◆ Avangarde Royal Capital, Hotel Maison ◆
In the room where Lord Hast was staying, a truly diverse group of people had gathered. Among them were Ord, Kou, Bun, Seigel, Eeks, and Tiferia. Rash and Rutna, along with Truppo, were quietly seated on the bed. Those were the only familiar faces I recognized.
And every single one of these familiar faces was wearing a Kara Collar. Powerful individuals like Eeks and Tiferia were the first to be mandated to wear them. Of course, A-Rank Seigel and B-Rank Ord were included as well. It was clever to have the strongest ones wear them first. I couldn’t help but wonder where these intimidating people were and what they were up to.
This meant that, at this point, everyone here had their whereabouts exposed. The fact that they gathered here knowing that was impressive.
“The Babel Sky Cannon, huh… What can we do about it?”
“Nyaa.”
“We can’t just sit here and watch. Seigel.”
“Having someone like Eeks here is reassuring, but from what I’ve heard, there are no openings.”
“Nyaa.”
“「「「「…………」」」」”
Everyone’s attention was drawn to the girl snuggled up to Seigel. Her red hair formed animal ears, and her round eyes exuded a certain friendliness. She wore a dress that looked like it was made of fur. I had worn something like that right after I emerged from the Abyss Cave. She looked like she had just jumped out of the wild. She seemed younger than me.
“Seigel, have you finally decided to settle down? But for your taste, she seems a bit too young…”
“Don’t misunderstand, Eeks. This girl is just following me on her own…”
“Maternya is Seigel’s wife, nyaa. Seigel won against nyaa. So they’re getting married, nyaa.”
“W-What a situation this is. I need help.”
I couldn’t make sense of it at all. Getting married because he won? What kind of logic was that? From what I could see, this girl was incredibly strong. I felt bad for Seigel, but she didn’t seem like someone he could defeat at all. She clung to him tightly and wouldn’t let go, and Seigel looked quite troubled.
“Somehow, it feels unclean… Seigel has a nice face, but he seems too superficial for my liking.”
“Rutna, I can hear you.”
“It’s fine, Rash. More importantly, about Maternya, um, marriage is not something to be taken lightly. There are surely better men than me out there.”
“Is winning against nyaa something to take lightly, nyaa?”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
“Lightly, nyaa?”
In Maternya’s eyes, I could see the glint of a predator. The moment Seigel quietly replied, “It’s not light,” I felt like everything had been decided. I probably couldn’t escape now. Just a hint of her murderous intent was enough to make even an A-Rank tremble. It was all because of a fluke victory that I found myself in this situation.
“With this, Seigel can’t date various girls, huh? Well, isn’t that good? There are those who would hate it and call it unclean!”
“W-Wait. Give me a break…”
“With nyaa around?”
“No, wait. Just hold on. Let’s calm down.”
“Cheating, nyaa?”
Seigel, peering into those round eyes, replied with a barely audible, “No.” At this point, it was as if he had declared he was getting married. I only needed Kurinka, but Seigel was different. He was involved with various women and even had spare keys to their rooms, which made me feel uneasy. Thinking about it that way, maybe this was a good remedy for him.
“That gloomy uncle over there and two strangers are here, but…”
“It’s all over… just kill me already…”
“Everyone calls him a gloomy old man when they see him. Hey! Give a hearty laugh, will you? Ha ha ha!”
“Stop it, Rash. Being aggressive towards a weakened opponent only makes you look weak.”
There were two unfamiliar faces. Along with the girl named Maternya, there was a shabby-looking uncle who had been introduced. They were both part of the Ten Destroyers of Noibranz, having clashed during their respective missions. Above all, I truly wanted to know how Seigel had managed to win against Maternya.
“I defeated an S-Rank! I must be one step closer to Rua-neechan now!”
“It’s ‘we,’ right? You would have been defeated alone.”
“If I hadn’t gone to help you, you would have been killed.”
“So what? The fact that you couldn’t defeat it alone has nothing to do with me. If I had been the one trying to defeat it… That’s a serious topic change.”
“You were caught in a disgraceful manner too, weren’t you?”
“Ah, ugh… that’s…”
“Alright, let’s put our youthful troubles aside for now. This conversation isn’t getting anywhere.”
“Ufufufufu.”
That’s right, we were supposed to be discussing the Sky Cannon, but we were getting nowhere. I wished Tiferia would stop elegantly sipping her tea and laughing. I felt the same way.
“Lord Hast, are we leaving that gloomy uncle here?”
“I had Elmera check him before, and he possesses Divine Nature.”
“Divine Nature?!”
“It’s ‘Good Fortune.’ Perfectly compatible with a Master Gambler.”
“That explains why this old man has had such favorable developments. No wonder it’s been tough for him.”
Good fortune, meaning he had strong luck. It wasn’t about physical strength or anything like that; it was some kind of mysterious power. Right now, it seemed that Elmera’s Imagination Magic had sealed all his skills, and Meria’s magic was manipulating his very thoughts.
At this moment, this uncle had fallen into the mindset of wanting to work hard and live seriously. In other words, his good fortune was working towards him being able to work diligently. Therefore, he wouldn’t come up with any ideas to trap Rash and the others, and luck wouldn’t lead him in that direction. They explained that if you changed the person himself, you could seal that Divine Nature.
Meria’s incredible power was so profound that I couldn’t even tell if it was magic anymore. Yet, I wondered why he had been captured by Vandalsia.
“Considering what he did to Rash and the others, I want to give him the death penalty. However, thanks to Meria and the others, if all goes well, he might become a strong ally.”
“Eeks could become the strongest among the Destroyers if he gets into it. But if he doesn’t, he’s the weakest. The fact that Rash and the others managed to win is nothing short of a miracle.”
“The fact that they underestimated their opponent played a significant role. If they had come at him with the intent to kill, there’s no doubt they wouldn’t have won.”
“Maternya is lucky… I can never get married no matter what… It’s all over…”
“W-Well, more importantly! Weren’t we supposed to do something about the Sky Cannon?”
Eeks redirected the conversation again. It seemed like we hadn’t made any progress for a while. Nodding, Lord Hast summarized the overview of the Sky Cannon on paper.
- The main body of the Sky Cannon is far above, equipped with a system to intercept even Calamity Class threats.
- All satellites connected to the main body are linked by some means, and if even one is damaged, it will cause massive damage to the surrounding area.
- The locations of the satellites are unknown; from the explanation, they likely aren’t near the main body.
- The number of satellites is also unknown.
- The shapes and sizes of the satellites are unknown.
- Details on the power of the Sky Cannon are omitted; it has already been proven.
“That should cover it.”
“Isn’t there nothing we can do?”
“If there were, we wouldn’t be in such a dilemma right now, would we, big bro?”
Ord struck a pose of surrender, joking around. No, it seemed more like he genuinely thought it was impossible. I felt the same way; I had no idea how to destroy it. Above all, the biggest obstacle was that if even one was destroyed, there would be damage somewhere. With the potential for many people to die, I couldn’t act recklessly.
“But are we really just going to sit here and watch? If we don’t hurry, the Nation of Kashiram will be wiped out!”
“Calm down, Rash.”
“But, Eeks! If we don’t hurry…”
“If we could do it, we would have done it by now. The fact that they declared they would fire and still haven’t means they can’t shoot yet. Yes, they still can’t.”
Leaning against the wall, Eeks calmly guided the conversation while keeping Rash’s excitement in check. I wasn’t good at this kind of thing, but I believed Eeks would manage somehow.
“Indeed. With that level of destructive power, it must require a significant amount of time and energy. Right now, they must be in the preparation phase.”
“So if we destroy it before they fire…!”
“The task of destruction may fall to you, Rua. No, wait, wait… hmmm.”
“What’s wrong? If it’s destruction, leave it to me.”
“You really are throwing away your femininity, huh…”
Ord was genuinely taken aback, but I didn’t mind. As long as I had Kurinka, I was fine. Lord Hast stroked his white beard, gazing at the ceiling. If the wise one could come up with a good idea, I would go along with it. I wasn’t neglecting my efforts to think, but the only thing that came to mind was to ride Kurinka and destroy the satellites from above one by one. But that would cause an explosion.
“Wouldn’t it be better if we had more allies?”
“Not really.”
“I’ll go and call out to the other Adventurers, but I hardly see any of them. It’s like they’re all off somewhere working.”
“Eeks, is that true?”
“Seigel, didn’t you notice? Quite a few, including A-Rank, seem to have disappeared.”
“What the heck? That’s a mystery…”
“Just one thing,” someone spoke up softly. It was Platiu, rolling around on the bed. Now, she was bundled up in a blanket, with only her face peeking out.
“There’s a method.”
“Platiu, are you talking about the Sky Cannon?”
“Yeah.”
“I want to hear about it.”
“If we release a Virus, it will stop.”
“A virus?”
“It’s a computer virus.”
What? What is she talking about now? It sounded like something Elmera would use—Imagination Magic computer virus. But it seemed like no one else understood either. Eeks and Seigel looked just as confused.
“To put it simply, it’s a program that disrupts precision machinery. But Platiu, if such a thing exists, do you have any leads?”
“Terrace Grandpa.”
“Huh? Terrace…?”
“Terrace Grandpa has a bad relationship with Genia. So he’s probably creating a program to mess with her, or at least wants to.”
“Is this Terrace person in the Kingdom of Metallica?”
“Yeah.”
Terrace, I definitely heard that name before. And I’m sure I’ve met him. Kurinka seemed to think the same, nodding with certainty.
“Kurinka, could it be that Terrace…?”
“Yeah. He’s the old man I met when I went to the Kingdom of Metallica before. He was badmouthing Genia, that creepy old man. I think his title was Director… they called him Director Terrace.”
“That’s the one! Back then, I just thought he was a weird old man, but I had no idea he was so capable.”
“So, it seems that this Terrace person might hold the key? But he’s in the heart of Metallica… who’s going to bring him here?”
As he said “who,” Eeks was looking directly at me. It wasn’t just him; Tiferia had somehow come over and grabbed my arm, raising it without my consent. What is she doing?
“Alright! I’ll do it! Hehehe.”
“Tiferia, stop it! Well, if you insist, I’ll do it.”
“There’s no one more suitable than Rua. If we’re going to infiltrate the Kingdom of Metallica and bring out the relevant person, no one else can do it.”
If that’s the case, Tiferia could do it too. When I said that, Tiferia should have been offended, but she was still holding my hand.
Ord and Seigel were all silently nodding along, and Platiu was grinning. Ah, maybe this was her plan all along.
“I’m fine with us doing it, but the Kingdom of Metallica is vast. The last time we met, it was at the Metal Tower; I wonder if he’s still there.”
“Infiltrating and bringing out just one old man while escaping to safety? That’s not just difficult; it’s impossible…”
“…No, he probably isn’t at the Metal Tower.”
Hast’s unexpected statement left everyone bewildered. Platiu looked confused, still wrapped in her sheets.
“According to the information I’ve gathered, there are quite a few who have refused to wear the Kara Collar. Those individuals were captured and taken away on an airship.”
“W-where were they taken?!”
“If my guess is correct, it’s likely the Grand Hate Prison.”
“The Grand Hate Prison?!”
The first to be shocked was Ord. Even he knew about it and was surprised. It seemed like this was going to be a more troublesome job than I thought.
“The Grand Hate Prison… it’s the most secure facility for incarcerating criminals in the Kingdom of Metallica. Surrounded by an endless sea, it has never allowed a single escape in its history. Rescue is out of the question; the most terrifying part is that once you’re imprisoned, you can never leave alive.”
“That’s classic Eeks for you. Well, even I know about that super famous place. I think the name comes from…”
“It means ‘Great Hostility,’ directly referring to rebelling against the Kingdom of Metallica.”
“Oh, as expected of Platiu. You’re smart.”
“That girl is S-Rank, you know. Ord.”
“Oh, really… huh?”
Platiu was still wrapped in her sheets, looking up at Ord with a mocking expression. Was she trying to flaunt her S-Rank status? Tiferia was inexplicably waving at Platiu, getting closer to her.
Leaving these two strange girls aside, if we were going to that prison, we might need the same resolve as facing the Abyss Cave.
“Considering the recent rise and fervor of Metallica, it wouldn’t be surprising if this Terrace person is imprisoned there. Well, I can’t be sure.”
“That’s right! We need to investigate that area… Rua, can you contact Genia and subtly probe her?”
“Hmm… I’m not good at that kind of thing, and I really don’t want to see Genia’s face. Platiu feels the same way, right?”
Platiu didn’t say anything. Maybe she still believed in Genia, but she definitely shed tears. It was a fact that she was sad. Personally, I wanted to settle this matter regarding Terrace. Depending on the response…
“Isn’t what we’re trying to do a bit outlandish?”
“Aniki, that’s a no-no.”
Saying that only made me feel more exhausted. We hadn’t done anything yet, but I felt my motivation draining. But with the Kingdom of Kashiram facing destruction, I had no choice but to act. That King probably didn’t even try to negotiate, thinking he could just rely on his fighting spirit. Thinking about that made me want to leave it alone.
“How about we just throw it all onto Elmera and the others?”
Hehe, while saying that, Hast finally mentioned the name of the person I wanted to rely on the least. Sure, with Imagination Magic, she could probably do anything, but that would definitely end with me having to bow my head.
“Should we… ask her?”
“Even Kurinka…?”
Ugh. What was the point of all this discussion?
◆ Avangarde Royal Capital, West Street ◆
“Damn it! I was scared earlier, but now I’m just pissed off!”
Before I met the Flash Strike Girl at the Adventurer’s Guild, I’ll admit I underestimated her. Who would believe the tall tales of a kid around fifteen? At first glance, she looked like a cheeky brat, with a frail body for her age. Anyone would let their guard down around her.
What? Just a kid? I felt relieved until that moment.
“Enkal, calm down.”
“I know! But, Shim! I was known as the ‘Head-Hunting’ Enkal, and I had a bit of a reputation! That was before that little girl showed up!”
“I know. I followed you because I admired you.”
Not just Shim and Aida here, but many others looked up to me. I was counted among the factions of Adventurers bustling in the Royal Capital. Though overshadowed by the largest faction, Greyman’s group, I was recognized by myself and others as someone who could aim for A-Rank next year. After fifteen years of struggle, I felt I was getting stronger, even if I kept failing the promotion tests.
“Having a brat like that strutting around is going to ruin the name of Adventurers.”
“Indeed, lately, requests for the Flash Strike Girl have been increasing. Rich folks are throwing ridiculous amounts of money for leisure requests.”
“The clients look obviously unsure too, right?! They whisper if it’s really okay to go with the Flash Strike Girl! I almost wanted to kill them!”
“We’re not the only ones who are pissed off. Almost everyone there felt the same. If it were a normal opponent, we could have just surrounded them and intimidated them a bit…”
That’s right, it wasn’t just me. Despite her innocent face, when she gets angry, she sends shivers down your spine. Those who encountered monsters with no escape and no chance of winning probably felt that same sensation. Even if I was angry in my head, something deep inside warned me not to resist. My body wouldn’t move; I felt like I wanted to cry out for help, even for just a moment. That’s the kind of monster the Flash Strike Girl is.
“Even though she’s supposed to be human… Why is there such a gap, even with the Level Cap?”
“She’s from a different dimension than us, that one…”
I could tell Aida, standing shoulder to shoulder with me, was feeling down enough to consider retiring from being an Adventurer. My anger wouldn’t settle, and I was pondering where to direct my frustration.
I thought about kicking the filthy stall counter, but I held back at the last moment. If I took my anger out on some object because of that brat, it would ruin my reputation as a head-hunter. But what should I do? It didn’t have to be a fight; I just needed to find a way to put that brat in her place.
As I navigated through the bustling crowd, the sheer volume of people began to feel overwhelming. Among them, a group of five individuals wearing wide-brimmed hats approached from the front. Their faces were obscured, but their formation was clear: two on either side of a central figure. It was evident they were not from this country.
“Looks like we’ve got some strange folks here…”
“Do you need strength?”
“Are you talking to me—?! What the hell are those numbers?!”
The central figures among the hat-wearers displayed unmistakable Adventurer’s Guild cards. The problem lay in the level displayed on them.
“Level… 999?! This has to be some kind of mistake! Who the hell are you?!”
“I am not special. I have merely acted as any person should.”
“I don’t understand what you mean. I suspect foul play with those Adventurer’s Guild cards.”
“The famous Flash Strike Girl possesses similar numbers. However, that child is steeped in sin… She gained her wicked power by taking lives and bathing in their blood.”
“Are you saying she’s the same? No, levels don’t just increase without some kind of sacrifice…”
Neither I, Aida, nor Shim could grasp what the hat-wearers were saying. Their faces remained hidden, but their attire was oddly familiar.
“You guys are from the Uzei Religion, right? You were here in this country before.”
“I see you can read! You think joining the Uzei Religion will grant you similar levels? Ridiculous! Who would trust such blatant fraud?”
“It is unfortunate you do not believe. Then…”
“Hey!”
I expected them to be more fervent in their recruitment, but the five simply walked past us, their strides unnaturally synchronized, as if they were a single entity.
“When one reaches the truth, they are sublimated. Yet, wrongdoings yield nothing but ruin.”
“There is not just one path. When you feel the peak of your ideals is distant, it is a sign you have lost your way.”
“Choose wisely. Will you spend your life accumulating sins while chasing unreachable ideals?”
“Or will you understand the truth and grasp the peak?”
“We offer you a chance to reconsider your existence as a person. Yes, anyone can do it.”
“Returning sins to the heavens…”
The five halted simultaneously, their breaths in perfect unison. I realized it wasn’t just their appearance and behavior that made them stand out.
“Hey, even dressed like that, why is no one paying attention to them?”
“Despite taking up the entire walkway, people are naturally avoiding them…”
“These guys are no ordinary folks…”
As I observed them, I found myself walking forward unconsciously. Shim and Aida followed slowly behind me.
“Follow me. Then the path shall open.”
I sensed those words weren’t directed solely at us. Turning around, I noticed a long line of Adventurers forming behind us, following the hat-wearers like refugees.
“My name is Ryoho. I am heading to the Holy Nation of Uzei. The journey itself is also training; I hope you come to understand the truth of the Uzei Religion along the way…”
The Kingdom of Metallica had imposed significant restrictions on passage. How had they managed to infiltrate the Royal Capital? Why were they acting so boldly without facing any repercussions? We had already grasped the answer: the unfathomable power and skills emanating from them. Perhaps I understood it instinctively.
“Let’s go, Shim, Aida.”
“Okay.”
“Understanding the truth grants you power, huh?”
Even though I couldn’t see his face, I felt as if Ryoho, the one who had introduced himself, smiled faintly.
◆ Shin Report ◆
First, gather your strength.
Whatever you do, if you make the Kingdom of Metallica your enemy,
this current lineup feels lacking.
The nation can be destroyed by Rua alone.
However, the Sky Magic and the Celestial…
There’s no way there are no defensive lines.
By the way, Shokun,
if you’re tailing them, it’s obvious that this lineup is gathering at the mansion.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the counterattack plan was already exposed.
There’s no time left.
Moreover, the head of the nation…
They’re probably trying to destroy the Sky Magic through investment.
I must remind myself not to do anything unnecessary.
Ah, there’s so much to do.
Thinking about it makes me crave something sweet.
Oh, there’s a pudding bun here!
Yum, yum.
Hmm? Something is written on it.
If I eat it, I’ll…
Guhh!