Chapter 120: Opening (2)

[You passed.]

Hashimoto Kenji’s heart swelled at those two clear words.

“REEEEEEE!”

Of course I, of all people, would be chosen! I’mtheman who reincarnated into an Otherworld, slew athousandyokai, and saved the world.

Hashimoto Kenjiro is heading out!

“Ahh, is the world calling for me?”

My katana Muramasa, sleeping quietly in its sheath, thirsts for blood!

“Keheheh.”

Hold on, because here I come. My target is DevilKingVirdel! No one else.

“I can’t forget that humiliation.”

He was 2nd place in the Official Debate Ranking, and his talent was unconcealable even within the Community.

Yet how did this happen? How could the unofficial 2nd ranker get more attention than he, the man who fought thousands of Debates?

What kind of injustice is this?! In what way am I, Hashimoto Kenjiro, lacking?! Surely this must be fabricated!

Naturally, official rankings required meeting various complex conditions including a certain number of formal Debate matches.

In any case…

“I cannot accept this.”

It’s impossible for Hashimoto Kenjiro to lose to anyone!

1st place is an exception by the way. That’s not human after all!

As Hashimoto Kenjiro honed his sword, pacifying his swelling emotions…

Tzzzzt-

He sensed an alien sound and presence from behind.

Is it an ambush? Assassination? Either way, you can’t escape the great Kenjiro’s senses!

Hashimoto Kenjiro instantly drew his sword and swung it behind him.

“Swift Style: Sovereign! Heaven! Sundering! Sword!”

As always, his blade’s rippling motion was too fast to be seen as it surged toward the unknown intruder.

However…

Ting-

“Huh?”

The intruder, a woman, easily deflected his attack with a flick of her finger.

“Hashimoto Kenjiro.”

“Is this an ambush? Assassination? Who are you! Reveal yourself! I won’t fall for any sorcery!”

“Is this one mad? He instructed me to weed out the lunatics…”

“…”

Something about her was familiar.

…Ah! I get it now. My eternal nemesis, fated rival, and Oradge’s maid—you’re BluadgeDevilKingVirdel!

“So you’ve come to escort me—“

“Hmm. I’ll just skip this one…”

“?!”

The woman crossed something out on paper with a red pen.

Something doesn’t feel right!

“Haha! I can’t be left out of Oradge’s summons! Of course I’ll accept!”

“…And he’s arrogant too…”

“W-wait!”

“Do you have something to say?”

Her indifferent response left him speechless.

Even from a pretty face, such a cold gaze hurts…!

“Th-that…! A samurai never backs down—“

The woman shook her head.

“What a waste of time.”

Seeing her about to disappear through a door of light, Kenjiro grew urgent.

“A true man knows when to retreat as well.”

“?”

“P-please!”

“Aren’t you missing a word?”

“Agh..! Please, ma’am!”

“Hmm…”

The woman held her chin, pondering, leaving Hashimoto Kenjiro on tenterhooks.

Fortunately for him, she nodded.

“Weeding out the weak is my main job anyway.”

“Heheh, so you recognized my strength after all?”

“Haah…”

“Agh! That was a joke!”

“Anyway, I assume you know the precautions?”

“…”

“…Your life is your own to guard. Disobeying the Galactic Empire means immediate execution, not discharge. Also, you are to actively cooperate when the Empire expands here later. That’s all.”

Right. I can endure a moment of humiliation.

“I agree!”

“Follow me.”

Hashimoto Kenjiro followed her through the door of light.

Ugh!

Wooong-

With a dizzying sensation, the surroundings changed instantly.

“!!”

“Follow that guy.”

“What?”

Really? Hashimoto Kenjiro,thesavior who slew athousandyokai came in person, yet you won’t guide me yourself—

“I’m counting on you, Versya.”

“Please don’t worry, Lady Virdel!”

Immediately after, Virdel opened another light door and disappeared.

Versya, a man in full armor, called out to the dumbfounded Kenjiro.

“Your name is… Hashimoto?”

“…”

Thwack-

“Agh!”

Kenjiro was abruptly kicked in the shin.

“Pay attention, unless you want to die.”

“Ugh!”

What humiliation is this! Why, why does it hurt so much? And I didn’t even realize I was hit until after.

“Come.”

“Very well…”

“You seem somewhat normal, so I’ll let your attitude slide at least.”

“…”

What is he even on about?

“There’s a lot to remember, so stay alert and follow me.”

“…”

Yes, it’s because your armor is… ahem, cool. That’s why I’m letting you off!

At that moment, the fully armored knight turned and stared intently.

S-surely he can’t read minds?

Fortunately, it didn’t seem so.

“Welcome to World, rookie!”

“Rrgh…!”

After going through that initiation of sorts, Kenjiro thought he could finally relax. However…

“What?! Recovery capsules? S-space battleships?!”

Kenjiro gasped in awe at the sights that unfolded.

“What race is that?! …I must have that design…! It suits me, the Hashimoto Kenjiro too—“

Thwack-

“Gargh!”

“Shut up.”

There were so many surprises that it felt like his soul was slipping away.

Above all else…

“Haha, is this a newcomer?”

“Rookie! I welcome you!”

“Noisy one, isn’t he.”

“Now, now. Let us welcome him.”

“You’re too easygoing, Barron.”

Many had arrived before Kenjiro, and most of them were training on the grounds.

“Versya! We should at least know the recruit’s specialty and battle power!”

“Naturally, I was planning to, Mephir.”

The Community users started gathering in the central sparring arena.

Hmph! I’m the official 2nd place in Debates!

“Versya, who will be his opponent?”

“I’ve already decided. Averico!”

“Yes. I will do it.”

Crack- Crack-

A werewolf Beastkin stretched as he climbed onto the arena, letting out a heavy breath.

Kenjiro went quiet. He was unsure what the scoreboard in the training grounds meant exactly, but he had a general idea of it. They were basically telling him to face off against the lowest ranked member.

Rrgh! Is this hazing? To compare me with someone with a mere(?) 12,000 battle power! What humiliation!

But it would be inelegant to make a fuss here.

“…Fine. Let us start then!”

I’ll make an example of you. Show you the strike oftheman who slew athousandyokai.

“Begin.”

As soon as Versya gave the signal…

“Chaotic Heaven Moongod Striiiike—GUEGH!”

Kenjiro collapsed with intense pain.

H-huh? What just happened?

When he hastily looked up, Averico was grinning. Leisurely at that.

“Your movements aren’t bad? Certainly better than mine. Looks like you tried to counter in the moment. Though well… you’re weak right now.”

“…?”

Unable to believe the result, Kenjiro challenged Averico several more times.

This must be sorcery!

But nothing changed.

“Gah!”

“Guehk!”

“Ack!”

“Urgh!”

It was a total defeat.

Ah. How is this possible? Hontou ni?

Kenjiro found himself thinking of home without realizing.

I think I’ve come to the wrong place.

He had imagined playing big fish in a small pond, but the reality was being a bottom-rung private.

Rrgh.

Still, everything else was not as shocking as meeting those two.

Fear rose from deep within his subconscious before their overwhelming aura and gaze. Powerful was the word.

Hell… are they even human?

Their majestic presence could reduce the Yōkai King Orochi to nothing but a mere lizard in comparison.

“Mm? What’s the matter?”

“Hmm…”

The man called Oradge, and the woman called Maxien.

How vast the world is! I still have far to go! Even so, Hashimoto Kenjiro shall not give up!Someday I will surpass them and stand proud at the top! That’s why…

“…I have realized my shortcomings. I would like to go back and hone my skills before joining again. Please let me go.”

“Hahaha.”

Despite his request…

-It’s easy come, but not easy go, my friend. (Fufu)

Oradge demolished Hashimoto Kenjiro with that single comment.

Waaah!

***“How is it?”

“Well. Honestly, no one stands out except Virdel and Perpe.”

“Isn’t your standard too high?”

“But it’s the standard needed to properly handle the Named.”

“That’s true, but still.”

Rustle-

Karlstein was handling paperwork while looking at holograms and reports.

“By the way, what’s that? It looks unusual.”

“Hm? This?”

A platinum egg was floating above Karlstein’s head.

“…I’m not sure either. I did steal it from Prohiden though.”

“…Prohiden?”

Tangible killing intent rose around Maxien.

Oops.

Prohiden was practically her sworn enemy. He tried to calm her, but it was too late.

Shing-

Maxien had already drawn her sword and swung.

“You’d keep something so suspicious near you?!”

“Ugh…”

But Maxien only cut air, unable to strike the egg.

“…It dodged?”

The platinum egg was suddenly floating far away. It had not even shown any signs of teleportation.

Swffp- Swffp-

Maxien swung her sword a few more times, but with the same result.

“Leave it be. For now, investigating it rather than destroying it might help resolve your grudge.”

“…”

Karlstein noticed the surprise in Maxien’s eyes, which he could understand. The platinum egg’s teleportation ability was far from ordinary.

“…It’s a Single Number?”

“Can’t say. But I do think that’s jumping to conclusions.”

Teleportation itself might not be that special. Even across the universe, and among the Integrated Dimensional Community, teleportation itself was not particularly surprising.

But this egg was different. It teleported to one place as if it had always belonged there.

“This… is definitely the power of those Reality Warpers.”

“Hmm. That’s why I’m investigating it.”

Karlstein tapped the egg with his pen.

“…?”

“Maybe because I’ve fed it lots of my Ether? Unlike others, I can touch it.”

“Isn’t that all the more reason for you to have destroyed it?!”

“It’s also a clue to tracking down Prohiden.”

“…I see.”

“Maxien.”

“…Mm?”

“I’ll catch your archenemy no matter what, so trust and leave it to me.”

Maxien nodded quietly.

Prohiden had a history of destroying Stella, the home planet of Maxien’s race, the Asterians.

It got away last time, but Karlstein could not give up on Prohiden.