World’s Strongest Became the Game’s Weakest Villain

The examinations were wrapped up rather quickly after my victory. That was to be expected since not everyone would know how to react after what had happened.

Even Keith and all the Hero Parties that take up the tests have never been able to defeat a full-fledged adventurer even though they were pit up against a silver-ranked as well.

"That means people who are beyond a certain level of strength don't give these examinations, and the reason is simple. Either a fairy won't pick them, or the way to get to that level of strength is through fighting against the monsters and enemies the dungeons bring you. Knights or pre-existing adventurers."

"I understand," I said. "So, can I leave already? I want to go into the dungeon."

The receptionist, the same one from before, sitting across me, shook her head.

"Can't. You will be meeting some people soon. Also, you can't dive today."

How annoying. I expected to meet the bigwigs, but to think it'll waste so much time as well.

"Why?" I asked.

"For one, you just finished the test. It's dangerous." She slowly crossed her legs and folded her fingers while listing things off. "You don't know anything about the monsters. The layout of the dungeon. You don't have any gear. Oh, and, since you camped out, you don't have anywhere to stay either, right kid?"

"Harassment."

The receptionist chuckled at my words. She then showed me thumbs-up.

"I'll handle your lodging."

"Will rooms be open?"

"Nope. As I said, people are here to spectate. The event tomorrow where adventurers dive in with the latest recording alchemic device is a big deal."

This woman dropped some big information without much thought. So people were supposed to enter with cameras tomorrow.

"You should break yours," Titania whispered, merrily swinging her legs on my shoulders. I concurred. Having eyes on me would be annoying.

"How are you planning to help with my lodging then? I am not going to stay with someone like you," I said, covering my chest and turning away. That seemed to have pissed her off as she clicked her tongue and clenched her fists.

"Not me. Since that girl Dawn is going to be out of commission, I'll just fling you in her room. She was staying at the guilds' dorms anyway."

"She doesn't seem the type to let that happen..."

"You don't worry about that," the receptionist's voice contained an evil flair to it. "She said she's 25, right? I'll blackmail her with her real age... huhuhu..."

It was when I was getting seriously weirded out by the apparent part-time voodooist that the door to the room swung open.

Three people entered the office room at once. They seemed to be the judges that I had seen at the examination. Finally, the people I was waiting for were here.

The receptionist performed a quick bow at the three as we stood up from our seats. She then turned to me.

"Come find me later, I'll take you around for your gear. Dungeons get tricky."

"Right, thank you again."

She waved at me saying it was not a big deal and exited the room as the three judges took a seat across me on the couch. One of them was too giant, though, so the hatted judge had to get up and move over to my end to sit.

"Adventurer Dusk," the muscular man spoke up, leaning ahead. "I am the branch manager of Deep Down Town—"

"Right right, whatever," the hatted judge interrupted the other one and wrapped his arm around my neck like an old friend. "Enough about that. Tell me, boy, have you thought about moving to the empire's guild? I'll talk with a noble and get you a good place to stay at—"

"I am a lord," I said without batting an eye. The judge clicked his tongue and moved away, he turned to see the muscular man and then flinched. Right after hearing my words, the woman who sat across me leaned ahead.

"A lord in Schwarz?" she asked, at which I nodded. "So what are you doing in this shitty place? I know the great labyrinth is famous, but the deepest someone has gone was 850 floors seven thousand years ago! Even the strongest adventurer of all time has only gone to the 700th floor! You should make a name at the labyrinth that rose in Hall territory."

"My last name is Hall."

The other one shut up too.

Huh. This was fun.

It wasn't like I was hiding my identity, it also wasn't like I could hide it from the branch managers of one of the continent's backbones.

"Are you guys done?" the muscular man asked in a low voice and the other two backed away.

"Adventurer Dusk," he spoke again, reaching his hand out.

I met his firm handshake with mine own. It was only now that I noticed that Titania had disappeared from the top of my head and had retreated into the brand marked on my hand.

"You seem to have contracted an interesting system," he said, sending a strange chill down my spine.

This guy was strong. Break my teeth with a single punch strong.

I hated that.

"Adventurer Dusk. We'll promote you to Silver Rank after your first dive. We just wanted to see you once today. You are free to leave now."

What the heck?

The voice of that man and the relaxed manner with which he sat made it seem that he had already received everything he needed from me. As if there was nothing he couldn't get from his vision that he could from his words. It was a similar feeling to when Lady Sophia had stared at me with those abhorrent eyes of hers, but much worse. Much more abysmal.

"I understand..." I said and stood up. Staying here didn't seem good for neither me nor the Titania that had already retreated. "Then, I'll take my leave since I am tired. Thank you."

I turned on my heels and dashed out of the room. Till the end, those guys kept gazing at me.

After that, I rushed down to the reception and took a few deep breaths.

I tapped on my brand and whispered.

"Titania. You ok?"

Titania suddenly poked her head out of the tattoo, it felt strange to see a person emerge from the back of my hands.

"Is he gone?"

I nodded.

"What was that about?"

"His fairy wasn't a kind one so I had to hide."

There seemed to be more to things than what Titania told me, but that didn't matter. I simply nodded and sighed.

After confirming her condition, I walked up to the reception and leaned ahead.

"Hello lady," I said. "When do you get off work?"

"Ah?"

"Hey brat! I am on this counter damn it!"

Fuck.

***

In the room that Eugene had just left from, the three branch managers were left with crossed arms.

"Did your system say something?" the woman asked the branch manager of the Deep Down Town.

"Not really," he answered. I just had a feeling.

"Is that so..."

"Did you guys notice?" the hatted manager adjusted his cap as he smirked.

"That kid... has a dual core."