomfortable, I will leave immediately," I said as I stood up. Hellraider remained silent.
Suddenly, I heard someone enter, and I saw that it was Gruzhnil. He looked pleased to see both Hellraider and me there.
"Ahhh… it seems things are getting better. I came because when I visited your house, no one was there, and I received information that you had already come here and met Sir Hellraider alone," Gruzhnil said enthusiastically.
He informed me that Hellraider would also be leaving the coliseum and receiving special housing like mine. I was very happy to hear that. However, on the other hand, I really wanted to know where Hellraider would live.
Gruzhnil then spoke with me further. He had already met Emperor Gregustus before I did. He said that The Emperor actually wanted to immediately induct him into the military order. However, as usual, he himself was unable to clearly convey the details to Hellraider.
Gruzhnil explained that yesterday he had only used hand gestures to invite Hellraider to train in combat like an honorable knight. Fortunately, Hellraider seemed to understand the gesture and followed him without showing worrying emotional reactions.
Hellraider was not immediately placed in the main forces, but rather in the reserves, ready to assist if unexpected situations arose. He also had held meetings with other high-ranking military officials and decided that I would also become part of The Graendall, though in a different role—as an observer stationed in the rear.
Hearing that, I felt shocked, happy, and worried all at once. Deep inside, I was relieved that I could finally observe Hellraider directly under military supervision. What worried me was Hellraider's reaction. At present, he didn't yet understand what Gruzhnil was saying, but sooner or later he would find out that The Graendall had assigned me to observe him. If he learned that I was acting under them, he would become angry again.
I had to be extremely careful and not speak recklessly if Hellraider suddenly pressured me. I saw Hellraider's face remain flat, occasionally glancing at us while continuing to sharpen his sword. As I walked out of the room, I gave Hellraider a smile for today, which he happened to see.
I spent the rest of the day wandering around the city. Many people recognized me from the now-famous Judgement Arena fight videos. I could only smile and explain that I was innocent and simply trying to survive that madness. Some people supported me and said that the tradition felt less relevant as times changed. Some even treated me to local snacks. I didn't take their words too seriously. I only hoped that someday Hellraider could enjoy moments like this as well—living normally among society.
I could not be sure whether that would ever happen. But I felt that it might, if I could eventually build a good relationship with him.