The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 38 - Relaxing in the Pool

Chapter 38: 38 - Relaxing in the Pool

After getting both of my rewards—

"Well then, enjoy your time here."

The servant said that.

"Thanks, I will."

I replied to him.

And with that...

Tap- tap- tap-

We separated ways.

I’m now back in the main room of the prize place. The servant had already moved on, assisting a different fighter.

Oh, and also—I had them bring the bottle of alcohol to my room.

So right now...

"Finally, I can take a bath again."

I was on my way to the bath area. I just finished the ribs a little earlier and I’m more than ready to clean myself.

*****

Arriving in the bath area—

"Hup..."

I immediately took off my shirt and stored it on a nearby shelf.

And with that—

"Time to dive in."

I started walking toward the small pool where I had enjoyed myself the last time I was here.

Then upon reaching it—

SPLASH!

I jumped right in without hesitation.

There were two other people already in the water and four other else in the area, but I paid no attention on them.

And instead—

"Fwaaaaa..."

I let out a satisfied sigh and sank deeper, relaxing my body in the warm water.

This kind of thing used to be normal back in my world, but now... taking a bath had become a luxury.

It’s actually annoying and uncomfortable.

’Would I get to bathe every day if my rank gets higher?’

I wondered to myself.

And that’s actually probably the case...

Brock and the others had mentioned before that as a fighter’s value rises, so do their benefits and treatment in this place.

’I was confused back then on how they knew that—but after remembering what Jin said yesterday—that the three of them are actually silver rank gladiators...’

It all makes sense now.

No wonder they seemed experienced and knowledgeable.

’The three of them look hella strong too.’

I recalled Jin’s fight with Hans. It was still amazing.

"I wonder if I can get as strong as him..."

I unconsciously mumbled under my breath, feeling awe.

Then, at that moment—

"Yo, kid."

A sudden voice came from behind me!

"...?!"

Fwish—

My body flinched and I immediately turned around!

And there—

"Ah..."

I saw a bald guy with a good body build looking at me with slightly widened eyes. He looked to be in his mid to late twenties.

"Did I startle you? My bad."

He said, scratching the side of his bald head, looking a bit apologetic too.

"Who are you?"

I asked him, frowning.

And hearing my question—

"Huh?"

The man looked genuinely surprised.

"You don’t know me?"

He asked, disbelief clear in his voice.

"Am I supposed to know you?"

I shot back. This was my first time seeing this guy.

"Ugh..."

The bald guy groaned after hearing my response. And while looking at me a little weirdly—

"No, you’re not obligated to know me. But we’re in the same copper place—you could’ve at least recognized my face."

He replied with that.

"Huh? We’re in the same copper place?"

I asked, now curious.

And nodding his bald head...

"Yeah, I got there a couple of weeks before you. I was part of the previous batch of slaves."

The man said that.

*****

"Your name’s Kaiser, right? I’m Viktor."

The bald man said, introducing himself.

I was now calmly sitting on the shallow part of the pool. Meanwhile, the bald man was floating in the deeper end, letting the water carry him.

He didn’t seem to have any ill intent, so I figured it was fine to hang out with him for now. He just said he approached me after recognizing me and just wanted to talk.

"Still, I can’t believe you didn’t recognize me. We’ve literally been living in the same place for over a week now."

Viktor mumbled, looking at me with slightly furrowed brows.

"..."

I just shrugged my shoulders at his words.

"To be honest with you, I don’t know anyone in the copper place we’re staying at, not even their faces, except for Brock, Khan, Jin... and now, you."

Then I said that plainly.

"Huh...? Why is that?"

Viktor asked, floating closer to me with a curious look on his face.

"..."

I looked at him straight in the eyes as he slowly got near. Then, opening my mouth—

"I just have no interest in you lots."

I flatly replied with that.

"..."

Viktor went quiet after hearing that.

"..."

And so does I.

Though... Just after a short pause...

"Were you in the event yesterday too?"

I got curious and asked that.

"Oh... Yeah, I was actually in the third fight, right after you and Jin."

Viktor responded, getting out of his stupor.

And when he said that—

"Ah...!"

I finally remembered him.

"You’re that guy who got lucky because your opponent tripped and accidentally stabbed themselves with their own dagger!"

I exclaimed loudly.

And immediately—

"Hey! I would’ve won even without that happening!"

Viktor shouted back defensively.

"Erm... Sure. My bad."

I apologized. I didn’t mean to insult him, really.

"Whatever, kid."

Viktor grumbled, brushing it off.

"Anyway... I watched both of your matches."

He added.

"Oh, really?"

I asked.

Viktor nodded...

"Yeah. You improved a lot from your first fight."

Then he said. I was actually happy inside when I heard him say that.

But before I could even say anything—

"Do you have a skill or are you from a powerful race?"

Viktor suddenly asked that.

"Huh? What?"

I blinked, confused.

"I mean, like your opponent who had that thick-skin trait... Do you have any special skills or traits?"

So Viktor clarified, waving his hand casually like it was common knowledge.

"..."

I fell silent. I still had no idea what Viktor was talking about.

And so...

"Nah, I don’t have any."

I just gave him that answer.

"Hmm, yeah... I didn’t think you did, to be honest."

Viktor accepted my words easily, which was good. I didn’t feel like dragging the conversation on.

So now...

We’re just both chilling in the pool, having a small talk from time to time.

Still—

’Skills and traits, huh...’

I mumbled internally.

Then, with curiosity getting on me—

’I should ask Brock and the others about that when I get back.’

I declared that in my head.

I remember them telling me to go to them when I have something to ask.