Chapter 69

□【Holy Knight】Ray Sterling

"“I'm back.”"

‘I’m intruding, Kuma.’

When Nemesis and I returned to the box seat with my brother, Marie had finished setting up her equipment. Luke and Babby were also awake, probably woken up by Marie. All three of them tilted their heads at the sight of my brother in the bear costume. Well, it’s only natural to be puzzled when a stranger in a costume suddenly appears.

Hmm? Is it just me, or is Marie not just tilting her head, but also frozen in place?

"…Um, Ray…? Who is this bear…?"

Marie asked, her cheeks twitching. Ah, as expected, she’s taken aback by the sudden appearance of a costume.

"Yeah, it’s my brother. We just happened to be in the same box seat."

"Wow, what a coincidence. Hey, Marie, are you okay?"

"No, no, I’m fine, Yo?"

What’s going on? Her expression is incredibly awkward. She’s muttering to herself, "It’s similar, really similar, it’s not fur but the texture is the same… the voice is similar too… and it’s a bear…" Could it be…

"Marie, you…"

"Eh!? W-What is it!?"

This reaction is unmistakable. Marie…

"Do you… have a fear of bears?"

I asked with certainty.

"Y-Yes, that’s right! Yes, I do! I’m afraid of bears! Absolutely, definitely! It’s not that I’m afraid of this person specifically or anything like that!"

She’s really afraid of bears, huh.

‘…Well, if this outfit is a problem, I’ll change. Just wait a moment, Kuma.’

Immediately after saying that, the bear disappeared… and in its place was a two-legged “whale.” Well, it’s not really a whale since it’s walking on two legs. It’s more like the Gooey from the retro game Monster Farm 2 or the sea beast from GeGeGe no Kitarou.

‘If bears are a problem, this should be fine, Whale.’

"Hey, that’s a bit much, even for you! It’s too hasty!!"

‘Then what kind of catchphrase should I use, Whale!!’

"I don’t know!!"

I don’t have any memory of a whale character’s catchphrase!

"Ah, um… I’m fine. I’ve calmed down, so a bear is okay too."

‘Okay, Whale? I’ll change back, Whale.’

With that, my brother was enveloped in light and returned to his bear form. Ah, looking at him like this, the bear is more calming than the whale. It gives a strong sense of security.

…But, is it really okay to feel reassured by a bear costume worn by my brother, who is well into his late twenties?

…Let’s put that question on hold for now.

"Anyway, let me introduce you again. This is my brother, the one inside the costume."

‘Nice to meet you, Kuma. I’m Shu, Ray’s real-life brother, Kuma.’

What’s with the ‘Kuma’ at the end?

"So, this is the other member of my party."

“Luke. This is my <Embryo>, Babby.”

“Hi, I’m Babby!”

“I’m Marie Adler. Nice to meet you.”

‘…Marie Adler?’

Hearing Marie’s introduction, my brother tilted his head. Marie flinched at the gesture. He’s still afraid of the bear costume, I guess.

‘By any chance, is your job a [Reporter]?’

“Eh, yes, that’s right.”

How did he know her job just from her name? Is it because of the camera equipment around?

‘I used to read that manga too.’

“That manga?”

‘The manga titled Into the Shadows. Marie Adler is the name of the protagonist, and her job is… a reporter.’

“Hmm.”

I didn’t know that.

“…Yes, that’s right. I like that manga, so I chose the name and job accordingly.”

‘Even the way of speaking?’

“Of course, it’s role-playing. I’m not really using ‘Boku’ as my first-person pronoun in real life.”

She’s really thorough. And she’s older than me, as I suspected.

‘But that manga’s magazine was discontinued. The series ended with the first part.’

Oh.

‘It was a popular manga, and I liked it too, so I’m waiting for it to be serialized again somewhere.’

“…Thank you.”

Thank you? She must really like that manga.

But if both of them like it so much, maybe I should look for it and buy it sometime.

‘Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for waiting! The main event, <Super-Class Clash>, is about to begin!!’

It seems the match is about to start. Music started playing, and the announcement echoed through the venue. Incidentally, this announcement is also done using magical devices, just like in the restrooms.

‘Oh, the match is about to start, Kuma. Let’s get ready to watch, Kuma.’

“Right. I need to start filming too.”

I also sat down, preparing for the start.

“It’s finally starting.”

“Yeah.”

But what a straightforward name for the event, “Super-Class Clash.”

The two Super-Class players, Figaro and Hayate, and their two <Super-Class Embryos> are about to clash. This will be the first battle I’ve ever seen. A high-end battle in <Infinite Dendrogram>, a top-tier showdown.

‘First, from the eastern gate! A guest is entering!’

A spotlight shone on one of the entry gates in response to the announcement.

‘From the distant Yellow River, a <Super-Class> has arrived! The great martial artist known as the “Responsive Dragon”! [Corpse Immortal]!! Hayate!! Feather!!’

The announcer’s scream, the loud music, and even smoke were set off. From the thick smoke, he appeared. A towering figure over four meters tall, causing the audience to gasp in shock. His abnormally long limbs sent chills down one’s spine. His attire, which didn’t belong to this country, looked as if it had crawled out of a mad world from a Western setting. Despite the fear and shock, Hayate entered the venue, raising his arms and letting out a roar, with explosions on either side. The audience responded with cheers and screams.

“…This place really knows how to entertain.”

‘It’s a city where entertainment is the main focus, Kuma. With the <Master>’s advice, the performances have evolved, Kuma.’

Ah, as expected. It’s just like a fighting event on TV.

Still, the announcer is a bit less skilled than those on TV. It seems they’re still getting used to it.

‘Hayate is also ranked second in the Yellow River’s duel rankings, so he’s used to this, Kuma.’

Second, so there’s a top-ranked player besides him.

“By the way, what kind of job is [Corpse Immortal]?”

“There’s a job called [Taoist] in the Yellow River, and [Corpse Immortal] is its Super-Class version. In our terms, it would be classified as a [Mage].’

‘The characteristic of [Taoist]-type jobs is to create and use consumable items called [Talismans]. The advantage is the ability to cast magic quickly and consecutively. The disadvantage is the cost required for creation.’

“Another drawback is the need to set up [Talismans] for major skills.”

‘However, [Corpse Immortal] is not only a [Taoist] but also an advanced version of the [Zombie] job. [Zombie] is a job focused on durability. Therefore, it’s not purely a magical combat style but also includes close combat.’

“Ah, right. The [Taoist] type can change the Super-Class job based on the combination of other jobs. So, [Corpse Immortal] might be more accurately called an advanced [Zombie] job.”

…So, we have a double commentary. And when Luke listens, I end up being the background. It’s fine, though.

“By the way, [Zombie] and [Corpse Immortal] are different, right? Why is the reading ‘Master Kyonshi’?”

‘Not all of them are direct translations like [Destruction King], Kuma.’

“Super-Class jobs, especially, often have unique names. Like [Absolute Shadow], for example.”

Super-Class jobs are unique, so the naming is varied.

“So, what kind of player is he?”

Luke’s question is something I was also curious about. I faced him at the reception and saw his exchange with my brother, but I couldn’t understand what was happening.

“He’s called Hayate with the nickname ‘Responsive Dragon,’ but his <Super-Class Embryo> is not named ‘Responsive Dragon.’ He’s also known as ‘Thunder’ Hayate or ‘Godspeed’ Hayate.”

Those two nicknames give completely different impressions. The former suggests waiting and not moving, while the latter suggests constant movement. Which one truly represents the <Super-Class> that resembles a living being?

‘And now! From the western gate! The pride of Gideon! The absolute champion is here!!’

The music changed, and a spotlight shone on the opposite gate.

‘The king and the solitary explorer! The strongest man with the nickname “Infinite Chain” and the title [Super Fighter]!! Figaro!!’

Even before the introduction, Figaro appeared from the western entrance. With a gentle smile, he exuded an unknowable pressure and unreadable eyes. He was dressed in the same strange combination of equipment I had seen before, not a costume. When Figaro appeared, the audience erupted in cheers.

‘Figaro! Figaro!’

Figaro walked slowly to the stage, greeted by the audience’s chants. As expected, he’s incredibly famous and popular here. Ah, this is where the costume comes in.

‘Pajero! Pajero!’

Hey, don’t mix in weird sounds, Brother Bear.

‘Now! The century’s battle is about to begin!’

Both stood on the stage and simultaneously opened windows. Those were the boundary setting windows used in semi-event matches. If it’s the same as in semi-events, they confirm the rules just before the match and start the battle with mutual agreement. Most duels in the Duel City Gideon are one-on-one, with almost no rules. Any attack or tactic is allowed. The only things not permitted are certain accessories and recovery items. Specifically, accessories like the “Life-saving Brooch” or “Substitute Dragon Scale” that I used before, which nullify instant death damage, and recovery items like the “Universal Healing Elixir.” The latter is fine if it’s a skill or equipment effect, but the line is hard for a layman like me to draw.

‘If Figaro could use that type of accessory, it would be advantageous, but…’

“Huh? Even if he could, the conditions are the same, so it wouldn’t make much difference, right?”

‘For anyone else, that would be true.’

So, it would make a big difference for Figaro?

‘Both have confirmed the rules! The boundary is about to activate… oh?’

The announcement paused. Hayate was raising his long right arm. Is he dissatisfied with the rules?

‘Ah, can you hear me?’

He tested the microphone and spoke to the entire venue.

‘I’m about to fight Figaro here, and to make the match more exciting, I have a declaration to make.’

A declaration to make the match more exciting? What is he going to say? As I braced myself, he said something unbelievable.

‘I won’t move a single step in this match until Figaro kneels.’

The entire venue was momentarily stunned. Everyone’s thoughts seemed to align: What is he talking about?

‘I said I won’t move a step, and I’ll make Figaro kneel. Got it?’

After another moment of silence, the audience understood that Hayate’s words were a provocative insult to the champion of the Duel City. The venue erupted in angry shouts and boos. Hayate laughed in response.

‘This is great, this is what a hero is! If I defeat you in this atmosphere, it’ll be the most hilarious thing, Figaro!’

Figaro remained silent, calmly looking at Hayate. I couldn’t tell if it was from confidence or for another reason. However, I didn’t think what Hayate said was impossible. If it were me standing there instead of Figaro, I would have been killed without moving a step. It almost happened to me just a moment ago. But I don’t think this declaration is just a provocation.

“He’s saying some pretty hateful things… Do you think he has something in mind?”

“Is it a meaningless provocation or a meaningful move? …It’s almost certainly a move.”

From the actual confrontation, I understood that he’s a dangerous guy who wouldn’t hesitate to crush his opponent’s head in an instant. At the same time, I felt that he’s more than that. From the reception, the entrance, and his current statement, he’s cleverly calculating the impressions he’s making on the people around him. He’s trying to overwhelm his opponent from the atmosphere. But I think even that is part of a larger plan.

‘The boundary is activating!’

The boos for Hayate subsided, and the boundary activated. The match was now fully prepared.

‘Then! The main event, <Super-Class Clash>… Match start!!’

The match began with the announcement.

—In an instant, a golden “something” traversed the stage, accompanied by an explosion.

It was a very short moment. In that short time, a lot must have happened. I could only see the result.

Somehow, Figaro was holding two swords in his hands and had deployed four chains. Three of those chains were already broken. His arms and two swords moved at an incredible speed, continuously deflecting “something.” “Something” was everywhere on the stage. I could only see it after it spread across the stage. “Something” was very long, moving so fast it was blurry. I could only tell it was very long because of its length. The tip of its movement, the front part, was completely invisible. Tracing the visible part of “something” led to Hayate’s sleeves. For a moment, I thought “something” was a chain, like Figaro’s. But it wasn’t. There were no arms inside Hayate’s sleeves, only “something.”

“Something” was—Hayate’s arms.

His arms extended at a speed invisible to the eye, attacking Figaro like two dragons.

“Too fast…”

Nemesis’s whisper was exactly what I was thinking. At that moment, the last surviving chain launched a special attack at Hayate.

‘Ah, the boundary settings are wrong. The internal time is slowed down… but it’s still too fast.’

The chain, moving at ultra-high speed, was shredded into pieces in an instant. Even the chain that almost killed me was too slow in front of Hayate’s arms.

“‘Ultra-speed free-extension attack’… but, …even faster.”

That was probably Marie’s voice. I finally understood. The initial explosion was the sound of his arms breaking the sound barrier. Despite the incredible speed, his control was precise. Truly fitting the name “Godspeed” Hayate, and his extending arms were like “dragons.” If I had fought him then, I would have been killed without using <Counter Absorption>. Even if I had used it, he would have immediately bypassed and decapitated me from behind. I can see the trajectory of his extended arms, but the tip, the hand movement, is completely invisible. Even with the boundary slowing it down, it’s still a chilling speed. But Figaro is incredible. Despite being subjected to ultra-high-speed attacks, he hasn’t been hit once. He’s dodging and deflecting everything. Gradually, even Figaro’s movements are becoming difficult to see.

“…What do they say in old comics in situations like this?”

It’s the “Yan Cha” perspective, I think. Nemesis, Luke, and Babby seemed to be in the same boat. But my brother and Marie were different. From the atmosphere, my brother seemed to be tracking Hayate’s arms. From her eye movements, Marie seemed to be doing the same.

“…Can you see it?”

‘To some extent. I’m not an AGI type, so it’s hit or miss.’

So, a high AGI makes it visible. My brother, from the reception and his previous ranker status, must be at a very high level. But can Marie see it too?

“…[Reporter] has a passive skill that enhances vision, so I can track it.”

Marie explained as if reading my mind. I see, even non-combat jobs have such passive skills.

“…I can’t even see it at this level.”

<Infinite Dendrogram> is capable of this, and this is the combat speed of top players in <Infinite Dendrogram>. Even this is slowed down, right?

‘I’ll adjust the combat speed within the boundary!’

At that moment, the announcement was heard. Immediately, Figaro and