Even with the simultaneous progress of two works, I won’t delay this post!!
Finally, the day has come.
I’m fully armed, with a Great Sword-style Ore Tree strapped to my back.
Around my waist, a pouch-style Magic Bag is secured, and my preparations are complete.
This is what you might call a Battle Ready Stance.
I’m in the hall of the mansion that I recently built, dressed like this, and I’m being seen off by Suella, Himik, Memoria, and Evia.
“Ah, ah…”
“Mmm, ah…”
Yukiera and Sachiera, cozy in Suella’s arms, stretch out their hands, clearly intrigued by my unusual outfit. I smile back at them.
“Dad, I’m going to do my best!”
I gently extend my gauntleted right hand, and the children grab my fingers, their giggles echoing with excitement at the firm feeling.
They believe they are playing with me, desperately trying to move my heavy finger with their tiny hands.
For several minutes, I allow myself to enjoy their playful tugging without resisting.
The sound of their joyful laughter fills the space around us.
“Lord, it’s almost time.”
Hearing Sehas remind me of the time makes me feel a bit regretful as I slowly release my fingers. Yukiera and Sachiera reach out for more, but they can’t touch my hand without Suella stepping closer.
“When I get back, let’s play more.”
I cherish their adorable figures in my mind.
“Alright, I’m off.”
“Good luck!”
“Come back safely!”
“I’m praying for your victory!”
“Give it your all; that’s how you’ll win!”
With my loved ones seeing me off, I step out of the mansion through the entrance opened by Sehas.
“Have you completed your greetings?”
“Yeah, I’m all set.”
“Good, you seem well-rested and your complexion is alright. How’s your nerves?”
“I’m nervous, I guess. But to be honest, it might be more accurate to say I’m looking forward to it.”
“That’s a relief. Not being overly tense is a sign that you’re prepared.”
At the entrance, Keiri-san is waiting for me. She peers at my face to check my condition, and I respond with a smile.
Satisfied, Keiri-san nods and begins walking ahead to guide me.
In front of the mansion, a carriage is prepared, and Muil-san, talking to the driver, notices me and waves as he approaches.
“Son-in-law, it’s finally here.”
“Yeah, it is.”
Our exchange remains brief and to the point.
“I’ll be ready for the victory celebration.”
“I’ll do my best to meet your expectations.”
After a quick handshake, I climb into the carriage, which the president prepared for all the participants.
The door leads to the venue of the selection exam.
The windows are shut, making it impossible to see outside. Despite my attempts to sense magic, the carriage is likely made of special materials that prevent me from exploring my surroundings.
Moreover, the carriage sets off smoothly and quietly, making it hard to guess where we are heading.
This seems to be a measure to maintain fairness by not providing information about our destination…
“It’s thorough not even allowing for aura detection.”
Additionally, the driver isn’t a living being but likely a Golem handcrafted by Amili-san. This means bribery is out of the question.
“Given that, I can somewhat guess the purpose of this magic stone.”
In the center of the carriage is a stick protruding from the floorboards, integrated with a magic stone.
What is it for?
Before I can voice my thoughts, the magic stone before me lights up.
“Hello, participants. How are you doing?”
“I knew it.”
The image that materializes is that of the president—holographic and three-dimensional.
It’s something you can’t encounter unless you have modern specialized equipment.
The fact that such technology exists in this compact device makes me realize that I shouldn’t underestimate the advancements of this Otherworld, and I eagerly await what I will hear next.
“Ah, I may have been a bit rude to ask that. I’m sure all of you are excited about the upcoming selection exam. After all, it’s a battle to decide the generals who will support the future. You’re all no doubt in top condition to compete.”
Is he intending to give an opening speech, or perhaps explain the rules?
“By stepping into this carriage, you’ve shown your willingness to participate. There’s no turning back now. I recommend you consider that beyond this carriage lies a battlefield.”
With his hands clasped behind him and a bright smile, the president confirms our intentions. There’s no issue with that.
However, the mention of a battlefield feels ominous.
And something about the president’s smile seems to hint at something ulterior.
Am I being paranoid?
No, I need to stay calm and remember.
Even the instructors and Evia were more menacing when they smiled.
“Now that I’ve reaffirmed your determination, let’s explain the rules. Well, in this case, let’s call it the conditions for becoming a general.”
I have a sense of dread about it, but I still need to confirm the rules.
What I had heard in advance was that it would be a survival-style battle royale, and that Kio would be participating.
It’s been quite a while since I got that information.
I haven’t received any further details regarding the rules from Evia.
Before I could ask, I was told it was classified, which means I’m in the dark about the next information.
I need to confirm any changes and differences…
“First, let’s discuss the number of generals that can be appointed in this selection exam—at most two, and at least zero.”
I knew the filtering would be rigorous.
“One of the conditions for selection is to defeat the Oni King Raidou, who will also enter the venue for this selection exam. If you can defeat him, I, Insigne Runallos, promise that you will become a general, no matter what anyone says.”
And there comes the information I was already aware of.
“However, this is lacking a condition for selecting the second candidate. Therefore, I’ve decided to introduce the Dragon King Pascal as well.”
“Wait!?”
The comforting feeling is instantly shattered by shock.
What is the president thinking, throwing two of the most formidable battle junkies from the Demon Lord’s Army into the mix!?
“I can’t possibly say that I’d endorse putting anyone who can defeat these two in the position of general. Of course, I haven’t instructed them to cooperate. In fact, I’ve told them to fight against the participants. So, there may be a three-way battle, but rest assured that they will be considered independent fighters.”
Is this really the way to silence the old men!?
I can’t help but feel this approach is utterly devoid of intent to convince anyone.
Am I, along with everyone else, being set up to fail!?
No, think it through calmly; if I play my cards right, I might create a chance to exhaust the two generals by pitting them against Kio and the Dragon King.
However, the difficulty level of creating such an opportunity feels exceedingly high; am I the only one who thinks this way!?
“Calm down, me. Stay composed. What good is it to panic over something like this?”
My jaw drops in shock, but I shake it off and focus on the president’s words.
If I were to summarize, the structure is simple: defeat one of the two current generals to become a general.
This still leaves room for victory.
“Working together is fine, fighting alone is fine. From here on, it’s a battlefield. Only the victor is just. No one will hold anything against you for what you do. However, time is limited.”
With those faint hopes beginning to build, ominous words flow once again from the president’s mouth.
“Limited.”
For someone like me, a former corporate slave, that word brings to mind deadlines and schedules—a phrase I’d rather not hear.
Counting the days left on the calendar feels like a nightmare.
“Now, take a look at this. This is a rough floor plan of the venue.”
“A floor plan? But it just has squares on it…”
As I wrestle with memories of the past, new information arrives that requires my immediate attention.
I must push away those old thoughts and examine the new information provided.
Squares.
Eight squares vertically and nine horizontally.
Even if it’s a diagram resembling graph paper totaling seventy-two squares, I’m left puzzled.
“One square is approximately one square kilometer, making the total area about seventy-two square kilometers. That’s the size of the venue.”
Seventy-two kilometers… how vast is that?
It would take an insane amount of time just to move around.
“If Raidou and Pascal are to fight with full power, this size is necessary. Additionally, the venue has a specific setup—every hour, one square of space will disappear.”
“What?”
I was already feeling some anxiety about the vastness when, as if to assure me, the president continued to drop a bombshell.
“After seventy-two hours, all squares will disappear. If you haven’t defeated the two by then, everyone will be disqualified.”
A time limit of three days.
I think those were the same days that Fushio and Kio fought to the death.
“The rules are as follows. Lastly, I’ll present you with a parting gift. The magic stone displaying this image can be removed and transformed into a pendant that you can wear around your neck. Once the image disappears, detach it and take it with you. This is a magic stone meant to protect your life. It is imbued with Teleportation Magic that will activate in emergencies, such as when you’re on the verge of dying. It will transport you to a medical facility, which will have a full rescue system in place for three days.”
Facing two active generals with a time limit.
I find it hard to believe that the two generals could be worn out in just three days.
If I’m to fight, I must ensure I’m in peak physical condition and leave as much time as possible.
This battle hangs by a thread of life and death.
The safety net provided by the president shouldn’t be taken solely on faith.
Unlike turning into a magic body within a Dungeon, this is a fight in a living body.
It’s uncertain whether this was purposely designed so that magic bodies couldn’t enter the battlefield, or if there’s some other intention.
Either way, the danger doesn’t change.
The president implies that this was prepared as the best possible emergency measure.
But it seems to say that while you might survive a fatal injury, death is almost certain.
“And if, at any point, you wish to retire, you can channel your magic into that stone to escape. If you feel your life is in danger, do not hesitate to use it. There’s no need to waste a life.”
The last time it was a one-on-one fight, and while there were risks, the chances of survival were almost guaranteed.
However, in this battle royale format, those chances are far higher, perhaps even exponentially.
“Well then, future generals, I wish you luck.”
After sending his final words, the image of the president fades away, and I’m left back in the dimly lit carriage.
I reach out to the magic stone, gently lift it, and as the president said, the stone glows and transforms into a pendant.
Suddenly, the floor gives way beneath me.
“Eh?”
My body begins to fall under the pull of gravity.
“What the hell!?”
In a sudden surprise, I panic as my body accelerates towards the ground.
“The distance to the ground is about a hundred! If I—”
Quickly regaining my composure, I use magic to slow my descent.
There’s no time to relax as I gradually lower myself.
The fight has already begun.
It seems that getting that pendant triggered the mechanism, meaning when it’s removed, the carriage floor opens up.
Looking up at the sky, I spot a significant number of carriages flying through the air, transporting participants while others vacate the arena.
“Is this really survival!?”
I think it’s best to prioritize landing, but it appears some other participant has already descended before me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glint, and instinctively swing the Ore Tree on my back to the left.
It’s an arrow shot at high speed.
Thanks to my enhanced vision from magic, I spot the archer approximately two kilometers away on a rocky mountain.
Draped in a robe, I can’t see their species, but indeed, in this duel-style arena, that type of opponent was much harder to deal with.
Below me is a forest.
Fortunately, I can quickly conceal myself from the sniper.
Rather than landing on the ground, I take refuge among the high branches of a tree.
From afar, I can hear the sounds of battles starting.
In a time-limited environment, the fighting has already commenced.
“Alright then, let’s get pumped!”
With that thought in mind, I spring into action.
—
Today’s Note
While I can predict some outcomes during the preparation stage, unknown factors still exist.
Thank you all for your ongoing feedback and typo corrections.
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Currently, I’m also serializing another work,
Pandora Pandemic Panic: Pandora’s Box has opened again, and we’re managing various countermeasures at our secret base!
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