Clearing an Isekai with the Zero-Believers Goddess – The Weakest Mage among the Classmates-Chapter 189-190: Floor 500, The Trial of the Gods
“Not coming?”
The Demon Lord…no, now the Angel Captain Eri…spoke to me while holding her golden spear.
I exhaled softly, then faced straight ahead and declared:
“Eugene Santafield, stepping forward.” (Eugene)
I raised my White Sword.
The next moment…
Gywoon!!!
The sound of slicing wind grazed past my ear.
(What!?) (Eugene)
A golden spear passed directly in front of my eyes.
Dodging it was pure luck.
Don!!!
A shock like my body exploded rippled through me, and I was blown away.
(I got kicked!?) (Eugene)
I only realized afterward that it was a roundhouse kick from a blind spot.
I hurriedly rolled in midair to recover.
“Guwa!”
Claude, who tried to attack Eri from behind, was blown away.
Claude slammed into the ground, groaning in the cloud of dust.
“Damn…! I can’t see…!”
“Haa! …Eh?”
“Erinyes, remem—kya!”
A golden flash swept through Sara and Airi as well.
It wasn’t even ‘swinging a spear’ anymore…
It was like the light itself had taken shape and was attacking us.
(…Twin Heavenly Resonance Style – Secret Art: [Fenrir].) (Eugene)
I closed in using Sky Walk, aiming to strike Eri while her gaze was away from me…
—— “No, Eugene. That kind of lukewarm attack won’t work.”
I heard a voice, and my consciousness went dark.
◇◇
“Eugy-kun! Eugy-kun, wake up!!”
I opened my eyes as Sumire shook my body.
I quickly got up and looked around.
“Sara! Airi! Even Claude…” (Eugene)
I rushed to the three who were down and used healing magic.
They woke up immediately.
“Uu…”
“Huh…? I lost consciousness…?”
“What? What happened…?”
(Where’s Eri?) (Eugene)
She wasn’t anywhere nearby.
“Over there, Eugene.” (Anemoi)
Anemoi poked my shoulder.
“Eri, honestly, could you maybe hold back a little more?” (Laila)
“Eeh, I can’t go any gentler than that.” (Eri)
“Um, Laila-senpai, Eri-senpai, would you like more tea-ssu ka?” (Rita)
“Oh, thank you.” (Laila)
“Uh… Should we maybe switch judges for the Trial of the Gods soon…? Laila-senpai is busy, and…” (Mariel)
“It’s fine. It’s still break time.” (Laila)
“R-Right…” (Mariel)
Rita and Mariel were being considerate toward the senior angels.
Wait, no. That’s not the issue.
“Eri! The Trial of the Gods…!” (Eugene)
“Good morning, Eugene. The trial ended with your failure.” (Eri)
Eri casually said this while holding a teacup.
“Kuh…” (Eugene)
I gripped the hilt of my sword tightly.
To think that after all our training with the Dungeon Master, we end up like this…
—— “Hmm, I don’t know about that. I don’t think you’re that weak. If this had been the original Floor 500 Trial of the Gods, your strength would be more than enough.”
“…Demon Lord-sama.” (Eugene)
She gave an unexpectedly kind remark.
—— “To begin with, Erinyes-chan’s rank is Cherubim, second only to the Seraphim. Seraphim serve directly under the Sun Goddess Althena-kun, so her rank is practically one of the strongest under the Goddess herself. Honestly, she’s not someone who should appear on Floor 500.” (Loki)
“Then why would the Wood Goddess Freya-sama…” (Eugene)
Eri’s transformation into an angel was the will of the Goddess.
—— “Well, the most likely reason is that she’s messing with me. The Wood Goddess doesn’t like me~. But this time, I feel like she has another purpose too.” (Loki)
“Another purpose…?” (Eugene)
While I was talking with the Demon God…
“Hey, Eugene.”
“Eugene, we need to talk.”
Eri and my mother, who had been elegantly drinking tea just moments ago, now stood in front of me.
“W-What is it?” (Eugene)
“You… um…seem awfully close with Lo—with the Demon God-sama?” (Eri)
“Eugene, I don’t intend to meddle in your friendships, but…that person is…” (Laila)
Both Eri and my mother wore unusually serious expressions.
—— “My my, looks like the girls don’t like how friendly you are with me. No need to worry. Unlike a certain someone, I don’t seduce earnest mortals.” (Loki)
“…………”
“…………”
Eri and Mother still looked troubled.
I didn’t know how to respond when…
“Hey, Eugy-kun…” (Sumire)
Sumire spoke to me.
Everyone else was looking at me as well.
Right. There was something I needed to confirm.
“Eri, what happens to us now that we’ve failed the Trial of the Gods?” (Eugene)
Normally, failing means the summoned Divine Beast returns to its original place.
But Eri was still here.
So I initially thought maybe the trial wasn’t over.
But if the trial had already ended, Eri remaining here made no sense.
“You can just challenge it again, right?
As many times as you want.
” (Eri)
Eri said this lightly.
“No, is that…allowed?” (Eugene)
I looked toward the Dungeon Master.
“Um… that’s not how the usual Trial of the Gods works…” (Anemoi)
Anemoi looked confused.
As expected, this was an irregular situation.
“Eugene, this is because Freya-sama’s miracle magic overwrote the original Tower trial.” (Laila)
Mother explained.
“The Wood Goddess picking me, Erinyes, as your trial opponent means I’ll probably stay fixed for a while.” (Eri)
Eri added.
“N-No way! That’s impossible!! There’s no way we can win!” (Sumire)
Sumire screamed.
Sara and Airi also paled.
“Uh, Rita-chan…” (Claude)
“There’s nothing I can do about this…” (Rita)
Claude clung to Rita, desperate.
Certainly, Eri, with her restored angelic powers, completely crushed everyone’s morale in a single instant.
But to me, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“Hey, Eri.” (Eugene)
“What? Want a rematch already?” (Eri)
“Yeah. Please. Sumire, lend me mana.” (Eugene)
I readied my White Sword.
“E-Eugy-kun…” (Sumire)
Sumire hesitated but gave me mana.
My whole body burned with heat.
The blade of my White Sword glowed red.
And so did I.
“Eri, I want to ask you something.” (Eugene)
She tilted her head.
“What is it?” (Eri)
“Angel…you. Right now.
Could you beat the Red Dragon
?” (Eugene)
“Hmm. If I had the Valkyrie squad with me, maybe. Alone? It’d be hard.” (Eri)
My companions widened their eyes at her words.
“…I see. Then…Eugene Santafield, stepping forward.” (Eugene)
I unleashed the Twin Heavenly Resonance Style secret art…and she crushed me again.
“Read ahead more. And stop wasting movement! Come on, next!” (Eri)
Even as my consciousness blurred, I heard Eri’s voice.
(Yeah… Our goal is to deal with the Red Dragon.) (Eugene)
The Red Dragon is stronger than Angel Eri.
Which means we have to defeat Eri first.
No matter how impossible it looks.
“Eugene, wake up.”
The Dungeon Master shook me awake.
“Thanks, Anemoi. Alright, next is round—” (Eugene)
Just as I was saying that…
“Wait, I’m joining this time.” (Airi)
“Don’t rush in alone.” (Sara)
Airi and Sara grabbed my explorer uniform.
“Okay! Then we’ll just have to become strong enough to beat Eri-san.” (Sumire)
Sumire had regained her enthusiasm.
Claude, holding his spear over there, too…
…If we’re going to face the Red Dragon, we can’t complain about fighting Angel Eri.
With that shared understanding, we challenged Eri…
…and were defeated three times without landing even a scratch.
■Comments Response:
>Did Eri become really weak when she fell from grace?
-Yes.
■Author’s Comment:
Eri at full power is strong.
How will they win, I wonder?
Chapter 190: Floor 500 – The Trial of the Gods, Part 2
“No waaay!!”
Sumire threw both hands up and collapsed flat onto the ground.
Sara, Airi, and Claude were all lying on the floor as well.
Everyone was in tatters.
“My my, how pathetic~” (Eri)
Eri rested her chin on the spear she had planted like a staff, looking at us.
Meanwhile, she was completely
unscathed
.
I still wasn’t used to the pure white wings on her back.
I somehow remained standing… but after fighting
one hundred rounds
and not seeing even a single path to victory, my spirit was starting to break.
“It’s over! The goddess really
is
angry! She never intended to let you clear the 500th Floor Trial of the Gods!!”
A short distance away, the Dungeon Master Anemoi was throwing a fit.
(She’s never calm, is she…) (Eugene)
But I understood why she was panicking.
I lowered the Black Katana I was holding and faced Eri in a natural stance.
“So, is Eugene coming alone next?” (Eri)
Eri still hadn’t even bothered to raise her spear.
Even if I launched a surprise attack with Twin Heavenly Resonance Style, Eri would dodge it like she already knew it was coming.
Her ability to predict moves was said to be close to clairvoyance.
Or so the Demon God told me.
“I need a little time to think.” (Eugene)
I said that and approached the Dungeon Master, who was scratching her head like crazy.
“Anemoi.” (Eugene)
I called her name close to her ear.
“…! Eugene!?” (Anemoi)
The white-haired girl spun around with a start.
“I want to ask something. Eri’s strength…it far exceeds the intended difficulty of the 500th Floor Trial of the Gods, right?” (Eugene)
“Y-Yes it does! Even
I
couldn’t win against that! The other angels in charge of overseeing the Zenith Tower aren’t even close to that battle power, so that woman is clearly abnormal!” (Anemoi)
Anemoi stomped her feet in frustration.
—— “Well, it can’t be helped. The First Squad of the Valkyries is the Wood Goddess’s royal guard. The strength of an angel depends on the role granted to them by their goddess. Comparing the angels who guide explorers in the Zenith Tower to the captain of Freya’s personal elite guard isn’t even fair.”
I heard the Demon God’s muttering.
(A trial far beyond the intended difficulty of Floor 500… Meaning the trial given by the Wood Goddess isn’t just about the Zenith Tower.) (Eugene)
It’s most likely meant for the monster waiting ahead from three years ago.
A trial meant to prepare us to fight the Red Dragon.
(But still… Eri’s strength is…) (Eugene)
Cherubim Eri was elegantly fluttering her white wings as she chatted with my Throne mother.
Even though she didn’t seem to be paying attention, she had absolutely no openings.
At this rate, we’d keep losing even if we challenged her for ten years straight.
Which meant we needed some sort of change.
(Anemoi, help me.) (Eugene)
I spoke to her through thought transmission, so Eri wouldn’t overhear.
After three years together in the tower, we learned to communicate this way.
Though only at close range.
(Help you? That’s impossible! I’m the Dungeon Master!!) (Anemoi)
(It doesn’t have to be obvious. Even setting off some dungeon traps to match my movements is fine. I want to catch Eri off-guard. Please.) (Eugene)
(B-But… I can’t afford to cause any more trouble…) (Anemoi)
(Well, that’s true…) (Eugene)
Her blunder from three years ago was huge.
(…I think it’s fine.) (Eugene)
The one who cut into our thought transmission conversation was the Demon God.
(Demon God-sama, why?) (Eugene)
(Because the Wood Goddess is definitely watching this trial from the Divine Realm. Leaving an explorer alone after he’s failed a hundred consecutive attempts would be the greater disrespect. That Goddess prefers results over rules. The Dungeon Master-chan helping you will probably earn you points.) (Loki)
(I…I understand… Eugene, I’ll help.) (Anemoi)
(Alright! I’m going. I’ll fight a few times and lose, then I’ll leave the timing to you.) (Eugene)
I put some distance between myself and the Dungeon Master, then took a stance.
“Eri, here I come.” (Eugene)
“Hmm~ looks like you’re plotting something.” (Eri)
Eri grinned as she raised her spear.
I didn’t answer. I unleashed Twin Heavenly Resonance Style’s Secret Art, [Kirin].
She countered and blew me away easily.
After that, I challenged her several more times and was beaten into the ground each time.
And then, on the 107th attempt…
…The ground suddenly shook violently.
(It’s here!) (Eugene)
I didn’t look toward Anemoi.
But any change occurring in the Zenith Tower had to be her doing.
And this wouldn’t end with just an earthquake.
Eri’s predictions weren’t actual clairvoyance.
She predicted the future using only past and present information.
An unforeseen intervention from the Dungeon Master couldn’t be predicted.
I dashed forward using Sky Walk, closing the distance to Eri in an instant.
■Comments Response:
>He trained so hard I thought he’d get close, but he got crushed, lol.
-Eri in her prime is strong.
■Author’s Response:
I collapsed due to poor health.
Sorry this chapter is short again.
Please take care, everyone.
Support my translations or commission me to translate a chapter of any series on Patreon!
Chapter 189-190: Floor 500, The Trial of the Gods
Comments