84 – The Heroes in the Ancient Dragon Ruins

<Sogou Ayaka’s POV>

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.

[<Laevatein>] (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.