Sato was beheaded and died.

The rolling head falls to the ground with a squishing sound.

I close my eyes for a moment.

I didn’t feel too sad because I only had bad memories from him.

Still, the death of an acquaintance was a little heart-wrenching.

“Tanaka-san, I understand something. The only correct answer in this area is to take the posture of loyalty that we saw earlier.”

” Yeah, with this just now I understood it too. We can only do that pose in the eye area; we can do it in the body area, but we can’t hold our breath for long. Until we move, maybe we’ll have to wait in front of the angel without breathing. That’s quite sadistic.”

Tanaka-san seemed to realize it too and moved to the eye area to share it with everyone.

“Everyone, to the eye area! Take the praying pose like before! You will be held with a sword on your shoulder, but do not move! Endure it!”

Tanaka-san also informs Colonel Alfred.

『Colonel Alfred also understands, right?』

『Yeah, thanks to that boy. A naive hero’s desire… but sometimes God’s favor occurs in the spirit of self-sacrifice. It’s a stroke of good luck.』

Then we all enter the eye area and take the posture of loyalty.

There is a tapping sound.

The angel must be walking towards us slowly.

I sweat as the sword is placed on my shoulder.

Even though I knew it was okay, I felt like I might run away in fear.

The sword is placed on the right shoulder and then on the left shoulder.

Then the apparently satisfied angel’s footsteps move to the side.

As I listen closely, I hear the sound of the angel flapping its wings, seemingly indicating that it has finished with everyone.

Immediately after that, our vision is restored, and I open my eyes.

The angel flaps its wings and disappears into the dark darkness that spreads to the ceiling and beyond.

Immediately after, I heard that lifeless voice.

『Challenger: Kai Amachi. The Trial of Knowledge has been cleared. Teleporting.』

At the same time I hear it, I and the others are teleported back to the first room.

I collapse on the floor in relief, and close my eyes.

“I survived…”

『The Trial of Knowledge has ended. Six out of fifteen have cleared. The next trial will begin in 1000 seconds, 999, 998…』

“There’s more?”

My bad feeling is confirmed.

Just how long will this continue? If there is power and knowledge, then what will be the next trial?

And I look at the painting. The left one must be the Trial of Strength, the middle one is the Trial of Knowledge.

And the next trial, which is the information I want to know the most, has a gap in the mural, and I can’t see it clearly.

“Kai-kun, thank you. I survived because of you.”

While looking at the mural and contemplating, Tanaka-san and Midori-san walk up to me.

“N-No! I was just lucky.”

“That’s not true. If you weren’t there everyone would have died. No that I can calm down and think about it, I really was panicking and unable to think very well. Even though I’m in the top guild, it’s embarrassing. Wait, come over here. You have wounds, I’ll heal you.”

“While I was still rolled over on the ground, Midori-san came over and tended to my wounds and healed me.

A kind, warm light wrapped around my body.

『Thanks for the help, lucky boy!』

『Even though you’re dumb, I like that. Hot blooded boy!』

While Midori-san was doing that, two soldiers came and ruffled my hair.

On those faces were the expressions of relief from surviving and feelings of thanks towards me.

From those large hands, I became a bit embarrassed.

『Mr. Tanaka, at this point we should both share the information we have; don’t you think? We’re already past the point of chain of command talk at this point.』

『Understood.』

We then sat down formed a circle, three Japanese and three US soldiers.

One after another, we began to introduce ourselves.

“I think many of you know but, I am a bottom A Rank mage. I am a fire-type. I can use a sword a bit, but I can’t compare to someone with a warrior-type job.

“I am Midori Tendo, I am a healing magician belonging to Avalon. I can fight to an extent but I am B-Class. By the way, I am planning to be Issei…Tanaka’s wife. The ceremony will be in the future but…We will be married soon.”

“Ah- Is that so! Congratulations!”

『That’s a happy thing. While being in a relationship, you really did something reckless that time… no maybe because you’re in relationship huh? HAHAHA』

One after another, six people introduce themselves.

At first, I had a scary impression of the soldiers but with Tanaka-san’s translations, my impression of them changed.

Everyone has a family, children they want to protect, and a country that they are fighting for.

While happily being shown those pictures of their family, I repeated to my self over and over again that I will survive no matter what.

That was the same for Colonel Alfred who tried to kill Sato by throwing him. I can’t agree with that but to anyone, their own life is number one, even then, I can’t permit it but I can understand.

Cold and ice. A good soldier but even still, blood flowed through those veins.

And then, my turn to introduce myself came around.

“I am… Kai Amachi…I am…Unranked.”

『WHAT!? UNRANKED!? An unranked survived!? No way!?”』

I was surprised at the soldier’s words.

They are A-Rank, even though there were many other strong people, the unranked who should be the weakest survived, is what he seemed to be surprised at.”

When I made a complicated face, the two of them panicked and apologized.

『Sorry. We didn’t mean any harm, but… you know, being an Unranked is like being just an ordinary person.』

Their argument was valid, and I understood it better than anyone else.

In the world where almost everyone has awakened, the Unranked are at the bottom of society and are unable to even defend themselves.

They are the Old Humans who possess little magical power.

I, on the other hand, was a human with only five magic power, I was called trash who couldn’t win against anybody.

But Tanaka-san denied that.

“Ahh, he’s Unranked. But that’s precisely why he uses his head to survive. Unlike us, who have relied on a power we hardly understand called magical power. I genuinely admire him.”

“Tanaka-san…”

Tanaka-san, as If comforting me, placed his hand on my shoulder.

『You ain’t wrong! Lucky boy, I’m relying on you for next time! My newly-wed wife is waiting at home, and I have to live to return to her』

『I’m the same! Well, my wife probably thinks I should die soon. Hahaha! But my daughter… she’s still small. She’s cute.』

The soldiers showed us the pendant they wore around their necks with their family’s photo inside.

The little girl was adorable, and it momentarily eased the tense atmosphere.

Alfred didn’t show us his pendant, but he probably had one too.

With the remaining time, we talked a lot about ourselves. Because of this situation, we could communicate from the bottom of our hearts, transcending language barriers.

Of course, everyone had a family, someone they loved waiting for them at home.

I was the same.

I had Nagi, my dearest sister, who was waiting for me in the darkness, trembling.

That’s why I want to survive.

“All right, everyone, stand up!”

Following Tanaka’s words, we stood up and linked our shoulders.

It was like forming a circle.

“Let’s do our best until the end. If we combine our strength, we can overcome anything. When this is over, let’s go for a drink! Japanese sushi is delicious, you know?”

『’OK OK! Good idea!』

『’Japanese food is great! Sukiyaki! Shabu-shabu! Sushi!』

『I like Japanese beer too. Especially Super Dry』

“Can you drink, Kai-kun? You don’t seem like someone who drinks much.”

“I’m still underage, but since it’s a special occasion, I’ll have a little.”

We laughed and linked our shoulders in a circle.

It was the first time I had done this since middle school, and I felt a little embarrassed. However, I was filled with a sense of determination.

“Okay, let’s end this and have a drink!”

“OOoo!!!”

『OORAH!!』

『The time has come. Participating members: 6. Teleporting.』

With that voice, our visions descended into darkness, and we teleported.

“Where is this…?”

Where we were teleported was a small room

A classroom sized, small stone-tiled room, and in front of our eyes were two doors.

“Three people? Does this mean only three people can enter?”

On each of the two doors, the words, ‘three people’ were written.”

“So that’s it, we’re being split into two huh?…Then, how do we split three people into two…?”

『That’s decided, We go here, you three, there.』

『Mhm, it comes down to that I guess.』

In a second, the groups are decided.

The three soldiers and, here with Tanaka-san, me, and Midori-san.

We three faced each other and shook each other’s hands.

『Okay, Issei, Midori, Kai. I don’t particularly like Japan that much but, I don’t dislike you guys』

『Colonel Alfred as well as the rest. Please, come back safe.』

*Gi Gi Gi*

With that scraping sound, the door opened and with a glance back we separated.

This one must be the last trial. Why? Because there were three paintings, the trial should be the last.

After opening the door, we were met by a pure black room and shade which was dark like void.

I felt by body tightening up. As if jumping into a pitch-black hole.

“I can’t see a thing…Are you there? Midori, Kai-kun?”

“Yes, right behind you.”

“Me too”

“Okay, it’s a bit dangerous. I’m going to use fire ma—!?”

It was as Tanaka-san was going to use fire magic to create a light.

Suddenly, a bright flash, threatening to blind me, lit up the room.

“Huh? Something…”

It was a golden light.

From that light, the previously dark room was lit.

And the same time I heard it.

“”UuUOoOO—-!!!!””

The atmosphere trembled, and the cries echoed throughout the room.

The yells of the strong directly pleaded to my instincts.

Furthermore, the bearer of that voice was not alone, there were countless voices.

Following my instincts, I blocked my ears and to find out what happened, scanned the room.

“M-Monsters!?”

The owners of those voices were monsters.

“What is this…”

“No way…”

Those monsters were on the other side of golden iron bars.

We were in a long room like a hallway, but we couldn’t see the ceiling.

It was like we were on a straight path, just like when Moses parted the sea.

And on both sides of that path, golden iron bars shone and stretched up to the sky.

On the other side, monsters that I had never seen before pounded on the bars, demanding to be let out.

I couldn’t tell how many there were, but they seemed like opponents that I couldn’t handle whatsoever.

They looked like monsters that only an S-rank adventurer could put up a fight against.

“How many of them are there…”

A swarm of demon beasts that filled my entire field of view, enough to remind me of the word ‘infinite’.

Those monsters roared in anger and reached out to us with resentment through the iron bars on both sides.

It was just like they were prisoners.

It was the anger towards the ones who had trapped them here for eternity.

They were trying to eat and kill us.