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 .

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 .

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 .

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 w