Oh. That’s why Kirihara’s group let them stay.
“I don’t have much.”
“Huh?” Oyamada looked taken aback. “What about your pocket money from the Goddess?”
“She never gave me any.”
“Seriously?! Wow, she must really hate you! Poor thing!”
Ayaka’s hand clenched into a fist.
I still don’t regret speaking out.
“Waaaah!”
A scream in the woods. Ayaka spun around to see shapes coming toward them—a group of her fellow classmates, stumbling over themselves to get away from something.
“I-it’s here! It’s here! Aaaah!”
Asagi Ikusaba’s group.
“Wh-what the heck?!”
Kirihara’s group readied their weapons as Ikusaba dashed out from the forest, almost bowling them over as she ran.
“You idiots! Take the hint already! The horned ones are here!”
Skeleton knights?!
Ayaka tightened her grip on her flail.
“Aah!”
Behind the others, Kashima Kobato was helping a girl with an injured leg slowly limp from the forest.
“Aah…haa…I can’t believe th-that…Kobato’s…saving me…” the girl whimpered.
“Don’t worry, we found Kirihara-kun’s group! Sogou-san’s here, too!” Kobato said, a look of relief spreading across her face as she met Ayaka’s eyes. Ayaka was already in a fighting stance, ready for the attack.
“Nnngh… Aaaaah!”
Sakura Asami came running through the forest, followed by a figure looming three meters off the ground, great horns ripping through the trees.
Oyamada took a step back.
“What?! Are you kidding me?!”
“It’s gone…it’s gone! It’s gone!” Asami sobbed as she ran from the forest. She was holding her left arm up with her right, a stump where one of her hands had been. A wave of shock went through the class, gasps and a stifled scream.
“Shiieeeee—!”
“Shaaaaaa—!”
Two giant humanoids emerged from the trees, huge broadswords and shields in their bony hands—skeleton knights. Ayaka broke into a cold sweat.
She gripped her flail.
This is nothing like the monsters I’ve fought before. I’ve never even seen anything this big or strong! Can I even fight them with this thing? No…I have to! I need to buy time for everyone else to get aw—
“Hands off my skeleton knight!” Oyamada screamed. “These ones are ours! Our territory, our kills! Don’t you dare steal it again, freakin’ S-class!”
Even the members of Kirihara’s group looked surprised.
“Wh—?! Oyamada?! The Goddess told us to run away if—”
“It’s fine,” interrupted Kirihara.
“Kirihara?”
“Only the weak run. Not me. I’m already in a class of my own.”
I need to support them, no matter what they say!
Ayaka inched forward into a position to cover them, when—
“S-sorry, Sogou-san!” Kashima called out and hurried over with the injured girl still on her shoulder. “Could you look after Mamiya-san for a while?!”
“What? Y-yes, of course…”
Kashima hurried over to see to Asami, the girl who had lost her hand.
Everybody else looks so pale, but…no. Kashima’s voice is shaking, her hands are trembling, but she knows she has to help.
“I’m going to bandage this up, okay? We’ve got to stop the bleeding, Sakura-san!”
“Waaah… I don’t… I don’t wanna…” she moaned.
“Th-the Goddess might be able to heal this for you!”
“I…I wanna go home… I just wanna go home…!”
Her lips were turning blue, and tears streamed down her face. Kashima quickly undid her belt, tied it around Asami’s bloody wrist, and pulled it tight.
“It hurts!!”
Mamiya flinched at the sound of Asami’s screams. “Wh-what’s Kashima even doing? Sh-she’s such a loser… She can’t…”
“Kashima-san’s doing the right thing.”
Kirihara and Oyamada both stepped forward.
“One each, Shougo,” said Kirihara.
“I know! You don’t have to tell me! I’m gonna kill you, freakin’ horned guy!” yelled Oyamada. He swung his greatsword in an arc, then launched it at one of the skeleton knights. The skeleton deflected with its shield, knocking the greatsword into the trees, but that was the opening Oyamada needed. He ducked under the monster’s shield and activated his unique skill.
“Bullet! Take that!”
Glowing red streaks of energy flashed out of his fists and struck the skeleton before the greatsword had even hit the ground.
“Gahh, ghhh?!”
The skeleton knight stumbled.
“Not done yet! Bullet, bullet! Ha ha ha! Bullet! Bullet!”
“Gh?! Gh, hh?! Eh?! Sh—, gh—, eh?! Kh, Eh?!”
He fired his skill over and over, and the skeleton knight finally fell to its knees. Seconds later it was dust, swept away in the wind as if the monster had never been there.
“Heck yeah! Leeeevel up!” Oyamada threw his fists up in the air. On his left, Kirihara had already incinerated his skeleton knight in a single shot of his Dragonic Buster.
“I thought those monsters were supposed to be a challenge! I’m so much better than they are. I, Kirihara Takuto, continue to amaze myself…”
Kirihara’s group cheered him on.
“Kirihara does it again!”
“He’s so freakin’ coool~!”
“S-class heroes are somethin’ else!”
Kirihara sighed.
“This makes…level 24,” he remarked to himself.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
The Goddess Vicius emerged from the back of the room. Sogou Ayaka sat watching her from an uncomfortable chair, frowning at the insincere tone. This was one of the Goddess’s private rooms—the walls were lined with high bookshelves, arranged around a large desk piled high with scrolls and letters. The Goddess took a seat in the plush chair front of Akaya.
“I’m so sorry for calling you out like this, Sogou-san.”
“What do you need from me?” she asked. It had only been a few hours since their return from the Enchanted Bone Ruins.
“Oh ho ho.” With a sharp smile, the Goddess laid a small pouch on the table in front of her. “Forgive me—I forgot to provide you with pocket money, Ayaka-san. With my busy schedule, it slipped my mind, but that hardly excuses such an oversight. As an S-class, you must have expenses to deal with.”
Did she really forget? I can’t help but doubt her.
“Since the Demon King’s army’s sudden move south and the fall of the Nightwall, I’ve had so much to do,” the Goddess said, turning to pull a scroll from the shelf behind her. “It can take a terribly long time to get reliable information from the less important territories.”
“Can’t you delegate that to somebody else?”
“Oh, I have. Yet I fear everything falls to me in the end. Well, on to business,” she said, changing the subject abruptly. “I heard that some skeleton knights gave you trouble?”
“What’s going to happen to Sakura-san?”
“Oh, that? She’ll be fine. I can reattach her hand with one of my healing skills.”
“I see. Thank you, that’s good to hear.”
Thank God…
“And yet…I cannot simply dispense the power of the Gods to every injured unfortunate who comes my way, can I? My healing skill is especially taxing. And, well, Sakura-san is only a B-class hero…”
I can read between the lines—she wouldn’t even consider healing anyone with a lower rank than B-class.
The Goddess smiled.
“Incidentally… It appears you’re quite isolated from your peers, Sogou-san. Are you doing all right out there? It’s been…concerning.”
“I’ve been handling things on my own, yes.”
Ayaka hesitated a moment.
“Whether I’m confused, you mean?”
“Oh no, not at all! You’ve calmed down quite a bit since our first meeting—look at us now, having this nice little chat. Oh, but did Kirihara-san and the others say something to you? My, it troubles me to see old news and rumors spreading through the class.” The Goddess gave her a worried look. “Someone in a position of power should really set the record straight~!”
“What do you mean? What don’t I know?”
“Won’t you join Kirihara-san’s group? I really would prefer it if all you S-class heroes worked together.”
Ayaka looked away.
There’s something wrong with Kirihara’s group… They seem unstable, like they’re too caught up in killing to think straight.
“I don’t believe Kirihara-kun and I would work well together. It would be difficult for us to fight side by side right now.”
The Goddess smiled again.
“This is exactly what I’m talking about. Your selfishness is throwing a wrench right into the smooth functioning of class 2-C.”
“S-selfishness?”
What does she mean?
“Oh, am I mistaken? Can you explain your actions logically? Not with vague emotions or gut reactions, but with facts?”
“Ah, I—”
“No? You can’t? Just acting on your biases with no thought for anyone else. Oh, what a disappointment. The Takao sisters are hopeless, but I at least thought that you…well, I thought you could be reasoned with, Sogou-san. To think you’d be this selfish.”
“I-I’m not!” Ayaka cut in. “I-I just…”
“That’s quite enough,” said the Goddess, and Ayaka could see tears glistening in her eyes. “I was a poor teacher to you, I brought this upon myself…I have only myself to blame for your failings,” she sobbed.
Ayaka stood up.
“Sogou-san?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t care if it’s selfish of me—I can’t join Kirihara-kun’s group, at least not the way it is right now.”
“The people of this world cry out for your help! Will you turn your back on them?”
“I will still fulfill my duties as an S-class hero.”
“You won’t change your mind?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
The Goddess was quiet for several long moments. Finally, she nodded firmly.
“Understood.”
Like a switch had been flipped, the Goddess grinned and lightly clapped her hands together to end the conversation.
“Well then, I’ll entrust you with all the students who couldn’t pass my trial.”
“What?”
I thought this was about me joining Kirihara’s group. What is she talking about?
“They’ve all been ignored by the other heroes, but leaving them alone doesn’t do anyone any good, wouldn’t you agree? They’re all C-class and below, but not to worry! I’m sure they’ll become strong, capable warriors under your S-class instruction!” The Goddess suddenly looked remorseful. “I just pray they all make it through alive.”
“Wh-why are you doing this now? I thought we agreed that I would fight on their behalf!”
“We’ve had orders from the king, I’m afraid.”
“The king?”
Does a Goddess really take orders from a king? Something doesn’t feel right about this.
“Any heroes who refuse to fight are to be disposed of. I tried to reason with him, of course! Alas, my pleas fell on deaf ears… I’m sorry, but there’s nothing more I can do.”
“…”
“I was concerned about what to do with them, but with you in charge, I’m certain it will work out for the best!”
“…”
“Sogou-san?”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then I would have no choice but to…” The Goddess trailed off.
“A-all right.”
“Wonderful, I leave them in your capable hands! If you still refuse to join Kirihara-san’s group, this will have to do.”
The Goddess went on to explain in more detail what she expected of the ignored heroes. When it was over, Ayaka gave a short bow before heading for the door.
“I’ll be going…”
“Ah, one more thing!” said the Goddess. “If some of them start to drag you down, well… You tend to ignore the harsher realities of life, I fear. But you won’t truly be strong until you accept reality, Sogou-san. I believe you have that potential, that you’re capable of changing and adapting. If you ever grow out of this selfish streak and become a well-rounded adult, I’m sure Kirihara-san and the others will accept you. When that day comes, I’ll vouch for you. You have my word.
“Th-thank you for your kindness.”
“Not at all. I expect great things!”
“Goodbye,” said Ayaka. She closed the door behind her.
The Goddess Vicius
“MEDDLESOME LITTLE BRAT…”
“These blasted troublesome apes.”
Mimori Touka
AS WE MADE OUR WAY THROUGH THE RUINS, I introduced Mist to Piggymaru.
“I was growing concerned—I could feel a monster’s presence nearby but never caught a glimpse of it. But now I understand,” she said, looking curiously at the little slime.
Once we ventured down the hidden stairway, she did seem on edge, even when there weren’t any monsters around. Well, other than Piggymaru.
“Come on out, Piggymaru.”
“Sque…?”
It nervously stretched out a tentacle in Mist’s direction. She reached out her hand to meet it.
“Is it safe?” she asked, glancing at me.
“Yeah.”
“Squee~! Squ-quee… Squee…?”
Piggymaru was still on high alert, poking at Mist’s finger with its tentacle. Her face softened into a smile.
“My name’s Mist Balukas. Nice to meet you, Sir Piggymaru.”
“Squee? Squ… Squ… Squeee~! ♪”
Piggymaru rubbed its tentacle against Mist’s finger and turned pink, the color for affection.
“Aw, what an adorable little slime. Looking at it is strangely calming.”
“Squee~! ♪”
“I think it likes you. It’s never shown interest in anyone other than me before.”
“Squ—?! Squee~!”
A tentacle poked over in my direction, squishing against my cheek and glowing an even deeper shade of pink. Mist covered her mouth and laughed.
“It appears you’re still the favorite.”
“Squee! ♪”
We encountered more monsters on our descent, but Mist cut them all down without breaking a sweat. She was amazing—she never seemed to struggle, never had a close call, and she fought like it was the most natural thing in the world to her. Eventually we came to another residential part of the ruins.
I’ve seen doors like these before. Or more specifically, I’ve seen crystals set into doors like these…
I poured mana into one of the doors, and it slid open with the sound of grating stone. I carefully stepped inside to investigate, leaving Mist standing guard outside. The room was deserted, empty but for a few decaying pieces of furniture. Nothing interesting.
“I don’t see any traps,” I called to Mist. “You can come in.”
“Thank you,” she said, stepping through the door. I closed it after her, took off my backpack, and checked my watch.
“Let’s take a break here.”
“Understood.”
“You can nap if you want. I’ll wake you up when I’m ready to go.”
Mist paused before responding.
“No, it’s fine.”
“You really don’t look like you’re getting enough sleep… If you’re going to be my bodyguard, you’ll need to rest to protect me properly, right?”
She averted her eyes. “I don’t think I c
ould sleep, even if I wanted to.”
“Just lie down and see what happens. Even if you don’t sleep, the rest will do you good. I don’t want you collapsing before we get to the bottom of these ruins.”
Mist thought for a while, then sighed, smiling slightly.
“All right…I’ll lie down, at least.” She took off her faintly glowing visor, removed her sword, and turned to lie on the sleeping bag facing away from me.
“Piggymaru.”
“Squee.”
I had whispered orders to Piggymaru before calling Mist into the room. Distract her.
Piggymaru squished into a ball on the ground and rolled closer to Mist, stopping in her line of sight.
“Squee!”
“Sir Piggymaru? What’s the matter?”
“Squee!”
“It’s okay,” I said, extending my hand. “Sleep.”
Mist fell asleep immediately.
Now she can get some rest, at least until the gauge runs out. Even a short period of deep sleep can cure fatigue—I think I read that on the internet.
“If the duration on this thing was longer, I could use this to cure insomnia…”
Well, I don’t know for sure if the people I put to sleep with this skill are actually getting any rest.
“Sque, Sque, Sque, Sque, Sque!” Piggymaru rocked back and forth like a metronome.
Hmm? Is it protecting her?
“Squee? Squesque?!”
Mist’s visor, which had been on the floor next to her, disappeared. The sword by her side was gone a moment later. Then Mist herself began to change, too.
“Wha—”
Her ears… Long. Pointed.
“She’s an elf?”
I walked around to get a look at her face.
“Squee?”
Piggymaru seemed confused. What’s going on? it seemed to ask.
“I had my suspicions, but…this is wild.”
It wasn’t just her ears—my Sleep skill must have dispelled some kind of illusion. Her hair and ears had changed, but her face was what really took my breath away. Before the change, I’d thought Mist was beautiful, but now…it was something more. I was used to seeing beautiful women—my foster mother, Sogou Ayaka, the Takao sisters—and I thought they all fit in the same category, but…
This is different. Mist Balukas…it’s like she isn’t even real. She seems less like a living, breathing person and more like a perfectly sculpted work of art… What did that guy say at the inn?
Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything With Low-Level Spells (Light Novel) Vol. 2 Page 7