“Thank you for waiting. The examiners are now prepared, and we would like to begin the final test.”
Escorted by Randia, we made our way to the training grounds beneath the headquarters of the Adventurers’ Guild Association.
“As for the contents of the final exam, you will engage in a one-on-one battle against an examiner for ten minutes. If you can fight on equal footing or better, you pass. You will then officially join the ranks of S-class adventurers.”
So the final test was a duel huh.
“The success rate is roughly fifty percent. By the time you’ve cleared the previous exams, your ability is beyond doubt, so the pass rate is higher than before.”
Even so, it meant that one out of every two candidates would fail. This was no easy trial. But considering the caliber of adventurers who had survived this far, finding examiners strong enough to match them was surely no simple task either.
Since we were told that observing the match was allowed, Karen and I decided to watch this one directly from the training grounds as well.
Spectator seats had been set up on the second level, where we could see the examinees who had been eliminated in the first and second rounds, along with adventurers currently challenging the Infinite Wilderness.
“Hmm… who are the examiners?”
“They are over there.”
“There are three of them. All hiding their appearance with masks and cloaks.”
Three mysterious figures in masks and cloaks sat side by side in the spectator seats.
Oh, so they were the examiners….
“Hmm… there’s one of them whose hairstyle and silhouette look strangely familiar.”
The hairstyle that couldn’t quite be hidden by the mask—and the massive, powerfully built frame obvious even beneath the cloak—gave me a bad feeling.
“Let’s keep their identities a surprise until things begin. Now then, let’s move right along to the first person’s final exam! Who would like to take the challenge?”
At Randia’s call, it was Anje who raised her hand immediately.
“I’ll go first!”
She was clearly fired up.
“Is that alright?”
“Mm, no problem.”
“I have no objections either.”
Fana and Orion voiced their agreement, and Anje stepped forward toward the center of the training ground.
Meanwhile, one of the masked figures seated in the spectator stands stood up, then leapt down, landing several meters in front of Orion.
It was the same masked, cloaked giant from earlier—the one with the heavily muscled frame.
“Ohoho… to think you’d make it this far so quickly. As expected of you, Anje-chan.”
“—You… know me? Who are you supposed to be?!”
Come on, it’s obvious!
There couldn’t possibly be anyone else with such a distinctive build, that booming voice, and that unmistakable way of speaking.
“It’s me, darling!”
With a dramatic flourish, the figure tore away the mask and cloak—revealing, just as I had feared, that man. Goritia, the S-rank adventurer who had competed in the martial arts tournament held in Orion’s homeland, the Arcelal Empire.
Despite standing well over two meters tall and boasting an absurdly muscular physique, the pervert was dressed in women’s clothing.
“Goritia?!”
“So you remembered me, did you? That’s right~♡. The one who’ll be facing you in your final test is none other than me, the paragon of beauty, Goritia! Mwah~!”
The self-proclaimed icon of beauty tossed a delighted kiss into the air. Then, for some reason, he turned his gaze toward me in the spectator stands.
“Reus, darling, it’s been far too long! You’re just as adorable as ever! Do let me hold you again later, okay? ♡”
As he spoke, he sent a wink my way—one so creepy it nearly made my skin crawl.
『Looks like you’ve been personally chosen, Master.』
(THIS IS NOT GOOD AT ALLLLLLLL! I told you I don’t want any man-boobs! That’s exactly why I never wanted to see him agaiiinn!)
The trauma of having my face shoved into that mountainous chest came flooding back, and I broke down sobbing right there in the spectator seats.
“Oh my, to think he’d be that happy to see me… I’m touched!”
NO! YOU’VE GOT IT ALL WRONG!
“So you’re the examiner! I’ve always wanted a rematch so I could finally defeat you. Having you as my opponent here kills two birds with one stone!”
The two had once clashed in that grand martial arts tournament, and on that day, Anje had been the one to fall.
“My, my… aren’t we brimming with confidence?”
“I’ve grown stronger since then. Now… I can beat you!”
Fighting spirit ignited within her, Anje poised herself for battle.
Randia’s voice rang out like a herald’s proclamation.
“Ah, the excitement rises when fate-bound rivals meet again! And now—let us commence Anje-san’s final examination!”
At the signal, Anje moved first.
Just as she had during the tournament, she closed the distance in an instant, her body cutting through the air with relentless speed. Her leg swept up into a spinning kick.
Goritia raised his right arm and caught the blow. Up to this point, everything had unfolded exactly as it had during the martial arts tournament.
“—!?”
—Goritia’s massive frame lurched violently to the side, staggering under the force.
Back then, he had neutralized the impact of Anje’s kick with a single arm, flawlessly absorbing the blow. But this time, the power behind it overwhelmed him completely.
Anje pressed the attack without hesitation, driving a follow-up punch forward. Thrown off balance, Goritia managed to block it with both arms—but the tremendous impact lifted his body clear off the ground for a fleeting instant.
“Haaaaaaah!”
From there, Anje unleashed a relentless barrage.
Each strike carried devastating force, but it was the sheer speed of Anje’s assault that truly sealed off any chance of counterattack. Goritia had no choice but to devote himself entirely to defense, weathering the storm as best he could.
At last, Anje delivered a kick imbued with every ounce of her strength. It drove deep into Goritia’s abdomen and sent his giant body hurtling through the air.
“W–wait, the examiner is the musclehead over there, right?”
“Hey, hey… isn’t she way too strong?”
“She’s completely overwhelming Goritia… an S-Rank adventurer…”
The adventurers who had gathered to watch could only stare in stunned silence at the shocking turn of events.
“Well? What do you think? Feeling ready to get serious yet?”
Anje spoke, lowering her leg with a confident smile.
“…Yes. That’s more than enough.”
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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