Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, has a girlfriend.
Her name is Suella Handelberg.
Memoria Tris.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude: 9 (Quasi Demon Lord Class)
Position: Warrior
After giving Keiri-san instructions, I quickly left the room.
She has her own work to do, and I have mine.
“Broadcast, broadcast. A mock battle by the Generals will commence shortly. Testers, please proceed to your designated spectator areas. Repeat.”
“It’s starting already.”
There’s a reason why the mock battle, which could have been shown via video, is being held as a live spectator event.
The rationale is based on the field experience of wanting testers to personally experience combat that reaches its extremes, rather than just watching a video.
Being able to see a goal makes a difference in maintaining work motivation compared to not seeing one.
A job with no end in sight truly wears down one’s spirit.
This is even more true for work that seeks an answer to an unanswerable question, such as improving a Dungeon.
Therefore, I want to at least provide the hurdle of strength. I want to show them the minimum standard of strength required to defend against such power.
This way, we can at least make it clear that fighting amongst ourselves is a waste.
That’s why I incorporated this mock battle into this event.
However, if there are still those who would think such wasteful thoughts.
“No, there’s no need to think about that right now.”
Shaking my head to clear the thoughts that sprang up as if from nowhere, I moved to my seat according to the broadcast from above.
The arena is quite spacious, considering the size and abilities of the monsters that will face each other and the scale of the battles that will unfold.
If I dawdle thinking about extraneous matters, I’ll be late for the viewing.
Making up for the lost time by walking a little faster, I reached the entrance to the spectator seats after walking along the long corridor that circles the arena for about ten minutes. As I entered, the scene inside came into view.
Its size is comparable to, or even larger than, the Tokyo Dome.
The entire area was packed earth, creating a vast expanse of land with no obstacles whatsoever.
The atmosphere of a place solely for combat, unlike a video, seeped into my skin.
Looking to my left and right, within the vast spectator seating, I could see testers scattered about, sitting in groups.
There were no other spectators.
Therefore, over ninety percent of the vast seating area remained empty, creating a lonely sight.
With only four figures standing in such a place, two of the four Generals visible from the spectator seats appeared small despite their enormous stature.
Still, I couldn’t voice my feelings of loneliness.
“…Haa, Instructor Kio is fully geared up to enjoy this. The arena won’t break, will it?”
It’s understandable that I can’t help but let out a wry smile.
After all, I’m being bathed in a familiar, oppressive aura that makes me want to voice my worries.
Tracing its source, I spotted an Oni whose fighting spirit was churning, regardless of distance, and I hesitated to step even one foot into the spectator seats, leaving only a wry smile.
However, my hesitation lasted only a moment.
Without concern for the familiar atmosphere, I took a seat at the very front.
The other testers were a bit hesitant, keeping some distance from the front row.
And the closer I got, the more I could understand.
The visible fighting spirit, stoked to a degree that it could almost be visualized, must mean they are looking forward to this event that much.
As the planner, I’m delighted, but considering the shockwaves that will follow, I’d prefer if they held back a bit—my happiness is only half, with the other half being worry.
Shifting my gaze, I looked at the others.
Instructor Fushio, as always, exuded an aura as if he had emerged from the depths of darkness, giving off the vibe of a walking hazard.
However, it was clear that he wasn’t planning to go all out.
Unlike Instructor Kio, I couldn’t sense much fighting spirit from him.
I recall hearing before that undead-type magic often involves spells that are life-threatening regardless of how much you hold back, making them unsuitable for mock battles.
This brings some relief, but conversely, it leaves worry that he might use everything else at full power.
And then there are the Tree King and Giant King, whose battles I will witness for the first time today…
“…Worrying about the arena is pointless, isn’t it? We’re in a Dungeon anyway, so it doesn’t matter if it breaks. The problematic instructors are as usual, but the other two are unconcerned, and I can’t say they’re quiet for anything.”
I couldn’t suppress the goosebumps that rose just by looking at them.
If Instructor Kio is a rampaging great fire and Instructor Fushio is a bottomless black mist, then the sight of these two quietly waiting for their time is akin to a great tree with its roots spread deep into the ground and an unmovable rocky mountain.
Lunaria, the Tree King, stood with her hands clasped calmly in front of her, and Uuor, the Giant King, simply stood with his eyes closed and arms crossed, yet his presence was palpable.
Despite their passive stances, they demonstrated their rank no less than the others. To me, Instructor Kio’s fighting spirit was a surging torrent.
Yet, they stood there as if receiving it like a gentle breeze.
This stance alone was worth witnessing.
I couldn’t even begin to imagine how the mock battle would unfold with these four gathered together.
“Just in case, I should probably make sure I don’t get blown away.”
Not being able to imagine what’s coming means I don’t know what to expect.
However, I’m certain that at least a considerable amount of damage will be dealt to us. I steeled myself mentally.
The other testers are likely here purely for the spectacle.
Praying that they won’t regret it, I circulated my magic.
“It is time, so the mock battle by the Generals will now commence. We will deploy the barrier.”
The broadcast from the staff flowed, and for a brief moment, the area in front of the spectator seats was enveloped in light.
Then, as if nothing had happened, the same scene reappeared, but I could feel a solid magical wall before me in the spectacle.
“We will begin the countdown. All personnel, assume shock posture.”
Ignoring the bewildered looks of a few testers who wondered what I was saying, I followed Keiri-san’s warning, slightly lowering my posture to brace for the impact and avoid being blown away.
And then…
“3, 2, 1.”
The countdown continued.
“Zero.”
The moment I heard the voice…
**BOOM!!**
“Ngh!?”
“Hya!?”
The barrier and the testers cried out.
A “Baaan” sound collided with the barrier, and a “Baririri” sound of distortion echoed from it.
Then, screams came from behind me.
There are scenes in anime where the explosion’s light is seen first, followed by the sound delayed, but I had never experienced that.
I understood that Instructor Kio had lunged at the Giant King the moment the countdown ended.
I also understood that he blocked it with a shield he had pulled out at the last moment.
But from there, it was beyond comprehension.
This is the peak. Some of the testers probably have no idea what’s happening.
I only have a vague grasp of it because I’m observing the overall scene.
Even so…
“Hahaha, amazing.”
This power struck my heart more than anything else. The exclamation that escaped my lips was my honest feeling.
The offense and defense settled into a pattern where the pair, Instructor Kio and Instructor Fushio, pressed the attack, while the Giant King and Tree King defended.
However, it wasn’t one-sided.
The Giant King blocked Instructor Kio’s full-power, bare-handed rush, and as Instructor Fushio attempted to cast magic to exploit the opening, all of his spells were negated by the Tree King’s spirits.
It’s a battle between a short-term strategy and a long-term strategy.
It clearly reflected each of their personalities and fighting styles.
It was a combat combination of those conserving their stamina for the future and those aiming to defeat the enemy before them with all their might.
I was captivated by the battle in their respective strong fields.
The Oni’s fist shattered the air, shaking the Giant’s shield.
The Oni King’s fist, slipped into a momentary gap, sank into the Giant King’s abdomen as if absorbed, but the recipient, without changing his expression, swung down a great axe that I would normally brace for with both hands.
The Oni narrowly dodged it, but shockwaves assailed his body.
A storm encompassed the area around this tempest.
As black-dyed fire, water, wind, and earth were unleashed as if playing tag and engulfing the place, crimson flames, azure water, verdant winds, and abundant earth resisted them.
Each of these was a fundamental element, yet each was polished to a high dimension.
Suspended in the air with immovable postures, they prepared and unleashed spells one after another, as if playing shogi.
I couldn’t take my eyes off them.
Even if I couldn’t see everything, I wanted to witness every single action.
With each impact, the barrier groaned in protest.
The sheer power of the residual combat effects caused the inanimate barrier to emit physical sounds, signaling that it was reaching its limit, yet they did not stop.
And as that sound reached my ears, even though I knew it was dangerous, I couldn’t stop watching.
They just clashed.
They just watched.
And finally…
The barrier shattered with a *crack*.
“Whoa!”
And I was directly hit by the shockwave.
I instinctively lowered my posture and managed to withstand it by thrusting my Ore Tree into the ground.
The last thing I saw was Instructor Kio striking the Giant King’s shield.
“That’s enough!! That’s enough!! Both of you, stop!! The barrier is already!! Ah!! Already!! Lady Evia!!”
Keiri-san’s voice, which had been screaming since the barrier shattered, finally reached my ears.
I had been that focused.
Still wanting to see the scene that wouldn’t stop, I looked up.
The other testers were crouched low, waiting for the storm to pass.
I thought that was a waste.
Thinking that I couldn’t possibly miss such a sight, I tried to burn it into my eyes, even just a little.
However, regardless of my will, the battle came to an end.
“That’s far enough.”
The Supervisor, who suddenly appeared in the center, instantly erected barriers dividing the Generals into four sections, bringing the battle to a halt.
A deep sense of sadness washed over me at the sight.
I had been caught up in the fighting spirit.
I was so exhilarated that I could tell.
“Haa.”
To calm myself, I exhaled deeply, as if releasing everything I had stored in my abdomen.
Deep down, I wished they could have just re-erected the barrier and continued, but I also understood that if they had gone any further, they would have both gone all out.
“Well then, it’s finally time.”
Once I calmed down, I started thinking about what came next.
While the other testers cautiously raised their heads to see if the storm had passed, I considered what was about to happen.
“Testers, what you just witnessed was a fragment of the peak. Are you satisfied?”
The Supervisor, having confirmed that the Generals had completely stopped moving, smoothly dispelled the barrier and addressed the spectators, his voice echoing.
“After savoring that, we will move on to the next program.”
As the schedule proceeded with such casualness, the testers began to murmur.
After all, they hadn’t been informed of the next event.
I checked with the tester next to me, but everyone replied that they didn’t know.
Ignoring such sights, he snapped his fingers, and the scene warped.
How many of them realized it was Teleportation Magic, I wonder.
I found myself standing alone in a cave.
That’s natural. This place is…
“Now, do you know where you are? I believe many of you are familiar with this place, so you’ve probably realized. Yes, you are inside a Dungeon. And not just any place, but the very deepest part.”
I wonder what happened to the others who were teleported to the deepest part of the Dungeon.
Some might panic, while others might react calmly.
“Rest assured, the monsters originally stationed there are absent. Only you Testers are there. I will answer your questions. Why are we doing this? It’s merely a game.”
The Supervisor’s voice echoed through the Dungeon, as if answering each Tester’s unspoken doubts, and he sounded as if he were enjoying himself.
“From now on, it’s an all-out race to escape the Dungeon. The one who escapes the fastest will receive a reward from the Demon Lord himself.”
As expected of a demon. Temptation is their specialty, isn’t it?
Knowing there’s no danger and that there’s a prize, few will be concerned about this sudden event.
“There is only one rule: escape as quickly as possible. That’s all you need to follow. You can use magic, you can use items, do as you please. Oh, and of course, interfering with others is also allowed. Don’t worry, the safety measures are active. Whatever happens, you’ll just wake up in the infirmary. However, if that function is activated, you will be disqualified, of course.”
And with safety guaranteed, this is clearly just a game using the Dungeon.
Well, that’s not all the Supervisor has planned.
“Now that I’ve given you the assurances, let me explain the dangers.”
The Supervisor, whose tone clearly indicated he was enjoying this explanation, did not conclude there but added more.
“At regular intervals, penalties will occur. Yes, monsters that will drive you forward will be unleashed. However, this is not purely a disadvantage. These are special monsters prepared for this occasion only. Their bodies are abundant in magic power, and defeating them will greatly aid in the growth of your Magic Crests. Furthermore, by defeating those monsters, you can be teleported up five floors.”
This increases the options: a full-speed dash or shortcuts by defeating enemies.
How one chooses will change the course of the race.
“That is all. Keiri, give the signal.”
“Understood!! Alright everyone, let’s do our best aiming for the goal!! Ready!”
I don’t need to think about what to do.
“GO!!”
After all, I have my own business to take care of during this race.
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, has a girlfriend.
Her name is Suella Handelberg.
Memoria Tris.
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee)
Magic Aptitude: 9 (Quasi Demon Lord Class)
Position: Warrior
Today’s word: Being told about a schedule change during a break is quite tough.
This concludes this installment. We appreciate your continued support for this work.
