章 167: Finally, The Trial Quest
--- Akira ---
[Welcome to the Fourth Trial of Fate]
[Description: You have entered [The Irregular at a Magic High School] World. In This Trial, your role is not defined. The Trial Taker is free to choose any side they want.
Background: You are Nakamura Hikari, an average person from a prestigious Magic Family. Hikari has been harassed and considered a shame to the family most of his life. The only caring figure in his life is his sister, Nakamura Akari.
Tasks:
Find and Kill the Usurper(0/1)
Complete all the Chain Quests related to the Identity(1/?)
Difficulty Rating: ?(Unable to Estimate)
Conditions:
Keep your real identity secret from everyone.
You cannot tell anyone about your knowledge of the future.
Any sort of loophole to deal with the Usurper is not allowed. You must kill the Usurper yourself.
Time Limit: 1342 days
Tip(s):
Be careful of those who seem ordinary.
Do not let emotions sway you.
The Usurper knows someone is after them.
]
Surprisingly, the Trial Quest isn't that incredible.
Compared to the usual absurd conditions and nearly impossible tasks these Quests tend to impose, this one seemed… ordinary.
Two simple requests: kill someone and follow the Chain Quests.
That's it.
But something wasn't adding up.
Trial Quests, as I understood them, were designed to push Trial Takers to their absolute limits.
Their requirements were always convoluted, their difficulty cranked up to absurd levels, and their conditions so stringent that just avoiding to fail miserably was already a challenge in itself.
We don't even have to mention the Rating.
This time, though, everything was different.
For one, the conditions were so loose that I could even pull off stunts like half-revealing my true nature without the System stepping in.
It didn't just ignore the loopholes—it was more like it didn't care.
And that raised an uncomfortable question: why?
Was the System incapable of intervening? Or was it simply unimportant in the grander scheme of things?
If it were the former, I could breathe a little easier.
But if it were the latter, that would mean this Quest wasn't just some passing nuisance. It carried weight.
Wishing for one outcome while ignoring the other would be naive. Assuming the worst as the truth? That was just common sense.
The task of the Quest—Find and Kill the Usurper—nagged at the back of my mind.
The term "Usurper" wasn't something to take lightly. It implied someone actively working against the System's plans for this world.
If the System considered them enough of a threat to involve me, that meant this individual was either absurdly capable or frighteningly ambitious.
Like a pebble deliberately thrown at the gears of a towering machine—insignificant on its own, yet perfectly placed to grind the whole mechanism to a halt.
The fact that the System couldn't—or wouldn't—name the Usurper directly was also troubling.
'Either the Usurper has a powerful backer, or the very laws of this Universe are preventing the System from speaking their name.'
Whatever the real reason didn't matter.
It only meant the being I was up against might operate entirely outside the bounds of "common sense."
At that point, even a concept as straightforward as [Extreme] Combat Prowess might not be worth shit.
It also partly explained the quest's undefined Difficulty Rating.
If even the System couldn't fully gauge the Usurper's strength, how could it possibly assign a difficulty rating?
How do I deal with such a foe?
My current combat prowess, while impressive in one-on-one battles, doesn't place me among the strongest in this World—not by a long shot.
Sure, I could claim with confidence that in a duel, few magicians here could match me. But strength in this World isn't measured by personal might.
This is a world where military organizations wield power through advanced technology and sheer numbers.
No matter how versatile my abilities are or how superior my Magic may be, I have limits.
My stamina isn't infinite.
To put it simply, I need more than raw power.
I need to understand the true nature of the Usurper.
For that, experimentation was essential.
The idea struck me: what if I could create an Usurper?
The Shiba siblings came to mind as potential subjects for this experiment. But even the thought itself was dangerous.
The System has strict conditions, and messing with them is like walking a tightrope over a bottomless pit.
One wrong step, one careless word, and I could fail the Trial altogether—and die.
What a lousy way to go.
How would I even face Alexia in the afterlife if I died over something so stupid?
No, if I have to die, at least let it be in a way that's worth remembering.
That said, danger and opportunity are two sides of the same coin.
As long as I tread carefully, risk is manageable.
At least, that's what I told myself when I started.
Still, I can't deny I felt a pang of disappointment when nothing happened.
Not even gamblers could understand how disappointed I was.
But in hindsight, that was only natural.
I don't even know what defines an Usurper. Sure, I can make educated guesses, but I'm no God. If there's no piece to fit into the puzzle, how can I reveal the bigger picture?
And if creating Usurpers were that easy, wouldn't the System have wiped them out before they ever became a threat?
The whole thing felt like grasping at straws.
In the end, with so little to go on, I chose to put my speculations aside.
Yui's deductions were bound to shed some light on the matter...
At least, that was the plan. Still, I knew better than to rely entirely on Yui's deductions. I'd need to start my own investigation soon—right after I powered myself up to the maximum within the Trial Quest's time limit.
With the Chain Quests also looming over me, I had my hands full. It wasn't as if I could afford to focus entirely on the Usurper matter.
Imagine the irony of killing them only to fail the Trial because I neglected the other task.
That kind of pathetic death? No thanks...
---
["I'm done. Let me know when you're ready to hear my theories."]
The moment her voice rang out, I froze. The idle play with the ice crystal in my hand came to an abrupt stop as my full attention snapped to her.
["From my estimations, there's a high probability the [???] required to accomplish the best possible path is most likely tied to something akin to a parameter that evaluates how closely aligned you are to the identity you're impersonating."]
I arched a brow. "So you're saying, the more my thoughts follow the original identity's, the higher [???]"
["Exactly,"] she confirmed. ["The probability of this being the case is around... 65%."]
I nodded slowly, digesting her assessment. "Then that must mean this [???] is not everything. I was able to achieve the [Best Possible Path] in the 2nd Trial without an issue, and I'm sure I couldn't have had more different thoughts from that scumbag."
Just remembering that idiotic noble kiddo made me shiver in disgust.
I'm glad I indirectly killed him.
["Correct. But there's more."] Yui hesitated, and for the briefest moment, I thought I detected unease in her usually steady tone. ["Your connection to Nakamura Hikari... and the strange dream you had before the Trial, involving your real sister, Izumi-san..."]
I wasn't surprised that Yui uncovered what I had seen in my dream.
Even though she hadn't been there, and I hadn't told her a single detail, it made perfect sense.
In my [Mind Library], that event was recorded as a key one.
Only memories on the level of the [Eye of Judgement] have the privilege of being in that category.
How could it not be? It was far too strange to overlook.
With her sharp intuition and access to my memories, it was inevitable that Yui would notice it.
She must've realized I wasn't eager to talk about it. Knowing her, she was probably hesitant to bring it up, worried that I might be upset with her for viewing something like that without asking.
But honestly? I didn't mind at all.
Yui could do whatever she wanted, and I wouldn't get angry.
How could I? It was impossible not to dote on such a cute kid.
"Don't worry about it, Yui," I said softly, trying to reassure her. "I'm not angry or anything. What about them?"
I leaned forward slightly, giving her my full attention.
["It's likely the System's attempt to manipulate you..."] Yui said, her words falling carefully.
'So, it's decided to use them now, huh.'
The thought stung, but I couldn't ignore it. From an objective perspective, my connection to them should have been severed.
The Akira Bashira from that world was gone—dead.
That much was undeniable.
Thus, there should have been no way for my family from that world to reappear, not in any form.
I had subtly gone past them.
So, why had I convinced myself they wouldn't be dragged into this?
Naive.
A venomous, suffocating pressure curled in the pit of my stomach and seeped into my veins.
How dare you.
No outward reaction betrayed me. But inside, I was seething.
My thoughts felt jagged, my breathing tighter, as though my anger itself was pressing against my ribs.
But anger now wouldn't solve anything.
The rational mind I had built over the years wasn't for nothing.
My weakness, as the weaker one, can be exploited whenever. It's no big deal.
Only by achieving strength will I solve this problem.
I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly. The bubbling heat within me refused to dissipate completely, but I forced it to simmer, caged behind a wall of restraint.
When I opened my eyes again, no ripple could be seen.
Yui had been silently waiting for me.
A small, subtle nod was all I gave her—a faint thank you for giving me time to gather myself.
["By forging a connection between you two, it may be trying to accelerate your alignment with the [???]. Given the similarities you share with Nakamura Hikari, this theory holds a high probability of truth if the first deduction is assumed correct."]
I leaned back, exhaling softly. "And if that's the case, it's trying to drive me toward the [Best Possible Path]. Which means what, exactly? Facing the Usurper?"
Yui fell silent again, a pause heavy with unspoken tension. I could feel her reluctance, even without seeing her directly.
"Well?" I gently asked "What's the likelihood of the Usurper being a much stronger existence than the so-called [Extreme] Combat Prowess?"
There was another beat of silence before Yui spoke again, her tone quieter now. ["...78.2%."]
I'd expected something along those lines, but hearing it from her still settled like a cold weight in my chest. "So there's a real possibility they're stronger than this world's [Extreme] Combat Prowess, huh?"
["You're... calm. Aren't you worried?"] Yui observed cautiously, though her anxiousness could be heard.
In the past, I faced an opponent whose combat prowess nearly surpassed the limits of [Extreme] Combat Prowess. I managed to scrape by, and only because I resorted to using [Overload].
But since activating it during the 2nd Trial, that option isn't something I can afford to rely on so lightly anymore.
Why? Because every time I so much as consider using it, I can feel it—the cold, suffocating presence of death creeping closer, lingering just out of sight.
And while I might be able to make it if I manage in taking down the Usurper within Overload's limit, who's to say the System hasn't already accounted for such a loophole?
Perhaps it's even prepared a countermeasure, one that ensures I cannot do what I did in the 2nd Trial.
If I end up using it now, it's no longer just a question of defeating my enemy. I'd need to guarantee that I don't drop dead the moment the Trial concludes.
It's no wonder she's worried. Losing one of my strongest trump cards makes me vulnerable—and we both know it.
"I've suspected as much," I admitted.
"Doesn't make it any easier to accept, but better to prepare for the worst than pretend it's not coming."
I thought we were done, but apparently, there was more.
To the point there was hesitation in her voice.
["As for what benefit would it receive from increasing [???] and achieving the [Best Possible Path],"] she started, her tone slower than usual, as if picking her way carefully through each word, ["it's... impossible to estimate."]
"I see." I was not particularly impressed.
["I don't mean to say I lack hypotheses,"] she clarified quickly, ["but the data is insufficient. The variables surrounding this are too complex. If I rashly give them you, it may condition your future thoughts, avoiding the truth from coming out"]
I grasped it instantly.
Humans are inherently flawed.
Even though I fully understood that what she was about to say were only hypotheses—ideas formed without solid proof—I knew I would still rely on them. My mind would latch onto them, subtly bending my own thoughts in their direction.
This bias could cloud my judgment, and worse, blind me to the truth if it were to stand right before me.
That was unacceptable.
I frowned, my voice calm but edged with tension. "It's not all sunshine and rainbows, is it?"
["It's as you say,"] Yui confirmed, and for the first time in the conversation, she sounded genuinely reluctant. ["If the first deduction—that [???] is tied to role alignment—is incorrect, then every subsequent calculation tied to it would lose plausibility. If that were the case, the probabilities would drop to... 10 to 20%."]
The silence that followed felt heavier than her words. I let them settle before responding, keeping my tone steady. "That's not great. But not unexpected either."
Yui hesitated again, her tone tinged with an unusual softness. ["I wish I could provide more insights, but with the current information at hand, this is the most I can do. I... I'm sorry."]
'How sweet.'
If only the weight of the current situation wasn't so crushing, I'd dive into uncovering a way to bring Yui back into the physical world without a second thought.
Holding her again, like I used to—reassuring her through more than just words—filled me with a longing that was hard to ignore.
It's amusing, in a way.
When did I start to harbor such strong feelings toward her?
It seems I've grown into my role as a father more than I thought.
But now isn't the time. Not yet.
That moment will come, though. I'll make sure of it.
With that silent vow grounding me, I shook my head, pushing the thought aside.
"It's not your fault, Yui. You're working with what you've got, and that's already more than I could piece together on my own. Don't beat yourself up over it."
After a moment, she resumed.
["There's one more thing. I cannot determine how you entered the so-called Enlightened state during the Trial. While your Magic System has undeniably been altered by the Authority of Adaptability, I am fairly certain that Authority alone does not possess the capability to push you into such a state."]
I frowned, my mind circling back to the memory. The shift had been seamless, almost instinctive, but utterly beyond my understanding. "You're saying even the Authority of Adaptability doesn't have that kind of power?"
["Correct. It is one of the many unknowns I am unable to address,"] Yui admitted. ["For now."]
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "It's fine. If anything, all of this just confirms I can't afford to underestimate the System—or the Usurper. For now, I'll treat your deductions as facts."
["I'm grateful for your understanding,"] she replied quietly. ["I'll continue to analyze and update you as new information becomes available."]
"Good." My voice firmed, though my thoughts remained somber. "For now, we move forward. Whatever's waiting for me, I'll deal with it."
That's such a shounen MC line to say, damn.
Embarrassing...
---
Author's Note:
3000+ words.
Please acknowledge my work, readers.
It's always appreciated. Y'all know I read your comments either way.
Well, at least I'm releasing about the same amount of words I used to, just spread out in less chapters to quickly deal with this Trial.
But...is this really the case, or am I actually fooling you and this Arc is actually as long as usual, just more condensed in the chapters so that you all will be caught off guard when I pull a Farewell chapter on you?
(Context: Farewell is chapter 111, almost 12k words...I'm sure you remember.)
I am NOT the chill guy.
NO chill.
Time to cook.
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