A week passed after everyone came into this world, and, from their previous nervousness and worries about the future, they began to adapt to their new life here as they continued their training under Captain Meld's leadership.
Still, Suzuki was the same as ever, and he didn't even join the practice, as it was a waste of time. He had seen their training, and he could tell their methods didn't suit him.
Meld's job was a Knight; in other words, his blade was rigid and straightforward.
For Kouki, it might be suitable, as Kouki was a hero, but for others?
Meld's technique was probably the best in the kingdom, yet the best didn't necessarily mean the most suitable, as Suzuki could see that the rest of the students couldn't even properly mimic it.
Still, Suzuki also knew that Meld only taught the basics, and for the rest, he felt his classmates would have to rely on the skills they gained from their jobs, then be directly told to fight monsters in the dungeon.
Everyone was given only two weeks to prepare, which led Suzuki to say that the kingdom truly wished they would die. After all, even normal people in this world needed several months of practice so that they could become "proper" knights, yet they were only given two weeks.
There might be many factors, but Suzuki knew that the kingdom, the church, the knights, and all others must have expected that a few might die, and they might feel that it was fine as long as the others could grow, especially if Kouki could grow stronger due to the sacrifice of others.
No, except for Kouki, they didn't care about the rest.
Still, while everyone was working hard, many of them couldn't help but look at Suzuki, who somehow had gotten close to the Minister of Finance, and all of those important within the Ministry of the Kingdom.
Unlike them, who worked hard to their bones, Suzuki had been making connections with various important characters in the kingdom, which made them feel conflicted.
Suzuki worked hard, yet his hard work was different from theirs, but this was also the reason why they couldn't accept him, as they felt like he grew even further away from them, and it was even harder for them to "complain," or "gaslight" him, as if they were the ones who worked hard.
After all, like them, Suzuki also worked hard, and the results of his hard work were obvious, as he often told them he had made improvements for everyone's lives.
Yes, instead of keeping everything a secret, Suzuki had always announced what he did to everyone.
Some people say that if one does a kind deed, they should do it with a sincere heart, as that way, the universe might reward them.
Still, Suzuki didn't just want the universe to reward him. Instead, he also wanted everyone to thank him for what he had done.
Kindness was useless if it went unnoticed; people had to notice that he had done everything for them, or else his hard work was meaningless.
However, it was also because he was close with the people in high positions in this kingdom that, for Hiyama and the other bullies, and even for those with normal status within the school, it was hard to say anything to him.
Yes, in a week, all of them would be sent to the dungeon, facing the unknown. At the same time, they felt confident in their jobs, especially when they were all combat roles, unlike Suzuki and, especially, Nagumo.
Yes, if there was a reason they could all feel relaxed, it was Nagumo.
If they compared themselves with Kouki, they would feel inferior and nervous, knowing they were weaker and even lacked Kouki's potential, but when Nagumo was in the equation, they felt relaxed, knowing there was someone worse than them.
Yet, Suzuki was an enigma since, despite his non-combatant job, the fact that he could make relationships with everyone, whether it was the knights, the ministers, or even many important people in the kingdom, made them strangely inferior to him... it was as if he played a different game than they did.
If they were honest, they just wanted to follow Suzuki, as none of them wished to enter the dungeon, yet Kouki wouldn't let them, and made them follow!
"Everyone, the battle will start in a week! We have to work harder! Everyone has to work together to support each other! We have to do this to go home! We will defeat the Demon King together! Let's continue to train!"
Yet Kouki's thought was simple: he just wanted to help everyone, thinking they were all frightened, and he had to be the beacon of light that showed the way.
"Y-Yes, Kouki!"
Dammit!
How much they wished for Aiko or Suzuki to just tell them to follow either of them, so that they could just escape and have no need to fight against the dungeon!
Aiko had the ability to farm, which made her important to the country, as it needed food, but Suzuki was even more vital, as he managed the money, which was needed to pay for everything," whether it was their potions, weapons, food, equipment, and everything.
Still, Suzuki didn't care what they were thinking, but somehow, when he went to visit Shizuku as he was about to go to the guild, ready to take away the remaining "payments" from the guildmaster, who bought his black pepper and MSG, Kouki couldn't let him just go away.
"Tanaka-kun."
"What's wrong, Amanogawa-kun?"
Suzuki looked at Kouki with confusion.
"I know that you are busy, but you are going with us to the dungeon, right? We're a team, after all, so we have to support each other."
"Don't worry." Suzuki didn't even care about Kouki, who gaslighted him subconsiously. "I also expected you to protect me, Amanogawa-kun. I am just a Merchant, after all, and as a Hero, you have the duty to protect everyone, right?"
"..."
Kouki was silent for a moment, then nodded. "...of course, leave everything to me."
"Thank you, Hero. I will also do my best to supply everyone, but due to the demon lord, many people, whether it is the guild, the kingdom, or many others, have a hard time with money, so I hope that you can understand if there is a problem with the supply sometimes."
"...I understand. Don't worry."
"But, if you let me handle all the materials from the monsters that our class kills in the dungeon, then I might be able to handle a better supply, since with those monsters, we likely can have more income to buy many things. Is that okay?"
"....."
Kouki was silent, staring at Suzuki, who kept his light smile, then nodded. "Yes, please handle it, Tanaka-kun."
"As expected of you, Hero. Everyone has their own responsibilities, and I won't distract you with all the troublesome things. Let me handle all the logistics, as you focus on defeating the demon for everyone. Thank you, Amanogawa-kun."
"...yeah."
Kouki just felt uncomfortable somehow. Yes, he was a hero, and he earned Suzuki's respect, yet it felt strange and wrong.
"How childish."
Shizuku rolled her eyes.
"Don't bully him. He is a hero."
"You are the one who is bullying him."
Shizuku rolled her eyes, making her charming as ever.
"I will go first."
"To the guild, right?"
"Yup."
"Don't go back too late."
"Don't worry. I will go back before five as usual."
Suzuki kissed Shizuku's forehead, then thought of what he had been thinking about for the past few days. "Oh, right, I will teach you something."
"...what?"
"Wait for me later."
Suzuki knew that a week was fast, yet before that, he needed to teach Shizuku a survival skill, especially since he knew how unreliable Kouki was.
"See you later, too, Kaori."
"Yeah, don't be too late."
Waving his hand, Kaori stared at his back, wondering why the feelings that she tried to hide became even more intense.
Yet, Suzuki had no time to think about that, especially when—
"Give all of your pepper and fairy dust! Tell us about the source and the recipe! If you don't, then we will make you talk, and trust me, you will feel relieved that you tell us since we will give you a peaceful death by then."
"..."
Suzuki let out a helpless sigh, wondering why some people were just too stupid.