Chapter 362 - C-Rank Advancement Examination (14)

Merdie ended up slaughtering Gad ten times.

Actually, Gad was already trying to surrender during the second round, but before he could even say anything, he was mercilessly obliterated multiple times afterward. Merdie’s attacks were so quick that Gad couldn’t even give up.

By the time Gad opened his mouth just a second after he was revived, Merdie would have already smashed his body into smithereens with her Fist. Because the blow was too powerful, not a single fragment was left. It made me pity Gad for just a tiny bit.

However, it was very rare for Merdie to go berserk like this. She had been slightly annoyed when she had been insulted by Gad back when he tried to hit on Luna and her, but… she was not the type to be deeply hurt by such things. Perhaps it was because Luna was insulted that she became like this. It would be totally understandable if that were the case.

Merdie said that she was doing this as revenge for all the women that Gad harassed in the past, and because of his offhand remark about her being a beastkin.

Still, I felt that something was different.

I was curious, so I tried probing her true feelings by using mind reading.

(Ahh, that feels so refreshing, meow! It’s pretty good to hit something with all you’ve got once in a while, meow.)

…Oh, so it was just a stress reliever for her.

That was just so Merdie.

“Alight, it’s my turn next.”

Sylph was taking the test after Merdie.

Wind Spirit King Sylph, Akari the reincarnated hero, Former Demon King Sitri, and Luna were the only ones left to take the advancement examination. We decided to do the test in this order back when I said I would go first.

“You’re the next one?”

He died that many times already, and yet he was still in the mood to continue the exam. Gad’s mental fortitude was admirable, I think.

“What the, you’re just a brat.”

“I may look like this, but I’m older than you, you know.”

Not only was she older, her existence was already leagues above his.

She’s a Spirit King, after all.

The strongest beings in this world were undoubtedly the deities. However, because they have restrictions in place when it came to using their power in the Human Realm, they couldn’t unleash their strength as much as they wanted to. If the deities were to use their power without abandon, the world would surely collapse.

The ones entrusted with the management of the human world by these deities were the Spirit Kings. In other words, Spirit King Sylph is currently the strongest being in the human world—well, except for a certain group of people.

"I can start now, right?"

"Yeah. You can go from anywhere──"

With a flick of her wind, Sylph cut off Gad's half-spoken words.

Leaving behind a slightly amusing death cry(?), Gad vanished from view.

The magic wielded by the Spirit King—an existence with overwhelming mana—wasn't something that a mere human could endure. It was also the first time I had seen Sylph use magic seriously.

"I may look like this, but I don't want to be called a brat by someone I've just met."

Gad, you misspoke, huh.

Well, it can't be helped.

The slaughter time by the Spirit King who snapped (just a little bit) has now begun.

──＊＊＊──

“I’m ne~xt!”

“Akari. Come here for a bit.”

“Okay. What’s up, Haru-Nii?”

It would be terrible if Akari were to unleash her full power.

She was way too powerful to do that.

She was one of the ‘exceptions’ that were stronger than the Spirit Kings.

At first, I agreed that Akari could go all out, but… after witnessing Ryuushin and Merdie’s growth, I needed to reconsider it.

“Don’t go all out when you’re fighting.”

“Eh!? But you told me earlier that I can… Why am I not allowed now?”

“Sorry. Akari is super strong, so fight with just 30% of your usual power, alright?”

“T-Thirty?”

Ryuushin easily tore down a hole in my dungeon after his growth. His attack didn’t have any impact on the outside world, but the problem wasn’t its effect; it was the fact that he could.

And Akari here was several times stronger than Ryuushin.

“Please.”

“...Okay, got it, Haru-Nii.”

After saying that, Akari whipped a jet-black blade out of nowhere as she strode towards Gad.

…E, Eh?

H-Hey, Akari-san?

That black sword—isn't that a Genesis-tier weapon?

Aren’t you taking this too seriously?

Did you listen to what I just said?

Didn’t I say to use 30% of your power, right?

I felt a bit uneasy, so I read Akari’s mind.

(30%, he said. But I wouldn’t be able to put up a good show for everyone if I did that.)

No, that was not true at all.

Akari’s 30% was already way stronger than Ryuushin’s full power!

“The next one’s another brat, huh.”

“I’m Akari. I’m in your care.”

“... Oh well. C’mere, I’ll play with you.”

“Yes. Well then —”

I could hear Akari’s inner voice.

(Haru-Nii probably told everyone that my attacks are amazing even if I don’t go all out. )

Eh!?

Y-You’re wrong!!

(That’s why what I should do is—)

Akari raised her black sword and posed.

(Go. All. Out!!)

“I’m going now!”

T-This is terrible!

“Everyone! We’re escaping!”

I took everyone there except Gad and Akari and escaped outside the Adventurer's Guild through teleportation. I gauged that I could no longer stop Akari's magic since it already reached its limit.

The moment we teleported, a severe shock wave shook the ground.

When I made my dungeon, I blocked the connection of the arena with the outside world. By connecting the surroundings of the arena to another world, I made sure that no matter what sort of attack was used, it would not affect the outside of the adventurer's guild.

But Akari—the strongest hero who came to this world, blessed by the goddess of another world with an extremely powerful reincarnation privilege—was capable of easily shattering the space I made.

Yeah, she’s really my little sis.

"I said 30% of her power only, and yet..."