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.

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(… 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?] [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,

(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. 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.

[<Golden Dragon Buster>!!!]

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.