◇[Ayaka Sogou]◇
Several days have passed since being summoned to this other world.
Ayaka Sogou was walking through a forest located southwest of the royal capital.
She stays alert to her surroundings.
The sound of a branch snapping.
She instantly takes a defensive stance.
In her hands, Ayaka holds a long spear.
"Grrrrrr… Gaaaaah!"
A drooling mouth-dog.
Golden eyes.
A wide maw lined with gleaming fangs.
Its mouth is grotesquely large.
She had never seen a creature like this in her previous world.
Another world.
This really is a completely different world.
The realization sinks in deeper.
She takes one step toward the dog-type monster.
"Are you going to fight?"
Is she asking herself?
Or asking the monster?
She doesn't know.
"Grrrrrr…!"
The mouth-dog assumes a combat stance and growls threateningly.
"Where the hell did you gooooo!? Hey, you shitty dogggggg!"
Shogo Oyamada's furious shout echoes.
He's getting closer.
The rustling of leaves approaches.
Whoosh!
Oyamada bursts out from the bushes, greatsword raised overhead.
"—!? Gah, ouu!?"
The moment it recognizes Oyamada, the mouth-dog leaps back.
With swift feet, it dashes in the opposite direction from Oyamada.
Hesitation flickers in Ayaka.
From her current distance, she could block the mouth-dog's path.
But,
"That one's my prey, Sogou! Don't go ruinin' my fun, damn it! You ain't part of our upper-tier group anyway! There ain't no reason for you to hand over a hot target like that!"
Oyamada refuses to accept Ayaka's assistance.
"Well, if you're gonna join my group at my invitation—then maybe I'll let you have that mouth-dog! Better think it over real hard! Figure out your place in all this!"
Leaving those arrogant words behind, Oyamada disappears back into the depths of the bushes.
Now alone, Ayaka scans the surroundings.
No suspicious sounds.
She lowers her guard slightly.
She lets out a breath.
"…Haa."
Right now, the 2-C heroes are undergoing combat training on the goddess's orders.
A training forest zone established beside the royal capital.
This area is completely enclosed by a massive wall.
Right now, ferocious monsters have been released inside the area.
However, she heard their strength has been adjusted to match the current heroes.
(To save the world from evil, huh.)
Ayaka leans her back against a sheer rock face.
She grips her spear tightly.
A few days ago.
It seems the goddess had the students kill captured monsters in the castle.
To get them accustomed to killing living beings.
That was the purpose, she heard.
At that time, Ayaka had been sleeping in a room inside the castle.
Because the goddess had knocked her unconscious.
By the time she woke up, the "rite of passage" was already over.
However, some students had failed to "pass."
They simply couldn't bring themselves to kill the monsters.
Some vomited and became unable to move.
Some broke down crying.
Some fainted.
Some became deranged.
Of course.
Taking the life of another sentient being with their own hands.
Everyone had lived in a world far removed from such acts or thoughts.
Ayaka was the same.
When Ayaka regained consciousness, the goddess came to see her.
First, the goddess spoke about the "dropouts" who failed the ritual.
Then, she informed her that she intended to "discard" them.
"I'm sorry, but I have no choice but to discard them. They'll meet the same end as the late Touka Mimori-san…"
She was also told a little about the circumstances of Touka Mimori's death.
But somehow, it didn't quite match the Touka Mimori she knew.
"..."
In any case, the fact remained that she couldn't save him.
"Sniff… I'm truly sorry, Sogou-san… I know it's frustrating, but this is Alion's firm policy. It's the rule. There's no helping it… I'm really, truly sorry, so very sorry…"
Ayaka understood the goddess's intentions.
"I'll be direct, Goddess."
"Yes? Go ahead? Please speak plainly?"
"I cannot approve of the way you do things, Goddess."
"Hmm~? Oh? What way is that?"
"…The way you abandon the weak."
"Ufufu, the world is full of different opinions, isn't it~? As someone who calls herself a goddess, I'm very tolerant. So I can accept a little difference in thinking~? However… those who cannot fulfill their role as heroes… I'm afraid I must ask them to leave…"
"S-Rank heroes have high value, don't they?"
"Yes! Extremely high!"
There was no choice.
Ayaka spoke the answer the goddess wanted.
"I will fulfill my role as an S-Rank hero on behalf of the students who couldn't pass your 'rite of passage.' In exchange, will you refrain from discarding them?"
"Wow! What a brave and wonderful proposal! As expected of an S-Rank hero! Even though you feel some discomfort with the method, you're willing to work yourself to the bone to cooperate with us!? For the sake of saving this world!"
"Yes."
"I'm so happy~! Then, let's shake hands to make up! I'm sorry for punching you in the stomach—even though it was to calm you down when you were in extreme distress and panicking~"
Ayaka shook hands with the goddess.
Her hand felt as cold as ice.
So the saying that people with cold hands are kind is a lie, she thought.
(Panicking, huh… Yes… I'm so confused that I can barely remember properly how many days it's been since we were summoned…)
But she has to do it.
For their sake.
For the students who couldn't overcome the first trial.
From what she heard of their names, they were all kind people in class.
And she heard their group leader was their homeroom teacher, Zakurogi.
But right now, he had completely lost his spirit.
When she saw him after waking up, he seemed like a different person.
"Man~ A D-Rank hero teacher? Seriously, no thanks~! Even if you tell me to respect him, my subconscious just rejects it~! Super cold~! Oh, and obviously no thanks from our group either! Hey, how about dishwashing in the castle kitchen!? Zakurogi-kun!?"
It seems his heart broke completely after Oyamada hurled those words at him.
Ayaka scolded Oyamada for going too far.
Feeling sorry for him, she called out to Zakurogi afterward.
But Zakurogi ignored Ayaka and staggered away.
"..."
(I have to become stronger.)
She was allowed to freely choose a weapon from the castle's armory.
Takuto Kirihara chose a katana.
Shogo Oyamada chose a greatsword.
Tomohiro Yasu chose dual swords.
Sei Takao chose a longsword.
Itsuki Takao chose a rapier.
It seems this world has katanas.
Apparently, some weapons and techniques from past summoned heroes had spread.
Ayaka Sogou chose a spear.
A weapon she selected without hesitation.
A weapon she was intimately familiar with.
Ayaka's grandmother was a master instructor of an ancient martial art school called "Kiso-ryu."
She doesn't know the circumstances under which her wealthy grandfather married her.
From a young age, Ayaka was taught Kiso-ryu by her grandmother.
Kiso-ryu isn't limited to spear techniques.
In origin, it developed from martial arts used when an opponent closed the distance where a spear could no longer be effective.
Amid studying, lessons, and training, receiving instruction from her grandmother was a secret pleasure.
After practice, she showered off the sweat, then read until bedtime.
Touka Sogou's daily life.
Now those days feel nostalgic.
(I never thought ancient martial arts would be useful for something…)
Ayaka loved her grandmother dearly.
That's why she kept up with the training.
(Who would have thought the Kiso-ryu I learned from Grandma would come in handy like this.)
But she can't relax.
If Ayaka fails to produce results, the dropout students will be in danger.
If she cannot deliver the results expected of an S-Rank hero—
(Like Mimori-kun…)
That's wrong.
The idea of discarding the weak.
Noblesse oblige.
A phrase that was popular a while back.
Those with power must fulfill their duty.
They must.
Ayaka steels her resolve.
First, she must kill monsters to "level up."
In this world, killing strong monsters makes you stronger too.
Apparently, you gain experience points (some kind of energy?) by killing them.
"Status, open."
[Ayaka Sogou]
LV1
HP: +700
MP: +300
Attack: +1300
Defense: +300
Vitality: +500
Speed: +700 [+500]
Intelligence: +700
[Title: S-Rank Hero]
She had received an explanation from the goddess.
When your level increases, these status correction values rise.
It seems the level system exists only for summoned heroes.
The native people have no concept of experience points or correction values.
They cannot check their own status either.
The display next to Speed is the effect of a unique item.
Ayaka lightly touches the earring in her ear.
Most unique items apparently add to correction values.
Indeed, she feels her feet are a little faster than before.
(Experience points…)
Killing humans does not grant experience points.
You cannot level up.
That makes sense, naturally.
If killing people made you stronger easily, murder would run rampant worldwide.
In the worst case, heroes might end up killing the very people they're supposed to protect.
Poisonings and assassinations would become commonplace.
Also, there are two types of monsters that grant experience points.
Those with more experience points are apparently "golden-eyed monsters."
Golden-eyed monsters are correspondingly stronger and more ferocious…
(And then…)
She displays the skill section.
She's gotten used to this operation.
Ayaka's unique skill remains grayed out.
It simply displays [Unique Skill].
Perhaps someday she'll be able to use some kind of magical power.
By the way, Ayaka has not yet killed a single monster.
Her level remains 1.
(Killing monsters… Can I do it? No—)
She will.
She must.
For the sake of Touka Mimori, whom she couldn't save.
This time, she will protect them.
She won't let anyone else be killed.
She will save the powerless.
She won't let Touka Mimori's death be in vain.