Well, I guess my first action has been decided.
To begin with, my gift is [The Most Incompetent in This World].
Although I might've gotten conceited just a moment ago for being a
powerful warrior who cleared the dungeon, after getting back the memories
of the fifteen-year-old Kai Heineman, doubts about my power have
appeared in my heart.
Most importantly, there is no way I'm the strongest swordsman in the world
just because I won against an image I created in my delusion. I'm just a
frog in the well. Being careless here might cost me my life, so I have to act
really carefully from now on.
Now, I even think that the dungeon called [Gods' Ordeal] was in fact not
as difficult to clear as its name implied. I mean, even an incompetent like
me cleared it, albeit in a really, really long time. That's right! It might be the
easiest dungeon in existence.
Yeah! This world wouldn't be as half-hearted as that dungeon. The fourth
demon king, the hero, and dragons, terrifying beings are everywhere in this
world. Before I received the memories of the fifteen-year-old Kai, I
would've jumped the gun to challenge these beings. However, now, I've
thought of holding back. I mean, wouldn't the hundred-thousand-year-old
me look like a creep for having a craving for a death battle? Nonono!
Someone like that definitely has a few screws loose in his head! The biggest
creep in the world! Unfortunately, in the end, that someone is me. [TL: At
this point, let's say that the 15-yr-old Kai is Kai A, and 100k-yr-old Kai is
Kai B. After completing Gods' Ordeal, their memories fused, resulting in
Kai C, the current self of MC.]
Anyhow, let's act really carefully. It's better if I hold back from carelessly
summoning the monsters of the subjugation picture book without
confirming our safety first. Faf is barely qualified. As for Fen and Kyuubi,
they still lack experience, but want to act with me. Never mind, let's put a
strict order for them to live inside the subjugation picture book for the time
being.
Which brings me back to the main topic: What should I do from now on?
Should I get my hunter qualification and start a journey around the world as
soon as possible?
No, let's save that for later. I have to save myself from this predicament
first. I mean, the three(?) of us have been surrounded by beasts right now.
「You can't escape anymore. Well, I can guess from a glance that you're
just a small fry. To be honest, I was really surprised when that mist
suddenly engulf you.」
A red-haired man clad in a black robe came out of the trees and shrubs.
Eh? He looks like a small fry! According to the fifteen-year-old Kai
Heineman's memories, he should be fairly powerful. But well, let's find out
the truth with real combat.
「Uhm? Is that your comrade? Although she's rather young, she's a fine
girl. She will be popular amongst those perverts who love little girls. Slave
dealers will buy her at a sky-high price.」
The red-haired man looked at Fafnir with undisguised lust.
「Master, Faf wants to kill this bast*rd, nodesu!」
Faf frankly spoke without even trying to hide her disgust toward the redhaired man.
「Wait, please stop! I still have some questions for him.」
I brushed Faf's head like usual to calm her anger.
If my memories serve me right, this man should be involved in some sort of
plan. I have to find out what kind of a plan it is. Moreover, after spending
the longest time with her, Faf is akin to my family. I have to protect her from
any possible danger.
「Then, shall I do it? I'm gonna remind this conceited human of his place.
Eh? Worry not! It's okay as long as he's alive, right?」
The Chicken Majin, Astaroth, stepped forward as he wore a skin-fit white
glove in his hands. Stop doing such reckless things even though you're the
weakest amongst us, Chicken Majin.
「No, let me handle him. I'm also curious about how far I can go against
him.」
「Master, are you seriously saying that you want to know how far you can
go against him. Against this small fry?」
Astaroth turned around and asked me with a face as if he had just seen the
most wondrous creature.
What a rude fella! But still, he said that the red-haired man is a small fry
huh. As I thought about it, I also realized that I couldn't even feel any
semblance of a threat or menace, like the one I felt from the monsters in
that dungeon. Well, I have noticed that my judgment of strong enemies has
been dulled lately.
I mean, for the sake of improving my status, I constantly trained while
sealing my abilities with [Glove of Sealing God]. I never canceled its
effect for tens of thousands of years. It could be the reason my judgment of
an enemy's strength was dulled. I mean, I do realize that compared to
before I entered the dungeon, it feels like this man's abilities are lower than
before. Naturally, that's just a vague judgment based on my intuition. In
reality, the red-haired man was weak. He was so weak that even comparing
him to the weakest bug in the dungeon would be shaming the bug.
Still, even though he wasn't a monster, I lacked confidence in engaging in a
battle against him. I mean, this would be my first time fighting a human in
more than a hundred thousand years. I honestly had no idea what kind of
trump cards he held in his sleeve.
Anyhow, he might be weak, but let's not underestimate him. Time to go all
out.
Thus, I took out [Raikiri] from the item box and unsheathed it from its
scabbard.
「Do you even understand your current situation!? Or have you lost your
sanity due to fear?」
More than 40 black panthers had surrounded us. From my memory before I
entered the dungeon, I remember that my situation had been desperate. Yet
now, they look like adorable kittens to me. Whatever! Let's do a small test
for now.
「[True Commandement Sword Art: One Sword Style], 1st Form—
Deadline!」
This was the basic sword art I was most familiar with.
As soon as I said those words, a line ran through the black panthers. In just
a moment, they turned into minced meat and fell on the ground.
「Eh?」
The red-haired man's eyes opened wide. He dumbfoundedly stared at the
black panthers, who had just turned into minced meat.
Astaroth was right! They were small fries. However, carelessness could cost
our lives. I mean, I just realized how careless the fifteen-year-old me was
before I entered that dungeon.
「Well then, spit out your plan. What are you trying to do in this place?」
I had a complete collection of torture books amongst my book collection.
However, Faf always wanted to read the books I read, so I had put a hold on
reading those books. That was the only way to prevent any strange
knowledge from entering Faf's head. I realized now I might have to read
that book later.
Anyhow, I might be lacking the knowledge about torture, but I knew that
the red-haired man would spit out the information as long as I toyed with
him. I mean, look, I had a few recovery measures. Although [Panacea]
was a personal skill of mine, I had numerous super-efficient healing potions
that I found in the dungeon. Yes, various portions of all kinds.
「S-STAY AWAY FROM ME, YOU MONSTER!!!」
The red-haired man unsheathed his dagger and swung it toward me with his
trembling hands. However, I struck his arms with the blunt side of
[Raikiri].
The red-haired man's agonizing scream resounded in the area. My strike
broke the bones of his arms, bent them to abnormal angles, and pierced his
skin. That scream became the signal of the beginning of my crossexamination.