Chapter 111
Chapter 111
Chapter 111
EP27 - Star Gazing Mountain Redevelopment (1) [Illustration]
There is a secret unknown to the warriors who stand at the pinnacle of this world, the [Constellations].
It is that they grow weaker if they remain idle.
There are a total of 33 stars.
And there are 33 [Constellations], each chosen by a star in a 1:1 relationship.
To pass through that needle's eye, warriors throughout history have employed every conceivable shortcut.
Evolving drugs, increasingly sophisticated curse-swapping, the [Taboo] they finally discovered, ancient techniques, and so on… Competition has intensified with the passing of years, and they have gradually advanced to realms not permitted to humans.
But illegally constructed additions, not permitted, are bound to collapse someday.
God only permitted humans a sandcastle, yet humans kept trying to build mountains, leading to landslides.
The [Constellations] must keep pouring sand to somehow maintain their mountains.
In the secular world, everyone reveres them. [Constellations] also hide their appearances to seem mysterious, but in reality, they are digging with shovels in a corner.
They tend to avoid fighting each other.
Because their strength wanes…
It’s a slightly different life than what mortals imagine when they think of the absolute beings called [Constellations]. The appearance is a bit lacking, but what can be done? This was the reality of the [Constellations].
Amidst this.
“Oh, dear.”
The world's 10th ranked "Contention Constellation↑" sat cross-legged atop the tallest tree on the highest mountain peak. To control the power trying to escape.
“That guy’s still living like that, huh….”
A man wearing a Bread Bag let out a laugh towards the Contention Constellation↑.
“…It’s always so strange when I see it. Why do it on a high place when you can do it on the ground? It doesn't even help.”
‘He’d send his ashes into space if he died…,’ he muttered.
“Why are you here?”
His voice vibrated through the entire space. It was the Contention Constellation↑ from atop the tree.
Immediately after, eyes like a hawk slowly opened.
“Oh, sorry. You heard me?”
The flustered Bread Bag waved his hand.
“What’s the matter?”
“Ah. It’s nothing much. In the secular world, well, what do you call it. Something interesting happened, right? I came to ask about that.”
“What happened?”
“Huh? What? Didn’t your Guardian Star tell you?”
The Contention Constellation↑ frowned.
He seemed to not know.
The man in the Bread Bag clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking that’s why he’s ignored by his Companion Star, living his life just putting on airs.
“I asked. What happened.”
“Hmm……”
It couldn’t be helped. He had to tell him himself.
“Your dungeon. The record for the top 10 servers there.”
Then, the hawk-like face contorted.
“Are you here again to provoke me because I’m second place?”
“What? No! It’s not like that.”
“If not.”
“The record was broken yesterday!”
The Contention Constellation↑’s eyes twitched.
A sigh escaped his lips.
“I see. Time has passed… All records are bound to be broken someday, and my record is no exception…”
“What are you talking about? It wasn’t your record that was broken.”
“What?”
The man in the Bread Bag laughed, anticipating the shocked expression of the man who had only put on airs for 30 years.
“The first place record was broken.”
As expected, the Contention Constellation↑ was aghast.
Even more so than when he heard his own record was broken.
* * *
It was three days of chaos.
-
(Report 1) Record updated for the first time in 100 years.
-
"Dungeon of Escalating Competition" 1st place shockingly shortened.
-
Empire Hattengrad Academy: "Astonishing feat! The Cursed 30 Minutes have finally been broken!"
Both domestically and internationally, media related to warriors, regardless of Hiaka, unconditionally mentioned this incident, and general media also poured out stories incessantly.
A time reduction for the first time in 100 years. Furthermore, a record that broke the symbolic number 30 and dropped into the 20-minute range.
The reason this caused a global shock was that 30% of warriors run the "Dungeon of Escalating Competition."
And most of their records get stuck around the 2nd or 3rd section. When they clear the dungeon by breaking through all 5 sections, they are classified in the top 10%.
Even then, the clear time usually clocked in at 4 or 5 hours.
And then, on that day, it was shortened like this.
1.
[Unspecified] Anonymous: 29 minutes 19 seconds 19 (▲999, new!!)
This alone was astonishing, but foreign media focused elsewhere.
-
Contention Competition↑: Shocked by the update of the 'Top 10 Servers'.
-
Administration: "Birth of the greatest geniuses in history? It's only a matter of time before records on all other servers are broken."
The reason servers are categorized by age is that warriors grow stronger as they age.
Therefore, everyone could imagine.
The future of a group of warriors who achieved 1st place in the rankings in their teens, as they grow into their 30s and 50s.
However.
There was one problem.
-
Obscure: The party's identity cannot be known…
-
"Entered the 20-minute range. A record after 100 years. Yet, their identity is unknown. This paper is now searching for 'The Four of That Day'."
《Hattengrad Empire Communication》
In a Stigma Dungeon, using 'Anonymous' means borrowing the power of the star called [Anonymity(?)]
In other words, even though everyone knew about the record update, no one knew who did it.
The 'Stigmata Dungeon Administration,' the only ones with a hint, avoided answering by worshipping the stars.
-
Anonymous, yet clearly existing individuals.
-
"Who are they?"
Countless people searched for 'them,' and.
-
Hattengrad Imperial Decree: "We inquire about the whereabouts of those who achieved this great feat."
The Imperial family was also on high alert.
* * *
What was I doing at this time?
I was sucking my fingers.
Because I was Anonymous.
'What a shame.'
At first, I thought it was a shame.
With Hiaka already being looked down upon continent-wide.
Only Gray had slightly improved the image.
How advantageous would it have been for us if we had announced this news?
'A server only gets one chance to challenge per year… There’s no way to nullify it right now.'
But as time passed, a feeling beyond 'a shame' began to arise.
This was an achievement that, by all common sense, had no reason to be hidden.
Self-proclaimed experts gradually began to suggest that this might be a Star Error (which sometimes causes bugs).
By the time three days had passed, other countries were starting to jump on the bandwagon.
-
Hitahita Academy: "Hiatahiata's geniuses are stirring. The record of 100 years is just the beginning."
-
Kan Federation National Academy stated: <Identity revealed! An assassination squad secretly raised by the authorities!>
Well, well.
The Empire is keeping quiet because the Imperial family stepped forward to ask 'Who are you?', but if you call it an 'Assassination Squad,' there's no obligation to disclose, so they just blurt it out.
At this time, Hiaka Academy also released a press statement.
-
Regarding the new record in the "Dungeon of Escalating Competition," it cannot be determined that this Academy is unrelated.
My god… What terrible aggro.
Doesn't this make it seem like we did it the least? Even though we were the ones who actually did it.
The web reactions were just as bad.
< Ugh. Now the Hiaka folks are trying to jump on the bandwagon too. >
< They opened their faculty departments and now they can't tell where they belong, tsk tsk >
< This is a bit of a stretch lol…. >
This is the current perception of Hiaka on the continent. I don't have patriotism, but I'm slightly annoyed.
There was something that annoyed me more. It was Kreutz. They were even presenting real individuals and claiming they were the ones who did it.
-
Kreutz Academy: "If you want the truth, come study abroad at Kreutz. Professors in their teens are waiting."
You crazy bastards.
Why are you so good at drawing aggro?
'Look at them setting up an Amulet as a Professor….'
This was the extent of it. It seemed I wasn't the only one feeling this way, as Dante's Assassination Squad was also jumping up and down.
"I'm offended! We did it! Right, Professor?!"
"Ugh, uh!"
"It was a chance to widely publicize the Professor's name…!!"
Something is strange, but I let it slide.
Actually, it was fine.
'It's only a matter of time.'
Dante's Assassination Squad broke it in the shortest time due to luck, and also because their growth, which had been blocked by a lack of practical experience, exploded all at once.
However, fundamentally, their 'trajectory of potential' was different.
Before long, it will become impossible to hide, even if they try.
A sharp object in a pocket will eventually poke out.
"Stop reading the articles. And Ran."
"Yes. Students, please gather. We will now hold a patch awarding ceremony for your first real combat."
And so, four students approached me. Their faces were visibly tense.
However, there was a problem with this awarding ceremony.
"……."
Ran stared blankly at the children, then turned her eyes to me.
"We need to do the calculations. …Ah."
Ah, right. This time, we didn't know how they performed.
Normally, everything would have been under my control, but Princess Rebecca told me not to this time.
"I see. Everyone, pay attention."
The eyes of the four turned to me.
"Since I don't know your specific achievements this time, I cannot give you patches. What do you think about this?"
"Yes!?"
"Eeeh?? That's too much!"
"Ugh!?"
Balmung and Elise expressed their displeasure in order. Kendrake, who somehow seemed to have some sense, followed suit.
"Eeeh? How can that be?"
"It cannot be?"
"Hmm. Well, if Professor says so, then it is… but still, it's a good opportunity to raise our settlement fees. These guys and I, we achieved world first place…? Honestly, you should give it to us…"
Gray approached it logically, surprisingly. And I liked his words.
Should I give them all?
As I thought that,
I realized it didn't fit the purpose yet.
They still needed to be seen as 'items one wants a little more.'
So I asked.
"I want to give it to everyone, but unfortunately, I only have one patch prepared right now."
"Eeeh…. Can't you just make more…."
"Silence. Anyway, there's only one. So, you choose. Put your hand on your conscience. Who was the most active in this dungeon?"
Then, the eyes of the three flickered at each other.
"When I say one, two, three. Let's point at each other."
Ran said, and the three tensed up, while one scratched his cheek, frowning.
Ran placed a [Clock] above her head and said.
"Who was the most active? One. Two. Three."
Gray → Elise
Kendrake → Elise
Elise → Balmung
Balmung → Balmung
All eyes turned to Balmung.
"Eeeh? Balmung. You chose yourself? You were active, but to choose yourself."
“…Sigh. Tsk tsk. How pathetic."
"Ugh… tsk tsk…."
A self-selection that was utterly pathetic!
As if he knew it himself, Balmung, his face bright red, shouted.
"What! I chose myself because I was active! What's wrong with that!"
Everyone waited for my decision.
After all, the result was 2:2, wasn't it?
I shook my head. It should be given to the one who received the recognition of others.
So, the [B]-class patch was given to Elise.
"Wow, bone, bone! It's pretty!"
And as she twirled around in front of everyone, revealing the patch, Balmung gnashed his fingernails.
【 Balmung: 'I want one too!!!!!!!!' 】
Only Balmung's silent scream continued.