Kono Sekai ga Game da to, Ore dake ga Shitte Iru (WN) – Chapter 49

This is bad…

I may have been a little too optimistic.
There were far more people than I had imagined.
Looking at the South Gate, our destination, a crowd had already gathered.
I could see people who clearly didn’t look like adventurers, just ordinary townspeople, lined up there as well.

I had assumed that with the Subjugation Tournament’s limit of 50 participants, the number of people wouldn’t increase that much. However, this time, the Golden HAGURE NYORAIM, which offered the best experience point efficiency in the area, was spawning in large numbers.
I should have factored in that even people not participating in the tournament would head to the plains for experience points.

(Should I try to detour from the East or West instead?)

The thought crossed my mind, but I immediately dismissed it.
The Deus Plain near the South Gate was the area with the weakest monsters in proximity to the city.
If I went elsewhere without changing my level or equipment, there would be a real risk of death.

Generally, in ‘Nekoneko,’ the southern direction is known for having weaker monsters.
Looking at the entire Kingdom, with the Demon Lord’s Castle to the north and Ramur to the southeast, from the Capital City, this is evident.

However, there’s also a rule that monsters get stronger the farther you are from the city. If you head south from the Deus Plain, the monster levels gradually increase, and a Dungeon located about three Fields away boasts the highest level in the southern region at 150.
Incidentally, the boss there is said to be the ‘King Butcher,’ who has killed the most Players in ‘Nekoneko.’ I myself was minced in a single blow when I encountered it unexpectedly during my first playthrough.

While he is a formidable enemy for swordsmen due to unfavorable matchups, in the current version, the Slime Forest at level 120 is far more threatening.
Not only is it difficult for swordsmen to fight there, but the Slime monsters that appear there also multiply over time.
If left unattended for several months in game time, the Slime Forest can even spread to the city.
It’s one of those places that will eventually need to be addressed.

But,

“Let’s push through there and get out!”

Now isn’t the time to think about such distant matters.
I cut off unnecessary thoughts and, pulling Ringo’s hand, plunged into the South Gate.

Once through the gate and onto the Field, the number of people surprisingly decreased.
It seems the crowd near the gate was indeed just ordinary townspeople.
They probably thought they wouldn’t be attacked by a Golden HAGURE NYORAIM and that if they could land a hit, they could defeat it regardless of whether it was a commoner or a child.
It seems the townspeople came to the vicinity of the gate with that in mind, but lacking the courage to step onto the Field, they loitered near the gate.

Meanwhile, where we are now should be the Field, but there are no monsters in sight.
I don’t know how this world, now reality, reconciles this, but in the Game, a precursor to a massive spawn event is the complete disappearance of all monsters in the targeted area.
That’s probably why the townspeople could come this far, but we need to make the most of this time.

“…Let’s go.”

I urged Ringo, breaking away from the wave of people concentrated near the gate, and proceeded deeper into the plains.
Though it was likely unnecessary, I walked as if to naturally avoid people’s gazes. Once the crowd thinned, I took a breath and,

“From here, we run.”

After informing Ringo with a single word, I began to move in earnest.

The townspeople and adventurers gathered near the entrance seem to intend to take down the Golden with their numbers.
Certainly, increasing the number of people can reduce the escape routes slightly and increase the chance of defeating it.
However, on the flip side, the opportunity for oneself to land the finishing blow is greatly reduced.
If you have a plan to defeat the Golden solo, you should actually avoid people.

The Deus Plain is an open area, with short grass, occasional bushes, and large rocks at intervals, offering no obstruction to vision.
As we ran for a while, we saw a few adventurers who seemed to have the same idea.

However, their numbers were not that many.
The Subjugation Tournament has a maximum of 50 participants.
If the majority of them are playing in teams of three, that’s less than 20 teams.
I was worried when I saw the crowd at the gate, but it seems I don’t need to significantly alter my plan.

“Is this about the right spot?”

At least, there are no Players nearby.
Also, the shape of the rock in front of me is familiar.
If my memory serves me correctly, there should be a monster spawn point over there.

“Ringo, the first one should appear near that rock.
I’m counting on you for the preemptive strike.”

As I said this, Ringo nodded, though her gaze remained as unfocused as ever.

Normally, monsters do not spawn in front of Players… but this massive spawn event is one of the rare ‘special events’ that are an exception.
Monsters spawn without hesitation even in front of Players, and the time until respawn is significantly reduced.

Ideally, I want to grasp the knack of hunting the Golden during this first encounter, without interference from others, while we are fully prepared.

During the time until the massive spawn begins, I check my equipment.
My starting armor is still the same, but considering the low risk of taking damage, I’ve switched most of my rings, except for the stamina-related ones, from defense-boosting items to those specializing in elemental attacks.
Since I’ve learned fire-attribute magic, trying it out if I have the chance would be good.

My weapons are still Fire of Sh and the Wakizashi.
Even though the Odachi’s modifiers aren’t active, Fire of Sh has the highest attack power among what I currently possess.
Actually, I tried to lend Fire of Sh to Ringo, but she wanted the Heat Knife instead.
It seems she liked the bright red blade that emanates heat.
It might be a slightly dangerous hobby.

As long as she attacks with lightning, using the Heat Knife won’t increase her short sword proficiency or fire-attribute magic proficiency, but the Heat Knife does have considerable attack power.
Even with the power of lightning, it probably doesn’t have enough strength to deal normal damage to the Golden, so either way should be fine.

Just then, Ringo, who had previously seemed to be looking at nothing in particular, looked up and assumed a stance with the Heat Knife.
Checking the time, it was ten seconds before the start.
I hurriedly followed suit.

“Ringo, when it appears, unleash your lightning strike with all your might.
Once its movement stops, I’ll charge in with this.
…Please, don’t hit me, okay?”

To my joking words, Ringo nodded seriously.

“…I’ll pray that I don’t hit you.”

I wanted to retort, “Instead of praying, you should try not to hit me,” but time was up.
Particles of light gathered, and from them, a single creature was born.

—A golden body like squishy gum, with the characteristic two cat-ear-like protrusions of a Nor.

No mistake, it’s a Golden HAGURE NYORAIM!

“Ringo!”

By the time I shouted, Ringo was already moving.
Lightning surged from the tip of her knife.

(…Fast!)

The Golden NOR struck back at the attack, which moved with a speed I thought even I couldn’t dodge.
But lightning doesn’t travel in a straight line.
It’s like five bolts of lightning scattering slightly and flying simultaneously.
A single bolt of light that bounced sideways grazes the NOR.

Even though it’s a high-power attack for a level 1, it’s a multi-hit strike.
It seems it couldn’t break through the NOR’s defense after all, but it definitely dealt 1 damage.
Then, without pause, Ringo unleashed a second and third lightning strike in succession.

(Good!)

Ringo was firing lightning strikes one after another, not so much to land hits, but to intercept its path and prevent it from escaping.
And though the NOR was accurately predicting the trajectory of those attacks, due to the nature of lightning, it couldn’t completely dodge them all.
On the contrary, it was skillfully guided by Ringo and finally took a direct hit…

(Right, I can’t just stand here gawking.)

I charged in using ‘Godspeed Cancel Movement’ against the opponent that had stopped dead after taking a direct hit.
Ringo also seemed to have considered me and stopped firing lightning strikes.
There were no obstacles between me and the Golden HAGURE NYORAIM.
I used Step and Cancel to gain distance and entered the skill’s range.
The Nor still hadn’t moved!

Performing a short cancel on the final Step, I activated the short sword skill ‘Rokutsuki’ (Six Strikes).
The opponent was still immobile.

(I’ve got this!)

If the opponent is still stopped at this distance, I can’t miss this strike.
I lunged at the NOR, holding my short sword in a reverse grip, and…

“Huh?”

I passed right through its body.

(W-What in the world…?)

I turned back in surprise, but the NOR was no longer there, only faint remnants of particles remained.
However, even those soon dispersed in the wind.

And the anomalies didn’t stop there.

“…Ngh!”

Turning towards an unidentifiable groaning sound, I saw Ringo, with a grimace that was barely perceptible, clutching her body as if enduring something.

“A-Are you alright! What happened?”

As I rushed over, she said in a weak voice.

“…L…pp.”

But I couldn’t hear her clearly.
When I brought my ear closer, she said it again.

“I think… I leveled up.”

…I see.
It appears that leveling up extensively takes a toll on the body.

It’s not that I, for all my troubles, have only leveled up by one level each time, and Ena initially leveled up a lot in the ‘Trial Cave,’ but she was injured and couldn’t do much.
However, if level-ups significantly increase Strength, it’s akin to human modification if taken literally.
It’s not surprising to feel some sort of physical change.
In fact, when I think about it seriously, it’s a rather unsettling specification.

At any rate, Ringo leveling up means that Ringo landed the finishing blow on the NOR.
Which means, the final blow was that lightning strike.

Come to think of it, in ‘Nekoneko,’ monster corpses remain for a while after they are defeated.
It seems the Golden HAGURE NYORAIM had already died by the time I started my charge.

No wonder it wasn’t moving at all!
Well, it’s a bit of a plan after all, since I was just flustered because it was the first time!

While I was frantically making excuses in my head, Ringo came closer.
Then, without preamble, she made this suggestion.

“…Should I go easy next time?”

Moved by the fact that Ringo could now show such consideration, I shook my head.

…You know, Ringo.
Kindness can sometimes hurt people.