Chapter 60

S-Rank Heroes and the Magic Aptitude Ruins

The flail in my hand is slowly gaining momentum as I swing it around, and at the right time, I struck .

Doggooonn!

A heavy blow resounded .

Following this strike is the recoil that struck my wrist .

Biikkiiiii!

Cracks began running through the bone of the monster I’ve struck .

I started preparing the flail again now that had it lost its momentum after my strike .

The name of the monster I’m fighting is— a Skeleton .

It seems that the Skeleton’s movement had completely stopped .

Immediately after, it broke down into pieces and its remains began scattering in the ground .

I wiped the sweat that’s gathered on my body .

[Fuuuu... . ]

I am now inside an ancient ruins located near the capital of Alion .

It seems that this place is called the Magic Aptitude Ruins . (T/N: Makotsu Ruins)

The Heroes from 2-C went into this place according to the goddess’ decree .

She said that it’s so that we would get used to actual combat against monsters .

It is also for us to gain experience points .

The main purpose are these two .

I was told that this place was brimming with monsters .

We were only allowed to dive into the first floor of the underground ruins .

However, there are still monsters that spawn around this area .

There should have been enough monsters for all of us .

However, we were told that we should escape when the “Tsunotsuki” comes out .

The official name for the Tsunotsuki is “Skeleton Knight” .

Over 90% of this area has already been occupied by undead monsters .

There are different types of undead in this place– but the majority of them were Skull-type monsters .

At first, I thought seeing these moving pile of bones were too creepy .

However, I’m already used to it .

I pick up the spear that was leaning against some debris .

Pashi...

I slung the spear into the shawl hanging on my shoulders .

Right now, I hardly use the spear while I’m inside this ruins .

The weapon I’m using now is a flail .

It’s a weapon that consists of a clump of iron that’s attached to a handle with a chain .

It uses centrifugal force to strike against the enemy with the iron clump on the end of the flail .

Against bone-like monsters, blunt weapons were more effective against them compared to bladed weapons .

Originally, The Kisou-ryu was a martial art that aims to be proficient against all kinds of martial arts .

Still, it’s main focus was battling with the spear . n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

However, practitioners are also taught techniques that makes it possible to deal with situations where we couldn’t use a spear .

Kisou-ryu had already taught us what to do, assuming that we were to be sent to the battlefield .

In short, Kisou-ryu is a martial art that aimed towards actual combat .

Stealing away the weapons of your opponent .

Using the weapons of the dead for yourself .

The more weapons that you are proficient with, the higher the chances of my survival .

I would be able to deal with various situations .

(Though I say that, I’ve never used a flail before...)

I’ve used a sickle and chain before . It’s the closest weapon that I’ve used that kind of resembles a flail as they both we’re weapons that makes use of its weight as it’s thrown against the enemies .

However, the center of gravity as they’re swung and the sense of impact when the weight hits the enemies were totally different .

“Ayaka has a natural talent with handling weapons . However... I don’t know if I should be happy for you or not when you’re born with a talent that isn’t needed in this country and in an era where you don’t need need something like this in wars . ”

Those were my grandmother’s words .

(It seems that I have come to a place where I unintentionally needed it, Grandmother...)

[Kishhiiieeeeehhh–!]

A Skeleton wielding a dagger jumped out of the shadows .

A monster that could handle human weapons .

Does it still have some of its memories before it died?

I determined the timing of its attack as I evade in and powerfully slammed my flail towards it .

Bammm!

Bakkyyaaahh!

The iron clump smashed into its chest .

This monster had a differently colored bones that seems to be their weak points .

They can be easily defeated when you smash these weak points .

I open my status and checked if there are some changes .

(I still haven’t acquired my unique skill, huh)

The afternoon sun is about to set .

I stood alone in silence in this ruins that’s enclosed inside the forest .

[............ . . ]

The students of 2-C were currently divided into several groups .

First of them is Kirihara Takuto’s group .

The leader of this group is the S-Rank Kirihara .

The other members consists of the A-Rank Oyamada Shougo and some Heroes that are above B-Rank .

It feels like this is a top group that only have elites within their ranks .

Next is Ikusaba Asagi’s group .

The one who gathered this group is the B-Rank Asagi .

The strongest Hero they have is just B-Rank .

However, there are many people who have joined in this group .

That’s because majority of the girls had joined Asagi’s group .

The organizers of this group are only girls .

I’m just a little worried about Kashima Kobato who had joined this group .

(Please stay safe, Kashima-san...)

The third is Yasu Tomohiro’s group .

This group seems to consist of those students who have nowhere to go .

They’re the students that were pushed away by Kirihara and Asagi’s group .

There are 2 C-Ranks in here .

The rest were D-Ranks .

It seems that those who were below C-Rank wanted some help to bestowed towards them by the A-Ranks .

However, the girls who were below C-Rank had joined Asagi’s group .

So, this group mostly consists of boys .

However, there are still many people that were in this group .

The fourth is the Takao sisters’ group .

Their members consists of just the sisters who were S-Rank and A-Rank .

Though, I could hardly call them a group .

They have always acted alone .

Though I say that, it’s not like they’re any different to how they acted back in our previous world .

It seems that the other students consciously avoid them .

No— It’s as if they’re treating them as if they didn’t exist at all .

Though, it seems that the seems doesn’t particularly care about how others treated them .

These sisters haven’t changed even when they’re in another world .

I honestly want to follow how straightforward they are .

There are still several men and women that haven’t overcome the goddess’ “qualification rite” like Zakurogi . These people were still inside the castle .

And the one who’s left out, me, Sogou Ayaka .

I have already been known as the human who dared to go against the goddess .

If everyone would have acted together, I think that the goddess wouldn’t be able to do something horrible like that .

It seems that they’re already like that .

It can’t be helped .

They’re just moving according to how the stream of nature directs them .

(Even I’m also moving according to how my heart directs me...)

This currently isolated situation is the result of my actions .

I have no choice but to accept it .

[Wait, you b*stard! You’re just a f*cking bone, how dare you move so fast like that!?]

[Don’t f*cking kidding me! You’re not getting away!]

[Take this, you f*cking bone! You’ve already died once, right!? Then, get freaking killed already!]

A familiar voice approaches .

I immediately knew whose group that is .

That’s Kirihara Takuto’s group .

A few men and women clad in the clothing of this world halted in their steps .

[What the heck!? That boner b*stard, isn’t it already crushed to pieces!?]

[Ahh! Ayaka!? Don’t tell me, you snatched away our bone!]

[Eh?]

[How cruel! You’re awful, Ayaka! That bone was ours!]

[Couldn’t you at least ask for our permission before you defeated it!? Our chase towards it had been totally useless now!]

[As expected of someone who used to be a class president! You’re a tyrant!]

Kirihara’s group members shouted out their complaints one after another .

A little later, Oyamada appears behind them .

[Well, well . Look who’s here! Isn’t this the loner Ayaka-sensei!? Wow... How cruel... To just illegally trespass into our hunting grounds...]

Oyamada’s great sword that’s hanging on his back knocked my shoulder .

It’s as if he’s intentionally provoking me .

(Hunting ground?)

I look down towards the ground .

There was some kind of line that was carved on the floor .

However, I could hardly see it .

[From here on out, these part was our hunting grounds! So, you’re an intruder in here, get it? You’re not a part of our group! Hey hey, if this isn’t this quite an imposingly illegal act of yours? That’s no good, Ayaka, the class president who had became a criminal? How cold of you~]

[Let’s go that way, Sougo . ]

[What the heck, Takuto? Why are you covering for Ayaka?]

Finally, Kirihara appears .

Wearing an overcoat over his body that looks like a fur coat .

Golden Lion .

He have that kind of impression .

Kirihara shook his head as if he’s disappointed .

[Even though she’s this depraved, she’s still an S-Rank . No matter how much of you A-Ranks bark at her, she could just simple brush you off . She’d just glance at you with disdain . ]

I immediately refuted back .

[I don’t intend to do that—]

[It’s okay already . ]

Sticking out his hand, Kirihara puts my word to a stop .

[I’m listening to what Vysis says . ]

[You’re listening? What did she say?]

[Sogou Ayaka has a fragile heart . That crime you had committed at that time when that E-Rank trash was about to be disposed, isn’t that because you’re extremely nervous and became very confused? That’s enough already . I understand . ]

Kirihara goes back towards Oyamada’s group as they leave .

After a few seconds, he paused in his steps and said .

[You still must have been confused about the situation you are in and doesn’t understand what you are doing in here?]

[Do you see me... as someone like that?]

[I’m afraid of what methods you can do, Sogou . ]

[Eh?]

(Afraid?)

[I was shocked because I thought you were the most decent person in 2-C . Just because we were sent to another world, to think that Sogou Ayaka would become so crazy...]

[Hey, Kirihara-kun . I can’t trust that goddess—]

[Listen here, Sogou? I know, you—]

Pat~

Kirihara patted my shoulder .

[–you’re just not being honest when you refused to join my group when I had invited you before . ]

He glanced towards me .

It’s as of he’s pitying me .

[Kirihara-kun...]

[However, you still have some worth because you’re an S-Rank . It’s just that, you have been slowly turning weird in the head and slowly losing the ability to make the right judgement . I really feel pity for you . ]

Kirihara turns his back towards me .

Suddenly, he raised his chin .

It’s as if he suddenly thought of a great idea .

[If I am the King— Sogou Ayaka should be... hmm... I think that you’re like a Knight that’s protecting the King? Well at least I’m sure, someone like you is not fit for a title like the Queen . ]

Kirihara turned his head and turned towards me .

With an expression on his face that’s filled with absolute confidence .

[I’ll wait for the day that you wake up and become a decent vassal, Sogou Ayaka . ]

Oyamada cackles out loud .

[To have something like this distasteful drama, I can’t believe if I’m really seeing this or not . You have already fallen so low, Class President-senpai . ]

The expression on the faces of Kirihara’s group members .

It’s as if they’re surrounded by strange sense of superiority towards others .

[I don’t really get it, but keep up the good work with that Kobujutsu of yours, okay?]

[Surprisingly, didn’t we just knock Sogou-chan off her high horse!?]

[I know, right?! I thought that something’s wrong has happened when Goddess-sama suddenly struck her on her belly . ]

[Sogou-san is really strong! Only the Goddess-sama could possible face against her! I’m sure that I can’t do something like that against her!]

I just silently turned away without saying anything .

[Oi, Ayaka . ]

Oyamada’s call though made me stop .

[What?]

[If you can pay, you can enter our hunting ground for quite some time, you know? Actually, Asagi’s group who already paid some money to us now earns experience points at the hunting ground where those bone b*stards were appearing one after another . ]

So, that’s why Kirihara’s group has momentarily came back huh...

[I don’t have that much at hand . ]

[Huh? Didn’t the goddess give you some “pocket money” before?]

[...I didn’t even get something like that though . ]

[Seriously!? Pfft, the goddess must really hate you! Pitiful! That ain’t hot at all!]

My grip on my fist tightens .

I certainly didn’t regret facing against that goddess .

At that time...

[Kyaaaahhhh!]

A scream rang out .

I quickly looked over .

From the opposite side of the forest, something is approaching in this place as multiple screams resounded from that directions .

I could see the figure of a human .

Girl students .

They’re scampering away towards this direction .

[I- It appeared! It appeared! Noooo!!!]

They’re from Ikusaba Asagi’s group .

Were they the people that were earning experience points that Oyamada mentioned earlier?

Kirihara’s group immediate stood ready .

[W- What the heck is that!?]

I could also see Asagi running towards here .

[Idiot! If you just look at the current situation, you should have already guessed what happened! It came out! That “Tsunotsuki” that they had said before!]

(The Skeleton Knight!?)

I also readied my weapon .

[Ah...]

I was quickly taken aback though .

[Hah... Hahh... . !]

I could see Kashima Kobato running with the others . She was lending her shoulders towards a staggering girl whose legs were limping .

It seems that there was someone that had injured her leg .

[Hah... Haa... To think it’s Kobato that had saved me... That’s funny...]

[We’re going to be okay! We’ll surely meet up with Kirihara-kun and the others!]

Kobato’s eyes seems to finally recognize me .

[Look, there’s even Sogou-san in here!]

It seems that the anxiety in Kobato’s eyes has been lifted as she saw me .

Seeing that, I immediately prepared my stance .

Just as I had prepared my stance...

[Uwwwaaahhhhhhh... . ]

A girl came out from the forest .

Appearing behind her is a gigantic shadow that looks like it’s made up of bones .

I think it’s around 3 meters?

I could see the silhouette of sinister horns that hands from its head .

Oyamada stepped away .

[Geh!? Seriously!?]

One member of Kirihara’s group put his hand over his mouth .

[Urrpp!?]

The girl that had just came out of the forest .

[Aaaahhhhh... It’s no good... There’s no way... She’s completely mowed down...]

Her left hand up to her wrist had completely disappeared .