My Disciples Became Scoundrels - Chapter 54

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Fighting Arena. The word made Dein’s eyes narrow.
“She was famous at the Fighting Arena’s gambling tables. Won a fortune. Whether she’s Bella, I can’t say for certain. Don’t know what happened to her.”
“That’s sufficient. If she was that well-known, someone will remember her.”
Dein’s expression loosened—visibly enough that even Gaspar noticed. He turned quietly and walked away.
“I’ll resolve the Cassian matter within two days.”
Two days? That’s all?
Gaspar’s eyes were thick with doubt. It was the skepticism of a man who didn’t truly know who Dein was.
The person who’d just left the office was a swordsman without peer, a mentor, and a guardian all in one.
* * *
The Fighting Arena.
When people first heard the name, they usually pictured two dogs baring their teeth, tearing at each other’s flesh.
But this particular arena was different. Though set underground, the fighting pit—accessible only to nobles and the wealthy—was grand in scale.
The roar of spectators carried even through the closed doors, proof of how wildly the crowds thrilled to the spectacle.
We had come to the Fighting Arena. Escorted down into the underground, we found a hall decorated as elegantly as a ballroom.
Yet the reality was dangerous and filthy. That Bella had been here weighed heavy on me. Even more so, knowing Cesare’s history.
“The Arena never changes, no matter how many years pass. Still crawling with depraved wealthy gentlemen.”
Cesare laughed softly, as though accustomed to the screams echoing from within. Jenia fixed him with a stare.
“Why do they call this place the Fighting Arena if people are fighting? People, not dogs.”
“Because they treat humans like dogs.”
A place where men are denied their humanity. In exchange, they receive compensation proportional to their degradation.
It was a place where Cesare had suffered for years.
“Did they treat you like a dog, then?”
“Yeah. But I was one hell of a vicious dog.”
Cesare bared his fangs in a grin, even though memories of this place couldn’t have been pleasant. He glanced back at me.
“Who’d have thought that old man Gaspar had actually seen Bella. How did you resolve the Cassian problem?”
“Showed him why he lost.”
Defeat is bitter, but ignorance is a crueler pain still.
Before going to convince Gaspar, I’d investigated what the Swallow Nest Guild members were saying about Cassian.
How he’d been in a slump lately. I remembered how, back during his losses, he’d studied my Swordsmanship intently.
Cassian didn’t understand why he’d lost. Not knowing the problem, he couldn’t fix it.
“After about three hours of instruction, it resolved itself.”
“You got yourself some high-quality tutoring, didn’t you.”
Throughout this, Arkel said nothing. He was methodically surveying the hall before the pit.
At expensive tables, men of obvious wealth were seated.
Bottles of fine champagne and charcuterie were common sights, and customers were purchasing papers of some kind from the staff—sums that looked considerable.
On its surface, it resembled an upscale salon. Except for the crude remarks scattered throughout.
“Last night’s match was tedious. I expected at least one arm to be severed.”
“Indeed. The match two nights ago was worth watching. Even when they begged for their lives, he kept killing.”
Refined voices. They sounded delighted. A reek of blood wafted from deeper within, yet they laughed.
After observing for a long while, Arkel finally spoke.
“So this is where you became a thug.”
“Either worry or insult me—pick one.”
It sounded like a rebuke directed at Cesare, but there was a cold fire flickering in Arkel’s eyes.
Whether Cesare knew or didn’t know, he turned his back to Arkel.
“In any case, let’s find out about Bella. I was the Champion here, so gathering information won’t be a problem.”
I wasn’t sure whether to be glad about that or not.
“…I’d be grateful.”
“Yes, just trust me!”
Cesare strode away. At the back of the hall stood a shabby wooden door.
He wrenched it open. The eyes of the staff eating inside widened.
“This is the staff area…. Eh, Cesare?!”
Not all of them, but several recognized him. Half looked delighted, half distinctly uncomfortable.
“I thought you’d retired for good—are you making a comeback?”
“No. Looking for someone. Ever seen a silver-haired woman?”
When Cesare described Bella’s appearance, one of the staff members tilted his head.
“You mean Beatrice? The one who won big at the gambling tables.”
“She was active right up until you arrived. Once her winnings got large, the Arena management tried to bar her—that’s when she disappeared.”
“She knew when to quit.”
“So do you know where she went?”
Cesare’s voice turned urgent. The staff member flinched at the sight of him, eyes bright with agitation.
“I-I’m not sure, sir. He barely spoke with any of us, kept to himself without companions… though I imagine the Kenmaster might know?”
Kenmaster? An odd title. In a place where fighters were called dogs, the owner would naturally go by such a name.
“That’s right. He’s been searching everywhere trying to learn Bella’s secret technique.”
Jenia’s face brightened at that. It was fortunate to find someone who knew where Bella had gone.
Yet despite the welcome news, Cesare’s expression twisted into something fierce. His fist came down hard on the table with a bang.
“The Kenmaster knows where that bastard is?”
The staff member who’d mentioned the Kenmaster’s name realized his mistake. Another employee nudged him in silent reproach.
As they traded glances nervously, Cesare let out a heavy sigh.
“Fine. I want to meet with the Kenmaster. Someone go tell her.”
“Yes! Right away, sir!”
Cesare watched the staff member scurry off. His expression remained dark.
“You have a history with this Kenmaster, it seems.”
“Yes, well… she worked me hard. Really hard.”
His face was tight with irritation. Just from watching his reaction, the tension between them was clear. Arkel asked, “How did she work you?”
“How did she work you?”
“She kept sending me out because my win rate was good. Even with broken arms and legs. Said it was more exciting that way.”
I already knew the Fighting Arena treated its fighters like animals. But hearing that my own disciple had lived through this—something hot rose in my chest.
Cesare continued muttering.
“Even when I tried to quit, it didn’t end well. So I don’t think she’ll give up information about Bella willingly.”
As we spoke, the staff member returned—with word that the Kenmaster had agreed to the meeting.
Still, Cesare’s expression remained reluctant. He glanced at us with cautious eyes.
“I’ll go alone and come back. She’s not worth you seeing.”
“You? Alone? Do you really think you can persuade her with your personality?”
I didn’t argue with Arkel. Cesare was never one for silver tongue. He hesitated, then glanced at me sidelong.
“…Then I’d rather go just with you, Master.”
Was there something he didn’t want his brothers to see? Arkel and Jenia said nothing more.
So Cesare and I alone made our way to the Kenmaster’s Chamber. The moment we stepped inside, I understood what kind of person this Kenmaster was.
A room steeped in twisted taste. Monster taxidermy crowded every corner, tiger pelts spread across the floor. A space that flaunted wealth, luxury, and cruelty.
And seated among it all was a small-framed woman.
“Well, well. Look who’s crawled back—my runaway dog.”
The Kenmaster looked younger than I’d expected. Charitable estimate: Cesare’s age. Her face was delicate, but her eyes gleamed with sadistic malice.
“I didn’t come crawling back.”
“Hmm. Then why are you here? And you’ve even brought your cute little puppy.”
She glanced at me with interest flickering across her features. Cesare ignored her question and spoke.
“I need information about Bella. Where is she?”
Her expression shifted at that—something like amusement crossed her face. She spoke with casual ease.
“I can tell you where she went. Once you put that collar back on. And accept your punishment, of course.”
She reached for the multi-tailed whip lying on the table, her smile turning sinister.
Cesare flinched and stepped back. Seeing that, a chill ran down my spine. I moved forward in front of him.
“My disciple is no dog, nor is he someone to be handed over to you. I will never surrender him to this place, not for a single moment.”
My disciple had been treated like an animal in this place. I would wage total war against the Fighting Arena itself before I bowed to this woman.
The Kenmaster smiled with crude satisfaction, regarding me.
“How adorable—the little puppy barks. Or perhaps… more like a tiger cub?”
She seemed to have the ability to gauge an opponent’s strength. She withdrew her hand from the multi-tailed whip.
“I can’t just give away information for nothing… How about this instead? You compete in the Fighting Arena.”
Her eyes traced over me like I was some delectable fruit she wanted to devour.
“If you win the tournament, I’ll tell you. Lose, and you become my dog. What do you say?”
“That’s absurd.”
Cesare burst out in protest. I gently touched his arm to hold him back.
“Does it matter which of our group wins the tournament?”
“No. Whether it’s Cesare or anyone else in your party—I don’t mind.”
She smiled, her pretty face turning bitterly sweet.
“Though you’d prefer Cesare doesn’t have to stay, wouldn’t you?”
It looked like she was giving us a choice, but she wasn’t. If we lost, I would stay willingly. Though we wouldn’t lose.
“Then that settles it. Let’s go, Cesare.”
I led Cesare out of the room. Even as I closed the door, I felt her unpleasant gaze boring into my back.
Once we were outside, Cesare forced an awkward smile, wiping his nose with his finger self-consciously.
“You saw something shameful.”
“It’s nothing. There was nothing shameful about it.”
Seeing that awkward smile on his face, I became resolved: the Kenmaster must be brought to her knees.
We returned to Arkel and Jenia. When we relayed what the Kenmaster had told us, Arkel spoke calmly.
“The championship, then…. It shouldn’t be difficult. If Cesare became a Champion before, I can manage it too.”
“Oh? Care to wager on that?”
In the meantime, Cesare seemed to have regained some of his vigor. Or perhaps he was simply pretending.
Jenia glanced toward the direction of the noise before looking up at Cesare.
“This is my first time at the Fighting Arena. How does it work?”
“One on one. No rules, no time limit. It doesn’t end until your opponent dies or surrenders.”
It had the stench of an illegal fighting pit about it. I harbored no doubts that my disciples would lose, yet it wasn’t a place one should linger in either.
We went to register the competitors first. As Jenia approached, the clerk, who had been expressionless, frowned.
“Children aren’t allowed to participate.”
Even in a place like this, there seemed to be some shred of conscience. Jenia, however, looked displeased.
“I’m an adult.”
“With that face? Don’t talk nonsense.”
“I can show you that I’m an adult.”
Tendrils seemed to writhe beneath her clothes, so I hastily pulled Jenia away.
“Jenia, since I won’t be fighting either, let’s watch together instead. The spectator stands are better for observing the matches. And you can eat fried corn too.”
Whatever she’d been about to show, it wouldn’t have been anything good. Jenia’s expression softened as she listened intently to my words.
“There’s such a thing as fried corn? Then I’ll watch.”
I managed to persuade Jenia at last. But Cesare’s expression had grown slightly stiff.
“You won’t be fighting, Master?”
“That’s right. You two should be sufficient. If I went out there as well, we’d be losing money unnecessarily.”
“Losing money?”
I glanced my head to the side. Beyond the registration desk, there was another counter.
“I can’t let the Kenmaster be the only one making profits.”
Where the crowds were gathering. The Betting Window itself. A place to wager money, much like using a betting window at a horse track.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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