Chapter 100

This is the 100th episode.

We have reached a significant milestone.

Thank you for your continued support.

*That name, that race. Could it be you...*

"…What are you talking about?"

The golden knight, mistaking me for someone else, stood up, dispelling the relatively relaxed atmosphere and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

The air trembled with his intensity. My cheeks tingled. This knight is strong.

We glared at each other for about ten seconds.

It was the knight who broke the sudden tension.

*...No, it's not you. You have a confusing name. I thought you might be his reincarnation or something.*

"His...?"

*Huh? You don't know, even though you're of the same race?*

"Yeah."

Even if you say it like that, I don't know what I don't know.

I am a player, not a pure Oni race.

I have heard many stories from Kohaku, so I think I know a fair bit about Oni, but even Kohaku didn't react in any special way when he heard my name.

Shuten, too, didn't change his reaction.

Speaking of which, I suddenly remembered.

The Siren knight, Hash, whom I fought on the first day, also mentioned my name.

I think she said something like... *You bear a strong name*...?

"Hey, is the Scukuna you know strong?"

*Hmm? Yeah... He was strong, but there was always a much stronger Oni by his side.*

"Much stronger Oni?"

*Yeah. A monster-like strong Oni, so strong that even our master couldn't defeat him. You must know Shuten, right?*

Shuten. To think his name would come up here.

Swallowing my surprise, I decided to go along with his story.

As if I were an Oni born in this world.

The knight in front of me doesn't seem to be able to tell if I'm a player or not.

He might not even know what a player is.

Still, if he's mistaken, it's convenient. It might help me get more information.

"...I know. He's like a god to us."

*That's right. The flow of time is different here and there, so I don't know how much time has passed since I fought them, but if you don't know, it means there's a reason you shouldn't know.*

"Right. Well, that makes sense. Thanks."

*I'm pretty straightforward, but you're pretty casual too. Well, if you ask the old folks in your village, they might tell you something.*

I thought Kohaku might not have said anything, but on second thought, he might not have known either.

After all, Kohaku is relatively young among the Oni. It's entirely possible he doesn't know.

And at the same time, it's a fact that Shuten deliberately didn't say anything about it.

Well, I don't know when I'll see him again, but if I do, I'll ask him.

About the Oni with the same name as me, who spent time with Shuten.

*Well, I didn't come here just to talk. Let's get to the main topic.*

"Sure thing."

*My name is Gordo. I'm the second strongest among the twelve knights serving Lady Siren. Do you know why such a strong knight like me is here?*

"To test us."

I answered his question, which was slightly serious, without much thought.

*Well, that's half of it. The other half is a different reason. Before we fight, I have to tell you about the enemy you need to defeat.*

"The enemy we need to defeat...?"

*That's right. This labyrinth is a big hole that our master dug to invade your world, which the gods of your world sealed by forcing it into the shape of a gate. The hole is too big to completely close, so it can't be sealed. Even gods have their limits. The gate will break in three days.*

"Uh-huh."

He's talking about the reason for the gate that stands in the city. I don't fully understand, but it seems that the gate was built by the gods of this world—probably the creator god—to prevent some kind of invasion.

In other words, the monsters inside the gate are enemies invading this world.

*Good point. Those monsters are just a defensive function created from our master's power. They take the form of monsters from your world because your worlds are connected. Well, the twelve knights, including me, are also a defensive function.*

"Hmm... What are they defending? Your master?"

*No, they're defending just one monster. Our master only sent that one monster to invade. It's one of his favorite monsters, and it's the enemy you need to defeat.*

"Ugh..."

Let me summarize.

The gate is a seal on the hole that Gordo's master dug to invade this world.

The minor monsters in the labyrinth are a defensive function created from the master's power to protect the one monster he sent.

The enemy we need to defeat is that one monster.

Is that right?

"Hmm... So you came to invade this world, but the entrance was sealed, so you're waiting for it to break?"

*To put it bluntly, yes.*

"So, we need to find and defeat that monster within three days?"

*No, that's not it. What you need to do is to clear the trials and as many of you as possible should survive.*

"Oh, back to square one?"

My slightly confident statement was easily refuted, and I felt a bit disappointed.

This isn't my forte. I need to ask Rin for help.

*Our master knew that the gate would be sealed if he invaded this world. Of course, his favorite monster is hidden where no one can touch it.*

"Ah, that makes sense."

From what he's saying, it seems that this isn't the first time his master—probably Siren—has invaded.

It seems that they have invaded many times before and have been repelled each time.

Of course, they knew this would happen, and it has indeed happened this time.

Oh, right. I just realized.

We players are tackling this gate as a game, but until now, NPCs have been tasked with the same mission.

NPCs, who only have one life, unlike us.

To defeat Siren's favorite monster.

Kohaku probably was one of them. Or maybe Melti, whom I met in Feas.

*However, to create a space where no one can touch, there must be a corresponding cost. Nothing is perfect without a downside.*

"So there are downsides."

In WLO, powers that grant great returns come with corresponding limitations.

*The Hungry Wolf* is a clear example. It has clear benefits and drawbacks.

*Judgment*, which Rin used, also had conditions and costs to activate.

Of course, not everything has limitations.

For example, equipment can provide benefits without drawbacks if it's not cursed.

Equipment made within the limits of the resources used is allowed to be as powerful as it is.

My *Lone Moon Camellia* is a good example. This hair ornament, which materializes a named soul, has the broken performance of *halving SP consumption* with no significant drawbacks.

In other words, if you set some kind of drawback, even a minor resource can produce effects beyond its resources.

Cursed equipment, for example, has its stats boosted, which is why it has powerful performance.

In any case, it seems that this rule applies even to Siren, who lives in a different place from this world.

Once they enter this world, they are subject to the same rules.

*The downside our master set is that the space will be released just before the gate is destroyed. However, there is another condition to reach that space. That is—*

"To break through the trials, right?"

*To be precise, those who have proof of clearing the trials will be forcibly transferred to the space when the time is right.*

Very few players will be able to reach the space in such a short time. Moreover, they can't even fight without clearing the trials, which is like a double restriction.

Still, if clearing the trials guarantees access to the monster's lair, it makes sense as a restriction.

This clears up a lot of the mystery.

There are still many things I don't understand and many questions I want to ask.

Unfortunately, it seems he's reaching his limit.

*Ha ha ha, you're a good match. You understand me well.*

"Because you're easy to understand..."

*...By the way, this trial offers several types of challenges. It wouldn't be fun to fight a mage in close combat. But of course, a warrior like you will use a sword.*

Gordo drew his large sword with one hand.

The sword has a golden hilt, but the blade is blue.

It seems to be made of a different metal, not orichalcum, according to my instincts.

*In the end, I'm a brute. It's easiest to speak with my fists. More than anything, I want to fight you directly.*

"Hmm. I kind of expected that."

I drew my shadow-sewing sword and held it in a ready stance.

I can't afford to be careless. The knight in front of me, who calls himself Gordo, is far stronger than any Siren knight I've fought before.

"I still have questions, but... let's get started."

*Yeah, I'll answer if you survive.*

Without exchanging any more words.

After a moment, the sword and the golden staff crossed.

The hard metallic sound rang out, and the trial began.

Brute against brute.

Nana, too, was eager to fight, regardless of the talk.