◇Let’s rewind a bit to the time when Kai and the others started tackling the A-Rank Cube.

Here we are at the Dungeon Association’s Japan Branch.

In its interrogation room, a sternly restrained man and a woman in a suit face each other across a desk.

Tsubaki: “So, what is your objective? Feeling talkative yet?”

The woman is Tsubaki. As an A-Rank awakened, she is called the secret weapon of the chairman of the Dungeon Association, and mainly deals with awakened-related crimes. Excluding Reina, she’s the most formidable and righteous female public servant in Japan, her eyes are sharply vigilant, showing no sign of slack.

But this exchange is far from their first. The same question is asked every day, and the same answer invariably returns.

God-Destruction Cult Member: “To destroy the currently existing world of God.”

Tsubaki: “Is that all you people have to say? Do you enjoy pain? You don’t actually think there’s no torture in this country, do you?”

Speaking in a language other than Japanese, the man is a B-Rank awakened from the God-Destruction Cult, defeated by Kai. Even if he’s just a disposable tool for the God-Destruction Church, he’s still an upper existence of the world, an awakened.

Tsubaki converses in the same language.

Tsubaki: “Let me rephrase the question: Why target Kai Amachi? Aya Ryuenji is the daughter of Chairman Kagetora and an S-Rank, I understand the impact is significant. But why target Kai Amachi, an unranked?”

Tsubaki had researched since then, finding Kai had grown from unranked to registered as a C-Rank in the Association. She thought such a coincidence impossible, but when she asked the chairman, he made a goofy face and said it was a se-cret♥. She felt like punching him, but the chairman has no sense of pain, rather, it would probably hurt her instead.

God-Destruction Cult Member: “Hmph. Unranked? Him? Don’t talk nonsense. We were simply ordered to kill that man. If anything, targeting that woman was an afterthought.”

Tsubaki: “What… what do you mean? What is your objective? Is it not just to demonstrate your power through acts of terror?”

God-Destruction Cult Member: “Terrorism? Hahaha! What foolishness claim. We always act for a purpose. To destroy the existing world and create a new one. It’s not about showcasing our power, we move for our future, to reclaim the world the currently existing God has stolen from us.”

Tsubaki closes her eyes in surrender. The God-Destruction Church has been captured in the same way before. The same overseas. But it’s the same for everyone.

Destroy the currently existing world of God. All the low-level fanatics could say was that was their goal. It’s clear they’ve been brainwashed.

Just as Tsubaki was about to give up for the day and stand up, it happened.

God-Destruction Cult Member: “Let me ask you one thing.”

Tsubaki: “What?”

Hoping to draw some information from his question, Tsubaki decides to accept it.

God-Destruction Cult Member: “What’s the date and time now?”

Tsubaki: “The time?… Today is September 30th, just past noon. What about it?”

God-Destruction Cult Member: “Haha, I see. It’s about time then.”

Tsubaki: “Time for what?”

God-Destruction Cult Member: “Since we haven’t sent any reports… They people will come. They’re almost here, almost upon us. Those people!”

Tsubaki: “What are you…”

Just then, it happened.

BOOM!!

A massive explosion shook the entire Association building. As Tsubaki rose to her feet, a flustered staff member opened the door and called out to her.

Association Staff Member: “Tsubaki-san! A massive fire magic has hit the Association headquarters!! The scale of it, it’s at least an A-Rank. If not worse… It could be an S-Rank!”

Tsubaki: “What!? I’m on it! You, contact the chairman!”

Tsubaki left the interrogation room. Left behind, the man alone continued to laugh loudly.

God-Destruction Cult Member: “They’re here! The archbishops have arrived. It’s over, this country. Despite having no significant power, just for receiving the favor of the gods. This far eastern island nation is finished. …Hehehe…Hahaha!!”

◇Rewinding to Kai in the middle of his Knight advancement exam.

I was standing atop a pile of corpses. 30, so many it was almost laughable. And all of them had magic power of ten thousand, which makes them A-Rank. These alone would make up an entire rank.

They couldn’t coordinate as well as humans, but they still put up a fight.

However, I won.

Kai: “…So this is the difference in magic power. Proof that even 30 low A-Ranks can’t beat an S-Rank.”

I checked my status. Continuing to clear the B-Rank Cube at full power, and equipped with the best artifact from Aya, this is my power now.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

 

Name: Kai Amachi

Condition: Good

Job: Novice Knight (Light)【Novice】

Skill(s): The Eye of God, Access Right Lv2, Mirage

Magic Power: 251,185

Attack Power: Reflection rate ▶ 50 (+30)% = 200,948

Defense Power: Reflection rate ▶25 (+30)% = 138,151

Agility: Reflection rate ▶25 (+30)% = 138,151

Intelligence: Reflection rate ▶50 (+30)% = 200,948

Equipment

・White Sword of the Dragon King’s Stone (Artifact) = All Reflection Rate +30%

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

 

Thanks to the Aya’s artifact, all my abilities have increased by 30%. I’ve been clearing through almost all the B-Rank Cubes in the Kanto region with such momentum that my magical power has now reached 250,000. I was only able to do two a day, so I’ve cleared about 13 in a week.

I’ve taken down 30 enemies, and even though I’m breathing heavily, I walk forward, having decided to move on to what’s behind the door. However, the door, which the enemy had appeared from, is pitch black, not allowing me to proceed any further.

Kai: “Does this mean I should wait here?”

The purpose of this dungeon seems to be to wipe out the waves of enemies that come at you, much like a tower defense game.

So here I am, sitting down, eating a sandwich and drinking water that I bought at a convenience store. I’m tired, but I don’t have any serious injuries, so I’m doing my best to recover my stamina. Honestly, I’m a bit out of breath from all the running.

Kai: “If the novices have arrived… that means the advanced ones will be next, right? What’s above a novice knight anyway, an advanced knight?”

I know what the advanced versions of the shield-bearer and the mage are.

They’re paladins and wizards. Well, that’s probably the basic idea, but there’s likely some specialization involved. The guild master’s Berserker is probably a specialized shield-bearer. Perhaps the job changes according to the individual’s aptitude.

So what’s above my knight?

What exactly is a knight anyway? This tag around my neck that reads “Lancelot”. When I wear it, the promotion test changes to a knight promotion test.

Kai: “But for a novice, I think the power of the knight is unusual…”

Compared to other professions, I feel like the strength of the knight is a notch higher. But that could just be my imagination, since I don’t have many other samples to compare it to.

Kai: “…Here they come.”

Clank, clank.

I can hear the sound of armor walking. I wash down my food with water and get up. I ready my sword and without letting my guard down, I set my sights on the enemy that appeared.

From beyond the pitch-black door, two enemies emerged from the darkness.

Kai: “I thought as much… reminds me of the first promotion test.”

There was a knight with grand armor and a big shield, a Paladin. The same as Tsubaki from the Dungeon Association.

And another, a mage wearing a magnificent robe just like Tanaka-san. It was the mage’s advanced job, a wizard.

It seems there are two enemies.

Kai: “Two of them… haha, I can’t afford to be careless anymore.”

But I don’t have any room for error. I activate my Eye of the God and observe the world. My eyes, glowing golden, color the gray world and reflect the truth of it.

I swing my sword at the empty void.

That’s because, there…

Kai: “Unfortunately, in front of these eyes, no matter how well you hide!!—”

Screech!!

Kai: “I can see you! Assassin!”

There was a third enemy, an assassin, aiming for my life.