Chapter 108: A Provoked Rivalry Match

The dance came to an end. We caught each other’s eyes and shared a small, awkward laugh.

The initial embarrassment had faded, replaced by something else entirely. That shift felt so absurd that we laughed without a care for the audience watching us. Then, it happened.

Clap, clap. A slow, strangely theatrical applause cut through the room.

"As expected of an S-Rank Adventurer, Lord [Valhalla]. That was a marvelous performance."

A group of strangers—men and women who looked like Adventurers—stepped forward. I recognized one of them, and for a second, my train of thought derailed as they moved to face us directly.

The ballroom had fallen silent the moment the music stopped, so the man’s voice carried with annoying clarity.

"And you are?" I asked.

"Me? I am Itsuki Jagasaki, the Sub-Guild Master of the guild [Illegal]. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

He wore a slimy smile, his eyes crawling over me in a way that made my skin prickle. He tossed out a few more words of greeting, but the malice was dripping off him.

As I braced myself, struggling to find a response, someone else approached.

"Itsuki? It’s rare to see you at an event like this," Senka said, stepping toward us.

"Ah, perfect timing, Lady Senka."

Itsuki’s smile widened when he saw her. Beside me, Ayane’s expression mirrored my own confusion. Senka tried to steer the conversation toward something more civil—likely trying to settle things peacefully—but he didn't give her the chance. He spoke right over her, his voice sharp.

"We, [Illegal], are officially challenging the guild [Valsia] to a rivalry match."

I didn't even know what that meant. While I stood there bewildered by the first time I'd heard the term, Senka fired back in a piercing tone.

"Why? That system is for resolving disputes. You could at least give us a reason."

"There are several reasons, but primarily, we’re acting on a request from the government—no, an order. They want us to test an S-Rank of unknown ability who hasn't done a single stream, you see."

"What? We never heard anything about this."

"That’s because it’s the main event; a surprise, if you will. But surely everyone here is thinking the same thing? Whether Lord [Valhalla] is truly worthy of being an S-Rank."

He delivered the lines with a practiced, calm facade. As he looked around the room, he continued his public denouncement of us.

"What exactly are you getting at?" Senka asked.

"An S-Rank appears out of nowhere, whose controlled [Summoned Beasts] are nothing but monsters—a clear danger to society. Despite being a modern [Adventurer], he makes no attempt to broadcast his activities or share information. Now, I have to wonder... just what is [Valsia] plotting?"

My blood turned cold.

It was one thing to come after me, but this bastard had just called my companions "monsters." He wasn't stopping there, either; he was casting doubt on [Valsia], the only place Reima felt he belonged.

"Think about it," Itsuki continued, seeking agreement from the crowd. "The guild [Valsia] has grown explosively over the last few years. They have a massive roster of A-ranks and now three S-Rank [Adventurers] considered to be extraordinary. By gathering such excessive military power, how many [Dungeons] do you intend to occupy? [Dungeons] are resources for the public and places for growth... I can only assume you intend to monopolize them."

His voice echoed through the silent venue, a calculated plea for the crowd to take his side. He was relentless, acting as if he held the moral high ground.

"That’s why the request came to us. To [Illegal], one of the leading guilds in the country. We were asked to fight you because the government trusts that we are the only ones who can truly test you. Or is it that Lord [Valhalla] actually lacks the ability?"

"Why are you pushing this, Itsuki?" Senka asked.

"Because, just think about it. S-Rank is a supreme existence. You don't get there just by having a lucky awakening. Someone who only fights in edited clips shouldn't be at the top. To me, it looks like a fix. So, we are going to be the ones to test him."

That was his argument. He was unilaterally framing this as a mission to protect public property, using the modern landscape of the industry to corner us. He had cut off every exit in the worst possible way.

A sudden wave of déjà vu hit me, making my chest tighten. My breath hitched, and the words died in my throat.

"You have the ability, don't you? If so, there should be no problem with fighting us. Besides, this is a formal request from the government. You don't think you can refuse, do you?"

"Hey. I've been listening for a while now, and I haven't heard a damn thing about this. Where's this request coming from?"

Yamato-san stepped in. A wave of relief washed over me, though my breathing remained ragged. His face was a mask of indifference, but his mana was leaking out in a heavy, oppressive pressure born of pure rage.

"Oh, Lord [Guardian]. I have the document right here. Shall I show you?"

Itsuki didn't flinch. He produced a written request and handed it to Yamato.

"Tch. Maggots who care about nothing but profit," Yamato spat.

"It’s a formal request, so [Valsia] has no choice. Besides, doesn't everyone want to see if this man is a real S-Rank?"

"I’d appreciate it if you didn't talk about me like I’m not here," Senka said, taking the document from Yamato. "Grandpa, let me see."

I could feel the rage of my [Summoned Beasts] vibrating through my soul. I had to hold them back. Losing control here would be the ultimate mistake. I looked at Senka; she was gripping the paper so hard her knuckles were white.

"In the event that [Illegal] wins, Reima-kun is transferred to your guild? There's no way in hell we're accepting this!"

"Now, now. As it’s written, a suitable reward will be paid. He only needs to demonstrate his strength. If it turns out he’s been a fraud, we’ll simply 'train' him ourselves. Or is the whole thing a fix after all?"

"You've got to be kidding me!"

In this situation, no one could move. It was a government order; defying it was out of the question. Ayane and the others were stuck—and I, the person at the center of it, was the most paralyzed of all. He had poked at a trauma I thought I'd left behind.

It wasn't exactly like being betrayed in the other world, but the feeling was too similar for comfort. My lungs burned as I fought to keep my beasts in check. I didn't want Ayane to see me like this.

"Ouma would never permit something like this!"

"Actually, I gave the okay. My apologies... Senka."

A blond man stepped through the crowd—the man I had met in the [Dungeon]. Ouma. He looked at me with that same dismissive attitude he had back then.

"I doubt you can refuse. So, what’s it going to be, [Summoner]?"

His words felt like a shove. Between the headache from the [Summoned Beasts] and the mounting pressure, I had to force the words out.

"I... I don't really have a choice, do I?"

I was the origin of this. If I refused, I’d be dragging [Valsia]—Reima’s home—down with me. There was no escape; the decision had already been made.

"Reima-kun!?"

"Good. I'm glad you're a quick study," Ouma said. "I'm not interested in dragging this out. This rivalry match will be a defensive battle. Do your best. We're done here. Let's go."

"Indeed, Ouma," Itsuki added. "Three days from now, at the government [Dungeon]. Let’s both do our best."