Chapter 24
The Heroes from Earth
The D-Rank Hero, Kashima Kobato, was walking along a luxurious corridor paved with carpets .
The castle have an impression of being the same as those in your favorite fantasy movies .
The first thought that would come to mind would be that it resembles a Medieval European style .
…I feel a bit disgusted about my lack of vocabulary .
Nonetheless, this is one of the scenery that I admired .
If it weren’t for this situation though, I might have been glad .
I raise my head .
My field of view changes from the feet to the back of the human heads .
Leading the group is the goddess along with my following classmates from 2-C .
It’s like we’re on a tour trip .
[There’s one thing you all have to do before I hand over a unique item . ]
The goddess said so .
I closed my eyes .
I clasped my hands together as if like I’m praying for something .
(I’m scared…)
That moment when that third wolf has suddenly burned up .
At that time, my heart was seized with fear .
After the measurement, I was shrinking in the corner of that room .
There’s more than 10 other classmates along with me who were shaking in despair .
I understood what was happening with that magic circle .
There were those dreadful words that were flying about .
Kirihara Takuto, Oyamada Shougo, and even that Yasu Tomohiro had changed too .
Also those classmates who speak of abuse and mockery .
Even that goddess .
I’m scared of them .
[F**k you, sh*tty goddess!]
(Mimori-kun…)
Tears can’t help but flow out of my eyes .
(I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I can’t do anything…)
There was once a day where I had found a cat lying down near the school gate .
It seem to be terribly weak .
Everybody ignored that cat .
It was only two boys who passed by at that time that has took interest in it .
They took pictures of the amusing cat with their smartphone .
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[If we post this image on and get a lot of reactions on Insta, I’ll help that cat! Heck, if it spread all over the place, maybe I’ll be talked about on TV!]
INSTA is a social network who focuses on images .
In the end, those students did not return .
I was left standing alone on the spot .
(W-what should I do…?)
First of all, I should search for information on my smartphone with the keywords “cat” and “dying” .
My fingers were shaking .
It has always been like this .
If I don’t rely on something, I can’t make a move myself .
I can’t decide what to do by myself .
[Uwwaaahhh!?]
I ended up finding an image of a cat’s corpse .
The fingers that had been operation my smartphone froze .
I closed my eyes tightly .
(It’s impossible… to continue searching, I don’t want to do that anymore…)
[Kashima?]
A voice called out to me .
It’s a boy’s voice .
[Ah… Mimori-kun…]
It’s a boy from the same class, Mimori Touka .
We have never spoken before .
He’s a boy who doesn’t stand out that much .
Or rather, he have so little presence .
I feel some familiarity with him though .
Why is that?
It’s because he doesn’t have that scary impression like from the group of Kirihara Takuto .
[Wait, that cat…]
[Ah, yeah…]
I explained the circumstances .
And then Mimori-kun replied with “I understand . ” .
[Eh?]
[Let’s take it to the vet . ]
[Ah . ]
Veterinarian .
That’s right .
Why haven’t I thought of going there first?
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[Did you hurt yourself somewhere?]
Mimori-kun gently held the cat in his arms .
[Calm down, will you?]
(For Mimori-kun… to make a face like that…)
And so, we went to a veterinarian .
Apparently, it seems that the cat’s leg was injured .
The cat’s also weak because it’s lacking from sufficient nutrition .
The vet told us that it’d be fined if the cat would be treated .
The relieved me left the veterinary hospital with Mimori-kun .
[Mimori-kun… T- thank you…]
[It’s fine . I actually like cats . ]
[Ah, about the money–]
The payment have been paid by Mimori-kun .
I had only been watching the cat .
It seems that he had paid them at that time .
I had hurriedly took out my wallet at that time .
But Mimori-kun just smiled .
[It’s fine about the money . In the first place, I was the one who suggested that we bring it to the vet . ]
[But…]
[It’s fine already . I’m actually the type to expend money on things that matter . ]
I can’t come up with the words to reply back .
It’s always been like this .
Just easily accepting of the other party’s words .
Always been adjusting to the other party .
That’s how I avoid even the slightest sign of a quarrel .
Inaction .
(I have to find a topic… with a topic, even I should be able to say something…)
I made a clumsy smile .
I’m quite good at “escaping” at things with a smile .
[Say, Mimori-kun… d-do you like animals?]
[Ah, I like them . ]
Mimori-kun’s eyes look like they are looking at somewhere quite far in the distant sky .
[They’re better than humans . ]
[…eh?]
(Mimori… kun?)
Mimori-kun looks quite surprised .
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His smile looks like he’s troubled by something .
[Ahhh– no no, just now… that’s not really the case! You know, animals don’t have to worry how they’re different around others, unlike how humans think . Besides, I really like my parents right now . ]
That’s quite a vague excuse .
I feel like he’s just making it up .
If I remember it right, there seems to be some kind of culture where boys at a certain age would dare to say that they “hate humanity” just in order to make it so that they appeared to be unique from other people .
The thing is that they have a different sense of character from the others, that they would think (or make others think) that they were cooler than them .
That’s what is written on the internet . ( I often rely on the internet . Even if I’m unskillful at talking, I should still reply kindly . )
However, Mimori-kun looks like he’s really trying to steer away in a hurry .
It’s like he really failed at hiding something .
I have been having that feeling .
[Umm… anyway… you know— you’re quite kind, Kashima . ]
[Eh? Uhmmm… T- that’s not true at all… it’s you, Mimori-kun that’s… anyway… s- see you tomorrow at school…]
[Ah? Ah . Be careful on your way home, Kashima . ]
Since then, I haven’t talked to Mimori Touka .
I didn’t have the courage to speak .
To talk with the boys in our school .
That hurdle was too high for a shy person like Kashima Kobato .
On the other hand, there was only that one time when I talked Mimori-kun .
But I had ignored it .
After all, I didn’t have any courage .
Since then, I have always felt a little guilty towards Mimori Touka .
Incidentally, the cat at that time had now been a member of the Kashima family .
v
(For my classmates to be like that…)
This class is scary .
When Oyamada kicked Yasu’s seat on the bus, I was quite frightened .
I must not make eye contact with Oyamada Shogou .
If I do, I may die from heart attack .
I’m a coward .
There’s also that third wolf…
(Does a hero have to fight such a thing? That’s impossible, absolutely…)
The goddess-sama is also scary .
I can’t say it exactly, but there’s something I don’t like about her .
On the other hand, Sogou Ayaka was quite amazing .
She fought against the goddess even in that kind of situation .
Ayaka is different from me .
Even the Takao sisters .
I can’t behave that way .
Kirihara Takuto, Oyamada Shogou and Yasu Tomohiro are different .
Everyone in this class is better than me .
I look down at my feet .
(A cowardly D-Rank Hero… I wonder if I will be discarded too . )
[Ko–ba–to–?]
[Ah…]
I raise my face .
[What are you staring blankly at? Are you also anxious?]
[Ikusabsan . ]
A smiling female student talked to me while she’s walking backwards .
[Asagi . ]
[Eh?]
[Me actually… I don’t like being called being called by my surname, so I often said it back in our classroom . If you knew and yet still persist on calling me like that, 70 % of this class may ostracize you, you know?]
[I… I’m sorry . ]
Ikusaba Asagi .
Her measurement should have been B-Rank…
Oyamada Shougo’s Rank appraisal result outshined Asagi’s B-Rank result and thus was washed away, but her Rank is still higher than most of the class .
The top of this class consists of Kirihara Takuto’s group .
However, if it’s just limited to the female’s group, it can be said that Asagi’s group have the largest power .
It would be bad if Ikusaba Asagi looks at you with a bad light .
Everybody, every girls understand that .
So, I don’t go against it .
I’d even flatter her just to be taken in .
They must see me as a harmless bystander .
I chose to be in a neutral position .
I usually try to be as invisible as the air as long as possible .
Even in breaks, I would just read webnovels secretly .
[Oh, right~? Is it okay if I confirm something, Poppo?]
Asagi often calls me “Poppo” .
Is it because of that song “Hatopoppo” .
(T/N: dunno about the reference here actually . Poppo could be referred to as “choo-choo” as in the sound of train . Poppo can then be said as a nickname for her because she always the one who follows . Hatopoppo… A hat for train drivers? Hato could also mean pigeon, which can also be read as Kobato, which is her name . )
[Uh, yeah… what is it?]
Asagi moved to my side and put her hand around my waist .
I won’t let it go— my airiness .
[It’s just what I think would happen, but probably this class… would collapse sooner or later . ]
(eh…?)
[Collapse…?]