Part 2, Episode 203.
[The match has been decided as a ‘team match’.]
[The guilds participating in the first match are ‘Phoenix’, ‘Kasin-kyo’, ‘Ark’, ‘Ernest’, and ‘Crescendo’.]
[Named guilds, please determine the number of personnel who will participate in the competition.]
[The match begins in 15 minutes, so please leave the waiting room and go on stage within the time limit.]
I’m the one getting stuck right from the start.
After breaking through countless guilds, the sound of wailing echoed throughout the entire building as they faced the showdown between the giants from the very first match.
-Waaaaaaah!!!!!!!
Wow, is this for real!!
-Kaiser! Kaiser! Kaiser!
-Laihas! Laihas! Laihas!
What the hell, teenage guilds are facing off in the very first match?
– Scream, take off your panties, scream!!!
The sound of the drums had also become twice as loud as before, but Dohyeon, having entered the hallway leading to the stage via warp, realized it was an illusion.
Double?
Because it wasn’t just that much.
Boom- Thump-!!
thud!
“Kaiser! Kaiser! Kaiser! Kaiser! Kaiser!”
“Kaiser Punch! Kaiser Punch! Kaiser Punch! Kaiser Punch!”
“Kaiser Oppa!! I’m a fan!!”
Win, Hyung!!
“Gaaaaal!! How presumptuous!! You should be called Kashin, not brother!!!”
“King God General Kaiser Punch!!!! Kaiser, he is a godyyy!!!”
Countless people surrounding the stage were shouting their names.
The sound of drums ringing out several times louder than before, so loud that it didn’t feel like noise at all.
-Keruk! Kiruk!
-Lizari! Liza!
Hmm! Everyone is looking forward to it. To the great exploits that our Lord will display.
Dohyeon had no choice but to meekly nod at Charlie’s proud words, leaving the two jumping for joy behind.
It was because I felt it.
The expectation, joy, longing, excitement, and all that deep sincerity contained in their voices crying out for me.
It wasn’t even this bad during Demrok…
Even back then, although he was revered as a god, Demrok had only ten million users even during his prime.
Tens of millions who are probably watching through the broadcast…
No, perhaps it cannot be compared to the present moment when over a hundred million users are watching him.
At that, a chuckle escaped my lips without me realizing it.
“Wowww!!”
I believe.
“Kaiser Punch! Kaiser Punch! Kaiser Punch!”
I realized it all over again.
I wondered when you would catch up.
The fact that I have finally acquired enough influence to stand shoulder to shoulder with those called the pinnacle of this place.
No, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it has grown to the point where it has achieved even more than that.
It has regained its past glory.
So, there was only one thing to do now.
Smirk.
I’m going to turn this upside down.
Going all out so they won’t be disappointed.
Because that would be the only way to repay their sincerity.
Let’s go, Master!
-Lizariza!!
This humble sword is always ready, my lord.
The Guardians seemed to feel the same way, burning with enthusiasm as if they were about to jump in at any moment.
Of course, that didn’t mean I could actually jump right in.
[The match starts in 10 minutes.]
Because the game hasn’t started yet.
Has five minutes already passed?
It feels like I just savored the moment, but one-third of the time limit has already been deleted.
Since the participants are usually decided in advance, for most guilds it would be nothing more than a time to compose themselves…
It wasn’t for Dohyun.
Six people at a time… … who should I have participate?
It was because he himself had come in such a rush that he didn’t even have time to meet the guild members, so they hadn’t exchanged a single opinion.
No, more importantly, where is everyone?
Is it not coming out yet?
I should call him out to the guild chat first… …that was the point where that thought crossed my mind.
As the saying goes, speak of the devil and he appears.
“Ah, O Kasin.”
I greet the great Kashin who illuminates the light.
“Kamen.”
“Kamen…….”
Just as the light flashed a few times, believers appeared one after another in the hallway and knelt.
There are roughly twenty people.
Although there were not many of them, their disciplined posture—not to mention their attire, which was perfectly aligned in rows and columns—definitely created a strong impact.
“Oh God…….”
“Greatsword…… No, Ana.”
The fanatic, whose light seemed to vanish in an instant, returned to his original eyes filled with clear madness.
As Dohyeon caught his breath, she bit her red lips as if she felt incredibly guilty.
“I am sorry. To think that I did not come in advance and made you wait…….”
“……I came without saying anything, so of course it’s natural.”
However, Ana shook her head vigorously and blamed herself with her whole body.
And like the leader, like the follower.
Ah, we are not qualified to be believers.
No sooner had Ana finished speaking than the believers offered a prayer and attempted to commit seppuku.
Those crazy bastards.
What kind of performance is seppuku before a showdown?
Just as the terrified Dohyeon was immediately trying to stop and calm them down.
“……?”
Dohyeon couldn’t believe his eyes for a moment.
It was because a very familiar silhouette was seen among the believers who were about to commit seppuku.
Although the body is clearly covered by a mask and robe, the guard dog symbol engraved on the mask and the quiver peeking out from between the robe.
Swoosh.
And even the way he glanced around nervously like a puppy needing to poop every time our eyes met.
‘… … Harrington?’
That was definitely Harrington. That extraordinary gait is biometric authentication.
At that, Dohyeon felt bewildered.
Who is Harrington?
He is the master of Honest, one of the top 10 guilds and a participating guild in this match.
“Wait, what are we supposed to do if the Guild Master, who is supposed to be on the opposing team, comes this way?”
Isn’t that wrong, both morally and logically?
No matter how devout one’s faith, this was not right.
“These are the officers I have brought with all my heart and soul. Please grant the grace to the believers among them whom you favor to join me on the battlefield.”
“…….”
Normally, I would have flinched for a moment, cringing so hard my hands and feet curled up.
At the mention of one choice, Dohyeon answered immediately.
“Then first, that masked one with the watchman’s emblem on it…….”
“Ah, as expected… you have exceptional insight. To have accurately identified and named the strongest force right from the start….”
“……uh?”
The believers bearing constellations are those who possess the ability and will to do anything to convey the will of the Great Kasin. Though it may be presumptuous, I would like to invite you to join them if possible.
“ah.”
“Above all… to be honest, if the Watchdog Seat had been unable to register for battle due to circumstances, things could have become complicated. I had to choose one of the two… *Ahem*. It was because I had to prove my faith, so I earnestly ask for your forgiveness.”
“……I see.”
Is it just me, or do I feel like I know all too well what that situation might be?
Dohyeon let out a hollow laugh and soon decided to comply.
Didn’t they say that if it is an irresistible flow, you should not refuse it but ride it?
I don’t know. It’ll work out somehow.
When I selected the remaining members with a half-enlightened mind, those who were nominated all showed an emotional reaction and pledged their loyalty.
Unlike such a reaction, Dohyeon had no particular standards.
First off, Ana and Harrington are confirmed.
As for the remaining five, I simply chose the ones furthest from Ana among those who had constellations engraved.
It was because I thought, ‘Wouldn’t I be at least somewhat normal the further I am from Ana?’
[We have selected all guild members to participate in the competition.]
[The guild members participating in the combat guild ‘Kashin-kyo’ are , , , … … (etc.).]
After deciding on the believers to participate, perhaps a little over five minutes had passed.
Srrk-
[The competition begins.]
[All participating guild members, please enter.]
As the translucent barrier blocking the exit to the stage disappeared, a message appeared.
Has it finally started?
As he stepped forward without hesitation, Dohyeon, the believers, and all the guild participants were displayed on a giant electronic screen.
——!!!!
The air vibrated as a thunderous roar erupted.
As I walked along, receiving cheers that I had grown somewhat accustomed to now that I had heard a little, users from another guild soon came into my sight.
Thump, thump.
A blonde white person walking from the left.
A woman embodying typical Russian and Ukrainian beauty, and four burly men and one woman who appear to be from the same country.
[Phoenix]
It was Phoenix, a guild ranked among the top 100, known as a quasi-top guild.
Those coming from the right, which could be called the opposite side… … .
[Crescendo]
They were people I had never seen before.
Judging by the fact that no one is calling out their name, I suspect they are just an ordinary small to medium-sized guild with terrible luck in matchups.
And opposite Dohyeon, there were two hallways, so both guilds were visible.
“Ugh. I’m screwed.”
“Does it make sense to participate without a guild master?”
“Damn it, getting hooked on some weird religion…….”
“I want to quit the guild… but if I did, I wouldn’t even be able to keep my bones intact, so I can’t quit.”
“Still, they consider us a top 10 guild… If we leave here, what are we supposed to do when half of us are Explorer users?”
… … First off, one is the Honest Guild, to which Dohyeon has no choice but to pay attention.
and,
It’s been a long time, Lord Kaiser.
Yes. It’s been a while.
Suddenly facing each other at close range, a handsome man full of blue with a refreshing smile that makes everyone who sees him, and a man and woman holding spears.
[Ark]
They were members of Raihas and Ark’s guild.
He was also acquainted with Dohyeon.
The guild members standing behind him are unfamiliar faces, but Raihas feels quite close to them.
However, the ideal enemy I faced here is nothing but an enemy.
I have heard a lot of news.
“hmm?”
“Raon, I mean winning the war against that man and finishing the continental quest. Good grief… Lord Kaiser, you have no idea how heartbroken I was to hear that. Because you accomplished everything I failed to do, while I foolishly let my body be taken over.”
“It was the first time in my life I had felt such a kind of emotion. Ah, so this is what they call helplessness… It was a little later that I realized that.”
Perhaps feeling the same way, he makes no attempt to hide his competitive spirit, expressing it with his whole body.
It really made me think a lot.
A voice entering the ears, feigning composure but trembling slightly.
I wonder if they are looking at prey or a rival.
Or a look that makes it impossible to tell if he is looking at someone he must step over to climb over.
And that thought helped me grow. In just a few days, incomparably more than before.
From every single gust of air, a strong desire to fight at any moment is conveyed.
To the point of being burdensome.
… … normally, that is.
*chuckles*
Is it because I am pouring all my attention into Dohyun?
“……Did you laugh?”
Raihas, who had uncannyly noticed the slightly twisted corner of the mouth, narrowed his eyes and asked
At that, Dohyeon, as if having no intention of hiding it, instead curled the corners of his mouth.
“Well… I thought we had something in common, but looking at it now, I guess not.”
“What is that…?”
I don’t prefer long tongues before a fight.
“We came here to fight, not to catch up on each other, you know?”
Laihas’s face hardened.
As the look of excitement that had even seemed somewhat palpable vanished in an instant, Dohyeon finally nodded in satisfaction.
Then let’s get started. Everyone’s waiting.
“Phew, is it already over? I thought they’d be talking for a long time again, leaving us alone. What a relief. I almost attacked first.……”
“……!?”
Master of the Phoenix, Jennifer.
She made her hand into the shape of a pistol, placed it on her index finger, and playfully blew air as she interrupted, but then stopped and closed her mouth.
No, to be precise, it should be seen as being shut down half-forced.
“……What?”
As soon as it started, I saw a flash in front of my eyes, and Dohyeon’s new form had vanished.
As sparks and blue waves surged up around me at the same time, I hurriedly followed them with my eyes, but I could not even see a silhouette.
And the next moment.
Kwaaaaaaaang-!!
“Aaaah!?”
“W-what on earth is this…… *Cough*!”
“Aaaargh!”
A shockwave erupted behind my back, accompanied by a deafening explosion that seemed impossible to have been made by a human.
Jennifer and other guild members, along with users from other guilds, screamed as they were pushed like paper by the shockwave that swept across the entire stage.
Is he perhaps the master of one of the top 100 guilds in his own right?
What happened?
Even in the midst of that, Jennifer somehow managed to twist her body and strain her eyes.
It was a firm determination to grasp what had just happened.
However, perhaps because the dust wind was so thick, only a blurry shape was visible.
However, due to the strong shockwave, the dust storm cleared up faster than expected.
‘……oh my god.’
The moment she fully took in the form, Jennifer could not contain her astonishment.
And it was the same for others.
From the guild members on stage who were forcibly pushed back by the shockwave, to the countless spectators looking down at the stage from above.
“……what?”
“No, what is this…….”
“What the…….”
“W-what? What happened?”
Does this make sense?
At this moment, everyone was of one mind.
A strange scene where even cheering is forgotten, and only the murmuring sounds can be heard.
The fact that even the drumbeats that had been livening up the atmosphere had ceased reflected their emotions.
What was reflected in their eyes was… … .
“Why is Laihas lying there!?”
Laihas, lying on the floor in tattered, unsightly clothes, and
“next.”
It was Kaiser standing in front of him, wearing a satisfied smile with red chains wrapped around his hands.
