Chapter 36

The dark clouds in the examinations

(Now then… I have to find some monsters . )

I stood up from where I’m sitting at and started walking around .

What I’m wearing is not my school uniform .

I now look like a woman who lives in a fantasy world seen in movies and novels .

It seems that I’ve been a little conscious that I’m a “woman” because of it’s gaudy design .

[It is said that clothing that is effective towards the “opposite sex” will have the ability to enrich the magic energy within you . That’s the reason why the design for this clothing have this kind of appearance . Especially for the S-Rank Heroes, you must have an equipment such as this!]

Or so, that’s what the goddess had said .

I wonder if she’s telling the truth .

I had reduced the exposure that this clothing gives since I’ve wore this yesterday .

(I’m still feeling a bit embarrassed wearing this though…)

I have never liked the idea of exposing my body .

That’s why I was still wearing black tights even when I was in uniform .

Though I say that, it is also a fact that the protection that the school uniforms we used to wear just offers a minimal protection for our body .

There must have been something magical (?) within this garment like the goddess’ blessing .

My top priority now should be the preservation of my life .

It’s uncomfortable, but I have no choice but to endure .

Resigning myself to my fate of walking this woods almost exposed, I continued walking around this woods .

(… a hero, huh . )

I don’t like being called by something like that .

It’s like the title is forcing us to hold onto our courage .

Raising up our courage so that we could fight against evil .

A magical title given to us that blocks our way of escape .

The expectations and desires of the multiple people who forced us to be courageous .

Hero .

I can’t help but think that this word is a curse bestowed on us .

[—-hmm!?]

I felt someone’s presence .

I quickly prepared my spear .

[Haaa… Haaa… . uwaaahh! So- Sogou-san!]

[…Kashima-san?]

If I remember correctly, she must have been part of Ikusaba Asagi’s group .

Currently, the heroes has been spontaneously divided into groups .

Factions .

It hasn’t changed even back when it was in our classroom .

[What’s wrong?]

[You should adjust your breathing first . It’s not like I’ll run away or anything . ]

[I’m sorry… t- thanks…]

Kashima Kobato .

Back when I saw her in the class, she’s quite a relatively quiet young girl .

But, the fact that she’s here means…

(She has passed the qualification rite that the goddess has conducted, huh…)

I was asleep at the time that the rite had been conducted so I wasn’t able to see how the trial went .

However, I thought she was a young girl who wouldn’t even hurt a fly, much less kill them .

Or it could be that,

(Ikusaba-san may have done something…)

Ikusaba Asagi looks like someone who would do cunning things so that she could achieve her goals .

She must have done something that made Kobato pass her test .

Kobato’s breathing finally stabilized .

[Umm… A very strong monster called Kogyuuki was mixed in with the monsters that the people of the castle had brought in by mistake… This monster looks like a little cow-human… that’s why… I think you should head immediately towards the meeting point, or so that’s what I think…]

[Did you have to run to this place just to tell me that?]

Kobato had the image of someone who was not good at exercising .

She doesn’t look like someone who’s strong .

[Y- Yes… I think Sogou-san is someone who must survive…]

I was momentarily taken aback by her words .

I feel like I have been the worst human there is… the thought of killing myself for having such a though towards her is—

[Kashima-san?]

I’ve noticed that Kobato’s voice sounds like something’s off .

I looked at Kobato’s face and noticed that her facial expression seems to be frozen .

Kobato then points out at me, no, something from behind me .

[T- That’s…]

I’ve also turned my head towards where she pointed .

[Bummmoooorurururururururuuuu! Bugguuuuooooohh!!!]

A humanoid being with the head of a cow .

It’s body is categorized as someone with a smaller builds .

But— the sense of fear it induces is overpowering .

A golden-eyed monster .

[Buunnnuuuoooohhh!]

It started charging towards us .

[Kashima-san, please go behind me! But stay as far as you can! I’m the one it’s currently targeting!]

[B- But—]

[It’s fine! Leave this to me!]

[Y- Yesh!]

I started taking up my stance .

(Can I even do this?)

Suuuuuuuuu~

I slowly regulated my breathing .

The trembling in my heart has also stopped .

But, I make sure that my opponent were caught in my view .

I remembered the teachings of my grandmother .

“This technique is all about timing and keeping a calm state of mind in every way of your life . ”

The Kogyuuki is drawing near .

And when it’s about to get close—

Passhiii!

[———-]

Doggaaaaaaaannn!

The Kogyuuki has vehemently fallen down on the ground on its back .

[Geeggooo… ggooobbbooo…!?]

The monster spit out blood from its mouth .

The Kogyuuki can’t move after the heavy impact it had received .

[Kisouryu—]

I kept on pressing on against this calf demon .

[Tensou・Hourakujuuji!]

(T/N: Revolving Spear・Collapsing Cross!)

When I was practicing this technique, I was taught that I have to speak the name of technique out loud .

My grandmother said that it’s for the technique to permeate into my own consciousness .

The habit I had developed at that time still persists until now .

(I did it…)

It’s a technique where I was using the power and momentum of my opponent against himself .

It’s quite close to how Aikido works .

First step is to hook the enemy’s flank with your spear .

After that, find the “axis” that had supporting the enemy’s body and when you do, you would pull him down so that you could break his center of gravity .

Immediately following that, I would quickly screw through the chest are of the enemy .

This completes the cross shape before we reach the closing step of the technique .

I would turn over my spear, making the cross rotate and slamming the opponent towards the ground .

(T/N: I have no idea what happened . )

Kisouryu— “Tensou・Hourakujuuji”

I look down at the aghast expression of the monster .

The posture I am now looks a bit like I’m mounting him .

Holding my spear in a backhanded grip, I point the tip of my spear towards the monster .

(I should kill it… If I don’t kill it…)

It’s for the sake of getting stronger .

I put strength into my arm .

It’s at that moment…

[Stand aside~! Sogoooouuuu!!!]

[Eh?]

Dooonnnn!

My body was suddenly flung away .

[Kyaaahh!?]

I suddenly find myself falling down on my bottom .

The position where I was standing on earlier when I was looking down towards the Kogyuuki .

The one who is standing there now is Kirihara Takuto .

Kirihara thrust his sword arm towards the monster who can’t move .

[!!!]

An aggressive thick golden light blasted out of his sword and decimated the Kogyuuki .

Kirihara breathing is rough when he spoke out .

[With this— I’m finally level 18…]

I can’t help but be dumbfounded with what I’m looking at right now .

Kobato’s trembling voice sounded out from behind me .

[Sogou-san… j- just now…]

Kirihara has finally stabilized his breathing .

After a while, he exhaled out a small sigh .

He then looked towards me…

…with his usual “cool” expression .

[Good job doing that support . ]

[Eh?]

(Support . . ?)

Kirihara breathed out as if he’s finally relieved .

[This is a dangerous place . Don’t stop paying attention, Sogou . ]

Kirihara turned his back as if nothing had happened .

Without a change in his expression, he walked away .

[What the heck just happened…]

Kobata looked absentmindedly, too .

It seemed like she also hasn’t processed what had just happened .

[Scum…]

I was surprised by the sudden voice I heard .

Kobato also looked astonished as she shrieked, [Ehh!?]

Before I knew it, Takao Hijiri was standing nearby .

[He’s scum, right? That guy . ]

I have finally calmed down and began to understand what have just happened earlier .

In short, that just now was him stealing experience points .

[…Hijiri-san, you clearly say what’s on your mind, huh . ]

[Sogou-san, are you fine with that?]

[I don’t want for any discord to bud out in this class as much as possible… I think it’s just that Kirihara-kun still hasn’t sorted out his thoughts in this kind of situation . That’s why, such things—]

[You’re quite naive . Those naive thoughts of yours will be the reason for your death, you know?]

[…That might be possible . ]

[I don’t like these naive thought of yours . ]

[…yeah . ]

[Well—]

Hijiri slowly turned away .

[—In this kind of place where there’s no room for things like goodwill, I don’t hate these naivety of yours . ]

Hijiri finally left after leaving these words that I honestly don’t know how to interpret .

Me and the Kobato, who was following behind me, went towards the meeting point together .

En route, I noticed that dark clouds have been gathering up in the distant sky .

(From now on, I hope the days that my fellow classmates would be scramble over for gold-eyed monsters… causing dispute within each other… I hope those days wouldn’t come…)

For Sogou Ayaka, the dark clouds within her cloudy heart had just began to gather .

□

On that day, Allion Kingdom got a certain piece of information .

The Demon Emperor’s army, which had set up their base in northernmost tip of the continent, has already started their first full-fledged march towards the south .

The Demon Emperor’s army marched towards what was called the cornerstone of the north, the prided fortress of Magnal Kingdom “Knight Wall” and fell under the demon army’s might .

After the Knight Wall had fallen down, the Demon Emperor’s army has stopped their southward march .

Since then, there has been no hints of any further invasions .

However, this disturbing news quickly flew across the whole continent and all nations had been urgently preparing their own counter-measures .

This news has only reached Sogou Ayaka when three days had passed since she has completed her training within the forested area .