Ayaka and her group retraced their steps.
The Takao sisters were already nowhere to be seen.
"The area where Flesh Dragons are definitely present is farther ahead."
After confirming, she put the map away.
They had seen a real Flesh Dragon corpse killed by the Takao sisters.
It had been larger than imagined, but—
(With a spear, I should be able to manage using reach and footwork…)
It would depend on the ceiling height.
After walking for a few minutes, they reached the deeper habitat area.
Still, she didn't have high expectations.
Especially for obtaining one on her own.
For Ayaka, this was mostly just "confirmation."
Because—
"What… is this…?"
Moe behind her let out a trembling voice.
This place too was overflowing.
An appalling number of monster corpses.
Far more than what the Takao sisters had killed.
Massacre.
That was the first word that came to mind.
"Lizard knockoff meat—is it even edible, dammit!? I'm starting to get hungry!"
Shogo Oyamada's voice.
He emerged from the inner cave.
He was drenched in blood, but it didn't seem to be his own.
"Shogo, you're way too intense~♪"
"You look like a bloodthirsty beast, seriously~"
"Seriously, Shogo's way more vicious than the timer demon, right?"
The group deeper inside was, as expected, Takahara's group.
"Shut the hell up! What kind of tone is that toward an A-rank hero, you bastards!? I'll bullet you, dammit!?"
"Shogo, scary~♪ Isn't he basically on the Demon Lord's side at this point?"
Oyamada flicked blood off his greatsword.
"Once I kill the Great Demon Emperor, maybe I'll declare myself the next one!? Oh, that idea's kinda fire, right!?"
*Thud*
He kicked a monster corpse.
"But leveling's slowing down so much lately! There's seriously no challenge left—it's boring as hell! Right, Ayaka!?"
He suddenly turned the conversation toward her.
"Dragging us high-rank heroes into a ruin full of nothing but trash mobs just to match those pale weakling heroes is such a pain, yeah!? Oh, but right now Senpai Sogou is dragging around a bunch of those weakling heroes for some reason, huh!? You got stuck with the leftover rejects—must be exhausting! Honestly, it's hilarious watching!"
"—"
Ayaka started to retort, then stopped.
Oyamada was provoking her.
There was no point getting worked up over every little thing.
"Everyone, let's go."
Ignoring Oyamada, she started walking.
She remained on guard.
There was no telling when he might pick a fight.
It wasn't impossible that greatsword could come swinging at her.
(I need to stay ready at all times—)
"Pigieeeh—!! Gue! Gueeeh!!"
A monster's cry.
Ayaka braced herself.
*Scrape*
*Scraaaape…*
The sound of something being dragged.
Mixed in was a slow, deliberate footstep.
The sound came from a different cave than the one Oyamada had emerged from…
"Ah—"
The one who appeared was Takuto Kirihara, holding a katana.
The blade was soaked in blood.
He was dragging a monster behind him.
"Ugh!?"
Moe covered her mouth with both hands.
Even Takahara's group recoiled slightly.
Only Oyamada was grinning.
The monster's four limbs had been severed.
The golden-eyed monster was being dragged while shrieking.
"Come on, scream."
Kirihara spoke to the monster with an utterly calm expression.
"Scream louder."
He walked forward indifferently.
*Zaku*
He lightly stabbed the blade into the monster's wound.
The monster let out a bloodcurdling scream.
"Call them."
The shriek echoed through the area.
"Call your friends—for experience points."
The monster thrashed desperately, emitting piercing cries.
It was a sight too painful to watch.
Even if it was a monster.
"T-Takuto?"
One of the girls in Kirihara's group called out hesitantly.
"Isn't this… a bit much?"
"…Yeah."
"Yeah! Seriously, it's kinda gross—"
"But who's actually bothered by it?"
"Huh? W-Who…?"
"Who suffers if I do this to a golden-eyed monster? Please, enlighten me."
"N-No one, I guess… but still…"
The girl looked toward Oyamada with a troubled expression.
A plea for help.
All the while, the monster continued shrieking.
Screaming madly, shrilly.
"Heyyy, Takutooo."
"What, Shogo."
"You're way too clever!"
"Flattery gets you nowhere."
"But seriously—how is it?"
"What?"
"There's seriously zero sign of other monsters coming, right?"
The surroundings had fallen silent.
Only the monster's cries, used as bait, echoed back.
"Tch…"
Kirihara clicked his tongue.
"Waste of effort."
He placed the blade against the monster's throat.
"Gi, gie…!?"
"Useless trash."
Kirihara drew the blade across, slashing the monster's throat.
*Bushuu!*
Blood sprayed as the monster expired.
"Got too strong, huh."
Kirihara began wiping the blood from his blade with an emotionless expression.
"I'm starting to get bored of dealing with trash."
▽
After successfully obtaining the Flesh Dragon eyeball, Ayaka and her group returned to the surface.
Each ruin was managed by a country.
This Ancient Dragon Ruins was also surrounded by walls.
Walls meant to prevent monsters from emerging aboveground.
There was also an administrative building here staffed by soldiers.
Ayaka's group headed to the plaza in front of the ruin.
The designated meeting place for the heroes this time.
Takao Asagi's group was already there.
Kobato was present as well.
It seemed Ayaka's group had been the last to arrive.
(We made it back without a single injury…)
Under the blue sky.
The members of 2-C were gathered.
Homeroom teacher Yasuragi Kiho.
Asami Sakura, currently receiving treatment.
Excluding the deceased Touka Mimori—three in total were absent.
"Hm?"
Shogo Oyamada, sitting on a fence, looked up.
"What's with that chick?"
All the students' gazes converged on one point.
A single woman was walking toward them.
"Cat… ears…?"
No, that wasn't right.
Human ears were visible.
What was on her head appeared to be cat-ear accessories.
A slender woman.
Her gait was graceful.
Pale violet hair.
Gray eyes reminiscent of a cat's.
Her attire gave a somewhat provocative impression.
Was it designed with mana flow in mind?
At the very least, Ayaka—who disliked exposure—could never wear it.
Two short swords hung at her waist.
But what drew the most attention was something else.
Something wriggling behind her waist.
The biggest reason she evoked the image of a cat.
A bizarrely shaped blade moving like a tail…
(I've seen something similar called a chain sword somewhere before…)
"What the hell are you?"
Oyamada stood in front of the woman.
Kirihara watched the scene with a dazed look.
Yasushi sat cross-legged, calmly observing.
The Takao sisters watched from a distance.
Beside Kobato, Asagi muttered,
"What's with that erotic cosplay girl? Wasn't the goddess supposed to show up today?"
Kobato struggled to respond.
The woman's gaze swept over them one by one.
Kirihara, Hijiri, Ayaka, Itsuki, Yasushi.
Finally, her eyes returned to Oyamada.
The woman opened her thin lips.
"I am here as Goddess Vysis's proxy. From now on, when the goddess cannot attend personally, I will oversee all of you. Today I came to escort you safely back and to offer a brief greeting."
Her tone was flat.
Her voice sounded younger than expected.
Oyamada gave a mocking grin.
"A shrimp like you is gonna be in charge? And what, you think you're stronger than us? Kirihara's crew has zero intention of obeying anyone weaker than us, got it?"
"Would you like to test that?"
"Oh? You wanna go?"
"Yes… If you can land even a single blow on me without dropping to your knees on the ground, I'll become your slave and obey anything you say. How about it?"
"Here we gooo! Classic 'I'm super strong' arrogant line! You just planted your own defeat flag, didn't you!? Fine! I'll flip the script and make you my slave instead, Nyan-tan!!"
Kirihara looked exasperated.
"Your dialogue is straight out of a jobber character, Shogo."
"Shut up! It's fun watching an A-rank hero who used to get treated like a jobber make someone this cocky cry and beg!"
"I see. So you're Oyamada-san. Your foul mouth is indeed abnormal."
"Hah!? State your name already!"
"I am one of Vysis's Disciples—Nyantan Kikeepat."
"Wha—Hah!? Nyan… Nyan-tan—Pffft!"
Oyamada burst out laughing.
"Bwahahaahahaha! Nyan-tan!? For real!? Why'd you lean so hard into the cat gimmick even with your name!? That's cheating, Nyan-tan! Mental attack via comedy!? Hahaha—I'm dying!"
"?"
"Pffft! She seriously doesn't even know what's so funny! This is pure natural-born comedy gold! Hahaha—I can't win! She's a god! This chick's a literal god! Funniest thing this year! All right, decided! Once Nyan-tan's my slave, first thing I'm doing is training her to be a stand-up comedian! I'm definitely training her!"
"I will begin now."
*Click*
Three claw-like blades extended from the gauntlet on Nyantan's hand.
Oyamada readied his greatsword.
"Oh!? You're actually serious! Bring it onnn! I'll go easy so you don't get hurt, Nyan-tan♪"
A few minutes later,
"Ga…!? Ugh, gu…!? What the hell… is she…? Seriously… way too strong… dammit…!!"
Oyamada pounded the ground.
His knees were on the dirt.
His greatsword lay far away.
He was gasping for breath.
Nyantan, on the other hand, hadn't even broken a sweat.
Not a single scratch.
Only her tail-blade continued to wriggle.
Kirihara's gaze toward her had changed.
He muttered something under his breath.
Seeming to speak to himself.
Ayaka caught her breath.
(That person… is strong…!)
Her movements were refined.
Mesmerizingly so.
(That's the fighting style of someone with true technique…)
Nyantan's composed expression never wavered.
She was someone with very little change in expression.
She didn't even smile.
"Will that suffice as a greeting? Then let us return to the royal capital. I will also convey the goddess's future policy."
Nyantan spoke in a monotone.
"It seems you will soon be moving on to the next stage."
◇[Nyantan Kikeepat]◇
This occurred before Nyantan Kikeepat offered her "greeting" to the heroes in the plaza in front of the Ancient Dragon Ruins.
Nyantan had been summoned by Vysis.
△
The goddess's private chambers.
The goddess sat in a chair.
She tossed the letter she had finished reading onto the desk.
"It appears the Great Demon Emperor's forces have begun making significant moves. A major battle that could decide the future may occur soon. Calling you back early was the right decision, Nyantan."
The goddess smiled sweetly.
"What would you have me do?"
"Ehehe… With all these movements on the Great Demon Emperor's side, I'm quite busy… So I'd like you to act as my proxy."
"Your proxy?"
"Yes. I want you to look after the heroes. Something like their overseer."
"Why me?"
"You are strong, and the one dispatched to Ulza was the least important country. It would be a waste to leave you idle there, wouldn't it?"
"Yes."
"Above all, your loyalty is deep."
The goddess elegantly slipped off one shoe.
She extended her bare foot forward.
She looked up at Nyantan with gentle eyes.
"Isn't that right, Nyantan?"
Nyantan dropped to her knees.
She assumed a kneeling position.
Then she leaned her face forward.
"May I reaffirm your unchanging loyalty?"
"…Lick."
Nyantan ran her tongue along the goddess's toes.
"Lick… slurp… lick… lero…"
"Fufu, thank you for the proof of your unwavering loyalty♪ Now I can rest easy entrusting the heroes to you♪"
"Leroo… lick… slurp… slurp…"
"Rest assured. Your precious little sisters are safely under my 'protection.' They are absolutely secure. No need to worry. Even you, their capable older sister, don't know where they are—so they are perfectly safe, yes?"
"…"
"Oh my—wh-what's wrong? Your tongue has stopped moving… Are you all right? I'm very concerned about your loyalty."
"...Lick… slurp… slurp, slurp…"
"Yes, splendid loyalty♪ Mmm~ It would be nice if the heroes were this devoted too… *sob*… It's all because of my own inadequacy… *sob sob*…"
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
"I have an urgent report for the goddess—ah!"
The civil official reacted awkwardly.
Probably because he saw Nyantan.
"M-My apologies—"
"Ufufu, this is merely a ceremonial act of confirmation. Please don't mind it. Now, an urgent report?"
"Ah, no… A report has come in that the Five Dragon Warriors dispatched to Ulza have made a move."
"They were pursuing Seras Ashrain, weren't they? Hmm~ I thought she might have some use, but… I've lost interest. She seems so rigid—upon second thought, she'd probably be difficult to handle… It's a shame her country was destroyed, isn't it~? Hmm… She was originally a high-elf princess, so it is a bit of a waste."
The goddess pressed her thumb into Nyantan's mouth.
*Push*
Nyantan continued the "confirmation act."
"The Five Dragon Warriors… What should we do about Shibito Gaitland? He also seems difficult to use as a piece—but well, he should play a role in the heroes' growth. Ah! I just thought of something wonderful!"
The goddess clapped her hands together with a beaming smile.
"The heroes' levels have risen quite a bit. It's about time to move on to the next stage!"
She began giving instructions to the civil official.
"—And so, first, ask Yonato to lend us the Four Holy Saints. Also… the Sword Tiger Corps should be nearby, yes? Call them in as well. Ah, and please extend an invitation to Ulza's Dragon Slayer. And the Five Dragon Warriors of the Black Dragon Knights… If it's about helping the heroes grow, 'he' will gladly accept. Yes, proceed exactly as I've instructed."
"Understood!"
The civil official bowed deeply, blushing.
"Fufu."
The goddess looked up at the ceiling, her lips curving elegantly.
"The day the Great Demon Emperor's army clashes with the heroes… may be closer than we think."