Chapter 167

<Sogou Ayaka POV>

The Heroes of 2-C departed from Alion .

I, Sogou Ayaka, was together with Alion’s army as we headed west .

Our destination is Synad, the royal capital of Magnar . (T/N: シナド / Shinado)

I was riding a horse while we’re marching .

However, there are also some Heroes who weren’t good at riding them .

They did practice riding them, but they weren’t able to improve very much within the time given for us .

Those ones were now travelling with us by riding in a carriage .

To begin with, there are hardly any high school students in modern Japan who have any experience in riding horses .

It’s no wonder that so many students can’t ride them .

There are only a few Heroes who were on horseback .

Me, Sogou Ayaka .

Kirihara Takuto .

Yasu Tomohiro .

A boy and a girl from Kirihara’s group .

Suou Kayako .

Shougo Oyamada also couldn’t ride one .

He was now swearing alone in the carriage .

[It’s not that I don’t like being in the carriage…… But why does Takuto’s group have the same kind of carriage as the other low-ranking bunch…… This is terribly lame~ . You know what I think? I’m seriously opposed to that idea of equality…… Equality is just the logic for those small-fry characters~…… From a winner’s point of view, that idea is just nothing but a hindrance~ . ]

Incidentally, some of the Heroes didn’t participate in our march .

The Takao Sisters were annexed to fight against the Eastern Invasion Force .

They were accompanied by Nyantan and some of Alion’s Cavalry .

Currently, the ones fighting against the Eastern Invasion Army—– the Eastern Army is mainly composed of the armies of Alion and Magnar .

The Eastern Army also annexed Magnar’s White Wolf Knights .

Ikusaba Asagi and her group were annexed to fight against the Western Invasion Force—-The Western Army .

They are being accompanied by the Drunken Sword Clan .

Asagi and the others left the other day, riding fast horses in order to join together with the Western Army .

That’s why they’re also not here now .

The other day, the city in the Western Magnar was invaded by the Great Demon Emperor’s army .

It is said that the city was thoroughly trampled down .

I was also told that among the victims of their invasion was the former commander of the White Wolf Knights .

However…

“The Holy Extermination Force, led by the Saint have rushed in and are now pushing them back . ”

(T/N: The Holy Extermination Force, previously “The Annihilation Monks” . I’ll just sync this with the manga . )

A few days after Asagi and the others left, a magical war pigeon brought this information to the Goddess .

By the way, the magical war pigeon is just like that so-called carrier pigeon .

It is said that these special pigeons were mainly supplied by the Magician Guild .

Therefore, all of the remaining Heroes were annexed into the fight against the Southern Invasion Force—- The Southern Army .

From above my horse, I glanced behind my back .

(This is the army for war…… No matter how I look at it, it always feels amazing seeing this scene……)

Soldiers neatly marching in a row .

A large amount of rows formed by these masses of people stretching out in this gently-sloping path we’re treading upon……

The irregular sounds of armors and other equipment clanging against each other .

A peculiar atmosphere composed with nervousness and boredom .

[…………………… . ]

I’m still not used to this sight .

I thought my senses were already familiar with this world .

However, that sense of unreality returned back again this time .

I feel like I’m just an actress starring in a movie .

During this march, the Goddess was sending out her commands while she’s riding on a luxurious palanquin .

A portable shrine with a canopy that looks really expensive .

However, the person in that portable shrine is that so-called body double .

The real Goddess is wearing a hood as she’s riding on a horse .

She said that she prepared it just in case that they conduct a surprise attack .

(A war huh……)

I’m already getting used to fighting monsters—- I think .

It’s just that… I’m a little scared about the fact itself that I’m getting used to it .

However, the reason I’m fighting is all to protect my friends .

Naturally, I never liked the act of killing monsters .

With a grim face, I just stared off into the distant plains .

(Yes, in order to protect the others…… I must kill——)

[Are you alright?]

It was Suou Kayako who called out to me .

She made her horse run next to mine .

She mentioned before that she had no experience riding horses .

However, Kayako is a child filled with skill .

She was able to splendidly ride her horse in a short period of time .

To be honest, I feel like she could do better if she were in Kirihara or Asagi’s group .

[Ah, Suou-san . Yes, I’m fine…… Thanks . ]

[You know, you’ve been acting strange lately . ]

[Eh? Me?]

Nod

Kayako reservedly nodded her head .

[Lately, I feel like you’ve been thinking about lots of stuff . ]

[……Yeah, that might be so . I also think so . However, I need to get stronger…… For the sake of everyone . ]

I could see a faint shadow appearing on Kayako’s face .

[It’s frustrating . ]

[Eh?]

[It’s because we can’t say that it will be alright since we’re here . There’s too much of a status difference between Sogou-san and the other children, including me . ]

[It’s alright, you guys are already doing a great job . However, there may still be some people who were shocked about the death of our classmates the other day…… And I’m a little worried about that . ]

The other day, two male students died in the Golden Demon Zone .

The students in my group seemed to be in a lot of shock .

Of course they would .

Not long ago, they were the classmates we had been sharing desks in the same classroom .

And those people suddenly died .

Kayako spoke .

[This time is quite different from when Mimori died . ]

[……Yeah . ]

There wasn’t even a corpse left at that time when Mimori Touka died .

Therefore, we haven’t felt any sense of reality at that time .

This time though, we were confronted with the clear appearance of death .

(However, I think that this should have been the normal reaction to death…… It was Kirihara-kun and Asagi-san who were more strange for hardly reacting at all…… However……)

What about me?

I was indeed shocked .

However, my mind has quickly shifted towards our current battle .

Perhaps…… I may have been an unexpectedly cold-hearted person .

[Sogou-san . ]

[What is it?]

[I’ve heard that compared to Hijiri-san or Kirihara-san, Sogou-san haven’t progressed that much as an S-Rank Hero . As I thought, we may have been dragging you down……]

[Suou-san . ]

In a reproachful tone, I interrupted her .

[………………… . ]

[Please don’t make that kind of face, okay? It will be alright…… Everyone—- Our friends from 2-C, I’ll definitely protect them . ]

[In that case, I hope it’s about time for you to already unlock your inherent skill but…… Umm, I guess that’s impossible……?]

The Goddess’ horse lined up on my right side—- the opposite side of where Kayako’s horse is .

[Goddess-sama……]

There’s a faint trace of fear running through Kayako’s eyes .

The Heroes in my group have a particularly strong sense of dislike for the Goddess .

Nowadays though, I was also included among that group .

[……I’m sorry . I think I’m doing my best to unlock it but…]

[Umm…… You don’t “think you’re doing your best”, you need the desire to do it . In this society, even a child knows that there’s no point in doing something meaningless just for the sake of “doing your best”……]

Wryly smiling, the Goddess takes a pleading pose .

[Can you please do it now? If things continue as they are, it’s not going to be good for Alion’s reputation, the country who has certified you as an S-Rank . This isn’t just a problem for Sogou-san, who feels like she’s trying her best just because she feels like it, it also affects the credibility of our country…… And it’s quite troubling……]

I could only do nothing but apologize .

[I’m sorr—-]

Then, suddenly…

[Putting aside whether her efforts were in place or not, I think she’s already doing the best that she can though . ]

A man’s voice intruded the conversation .

[Ara? Bane-san?]

The Goddess turned her neck .

[What’s the matter with you? What’s the problem? Umm…… I think it’s very uncivilized for someone to interrupt a conversation, but why did you decide to do that? Are you sleep deprived?]

The owner of that voice was Banewolf .

Before I knew it, he was riding on his horse beside Ayaka .

Kayako, who used to be in that position, swerved away a bit .

She probably gave it up since she couldn’t say anything in response .

[Including Suou-chan over there, Sogou-chan’s party has been steadily growing . Sogou-chan herself has been looking for ways to make use of the skills she currently have to become stronger . Especially lately, she has been working herself to death to the point that the other people watching her worries about her . This is just the personal opinion of the person called as Urza’s strongest, the Dragonslayer, I think she would be enough of a fighting force right now……]

[Hmmm~, I have a feeling that Bane-san is a bit too sweet to Sogou-san there . It’s a bit suspicious, don’t you think?]

[Well, of course I would care about her . She’s my student afterall . ]

[U- Ummm…… You really need to stop calmly lying like that…… Sogou-san is a beauty afterall…… She looks quite skinny in her clothes, but her breasts are so voluptuous that it’s kind of vulgar…… And she’s also a little too flirtatious with men…… I mean, there’s no way man wouldn’t have an ulterior motive so……]

(No way……)

Putting aside her describing my physical characteristics……

I haven’t expected that she would say I’m being flirtatious with men .

That’s just unwarranted slander .

However…

(Maybe that’s just what Yasu-kun had said…… That I’m just completely unaware……?)

[Umm, Bane-san? Are you expecting some kind of sexual reward from Sogou-san? It seems like there is . ]

[Good grief, this is annoying…… But you know, this is just like you, to make such an sleazy suspicion to others . How should I say this, it’s really Goddess-sama-like . ]

[How cruel…… I was slandered really badly…… You’re really cruel…… You’re being excessively cruel……]

[Then—— What are you being irritated for?]

The tone in Banewolf’s voice changed .

[Yes……? What are you saying all of a sudden? You’re really weird~]

The Goddess’ smile stiffens .

[Ever since the Great Demon Emperor appeared, you haven’t had that much time to spare…… Alion’s Goddess-sama . ]

Those words sound risky to say, but the way he said it doesn’t sound antagonistic at all .

Could it be because of his personality?

Even the goddess herself seemed to be trying to infer whether he’s being hostile or not .

[By the looks of it, it doesn’t look like it’s just Sogou-chan’s fault…… But if you’re worried about something, you can talk to me about it, you know?]

[……Ara . Bane-san, you’re so kind~]

[You’re the general shouldering the future of this continent . If you don’t get yourself poised, a lot of people will get in trouble . ]

[……Hmm~ . Did it look like I don’t have the composure to do that anymore?]

Banewolf took the end of a thin stick the size of his pinky finger towards his mouth .

I think it was called Doto stick, if I remembered it right . (T/N: ドト)

It’s like this world’s equivalent of my world’s cigarette .

[At least, that’s what it looked like to me . ]

[Hmmm~……]

The goddess began tapping her reins with her fingertips .

[Hmmm~]

What in the world could she be thinking about?

Or perhaps, could it be that she’s trying to suppress something?

[……I understand . I thought I was encouraging them out of kindness, but it seems that they’ve been misunderstanding me . I think I should reflect on that . I’m sorry, Sogou-san . If I said that I’ve said it thinking about your sake…… Will you forgive me? You’re going to forgive me, right? Even if it’s just your kindness, you’re still an S-Rank on that……]

I hesitated on what to say .

[No, umm…… I don’t even know what to forgive……]

Scratching his head, Banewolf wryly smiles .

[Why are you always saying one too many things, this Goddess……]

[A- Are you telling me how to live my life now……? You’re really amazing…… —-Ah, I remembered I still have some things I need to do . ]

The Goddess swerved her horse away from Ayaka’s horse .

Before I knew it, the soldiers around us were taking their distance from me and the others around .

It’s as if a circle of empty space formed around me and the others .

[I’ll be taking my leave then . ]

Saying so, the Goddess made her horse turn back and she weaved between the rows of soldiers surrounding us, disappearing from our sight .

[……Well, you don’t have to mind that much about the Goddess-sama’s nagging . ]

[Umm, Bane-san…… Why did you reach out to us when no one else wanted to come forward and train us as our teacher?]

[If I want to preserve this lazy life of mine from hereafter, I have no choice but to do this . ]

[……Umm . ]

From the way he said it, I immediately knew that he was joking .

Grinning at me, Banewolf snorted .

[It’s good that you’re someone who can understand a joke…… I wish our Magister King can understand my jokes a little better too . ]

Banewolf has a slightly flippant look on his face .

[Having said that…… there’s actually no such great reason for me to reach out to your group . It’s just…… I thought that the stronger you get, the better your chances of survival will be . Whether it’s Sogou-chan or Yasu……]

He’s still the usually easygoing Banewolf .

However, he strangely feels reliable right now .

[If being stronger increases your chances of survival…… Wouldn’t it better to have them rather than not?]

Holding the Doto stick between his fingers, Banewolf looks towards Kayako .

[Alright then…… If Sogou-chan and the others survived this battle, I’ll be having all of you pour me a glass of sake . ]

Poof!

Looking forward, Banewolf flicked the Doto stick with his fingers .

[Also, I know that I may just be unnecessarily meddling…… However, Sogou-chan must learn to rely on others a bit more . Don’t shoulder everything, you hear me?]

[…… . Yes . Thank you very much, Bane-san . ]

Banewolf ironically smiles, but that smile slowly disappeared .

[Even so, preaching a young child who’s only 10 years younger than me…… I feel really old…… I used to think that I’d never grow up to do something like that…… Ahh~…… I really don’t want to get older……]

[………………… . . ]

For the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of relief .

I feel like I’ve got a little bit of my composure returned to me .

Therefore…

[Bane-san . ]

[Hmm?]

I will face my inner demons myself .

[I’d like to thank you for encouraging me but—–]

I stiffened my expression and slapped him with my words .

[I don’t think it’s right that you just littered that Doto stick earlier . ]

That thing he did earlier had the impression similar to how some people litter cigarettes .

I couldn’t help but scold him .

[O- Ohh…… So this is what it’s like when you’re angry, Sogou-chan……]

I proudly bent my chest forward .

[Even if it’s like this right now, I was called “Oni Sogou” when I was the class committee member back in junior high . ]

For the first time in a long while, a smile appeared back in my mouth .

And on the edge of my sight, I could vaguely see that Kayako looked slightly relieved .

▽

[Speaking of which, Bane-san…… Is it true that the Goddess is irritated by something?]

Suddenly feeling curious, I asked .

As he tucked the Doto stick he picked up on the ground earlier into his breast pocket, Banewolf replied .

[I’ve already known Four Revered Saints’ Agito for quite some time already, and he used to complain about “She’s acting like a jerk again lately . ” or something like that…… So, well… I guess it’s not just me that had that impression of her . ]

[As expected, could it be because the Great Demon Emperor finally started to seriously invade?]

[……I think it’s a bit different than that though . ]

Saying that, Banewolf takes his second Doto stick in his mouth .

I sternly looked at him .

He just wryly smiled in response .

[I- I won’t just throw it away this time……]

Muttering something that sounds like an excuse , he continued .

[The reason why Vysis is so irritated…… I think it’s because of the destruction of the Black Dragon Knights . ]

[It’s that Knight Corps that used to be called the strongest, isn’t it?]

[Yeah . As a war potential against the Great Demon Emperor, I personally think that Vysis had great expectations for the Black Dragon Knights . Especially towards Civit Gartland, the man in which the Goddess herself said to be a “suprarational existence” . ]

That’s why the strong warriors of this continent were called “strong warriors” .

It is said that most of them could be explained with those few words .

Even the Heroes from Another World can be called with these few words just for the Goddess’ blessings towards us .

However, only Civit Gartland is different .

[The strength of the “Humanity’s Strongest” is at a different level, even compared to the people back in history . It can’t be helped if the Goddess had some expectations from him . However……]

[He was killed a few days before, right?

[Yeah . That’s why, I think the Goddess-sama had lost control of her plans…… I mean, if Civit was still alive—-]

Banewolf lowered down his voice .

[Vysis might have intended on trimming down the number of Heroes a bit more into something that would be more suitable for her . ]

[———-, ………… . . Eh?]

[What do you think the Goddess fears next to the Root of All Evil?]

[W- What else could there be that the Goddess-sama is afraid of?]

[The time when those same Heroes from Another World she summoned becomes too strong for her own comfort— would cause a rebellion towards her . ]

[Ahh—–]

[There are some records of a Hero who drew his bow towards Vysis after they defeated that time’s Root of All Evil . Based on that experience, the Goddess-sama would surely want to “screen out” those Heroes that she thinks would do something like that . ]

(Screen out……)

[However, it’s dangerous to reduce the amount of Heroes before defeating the Great Demon Emperor . If we reduce the amount of Heroes now, it could be detrimental later . We also sdon’t know yet how strong the Great Demon Emperor is……]

Then, I realized .

[However, if the “Humanity’s Strongest” is still alive—–]

[Some of the Heroes that the Goddess deemed unnecessary may have already been disposed of . ]

A chill ran down behind my back .

This isn’t someone else’s problem .

I know well enough that the Goddess doesn’t have a good impression towards me .

And even though I’m an S-Rank, I still couldn’t use my inherent skills .

Just as Shougo Oyamada called me an “S-Rank Fraud President”……

(The subject of that disposal could have been