Chapter 243: The Dancing Princess of the Chief God

◆ Priest of the Night God◆

“Wh-What is the meaning of this…!?”

The moment the trial began, we were blown away.

No, not just us, but the people from the other temples as well.

We have overcome the trials using the information passed down through generations.

Knowing the detailed information of the trial inside and out, unless one was a complete fool, falling for a trap was supposed to be a thing of the past… or so it should have been.

“This is practically a completely different thing…”

Yes, it is different.

The content of the trial itself is the same.

However, the movements are completely different.

Frighteningly fast, and frighteningly complex.

Just when you think a pillar will thrust straight out, the next time it thrusts, it feints.

Just as I thought that, a colleague right beside me was blown away by a pillar that thrust up from directly underneath.

The same, yet completely different; that was the impression I received from this time’s trial.

To be honest, the only reason I’m still surviving is simply because my daily desk work of hunching over face-to-face with documents allowed me to dodge a pillar passing directly overhead by a hair’s breadth. It makes me sad just saying it myself.

However, I cannot possibly think we can continue dodging all these attacks.

Not just me, but the guys from the other temples can’t move carelessly either, advancing at a turtle’s pace.

Is there anyone who can win this time’s trial in such a state?

At this rate, won’t every temple be completely wiped out?

It was when I was thinking that.

“H-Hey, look at that!!”

For a moment, I thought it was a trap by another participant to divert my attention, but reconsidering that they wouldn’t have the leeway to set such a trap in this situation either, I turned my gaze in the direction she(?) pointed to gather even a little bit of information.

And I saw an unbelievable sight.

“Wha!?”

There was a group advancing forward, evading this trial—moving at an abnormal speed—as if it were nothing.

“Is that… the Temple of the Chief God!?”

Yes, they were the participants from the Temple of the Chief God.

Their movements were tremendous.

They evaded the approaching traps as if they were slipping right through them.

“Are they… truly human?”

“Are they not ghosts?”

I can understand the feeling of wanting to say that.

But impure undead cannot enter the holy land.

In that case, they are undoubtedly living humans. Well, looking at those movements, it’s doubtful if they are even human, though.

However, even among them, there was one anomalous figure.

“How…”

“It’s as if she is dancing.”

The young priestess of the Chief God bringing up their rear was dodging all the traps by a hair’s breadth.

It was different from the flowing, efficient movements of the others.

Rather, it was the exact opposite. But it wasn’t due to inexperience; her figure, evading while swaying her entire body greatly and moving as if spinning, looked just like she was dancing.

“The Dancing Princess of the Chief God…”

Someone murmured with a sigh.

But I can understand that feeling as well.

That is how beautiful that dance was.

Beautiful, but that beauty to me…

“It possesses an ephemeral nature, as if she might just vanish…”

Serving the Night God who also presides over the peace of the dead, to me, that dance looked like the dance of a bodiless spirit or a fairy.

◆ Tracy◆

“I-I’m gonna dieee!!”

Right now, I was being assaulted by the fear of death for the umpteenth time in my life.

“Eep!?”

No, really, how many times have I almost died in the past few days?

“Hah!”

Isn’t my life a bit too jam-packed lately?

“Funaaah!”

If possible, I’d like to dilute it with a whole lake’s worth of water!

“Whoa there, this is dangerous if you let your guard down.”

You say that, but you’re dodging with time to spare, aren’t you, Janet-saaan!

“Everyone, the difficulty isn’t all that high, but let’s proceed steadily without letting our guard down!”

” ” ” ” ” Okay! ” ” ” ” “

No, no, it’s totally that high of a difficulty, you know!?

I wanted to retort like that, but I absolutely did not have the leeway to say such things…

◆ Foka◆

“H-Hey, Foka, isn’t this different from what we were told!?”

The one who complained to me while I was desperately evading the trial’s attacks was Lamies.

“S-Sure is! It’s completely different from the story we heard!!”

Despite saying that, the fact that both Lamies and Rody can barely evade the attacks shows they are S-rank adventurers as expected.

“That being said, it’s not like we can just run away.”

Although Risou isn’t able to evade everything, she’s adjusting where she gets hit to barely avoid being blown away.

“But well, it’s not bad as training.”

“There’s a limit even to training. Take a look around; almost everyone else has been blown away.”

Indeed, my colleagues—aside from Risou and the others—have almost all been blown away.

Rather, our Temple of the Earth Mother Goddess, which employs S-rank adventurers, is in a much better situation.

“But, it seems those kids are all safe.”

At my words, everyone’s eyes turned toward the leading group.

“I thought he was the only absurd one, though.”

“Since they are his comrades, it means they can keep up with that absurdity, right?”

“Hmph, that’s exactly why it’s worth competing!!”

As expected, I’m glad I requested their help.

Ordinary experts would have looked at this situation too calmly and given up on traversing the trial.

But they are different.

While calmly understanding the overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation, they are S-rank adventurers capable of seeking out a strategy to overturn the predicament with a passion exceeding it!

“Gwaaah!”

“Lamieeees!!”

…Because they are S-rank adventurers, after all.