A bit sudden, but let’s have a test
The inside of the classroom was silent.
Ranga ran up to me while waiving his tail.
「Alright, kids, have you been working hard?」
Though I faced them with a bright smile, they did not return it.
However, this world follows the survival of the fittest principle.
There’s only one thing you can hate–your own weakness.
「Okay! Kids, you seem to have things to say, so let’s have a test!」
I so declared.
「Wha-! How did it turn into that!」
「Ueee!!!」
They responded with loud criticism.
Yep. Tests are hated in just about every world.
「Hey, don’t worry! It’s not like I don’t get what you’re saying.
What will happen from now on is absolutely necessary for you!」
There’s no point to studying, is there?!」
「We haven’t studied from the moment we have come here…」
「…..」
All they do is complain.
Well, I guess the fact that they even responded to my words is admirable enough.
But, this is necessary to them. Unfortunately, I cannot compromise on this.
「Alright. I understand your point.
In a second, you will have a mock battle with me.
If I am still on the run after twenty minutes, I win. Simple?」
「Yeah. We’ll have the test inside this room. I’ll erect a barrier, so no one can get out.
Do you understand the rules? If you do, then decide who goes first!」
A simple mock battle.
If they are incapable of acquiring a unique skill, I wouldn’t know of another method to consume the terrible power in their bodies.
Though adventurers rely on fighting strength to decide their ranks, monsters tend to judge by power alone.
I only learned of this after having become an adventurer myself.
So generally speaking, these kids are A ranked.
If they can properly use their abilities, they should be formidable opponents…
They finally decided the order.
He’s just an eight year old troublemaker. Is he the leader of these brats?
「Hey! I can use the sword, right?」
Impudent little…!
「Go ahead. And brat, when you lose, I’ll have you address me politely from then on!」
「Heeeeh. How about you leave the self praise for after you win?」
Thus we were ready for the match.
Now then, shall we start?
「B-begin!」
Kenya moved on Alice’s command.
Not that it’ll have any effect on me…
「Go for it Ken-chan—!!!」
「Don’t lose!」
Hearing their encouragement, Kenya redoubled his efforts.
After ten minutes, with tears in his eyes, he started shooting fire at me.
It would be hard to compare it to the flame I use, so I’ll just say that the flame was really weak.
But this is even weaker than Ellen’s fire ball attack.
He definitely learned it by watching, so this would be poor representation of his real abilities, right?
「Hey, you’re focusing too much on the flame. Try shooting out a ball of pure energy」
「Shut up! Shizu-san used this skill, and it was powerful!
I won’t listen to what the likes of you have to say!!!」
What an arrogant brat.
In the end, he ignored my advice, and, when the twentieth minute passed, I was declared the victor.
「Alright, that’s enough! Address me properly as sensei from now on!
Who’s next? Come at me!!!」
Dropping his shoulders, and visibly depressed, Kenya rejoined the kids.
Well, I’d be in for a shock if I had lost to a brat who hadn’t even turned ten.
Next one up was Chloe O’Bell.
Anyways, she was a beautiful girl with an interesting hair color. I wonder if she’s part Japanese?
So, shall we begin? If looked from afar, people would see a middle-school kid bullying a little girl.
Even so, this test is crucial! I’m acting all cool and all, but if I really lose… what a bad joke that would be.
「Kurocchi, don’t push yourself!!!」
(TL Note: Chloe in Japanese is written Kuroe, hence the nickname Kuro)
Most of the the kids’ said “Don’t hurt yourself!” rather than “Do your best!”
The signal was already given, and the match had begun.
All I’ve been doing is dodging, so it was an easy win.
I wonder if she just likes books, but she’s got one on her right now.
Will she suddenly say “This is not a book, it’s a blunt weapon!”… Nah, probably not.
While I was thinking this foolishness.
「”In an eternal flowing stream, bind my foe (Water Prison)”」
Uoo! Suddenly, water appeared at my feat. According to『Heat Perception』it’s real water.
While I was feeling impressed, the water continued to rage and enveloped me in a bubble.
I wonder if she is fixated on accelerating this skill–making it something akin to my water blade.
Wonderful. But, what will she do now?
「This magic’s next step is to fill the bubble with water!
If you accept defeat, I will let you go. If you don’t, you will die!」
So young but so dreadful!
Kenya was so much cuter in comparison. But a skill of this level… yeah…
「Yup, that’s some amazing magic. But it won’t have any effect on me.
But this magic is superior. Make sure to continue practicing later!」
I said, while stroking her head.
Frankly, that skill is the strongest among extra skills. It’s so amazing that it is nearly a unique skill.
Chloe sat down in shock. Her face red, with tears falling from her eyes.
Chloe lost her will to fight, so I won.
Chloe was touching the spot on her head that I stroked earlier while smiling for some reason.
Let’s continue!
The oldest among them–9 years old. Brown hair and a large build with well defined features. Definitely a pretty boy.
Let’s crush him! … of course I had no such thought.
Gale, without a trick or tactic in mind, fired a single shot at me.
He fired a round that would certainly kill any other teacher.
But, unfortunately, to a wrong opponent. That kind of attack could never reach me.
As when it did,『Gluttony』absorbed it.
「What was that! That’s cheating!」
Yes. Yes it is. I completely agree.
「Listen up, adults are cheaters. We’ll win no matter what trick we have to use!
That’s the kind of beings adults are!」
Thought that might have been a little immature of me to use against a child, it’s not the time to be picking methods.
And though I was given free reign over them I shouldn’t go around destroying the classroom.
In the end, even this was troublesome.
What a child. At this point, he has no chance of victory.
He ended up just as Kenya did, and so it was my victory.
Sekiguchi Ryouta is a timid child.
Claimed to be the strong Kenya’s partner. There’s no special meaning attached to that, they are just being kids.
But, as for his power…
「Ryouta, avenge me!」
The moment he heard these words, his eye color changed.
What a wonderful example of battle transformation. The only minus would be the fact that he is unconscious.
Its effectiveness depends on the opponent. I mean, maybe『Battle Maniac』is a common skill, but against high level opponents it’s not even a gamble.
His movements are good, so maybe if his opponent wasn’t me, he could put up a fight.
I easily evaded him for twenty minutes.
The last one was the girl Alice Rondo.
With a face that could be described to belong to a doll, she is certainly a beauty.
Now, what kind of ability will she show me.
Alice threw the doll she held in her hands in the air, and
「Go— Bear-san!!!」
She called out.
And its attacks were pretty strong.
If this is the power she can draw out from some stuffed animal, what kind of beast will she call forth from a specialized weapon doll…
Well… I was able to keep running the whole time, so no problem.
When she summoned ten of them I almost snapped and burned the whole place to the ground. But, I held it in and focused on running away.
Anyways, thus the five have come to know my power.
There’s a great mismatch between what you’d expect from them and what actually is there. Why have their skills developed in such weird ways, you might ask?
So, my only choices are either to have them acquire a unique skill or search for some other method.
A drastic measure, but I was able to confirm their status.
Each time they release the excess energy they extend the deadline by a little bit.
Now, as for the actual treatment…
「Now, as this test has shown you, I’m strong!
I swear on this mask, I will find a solution!」
So I declared to the children.
First, I was successful at getting their attention. After all, if you don’t put you mind to it, you aren’t actually listening.
Somehow – perhaps they just feel obligated – I got them to listen.
「Umm, is that mask, Shizu-sensei’s?」
Suddenly, Alice timidly asked.
「It is. Shizu-san entrusted it to me.
And, other than entrusting the mask to me, she entrusted you bunch as well.」
So I answered. Though the mask’s appearance has changed slightly, she was able to notice.
Seems like some of her worries were dispelled.
Some memory appeared in my mind.
Hmm? It was to hit Demon Lord Leon.
Wait a second… Shizu-san came over here when she was 10, right?
Let’s think about it. Though I don’t know the details, I feel like there’s a hint buried in these memories.
Perhaps punching Leon and saving the kids was one and the same task?
He had saved her once before, after all…
Along with Great Sage, we’re busy considering these things.
Had Demon Lord Leon saved Shizu-san intentionally or by accident? The answer…
≪Solution. The chance that Demon Lord Leon saved Izawa Shizue intentionally is about 74%.
Also, regarding the way to save the children…≫
I was not mistaken.
「Listen up, I will absolutely save you. We’ll prepare for this starting tomorrow.
Believe in me! I will not let you, whom Shizu-san entrusted to me, die!」
Unlike my previous words, this time I was confident.
The children, likewise, responded seriously,
「「「Please, sensei!!!」」」
Sensei, huh.
Now, for the first time, I approved of the children.
So I swore to myself.