Volume 5 - CH 56

Act 5-56: Show Me Your Struggle

Most of Cetus’ body had been annihilated.

「Well, normally, this is an obvious result.」

Asta spewed her sarcastic impression.

「Well, yeah.」

This result was just as expected from Gil’s ability and performance.

Asta stared silently at my face for a while but,

「Master, honestly speaking―― There’s no way they cleared the 2nd trial with that battle just now…」

She shrugged her shoulders as she stated the most obvious fact.

「I know your concern. That oversized lizard is actually the trigger to start the 2nd trial. The real 2nd trial comes after this.」

That lizard called Cetus wasn’t qualified to be the boss of the 2nd trial. He was nothing more than the sacrifice to start the 2nd trial.

「So you have realized what we did behind your back.」

「Of course I am. I also know that Aldebaran is trying to summon the one they referred to as the great god.」

「Master, are you going to make Gilbert fight that great god?」

「I’ve told you before, right? What I expect from him isn’t strength. Honestly, I won’t go as far as forcing him to do the impossible. But well, his strength did need to reach a minimum threshold to clear the trial though.」

God didn’t exist in this world. That’s why being hailed as the great god by Aldebaran might be just an exaggeration but still, it was also the fact that they’re referred to by Aldebaran, one of the four great demon kings. The boss of the 2nd trial, the fella who was about to be summoned with those suspicious rituals, was limited to those whose strength was within Gil’s strength.

「Master, don’t you think that so-called “Minimum” is akin to trying to scale the heaven for that monkey?」

「It’s rare to see you showing such care, did you by chance took pity on Gil?」

This was a trial to turn him into someone he really wished for after all. The normally listless Asta had actually fussed over the matter about Gil. Well, not that I’m gonna reconsider this matter even if Asta asked me to spare Gil.

「You jest. I just have this worry about a certain blockhead who is ignorant of the way of the world might be ended up losing all his motivation once he found out about the boring reality of this world.」

「A blockhead who is ignorant of the ways of the world huh? That person sounds like a pain in the a*ss.」

From the fact that she used a rather unique way to express her feelings, that blockhead she spoke of must be a unique person, like her lover for example. Well, that person might participate in this plan too. To be honest, I was really surprised to see that Asta acting more and more like my friend lately.

「…」

Asta looked at me for a while with rather exasperated look on her face and then heaved a really deep sigh. That is also something that Lyla did many times in the past.

Yeah, it seems that person was truly a pain in the a*ss. Well, let’s forget about that matter for now.

「Whatever. Back to the topic. I assume that you guys already know about that summoning ritual.」

『As expected of Supreme Ruler-sama, nothing missing from your e――』

I raised my right hand, interrupting Girimekhala before he completed his speech, the latter bowed and then stepped back,

「That’s an overstatement. I know that one of your goals is to avoid the victim from the monster’s side. You have my gratitude for that and I won’t blame you for what you did. You guys did a splendid job.」

And expressed my gratitude to them.

『W-We’re unworthy of such praise…』

Seeing Girimekhala stutter, on the verge of crying on top of that,

「Once again, I, Kai Heineman order you. Let’s start the real 2nd trial upon the resurrection of that great god!」

『As you wish!』

Girimekhala’s whole body trembled as he replied with a voice that shook the air, his body then wrapped in the black mist and vanished. Soon, Ifrit turned into a black flame and vanished too, which was followed by Titan who turned into black sand.

Asta also bowed lightly and retreated before her body blended with the darkness.

「Well then, the real game has only just begun. Show me your best struggle!」

I said those encouragements as I looked at the figure of Gil within the image projection before me.