The Sub-Heroine’s Butler Is a Vicious Bastard

14. Imprint of the Flame (1)

A space like the Colosseum located behind the ordeal.

In the middle of it, I was quietly warming up.

For the beginning of the 9th level ordeal.

“Dear tester trainees, the day has finally dawned when we select trainees who can challenge the glorious 10th level of the tester!”

– Wow-!

With the words of the emcee, who had a sparkling head, cheers rang out from the audience.

Many people gathered to see me undergo the ninth stage trial.

‘I never thought I’d prove something like this.’

Looking at the spectators on the stage of the Colosseum, the sunlight reflected on his bald head forms around his eyes.

What was implemented as a cheap glitter effect in the game actually unfolded, and somehow laughter leaked out.

‘Did I say I had to compete for the 10th level ordeal?’

The setting is that only one person can challenge the 10th level ordeal.

The 9th stage trial is the process of picking out that one person.

In the original work, it was a jump map in which the main character challenges alone…

‘I don’t know why, but there’s a guy I haven’t seen in the game yet.”

A man named Masao, with a tight body and a slightly shabby body.

He was a man with dark eyes.

“The rules of the Nine Trials are simple. The one who crosses the flowing lava river with a stepping stone bridge and brings the ‘Ordeal Orb’ at the destination will get a chance to challenge the final ordeal!”

The rules explained by the moderator were the same as seen in the game.

I was relieved by those words, but the host’s words did not end.

“All actions and events that occur during the ordeal are not involved in any operations! This, too, must be overcome as part of the ‘trial’.”

… Was there anything like this originally?

As I questioned myself, I caught a glimpse of Masao grinning at me.

I can’t believe that so many people are watching and I won’t do anything.

Actually, crossing the lava is a bigger problem than him.

As I gulped down my saliva and looked ahead, the lava field spread over the Colosseum came into my eyes.

A white line drawn as a starting line.

There was a cliff right in front of it, and lava was boiling under it.

Above it were pillars that looked precarious at first glance.

The height of the pillar is estimated to be about 3 meters.

Even if I slipped once, it wasn’t going to lava right away, but I hope that doesn’t happen in the first place.

“Now then, who will be the final challenger! Starting soon! 3…. 2….”

The presenter started counting.

I get into position for the spurt, and the guy next to me follows me to the starting line.

“1… start!”

With the host’s cry, I quickly ran out.

It was a very unreliable stepping stone, but I got through it without hesitation.

While thinking about the contents of the ‘9th level ordeal’ in the game.

“Masao is going to look at it for now… uh?”

“What! Look at that! Are you just running?”

“Crazy… aren’t you afraid?”

I can feel the buzz in the audience. It was worth it.

I was literally running like crazy on lava.

I may look like a crazy person in the eyes of others, but I had a corner to believe.

Originally, the 9th stage trial of the ordeal is a jump map with crazy difficulty where if you step on a pillar incorrectly, you will fall into lava and the game will be over immediately.

You need to be aware of the trap pillars that collapse when you step on them, but they are not obvious on the outside, so you have to memorize the entire map order to break them.

Obtaining the hidden piece of the ordeal was also the reason why it was called the ‘old figure event’.

And as a deceased person, I knew the order of the pillars.

“Whoa… Is it the halfway point?”

I caught my breath on the large central pillar.

Looking back, I saw Masao carefully stepping over the pillar, dripping with sweat.

Still wandering around the starting point.

However, since they are constantly coming, they will soon follow up to the bottom of their chin.

‘It was definitely an ordeal of coming back to the starting point with the beads.’

I turned my gaze back to my destination.

There were really small pillars scattered all over the place, so that one could put one foot on them.

Of course, I have memorized all the locations, but…

Doing a jump map against the background of the reality of soaring pillars of fire made my hamstrings tingle.

‘after… let’s go!’

Still, I played with my feet again.

“To cross that small step without hesitation… ”

“Haven’t you practiced at least this much beforehand?”

“Shh… The chief monk will listen.”

The buzz, which was like cheering, seemed to flow in a bad mood.

It’s just unfair to me, but I understood their suspicions.

Until now, there would have been no one who broke through the 9th level ordeal like this without hesitation.

-Sueug

A destination that has already been reached.

When I lifted the orb of ordeal held by the fox-shaped stone statue, the surrounding ground shook slightly.

Everything is still the same as the original.

I turned around to go back with the crimson sphere in my hand…

‘… Have we reached the halfway point already?’

Masao stands firm on top of the wide pillar in the center.

It looked like he was trying to subdue me with force and take the marble.

“It’s a little difficult.”

The trials of the ordeal are made assuming what you get later in the game.

Most likely, Masao’s stats aren’t low either.

In the original game, there was no such situation, and it was just a matter of bringing marbles and entering, but…

It seemed a bit twisted with the appearance of a character called ‘Masao’.

‘I can’t help it.’

To return, one must inevitably cross the halfway point.

Like it or not, it was decided that a daily discussion with him was inevitable.

Having made up my mind, I jumped over the road I came across and headed for the halfway point.

“Did you say Masao?”

“… ”

With only one or two pillars left, I greeted him.

Up close, the skinny and sharp exterior stood out.

… In addition to this, a surprisingly gloomy aura emanates from it.

“… … I went through arduous training in the ordeal for five years. I can’t hand over the last 10 steps to a kid like you.”

“It’s regrettable, but I think today will be the last of those five years of training.”

“Ha, talk as you please. You have no choice but to pass here anyway.”

I tried to solve it through conversation, but he seemed unwilling to talk.

I guess I can’t avoid armed conflict.

“okay. Then take it.”

“…What?”

At the same time as I said that, I threw the orb of trial at Masao.

Masao showed a gap in my sudden action.

Now was a golden opportunity.

I couldn’t bring my dagger because I couldn’t imagine this situation.

All I can trust is my stats and fighting skills.

He rushes at Masao, who is struggling to catch the marble.

bang-!

After intercepting the orb in the air, it rammed Masao and knocked him out.

“Ugh… This kid… !”

Taking advantage of the moment when he loses his balance and is flustered, he hurries out of the central area.

Exactly, I tried to…

The plan was abandoned as Masao caught me with a momentary reaction.

“…this…!”

He threw me across the starting line with unbelievable strength.

I tried to reduce the shock by scratching the footrest with my fingernails, but…

I ended up hanging on to the scaffolding with just one throw.

“…Come on, give me your marbles.”

“I won’t give it to you, don’t you know?”

“…”

Masao came right in front of me before I knew it.

I was in a situation where I was holding on to the orb of trial with one hand and the cliff with the other.

and…

Back-!

Masao began to step on my hand, which was barely holding on to the cliff.

It was quite painful to put on the weight slowly.

“If you give me a marble right now, my life is-”

“Kill him.”

“…”

“I must overcome the 10th level ordeal. Even if it means dying during the ordeal-”

Masao’s eyes wavered.

“… There is a reason why I must undergo trials.”

Masao’s expression contorted.

It was a final appeal based on human emotions.

He still seemed unwilling to listen.

“…sorry.”

-bang!

Take down with all your might.

I barely escaped it and removed my hand from the cliff.

The wind brushes my ears.

The figure of Masao and the cliff was getting farther and farther away,

At the same time, I felt a warm feeling on my back.

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Just before falling into lava.

“… stepping on the shadows.”

Caught in the shadows for an instant, I moved behind Masao’s back.

“What is this… ?!”

It seemed that he felt popular after a while.

However, by the time he looked back, the ordeal had already ended.

I quickly veered off the halfway point and began to stomp down the pole,

The guy belatedly chased after it, but he couldn’t catch up with me, who knew the order.

‘If it’s a game, it must have been an impossible battle.’

In a game where the winner was judged by simple stats, this was impossible.

It was a play to avoid battle by taking advantage of the opponent’s carelessness.

It was me who felt joy and gratitude for it.

Because this victory will surely make Arlotte smile.