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!]
[…Kashimsan?]
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?]
Sponsored Content
[I- I just wanted to tell you that…]
[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,
(Ikusabsan 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—
[Kashimsan?]
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 .
Sponsored Content
[Kashimsan, 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 .
Sponsored Content
Then using the opponent’s momentum, I would entwine the enemy’s body with my spear .
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 Kiriharkun 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 .