The girl who appeared belatedly—Sakura Asami.
She was holding her severed left wrist in her right hand.
The next shock assaulted the students of Class 2-C.
"ShigieeeEEEEE――!"
"ShigyaAAAaaAA――!"
A humanoid giant skeleton wielding a broad sword and a large shield.
Two Skeleton Knights.
Ayaka felt goosebumps rise across her skin.
The "air" around them was different from the monsters they had faced so far.
More than any monster they had encountered up to now—
(Strong...!)
Ayaka glanced at the flail in her hands.
(Can I handle this with this weapon? No—I have to! I'll buy time for everyone to escape—)
"Don't you dare lay a hand on them, Ayaka aaaahhhhh!"
Oyamada shouted.
"These guys are still prey in our hunting ground, got it!? Don't come cooling your heels in here, you S-Rank broke-ass!"
One member of the Kirihara group was shocked.
"Wait!? Oyamada!? We were told to run if these showed up!"
"It's fine, this time."
"Kirihara...!?"
"Running away is for weaklings. But I'm different. My story has already moved beyond the level of weaklings."
Ayaka started to dash forward.
Ignoring Oyamada's words.
(Even so, I have to help...!)
At that moment,
"S-sorry, Sogou-san!"
Kobato entrusted the girl with the injured leg to Ayaka.
"Could you protect Mamiya-san for a little while!?"
"Huh? Y-yes..."
Kobato rushed over to Asami, who had lost her wrist.
Everyone else was fleeing.
No—she was pale too.
Her shoulders and voice were trembling.
But she couldn't abandon her.
"I'll tie off your arm here, Sakura-san!? I think for something like this, you have to stop the bleeding like...!"
"U゛e゛eeee... no moreeee..."
"The goddess might be able to heal it!?"
"Nooooo... I wanna go back to the original world..."
Asami's lips had turned white.
Kobato quickly undid the belt at her waist.
*Tight*
Kobato bound Asami's arm firmly.
"It huuuuuurts!"
Asami wailed.
The girl Kobato had just handed over to Ayaka—Seiko Mamiya.
Her face twitched.
"What's with Kashima, that guts...? I mean, trying too hard is honestly kinda creepy..."
Without thinking, Ayaka glared sharply at Seiko.
"W-what?"
"Kashima-san is admirable."
Kirihara stepped forward and stood side by side with Oyamada.
"One at a time, Shogo."
"I already know that! Kuh, haaaaaaaa! I'm gonna fuuuucking kill you, horned bastards!"
*Whoosh!*
Oyamada swung his greatsword.
"Shiaa!"
*Clang!*
The right Skeleton Knight deflected the sword with its shield.
By that moment, Oyamada had already slipped inside the Skeleton Knight's guard—right into its bosom.
"[Red Fist Bullet]! Uoraaaa!"
Oyamada's unique skill.
The ability to fire massive red bullet-like energy from his fist.
The Skeleton Knight raised its greatsword.
Before the sword could come down—
*Boom!*
The red bullet slammed into the Skeleton Knight.
"Ga, gii!?"
The Skeleton Knight staggered.
"Here we go! [Red Fist Bullet], [Red Fist Bullet]! More more more! [Red Fist Bullet], [Red Fist Bullet]! Herehereherehere aaaahhh! [Red Fist Bullet] aaaahhh!"
Rapid-fire from the unique skill.
"Gi, shi!? Gi, iii!? I, e!? Shi, gu, ie!? Kish, eee!?"
Unable to endure, the Skeleton Knight finally dropped to its knees.
A few seconds later—the bone monster shattered into pieces.
Fragments of bone scattered everywhere.
Oyamada clenched both fists.
He roared to the heavens.
"Yes! Level uuuupppp!"
Beside him, Kirihara had already annihilated the other Skeleton Knight with [Golden Dragon Roar Wave].
"The Skeleton Knight was by no means a weak monster. That it was a formidable enemy is an undeniable fact... however, I was even stronger. I continue to be astonished by none other than myself—Kirihara Takuto..."
The Kirihara group erupted.
"As expected of Kirihara!"
"So cool〜♪"
"S-Rank heroes really live up to the name!"
"With this—"
Kirihara snorted.
"Level 24, reached."
▽
"Sorry for the wait〜"
Goddess Vysis walked in from the back of the room.
The room had a slightly lowered floor section.
Sogou Ayaka was currently seated on a chair in that section.
She had heard this was the goddess's second private chamber.
The back of the room was filled with desks and tall shelves.
Piles of paper bundles and letters towered on the desk.
The goddess sat down in the chair facing her.
"Sorry to summon you, Sogou-san."
"No, it's fine. Was there something you needed?"
After returning from the Bone Ruins, Ayaka had been called by the goddess.
"Ufufu."
Even now, Ayaka found herself bracing at the goddess's smile.
The goddess placed a small pouch on the table.
"I completely forgot to give this only to you, Ayaka-san. It was because of how busy I've been. I'm truly sorry. As an S-Rank hero, you need a reasonable amount of money, don't you?"
It seemed to be the "pocket money" Oyamada had mentioned.
Had she really forgotten?
Ayaka couldn't help but view it with suspicion.
"And I'm also sorry I couldn't accompany you to the Bone Ruins today."
The goddess glanced at the paper stacks behind her.
"Thanks to the sudden southward advance of the Great Demon Emperor's army and the fall of the Great Oath Wall, my workload has increased〜. I can't keep up with all the reports coming in from various places. Checking information from lower-priority regions inevitably gets delayed〜."
"Can't you delegate the sorting of information to someone else?"
"Fufu, even after delegating, this is the amount left. Now then."
The goddess changed the subject.
"It sounds like things got rough with the Skeleton Knight appearing?"
"Um, what about Sakura-san?"
"Yes, she'll recover? The severed wrist can at least be reattached for now with [Goddess's Breath Heal]."
"I see."
(Thank goodness...)
"Thank you, Goddess-sama."
"But I don't use divine power on just anyone, you know? Especially [Goddess's Breath] is very tiring. However, Sakura-san is B-Rank, after all〜."
She might not heal those below C-Rank.
She seemed to be implying that indirectly.
The goddess smiled.
"By the way, Sogou-san, it seems you've become quite isolated from everyone... Are you all right? I'm really worried about that..."
"For now, I'm managing somehow even on my own."
"Um, well... may I ask something impertinent? Do you have any self-awareness about it, Sogou-san?"
Ayaka let out a thin breath.
"Is this about the breakdown again?"
"Ah, no no! You seem much calmer now than before, and we're having a proper conversation like this. Ah, did Kirihara-san and the others say something to you? Hmm〜, it's troubling that outdated information is circulating among Class 2-C〜."
The goddess pondered with a troubled expression.
"Someone influential needs to correct the old information〜."
"Um, about the self-awareness..."
"Ah, shall we move on to that topic? Hmm〜, first, one question. Sogou-san, you're not joining Kirihara-san's group? Personally, I would prefer the S-Rank heroes to act together as much as possible."
Ayaka averted her gaze.
The current Kirihara Takuto felt somehow off.
Almost mad, even.
"I don't think I can get along well with the current Kirihara-kun. In the present situation, fighting together feels difficult."
The goddess smiled brightly.
"That's exactly it."
(That's exactly it?)
Ayaka didn't understand the meaning.
"In short, I believe your self・ish・ness is disrupting the unity of Class 2-C〜."
"S-selfishness?"
"Oh my? Is that not it? From what I hear, it feels heavily driven by very personal emotions... Oh my? Am I wrong?"
"That's—"
"Um, can you explain it logically? Not vague premonitions or anxiety, but a clear, reasoned explanation? Can you do that?"
"Um—"
"Nfufu? If you can't, then it really is selfishness, isn't it? Hmm〜, but that's a problem. The Takao sisters are also showing very selfish behavior... I thought if I approached you with sincerity, Sogou-san, we could communicate, but even you have turned into such a selfish child..."
"N-no! I just..."
"No no, it's all right."
Tears welled at the corners of the goddess's eyes.
"This is all due to my own inadequacy as a leader... sniff... all the blame lies with me..."
Ayaka rose slightly from her seat.
"Sogou-san?"
"I'm sorry. Even if it's selfish, I cannot team up with the current Kirihara-kun and the others."
"Even if it means turning your back on this world that seeks salvation?"
"I intend to fulfill my role as an S-Rank hero in my own way."
"Is it absolutely impossible?"
"I'm sorry."
"I understand."
The goddess smiled and clapped her hands together.
*Clap!*
"Then I shall entrust the students who failed the trial to you, Sogou-san!"
"Huh?"
Suddenly, what was she talking about?
There was no logical connection at all.
"It must be tough being avoided by everyone in your current isolated state, right? Well, they're only below C-Rank, but... it's all right. With an S-Rank like you training them, they'll surely become worth a hundred men, won't they? However—"
The goddess's expression turned somber.
"I pray that no one dies..."
"W-why are you suddenly talking about this? Besides, didn't we already settle that I would fight in their place?"
The goddess lowered her gaze regretfully.
"Actually, the other day, an order came from the king."
"From the king?"
Could the goddess not defy the king's orders?
Something felt off.
"The king said, 'Heroes who don't fight should still be disposed of'... Ah, I did try to persuade him properly, you know? But the king wouldn't listen... I'm sorry, my power wasn't enough..."
"..."
"Still, I was a little troubled about how to handle them going forward. But if you'll take full responsibility for them, Sogou-san, that puts my mind at ease!"
"..."
"Sogou-san?"
"If I refuse, you'll dispose of them, is that it?"
"I would have no choice. I'm sorry."
"I understand."
"Yes! Then please do! Well, since you selfishly refused to join Kirihara-san and the others, taking care of them is only natural, isn't it?"
The goddess added that she would explain the details later.
Before leaving, Ayaka bowed.
"Excuse me..."
Just as she was about to exit the room, the goddess called out.
"Ah, this is just in case—but if they become a hindrance, you may have to face a harsh reality, Sogou-san. But it's all right. People grow stronger when they learn reality. I believe in human potential. Humans can grow and change on their own... If you shed your selfish childish ways and become a proper adult, I will definitely put in a good word for you with Kirihara-san and the others. I promise absolutely."
"...Thank you for your consideration."
"Yes! I'm looking forward to it!"
"Excuse me."
Ayaka closed the door behind her.
◇[Goddess Vysis]◇
"Fucking brat."