#548 Transformation

Thus, the race is underway.

S-class adventurers Golden Bat and Silver Wolf are fighting a battle of willpower and pride as professionals.

But the plan was a friendly competition as a build-up for the main event...

A stifling atmosphere hangs in the air.

The cheers have died down, and everyone is anxiously holding their breath.

“Um, Black Cat? Are you sure we’re livening up the crowd with this?”

“Oh, it’s fiiiiiiine. Today’s game will go down in the history of the adventuring industry.”

That won’t do!

The ceremony will overshadow the main event!

“Well then, let the race begin! Readyyyyyyy, go!”

“You’re even starting the race on your own!”

And just like that, Golden Bat and Silver Wolf’s match began in earnest.

This serious battle will decide which of the two determined and proud adventurers’ stance is correct.

“Hey, I think we should stop this! Our event will wrap up even before the actual tournament starts!!!” 

“So be ittttt!”

No! Stop this!!!

On the other hand, the competitors crossed the starting line and blasted off down the course.

It may have turned into a battle of pride for the two adventurers, but they will still compete at Orkubo’s Castle.

Their mission is to get through the obstacles and make it to the castle keep.

Allow me to reiterate the obstacle course.

First, you must cross the balance beam laid over a moat, go up the hill, dodging boulders that roll down the slope, and then enter Zoth Syra’s infamous room filled with homunculi that keep multiplying the more you hit them. 

I’d say it’s an impregnable castle equipped with various devices to thwart intruders, but this time, Golden Bat and Silver Wolf will race to see who can clear these areas and reach the goal first. 

First, we see Silver Wolf on the balance beam, nimbly advancing.

“The same obstacle as last time, huh! If so, conquering this is easy!”

That’s right.

Silver Wolf has participated in Orkubo’s Castle’s previous season.

Though he was given a killer handicap of getting paired with Dorian the durian tree spirit before, he still managed to clear the obstacles and reach the castle tower, living up to his rank of S-class adventurer.

That’s why he has already experienced all the obstacles prepared for this year’s event, which is an excellent advantage for a veteran adventurer.

“S-class adventurers don’t fall for the same trap twice! I have an overwhelming advantage in this match, having experienced this area already!”

Silver Wolf acts proud as he crosses the beam.

Below is an empty moat that has been dug to a certain degree, so it’s pretty deep.

The thought of falling into it should’ve been terrifying, but as an established first-class adventurer, he went on fearlessly.

“But this isn’t being cowardly! You are expected to do advanced research on the target as a professional adventurer. In other words, the difference in experience also determines the difference in ability!”

Silver Wolf crosses the beam at nearly twice the pace of average participants.

Since there’s no handicap this time, his agility is also impressive.

He cleared the first area like it was nothing. 

“He ran as if he was on a flat road...”

“Oh, it’s only a given for adventurers to do that~” boasts Black Cat.

She could’ve just participated herself if she wanted to boast that badly...

However, this exhibition is a race.

Even if Silver Wolf advances rapidly, it’d be boring if he doesn’t go neck-and-neck with the other competitor.

...Now, where is he?

...Ah, there he is!

Golden Bat is still at the start...

...and hasn’t taken a step forward!

“What the hell is he doing?! Is he even up for this?!”

As an event organizer, I want to make Orkubo’s Castle as exciting as possible, so I’m outraged by this indifferent attitude.

If you’re not up for this game, it’s straight to the gallows for you!

“...What a fool you are, Silver Wolf. This is why you’ll never be able to surpass the best.”

“Say what?!”

Golden Bat was calm.

I’m surprised they can still communicate even when they’re so far apart...

“You still have the common sense of a third-rate adventurer. That’s why you think you’re so good at this. But let me show you why I am called the best S-class adventurer.”

Huh...?

Golden Bat’s body is changing with an eerie cracking sound!

“It’s no coincidence that most of those who make it as S-class adventurers are therianthropes. Having inherited the beast genes introduced by the rotten deeds of the humans in the past, we are endowed with abilities that surpass those of ordinary people.”

Silver Wolf, a wolf therianthrope, has a superior smell.

Golden Bat, a bat therianthrope, has superior hearing.

Black Cat, a cat therianthrope, has eyes that can see in the dark.

They are said to have reached the highest level of adventurers because of this, but...

“Our strength doesn’t stop there. There’s a whole realm of therianthropy that can be further developed through training and going through the rigors of the battlefield. You probably don’t know this, so allow me to demonstrate.”

What’s going on...?!

“This is Bestial Release, a technique used by those who have mastered the beast’s power!”

Golden Bat has transformed and taken a more robust and beastly appearance!

“Wow! So that’s what they call Bestial Release!”

“Do you know about it, Black Cat?”

Black Cat and I became live reporters and commentators in the heat of the moment.

“We therianthropes can deliberately bring out the beast inside of us through training! When that happens, our bodies and abilities become more purrominent, and we regain our wild nature, as far as I’ve heard!” she explains in a hearsay tone.

“...What about you? Can you do that?”

“Nuh-uh! No one can do Bestial Release among the current therianthropes, or so I thought!!!”

Huh? Really?

But that bat guy just did it, right?

“Appurrently, there used to be many people who could, but nowadays, it’s harder to manifest our wild nature because the blood has become thinner and thinner.”

“But I can use it.”

Golden Bat, who now looks more like a beast, says in a fearsome voice, “This is the result of my many adventures—countless pure trials have led me to a realm where common sense doesn’t apply. That’s what this form is!”

Golden Bat was born with the animal nature of a bat.

The most distinctive feature of this beastly factor is...

That’s right, bats are the only mammals that can fly using their strength.

“Haaaaaahahahaha!!!”

Golden Bat soars into the sky, his wings spread wide.

Everyone looks up—me, the audience, and even his opponent, Silver Wolf.

“Do you see now? This is why I am the number one adventurer! I can fully utilize my bat nature, letting me soar the sky at will!”

He said he had discovered a record number of new dungeons, and seeing this now, I’m convinced.

If you have wings and search from the sky, you can easily find things that are hard to see from ground level alone.

In doing so, Golden Bat has set an unbreakable adventuring record!

But demonstrating this hidden power now means...

“Ahhhhhhhh!!!”

Right!

The balance beam, the boulder-rolling hill, the infinite multiplying homunculi would be all for naught if he could fly through the air!

Is he going to skip through the areas and reach the castle tower straight up?!

“He’s like using a cheat code on the NES!”

“That’s cheating! You have to fight fair and squareeee!”

The bat shows a devil-may-care attitude toward our protests.

“Fair and square? Ha! An adventurer’s fair play is to conquer the dungeon with all the means at his disposal. If you can unleash your bestial factor to the maximum, it’s only natural to use it to conquer dungeons.”

“...Purrecisely!”

Black Cat was rebutted by her colleague.

“If anything, Silver Wolf got what he deserved for cornering himself because he can’t unleash Bestial Release. I expected that he was the only one who could enter this realm other than myself. But I was mistaken.”

It was partly because Silver Wolf was so devoted to serving the guild and teaching the younger generation that his own adventuring activities lagged behind.

The difference between the two is now clearly visible.

“You can keep crawling on the ground like the unsightly dog you are. I’m going to fly past you.”

Silver Wolf was speechless, unable to refute the voice from the sky.

No, before that, we can’t let this foul move pass by!

That’s prohibited! Flying is prohibited!

Everybody out! Shoot that bat down!

Preserve the sound management of this event!