Chapter 94

Addendum (2017/7/2)

(=ↀωↀ=) <There was a typo in the Kuma-san part, so I corrected it>

"About eight months ago" → "About a year ago"

□■【Reporter】/【Absolute Shadow】Marie Adler

It has been a few hours since the troublesome commotion caused by Franklin, and it is almost dawn.

Last night, I was involved in a battle with the 【Concert King】, the destruction and recovery of a bothersome device, the defense against the "Suicide" series, and the most challenging task was to save Eri from the Pandemonium, navigating through the bombardment of the 【Destruction King】 as if it were a reenactment of the Noz Forest. After saving Eri, I handed her over to the surviving members of the Royal Guard, as she was unconscious. It was exhausting.

I was running around the day before yesterday as well.

Even with the status of a super-class, some things are still tough.

Not only me, but Ray and Luke also went through a tough battle.

Especially Ray, who had lost both his arms.

Moreover, he was falling from the vanished Pandemonium due to Franklin's death penalty.

However, Nemesis and the Radiant Horse Silver managed to catch him somehow.

Nemesis had picked up his right arm, and with the help of a high-level recovery magic skill from a nearby <Master>, it was reattached.

It will take about a week in this world's time to use it properly, but it will be fine.

The problem is the left arm. The arm that had been charred and crumbled away is now gone.

Complete loss of a limb cannot be treated with high-level recovery magic.

Even if it were a super-class's ultimate skill, there probably isn't anyone in the kingdom with an ultimate skill for healing others. At least, not to my knowledge.

The only person in this kingdom who can heal that wound is...

She is the super-class and <Super-Class> herself, the 【Pope】Fusou Tsukiyoru, who could heal it in no time.

However, I really do not recommend it.

After all, she is the head of a religious organization, and the thought of owing her a favor is too scary. It might not be confined to just <Infinite Dendrogram>.

Considering all these factors, I told Ray, "Honestly, it would be faster if you just took the death penalty."

However, Ray does not seem to want to do that. He replied, "I can use my right arm, and I learned that I can do things with my mouth if I try, so it's fine for now," with a wild answer.

Nemesis looked at him with a distant gaze, muttering, "Is that a kiss, then...?"

I don't think it would be a kiss even if he used the handle of a greatsword in greatsword mode.

After such a conversation, Ray logged out as if he had collapsed.

It seemed that his physical and mental fatigue had reached its limit.

It's no wonder.

And Luke, after Riz fed him mithril for volume replenishment, logged out immediately.

So, I was the only one who remained logged in to greet the morning.

I was very sleepy, but it was the best timing for both my job as a reporter and my main job as a manga artist, so I couldn't log out.

It's not often that one can be present at the scene after a terrorist incident is resolved.

Now, let's summarize the events outside my circle.

About an hour after the "Suicide" series was eliminated, Earl Gideon declared the end of the situation.

The rescue of Eri and the destruction of Franklin and his gang were declared as the resolution of the incident.

In reality, a few PKs might have escaped, but no one is foolish enough to cause trouble here and now.

...If they did, they would likely be given a death penalty by the 【Destruction King】 and the 【Super Warrior].

Incidentally, Earl Gideon mentioned that some form of reward would be given to the <Masters> who assisted in resolving the incident, including the 【Destruction King】 and Ray.

It's quite generous, considering the substantial budget that will be required for the reconstruction of the damaged city. Is he rich or just a good person?

By the way, how much would it cost to repair the area destroyed in the battle between me and the 【Concert King]?

It might be the most damaged area... I won't think about it.

After the declaration of the end of the situation, people's actions were divided into two.

Knights, guards, and government officials were busy assessing the damage and dealing with the aftermath.

Ordinary people and <Masters> were in a festive mood.

Well, of course. They were in the middle of a festival when Franklin poured cold water on them, plunging them into terror.

With the main culprit defeated and the incident resolved, it's natural for the people to react with a celebratory mood.

The quick shift in the mindset of the people of the dueling city is truly remarkable.

However, as the sky began to lighten, a considerable number of carriages and dragon carriages were leaving Gideon. It's understandable.

After all, such a commotion occurred in Gideon, which is said to be the farthest from the empire and the most well-prepared for battle.

Now, let's reflect on the outcome of this incident.

Franklin's goal was to demonstrate the powerlessness of the kingdom's <Masters> to undermine the kingdom's will to fight and to annex the kingdom through diplomacy rather than restarting the war.

However, he encountered resistance from rookies and <Masters> who escaped the arena's barrier, and his Plan B failed.

In particular, the battle between Ray and the modified monster that Franklin was broadcasting was a significant factor.

It had the opposite effect. While he intended to break Ray's spirit by toying with him, Ray's miraculous victory has instead uplifted the people.

Incidentally, the battle is also a topic of discussion among <Masters>... and in real-life bulletin boards and video sites.

It's the third most popular topic related to <Infinite Dendrogram>.

The most talked-about topic is the appearance of the 【Destruction King】 on the stage to battle Franklin, followed by the <Super-Class Clash> between Figaro and Hayate.

It seems that Ray will also gain various nicknames, and various topics are being discussed on bulletin boards and in real life.

Currently, in the square in front of the central arena, such events are being held.

Usually, these events are held for new debuts in the arena, but this time, Ray and Luke's names are also being mentioned. Additionally, nicknames for the 【Destruction King], who is no longer "unknown," are being solicited.

Some of the nicknames for Ray include "Dark Holy Knight" because his equipment doesn't look like a Holy Knight's, "Prince of the Silver Horse" because he rode Silver, and "Hero of Light and Darkness, Wrapped in Black, Purple, and Red," which makes you wonder who came up with it. These nicknames are likely to divide the audience by age.

He would probably faint if he knew.

However, there are some simple and good ones, and I like those.

Now, let's return to the results of Franklin's plan.

Plan B was completely thwarted.

However, it was probably part of Franklin's plan from the beginning to activate Plan C, saying, "It got worse because they resisted."

A few <Masters>, including myself, were buying time, but the damage would have undoubtedly spread if it had continued.

However, the participation of the 【Destruction King】 changed everything.

The tens of thousands of monsters that were supposed to ravage Gideon ended up as pawns to showcase the power of the 【Destruction King].

This is the complete opposite of what Franklin had planned.

Instead of demonstrating the powerlessness of the kingdom's <Masters>, it showed that they were incomparably strong.

At the very least, the possibility of the kingdom's defeat without a fight has been eliminated.

It might seem like a good thing for the kingdom, but it is not.

This war has shown, along with the power of the kingdom's <Masters>, another fact to the entire kingdom and <Infinite Dendrogram>.

That is, the combat power of <Super-Class> is on a different level from others.

A <Super-Class> can destroy a city... no, a country with a single person.

Franklin, who created over 50,000 monsters.

The 【Destruction King], who eliminated them.

Frankly, both are at the <Super-Class> level, and the battle would not have been possible without it. Without being <Super-Class>, one would just wait to be ravaged. It's almost impossible for anyone other than a <Super-Class> to stand against a <Super-Class>.

Of course, there are exceptions.

For example, my avatar, Marie Adler.

Marie has the nickname of <Super-Class Killer> because she once defeated a <Super-Class> and sent them to "prison."

However, that victory was the result of multiple factors.

The abilities of the opponent, my abilities, and various conditions and strategies.

With the accumulation of many factors, I was able to kill the <Super-Class>—the 【Plague King] Candy Carnage.

A wide-area suppression and wide-area elimination type.

The most lethal in Tien.

"Country Destroyer."

...I did well to win against such an opponent.

Let's return to the topic.

In the previous war, there was no battle between <Super-Class>, and the kingdom lost one-sidedly.

However, this time, the <Super-Class> 【Destruction King] was present, and we won.

In other words, the presence or absence of <Super-Class>, which had been whispered about, has been proven to determine the course of the war.

In that case, the number of <Super-Class> participating in the next war becomes a problem.

The empire, of course, has the three who distinguished themselves in the previous war.

The "Weakest and Worst" 【Grand Professor] Mr. Franklin, who caused this incident.

The "Contradictory Formula" 【Demon General] Logan Godbolt.

And the "Physically Strongest" 【Beast King].

If there are no changes, these three are the only ones, but the empire is the first country to win the first war event and has generous rewards for meritorious service, so it is highly likely that other <Super-Class> have transferred.

On the other hand, the kingdom has only two <Super-Class> participating in the war, at most.

Ray Ray, who logs in irregularly and is known as "Alcohol and Meat Forest."

And the 【Destruction King], who has come to the forefront and is expected to participate in the war.

These two alone.

If Ray Ray is not logged in on the day of the event, it will be just one.

Of course, there are other <Super-Class>.

Figaro, the symbol of this dueling city, who defeated the <Super-Class> Hayate from another country yesterday.

Fusou Tsukiyoru, the owner of the kingdom's largest clan, who is known as the most lethal in group battles and can use the skill "Lunar Subtraction Barrier."

If these two participate, they will be a significant force.

However, Figaro always publicly states that he is a solo specialist and will