The Degree
Demonstration Degree

After parting ways with Terumi and Leo, Ray walks back to the settlement. As the day begins to darken, there is a strong urge in Ray's heart that he must return.

That must be the effect of the Degree Erina had. Ray could not resist the strong will and believed in anything.

“If this is the case I have to do troublesome things. Don't let him keep me away from this.”

Ray was worried that he would actually become a puppet completely because Erina gave him too much of a ban.

This is just a mere assumption yet there is a fifty percent chance of being right. He is able to rule over a person on certain conditions.

Sure enough when the sun was really about to sink Ray had a strong urge to get there right away and start running.

It made him annoyed because he would really be used.

Until finally Ray arrived not long because he traveled by running.

“Welcome, my dear.”

Right in front of the door of his residence Erina was already waiting for him with a bold smile.

“You must have understood a little of my strength. Are you no longer angry with me?” Erina smiled mockingly.

That certainly raised Ray's anger but he knew he could not act rashly.

Erina purposely gave the order for him to return before it was completely dark. It was to tell Ray that his Degree was real.

If I act recklessly then it will gradually hamper my plans.

Ray did not need to do any haphazard actions that would encourage Erina to give him another restraint rope.

“You are indeed a shitty girl.”

“Fufu, I take that as a compliment. Since it's night now, how about we eat?”

“Why should I obey you?” Ray stared coldly and was clearly displeased.

“Yes, even if you don't want I can take you there without doing anything.”

In a sense Erina could order Ray to obey her even if she rejected him out loud.

Ray let out a rough sigh and obeyed. He looked really depressed and desperate.

Erina seemed to be enjoying it and immediately grabbed Ray's hand to her chest fearlessly. He knew that Ray was a level-headed man who would not take any foolish action against the unknown.

“You want to eat first? Shower first? Or you want is a~ku~?” Erina said in a seductive tone.

Even if he did other things wouldn't make Ray move. It's not that she's abnormal but that Ray's been trained in controlling her.

“I don't care what it is.”

Erina puffed her cheeks while angry, “You are very cold.”

Even so Erina felt comfortable because as long as Ray was hers, that was enough.

Fufu, you can never get away from me, Ray. Sooner or later, I'm sure you'll give up and love me.

When they ate peacefully, there was something Erina opened up suddenly. Talk about union.

“There's something I want to talk to you about. It's about you joining the union and I'll reveal the puzzle that came up.”

Ray originally wanted to ignore whatever Erina said because he had guessed a little of her Degree. Even so the puzzle of the fifth task was not something he could ignore.

“Do I really have to join to get it?”

Erina smiled slightly, “You could have made your own union but it certainly won't be easy. Your choice is to join my guild. In addition there are some things about Open World that you do not know.”

Erina explained that the existence of the union is not just to gather and become a great leader. Except for one thing that might only exist in Open World.

Ray would be interested to learn more about Open World with all its contents.

“One hundred percent of participants in this place are stuck in the fifth task so that for the sixth task and so on are not touched at all. Even so, there is no way to get any leaks about solving the task or what will be in the next task.”

In such a sense there were grilles scattered about the task that had been prepared by Secret. The grille will require a person to complete the task easily and safely.

With the aim of finding the grilles formed unions. There were quite a number of guilds but their existence was faint as Erina's and the Order's were the largest.

“We from the first generation received the same bonus task. But because everyone has different ways we are divided into west and east. For this reason, your existence of juniors will be a determination of who is the biggest and loser.”

The war will break out sooner or later as Ray and the others have reached the Open World. It was exactly what Ray had predicted.

“Then what does this have to do with me joining?”

“You are a sharp, intelligent and capable person. I want you to be a part of my union and share your thoughts on the puzzle to unlock the fifth task.”

The best way to express something is to share your thoughts with others. By exchanging opinions, one will see things that were not seen before.

Ray was a little surprised that Erina had such a high appraisal of him. But that doesn't rule out the possibility that he has tried to use it.

“Why should I? Other than brain and physical strength, I was stupid in other fields. Even my Degree is so useless.”

When Ray mentioned the Degree, Erina somehow showed a mysterious smile.

“If you find it useless then your Degree is something that is easily encountered in the outside world. I won't force you to say it but I will show you that there are no useless Degree.”

Erina clapped her hands and Mein immediately entered the room.

Without a word Erina picked up the knife and slashed Mein's right hand which she voluntarily gave.

Surely the hand was bleeding because of the sharpness of the knife. Ray had no idea what Erina was trying to show but he was interested in watching her for some things.

“Mein, your role now is human with iron skin.”

Mein nodded and closed her eyes. At that moment Erina no longer scratched finely, but firmly stabbed Mein's hand.

The weird part that made Ray dilate happened. Mein's hand should have been hurt in such a way. But miraculously the knife Erina used bounced and bent.

Mein's skin was not scratched or injured at all. At that moment, Ray realized something shocking.