Stupid Heroes ~We Draft Candidates~ (WN): Chapter 36

 

Chapter 36: Declaration of Insularity

 The Adventurers' Guild withdrew from the escort request, and the treatment of the hero candidates changed drastically. The escort was to be performed by the Church Knights alone. That was the whole intention.

 Not only were the guild's demands for limited interaction with other students and dormitory life cancelled, but the class structure was also restored. It is safe to say that life is back to normal, except for the church knights hanging around. And Ren's life, too.

"Oh? It's been a long time. You're still alive?"

 When Ren appeared in the classroom, Mike called out to him.

"Mike, it's been a long time since we last met, but as you can see, I'm still alive"

"If you hadn't come to school in over a month, it's normal I would say this, you know?"

 Mike was right about this. If an adventurer goes a month without being heard from, more than one or two people will think he is dead.

"Well, I guess so."

"So what have you been doing?"

"Work"

"......What's the point of you being a student?"

 It is surprising that there is a long-term request rather than taking a month off from school and working. Even if you are not an adventurer, you can understand that the reward is substantial for such a long period of time.

"Recently, I think so too. But there are still books I want to read."

"Oh, that's right. Well then, let's go to the library together for the first time in a while."

"Alright. Let's do it."

 Ren's only purpose in coming to the academy is to read books. Mike's offer was very welcome.

"...After you're done talking."

"Talk?"

 Ren noticed that Mike's gaze was directed behind him.

"Ren"

"Ah, Kazuki, long time no see. How are Kou, Riko, and Manami?"

"You're being so blunt. You tried to go to the library while ignoring us, didn't you?"

"Study is important. And time is precious."

 Ren says something even more blunt. What he says is sincere. She just doesn't like the way he says it.

"...I guess, you haven't come to school for a month."

"That's right. You mustn't waste that precious study time."

 Ren repeats that he doesn't waste his time persistently. It is an appeal that he is not willing to talk.

"I understand that. But can you tell me what you were doing before that?"

 Even if she knew that, Kazuki wouldn't back down.

"Work"

"So what kind?"

"I can't tell you what the request was. I've told you that many times."

 This is an adventurer's rule. And as a fellow adventurer, Kazuki knows it too.

"Now that's a convenient excuse."

"It's not an excuse. It is a fact that we have such an agreement."

"If you say so, I will say this. I don't care about the details. Is the job done?"

"I guess it's over for now. But what would I know? I have a slight feeling I'm going to go back in."

 Ren doesn't think it will end like this. Right now, Ren is the one who understands the dangers of the Anti-Hero Alliance the most.

"Is it that long?"

"If I went back. But right now I don't know."

"...I see. I understand. I'm sorry for stopping you."

"It's nothing."

 Kazuki senses that Ren's job was to protect them. The fact that the job was finished made Kazuki feel anxious.

“…Does Ren have anything to say?”

"What do you mean? Well... don't go out after dark. Even if it's bright, be careful of strangers."

"I'm not a child"

 Kazuki thought Ren was joking.

"If someone approaches you even though you've never spoken to them, it doesn't matter, just run away."

"Eh?"

 Ren's warning that followed was not the kind of warning one would give a child.

"Even if you've talked to them before, if you think they're not friendly with you, you should run away, okay?"

"That's……"

"For now, this is enough. See you later. Or tomorrow."

"……Yes"

 Ren left the classroom with Mike, who was stunned. When he stepped out into the hallway, Mike called out to him with an astonished expression on his face.

"You"

"What?"

"Why are you speaking in a roundabout way like that?"

"Roundabout way? What, didn't she understand what I meant?"

 Ren was surprised by Mike's remark. He didn't mean to speak in a roundabout way.

"No, she understood"

"Then it wasn't a roundabout way of saying."

"You're just telling her to watch out for attacks."

"It's not something you can manage by being careful. I'm just telling her what she should do."

"...Well, when you put it that way."

 When he thought about it again after being told by Ren, it was indeed a concrete instruction. Mike couldn't help but agree.

"See?"

"So it's not over."

 The fact that so much attention is needed means that nothing has been resolved.

"Are you interested?"

"Only if it's this important."

 It is not only the hero candidates who are affected. The school life of the general admission students is also inconvenienced.

"Is that so? Well, it will take a little longer."

"A little more? A little?"

"I said a little, but I think it will take a few months."

"No, even a few months isn't short, right? Are you pushing it that far?"

"That's not true. If one of the major candidates is killed, that will be the end of it."

"That way?"

 If the Anti-Hero Alliance achieves its goal, things will end. This is what Ren is saying.

"It's definitely the end."

"Is it impossible to protect them?"

 Ren is talking about a very serious matter. The Anti-Hero Alliance is going to kill the main candidate in a few months.

"With a little more time, I could have found the answer to that."

"……That is?"

"It doesn't matter to me anymore. For me right now, it's my top priority to catch up on my studies."

"I see."

 In the end, Ren spent the entire day in the library without returning to the classroom. The reason is that after spending more than a month only on requests, time spent reading books for the first time in a long time, he was able to enjoy it without any tension.

 He would study during the day and spend all of his time training at night, except for sleeping. Ren has regained such a routine.

◇◇◇

 Although Ren has returned to the academy life, he rarely attends classes. It is not that he is skipping his studies.

 Ren and the others belong to the elementary section of the church academy. This is because most of the general education is the content that you would learn in middle school in the original world, or if you are not good at it, in elementary school. Ren only takes classes in general education, such as history and geography, where he can gain knowledge of this world.

 On the other hand, there are many specialized courses that are not taught in the original world. However, even in these specialized courses, Ren is not interested in taking lectures or practical training in swordsmanship or magic. He chose only the very few classes that he was interested in and could not learn from his masters.

 Under such circumstances, Ren would spend most of his time in the library. Today, again, he spent the entire time in the library reading books he was interested in.

"It's nice to be a scholarship student."

“Scholarship student?”

 Ren lifted his head from the book he was reading intently and turned his gaze to Mike, who had just arrived.

"I'm talking about you."

"Me?"

“Like a scholarship student.”

"I see, but what's the point of that?"

"There's no exam."

"...Come to think of it, I haven't taken any."

 Ren noticed that he hadn't taken any exams since he entered school.

"You know...... you should at least be aware of that."

"Mike, you have?"

"Of course. Because I'm a general admission."

"Heh, how'd it go?"

"Don't ask."

 Mike answered Ren's question with a sullen look on his face. For Ren, it was a surprising response.

"I thought you were a serious student, but it's surprising."

 Mike, like Ren, comes to the library every day and reads books. It's all practical books.

"There are classes that don't require it at all, and exams too. That's what I meant when I said it's nice."

 In terms of studying, Mike is the same as Ren. He studies in depth only those subjects that he will need in the future. Since that is the case, his exam results in other subjects are naturally dismal.

"Certainly. It's easy to just study what you're interested in."

"So what are you studying today?"

 Saying this, Mike picked up a book from the pile of books on his desk. Looking at the cover of the book, Mike frowned.

"...Are you interested in this kind of thing?"

"Well, you don't learn about these things in my old world."

"It's a book about war."

"A book on tactics."

 What Ren was reading was a book on tactics.

"It's the same thing, isn't it?"

"War isn't the only thing that needs tactics."

 It's as Ren says. The basics of tactical theory can also be used in business, for example. Only if you understood it properly.

"Honestly, do you want to become a military instructor?"

"No."

"Understood. Well then, are you trying to make use of it for the escort request?"

"Did I tell you that I received such a request?"

 He didn't say it. It is forbidden to talk about the contents of the request.

"...I don't need to hear it."

"But you don't think I'm in a position where I have to learn tactics, do you?"

"...I just said what came to my mind. Is that the position you are in to say that?"

"Me? If I was, would I be here? Didn't I tell you that things aren't over yet?"

 Ren is here because the entire guild has withdrawn from the request, but there's no need to tell Mike about this.

"Well."

"Why don't you start studying too, Mike? That's why you're here, right?"

"That's right. As Ren said, I can't waste my precious time. I'll go get the book."

 Putting his bag on the desk, Mike walked toward the library. Ren watched his back for a few moments, but soon shifted his gaze to the book and focused on reading.

 Even if Mike came back with the book, Ren wouldn't be distracted. Mike doesn't want to get in the way of Ren, so he starts his studies without saying a word.

 Only the sound of papers being turned and pens being run is heard in the library. Unfortunately, the silence didn't last long.

"Ah, there he is."

 Mike lets out a small sigh at the sound of the voice he hears. Ren, for his part, did not sigh, but kept his eyes downcast and his brow furrowed.

"Sorry to interrupt. I was troubled by the fact that you weren't there no matter how many times I went to the classroom, and Shizuru told me you must be here."

 It was Jin who called out.

"Yes. So what do you want?"

 If it was only Jin, Ren would probably have spoken a little more amiably, but unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Yuya and Shizuru, who he didn't want him to bring, were with him.

"I want to say thank you"

"Thanks? For what?"

 Jin was puzzled when Ren asked that question with a puzzled look on his face.

"...It's a thank you for helping me."

"Help you? Me?"

"Yes. You healed my injuries, didn't you?"

"I wasn't the one who healed you. It was the person behind you."

 Behind Jin stood Shizuru and Yuya. Ren pointed at Shizuru.

“It’s true that Shizuru also helped, no, not just Shizuru, but Yuya as well.”

"Then, you can thank the two of them."

"Ren, what's wrong? If you hadn't taken out the metal fragments, I would have died."

 It was definitely Ren who helped Jin. Shizuru, on the other hand, almost killed Jin.

"I don't need your thanks for that. That was a request."

"Request?"

“Yes. So, there is no need to thank me. I've already received the reward."

 For no reason, Ren didn't say thank you to Shizuru. It's just that he doesn't want to be indebted for what she's done on the request.

"Wait a minute"

 It was Yuya who spoke. His expression was already full of hostility towards Ren.

"What?"

"Did you know there was going to be a terrorist attack?"

 It's a sharp question for Yuya.

"It's a little wrong. I knew there was a possibility of it."

"What's the difference?"

"Not even close."

"...Even if it's a possibility. Why don't you let us know?"

"What if I told you about it?"

"It wouldn't have happened that way."

"Really? It's just a possibility, and the guild didn't have any proof. So would the academy cancel the competition? Are you guys going to agree to the cancellation?"

 Ren's line is a sarcastic remark about interrupting the guard, but Yuya doesn't understand that Ren was the guard.

"It's obvious."

"That's because you experienced the consequences."

"Don't deceive me by saying nonsense! You knew there was a terrorist attack and hid it! If someone had died, how would you take responsibility!"

 Yuya shouts at Ren. Hearing that, Ren made a dumbfounded face. Even if, as Yuya said, there were deaths, Ren wouldn't be responsible.

"This is the library. Can you be quiet?"

"...Don't fool me. You hid the fact that there was a terrorist attack because you wanted to show off. I know that."

 Yuya thinks this way because Yuya is the one who wants to stand out. He wants to be the center of attention at all times. That is why he cannot allow others to attract attention. This is what makes Ren's frustration grow in his heart. Ren does not want to stand out to be noticed.

"What do you know about me?"

"Apologize! You're the one who hurt Jin!"

 This is the stop. Ren's feelings were cut off by this line.

"...Nonsense. What, you?"

 Ren's tone changed.

"What?"

“You want to put the blame on others and cover your own mistakes? You didn't do anything, you were beaten and that was the end. You, the hero.

"Shut up! You tricked us!"

 Yuya was becoming more and more agitated when Ren pointed out the obvious.

"I didn't trick you. I just didn't tell you."

"I say that is cowardly! Okay, apologize!"

"...I'm amazed. If you know the danger, your priority is to avoid it. So it's my fault for not telling you. Is that what you're saying?"

"That's right"

 Yuya doesn't understand why Ren said this. It's not just Yuya, Jin and Shizuru don't notice either.

"Don't forget those words."

"Apologize"

"It's my fault that I injured Takamiya-san. I'm sorry. I will never get involved with you guys again and I will not do anything unnecessary for you guys. So please forgive me."

"Eh……"

 Yuya was just accusing him, and he himself knows that. Surprised by Ren's apology, he couldn't say anything.

"Ren, no. I came here to thank you. I don't want this."

 Ren's words upset Jin as well. He had come to the library to thank Ren, and this was the result.

"I apologized as I was told. So will you keep your promise?"

 No matter what Jin says, it's already too late. For Ren, the promise had been fulfilled. It was a rather one-sided promise.

"Promise?"

"Can you please stay away from me? To put it simply, you're interfering with my studies, so will you disappear?"

"Ren!"

"That's the promise."

"I didn't make that promise."

"Then I will leave"

"Ren!"

 Completely ignoring Jin's voice, Ren walked towards the exit. No one could move against the oppressive will of rejection emanating from his back.

"Haa, am I going to put these books away?"

 Looking at the books piled up on the table, Mike let out a big sigh.

"Oh, I'll help you."

 Jin, who feels responsible for Ren, offers to help clean up.

"No thanks."

 Mike declined that.

"No, it's our fault that Ren got angry."

"That's why I don't want your help."

 Again, Mike rejected Jin's offer.

"Why?"

“I fear Ren the most in this academy. I really don't want to make him my enemy."

"That's……"

 For Jin, Mike is just a normal student who is on good terms with Ren. Jin couldn't grasp the meaning of Mike's fear of Ren.

"I don't want Ren to think I'm good friends with you, who turned Ren into an enemy. I don't want to get involved."

"What do you mean?"

“Not knowing is a sin. You people will always be unable to figure it out. You guys don't...... have the righteousness for me to tell you that."

“Hey! What do you mean? Don't be so presumptuous and say it!"

 Yuya complains to Mike. Yuya's attitude of biting everyone can only be seen as abnormal.

"...You're a genius."

"Eh?"

"As expected of a hero. You're a genius."

"No, even if you suddenly praise me."

"You're a genius who makes people angry. Thinking about it like this, Ren is patient. I'm about to snap just thinking about that."

"What?"

"Well, I don't feel like studying today. I'll go home too."

 Mike walks toward the library with books in his hands. He is a regular visitor, so he is used to tidying up. Without hesitation, he walks through the bookshelves, which are divided by subject, and returns the books that they picked up. Without returning to the desk, Mike left the library.

"What is that?"

"Not [what is that?]. You made him angry, too."

"He got angry on his own. I didn't do anything."

"Do you really think so?"

"……Of course."

 If you're serious about this, you're a real idiot. And, unexpectedly, there is a high possibility that he is a true idiot.

"I see. Then, let's do this."

"What?"

“I'll stay away from you, too. I don't want anything to do with you anymore.

"Eh?"

 Sudden declaration of separation from Jin.

"Hey, Jin? What are you talking about?"

 Shizuru was the first to react. She didn't get upset because she didn't think she had been told.

"It's just as I said. I'm ending our friendship today."

"It's not like Jin. Don't lose your temper like that."

"Temper? No. I've been holding back."

"I don't understand why Jin is so angry with Yuya. Calm down and think about it."

"Don't understand... I see."

 Shizuru has the same way of thinking as Yuya. And Shizuru thinks she is right. That is different from Jin's way of thinking.

"If we talk properly, we can understand each other. Hey, let's do that."

"...Let's do that another time. Today I don't feel like it."

"Yes. It's better to cool down."

"Yeah. Then I'll go home."

"Yes, see you tomorrow"

 Jin did not reply to that. Jin had no intention of discussing the matter. He was just using it as an excuse to get out of the place. From tomorrow on, he would never speak to either of them in a friendly manner again. Jin left the library with this decision.

◇◇◇

 He ascended the stairs with loud and wild footsteps. The way the door of the room is opened is also different from usual and violent. Ren's irritation had not subsided when he got home.

 He threw his bag on the floor and lay down on his bed. He didn't sleep, just stared at the ceiling with his hands folded behind his head.

"Ren-sama? What's wrong?"

"...Ah, yes. I have to apologize to Rin."

"To me?"

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"Um, what do you mean?"

 Rin doesn't remember for Ren to apologize at all.

"...Anyway, I'm sorry."

"Yes……"

 Ren says everything he can. Instead, if he doesn't say it, he never talks, no matter how many times you ask. Rin already knows that.

"So what happened?"

"...I don't want to get involved with those around me."

"Yes"

 Rin knows very well that Ren thinks this way.

"And yet, people around me get involved with me. Why?"

"Isn't that unavoidable?"

"Eh? Why? Does that mean Rin knows why?"

 Ren gets up from the bed and asks Rin with a surprised face. Seeing this, Rin felt like sighing.

"...Ren-sama"

"What?"

“What does Ren-sama think of your own power?"

"...Lucky."

"Huh?"

 The answer that Rin did not expect at all came back from Ren.

“I was able to meet Luna. I was also able to meet an incredibly excellent teacher. I got to be with Ron and with Rin like this."

"Ah, yes..."

 Rin looked down in panic. She could feel her face heat up.

"I'm lucky"

"...That's not what I'm asking."

"Then what do you mean?"

"I don't think it's just luck, but even if that's the case, there's no doubt that Ren-sama has a strong power that humans don't have."

"Yes?"

"Eh?"

 Rin was more surprised at Ren, who had a genuinely puzzled look on his face.

"You say I have power?"

"You have"

"...I'm a dropout, though?"

 Ren answered the question with a look that says, "What are you talking about?". Rin has the same dubious look on her face. She doesn't know what Ren is questioning.

"That might be the case at the academy, but that's what Ren wants."

"Wants to be a dropout?"

“……No way, don't you really think so?”

"I've been working hard for two years and I still can't get out of basic training. As a disciple, I am a failure. I'm not sure if it's strange to say I'm a failure because I'm the only one. What's that called, the Unlikely Apprentice?"

"...Erm. Do you know how abnormal the content of that basic training is?"

"Abnormal? It's definitely tough, but I can see how it's helping me. I think it's good training."

 The conversation is not going well. This was clearly Ren's fault.

"...Ren-sama"

"What?"

"You should evaluate yourself more properly, Ren-sama.”

"I think I'm being rather objective."

"No, I don't think so. Ren-sama's evaluation of yourself is too low."

"...I think it's better than being conceited."

"That's true, but..."

"Like that stupid hero. Ah, just remembering it made me angry again. If you don't like me, you shouldn't come near me. Coming all the way to the library and picking a fight. What do you think Rin?"

"...That's enough."

"Ah, you don't take me seriously. The people you want to deal with don't. Why?"

"I don't know!"

 Because Ren hadn't closed the door properly, the slightly off-kilter conversations going on in the room could be heard downstairs.

"Now I understand. It's your fault that that child is unaware."

 While sipping tea from a bowl, Babaa complained to the two beings in front of her, who ordinary people couldn't see.

(It's not my fault. If there's a problem, it's Alexis-dono.)

 Rudolph blames Alexis for Babaa's complaints.

(What is my problem?)

(Ren-kun has already acquired the power to move on to the next training)

(That's……)

 As Rudolf said. Ren has already acquired the basic stamina necessary for the next training. It's so much more than Alexis is asking for.

(And yet you refuse to move on. It is foolish.)

(You should be afraid to give power to Ren too.)

 The reason Alexis hesitates to move on to the next training is because he is afraid of Ren. He wonders if it's okay to give power to Ren, who has a way of thinking that is clearly different from that of ordinary people.

(Me? I'm not afraid at all. On the contrary, I'm full of joy.)

(However, you are also making him continue basic training all the time.)

(Because that is necessary. It seems that you are misunderstanding, but I am not teaching Ren-kun the basics, but polishing them.)

(Polishing?)

 Alexis did not understand why Rudolph dared to describe it as polishing.

(Ren-kun can already use my magic. Right now, I'm polishing the basics to increase its power and accuracy.)

 Rudolph's desire is for Ren to inherit his own unique magic, but he doesn't just want him to pass it on, he wants Ren to surpass him.

(Don't you think that this power will cause many people to die?)

(What does it matter? Are you forgetting something?)

(A ghost)

(It's not just a ghost. We are an evil spirit that has been obsessed with obsession for hundreds of years. Why would an evil spirit think about things other than obsession?)

(...I understand why you were killed by a retainer. You don't care about other people's lives. You have something similar to Ren. He might follow the same path.)

(That's not true. Unlike me, Ren doesn't trust people. He will not be betrayed.)

 Worse. He just thinks it's bad, but only because of its general value, and in terms of preventing betrayal, it's better than Rudolph.

(I say that giving power to such a person is a problem)

(Then, will you betray Ren-kun?)

(Betray?)

(You say you'll teach him how to use the sword, but you won't do it. That's betrayal.)

(Even so......)

(When Ren-kun finds out about it, he will realize that spirits are also betrayers. If you can no longer trust the living or the dead, what will Ren-kun do? Aren't you afraid of that?)

(…………)

 His tone of voice remains the same, but the sense of oppression he receives from Rudolph has clearly intensified. Rudolph's anger, frustration, and other emotions feel like cold air to Alexis.

(You still don't get it. Even though you've been in this world for hundreds of years, you seem to have no eyes. Ren-kun will surpass you even without your teachings. Don't regret it when that happens.)

(…………)

 On this day, Alexis learned for the first time that even spirits could feel trembling. He is overwhelmed by the energy emanating from Rudolph.

 Does that mean that Rudolph, who has lived through a thousand years, has a different status as an evil spirit? There is also a story that his status in life was different.

"Don't fight spirits. It's not cool."

(Not cool... that's a funny joke)

 It seemed that he was actually amused, and the cold that had wrapped around them disappeared in an instant.

(What do you think?)

“…Ren is still a child. How he grows up depends on those around him."

(I see……)

 Alexis' troubles are still unresolved. However, Babaa's words slightly changed Alexis' thoughts. How Ren grows up is also his responsibility as his master. Whether or not he is ready to take on that responsibility, in other words, is not a matter of Ren, but of his own resolve.