Aya: “Should I stay as well?”

Kai: “No, sorry. I’ll probably go solo… I wouldn’t be able to protect you if anything happened. It’s safer if you stay with Tendou and the others.”

Aya: “You’re right, I’m sorry. Please be careful! I’ll be waiting here.”

Kai: “Got it!”

After we conquered the AーRank Cube, we decided to part ways. The chairman and others returned to Tokyo, and I was the only one who decided to use the Class Up Ticket. Tanaka-san promised to stay with me so he could take me to the hospital immediately if something happened.

I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done.

Tanaka: “Well, I will stay with you, Kai-kun. Take care, Chairman Kagetora. Please send my regards to Tsubaki-kun.”

Chairman Kagetora: “Tsubaki-kun… I wonder if she’s angry.”

Kai: “I think she’s really angry.”

Chairman Kagetora: “I don’t want to go back… I want to stay here.”

Tendou: “Hey, old man, let’s go home. Be plenty afraid… Hey, don’t make a scene! You’re going to break the tree! Reina, hold him down!”

Reina: “Understood.”

As the chairman was led away by Tendou and the others, he seemed like a petulant child. I wouldn’t want to deal with a child of that size, but the chairman gave up and headed to Naha Airport. Tanaka-san and I were the only ones left, waving goodbye to everyone.

The AーRank Cube is actually only a few hundred meters away from that hotel.

So the move was quick, but since it might be a long journey, we stocked up on food at a nearby convenience store.

Tanaka: “Well, Kai-kun, shall we go? With this Class Up Ticket or whatever it’s called. The hospital is just around the corner. There’s one of the best doctors in Japan here, so don’t worry.”

Kai: “Haha, I don’t like the fact that you’re preparing for a severe injury, but that’s reassuring.”

Tanaka: “Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee your safety. I’ll make arrangements so that we can do something if you come back alive.”

Kai: “Hearing that makes me hesitate a bit…”

Tanaka: “Haha, go ahead. I have work to do, so I’ll wait here.”

Saying this, Tanaka-san pulled out a chair and desk from his car, and a parasol. He created a comfortable space on the square in an instant and started working on his laptop. While being impressed by his ability to work anywhere, I took out nine Class Up Tickets and one more from my bag.

Kai: “Well, here I go.”

I bundled the ten silver tickets. Immediately, the shining tickets merged into one.

Tanaka: “Oh, this is… Hm? The color is changing from silver.”

Kai: “Huh?”

The ticket, which had been shining silver, turned gold immediately.

『The user’s magical power of over 100,000 has been confirmed. Knight’s crest confirmed. Advanced Knight Promotion Exam… changing from Advanced to Awakened. 』

I was surprised and looked at the status of the ticket that was shining in gold.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Category: Item

Name: Class Up Ticket (Awakened) (10/10)

Obtaining Difficulty: S

Effect: –

Description: The Awakening promotion exam in which only those with a magical power of 100,000 or more can participate will begin.

Transfer in 00:00:10.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

“Not this again!! And I have only 10 seconds left!!”

Tanaka: “What happened, Kai-kun!”

In anger, I clenched the ticket. There was nothing I could do now, whether I tried to tear up the ticket or throw it away, I would be forcibly transferred. Moreover, aren’t there too many hidden elements? Eye of God, please do your job properly.

Kai: “Sigh… Tanaka-san… I…”

Tanaka: “Yes?”

Kai: “I might not make it back alive…”

Then, with tears in my eyes, my vision went dark.

◇

Tanaka: “He’s gone…”

Tanaka watched Kai’s last tear and sighed, knowing there was nothing he could do but wait. As he was about to start his work on his laptop, his phone rang.

Tanaka: “…Hello, this is Tanaka.”

Chairman Kagetora: “Ah, Tanaka-kun? It’s me, where is Kai-kun?”

Tanaka: “He just left…”

Chairman Kagetora: “I see, I didn’t make it in time…”

Tanaka: “Why the rush?”

Chairman Kagetora: “I just found out… they’ve come to Japan. The God-Destruction Cult.”

Tanaka: “…What do you mean? To Japan?”

Chairman Kagetora: “Yes, they’re probably on the news already. They came with archbishops. Ryunosuke, Reina and I will handle this. They’re causing havoc in Tokyo, but we don’t know what their goal is.”

Tanaka immediately opened his computer to check the news. The headline was about a terrorist act in Tokyo and urgent evacuation. The details mentioned a bombing attack on the Japan Dungeon Association’s Japan Branch and indiscriminate attacks on conquerors.

Tanaka: “Understood, I will also take measures immediately. I’ll mobilize Avalon’s first army. Yumiichi-kun is… in NY, if I’m not mistaken.”

Chairman Kagetora: “It’s unfortunate timing. So, I’ll leave it to you. Right now, Tsubaki-kun is dealing with it… but frankly, it’s tough. The archbishops are SーRank. And it seems there are four of them.”

Tanaka: “…Four SーRank… Then… we need support from the U.S. as well.”

Chairman Kagetora: “Yes… I’ve already requested aid from the NY Dungeon Association’s headquarters, but it will probably take half a day for them to arrive from the U.S. That’s why you should stay there and wait for Kai-kun. We’ll need his power.”

Tanaka: “Understood.”

And then, Tanaka immediately made another call. Avalon’s first army is composed of elite members who have all experienced clearing an AーRank Cube. However, the enemies are SーRank, humanity’s greatest battle force. Even if an AーRank cannot compete with them.

So, Tanaka waits.

Tanaka: “Kai-kun… Come back soon…”

For the other SーRank who was newly born in this country.

◇Kai’s Perspective

Kai: “And with this…10!”

I was in a room similar to the one I was in during the Trial of God, a perfectly square room. There were four pillars standing at equal intervals in the room, but they were not even comparable to the size of before; a cube with about 200 meters to each side. It’s so spacious you could play a baseball game here.

And there, 10 Shield Bearers awaited me.

Kai: “Well, the number alone is tough. It’s too many. Plus, they all have 10,000 magic power, they’re AーRank.”

I looked at the status of the remains of the Shield Bearers.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Name: Shield Bearer

Magic Power: 10,000

Skill: Provocation

Attack Power: Reflect Rate  ▶  25% = 2,500

Defense Power: Reflect Rate  ▶  50% = 5,000

Agility: Reflect Rate  ▶  25% = 2,500

Intelligence: Reflect Rate  ▶  25% = 2,500

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Kai: “I’ve managed to defeat them all for now…”

10 Shield Bearers. The number was large, but they weren’t a match for me now. However, the fatigue keeps piling up.

I looked at the door deeper inside.

Right after, more Shield Bearers and mages appeared. Their number might be twice as many as before.

Kai: “Well, it’s not going to end just like that, is it?”

I used Mirage against the 10 Shield Bearers and 10 mages. Next, I will have to face a total of 30, including the Assassin.

Kai: “Just increasing the number is taking the easy way out!! Damn you, god!!”