abcnovels
Chapter 84
Chapter 84
Chapter 84
84 – The Heroes in the Ancient Dragon Ruins
Enoh is the capital of Alion .
If you were to go north of Enoh, you would arrive in a mountainous area .
Approximately half a day away by riding a carriage,
There is one ruins that could be found in that mountainous area .
The Ancient Dragon Ruins .
It is said that there used to be a legendary dragon who have lived in this ruins long ago .
This dragon was called the Azure Eyes Dragon .
However, it is said that the Azure Eyes Dragon no longer exists in that place .
The Heroes of 2-C have arrived here in the Ancient Dragon Ruins .
[Hyyaahh!]
Stab–!
The monster screams .
My spear pierced through the heart of the monster .
The monster twitched as it spat out blood .
A few moments later, the monster finally stops moving .
A small sigh leaked out of my mouth .
I quickly looked around the area .
[Is everyone alright?]
There were seven students with me .
These were the people who weren’t able to clear the goddess’ trials .
The “dropouts” that was entrusted to me .
5 of them are girls .
2 are boys .
[Y- Yesh...]
[You’re quite amazing, Sogou-san . ]
They were also wielding weapons in their hands .
However, there are almost no traces of blood in their weapon .
Even their armor looks brand new .
It’s only their shield that have shown traces of being overused .
[Everyone doesn’t have to force yourselves to try killing monsters . You should first learn how to protect yourself . ]
There was one weeping girl who had stopped in her place and curled into a ball .
[Sorry... I’m sorry, Ayaka-chan . My legs were trembling... I can’t even move anymore...]
Smiling towards her, I gently caressed the cheek of the trembling girl .
[It’s alright, Minamino-san . Instead, I’m sorry that I’ve suddenly brought you in this place . ]
[No...]
The girl whose cheeks I’m caressing, Minamono Moe shook her head .
[Rather than saying sorry to us, we should be thanking you instead... We were about to be disposed . right? Sniff... But Ayaka-chan asked them to abandon their plan, right? The Goddess-sama has told us so . ]
It seems that the goddess dared to tell them about these details .
I started speculating about what’s hidden beneath her action .
(To the Goddess-sama who was supposed to be our ally, it’s no good if I’m too suspicious of her actions... I’m tired...)
[We will do our best... Sniff... So that we won’t drag Ayaka-chan’s legs behind...]
After hearing her words, I quickly changed my mind .
[It’s alright . I will protect everyone . If a monster appears, leave it to me . ]
(If it’s possible, I don’t want any of my classmates to die anymore . )
There was already a casualty in 2-C .
Mimori Touka .
I wasn’t able to save him .
[...............]
(If an S-Rank Hero really held an amazing power, I may even be able to defeat the Great Demon Emperor depending on how hard I work . )
My grip on my spear tightens .
(If we were able to defeat the Great Demon Emperor, we could return to our world back then... Therefore—)
I can’t die .
Until we could defeat the Great Demon Emperor, I can’t die .
At least, I will do my best on protecting these seven people .
(And also, Kashima-san...)
Defeating the Great Demon Emperor .
(So that we could level up... We need to kill golden-eyed monsters . )
[Suou-san . ]
[...Yeah . ]
I spoke towards the bob cut girl wearing glasses .
[If I weren’t able to respond to an attack right away, can I ask you to stop the monster? It’s fine if you were just able to earn me some time... Anyway, I just wanted everyone to be safe .
[...... . Yes . ]
Without any intonation in her words, Suou Kayako responded .
There are “almost” no traces that the weapons of these seven people were used .
However, I’ve found some traces of blood in Kayako’s sword .
A little while ago, I asked everyone just to end up in vain .
“Is there anyone who wants to level up by dealing the finishing blow?” I said .
At that time, there was a monster rolling on the ground after I weakened it with my spear .
Only one person raised her hand .
That was Suou Kayako .
Back in my previous world, my impression towards her is that she’s someone who’s always in the shadows .
I have never seen her talk with other people .
She’s another kind of an inconspicuous child compared to Kashima Kobato .
However, it seems like she unexpectedly held some courage within her .
If that were the case though, it’s really strange that she’s grouped together with the dropouts...
The other students look apologetic .
[I’m sorry that I’m useless, Sogou-san . ]
[Even though I’m a man... I’m sorry . ]
[But, I’m really scared...]
[...Killing other living creatures... My heart can’t take it . ]
I just returned their disheartened mutterings with a smile .
[Don’t apologize, okay? I believe that the way of thinking and the sensitivity of each person is different from another . It’s only natural if there are things we could do and things we could not . ]
I don’t think everyone can do the things the others could .
There’s a suitable person for the right job .
You just have to do the things that you can .
[I heard that there’s some kind of magic in this world that power ups their fighters . I heard something like that . It’s possible that everyone may be able to use this skill . There’s also some kind of convenient tools in this world called magic tools... So, you don’t have to force yourself in directly fighting against these monsters . You should first learn to protect yourself . I would already be happy if you could just assist me when you already have the composure to do so . Umm, that’s why... Could you stop feeling apologetic already? Okay?]
I tightened my fist .
[Let’s defeat the Great Demon Emperor, and together with everyone, we’ll go back to our previous world . ]
Putting aside Kayako who doesn’t have any expression on her face, I could see that the other six people now had a hopeful expression on their face .
[Sogou-san...]
[I’m glad that I’m in Ayaka-chan’s group...]
[W- We’ll do the best that we can . ]
[I’m in your care, Sogou-san!]
They were all just kind-hearted children .
That’s why I have to protect them myself .
?
The goddess had given one requirement to the heroes .
Defeat the monster called Flesh Dragon and bring back its eyeball .
It seems to be a one-eyed monster .
As we proceeded further into the ruins, me and the others arrived in a particularly spacious area .
I checked the map that the goddess had given us before .
Ssshhh
Kayako approached and illuminated the map with a lantern .
[Thank you, Suou-san . ]
It seems that the area that the Flesh Dragon inhibits is nearby .
[Oh? I thought I just saw someone, isn’t this Ayaka?]
People were coming out of another passage in droves .
My name was called out by the boy leading the group .
[...Yasu-kun . ]
Yasu Tomohiro .
He has changed .
(No— He might have already been that way even those times—)
Remembering the past, I started approaching Yasu .
[It seems we both have been going through rough times . ]
[Hmm?]
[You don’t have to feign ignorance . Aren’t you also bringing these hindrances who can’t even stand up on their two feet and have to rely on the power of the more powerful heroes, Ayaka?]
Pat...
He tapped my shoulder .
[Isn’t it quite tiring? Playing the part of the powerful one, that is . ]
He pointed towards the students he brought along with him .
They... had an ambiguous smile on their faces .
[I’ve never thought of my comrades as a hindrance . ]
Yasu just shrugs .
[That’s indeed an answer I’ve expected from you . An answer that would make you feel like it’s the right answer . Or is it just because it’s indeed the right answer? That’s amazing . You’re glittering . You’re difference compared to those idiots . How about this, Ayaka? How about we partner up?]
[Please don’t suddenly say such weird things . Besides, I don’t think I could do well if I partner up with you . ]
[Guh... Ayaka really isn’t someone who you could easily use after all . Even though you would have been quite useful... What a shame . What a shame, indeed . Kukeke...]
It was still unclear whether we could cooperate with his group .
But, it seems that it’s impossible .
There’s also the overbearing way Yasu pointed out my comrades...
[Have you heard what the goddess called those Heroes that were B-Rank and below?]
[They were called?]
[Those who were B-Rank and below were categorized as “White Heroes”! Do you know what this means, Ayaka?]
Yasu spread his arms wide .
[That means they were just one of the people among the bunch! Their color was too pale! They’re just mobs! Mobs!]
[No, they weren’t just someone among the bunch . Each of them had a face and a name of their own . ]
At that time...
[Guuuaaaaaahhhhh—!]
A few monsters jumped out from the passage leading to the inner parts of the ruins .
(All of them were golden-eyed monsters...)
I prepared my stance with the spear in my hand as I protect my comrades in my back .
Yasu’s group suddenly screamed .
[Y- Yasu-san!]
[Please do something!]
[Please save us with your A-Rank powers!]
Eyes opening wide, Yasu looks like he’s filled with fighting spirit .
A crazy smile formed on his lips .
[Burn up—]
Yasu sticked out his arms towards the monsters .
[] (T/N: Sword Eye of the Black Flames/ Laevateinn)
Black flame gushed out from the hands of Yasu .
They’re bursting out as if it’s a beast that had just been released from its chains .
I could also see some kind of sword-like pattern glowing in his eyes .
The black flame completely swallowed the monsters .
The monsters could do nothing but raise out a scream as it died where they stood .
(That’s Yasu’s personal skill...?)
Yasu’s group showered him with praises one after another .
[T- That’s amazing... As expected of Yasu-san!]
[As I expected, Yasu-san is amazing! Terrific!]
[You’re surely the strongest Hero of our class with that flame!]
[I’ll follow you as long as I’m alive!]
Though they said that... Everyone doesn’t look like they have any emotions in their eyes .
Are they just giving him empty flattery?
[Oh man...] (T/N: Yare yare)
Yasu stares at his palm while he smiles in self-deprecation .
[I’ve never intended to show off this power, but...]
?
Me and the others went on a path different from where Yasu’s group went .
(It seems like Yasu-kun doesn’t like going with lower-ranked Heroes and treats them like I hindrance...)
It seems like he’s someone that I couldn’t partner with .
He’s changed .
Everything about him has changed .
Proceeding further into the ruins, we arrived in an area filled with corpses of monsters .
We’ve already deviated from the original path .
However, there were still quite a lot of screams coming from this path .
So, I was a bit curious .
Is it Kirihara’s group?
Hiding behind the shadows, I quietly peep through the path .
I could see the figures of two girls .
It’s the Takao sisters .
Hijiri is rubbing the back of her younger sister who is kneeling on the ground .
I could see that she has just been vomiting earlier .
[Are you alright?]
[I’m sorry, Aneki... As expected, I would still feel bad, being surrounded by a large amount of these corpses...]
[It’s okay . You’re a human that was raised in Japan’s modern society . Therefore, having that kind of reaction isn’t strange . ]
[Ah, isn’t Aneki quite fine?]
[It would be no problem if you just shut down a part of your imagination . All mental problems were just illusions that were the result of having too much imagination . ]
[I don’t really understand what you mean, but Aneki is amazing as I had expected...]
[Though I say that, you can’t really shut down the bad smell from these corpses . But if you just think of them as the odor of the microbes that lives within these corpses, they really don’t seem like a problem . That wouldn’t be the odor of “death” anymore . ]
[...I’m sorry, I didn’t really understand what you just said . ]
[It’s okay . ]
There were corpses of monsters scattered around the sisters .
About one third of them looks burnt .
The rest of the corpses were divided into two .
[............ . ]
The cross-section seems to be too clean .
Is this all due to the effect of the sisters’ personal skills?
If that is so...
(I’m the only S-Rank who haven’t acquired a personal skill...)
My level is significantly higher than before .
However, I haven’t unlocked my personal skill yet .
Hijiri takes out the satchel she held .
[I’ve already acquired the eyeball of the Flesh Dragon, so the requirement for this ruins should already be achieved . ]
It was said that an eyeball of the Flesh Dragon is enough of a requirement for five people .
Therefore, we would need to acquire a total of 8 eyeballs .
[And also—]
Without turning her face, Hijiri said .
[I won’t bite you even if you come out, you know? Sogou-san . ]
As I thought, she had really noticed us .
I came out of the shadow I’m hiding from .
[I’m sorry... I heard a lot of monster screams from this direction, so I’m a bit curious . ]
I could see Hijiri’s line of sight turn towards my back .
[Now that I think about it, it seems you’ve gained some comrades . ]
[Yes . ]
The sisters started walking .
Though when she was about to pass by me, Hijiri stopped .
[Are you alright?]
[Eh? M- Me?]
[Yes, I’m talking about you . ]
I just smiled in response, though it may look a bit strained .
[I- I believe I’ve been somehow doing my best for the past few days...]
Hijiri exhales out a small sigh .
[It doesn’t seem you’re alright . ]
[Eh?]
[When you have replied just now, you’ve been turning your eyes away from me . ]
[Ah—]
[You should learn how to start working for yourself, even for a bit . ]
Hijiri started walking away .
Itsuki then pats her hand on my shoulder .
[Well... Just don’t overdo it, Class President . ]
[...T- Thank you . ]
[It seems that Aneki likes you very much so...]
[Eh?]
[We’re leaving, Itsuki . ]
After Hijiri called, Itsuki trotted towards her sister .
[Hijiri-san, that just now—]
[It’s not like I’m denying it or anything . ]
Still having their jaunty attitude, the Takao sisters disappear into the darkness .