D-5: Eve of the Conquest

Five days until the gate conquest.

Metis and his secretary stood in the Portal Zone, the pride of the Gate Management Bureau.

"It's always a sight to behold."

"The Minister calling the spectacle a spectacle while viewing the spectacle..."

"Enough."

"Yes, sir."

Metis cut off his secretary's joke with a single stroke. Before him yawned over twenty massive portals, each worth more than five billion coins.

"What's the status on the academies so far?"

"A total of 22 academies will send 89 students."

In response to Metis's question, the secretary continued smoothly.

"The requested gates include ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠20 Rank 4 gates and 1 Rank 5 gate. The list starts with Croa Academy's Zone 3 Rank 4 gate, Moonlit Pavilion..."

"No, just tell me the Rank 5 selection."

"Zone 1: Hunter's Night."

"Zone 1, huh. A safe choice."

The alliance of Arcana and Celia was a combination even Metis looked forward to.

The other academies had simply selected based on grades, but Arcana and Celia featured teams Metis had handpicked himself, so he paid them extra attention.

"Any peculiarities?"

"Yes. Arcana has applied for broadcasting rights."

"Broadcasting?"

As Metis raised an eyebrow in surprise, the secretary projected a hologram of Amy's photo. Only then did realization dawn on Metis.

"Ah, the student from back then? The one handling Arcana's broadcasts."

"Yes, and she's already signed a contract with G Channel."

"Signing a contract first and then applying for permission? Bold move. She knows we can't refuse. No reason to, anyway."

Of course, it wasn't without pressure for Metis. Failing the conquest in front of viewers would be utterly humiliating.

He'd face reprimands, and the media would turn it into a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠circus. But the sword Metis wielded had been double-edged from the start.

"Approve it."

The bigger the betting risk, the larger the pot. Metis had the soul of a gambler.

"Is the test I mentioned prepared?"

"Yes, one active Rank 5 Saber and three Rank 4s on standby."

"That should do it."

Mindful of potential issues, the secretary cautiously asked Metis.

"Minister, if the students fail the test, how should we handle it?"

"If they can't pass a test like that, conquering a Rank 5 gate is impossible anyway."

"Understood."

The secretary bowed politely after the report. It was warranted—Metis was the minister of Central, the government's central hub. Even Arcana's principal, Selphis, yielded to his authority.

But even a powerhouse like Metis had staked everything on this promise.

...All I can do now is trust him.

The new star who thwarted the anti-government group Desire, crushed Celia's genius, and claimed victory in the tournament.

Metis etched his name in his mind.

Zien Russel...

Plana Academy, where they'd been thoroughly trounced by Isabel in the battle survival. Party leader Lena was bouncing around excitedly, out of character for her.

"Kepan! Ribenton! It came!"

Thanks to her, Kepan—who'd been losing at arm wrestling—had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠an excuse to stand naturally.

"Oh! It arrived!"

"Hey, Kepan! That's cheating!"

"No, arm-wrestling bets aren't the issue right now!"

Lena fluttered three tickets from her mailbox. They were train tickets from Saint Kras Terminal to Central. To Saber students, Central was holy ground.

For three big reasons.

Central's cutting-edge facilities and the Hero's Hall, chronicling every gate and Saber in history.

And.

"If luck's on our side, we might even meet Dennis in person!"

The world's sole Rank 7 Saber, missing one other. He was Central's star government Saber.

For students, meeting Dennis was a pipe dream.

"So you're confident we can clear a Rank 4 gate on our own?"

"Well, that's..."

Lena's face fell at Kepan's sharp jab, reverting to her usual deflated, insecure self.

In the end, Ribenton wedged his massive frame between them.

"Come on! Kepan, why so negative? Of course we can clear it."

"Hmph, forgot? We got wiped by one Arcana girl."

As Kepan spat negativity again, Lena's face drooped further.

"Yeah... Maybe we should forfeit even now...?"

Finally, Ribenton took a hard line against both.

"Oh yeah? I hear Croa Academy's joining too..."

"What!? Why tell me now? We're in! Can't lose to that Ichef punk!"

Croa's name sent Kepan into a frenzy. The usually passive Lena feigned surprise and nodded vigorously.

"R-Really? Y-Yes!"

An endless plain stretched out.

A single sniper. His target board bore Zien's photo.

Bang!

The gunshot pierced Zien's forehead in the picture.

But the sniper's rage didn't end there. Below the board, red paint screamed [Down with Zien] and [Down with Arcana].

Unhinged as it was, instructor Timothy didn't scold—instead, he beamed proudly at Ichef.

"Ooh~ My star pupil. Perfect score again? Power's up a bit too. The photo helping?"

Ichef smirked and shook his head at the praise.

"No. It's only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠natural I'm stronger than yesterday's me."

Damn, that's some chuuni sickness!

Timothy shivered but forced a grin.

"Y-Yeah~ Impressive! This time, we'll hit top ranks for sure."

Timothy hated Zien.

Arcana had knocked Croa out, and Zien was the party leader responsible.

Impossible to like him. After Romina's smackdown too, his grudge against Arcana had swelled.

One way to turn it around and cheer up: clear a Rank 4 while Arcana flunks their Rank 5. Romina would seethe...

Imagining it soothed Timothy immensely.

"Ichef! Little more practice? Down with Arcana! Got it?"

Croa's instructor Timothy.

Adult on the outside, still a student at heart.

In the clubroom, Zien scanned his stigma via smartphone.

Normally, the phone's laser would reveal everything from Magic Tool to skills.

But.

Zien's stigma was filled with mysterious mosaics.

And one's increased.

In his past life, Zien had four skills.

But after viewing the Memory Crystal of Demonaic, the Demon King's Castle, the mosaicked skills had grown.

...The skill I should've gained from slaying Belial.

Belial, boss of a Rank 8 gate.

The fifth skill etched into his stigma was surely from that boss—its power defied prediction.

If I can reclaim it... it'll be tremendous firepower.

Problem was time.

Arcana and Celia's parties boarded the train to Central tomorrow for the conquest.

No time left for training.

Guess I'll reclaim it inside the gate.

As Zien closed his phone, party members trickled in one by one.

"Ugh, Isabel, you're too much. Sparring, but no holding back..."

"Sorry."

First were Kua and Isabel.

Kua limped in, battered with bruises on his arms from the intense spar.

Isabel, meanwhile, looked pristine.

"But you're at fault too. Relying only on your Magic Tool spells trouble. Gates are full of variables. Basics are everything."

Isabel patted Kua's shoulder smugly.

"Yes..."

Kua nodded meekly. Just from that, Zien could picture their spar.

"Sparring go well?"

"Just taught him a move."

Isabel's record against Kua: 50 wins in 50 spars. Her confidence pierced the heavens.

Thud, thud.

Then Chris entered, shoulders slumped, steps heavy. Demona trailed behind, expressionless as ever.

"Whoa, she speaks..."

Demona flicked her hand in greeting to Kua. Chris's was far more fervent.

"Missed ya, Zien!"

He hugged Zien's arm fiercely.

Undeterred by Demona beside him, Chris unleashed his pent-up gripes like a machine gun.

"She doesn't say a word! I forgot my own voice till now!"

"Calm down. Means you focused on sparring, right?"

"Stronger means I can go insane?"

Lucia sat calmly, as if she'd been there ages.

"Tomorrow's the day."

"Yeah."

Arcana's party leader: Zien.

Celia's party leader: Lucia.

Their members sat in a row beside them. Minus Amy, who'd left early for broadcast prep, everyone was assembled.

Perhaps the first and last Rank 1 gate conquest alliance. Zien gazed at them warmly.

"Everyone, good work."

Hunter's Night, a Rank 5 gate harboring unknown tales.

Challenging it: mere first-years. Egg against rock, blindly. But with past-life experience, Zien was confident.

"Now, let's prove our strength."