Stupid Heroes ~We Draft Candidates~ (WN): Chapter 42

 

Chapter 42: Again

Upsetting development continues for several chapters from here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 The fact that the Adventurers' Guild had returned to the escort request was never made known to the hero candidates.

 But the fact that they were once again forced to live in dormitories made some of them realize that this had happened. Even if it was a misunderstanding.

 In fact, it was the church that decided to have the hero candidates live in the dormitories.

"Huh? You're saying you're against confining the hero candidates to the dormitories?"

 Sorenne, who was attending the meeting as a representative of the church's Mage Order, voiced her surprise at the guild's unexpected request.

"Yes. As the Adventurers' Guild, we would like it to stop, if at all possible."

 The person on the other end of the conversation was Mion.

“It should have been proposed by the guild last time, right?”

"Last time was last time. The situation is different this time."

"......Can you explain the difference in situation?"

 Sorenne had no idea why the guild was opposed to dormitory life. she thought she would confirm before she responded.

"I can only say that things are different."

 But Mion did not give a reason.

“Do you think I can be satisfied with that?”

"I'm not trying to satisfy you. I'm just asking you to do so."

"Then I will not accept your request."

"I understand"

"...Is that fine?"

 Sorenne feels uneasy about Mion, who easily withdraws.

"I don't mind. I'm just going to fulfill the request according to the conditions that have been set."

"Do you think you can protect them with such a lax approach?"

 If so, you should seriously consider the request. If you really want to know the reason, you can ask for a more sincere explanation. If you can't do that, the Mage Order is no different from the Knight Order.

"I'm just saying that we will do the best we can under the conditions we are given."

“If there is a better way, shouldn’t we proactively propose it?”

"I made an offer, but it wasn't accepted. That's how it is."

"...What will happen if I accept it?"

"We do requests in a different way."

"I'm asking you, how do you do it?"

"I have no intention of answering that."

"What's that?"

 Mion also refused to answer. Sorenne is furious.

“I think you are mistaken, so I will correct you. The guild and the church are not cooperating with each other on this escort request. The guild will only work on the assumption that the request will be made independently."

"Why? It is obvious that cooperation will be more successful."

"We don't think so"

 At this point, the guild and the church are not on the same page.

"Are you saying that the Mage Order is a hindrance?"

"I wouldn't call it a hindrance. We just don't trust it."

"......You've got to be kidding me."

"Are you offended? I'm sorry about that. But can you prove that there is not a single Anti-Hero Alliance in the Mage Order?"

"That goes for you too."

“Yes. So, anyone who makes even the slightest suspicious move will be dealt with immediately. We are on a mission to be prepared for that. What about the Knights and the Mages? Are you keeping an eye on things?"

"…………"

 The strictness of the guild is not felt on the church side.

"We judge the lack of answers to be the answer. The Guild has no intention of divulging information to such division."

“I see. Then we will do it our way."

"As you wish."

 Sorenne's words are clearly laced with emotional irritation, but Mion doesn't seem bothered by it at all. As she said, the attitude is to do as they please.

 This made Sorenne even more frustrated.

".........Request from this side as well."

"What is it?"

"Shouldn't the person in charge be present at the meeting? You're his deputy, aren't you?"

"The person in charge will not be able to attend the meeting at least until his injuries have healed."

"Injury? What does that mean?"

 Sorenne had never heard that the commander of the guild side was injured. It is true. There was no way the guild would have given out such information on their own.

“In order to get him to accept the request, they took a rather rough approach. I personally was a little angry at the way they did it. He was injured in the process."

"...Making an injured person in charge."

"He's pretty grumpy, but it seems like it made him more alert. That's one of the reasons I think it's best you don't meet."

"Why is that?"

“Because if you make a stupid remark, he will glare at you coldly. As the deputy of the Mage Order, you are not accustomed to such stares, right?"

“......You think I would make a stupid remark?”

 It would be difficult for the proud Sorenne to accept, but Mion's words are like that. And, the pride that Sorenne has will get in the way of building a relationship with the guild.

"I am not the commander, but you have already made some statements that concern me."

 Mion has reason to believe so.

"……That is?"

"That you dismissed our proposal without giving it much thought as to its meaning. Moreover, it seemed to me that there was an emotional component to the decision."

"…………"

 It's just as Mion says. Sorenne cannot deny it.

“I pointed out last time about the possibility of internal infiltration of the Anti-Hero Alliance. That being so, no countermeasures have been taken. And that you have no shame about it."

"…………"

 She can't refute this either.

“For now, these are my two points. But with the current grumpy commander, I don't think he'll talk to you after these two points, so there's no point in even meeting with him."

"...He's quite an arrogant commander."

“The commander hates arrogant people. You are providing him with an excellent excuse not to talk to anyone else."

 Sorenne's sarcasm returned about twice as much.

"...Enough already."

 With this, Sorenne's intention to take the lead in the escort mission easily collapsed. However, Mion pushes further.

"Well then, excuse me."

"The meeting is not over yet."

“I didn’t come here to participate in the meeting, I just came to convey the request. Now that it has failed, we have no use for it."

"……Do as you like"

"I have said so from the beginning."

 Now the Adventurers' Guild will be completely independent of the church and will do the escort request. Even if she had no intention of doing so, the person in charge on the church side approved it.

 She failed to stop them from living in the dormitory, but she was able to fulfill her mission here. Mion left the conference room, satisfied.

"...Is it okay?"

 After Mion left the room, Simon Fouchet, deputy commander of the Church Knights, asked Sorenne. After all, the deputy commander of the Knight Order also participates in the escort mission. The church realized that removing him from duty was not a punishment.

"They don't want to cooperate. We have no choice."

"But doesn't the Guild have information that we don't?"

 The Knights had been outmaneuvered by the guild many times last time.

"Maybe so, but they weren't going to divulge that information."

"At the very least, we should have asked them why they wanted the candidates to stop living in the dormitory."

"Then you should have asked."

"What are you so upset about? As a Mage, shouldn't you always be calm?"

"I don't need you to tell me that. In the first place, the Knights are not even good at escorting people."

"What did you say!?"

"It's true!"

 If you let the deputy commander of the knights participate, he would go head to head with Sorenne, who holds the same position as him.

"Please stop!"

 It was Princess Grace who stopped the two who started quarreling. However, frustration also appeared in Princess Grace's expression.

“Not only the guild and the church, but also the knights and the mages in the church are divided. How can you successfully fulfill your escort mission?"

“I am sorry. But we are taking all possible measures for the escort mission. You need not worry."

“It would be nice if that was the case… but if there is anything you would like to say Ruben-dono, please go ahead.”

 Princess Grace called out to Heinz who seemed to be thinking about something.

"Me? No, nothing in particular."

"But you were thinking with a difficult expression on your face."

"Oh. That's another matter."

"Another matter? Were you thinking about something else at the meeting?"

"I can't say it's a different matter."

"Then what?"

"...I don't have to tell you that."

 Heinz clearly rejected Princess Grace who persistently questioned him.

"What's that?"

"He said he was thinking about something he couldn't talk about with a princess from another country."

 Princess Milianea explained to the furious Princess Grace from the side.

"I understand. But is that the situation now?"

"That's the situation."

“……Millianea-dono, do you know what Ruben-dono was thinking?”

“Roughly, but I don't know if I'm right. He was thinking of his remorse at being taken in by the guild."

 Princess Milianea speaks her own guess. She doesn't see the point in Heinz's refusal to speak to this.

"Oi!?"

"I hit the nail."

"What do you mean? I still don't understand."

 Princess Grace did not understand what Princess Mirianea was talking about. She was still behind them both in the quality and quantity of information.

"It's about Ren Takashiro. His name in the guild is Silver Wolf. The guild used forceful means to get him into the request. Is it just for the sake of the request? The guild doesn't want to let go of Silver Wolf. Isn't that what you're thinking?"

"...Is it that important?"

 "We haven't been able to fully evaluate Ren yet."

"I can't say for sure right now. But there are many things that I don't understand in Ren Takashiro. In fact, the escort request was an opportunity to see what was really going on. But he's not going to come out. As long as the escort request lasts."

"If he's not, he'll stay out until he graduates?"

"That's right. Ruben-dono regrets that. He might think he should have been on the attacker's side if this had happened."

"...That's a brilliant guess."

 Having been told by Princess Milianea so far, it's ridiculous that Heinz hid it.

"Am I right?"

"Yeah. But why mention it?"

"It's a pity that only Grace-sama doesn't understand."

"Well said. Isn't it your intention to attract interest in Ren Takashiro and confuse us?"

 Now it was Heinz's turn to expose her.

"Yeah, that's right."

 Princess Milianea didn't seem to have any intention of hiding it from the beginning, and admitted it easily.

"What's that?"

 Princess Grace's anger turned to Princess Milianea.

"Ren Takashiro is bothering me a lot. It's unfair that I'm the only one who is bothered by it."

"It's just that Millianea-dono is being swayed by the dropout hero candidate."

"I thought so too."

"Eh?"

"But today I've changed my mind a little. The guild knows information that we don't. That information increases Ren Takashiro's value in the guild. Maybe that's what this is all about."

"What is it?"

"I don't know. We can imagine it, but we don't know what's in it."

 Princess Milianea refuses to talk to Princess Grace about important things.

"So you're interested in him?"

"Maybe. But maybe not."

"...Fine. I'll think about it myself later."

"Yes. That's good."

 Princess Milianea succeeded in misleading Princess Grace, but it is Princess Milianea herself who is being misled. Ren's secret that the guild may know. And Princess Milianea was very intrigued.

◇◇◇

 Due to the ban on returning home, the hero candidates are forced to live together in the dormitory.

 The situation is the same as last time, but not exactly the same. The emotional conflict between the A and C classes was far more intense than before, and they were living together.

"What's with that face?"

 A hero candidate from Class A is complaining to a hero candidate from Class C.

"Nothing"

 In response, the Class C hero candidate returned with an untrustworthy expression.

"Don't play dumb. Didn't you just glare at me?"

"Don't make false accusations."

 The atmosphere is getting worse and worse. The mere fact that there was eye contact was enough to bring about this situation.

"You were the one who was making accusations, right? I heard you're complaining about my help, instead of being indebted to me for it."

"When have I ever been helped by you people?"

"I helped you in the forest, didn't you?"

"You're still bringing up that old story?"

"What?"

"Well, let me ask you this, aren't you the ones who are running around using us as shields, we're the ones helping you guys, right?"

 The hero candidates already know the ways of the church.

"That's……"

 That includes the hero candidates who are protected by the church.

"It's fine, guys. Even if an attack comes, it's fine as long as you hide behind us. I envy you."

“You are so cocky even though you are a dropout!”

 Precisely because he feels guilty, his irritation increases when he is accused of it.

“Then why are you guys using the dropouts as shields!?”

 Naturally, the side that is being used as a shield continues to grow in frustration.

"What did you say!"

 Emotions clash and the arguments only get more intense.

 Such skirmishes were becoming more frequent. And the confrontation deepens more and more, and finally, the situation moves to the worst situation.

"Now, get on your knees and bow your head."

"Why should I?"

"You haven't thanked me for saving your life."

“Why should I thank you? I'm the one who was forced to be a shield! You should be thanking me!"

 He utters what has already become a cliché for the Class A hero candidates.

"Huh? You still don't know your place?"

 However, not all students feel guilty. There are quite a few students who take the church's way for granted.

"Place?"

"I'm telling you to prostrate. Thank me by prostrating."

"Screw you……"

“You're going against me? You think a dropout like you can beat us, the elite?"

 Class A is elite and Class C is a dropout. They say things like this without hesitation.

"...You guys"

"You're cocky because you're a dropout! Alright, if you don't want to get down on your knees, take it off. I'll forgive you if you run naked in the hallway."

"Ahaha. That's interesting! Isn't that better than prostrating!"

"Yeah, yeah. Take off your clothes."

 The students who are with him are also taking advantage of it. When it comes to this, there is no stopping it. The situation is only getting worse.

"You've got to be kidding!"

"Then I'm going to burn you. If you don't want to be burned, take off your clothes."

"Oh, that's more interesting. Alright, burn him!"

 One of the students starts chanting magic.

"No way!?"

"You better run. Run for it, or you'll be roasted whole."

"Kuh..."

 A male student in Class C runs away in a panic. A small fireball mercilessly attacks his back.

"Uwaaaaaaaa"

"This is serious! I'll help you!"

 Next was water attribute magic. It's not about putting out the fire. The power isn't that great, but the water blade still hurts the student's back.

"H-help me! I'm going to be killed!"

"Idiot! I saved you just now!"

"Hey, run away! If you don't run away, I'll hunt you down!"

 Complete torture. It's not just bullying. It was a full-blown criminal act of assault. The confrontation, which had started out as a small quarrel, was gradually driven to the brink by the overwhelming violence of some of the students on the Class A side.

◇◇◇

 In order to protect themselves from the increasingly extreme violence, the hero candidates of Class C turned to their teachers. They made the facts public and demanded punishment for the hero candidates who were assaulting them.

 However, the results did not fully meet the expectations of the Class C hero candidates. Frustrated by this, Kazuki, as their representative, talked to their homeroom teacher.

"Why!? Why aren't they charged with a crime!?"

“You, calm down a little.”

"I can't calm down! What they did is a crime! They must be punished properly!"

"You said it's a crime, but in the end there's no injury."

 Among the violent students, there are students who can use healing magic.

"So if you heal it with magic, everything is forgiven?"

"No, it's not like that."

"Injuring them, healing them, injuring them again. Isn't that the same as torture?"

 It's as Kazuki says. Just because there are no injuries left behind does not change the pain of being subjected to violence. More than that, repeated violence hurts not only the body but also the mind.

"No, it's not something to exaggerate about."

“It is torture! If you don't make a big deal out of it, what do you make a big deal out of!?"

"Anyway, calm down!"

"...Why? Do we have no choice but to cry ourselves to sleep?

 No matter how much they complained, the teachers never seemed to respond.

"I told them never to do that again."

"It's just a warning. It's not a punishment for the offenders."

"This is the best that the academy can do."

"Then leave it to the police. If not the police, then the military? Or should we appeal to the Pope?"

“Don't be ridiculous! How dare you bother His Eminence the Pope with this!"

 It is not the hero candidates who will be punished for this, but the teachers at the academy.

“Then, the academy will take the proper punishment.”

"They are hero candidates. The academy is just looking after them."

"So what?"

"They can't be punished harshly."

"In other words, the academy no longer considers us hero candidates?"

 The academy protects students who commit violent acts and does not try to help students who are being assaulted. That's what it means.

“In this world, talent is absolute. We just have to convince them it's that kind of world."

"We didn't come to this world because we wanted to."

"...I know. I know that."

"I understand……"

 All around them are on the side of the talented Class A. This event made the hero candidates of Class C realize that. And it was to push them further and further into a corner.

◇◇◇

 The church was not completely unmoved by the situation. A meeting was held to consider how to treat the hero candidates.

"Two hero candidates were injured by the assault. Three students were the ones who did the assault. These three caused all the incidents."

 Bishop Mikhail is reporting the incident to the leaders of the church.

"What about the abilities of those three people?"

 The first thing one of the cardinals asked was the ability of the student who was causing the assault. Now one knows the results of the meeting.

“Two are magic knights. They each handle fire and water attributes. One has the aptitudes of a fighter and a healer, and holds the title of monk."

“Is it a unique title?”

 The word monk does not exist in this world. The current era.

"No, there are several others. Apparently, there are titles like that in the other world."

"Title from another world... what does that mean?"

 The cardinal has doubts about being given the title of another world.

"I don't know. I don't know much about the hero titles."

"That's right. In other words, all three of them are excellent."

"Excellent. However, I wonder if there will be any countries that will bid for them this time around."

 Even if they have power, they are the worst. If they had even more outstanding power, they would probably be ignored, but Bishop Mikhail's evaluation of the three was not so great.

"...We should never let it get out."

"That's impossible. There are many witnesses."

"That's troublesome. It's a shame that such a trivial thing could bring down their value."

 This word, trivial, expresses the consciousness of the church.

"The problem is that things aren't over yet."

"……How's the situation?"

“I have not been able to confirm any direct acts of violence other than those of the three. However, the Class A candidates clearly looked down on the Class C candidates. I think the academy's punishment may have been too lenient."

"Lenient?"

"It seems that their sense of privilege is further heightened now that they realize that they can get away with it even though they did some pretty terrible things."

"It's stupid"

 Even if they give preferential treatment to the Class A hero candidates, the sentiments of the upper echelons of the church towards them are like this. The hero candidates don't know this.

"It is not impossible that the same incident could be caused by another hero candidate. I think this is very problematic."

"......How will you deal with this?"

"It is not too late. We must take strict action."

"We can't do that now."

"But then"

 The increase in the number of Class A hero candidates will not disappear.

"Come to think of it, there was a suggestion to remove all of Class C from the list of hero candidates. If they were not in the academy, incidents like this would not occur. Shouldn't we consider it?"

 The cardinal is trying to cut down the Class C hero candidates. This has been talked about for some time.

“I think there are some people who want to study at the academy.”

"What is the point of studying if you are a dropout?"

"I will consider it."

 He said that with his mouth, but Bishop Mikhail had no intention of considering it. The way the Class A candidates were so miserable, Bishop Mikhail's thoughts were quickly shifting to Class C. They will not be bid on. If that were the case, he wanted them to acquire as much knowledge as possible necessary to live in this world.

 However, this kindness will result in further misfortune.

◇◇◇

 Kazuki no longer knows how many times she has gone to the staff room.

 No matter how many times she asks, she can't get a good answer from the academy. Still, Kazuki hasn't given up on it. She thinks she wants to stop the current situation somehow.

 She manages to rouse herself from her feelings of depression and heads for the classroom. However, an event hits her, sending her into an abyss.

“You, you should just give up.”

"You guys..."

 A student who is assaulting a student in Class C blocks Kazuki as she moves down the hallway.

"If you make a fuss, our value will go down, right? Or what? Is that kind of harassment?"

 One of them, Kariya Yoichi, came to complain.

"You're the ones who are harassing, bullying, or even using violence on us, aren't you?"

"Don't say bad things about people. We were just training them. And yet, we were misunderstood."

 Another person comes up with an excuse. Nagayama Manabu.

"Yes, yes. It's terrible to be offended by something you did with good intentions."

 Furthermore, Shinji Hata, who holds the title of monk, came up with the same lame excuse.

"...How can you say such a thing?"

 The three of them don't seem to reflect at all. Kazuki couldn't allow that.

"Don't get angry. I didn't come here to fight."

"Then what?"

"I need to talk to you about something."

"Yes, yes, we have a favor to ask you."

 With nasty smiles, the three approached.

"……What?"

 Anxiety spreads in Kazuki's chest at the attitude of the three.

“I hear you'll let anyone do you."

"…………"

 Kariya's words were what she expected. But still, a dark shadow spread over Kazuki's heart.

"Do us a favor. We haven't done that since we came to this world."

"I-I don't want to."

"Why? You like it, right?"

"No, I don't."

 The mistakes of the past will never go away. It doesn't matter what the people around you think. But it is all in the past. The current Kazuki has no intention of becoming as desperate as she was when she was in the other world.

"...I'm in trouble. I think I'm at the end of my patience."

"I don't know about that."

"Well, I guess I'll just ask another girl then, any girl in class C will do."

"…………"

 Kazuki understood what Kariya wanted to say.

"I really like you though."

"...Cowardly."

“What? I'm not saying that you have to. I'm just saying that I don't mind if it's another girl, but I'd rather have someone I can have fun with anyway."

 It means that if you want to help other girls, you should be the one to deal with them. He seems to be good at blackmailing as well as assault.

"I……"

"If you have that kind of pleasure, I don't think you'll be interested in anything else."

"Does that mean... you won't bully us anymore?"

"I haven't bullied you guys since the beginning. But well, I can stop dealing with Class C."

 Not just female students. He has taken hostage all the Class C hero candidates.

"Cowardly..."

"I don't care what you say. If you don't like it, I'll find another girl. You already know that, don't you? We're not afraid to be a little reckless."

"That's right. After all, we are heroes."

"…………"

 They are right. No matter what they do, the academy will do nothing. Kazuki has been reminded of this in the past few weeks.

"How's that?"

"...I understand. In exchange, don't do anything to everyone else."

 Just like in the original world. A feeling of resignation took over Kazuki's mind.

“Good. Yeah, good. Then, let's get going.

"Now?"

"Of course. And with us. Isn't that good?"

"……I understand."

"Holy shit. Suddenly foursome?"

"This is going to be fun."

 As she walked surrounded by men, Kazuki's face turned into something completely devoid of emotion, like a Noh mask. That is how Kazuki protects herself. She erases all emotions and becomes just a doll. It is something to protect her heart from dying.

◇◇◇

 In a room far away from that place, there is a person who reveals her emotions, the exact opposite of Kazuki.

"What's that? That's what hero candidates do!? They are the worst!"

 The one complaining loudly is Mion. Mion heard the entire exchange between Kazuki and the three through the magic tool.

"I know."

 The same goes for Ren in the same room.

"......Aren't you going to stop it? If you want, I can go kill them."

 To Ren who calmly responds, Mion says something radical even though she is puzzled.

"We're on a mission."

“Ren-kun!?”

 Mion was surprised to learn that Ren had no intention of stopping them.

"Mion-san, I've had enough of this place, let's bug another room."

"Wait! Don't you care what happens to her!?"

"It's Kazuki's own decision."

"They're threatening her!"

"Even so."

 No matter what Mion says, Ren doesn't try to help Kazuki.

"...You know what it means to a woman, right?"

"Unfortunately, I'm not a woman. And whatever happens to the vessel, I think that's what it is."

"……What do you mean?"

 Mion didn't understand what Ren was saying.

"We're on a mission. No more chit-chat."

 Without answering Mion's question, Ren tries to end the conversation about Kazuki.

"...Ren-kun, you..."

 Mion doesn't understand Ren's feelings.

"Did you think it was the worst? Well then, let me ask you, what are they? What is it about the church that allows even the most vile and corrupt person to be a hero? What about the adventurers' guild who would blackmail a man like that into escorting them?"

"…………"

"I'm being forced to do this, but this isn't bad."

"……Why?"

“This request makes me realize that people who are alive are the worst after all. I've been a little loose. I should stay away from such beings."

"Ren-kun..."

 After coming to this world, his relations with others gradually increased. By remembering the ugliness of people, Ren decided to cut it off again.

 She wants to start over. Kazuki's thoughts were tragically trampled.

 Coming to this world, their changed hearts and minds had gone back to square one. However, there is one thing that is different from the original world.

 They knew that there were other people who hated the world. They both know that there are others nearby who feel the same way.