Was it revealed at the Martial Emperor Festival?
Thunder Lance of Heavenly Ruin, Divine Bloom ???
What are they talking about? When I think about what I did at the Martial Emperor Festival... I only remember that it was some kind of disaster.
But there's one thing I want to shout from the rooftops.
"It seems there's some kind of misunderstanding. Heavenly Dance of Shattered Armies, Thunder Lance of Heavenly Ruin, Divine Bloom is not Thousand Transformations' trump card."
Yes, yes, that's it! That's exactly what I wanted to say!
Klye's eyes went wide.
A voice had suddenly risen, one that sounded both familiar and unfamiliar. The source was one of the Resonance Stones arranged on the round table.
Klye turned his gaze toward it and wore what could only be described as an arrogant smirk.
"You're saying my information is incorrect? I'll have you know I'm quite confident in my intelligence-gathering abilities — so state your name."
"............Very well. Heavenly Dance of Shattered Armies. My name is — Radolick. And I don't mean to question your intelligence-gathering abilities, but in this case, my information is more accurate. After all, I witnessed the Martial Emperor Festival with my own eyes."
"............"
The smirk vanished from Klye's face, and he fell silent. What on earth had just happened?
And even after hearing the name, I couldn't place it at all. Who was Radolick? Someone who'd been in the audience?
"To be precise, Thunder Lance of Heavenly Ruin, Divine Bloom was the opponent's original trump card spell, and Thousand Transformations simply reproduced it and fired it off in an instant. That is indeed something to marvel at... but calling a spell reproduced on the spot a trump card is rather rough logic, don't you think?"
!? ............Even being told that, I had absolutely no memory of such a situation.
Reproducing and firing off an opponent's spell — there was no way I could do that. Forgetting something I'd seen or heard would be one thing, but doing something that insane and then forgetting about it was impossible... or was it? Wait a minute — could I have done it subconsciously?
............Ah, now that I think about it, the little fox had been fighting in disguise as me at the time, hadn't she?
"............I stand corrected. My apologies. Well, having powerful friends is a very good thing. In any case, Chairman. What I'm trying to say is that the Explorer's Guild should trust the power of its Level 8s — and trust the judgment that made us Level 8s — a bit more. Right, Saya?"
"I do what I need to do. That's all."
For some reason, Klye's momentum had faded from before. And somehow, we'd become friends. Well, whatever...
Saya, having been suddenly addressed, remained cool as ever. Maybe she figured this had nothing to do with her. I completely agreed.
In fact, if things kept going like this, I'd probably just get swept up and dragged along. The Chairman cleared his throat softly and spoke.
"Don't misunderstand, Heavenly Dance of Shattered Armies. Half of what you said is correct, and half is wrong. The matter at hand — is simply that grave. It's true that the preliminary review criteria have been somewhat relaxed, and it's also true that the nature of the test is unusual, but criteria and test content being influenced by the times is par for the course. We are absolutely not considering unconditionally passing everyone. There are Treasure Hunters suited and unsuited for this. And moreover — the request that will serve as this examination has a personnel limit."
A request with a personnel limit. That was unusual. Generally, Treasure Hall explorations had an optimal party size, but that was an optimum, not a restriction.
If anything, the only scenario I could think of was an escort request where the client specified the number of personnel.
I immediately scrambled to protect myself.
"But hey, if it's that kind of test, shouldn't there be other suitable candidates besides us? I don't mean to brag, but my combat ability isn't anything special, you know? That Thunder Lance thing Klye mentioned earlier was just a fluke, and I'm not ready to die yet."
Give me a break. Even becoming Level 8 was the result of Gaark's indulgence and my companions' tireless efforts. I may be incompetent, but when it came to my own life being on the line, even I could put my foot down.
Klye furrowed his brow and looked down at me. His gaze was sizing me up.
"............Thousand Transformations, I'm surprised to see you so spineless. Or is it something about this Heavenly Dance of Shattered Armies and Night Banquet Temple that rubs you the wrong way?"
That's not what I meant at all. Don't look at me like that, Saya. I never said anything like that!
The moment I was about to open my mouth to smooth things over, the Chairman spoke with his expression openly twisted.
"No, that's not what this is about at all. Honestly, I don't know where this leaked, but — this is troubling. It's true that we have — a second arrow prepared. It's not a method we'd prefer to use, but a second arrow in case no suitable Hunters come forward —"
"Chairman, shouldn't we... wait until the review results are in before discussing that?"
An official seated beside the Chairman spoke up. But the Chairman shook his head.
"No, if it's already known, there's no problem discussing it now. What we've prepared are — Red Hunters, those who excel solely in combat ability."
"Red Hunters...?"
Those were words far too absurd to come from the executive ranks of the Explorer's Guild.
Red Hunters was the collective term for former Hunters who had committed criminal acts as Hunters and been expelled from the Explorer's Guild.
Most of them had personality issues. In most cases, they were muscle for criminal organizations, or members of bandit gangs ravaging territories — nothing but troublemakers. And I'd had more than my share of grief from them.
It was true that some possessed abilities that rivaled high-level Hunters, but the idea of using those people was insane.
"I understand what you're trying to say. But this request is simply that important. This time, we secured cooperation from multiple nations and took extraordinary measures. From among the Red Hunters currently imprisoned, we've selected those with high combat ability who seem likely to follow our orders, and they will be deployed on this mission."
No matter how you spun it, the more you heard, the more outrageous it became. Even temporarily releasing Red Hunters would not sit well with their victims or the people who had captured them.
Well, I supposed it depended on the crimes they'd committed...
Klye placed a hand on his chin, furrowed his brow, and looked at the Chairman.
"............Hmm. An interesting proposal. Setting aside how absurd it is, that is. But let's press no further for now. It would only waste time."
I looked around at those gathered around the round table. On closer inspection, everyone wore grim expressions. They didn't look remotely convinced by the Chairman's plan. Gaark, in particular, was visibly displeased.
When you considered the depth of talent among Hunters affiliated with the Explorer's Guild, it didn't seem to make sense to resort to such a high-risk measure.
Even if the three of us weren't suited for this request, the Explorer's Guild had plenty of powerful Hunters. Use Ark. Come on, use Ark.
"What has captured my personal interest is — the true nature of this request that will serve as the Level 9 certification exam, the one that forced the Explorer's Guild to gather multiple Level 8s and resort to such outlandish measures. We need to know that before we can proceed."
Klye had articulated my thoughts for me. His expression was utterly serious.
For a Hunter, the ability to assess a request was an essential survival skill. Unlike me, he intended to take the job, so naturally, he wanted details.
In response to his question, the Chairman's gaze turned to me. And for some reason, rather than addressing Heavenly Dance of Shattered Armies, the Chairman directed his question to me.
"Thousand Transformations, as the self-proclaimed Treasure Weapon collector — tell me, are you familiar with what is called an Advanced Technological Civilization?"
"............!!"
Klye's eyes went wide. Saya blinked. I couldn't help but sigh.
What was he talking about?
The civilizations reproduced by Treasure Halls fell into specific categories. This was basic Hunter knowledge. Whether one knew the details or not, there was no Hunter who hadn't heard of Advanced Technological Civilizations.
And since the categories of Treasure Halls matched the categories of Treasure Weapons, I naturally had a decent understanding as well.
"Well, I am technically a Hunter. Among the civilizations reproduced by Treasure Halls, it's probably the one I'm most interested in."
After all, it was supposedly a civilization where smartphones were in general circulation.
The noteworthy feature of that civilization was its convenience. Items manifested from Advanced Technological Civilizations were considered to be far more multifunctional and user-friendly compared to those from other civilizations.
What's more, back when that civilization had existed on this planet, those items hadn't required mana to operate.
In place of mana, they had apparently used the power of lightning, and as a result, the surviving Treasure Weapons from Advanced Technological Civilizations had a characteristic weakness: they were generally vulnerable to lightning. A somewhat strange quirk.
"Then you must also know of the cities that developed through the benefits of Advanced Technological Civilization?"
"I know of them, but I've never been. I'd like to go if I ever got the chance."
Cities and nations that benefited from Advanced Technological Civilization generally imposed strict restrictions on entry and exit, as well as on access to their Treasure Halls.
The revenue from Treasure Halls was substantial, and it was more profitable for the state to clear them than to open them to Hunters. Apparently, the Phantoms that appeared were weak, yet the Treasure Weapons they manifested were of exceptionally high value.
The Explorer's Guild technically existed in such nations as well, but only citizens of those countries were eligible to register as Hunters there, creating a near-monopoly.
Such nations were said to impose particularly strict restrictions on the movement of high-level Hunters and Parties, so as a Level 8, I would never be granted entry.
The Chairman frowned at my words and spoke in a low voice.
"Well... whether that's good luck or bad luck, I can't say. The stage for the next Level 9 exam is — a city that developed through Advanced Technological Civilization."
"Huh... I want to go..."
I wanted to go buy a smartphone. If possible, I'd like other Treasure Weapons too. I wasn't sure they'd sell to me, though...
But since it was an exam... "I'm going to buy a smartphone so I won't work" probably wouldn't fly (obviously).
So Klye furrowed his brow and spoke.
"A city of Advanced Technological Civilization. Level 9 exam. Chairman, that couldn't be related to... that Code, could it?"
"!"
At those words, the Chairman's face changed color. Gaark's eyes went wide.
Code...? Another name I'd never heard before. Level 8s really did have an impressive breadth of knowledge.
I gazed at Klye with admiration. Deep furrows lined his brow.
"The High-Mobility Fortress City Code... I don't have detailed knowledge myself, but — Saya, have you heard of it?"
"............A little. They say it's a nearly impregnable floating city, possessing weapons that were advanced even by Advanced Technological Civilization standards..."
Nearly impregnable, huh... Sounds nice.
Even among Advanced Technological Civilization Treasure Weapons, there were significant performance differences between early-era and late-era ones.
But if it was nearly impregnable, that city was probably outfitted with late-era Treasure Weapons.
I had no idea what kind of request had been brought to the Explorer's Guild, but if that city was the one making the request, the rewards should be promising.
Maybe they'd even part with some Treasure Weapons, and if we made a good impression, we might be allowed entry in the future. If that happened, Luke and the others would surely be thrilled.
"I see, I see... This could work."
The only problem was that the thing I had to do was a request worthy of a Level 9 certification exam. There was no way I could clear it alone. I'd need at least someone on Ark's level, or equivalent...
On a normal day, I couldn't even walk around without a bodyguard.
The Chairman fixed Klye with a piercing glare and spoke.
"Heavenly Dance of Shattered Armies... you're even sharper than I'd heard. To deduce all that from a single remark... Indeed, this request is related to Code. The specifics are classified and can only be shared with those taking the exam, but I'll say this much: this constitutes a feat worthy of a Level 9 Hunter."
Classified, huh. This was... up to Klye and Saya then.
The Advanced Technological Civilization city was intriguing, but my life mattered more.
Level 8 Hunters were supposed to have excellent judgment. If those two decided they could clear this exam, they probably could.
And if I tagged along and wandered around by myself, that probably wouldn't cause any problems. Probably.
Conversely, if those two decided they couldn't do it, it was definitely impossible. Right. This was the plan.
As I was nodding along while thinking such pathetic thoughts, Klye considered for a moment before turning to Saya beside him.
"............Sorry, but given the stakes, I can't answer on the spot. Let me discuss it with Saya first."
............And me?
§ § § Klye Andrich was confident in his achievements and abilities. But he never assumed he could complete every request.
Among Hunters, there were those who could handle any situation as all-rounders, but Klye was not that type.
Therefore, Klye never neglected pre-mission research.
He left the meeting room accompanied by Night Banquet Temple. Despite the sudden invitation from Klye, Saya didn't complain.
Saya was supposed to be a different type of Hunter from Klye, but her long experience as a Hunter was no mere decoration.
The city where Saya was based — Terrace was known as a region where Monsters and Phantoms were particularly powerful.
Night Banquet Temple, who had been recognized as a Level 8 there, was undoubtedly a combat-specialized Hunter.
They entered the room adjacent to the meeting hall and checked for presences.
After confirming no one was monitoring the room, Klye spoke to the silent Saya.
"Saya, what do you think of this request?"
"............I don't know yet. But judging from the Explorer's Guild's reaction, I don't think the success rate is very high."
So Saya had drawn the same impression from the Chairman's words.
Klye was in complete agreement. That was precisely why he needed to consult with Saya.
"You were supposed to be the strongest Hunter in Terrace, and yet you say that — bravo. I completely agree. And it certainly looks like the Explorer's Guild has taken on a rather troublesome request."
The Chairman hadn't revealed anything yet. But there were several things that could be inferred from the content of the conversation.
"We can't stay away from our seats for too long, so let me briefly share my thoughts based on what they said."
He organized his thoughts as he spoke.
"From what I can infer, this request is probably tough even with multiple Level 8 Hunters. And if it's tough for multiple Level 8s, it should be just as difficult even for Level 9s. The difference between Level 8 and Level 9 is largely a matter of trust, after all. And the Explorer's Guild, either because they didn't want to lose their Level 9 or 10 Hunters, or because they believed no one would take the job — that's why they decided to offer Level 9 certification as a reward."
Saya listened in silence. Questions of emotion and pride could wait. There wasn't much time.
They had to decide on a course of action before that Thousand Transformations made his move.
"A personnel limit, and the deployment of Red Hunters — something that should never happen. Considering all the other conditions as well — this exam is an exceptionally unusual request. Especially since the location is Code — anyone who knew even a little about that city would avoid taking the job. At least, I would."
A city that benefited from Advanced Technological Civilization — the High-Mobility Fortress City Code.
Klye knew almost nothing about that city. That was because Code was isolated from the world.
The only thing he knew was that Code possessed military might greater than any existing nation.
And — that the entire city was incompatible with human society.
It had apparently been part of an Advanced Technological Civilization Treasure Hall at first. The result of activating an unknown device within it, Code was born.
The one who activated the city became its king and, together with his companions, used the weapons mounted on the city to burn away the surrounding nations and forcibly unify them.
Nations within the city's attack range suffered one-sided defeats.
Neither the regular armies of any nation nor the Treasure Hunters could stop that atrocity. That was how superior Code's weapons were.
Code had no branch of the Explorer's Guild. There was no need for one.
Code had no dealings with other nations. They simply took what they wanted.
"To my knowledge, no request related to Code has ever been issued before. Presumably, it was simply too dangerous. The fact that it's now becoming a Level 9 certification exam means something must have changed. Judging by their effort to gather multiple Level 8s, this exam will likely involve Code as the enemy. 'A feat worthy of a Level 9' — they really said that with a straight face. Fighting nations isn't even in a Hunter's job description."
The review process — the biggest hurdle on the path to Level 9 — was being loosened. Klye had steeled himself to some degree, but this was still beyond expectations.
Saya blinked and asked.
"Haven't you saved fifteen nations?"
"That's true. But the disparity in military power is vast. The nations I saved didn't have enemies that Tempest Dancing couldn't handle. Hunters have their strengths and weaknesses. Saya, I'll tell you this and only you — the weakness of my Tempest Dancing is... that its firepower is rather restrained. Against humans, there's no issue, but I can't even bring down a dragon. My essence is, without question, that of a dancer, not a warrior."
Still, as long as the opposition was average, there was no problem. As a Hunter, Klye had his share of defeating Monsters and Phantoms.
But how well he could fare against the pinnacle of Advanced Technological Civilization — the mechanized soldiers — was questionable at best.
Mechanized soldiers, with their thin yet formidable armor, were beings that modern civilization still couldn't replicate. Opponents with tough defenses were Klye's greatest weakness.
"Saya, do you — Night Banquet Temple — have confidence in fighting Code, the entity that burned away nations and repelled numerous high-level Hunters, and winning? I saw it, you know — the moment the Chairman mentioned Code's name, the expression of your branch master twisted with rage. That was anger toward the Explorer's Guild for not disclosing the request's contents in advance."
Had they known the exam's contents, neither Saya nor Klye would probably have come here. This time, Klye had personally proposed to the branch master that he take the Level 9 certification exam, but if the contents had been revealed, he almost certainly would have been refused on the spot.
To the branch master, the exceptional Hunters of his branch were treasures. And when those were people he'd personally taken under his wing, that attachment must have run deep.
Klye let out a sigh and confessed to Saya.
"Let me be honest. If I were the only one taking the exam, I would have given up on Level 9 this time and gone home. Even if it were just the two of us — Saya, I think there's a high chance we would have refused. Turning them down after putting on such a brave front would be pathetic, but nothing is more troublesome than accepting a request we lack the confidence to complete. The risk is simply too great."
Level 8s were heroes. The requests assigned to them were equally dangerous, demanding both urgency and certainty.
"Took the job and couldn't do it" was not an acceptable outcome.
"But there is one problem this time. That Thousand Transformations, who shouldn't have even applied for Level 9, seems enthusiastic after hearing Code's name."
Thousand Transformations. The man who had been certified as the youngest Level 8 in Zebuldia, the so-called holy land of Treasure Hunters.
The criteria for Treasure Hunter level certification were not necessarily uniform.
Supply and demand applied to Treasure Hunters as well. The fewer total Hunters in a region, and the fewer high-level Hunters, the lower the barrier to receiving high-level certification.
The Zebuldia Empire was a large nation. The number of Treasure Hunters there was incomparably greater than where Klye was based.
To be certified as the youngest Level 8 in such a competitive Treasure Hunter stronghold, surpassing talented rivals, was extraordinary. Moreover, Thousand Transformations was already on the verge of reaching Level 9 through those achievements.
That set him apart from Klye and Saya, who had no prospect of reaching Level 9 for the foreseeable future if this application didn't go through.
Saya furrowed her brow and said to Klye.
"............He doesn't seem that impressive, though."
"As I said at the café, judging by appearances is foolish. A 100 percent request completion rate. Thousand Transformations, the master strategist whose abilities border on precognition. He combined intelligence from his own unique network to execute one audacious gambit after another — schemes that ordinary people might dream of but never dare to try. In the Treasure Hunter superpower of Zebuldia, he has earned immense trust. As hard as it may be to believe, the man named Radolick who just corrected my information — Radolick Atrum Zebuldia — is the current Emperor of Zebuldia."
"!"
I had a general idea of the names of major nations' emperors. Besides, the people invited to this Level 9 preliminary review were all VIP-class figures from various nations.
And that person had deliberately contradicted Klye on the spot. What did that imply?
"This is just my imagination, but — right now, we stand at a crossroads in our lives. Whether to take this extremely dangerous request, or not."
The world was vast. Heavenly Dance of Shattered Armies and Night Banquet Temple were not particularly well-known among Level 8 Hunters.
But this time, their names had become known.
"Of course, at this stage, the decision to accept or decline is still ours. But if Thousand Transformations were to take the request we refused and resolve it — our relative standing as Hunters within the Guild would be set. He would be above us, and we below."
"............"
"Meritocracy is a cruel thing. Needless to say, it's not his fault. But just as there are Hunters who became number two in their cities because of our existence, because Thousand Transformations exists, we would become the pitiful Hunters who avoided a request taken on by a younger Hunter, citing risk as an excuse. And that fact would undoubtedly affect next year's Level 9 review."
"............That's the worst."
Saya spat those words out. Where exactly that frustration was directed was anyone's guess.
But at least, it probably wasn't directed at Thousand Transformations.
What was clear was that both Klye and Saya were aiming for Level 9 with unwavering resolve.
Ending at Level 8 was out of the question. Rather than losing without a fight, it was better to bear the risk and aim for victory.
Reading from that barely perceptible change in expression that Saya shared his thoughts, Klye quietly exhaled in relief.
"If we decline this request, Thousand Transformations will likely take on the challenge, leading the Red Hunters the Guild has prepared. Whether Red Hunters could actually fight Code is doubtful, but if it came to that, it would be an unbearable humiliation. I wouldn't be able to face the friends back home waiting for news of my Level 9 certification."
"............I agree with that."
"I intend to take this exam. The reason I reached out to you, Saya, is because the more participants we have, the higher our chances of winning. The opposition is tough, but we have a shot. Thousand Transformations' achievements are the real deal, and he's probably the type who grows stronger the more comrades he has. This may surprise you, but he actually still — has a Party."
"A Party... you say?"
Saya stared, dumbfounded. Klye was a Solo Hunter. Saya was likely Solo too. Among Level 8+ Hunters, the proportion of Solos was strikingly high.
The path to Level 8 was not one that could be followed with ordinary ability.
Having the talent to be certified as the youngest Level 8 in the Imperial Capital yet still belonging to a Party could be considered a rare phenomenon.
"If Saya and I cooperate, Thousand Transformations will surely lead the request to success. A joint battle between Level 8s should be a valuable learning experience. This is a trial, but depending on how you look at it, it could also be an opportunity. If we clear the request, Level 9 is within sight."
And so... what would Saya do?
"............"
In response to Klye's unwavering gaze, Saya gave a slight shrug. But a small smile played on her lips.
Her jet-black irises had taken on a faint reddish tinge. As if hinting at the power hidden within.
The sixth sense honed as a Hunter sent a warning to Klye. What an abnormal ability.
Saya slowly parted her lips.
"............Klye, I never said I wasn't enthusiastic about the exam. I don't think my power would be useless against Code either — and I'm interested in fighting together. It's just that... I've never been accepted into a Party. Not once."
Even though most Level 8 Hunters were Solos, many of them had participated in Parties in the past.
Simply put, even for talented Hunters, gaining strength — until the gap between you and your teammates became negligible — took time.
A Hunter who had never once been part of a Party. What did that imply?
Night Banquet Temple... perhaps I really was following the right person after all.
As Klye sat in silence, Saya chuckled and spoke.
"Besides, Klye, there's one thing you haven't mentioned. What happens if Thousand Transformations takes the request alone and fails? In that case, wouldn't our decision to withdraw be judged as the right one?"
"Fahaha, I didn't mention it because it went without saying. I considered it inconceivable for Thousand Transformations to be the only one taking the exam. I'm not one to be outdone. Even if I'm behind in achievements, I don't want to lose in hunting spirit."
§ § § In an atmosphere that was nearly unbearable, we waited for several minutes. Klye and Saya, who had left me behind, returned.
I was technically Level 8 too, but... why had I been left out? Maybe they'd written me off as combat-ineffective. And they'd be right. Oh well!
Klye stood beside me, glanced at me for just a moment, then addressed the Chairman with a dignified air.
"I've spoken with Saya. I must admit, even with this Heavenly Dance of Shattered Armies' power, the risk is high — but we cannot leave this to Red Hunters. Tell us the details. We three will solve the request that's been giving the Explorer's Guild such a headache!"
!? I still hadn't said I'd take it... Could they have seen through that I was thinking maybe it'd be okay if Klye and the others were with me?
No, that was just a passing thought, not serious... Even I wouldn't tag along knowing I'd only be a burden to Klye and Saya.
"Wait a second, I still haven't said I'm taking the exam..."
I raised my hand to object, but Klye flashed a gleaming smile and spoke.
"Hmph... Thousand Transformations, I know what you're thinking. I understand perfectly well that you and I are different types of Hunters. And what each of us excels at, too. Rest assured — we may be the same level, but I have no intention of being a burden to you. Besides, our strength shouldn't fall short of your Party members. We are Level 8, after all."
He knows what I'm thinking? He understands we're different types? Could this Heavenly Dance of Shattered Armies have seen through that I'm the type of Hunter who relies entirely on childhood friends?
And saying he won't fall short of my Party members... did that mean he'd solve the case in place of Liliz and the others? No, no, that was absurd...
As I struggled to decipher Klye's true meaning, the Chairman spoke in a solemn voice.
"Very well, Heavenly Dance of Shattered Armies, Night Banquet Temple, Thousand Transformations. If you — the Level 8 Hunters the Explorer's Guild takes pride in — are willing to go this far, then we shall entrust this request to you. Time is limited — and at least, among the options available to us now, this is the best course. Let us proceed to a vote. If there are no objections — their Level 9 certification exam will begin."
The Chairman looked around the room to confirm, but no one seemed to have any particular objections.
I'd thought there would be a more rigorous review, but was this request really that urgent?
Unfortunately, I seemed to be the only one bewildered by this situation.
Both Klye and Saya watched the Chairman with serious expressions.
I still didn't want to take the exam about seventy percent of the time, but it seemed impossible to refuse now... Well, let's think positively.
With two Level 8s on my side, touring an Advanced Technological Civilization city with bodyguards didn't sound bad at all. Probably. Surely. Perhaps.
As I was trying to convince myself, the Chairman let out a sigh and spoke in a grave voice.
"First, we must discuss the stage of this request. The High-Mobility Fortress City Code — this information hasn't been made public, but Level 8 Hunters may have heard of it. The history between the High-Mobility Fortress City Code and the Explorer's Guild began the moment the city was first activated. And since then, the Explorer's Guild has fought Code twice — and suffered de facto defeats both times."
Hmm... Wait, what?