#1053 Rivalry Between the Newbie and Pro

Still your favorite hero, Momoko, speaking!

Actually, scratch that. I’m not a hero right now!

I’m just your humble challenger, Momoko!

A lone warrior taking on the impregnable fortress known as Orkubo’s Castle!

I’m like Don Quixote charging at windmills!

...Wait was it Donkey Hotay?

Well, whatever.

Besides, I’m even more fired up than when I first decided to take on this challenge!

Why? Because some people have lit a fire under my competitive spirit!

Ugh, aren’t veteran players who try to lord over you just the worst?!

Just because they’ve been around longer doesn’t give them the right to look down on newcomers!

All that does is raise the barrier to entry!

Genres that can’t attract new people are bound to decline!!!

Yes, like that so-called Demon King!

Maybe he’s participated in Orkubo’s Castle a few times, but using that to act all superior?!

To me, of all people!

I absolutely hate it when people talk down to me!!!

After all my time in this other world—my hero phase, adventurer phase, pro-wrestler phase—my conviction that being underestimated is the absolute worst has never wavered!!!

I’ll make them regret treating me like some amateur and looking down on me!

So, Selena! Let’s aim for a super-overwhelming victory and set a new record!

“Lord Demon King...! How wonderful...!!!”

Ugh, hopeless.

Selena, who used to be in the Demon King’s Army, is just gazing up at him with starry eyes.

She’s like a fan meeting her idol.

Completely smitten from the bottom of her heart!

I can’t rely on Selena for this.

In that case, I’ll have to bring down the Demon King myself!

Yes! That’s exactly the hero’s role!

I’ve been forgetting lately, but heroes are supposed to defeat the Demon King!

In the name of raison d’être! Demon King, prepare yourself!

“Well then, I shall take my leave for now.”

Just when I was getting fired up...Demon King!

You’re leaving?!

“As I bear the title of Demon King, I cannot allow myself to be treated lightly. This time, I appeared to greet you little lambs, but truly, it is the duty of a great Demon King to await challengers in the deepest unknown.”

No, I think you’re already being pretty casual just by showing up at an event like this.

“I shall abide by the weighty name of Demon King and wait for you all at the deepest gate. If you wish to shake hands with me at Orkubo’s Castle, then press forward with all your might and proceed to the second half!”

“Does that mean we can be in the presence of the Demon King?!”

“What an honor!”

“This will make for the best story ever! All right, I’ll advance no matter what!!!”

What?!

Getting close to the Demon King is that big of a deal?!

Then being able to interact with a hero is way more prestigious!

Look, I’m a hero!

Participating in a competition with a hero is a once-in-a-lifetime memory!!!

...Or so I thought, but yeah.

Even though I’m a hero, I’m just a female pro wrestler employed by the bean shop princess right now.

I guess I can’t hold a candle to the brand name of the Demon King who conquered the world.

Ugh! Thinking about it makes me feel empty!!!

Fine, watch me! In that case, I’ll at least put on a performance in Orkubo’s Castle that will leave a mark on everyone’s hearts!!!

A scratch with my name etched on it!

And so, it finally begins.

Orkubo’s Castle’s afternoon session!

Hundreds of walk-in participants charge forward in a crowd!

I’m mixed in among them!

And right before us appears a moat cutting off the ground, with a balance beam laid across it!

The first obstacle: the tightrope crossing.

If we use that narrow balance beam as a bridge and cross to the other side of the moat, we win!

“Okay, okay, everyone calm down—let’s stop for a moment,” says a plain old man who stands before the moat.

Is this guy the veteran support placed at the first obstacle?

“I’m Pestegaro. Believe it or not, I’m a regular participant every year. Before I found Orkubo’s Castle, I led a pretty dull life. But once I set the goal of participating every year, each day became so fulfilling! My wife fell in love with me all over again, and my kids look at me with respect! It’s no exaggeration to say that our lives changed because of Orkubo’s Castle!!!”

Yeah, yeah.

That’s enough about your life story—could you please let us through the first obstacle already?

“Wait!!! Haste makes waste! Here, follow my guidance to safely and surely clear the first obstacle.”

Ignoring the old man’s restraint, several challengers step onto the balance beam.

At full speed.

Full speed?

Of course, you can’t stay balanced on such a narrow footing at that reckless pace, and naturally, they slip and plunge straight into the moat.

Down they go into the abyss.

“No, they don’t fall! There’s magic set up at the bottom of the moat to transfer you to a safe place! Even so, careless falling can lead to unexpected accidents, so please be careful!!!”

The old man earnestly continues his guidance.

“Listen up! Crossing the balance beam requires caution over speed! Value your sense of balance while checking each step! Just like in life!!!”

Typical of an old man to say something that sounds profound.

But I won’t be deterred.

Because I am Hero Momoko.

I’ve crossed tightropes like this countless times in my life!

“Top speed! Let’s goooooooo!!!”

“Ah, I just warned you! Why are there always people who don’t listen to advice?!”

I, too, step onto the balance beam at full speed!

And without slowing down at all, I dash across it!!!

“Wh-What?! Crossing the balance beam without losing any speed! What an incredible sense of balance!”

But just crossing it isn’t enough for a hero like me, so I’ll add another twist!

I jump off the balance beam, perform a backflip, then a front flip with a cartwheel, and even a triple axel!

A perfect landing!

Without a wobble, I raise both hands to show my success and thunderous applause erupts from the audience!

“A-Amazing! An obstacle meant to be about crossing the balance beam without falling has taken on an entirely different meaning!!!”

That’s how it’s done!

With my heroic physical abilities, turning the balance beam crossing into a physical performance with my own flair is a piece of cake!

Maybe I should give them even more?

Deliberately going back with a backflip! A moonsault!

Even more acrobatic performances...

“Excuse meee, there’s a backlog!”

“Could you please move forward?”

Oh, sorry!

That’s right, I’m not the only participant.

The path is narrow as it is, so if I fool around alone, I’ll block traffic.

Realizing that, I quickly head to the second obstacle, where another old man is waiting.

“Ha ha ha ha! I am Junglasso! Once praised as a pro participant of Orkubo’s Castle, I now serve as the support for the second obstacle!”

Now, someone overly pompous has appeared.

“After being forced to change careers from pro participant to a soldier of the Human Kingdom for several tough years, I’ve been granted the mercy that if I earn high evaluations in this support role, I can participate in Orkubo’s Castle again! I’ll seize this chance and reclaim my former glory!!!”

“Rotating Block!”

“Gwaaahhh!!!”

The old man was noisily ranting about something, but the second obstacle is about dodging the big rocks rolling down the slope.

I used my ultimate karate technique, “Rotating Block,” to deflect the trajectory of the rolling boulders, redirecting them elsewhere.

By chance, the support old man was there, and unable to react to the unexpected redirection, the veteran got crushed.

Sorry about that.

But this obstacle also has thorough safety measures, so it’s okay, right?

Oh no, it’s like I’ve proven the Demon King’s claim that “walk-ins pose safety issues” correct!

But I won’t lose!

I’ll definitely reach the Demon King waiting at the final obstacle!!!