Episode 3 

Entrance Examination

“This must be the exit… Quite an intimidating exit, I must admit.

　I ended up in front of an iron door.

　I can hear the sound of voices from the other side.

　The nurse didn’t have a reason to lie, right?

Upon opening the door though… a stage is revealed and a great enclosed arena with rows of seats surrounding it.

The seats were vacant and there was only a single man on the stage.

 The man on top of the stage has a sharp look about him, snake-like eyes and well greased hair.

　I step upon the stage, intent on asking him where to go. 

“Excuse me, where’s the exit?”

My question was apparently ignored.

“Examinee #22? Good, you’re here. Let’s begin.”

“Eh?”

“I’m Garadoon, the owner of the demon beast. I’m in charge of the practical test. Your opponent is my familiar.”

　I look around from the stage.

　Adults with well worn faces are sitting down in the audience seats. And far behind the man who called himself Garadoon was a three-necked beast with a collar around its neck.

　I know the name of that beast.

　Demon beast, Cerberus!

“The test time is 5 minutes. It’s a test to see how long you can flee from Cerberus. Of course, you don’t have to defeat it. The test ends when you become incapacitated.”

“Well, please wait! I–“

“Don’t be afraid. No matter how much you get injured, we have staff on call to heal you immediately.”

“Listen to me!”

　Before I knew it, Examiner Garadoon had vanished from the stage.

Teleportation! I hate magicians.

“Then, the practical test has started!”

“What!?”

　The collar is removed and Cerberus lets out a growl

　Don’t be ridiculous! I have to deal with a demon?!

　Escape now!

“GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!”

“… !?”

　I rushed away as fast as possible.

　I grabbed the big sword on my back with both hands and use it to block Cerberus.

“Gah!”

　I can’t take the power of Cerberus, my timing was off.

　Cerberus headbutts me and I fly.

　I reach the end of the stage. The big sword that was knocked from me landed right in front of me.

“Is this the end?”

“It’s a bit pathetic.”

“Good grief.”

“Huh? Was Rand-Taylor such a white-haired child? I don’t recall this boy.”

　In front of me, Cerberus lets out a victory roar, laced with the feeling of winning.

“Oh, nothing goes right.”

　I’m angry.

　I’m sick of this.

　Why am I always exposed to unreasonableness? Does God have a grudge against me?

Blood streams from my nose.

“I was sold by parents, and I was forced to be an executioner at the place where I was sold, and I was forced to kill my lover…  Will my end be as a demon dog’s chew toy?”

　Oh, I’m mad now.

“BARK!”

　Cerberus looked at me as he barked.

　It appears to me that Cerberus was getting anxious.

“… Don’t mess with me puppy.”

　I was supposed to die today, so I thought I could just die so passively.

“Come and get me, motherpupper.”

　It’s okay. This is the last execution of my life.