What could he do to bring down a castle wall and win?
Boom, boom, booom──!!
“How long are you going to keep running, Bennett-!”
“Only a fool charges a hunk of iron head-on. If my running bothers you so much, take off that heavy armor and try to catch me.”
With a casual swing, he lashed his chain scythe toward the charging Nouvelle. The scythe slithered like a serpent, scraping across the massive shield as it passed.
Shhhk, shk, clang!
And it didn’t even make a single scratch.
Small strikes were meaningless against a shield towering over two meters tall. No matter how many times you jab with weapons as flimsy as toothpicks, a fortress wall wouldn’t crumble. A different strategy was needed.
What about looping the chain scythe around the shield and engaging in a battle of brute strength?
“Euaaaa-!!”
Booom!!
Nouvelle slammed his shield into the ground with devastating force, causing the arena floor to quake and buckle under its sheer weight. If Bennett dared to match strength, he’d end up as nothing more than a human-chain scythe—not such a good plan after all.
Siege weapons were what brought down castle walls. Could he replicate that kind of force with his chain scythe?
It would be difficult.
Though Bennett had honed his skills in the ‘Hyperbolic Time Chamber,’ thanks to Crazy Wizard’s Dimensional Magic, the training was a temporary measure at best. Without resorting to Black Magic again, he couldn’t muster that level of power.
But Crazy Wizard had strictly warned Bennett: while Black Magic that consumed one’s soul wasn’t denied, using it in the holy city was a strict no-go.
The wizard had said there was a high chance the Goddess had placed a 『Condition』.
“Until sunset, I can fight without stopping. Can you do the same?!”
“I don’t have all day. I’ve got another training sessionscheduled.”
If brute strength wouldn’t work, the only option left was to breach the castle gate.
And he had the key.
Crazy Wizard had once explained that this arena operated under rules driven by misfortune—specific actions would trigger calamity, as though the Goddess herself punished the defiant. The key lay in exploiting these rules.
Mima, through crazy grinding, had discovered one such condition:
“Stepping hard with the left foot brings misfortune.”
He still didn’t know the reason behind this rule. But if it was active, it was something Bennett could use to his advantage. Calmly, he began shifting his chain, letting it slither along the ground like a snake waiting to strike.
“Heup!”
The shield closed in.
The sheer force of its advance was crushing, like a wall that had come alive to attack. But Bennett’s body, having faced even the terror of Evil Gods, remained steady.
He delayed his dodge, waiting until the attack was dangerously close. Dropping into a low stance, he moved his chain scythe, weaving unpredictable wave patterns using his wrist strength.
This technique wasn’t the chaotic style of Jenny of the Chain Scythe. Instead of slashing with rotational power, this combat doctrine prioritized restraint, using the chain itself as a weapon.
It was a lesson Bennett had learned from Yuri Lanster.
Chiiiiiiink ──!!
Creaaak-!
“⋯⋯Eueum?”
Like a coiled snake striking its prey, the chain swept across the ground and snapped tightly around Nouvelle’s left ankle. Bennett yanked, lifting the Paladin’s armored foot slightly off the ground. Without the armor, the force would have easily shattered his ankle.
But Nouvell’s ironclad armor held firm. The chain strained and creaked, managing only to lift the foot a few centimeters.
“Were you trying to make me lose balance? You didn’t think it through. Did you even consider the weight of my armor and shield!?”
“⋯⋯Damn, this really is heavy!”
“I’ll crush both you and that chain! Once your weapon’s gone, even a runner like you will have no choice but to surrender!”
With that, Nouvelle shifted his weight and slammed his foot hard into the ground.
And at that precise moment, the cogwheels turned according to the regulation.
CRAASH-!!
“What⋯⋯?!”
“Th- the ground collapsed! Paladin Nouvelle’s powerful stomp has caused the earth to cave in up to his shins! Was this deliberate? Or could it be a section from previous matches that wasn’t properly repaired?!”
“Bennett. From the very beginning, you were going for⋯⋯.”
“I did aim for it. Though probably not in the way you’re imagining.”
The weight of heavy armor was both an advantage and a liability. While it provided stability when firmly planted, once balance was lost⋯⋯
⋯⋯at that moment, the heavy armor would become nothing but a cumbersome burden.
Chararararack──!!
The chain coiled tightly around Nouvelle’s neck, knee hollows, and waist before being yanked all at once. The “walking castle wall” wavered before finally collapsing under its own immense weight.
Boooom──!!
Bennett leapt onto Nouvell’s back, pressing him down, using mana to add even more weight. The Paladin squirmed, attempting to rise, but soon gave up.
“⋯⋯The unbearable weight became your downfall.”
“Your strategy wasn’t bad, but your technique needs improvement. Train until you can move in that armor as if it’s weightless.”
“And with that, the match is decided! The victor is Bennett of the Chain Scythe──!!”
He had won. Bennett raised his hand high, acknowledging the crowd’s cheers. His gaze drifted to the spectator stands, where Tara and Niolle were cheering for him.
He also waved gratefully toward Crazy Wizard, who stood out in the crowd (somehow he made a stick that sparkled brightly) wielding a cheer stick.
That cheering rod. Bennett had been told it was⋯⋯ a tool to discreetly send instructions while pretending to cheer but⋯⋯
⋯⋯Seeing how enthusiastically Crazy Wizard was cheering, he wondered if the Wizard might have just made it for fun. Though that was probably not the case.
Crazy Wizard’s plan had worked flawlessly. Despite going up against a Redburn knight, Bennett had avoided any misfortune. The Cardinal Faction’s representatives, too, had been dealt with without much difficulty.
Could there truly be anyone else as well-versed in Metamorphosis as Crazy Wizard?
The irony, of course, was that the Crazy Wizard himself could not achieve Metamorphosis.
At this rate, even winning didn’t seem like a dream anymore. Though many threatening opponents remained, Crazy Wizard had assured Bennett that he had tailored strategies for every one of them.
As long as no unforeseen variables arose, the path ahead looked clear.
It almost felt as if a happy ending was within reach.
===============================================================
Round of 32 Results:
Saint Tara: Disqualified due to the dual roles of Hero and Saintess being deemed impermissible.
Bennett Hilton (Chain Scythe) vs. Paladin Nouvell⋯⋯ Bennett victorious.
Niolle Lestman (Fan) vs. Priest Kilio⋯⋯ Niolle victorious.
[Round of 16 Participant List]
Bennett Hilton, Niolle Lestman (Reformist Faction).
Benjamin (Hero candidate backed by Cardinal Faction / Primary Target)
Redburn Knight Anphir, Redburn Wizard Ognil (Redburn Family).
Wandering Swordsman Ifar, Flame Wizard Kravellin Render, Adventurer Kellin (Presumably Neutral).
And the remaining eight.
⋯⋯⋯⋯.
Most of the Cardinal Faction’s core members have been eliminated, leaving Benjamin as their only representative remaining. Just as Bennett Hilton represents the Reformist Faction, Benjamin, as the face of the Cardinal Faction, enjoys substantial support and a carefully cultivated reputation.
However, numerous reports suggest Benjamin’s character and abilities fall “below expectations.” Thus, further investigation is required into why the Cardinal Faction has invested so heavily in him.
According to Crazy Wizard’s speculation── there is a possibility he might be some kind of ‘predetermined candidate’. He suggests there might be some sort of mechanism in place to ensure he would definitely receive the Holy Sword’s selection if he makes it into the candidate pool.
In other words, eliminating Benjamin would effectively dismantle the Cardinal Faction’s position in the competition.
The Duke Redburn family remains strong, with Knight Anphir suspected to have achieved the level of Metamorphosis. There is a need to pay careful attention. A strong candidate to win. The countermeasure for this is──
He said that, this time he'll definitely send out Dual Blade Bennet to face Anphir.
ㄴAbove sentence was inserted by Purple Magic Tower Master Yuna Yurensto Violetiris.
Yuna, please do not interrupt while writing official reports.
Sorry. I wanted to join in too.
ㄴAbove sentence also inserted by the Purple Magic Tower Master. Given the need to evaluate the neutral faction members, I planned to borrow the insight of the Archmage who has reached Sublimation in the next section.
They all seemed weak though? I think we can just go poof and erase them before they do anything.
ㄴDecided not to borrow after all.
(Omitted remaining content)
This report is hereby submitted to the Imperial Family.
Author: Yuri Lanster. (No longer an agent.)
===============================================================
I felt like I had become the coach of a great sports team.
With every strategy hitting the bullseye, I couldn’t hold back my excitement and ran around everywhere. Sure, Bennett fought well, but surely I deserved a bit of credit too, right?
So, naturally, I bragged. To Evil God-chan.
“Did you see that? Did you see that?”
“Ugh, I can’t stand this. Ahugh, I really can’t stand this at all.”
Evil God-chan looked utterly repulsed. Not only was I hyped, but I actually really enjoyed this. I liked watching her squirm under the weight of my enthusiasm brainrot.
I was about to launch into an in-depth explanation, ready to break down which parts of my strategy were brilliant and what I accomplished, second by second.
“Stop bothering that kid and come over here.”
“Kay.”
I scampered over to her, and she patted the sofa beside her, inviting me to sit. Without hesitation, I nestled next to her.
Evil God-chan, however, stared at Pink-Haired Lesbian with a really odd expression. After hesitating and wavering for quite a while.
“⋯⋯Did you just call me a kid?”
“Yes.”
Evil God-chan was half upset.
“Excuse me, but I’ve been alive for hundreds of years. I’m a monster of unimaginable power, you know? And yet, you dare treat me like a child, you half-breed test subject──”
“Evil God-chan, have you ever considered what would happen to you if you were tossed into a Succubus’s bedroom after being hit with 3000 Times Sensitivity?”
“⋯⋯Birds of a feather really do flock together.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
In that moment, an unspoken hierarchy seemed to materialize in the room. Evil God-chan appeared to realize, with painful clarity, that her place was at the bottom. I thought she might lash out to salvage some dignity, but instead⋯⋯
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Her reaction was surprisingly subdued. Was it possible she secretly enjoyed being called a child?
Maybe this kid actually had a masochistic fetish. Should I reward her good behavior by putting her on the wooden horse and whipping her? No, that’s definitely too extreme.
“I’m not?!”
She says she’s not.
Anyway, things were going extremely well overall. Both the Second Prince and the Grand Duke of the North were working behind the scenes, and I was churning out three or four fresh ways to give a ‘fuck you’ to the Redburn Family and the Cardinal Faction every day.
It’s incredible how smooth everything becomes when good friends cooperate like this. How about that? Try showing off your overpowered misfortune again. Your abilities? I’ll dismantle them piece by piece with my friends by my side.
“⋯⋯This is just blatant collusion between major factions.”
⋯⋯No, this was the power of friendship!
===============================================================
Deep within the Church.
The room buzzed with agitation as the flies gathered around the young Pope, their voices dripping with panic over the unprecedented crisis that had suddenly descended upon them.
The tournament was progressing in a direction they had not anticipated.
“⋯⋯How did everything go so wrong? We thought everything would go smoothly if we could manipulate the brackets to force other factions to fight each other.”
“I heard the Second Prince and the Grand Duke of the North weren’t on good terms⋯⋯ was there some secret communion we missed? How are they coordinating their moves so seamlessly, almost as if they’re taking turns⋯⋯?”
“Even Redburn’s power shouldn’t be underestimated. They have some hidden force at work as well. Didn’t one of our priests fall because of that?”
“Damn it! Those Reformist Faction heretics are even exploiting the『Regulations』! Look at that demon Bennett’s fighting style—what even is that?!”
Everything was a mess. Everything!
The Cardinals stroked their wrinkled faces and tore at their hair, expressing their anger and frustration. It was their stage, their tournament, and they were even using the Goddess’s power. Yet they were still facing a crisis?
“If this keeps up, really⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯If that good-for-nothing Benjamin gets eliminated⋯⋯.”
The entire plan would collapse in an instant.
They had layered countless 『Regulation』 barriers to prevent the natural creation of a Hero. Rules like “The Hero must belong to a certain family” or “The Hero must be properly trained in swordsmanship”⋯⋯
The walls of regulations had ensured that no one could meet the conditions to become a Hero.
But now that the Cardinal faction was trying to create a Hero themselves, those same『Regulations』had turned against them. Only someone who could clear these impossibly stringent conditions could qualify to become the Hero.
That was why.
They were forced to back Benjamin—a candidate whose reputation and skills were entirely unworthy of the title. Simply put, there was no one else who could pass the conditions.
It shouldn’t be like this.
Strange guys emerged during the Tournament of 『Courage』, participants were assassinated, and through ridiculous matches, some amateur named Finn was selected as a Hero candidate.
Meanwhile, the Champion of the North dominated every contender in the Tournament of 『Faithfulness』. The Cardinal Faction had hoped to secure at least one spot here, but even that failed thanks to Redburn’s interference.
With only two tournaments remaining, Benjamin absolutely had to be raised as a Hero candidate.
So, before they could be driven into a corner⋯⋯ the Cardinals decided to go all in. They pooled their resources and focused everything on the Tournament of 『Immutability』. And yet!
Redburn faced the same streak of misfortune, while the Reformist Faction turned the tide, using that very misfortune to systematically eliminate the Cardinal Faction’s members one after another!
“Let’s⋯⋯ create more 『Regulations』!”
“But His Holiness the Pope has expressed concern. He warned that red alerts are continuously flashing. If something goes wrong⋯⋯”
“The Goddess is flawless! That weak little brat is just trembling in fear prematurely! Besides, what choice do we have?”
“⋯⋯That’s true. We must do whatever it takes, both for victory and for the sake of the righteous Church of the Goddess.”
Just a bit further.
Rustel. Russsstle.
The Cardinals swarmed the Pope like cockroaches, their wrinkled hands clutching at his throne, pulling at it. The greedy insects whispered into the young Pope’s ear.
“Your Holiness, please establish another『Regulation』. It’s unacceptable for outsiders to become Hero candidates.”
“Your Holiness, make the unworthy fall as they should. Please, plead to the Goddess⋯⋯.”
The young Pope hesitated with a fearful expression.
The red warnings flashed and beeped at a rate that even a young and uneducated Pope could understand was dangerous. The Goddess was furious— they could vaguely understand that much.
Instinctively, the Pope knew. This should probably stop now.
But the Cardinals weren’t about to let hesitation stop them. Wrinkled hands grabbed at him, pinching and scratching his delicate skin. He squirmed in pain, but the hands didn’t let him go⋯⋯.
Tears streaming down his cheeks, the young Pope placed his trembling hand on the Divine Artifact once more.
The red warnings screamed.
[Warning : This regulation conflicts with 128 existing regulations.]
[Warning : Executing this task will increase the corruption rate to 27%.]
[Suggestion : Sorrow and pain have been recognized from Administrator ‘Pope.’ If you are under external pressure, please board the 『Chrysalis』 and switch to the Emergency Management System.]
[Execute current task?]
But the young Pope had never been taught the Divine Words(神言). The Cardinals had blinded him, deafened him, and reduced him to a mere puppet.
And so, yet another 『Regulation』 was created. The cogwheels turned.
===============================================================
“Wizard of Redburn, Ognil, has been defeated by the Knight of the Church of the Goddess, Benjamin──!!”
Amid the cheers, applause, and festive atmosphere, shadows loomed.
Duke Redburn furrowed his brow as he tilted his wine glass to take a sip. He knew that the Church of the Goddess had something up their sleeves⋯⋯
But even considering that, he had expected to win this match.
He knew well enough that the Goddess and the Evil God were the same. Just as unlocking the Evil God’s power—the ‘God’s Toolbox’—demanded countless sacrifices, operating the Goddess also required the corresponding fuel.
There had to be limits to the Church of the Goddess’s schemes. In battles where both sides restrained one another with restrictions, the more refined and calculated strategy would be victorious.
And yet.
His predictions had failed.
“⋯⋯Are they pushing too far? If they’re playing an aggressive hand, we can’t afford to hold back either. Faceless.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Commence the 『Partial Mutation』.”
“As you command. To use the worthless and strike down the precious gem, dragging it into ruin.”
Faceless vanished into the shadows without a sound. Duke Redburn drained the rest of his wine, then hurled the empty glass to the floor.
Servants scrambled, hurriedly picking up the shards of glass with their bare hands⋯⋯.
In this colossal gambling pit, with the Hero candidates as the stakes,
Duke Redburn had made his move, raising the stakes even further.
***
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