#552 EX Course

All right. Let’s turn our attention back to the main game at Orkubo’s Castle.

Once again, courageous contestants are going to challenge the impregnable castle.

There are no specific requirements, so anyone can participate as long as they are in good health.

Among them, there are some distinguished participants, such as...

The Demon King. Will he be able to conquer all the obstacles this year? Tune in to find out!

Next, we have Mamoru of the Heavenly Four making his debut participation.  

Then, we have Black Cat, an S-class adventurer who practically did nothing during the exhibition. Oh, but, congratulations on your marriage.

Mr. Malbastos, executive staff of the Demon King’s Army, is participating for the first time, putting the will of the Occupation Office on the line.

The former Mermaid King Nagus, now with more free time, transformed his tail fins into legs with the humanizing potion, is also participating.

And last but not least, me.

This alone should be enough to tell you how remarkable our lineup is.

However, those who were with us since the very beginning may think something’s missing.

Up until last year, the competition was crowded with even more distinguished participants, like:

Dalkish, a feudal lord who reached the goal in the past two seasons.

The current Mermaid King Arowana, a prince at the time who represented the mermaid race, cleared the competition in one try.

Mr. Baal, the retired Demon King. (Imagine how much free time he had for participating?)

Other feudal lords of the Human Kingdom and demon authorities were also present, but none are to be seen this time around.

The spectators look sad from their seats, wondering why these distinguished people aren’t participating this year.

...Hehehe. Don’t worry.

This is all part of the plan.

The real competition will begin after the general match is over!

Orkubo’s Castle is now in its third season.

Those who have participated since the first season should be familiar with the game by now.

Any extreme situation can be easily overcome if predicted in advance. They may even be able to come up with countermeasures, creating a disparity in advantages or disadvantages between returning and first-time participants.

However, we want to make Orkubo’s Castle an event everyone can enjoy.

What can we do to ensure that no such disparity exists, then?

New obstacles?

In the past, some people were unfortunately eliminated halfway, so they may have practiced for the next season with a vow to take revenge.

They must have studied the area they were eliminated from and prepared countermeasures.

For such people, it is heartless to tell them that the course is completely different from last year’s.

There are natural differences in athletic ability among people, and we do not want to waste the efforts of those who bravely took up the challenge, regardless of their physical capabilities.

Therefore, I did not tamper with the previous obstacles.

So? How can we ensure that there will be no difference between the past participants, especially the experts who have cleared the entire course, and the beginners?

Our conclusion was this!

“EX Course! MAX Orkubo’s Castle for advanced players!!!”

No holds barred!

We will do our utmost to intercept and eliminate intruders!!!

This course is filled with brutal obstacles that cannot be compared to the norm—truly a competition for seasoned players!

“It was designed with the utmost malice that will spare no one! Let me make this clear! We do not intend to let a single person reach the keep!”

“OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

The audience responds with delighted cheers to my emceeing.

“The winners from past competitions you’ve all been wondering about will be taking part in this advanced course! Have a look!”

The feudal lord, Dalkish, followed by Arowana, Mr. Baal the Great Demon King, and other fierce competitors who had once reached the keep of Orkubo’s Castle make their appearance. 

Participants in the advanced course are basically those who cleared the game in previous seasons.

In order to give a chance of winning the prizes to others, we decided that previous victors could only participate in the advanced course.

In return, we will give away even more valuable prizes for those who conquer it, so please do your best!

“Now, before we start, let’s hear a few words from the person who designed the EX course.”

After my introduction, Orkubo and... a woman of bewitching beauty appear.

“I am Zoth Syra, wife of the lord of the castle.”

It was Zoth Syra, the mermaid.

She took the humanizing potion and is now dressed up in a way that gives her the air of a wife from the Sengoku period.

...I wonder if she had Batemy make her that radiant attire?

“We are merely playing a role. That is all,” says Orkubo in a cold sweat.

Orkubo, the lord of the castle (role), accompanied by his wife (also a role), Zoth Syra.

“It’s a presumptuous idea to dare attack my husband’s castle... So, with the best brains in the mermaid world, I did my best to fortify EX Orkubo’s Castle. See if you can overcome my fiendish course!”

Zoth Syra, who had managed and operated an obstacle in the past, supervised the entire project.

It’s an emergency event, almost as if screaming—EX Supreme Class: Call of the Deep.

“Orkubo and I await you deep within the tower, so try and make your way to the top. I doubt anyone will be able to, though!”

And she exits the scene after parting villainous-like words.

She’ll probably stand by at the finish line, as she said.

Orkubo follows her.

He’s staying close to Zoth Syra, the host, for the entire day. The reason he didn’t come out much this time, even though the event was named after him, was that he couldn’t leave Zoth Syra’s side!!!

“She’s always in a good mood as long as we give her Orkubo.”

“Yeah...!”

Before I knew it, I was sighing alongside Platy standing next to me.

* * *

All right, we’re starting the competition for real.

I will be doing the live commentary for Orkubo’s Castle: Nightmare Mode, an experienced-players-exclusive course.

The feudal lord, Dalkish, takes the lead, and other brave players follow suit.

“No matter what obstacles lie in wait for us, we feudal lords cannot back down!”

He advances with determination.

Behind him are Arowana and Great Demon King Baal, as well as other fierce fighters from around the world who look capable of winning many games based on military prowess.

“The first obstacle is... Ah, this?”

The first obstacle blocking the path of the fierce competitors is the empty moat separating the ground and the narrow bridge across it.

No, that narrowness can hardly be called a bridge. It’s a balance beam.

This is the first obstacle representing Orkubo’s Castle—the Frustrating Balance Beam!

The goal is to cross the moat by balancing on that narrow platform.

“Hmph, it’s exactly the same as before! And they call this a course for advanced players?”

Dalkish boldly takes up the challenge of walking on the seemingly ordinary balance beam first.

“Wait! You don’t know what tricks are in store for us! We must deal with this calmly, Sir Dalkish!”

Another challenger of the advanced course, Arowana, stops him, but Dalkish remains steadfast.

“Don’t worry about me! I’ll definitely clear the course again and get a present for my son!”

Like me, Dalkish just had his first child last year.

I admire his love for his child, but even to kind fathers like him, the EX course is relentless!

“Ahhhhhh!”

“?! Sir Dalkish fell! He was walking on that balance beam just fine! Why did he fall?!”

Dalkish, who had cleared all the obstacles for two consecutive years, was the first to get eliminated.

This unexpected turn of events causes a stir among the spectators.

“Look closely! This balance beam is gradually getting thinner and thinner! And then it’s gone halfway!”

“But it hasn’t even touched the other side yet! The perspective fooled us!”

“Sir Dalkish failed to notice this, and that’s why he fell?”

The other participants analyze the situation, making the most of Dalkish’s sacrifice.

“The advanced course is not as easy as we thought...”

“It truly is devilish...!”

“But we, too, are valorous warriors who have reached the castle tower once! Though slightly more challenging, we’ll definitely make our way to the top again!”

This was, so to speak, a war declaration between Zoth Syra, the witch who supervised all the obstacles, and the fierce contestants challenging her.

What will be its outcome?