Stupid Heroes ~We Draft Candidates~ (WN): Chapter 31

 

Chapter 31: Terrorism

 On the day of the swordsmanship tournament, those who knew about the conversation between Mion and Ren and the others in the Class C classroom were left with a vague sense of unease.

 Ren, who should have known what was going on, predictably did not talk about any of the information he had obtained from the guild. The students were not able to judge whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.

 Even under these circumstances, Jin did not cancel his participation in the tournament. He was going to participate in the competition.

"Well, I'm off."

 After receiving the order to gather, Jin stood up from his seat and called out to Kazuki.

"Good luck. And be careful."

"Yeah"

 Jin responded to Kazuki's words with a smile.

"We're definitely in the way, aren't we?"

 Right next to her, Riko opens her mouth.

"It's fine, because we're not in their eyes."

 Kou answered.

"It's terrible. I'm a woman too, right?"

"……Me too"

 Manami also casually insisted.

 All the Class C adventurers were sitting together in the spectator seats. From all sides, voices of condemnation rose at once.

“No, I didn’t call out to Kazuki alone.”

 Jin hurriedly made an excuse.

"I wonder. Don't forget that I'm supporting you, too."

"Me too"

"Thank you, Riko and Manami."

"Jeez"

 Riko didn't stop.

"No, I'm sorry."

"Just kidding. Do your best and win."

"...Yeah. I'm off."

 Hearing Riko's words, Jin tightened his expression and went down the stairs toward the arena.

"Winning. Isn't that a lot of pressure?"

“Unlike Kou, that’s what I like about him. He's the type of guy who thrives on responsibility."

"You don't know Jin that well, do you?"

"Well"

 Riko has had only a handful of proper conversations with Jin. It's the same with Kou and Manami.

"That's not good."

"What is it really?"

"…………"

 Riko's question was met with silence.

"Ren"

"Me?"

"Do you think Jin can win?"

“He's not going to win, He's going to finish second."

"Don't say it so easily."

"Everyone says so."

 The winner is Yuya. That's what everyone says.

"Will the talent gap be filled?"

"I don't think so."

"Then what?

“Kisaragi-san has a special skill called growth correction."

 He has a special skill that no one else has. Ren thinks it's only natural that Yuya has power that stands out from the rest of the students.

“Eh? Does that mean Jin can overtake him in the future?

"I don't know? I think it would be boring otherwise."

"Either way, Kisaragi will be the winner this time."

 Riko seems dissatisfied after realizing that Yuya's victory will be decided.

"Huh? I thought Riko admitted that you like pretty faces?"

“He may be good-looking, but he's got that personality. If he wins, he's going to get even more arrogant."

 Yuya was originally quite popular with female students, but there are some students who dislike his arrogant behavior. Riko is one of them.

"It can't be helped. Because he's made to be like that."

"...Made to be like that?"

"In Jin's case, he is made to feel the responsibility of being a hero. So he tries his best to be a hero."

"That's right."

"Kisaragi-san just wants praise. If it makes him feel good, he wouldn't want to lose that position, and would do... his best."

"You mean he's being manipulated?"

"Manipulation is an exaggeration. It is one of the educational methods to motivate the person. Whether it's good or bad."

 Even if he said this in words, those who heard it knew that Ren actually had an antipathy. And that the reason he says it this way is because of Ren's prudence in not wanting people to know about the criticism.

"I see... what about us?"

"Well, the idea is that this world throws out rotten tangerines."

“Rotten tangerines… what is that?”

 Ren's words didn't make sense to Riko.

"Eh? You don't know? The Kinroku Drama."

“Ah, I know. The one Kutsuna Hibari-chan was in."

"Ha? The female students are Maiko Kawashita and Tsubasa Ito, right?"

"Who is that?"

"...Fine. I'm disappointed that you don't know that masterpiece."

"Don't be disappointed!"

 The conversation suddenly turns into something unimportant. Ren's usual guidance. The people around him had grown accustomed to this kind of exchange.

"Riko and Ren, be quiet! Jin's match is about to begin!"

"For the first round, Kazuki's support is enough."

"There's no time to cheer.

"Don't say that... ah, it's over."

 Three red flags went up as soon as Jin and his opponent clashed swords. The flags indicated that Jin had landed a valid hit. It was an overwhelming victory within seconds.

"Look. There was no time to cheer for him."

"Jin is so strong."

"Realizing it just now. He'll probably win at least the third round easily."

"The third round?"

"In the seedings"

"Are they strong?"

"I don't know. I don't feel the need to find out."

"Why are you being so extreme?"

"Time and effort are limited. Selection and concentration. This is the basic."

"……I don't understand"

"And I want to concentrate a little now, so please don't talk to me for a while."

"Eh?"

 After suddenly saying so, Ren began to look around with only his eyes while trying to listen carefully.

 Ren continued to do so for a while, but then showed a slightly frowning gesture and muttered a small sigh.

"No good, huh..."

"Is something wrong?"

"I didn't say you can talk to me."

"Ah, I'm sorry."

"I can't do the whole thing. Let's just concentrate on the arena."

 Ren suddenly muttered to himself. It appeared before those who looked at him in surprise, wondering what he was doing.

"It can't be helped. There are too many people here."

"Eh?" "What?" "Ha?"

 A petite girl in a jet-black one-piece dress, dressed in what would be called gothic lolita in their original world. A beautiful girl with silver hair and amber eyes, just like Ren, whom even a woman would admire, was sitting next to Ren before they knew it.

"……Ren?"

"What?"

"Who is she?"

"Didn't we talk about her before?"

“The girl that Mike was talking about... that's right. I'd be surprised if there were more than a few girls like her."

 Even while talking to Ren, Kazuki's gaze was still drawn to Luna. Perhaps noticing her gaze, Luna also turned her gaze to Kazuki.

"Hmm? Come to think of it, I haven't greeted you yet. Nice to meet you. Thanks for always taking care of Ren."

"...No, nice to meet you too. What's your name?"

"Luna is Luna"

"Luna-chan. My name is Kazuki. Nice to meet you."

"You don't have to greet me."

"...Don't say that. Let's get along."

"Get along? Hmm..."

 This time, Luna stared at Kazuki from the front with her big eyes. Kazuki, who was being stared at, felt as if she could see through everything and became restless.

"……Um."

"Well, you pass."

"……Thank you."

"Ah, um!"

 Kou raised his voice.

"Hmm?"

"My name is Kou."

"Kou."

"That's right. Luna-chan, what kind of relationship do you have with Ren?"

"Ren and Luna are lifelong companions."

"……Yes?"

"Didn't you hear me? We're lifelong companions."

"""Eh!?"""

 Everyone raised their voices in surprise at Luna's confession.

“No way!? Ren is married!?”

"Marriage? No."

"Ah, that's right."

"It's a pact."

"That is?"

"We vowed to spend the rest of our lives together."

"...That's marriage. When did that happen?"

"Wait, Ren. Is it true?"

“Luna, don’t talk about unnecessary things.”

"Yes, that's right."

 Hearing Luna's honest reply, Ren smiles wryly. He knows that both her deliberate appearance and her declaration that he is her companion were done on purpose to keep Kazuki and the other women in check. In short, it is Luna's jealousy.

"Ren. I'm asking a question."

"The pact is true"

"Since when?"

"It's almost two years."

"Don't tell me..."

"What?"

"The other dependent, a child, right?"

"""Eh!!"""

 Again, surprised voices were heard from the surroundings.

"It's wrong."

"Is that so?"

"Unfortunately, Luna and Ren cannot have children."

 Here Luna again entered the conversation. Ren looked worried, wondering what she was going to do this time.

"...That's because you're still a child."

"We can't do it even when we grow up."

"Is that so?"

"That's why the other is a woman who will give birth to Ren's child."

 Luna threw in a bomb that exceeded Ren's expectations.

"""What was that!?"""

 In response to that, the women's group exploded.

“…Luna. That's too much. Quite a bit."

"……Is that so?"

"Yes"

"I understand."

“No, it’s too late. You did it on purpose, didn't you?"

"Hmm~, hmm~, hm~, hmm~."

"Don't deceive us by humming"

“Ren. Can you explain it to us?"

 Kazuki turned a sharp gaze and asked for an explanation.

"……What?"

"What is this other woman?"

"Um, in the language of our original world... a mistress?"

 Ren gives an honest answer when he shouldn't have.

"The worst! Enemy of women! Having such a beautiful wife and even a mistress!?"

"No, you're being too loud! People can hear you!"

"Enemy of women, pervert, lolicon. Then... then..."

 Kazuki said as many words as she could think of. Even when she couldn't think of any more, she was still trying to say something.

"It's not enough to keep your voice down. And if you can't think of anything else, can you leave it?"

"But"

"There is one misunderstanding"

"What?"

"I'm a virgin."

"""…………""" "Me too."

 The women are silent. Beside them, Kou made a small confession.

"I said mistress, but she's just a candidate. Unless the other person accepts me, I won't touch her."

"But still..."

"If she doesn't want it, she's just a roommate. Is there a problem?"

"...Not at the moment."

 It wasn't that there weren't any problems, but Kazuki couldn't think of words to criticize.

"Then I hope you don't criticize me."

“For now, that’s true, but it will be different in the future, right? Besides, in the first place, getting married at this age.”

"It's not strange in this world, especially because it's natural for women to get married as soon as they grow up."

"Adulthood... ah, it's fifteen years old in this world, right?"

"Yes. In terms of your actual age, you guys are quite behind."

""What was that!?""

 Kazuki and Riko were completely taken in by Ren's provocation.

"You're fooling around again."

 Manami was the only one who was calm.

""Ah……""

"Right? But there's no point in talking about this forever. It's just that it is."

"That's right, but……"

 Kazuki is dissatisfied with that fact.

“Are you okay with cheering? Jin, I think he's already in the third round.”

"Eh? Already?"

"Doesn't that mean there was such a big difference in strength?"

"The real thing begins now."

"Depends on who he's up against."

 Even though she knew Ren had changed the subject, she could not leave Jin's support unattended. She returned her gaze to the arena and began to watch Jin's match intently.

"Luna, isn't it just the arena?"

"Even so, it's still a lot."

 With the interruptions gone, Ren started talking to Luna again.

"That's right. If there is, it's magic, but the mana of the participants is overflowing."

"Do you want to call Rin too?"

"...That's impossible. There will be people who can see through her. In the first place, even Luna."

 It would be an uproar if the existence of humanized spirits became known.

"Hmm~, hmm~, hm~, hmm~."

"Where did you learn how to deceive like that?"

"It's a secret."

"Those cheeky words..."

"Luna is also growing."

"Indeed. But on the other hand, there are so many participants..."

 Ren remained silent and thought about something. Finally, he raised his face and muttered a little.

"Stretch the peak."

"Peak?"

“Luna, cut it once.”

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Conversely, if you spread it out too much, it will be noticed. Not only the subject, but also the other."

"Hmm"

"Careful."

"...I understand."

"The one who will win somehow is supposed to be the hero candidate. After the quarterfinals, we'll start again."

"I understand."

“There should be few people in the arena. If that's the case, we'll make do."

"I can do it."

"Good. Then we'll just relax until then."

"Hmm"

 The two sit side by side and begin to watch the battle in the arena in a daze. There is no one to disturb them. Kazuki and the others who had been actively talking to them earlier, as if they had forgotten they existed, did not even look at them anymore.

 A little further away, Shizuru, Hyde, and Heinz stood side by side watching the competition.

"……Gone?"

“Heinz, what's wrong?"

"No, nothing."

 With Shizuru's question, Heinz turned his gaze to Hyde.

(...Just me?)

 The feeling he had just now, as if something was being probed. It disappeared. He thought Hyde was feeling the same way, but it seems not.

(Was it my imagination? But I don't think the feeling of receding just before it disappeared was an illusion.)

 Heinz's gaze turns to Ren in the front row of the spectator's section.

(...What's over there?)

 However, Heinz himself did not know why he turned his gaze there. Ren is sitting. Even though he knew it, he still wondered what it was.

 Heinz couldn't even question it.

 And there were people other than Heinz who felt the same discomfort.

(Have you given up… it doesn’t matter. I can’t turn back after coming this far.)

 The man who was watching the arena from the top of the spectator seat convinced himself in his mind.

(Finally, it's time. Let's show them that our first match will be decorated with a splendid victory.)

 The man nonchalantly stretches his left hand straight up. The man felt that several gazes were focused on his arm.

(Comrades. The time has come. The time has come to serve justice.)

 Slowly, the arm was lowered. The man went down the stairs of the spectator section and left for the exit.

◇◇◇

 Time passed, and the swordsmanship tournament finally reached the quarterfinals.

 The participants who made it to the best eight were being introduced as they ascended the central podium. Six out of the eight participants were students of the academy, and they were the hero candidates of Class A of the first year.

"Am I the only one who feels somewhat uncomfortable?"

"Riko. Jin's there too."

“That’s right. It's not even funny when he's so far out of order."

 Riko's dislike for the Class A students is strong.

"This is the real thing. We have to support them properly."

"I think I'll root for the knights. One of them is quite good-looking."

"...Can you see it clearly?"

 Kazuki and the others are in the front row of the spectator seats, but there is still a considerable distance to the central arena.

"I can see it. I knew he was handsome before the game."

"Huh? When?"

"I went to see senpai. There is a senpai I've been interested in for a long time, and he's participating."

"When did that happen? Was there such a person?"

 Kazuki is a little taken aback by Riko's diligence when it comes to romance.

"I'm not dating someone like that yet."

"Not yet..."

"Love is essential for a fulfilling academy life. Ah, Kazuki."

 Riko turned a suggestive glance at Kazuki.

"……What?"

"You found it in the same grade?"

"Jin says so."

"I didn't say Jin."

"…………"

 Kazuki thought she had been caught in Riko's leading question.

“Well, do your best. You seem to be at a bit of a disadvantage."

"Hey, that's..."

"Ren! I found it!!"

 Suddenly, Luna shouted out loud enough to drown out Kazuki's voice.

"Understood! Four people!? No time to be surprised!"

 Ren quickly stood up and jumped over the fence in front of the spectator seat.

"Eh!? Ren!"

 Seeing that, Kazuki and the others stood up in surprise and looked down, and Ren was already running toward the arena.

 Naturally, there was no way the people around the arena would leave Ren alone as a sudden intruder.

"You! Stop!"

 The guards in the arena impatiently called out to Ren to stop him.

"Stop! Stop! Hey! Stop that guy!"

 Ren ignores the guard's voice and continues to run, causing a commotion in the area.

"Not me! Stop that guy! There are three others! They're coming from four directions!"

"What!?"

 With Ren's scream, the guards finally realized that he wasn't the only one running toward the arena. There is someone running alone in front of Ren.

"Hurry up!"

"Y-you too, stop!"

"Stop that guy first! ...They're useless!"

 Ren continues to ignore the guard's attempts to stop him and runs after the robed man who is running diagonally in front of him.

 The robed man must have noticed Ren, but he didn't even look aside, just continued straight ahead toward the podium.

(……Don't tell me you can use magic in this state?)

 Seeing this, Ren was quite surprised inside. Even with his body moving at full power, he is still able to activate magic. That is exactly what Ren is aiming for. He has been training for two years, following his master's teachings, but Ren still can't do it.

(I feel like I want to see it, but... it's work.)

 At the swordsmanship tournament, there is a possibility that a terrorist attack will occur targeting the hero candidates. That was the information the Adventurer's Guild had. There is no hard evidence. But Ren explained that some circumstances indicate that.

 The request that Ren received from the guild leader was to do his utmost to prevent the attack. And in order to find out the culprit, it is necessary to catch the perpetrator or obtain the evidence to understand it. For that reason, it is said that a little unreasonableness is fine.

 The adventurer's guild doesn't want to protect the hero candidate. He fears the possibility that adventurers are involved in the attack. Even if they were involved, he wanted to create a track record that the guild actively worked to prevent it.

(Okay, I'm catching up!)

 The back of the man in the robe is right in front of him. Ren pulled out the sword he was carrying and stepped in front of the man to block his path.

 The man, running at full speed, could not avoid him. Ren swung his sword sideways and the man caught it and fell down.

(Not shooting magic? What's going on?)

 Even if he approached the podium, it would be meaningless if he would not attack.

 Their opponents were the best in swordsmanship among the hero candidates. If they were going to attack, Ren knew that they would not use swords, but magic.

(This is not the time to worry about it.)

 There are still three attackers. This is not the time to feel relieved after defeating one of them.

 Looking around for the next attacker, Ren saw a robed man running to his left. Without hesitation, Ren starts running toward the man as fast as he can.

 However, he was caught off guard. As he begins to run, an enormous amount of pressure is generated from his back. A moment later, Ren was blown forward greatly by the blast.

"Ugh, gueh... W-what!?"

 Enduring the pain in his back, Ren stood up and saw a hole where the man should have fallen.

“......Don't tell me he blew himself up?"

 As if overlapping Ren's questioning voice, another shout echoes through the arena.

"It's a magic tool! I have a magic tool! Get down!"

 Immediately after the voice, an explosive flame erupted in the direction Ren was going.

"What the hell are these guys.... the other two, where are the other two!?"

 Ren ran out, screaming. He could not see the figure, but he knew the direction. From Ren's point of view, it should be approaching from the right side and from the opposite side of the arena.

 A pillar of fire rose from the other side of the arena as evidence that it was not a mistake. It's proof that another person blew himself up.

"One more!"

 Only one person remains. He's on the right side, heading east, but he's not immediately visible.

 Someone's angry roar reached Ren's ears as his gaze wandered.

"You idiot! Run away! It's going to explode!"

"What?"

 He understood the meaning of the scream by looking at the arena. On the podium, there were still some of the heroic candidates left. With swords drawn, facing east.

 Standing in front of them was a man in a white robe.

"Jin! Get down! Hurry—"

 Before Ren could finish his shout, a flash of light ran over the podium. Slightly later, flames spread in all directions.

 Ren's eyes clearly saw Jin being engulfed by the flames.