Gathering of the strong
「……The selection meeting is in the imperial castle, huh!?」
As expected of such an important event
Speaking of the imperial, firstly it’s where the emperor live, as well as the governing office
It’s the most important facility of the Behemoth empire, and not the place anyone can easily enter
Looking from the game’s perspective, this is the last dungeon of 『Beast Fantasy 4』
Anyway, this is a special place
「……This is the first time I enter the imperial castle」
「Me too」「Me too」「Me too」
All of us are the same
For ordinary people who live a normal life, this is the place unknown to them for the whole life!
「To start the selection at this place, it’s easy to feel the seriousness. His highness the emperor must have seriously wanted to pick the strongest, most elite people for the Twelve Apostles」
In fact, it is the same in the game
In 『Beast Fantasy』, the Twelve Apostles are the most formidable enemies and the definite obstacles that obstruct the protagonist Sero
The battles would be gorgeous if such a group of high-level enemies exists, that’s why there are similar groups in each title of the series
In the first 『Beast Fantasy』, there are three faithful beast warrior under the Beast Demon King
In 『Beast Fantasy 2』, there are 6 demon beast priests with the motif of “Number of the Beast”
The leader of the enemies in 『Beast Fantasy 3』 is a group called Ninetail, consists of 9 bewitching beauties
And the Twelve Apostles of 『4』
……。
Why does the number of enemies increase by 3 as the series advance? Are the developing team obsessed with something?
But as expected, twelve enemies are too much
At that time I was playing, I was troubled because there were too many that need to be defeated and was annoyed
But right now, I am glad that the quota for recruitment is huge
Right now, I intent to survive in this world by gaining strength
There are other desires as well
Let’s not hesitate to aim for the title
◆
The place we were guided to was a large plaza
There is a large plaza in the castle, that means the castle itself is really huge。
「The number of people gathering is amazing too!?」
There was bewilderment mixed in Gashi’s words
Certainly
There are several hundred of people gathering in this plaza at the moment
There were more people than in the training camp that just ended recently
「I know that there would be many people gathering, but I didn’t expect such a terrific amount」
「It’s fine. Everyone comes here for one purpose, that is to become one of the twelve strongest people of the empire……」
The number of people is high, that also means the competitive rate is also high……。
A fierce battle is to be expected
Lucky because the number of slots is increased, that is not the case here
The high number of rivals is not related to whether there are 3, 6, 9 or 12 slots
「It’s all about doing our best!」
I tried to gloss over my own mistake
There is still time before the selection meeting begins
We were told by the guide to wait at the plaza just the others
「Ah, it’s Onii-chan! Onii-chaaaan!!」
Immediately after entering the plaza, my sister found me and jumped forward
「Guoho!?」
The tackle is still as strong as ever
「……Guho,……hahahahaha Selen is already here before me? This time, brother is glad as we are together」
「I am glad too! Onii-chan, let’s be always together, okay!?」
Right, my sister Selen also participated in this selection meeting
My sister became an elite cadet before I realized
She has the qualification to become one of the strongest of the empire
It seems like all elite cadets are unconditionally received the qualification to enter the selection meeting
Selen said she would participate with that quota, so she left our house first
Although in fact she wanted to go together
「……Sister-chan’s tackle is always amazing, right……？」
「Somehow, Jira was able to calmly receive that？」
「If that was me, I believe I would vomit everything in my stomach……!?」
Oi oi my friends, don’t talk as if Selen is a monster
She is my sister
「Fight together with Onii-chan! Finally we can fight! I’m glad that I have always waited!」
You are waiting that eagerly?
Are you a berserker？
And then, Selen is not the only person I know to also gather in this plaza……。
There is another person, too
「You have come, Jira, as expected」
With those words, a glamorous woman appears
The princess of the Lobos tribe, Forte
Her posture is as sexy as ever！
「If you weren’t here then the gathering today would be pointless. I always think you will surely appear here. And then you will surely enter the Twelve Apostles」
「No no, that……!?」
From the beginning, I don’t believe I can win。
By the way, Forte is beautiful
「If it’s you then perhaps you can follow Grey Ryuga-sama and Wartaiga-sama and end up at the third place. But don’t forget. I will show my true strength and will enter the Twelve Apostles」
Forte speaks fervently
「This is for my own tribe. If I obtain a firm position in the empire, the Lobos tribe will also receive hospitable treatment. They will become a part of the empire and will not receive treatment like that of an outsider……！」
Forte was born from a distant grassland, and her tribe living there was invaded by the empire and was forced to become obedient
Forte herself is a hostage sent as the proof of obedience, and she has spent many years living the life of a hostage in the empire
If her position in the empire is high, the valuation of the tribe she’s from will also rise, and she can proudly live under the empire
Fortunately the empire is extremely meritocracy
No matter if you are an outsider or a loser, you will be evaluated properly if you can show your ability
Knowing that, Forte aims for the Twelve Apostles, the empire’s pinnacle of strength
「Do your best. I will also help you to get the rank as high as possible」
「I appreciate, but as long as you appear in the same battle, you are my rival. If you say such a na?ve thing then I will bite your throat, you know？」
「Ahahahaha……！」
「I don’t know the subject of the selection meeting, but if it becomes a competitive situation, fight me mercilessly……！」
「n? what?」
Because Forte-san’s tone suddenly become really small, I try to put my ear closer……。
「In my birthplace, there is a bride-capturing custom (略奪婚)」
「Haah？」
「It’s the custom where a man would directly challenge a female warrior, beat her to pulp then kidnap her to his own house and make her a wife against her will. I am telling you to defeat me like that！」
「Yes!」
「Eh? Really!?」
Forte’s expression becomes bright immediately
You are telling me to beat you to pulp?
「Oi Jira? Jira-kun?」
As my friends called, I excused myself and returned
And immediately, I was overwhelmed by them
「What the hell? Isn’t that the famous Forte-hime? From a fighting tribe from somewhere？」
「It’s Lobos tribe. They were defeated and became the empire’s possession, but they are famous as the strongest fighting tribe. Forte-hime is the daughter of the chief and a member of the powerful monarch’s guard」
「To be acquainted with such a great person……! How much of a protagonist are you!?」
I am given a headlock by Gashi, my side is poked by Rei and Seki steps on my foot
Are you trying to remove your rival before the selection meeting?
Besides, I am not a protagonist. This world’s protagonist is Sero-kun
「Ano……, you are Jira’s friends right? Don’t harass him too much」
「Yes! We won’t do something like harassing, Hime!」
When Forte timidly talks, the three guys simultaneously separate from me and line up horizontally next to me
「Umm!……We were training in the same camp with Jira-dono, and became close friends with him! And luckily this time too, we were lucky to be selected together with Jira-dono」
「Jira seemed to be blessed with friends. Shall we do our best together in this competition?」
Forte gallantly spoke and gave a handshake to the three in turns
And for some reason, I was given a handshake with Selen
「Selen will do her best together too, right?」
「Un! I, with Onii-chan and Onee-chan, will enter the Twelve Apostles！」
Although this will be a warzone, it is really harmonious
「I received a handshake……！」
「Although she is a princess of a different tribe and a member of the monarch’s guard, she is really friendly to us……！」
「What a goddess……！」
The three friends of mine were trembling with excitement
「What is this? There will be a carnage to decide the empire’s strongest, but why does this feel like a picnic? Don’t make me lose my energy」
I completely agree
……n？
Who talked just now？
TN: The custom may sound violent but this is a fantasy novel, so please don’t be triggered