by Sakon Kaidou
“All right... Am I really that dense, though?”
“You’re a calm yet hot-blooded idiot, Figgy my boy.”
“Really? I’m not sure if I agree.”
“What do you do if you see a weird silhouette in the dungeon?”
“Launch a Crimson Dead Keeper from mid-range.”
“What do you do if a PK group occupies an area?”
“Kill all the members, face the leader, and demand that they leave.”
“What do you do if there’s a horde of monsters and all you have is a club?”
“Charge at them.”
“Yeah, you’re hot-blooded.”
“...You might be right.”
Behind the corner, a black bear suit was talking to a golden lion suit.
“Why are you so stiff? What did you s—PFFT...?!” The sight made Nemesis burst into laughter, which attracted the two’s attention.
“Ayy, haven’t seen you fur... however long has passed since teatime,” said the black bear. As expected, he was my brother.
“Well, if it isn’t Ray and Nemesis,” added the golden lion. “I see you made it to this city.”
The golden lion talked to me in Figaro’s voice. In fact, it was Figaro.
“Umm...”
All right, Figaro’s pretty weird, too, I thought. That makes three, so it’s safe to conclude that suits are a sign of a weirdo.
The four of us moved from the hallway to Figaro’s waiting room.
“So, why are you in a lion suit?” I asked.
“I’m quite famous in this city,” he said. “Walking around like normal can get pretty troublesome.”
Oh, so it’s like the hat and sunglasses combo that celebrities use.
“It’s just a piece of joke equipment I bought at the bazaar, though,” he added. “I wouldn’t mind having a UBM special reward suit like Shu’s, but MVPs only get what they really need.”
True. My Miasmaflame Bracers and Grudge-soaked Greaves had been exactly what I’d needed.
“I’ve defeated many UBMs, and I’ve yet to get a single suit,” he said and faced my brother. “How do you even get them, Shu?”
“Listen, Figgy boy, you wouldn’t like it if all the UBM rewards you got except for one were suits, now, would you?” said Shu. “You can’t equip more than one of them, after all.”
I’m really curious about that exception. I thought. What could he have a gotten that’s not a suit? A portable signboard?
“Unlike me, getting special reward equipment doesn’t mean all that much to you,” said Figaro. “The system probably thinks that it’s best to just give you another suit.”
“Damn you, Humpty... You’re unbearable!” Shu complained.
“Are control AIs actually responsible for that?” Figaro asked.
“I care not!” snapped Shu.
There’s this and the thing with his first login... Is Shu actually hated by the control AIs? I thought.
“I must say, you two sure get along well,” said Nemesis. “Brother Bear already told us that you’re friends, but still.”
“Friends... well, yes we are,” said Figaro in response. “You probably know this by now, but Shu and I are this country’s Su—”
“‘Super Splendid and Merry Suit Club’ members!” Shu broke in. “There are only two people in it fur now.”
...Just you two? Also, it’s pretty blatant that only Figaro got dragged into it.
“U-Umm...” Figaro hesitantly spoke up. “Oh, speaking of special rewards, your bracers and boots seem like fine pieces of equipment.”
“Oh, yes,” I responded. “I’ve defeated two UBMs so far.”
“Oho... Hmm... ‘Miasmaflame Bracers, Gardranda’ and ‘Grudge-soaked Greaves, Gouz-Maise.’ Oh, so you were the one who defeated the gang that everyone was talking about.”
“Yes,” I said.
In all honesty, I wished to have a word with him. If Figaro had done something about the Gouz-Maise Gang, they would’ve been defeated much earlier and there would’ve been far fewer victims.
However, I was aware that there was no use in saying it at this point. Figaro had probably had his own reasons for not going. Also, the idea of demanding that a person should do something simply because they were capable of doing it seemed pretty unreasonable.
“After all, you yourself are the type to attempt something regardless of whether you actually have the power to do it,” said Nemesis.
You might be right, I thought.
The various things that had happened during that quest were now a part of me. Considering what could’ve been if someone else had gone instead of me was a mistake.
“Both of them have good skills... and your own feelings,” said Figaro. “Make sure to treasure them.”
“I will,” I nodded. But man, he just identified my equipment as if it’s no big deal.
“When identifying people’s equipment, the information you get is often beary limited, but Figgy’s Identification skill is almost maxed, so the details aren’t hidden to him,” said Shu. “Still, it doesn’t work on stuff like special rewards with a concealment effect on them.”
“Like this thing,” said Figaro as he pointed at Shu’s suit.
It dawned on me for the first time that my brother’s suit, being Ancient Legendary, was a far bigger deal than I’d thought it was. No one could really fault me for that, though. It looked like a mere piece of joke equipment. But now, I knew that it was a piece of joke equipment with ridiculously good stats.
“By the way, why were you in a staff-only hallway?” asked Shu.
I explained that I’d seen him from the box and had come to look for him.
“Why didn’t you come to the box?” I asked. “You have a ticket, don’t you?”
“Oh, I just had some beary unimportant business to attend to. Been walking around here and there.”
“I see,” I nodded. “Still, I’d like it if you got there before the match. I want to introduce you to my party.”
“Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute. Oh, right, I forgot to give this to you during our teatime.” Shu dug through his inventory and took out something resembling ear cuffs.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Telepathy Cuffs,” he answered. “It bears a power that allows you to telepathically talk to friends who also have this equipped.”
“For real?” I took it from him and put it on my ear, filling up one of my accessory slots.
[Can you hear me?] Shu’s voice rang out in my head.
I was used to telepathy with Nemesis, but the way I heard this was different.
[Yeah, I can,] I answered.
[Then the test went fine.]
Damn fine, actually, I thought.
From what I could see, his bear ears didn’t have any Cuffs on them. Well, obviously they wouldn’t work unless he had them on his actual ears. He’s probably wearing them inside the suit.
“This item’s pretty useful,” I said.
“Beary useful, yes, but there’s a range limit. It should cover all of Gideon and its surroundings, though,” explained Shu. “I was actually planning on giving this to you when we split up in the capital.”
“I see. I’d say that now is the better time, though. If you’d given me this when I started, I feel like I would’ve relied on you more than I should’ve.”
“Nice to see such enthusiasm for self-reliance. Still, do call me when you’re sure you can’t handle something by yourself.”
“Yeah. Help me out when I really need it.”
“I will,” he said as he puffed out his chest. There was pride in that action, but his appearance made it seem somewhat humorous, as well.
“Oh, it’s almost time,” said Figaro.
I looked at the clock and, sure enough, the main event was a mere 15 minutes away. Figaro probably had some preparations to make, so it was time for us to leave.
“Figaro, do your best in the duel,” I said.
“We’re acquaintances at this poi
nt, so we’re cheering for you!” added Nemesis.
“Thank you,” he responded. “Oh, by the way, the reception should still be open, so you could go there and bet on me.”
Figaro used some skill or something to instantly switch from his lion suit to the equipment he’d worn when I’d met him in the Tomb Labyrinth. Then, he put on a gentle, yet strong, smile.
“I’ll win, so you will surely make a profit.”
He said that as if it were already a fact.
I felt as though those words carried the pride of an unmatched king and the weight of the entire history that led him to becoming the duel city’s strongest.
“All right,” I said.
If he says it with such confidence, I have no reason to not do it, I thought.
“I’ll come after talking to Figgy a bit more,” my brother said. “Wait fur me in the box.”
“Well, okay,” I said.
With that, Nemesis and I left the waiting room.
◇◇◇
“By the way, what is this ‘Splendid and Merry Suit Club,’ Shu?” Figaro asked.
“That was the only thing that came to mind at that point.”
“Have you actually not told him who you are yet?”
“Leave that aside fur now,” said Shu. “What’s important right now is the upcoming event.”
“True.”
“You pretty much just said that you’re certain you’ll win, but the opponent isn’t that easy, right? If you ask me, your chances are 50%, if not lower.”
“That’s about how I see it, too. I’m facing one of the Huang He Si Ling — the country’s four strongest.”
“And you’re the Kingdom of Altar’s toughest solo player — Figaro the Endless Chain.”
“I probably shouldn’t say this myself, but both sides sure are something,” Figaro said. “I wouldn’t mind watching this fight.”
“Okay, now wait just a second here.”
“Don’t worry. Battles such as these, ones that set my life ablaze, are the very reason why I’m here in Infinite Dendrogram. That’s why... I’ll win with all that I am.”
◇◇◇
The arena’s reception counter was split into two — one for battle entries and one for gambling. The window for entries was already closed for the day. Also, with most people already having placed their bets and the match starting in but a few minutes, the hallway was almost completely empty.
The board above the counters — which looked much like an electric one due to the magic it used — displayed the odds for the main event. It said “1.2x” next to Figaro and “5.6x” next to his opponent. The difference was considerably great, but that was a testament to just how much people trusted Figaro’s power.
I spoke to the receptionist and went through the betting process.
“How much are you betting?” asked Nemesis.
“Well, it’s just 1.2x, so I won’t win all that much if I don’t put lots of money into it,” I said. “So let’s go with this.”
I bet 60,000,000 lir on Figaro.
“YOU IMBECILE!” howled Nemesis as she hit me with a dropkick and launched me across the hallway.
“Wh-What are you doing?!” I exclaimed.
“No, what are you doing?! Why are you throwing all the riches you’ve been blessed with into a gamble?!”
“Because I believe what Figaro told me.”
“Be honest,” she snarled.
“...I wanted to have an authentic gambling manga experience.”
“All right, sit down right there. I’ll thoroughly teach you about the importance of money!” Nemesis then commenced to scold me right in front of the reception...
“Too bAd, guy. All of that’s going down the dRain.”
I heard a strange mutter and felt someone grab my shoulder. I gasped and hastily turned around, but I didn’t see anyone before me.
Actually, I did, but the person was standing ten meters ahead. It was impossible to grab anyone’s shoulder from such a distance, and indeed, nothing was touching mine anymore.
For a moment, I thought that I only imagined someone touching my shoulder because I heard the voice, but concluded that it couldn’t be true, for the sensation was still there.
The touch was colder than ice, making me feel as though it had grabbed not just my shoulder, but my very heart under my ribcage.
“So Figaro’s just 1.2x, eH?” the creature spoke. “I know I’m the ‘away’ fighter hEre and all, but damn, thEy’re seriously underestimaTing me.”
Even when filtered through Infinite Dendrogram’s excellent translation function, the words still came with a strange intonation.
The creature walked while releasing an abnormal aura. As it approached, the people that were still in the hallway backed away or outright ran for it.
The receptionist lady, too, fell out of her chair and sank to the floor, looking like she was about to cry. No one could really fault her.
I had no idea what made the creature seem so unamused, so full of ire, but it was emitting immense amounts of bloodlust all around it.
I silently watched the creature. At the core, we humans were nothing but animals, and my base instincts were warning me that I was facing death itself. However, I kept looking at it regardless. And as I did, I realized that the creature’s very form was as abnormal as its aura.
Also, it was more than ten meters away from me. The reason why I’d thought it was closer was its unnatural height, which seemed to surpass four meters.
Though the hallway had been built with tall Demi-Humans in mind, it was still just barely large enough for it.
The creature was wearing a hat with a talisman hanging at the front, making it reminiscent of jiangshi from Chinese movies. Its body was covered in loose clothing that seemed too big for it, only giving slight peeks of its limbs. However, the very fact that those limbs could peek from under those two meter-long sleeves was more than daunting.
Its legs and arms were ridiculously long. The nails were metallic, sharp, and intimidating enough to make me absolutely certain that they had been used to kill thousands.
Naturally, the creature was frightening.
“Gh...!” Becoming aware of my fear made my legs shiver.
The Demi-Dragon Worm, Gardranda, Gouz-Maise... not a single one of the mighty creatures I’d faced had ever made me lose my fighting spirit, but the thing before me almost made it shatter. My instincts were telling me that this tall creature was on an entirely different level than anything I’d fought and that my only real option was to run away.
However, before I could do that, I noticed that it was holding a woman as if she was piece of baggage.
“Ah!”
The pained expression on her face rendered me incapable of ignoring them and running away.
“Nemesis!” I shouted.
“Got it!” she replied and instantly merged with me, taking her greatsword form.
Feeling my partner’s palpitations in my right hand instantly revived my will to fight.
“WhAt? You wanNa go?” the creature responded as I pointed my greatsword at it.
The creature raised its right hand in a bored manner while still holding the girl in its left.
The motion was followed by an unamused sigh, after which the right hand bent in a bizarre manner, taking a sickle-like shape.
At the same time, the bloodlust it was releasing into the surroundings was suddenly focused on me, which was a sign of an attack.
“Coun—”
“Too slOw.”
I momentarily envisioned Nemesis breaking and my head soaring through the air.
“STOOOOP! PAWS THIS!” a voice shouted.
However, that future didn’t come. “HuH?” The creature’s bloodlust disappeared as if it had never been there. No — it didn’t disappear — it was simply directed at someone else instead. That someone was the one who’d shouted and intervened.
“The hell are yOu?” the creature asked.
“Just a bear passi
ng by!” answered the new target of its hostility — my brother, Shu.
No longer being the creature’s target made me heave a sigh of relief. It was all but certain that, if Shu hadn’t come, I would’ve been given my second death penalty.
“A beaR? Hmm, you seem pRetty tough,” said the creature.
“Oh no, I’m just someone who’s beary enthusiastic about suits.”
“HahAh, now ain’t that somEthing.”
Less than a moment after the creature laughed, a plosive sound, a metallic scraping sound, a crashing sound, and a crushing sound reached my ears, all at the same time. It was bewildering beyond words. I’d heard the sounds, but I couldn’t see what had caused them.
Before I’d realized it, Shu’s right arm was positioned in a way that made it seem like it had deflected something, while the creature’s right hand was aimed at him. One of the nearby pillars had been shattered, and my brother’s suit’s right arm had released white smoke — a sign of recent friction.
I hadn’t seen a thing, but it was obvious that they’d just gone through an exchange of blows. It had simply been too fast for me to see with my naked eye.
Remembering what Marie had told me, I realized that I’d just born witness to supernatural movements caused by ridiculously broken stats — a fight that had happened beyond the sound barrier.
“Kh, he, hahAhah! You sure are somEthing, bear! Is it you, tHen? Are yoU Figaro?” the jiangshi asked.
“Bearily not!” my brother declared.
“Yeah, fiGured! You’re not whAt I saw on the phOto, and I doubt the kingdom’s king of dUels would waLk around looking so wEird!”
...He did, though, I thought.
“SeriouSly, you’re somEthing! You deflected my attacks dEspite being way slOwer than me!”
He did?
“Altar’s dying and all, so I unDerestimated it, but it loOks like coming here wAs worth it, after all! Even if the Figaro guY’s no good, I think it’d be fuN to fight you, iNstead!”
“Yeah. I won’t say no to a brawl with you if Figaro loses,” said Shu. “But that won’t be happening. I mean, he’s gonna beat you.”
“Heh, hehEheheHe! Guy must bE a big deaL to have you beliEve in him so much! Guess I now hAve two maiN dishes in sTore for me!” With those words as its last, the lanky creature passed us by and went further into the hallway.
