Chapter 73

□【Holy Knight】Ray Sterling

In front of us as we arrived at the lobby, there were nearly a hundred <Masters> trying to get out.

However, they were not alone.

A barrier had been deployed to block their escape, enveloping the inside and outside of the arena.

"That's the same barrier used in the arena matches... Could it be?"

"That's right, I'm afraid."

There must be a barrier generation device outside the arena as well, not just on the stage.

And Franklin is operating it.

To prevent us... the <Masters> from leaving the arena, and to prevent his game from being interfered with.

"Damn it! What's going on here!"

"Why can a single player interfere with the system!"

"Let us out!"

All the <Masters> gathered in the lobby are trying to leave, but it seems they can't.

‘I had a bad feeling when Figaro and Hayate were suppressed by the barrier... It seems Franklin has completely mastered the barrier function.’

Is this part of the system?

Such a thing... No, that's not it.

‘The barrier system here is, by design, using the legacy of past civilizations. It’s manually activated each time. That’s why a <Master> can operate it... and can also set up such tricks.’

"That's right. And because it can be done... he started that game. To ensure he wins absolutely and to force the result of the kingdom's <Masters> losing.'

If the terror attack can't be prevented after the announcement, it will also result in the kingdom's <Masters> gathered in Gideon being defeated.

...I see.

That's bad.

"Damn it! If we can't break the barrier, we'll break it with force! If we gather the power of high-level <Masters>, we should be able to break it!"

One of the <Masters> stopped in the lobby shouted, and many responded.

Indeed, during the match, holes were opened in the ceiling by Hayate and Figaro's attacks.

If the attack power is high enough, it might be possible to break it.

Immediately, the firepower of dozens of <Masters> exploded against the barrier surrounding the arena.

The barrier seemed to be stronger than the one on the ceiling, but it visibly thinned.

If the attacks continue, it might break temporarily, and they could escape through the gap.

A sense of this spread among the <Masters> in the lobby, when an explosion echoed from somewhere in the arena.

Not only that, but faint sounds of explosions and destruction could be heard from outside the arena.

What's going on? The <Masters> gathered in the lobby all looked puzzled.

"Ha-ha-ha! It seems some fools are trying to break the barrier!"

Suddenly, a grating laugh echoed in the lobby.

Everyone searched for the source of the voice... and in the direction it came from, a semi-transparent figure of Franklin appeared.

"Hello everyone, nice to see you again. Ah, this is our clan's new product. Isn't it convenient? It's like something from a sci-fi movie, right? It costs 800 million rils. A bit expensive, but we plan to sell it after the war, so please look forward to it."

Franklin said this while displaying the planned selling price.

"Now, to the main point. About that barrier... I put a limit on it because it was annoying to have it broken. Every time it's attacked, a device somewhere in the city is activated. And if the barrier is broken, everything will be released before the time is up. The same goes for the barrier on the stage."

At these words, the atmosphere in the lobby froze.

"Well, feel free to attack as much as you want. I don't know how much damage will be done, but...!"

"Damn it!!"

One of the <Masters> attacking launched an attack skill at the semi-transparent Franklin.

Of course, it didn't damage the mere image of Franklin.

However, the image device seemed to be destroyed, and Franklin's smirking face disappeared completely.

But whether the image was there or not, attacking the barrier was not an option.

It was all over.

"This is bad. If this continues... the kingdom's <Masters> will be completely defeated."

"What's the point? Even if he wins, it's just 'Yay, I won,' right?"

Babi questioned, but Luke shook his head.

"No, Babi. Indeed, for the <Masters>, this is just a case of being outsmarted by Franklin. But... <Infinite Dendrogram> has many intelligences that are not <Masters>."

That's right, there's Tian.

And from the perspective of the kingdom's Tian, what will this outcome look like?

"Ah, I see."

Nemesis spoke each word deliberately, as if chewing on them.

She must have understood what Luke meant, just like me.

It is...

"If this continues, the kingdom will lose before the second war even begins."

"Yes."

◆◆◆

■ Duel City Gideon

In the sky above the duel city, a shadow was flying at a low altitude of about a hundred meters.

It was a single monster.

Strangely, its underside and sides were completely blended into the night, making it difficult to see from the ground.

However, on its back was a fur with a texture and pattern similar to a Persian carpet, and two people were sitting on it.

One was Mr. Franklin, the [Great Professor], who created this monster [Night Lounge].

The other was the kingdom's second princess, Elizabeth, who had been kidnapped by him.

"..."

She woke up soon after being placed on this [Night Lounge], but now she is just silently looking at Franklin.

It's not that she is glaring.

She is just looking at him with curiosity.

And then she asks.

"Why did you kidnap me?"

"Well, as someone from the Imperial Nation, do I have a reason not to kidnap a noble from this country?"

"No, that's not it."

Elizabeth shook her head.

"Why didn't you kill me like you did my father?"

She asked her father's enemy.

"Hmm, you're quite calm for someone who considers me an enemy."

"What's the answer to my question?"

"Ah, I was told not to kill you. Personally, I have no intention of killing you. I'll treat you well, so please don't worry. Oh, do you want some sweets?"

"No, thank you."

"Understood."

Franklin started wiping his glasses, as if the indifferent answer didn't bother him.

While wiping his glasses, Franklin continued speaking.

"You can return safely to the capital if the peace and annexation are successful, so please don't worry."

"What if the peace talks fail?"

"You'll return to a flattened capital. If the peace talks fail, it will be a full-scale war."

He put his glasses back on as if it was nothing.

"Well, from the perspective of that crazy... I mean, the Emperor, you will be safe. He wouldn't want to be disliked by the sister who will become his sister-in-law or the one who will become his empress."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, what do you think it means? Your father was in the way, but you are not. That's all I'll say on the matter."

He ended the conversation as if he had no intention of explaining further.

"Then, I'll ask another question. Why are you attacking Gideon?"

The sky they were in was calm, but the ground was filled with sounds of destruction and screams.

Monsters that had already been released and Franklin's subordinates were rampaging through the city.

So she asked.

Why are you doing this?

Franklin grinned and raised his voice.

"This is the grand finale of the war event and a form of entertainment!"

He made gestures and spun around on the flying [Night Lounge].

"It's a game! And a rite of passage!"

"Initiation?"

"The strongest knight is dead, the greatest sage is dead, and the mediocre king is dead. The people are fleeing. It's hopeless. There's no way out. The kingdom is already doomed. Everyone knows it."

He leaned in so close that his face almost touched Elizabeth's eyes.

"Why do you think this country hasn't given up yet?"

Surprised, Elizabeth took a small step back, and he continued with a cheerful laugh.

"It's because of the <Masters>."

He tapped the back of the [Night Lounge] with his toe.

"The previous war was lost because most of the kingdom's top-ranked <Masters> didn't participate. That's the perception."

Gradually, his voice's tension dropped, and he spoke normally.

"That's not entirely wrong. In fact, we won so easily because they weren't there."

He sighed and shook his head, then turned to look at Elizabeth behind him.

"But, it's troublesome to think that 'If the <Masters> participate in the next war, the kingdom will win' or 'The kingdom hasn't lost yet.' It's troublesome to be stubborn like that. Wars aren't free, you know."

Franklin said this as if it was really troublesome.

"This <Super-Class Clash> is a perfect example. The kingdom's <Super-Class> power is on display, saying 'We can still do it!' It's really, really annoying."

He spat this out while looking at the Central Arena, which was getting smaller in the distance.

"In fact, if by some mistake all of this country's <Super-Class> <Masters> participate in the next war, the result could be completely reversed. There are unknowns, and there's even a possibility that we could be defeated."

His face twisted in frustration, and then a sinister smile appeared.

"That's why I came to crush this country's spirit before it becomes a problem."

It was a smile that could drive anyone mad, like a hellish clown.

"If the unreliable <Masters> gathered in this city are just watching as the city is destroyed and the princess is kidnapped..."

He deepened his smile and spoke.

"---No one in this country's Tian will have any hope in the <Masters> anymore, and they will lose the will to resist, right?"

He covered his smiling face with his hands,

"The most vibrant city in the kingdom. The city with the strongest military. The kingdom's strongest [Super-Fighter]. Etc., etc..."

He raised his hands to the sky as if making a victory sign and laughed loudly.

"Tonight is the night of despair! All the myths end tonight!"

The night sky of Gideon was filled with the malicious laughter that seemed to want to swallow the city.

"Is that so?"

But there was a small voice that could barely be heard over the laughter.

"I think differently."

It was the voice of a young girl.

"The kingdom's <Masters>"

The voice of a girl who believed in hope.

"Are something to rely on, I think."

It was the voice of a girl who knew the <Masters> she had spent time with yesterday.

◇◇◇

□【Holy Knight】Ray Sterling

"Kumani-san. How many of the kingdom's forces do you think are outside the arena?"

'The royal guard and the Gideon knights. And the curious <Masters> who are in Gideon but didn't come to see the <Super-Class Clash>...'

Indeed, not all the <Masters> in this city are in the arena. There should still be some fighting power left.

But...

'The combat <Masters> in this duel city would come to see today's match no matter what. Those who didn't come are likely because they couldn't get tickets, but the stronger they are, the easier it is to get tickets both financially and through connections. Naturally, there aren't many strong <Masters> outside the arena tonight.'

That's why Franklin must have planned to trap the <Masters> in the arena on the night of the <Super-Class Clash>.

'There might be some strong <Masters> who deliberately didn't come to see the match, but Franklin must have considered that as well.'

My brother pointed to the square outside the Central Arena with the bear costume's jaw.

There, a considerable number of <Masters> and monsters had gathered.

They didn't seem to be trying to calm the city's chaos but rather preparing to attack anyone trying to leave the arena.

'Most likely, they are Franklin's forces. If those kinds of people and Franklin's custom-made monsters are rampaging through the city... it will be difficult to break through them and defeat Franklin himself.'

"..."

We're in a bind.

The situation is hopelessly stuck.

And most importantly... as long as we are trapped in this arena... there's nothing I can do.

"At least..."

At least, if the <Masters> in this arena... if we could participate, we could increase the chances of success.

"If only this barrier wasn't here."

I reached out to the barrier.

I really wanted to punch it.

But if that triggers the release of monsters, I can't even do that.

However, I couldn't suppress the feeling of helplessness... and reached out to touch it.

—My fingertips passed right through the barrier.

"......What?"

My voice of shock echoed, and the lobby erupted into chaos with nearly a hundred <Masters>.

"He got through... He got through!?"

"What's going on! It was definitely there just now!"

"Is the barrier gone... Ow! It's still there!"

"Hey, you! Does <Embryo> have some barrier-related skill or something!?"

"I, I don't know..."

I was the most confused.

I couldn't answer the questions.

‘Ray’

My brother's voice reached me.

Strangely, when my brother's voice echoed in the lobby, the previous chaos suddenly quieted down.

I could hear whispers like "Oh, it's the bear costume," "Mr. Mountain is here for the match," "Is the bear costume an NPC...?" My brother might be quite famous.

But that's not important now.

My brother was looking at me through the bear costume.

And he asked me a question.

‘What's your total level now?’

"Total level?"

...I answered, though I was puzzled.

"41, but..."

At my answer, the <Masters> in the lobby seemed to understand something and started talking to each other.

And the one who asked the question, my brother...

‘Kuk... Ha-ha-ha!!’

...was laughing.

‘That's right! This is the arena's barrier! Of course, you can pass through it!