Episode 20: Distinguished Service Award
While Megumi had steeled her resolve and was enduring the attacks from the two, Kaori, having heard the sound generated by the wind cannon Megumi had unleashed, was heading towards Megumi at full speed. Behind her, a man carrying a male student from the Support Course was chasing after her. Both of them were running with serious expressions. Understanding that the sound from moments ago was no trivial matter, the two of them ran desperately, trying to reach them as quickly as possible.
And so, Kaori, who had been leading the way, arrived at Megumi’s location. However, the sight that greeted Kaori there was Megumi, battered and bruised, and a pair tormenting her and laughing. And then there was Kyoko, restrained by Earth Manipulation, trembling at the gruesome scene. Witnessing such a sight, Kaori couldn’t suppress her emotions and lunged forward at tremendous speed.
“You damn scuuuuuummmmmm!!!”
Swinging her naginata, Kaori charged straight at the two. The pair who had been tormenting Megumi saw Kaori rushing at them while screaming and judged the situation to be dire. Feeling the terror that they might be cut in half by the enraged Kaori, they thrust Kyoko, whom they held hostage, in front of her.
“Kyaa!”
“Ngh—!”
Kyoko, restrained, appeared in Kaori’s path like a shield protecting the two, forcing Kaori to brake hard. Stopping right in front of Kyoko, Kaori glared at the pair with a furious expression and roared.
“You fiends, do you even call yourselves men?! Taking a hostage to torture Megumi, have you no shame!”
“Hahaha! Say whatever you want, as long as we win, it’s fine.”
“Yeah, yeah. After all, that’s what this training is for. If anything, you’re the one who should think before you act. If this were a real battlefield, you’d be the one in a bind, wouldn’t you?”
“Tch! Of all things, you scoundrels dare to lecture me on reason!”
While it was true that the pair’s argument wasn’t wrong, Kaori couldn’t forgive the fact that it was these two pointing it out, and her shoulders trembled with anger. However, no matter how angry Kaori got, the situation wouldn’t improve. Kyoko remained restrained by Tamura’s Earth Manipulation, and Megumi was so badly burned it was a wonder she was still standing.
There was nothing she could do but silently accept the duo’s demands. Just like Megumi had, Kaori would have to endure their attacks. Just when it seemed that way, a man burst through a window on the second floor of the building and delivered a flying kick to Tamura.
“Gofu?!”
“Tamura!”
The man who kicked Tamura landed on the ground, then immediately turned to Kaori and gave instructions.
“Natsume! Take care of things there! I’ll help Kizaki!”
“R-Roger!”
Kaori, though surprised by the sudden turn of events, immediately moved to rescue Kyoko upon hearing the man’s words. After freeing Kyoko, Kaori left the spot to take Kyoko to a safe place.
“Gorilla, you bastard!!!”
“I am not a gorilla! I am Gouda!”
“Shut up and die!”
Inoue, perhaps possessing strong camaraderie, became enraged at Gouda for kicking Tamura and launched a fireball. However, Gouda, like Kaori, was a Body Enhancement Gifted. He dodged the fireball, then scooped up Megumi, who was swaying and about to collapse, and fled into a building.
“Damn it, don’t run!”
Inoue launched fireballs at the building Gouda had fled into, but with his firepower, he couldn’t do much. Inoue clicked his tongue in frustration and headed towards where Tamura had been sent flying. He likely judged that chasing alone would be disadvantageous.
“Oi, Tamura. Get a grip!”
“Ugh, damn it! That bastard Gouda, I won’t forgive him! I’ll definitely kill him!”
“They’re inside that building. Let’s go!”
“Yeah!”
Seething with anger, Tamura stood up, rubbing the spot where Gouda had kicked him. Inoue pointed to the building Gouda and the others had fled into, and the two entered, intending to pay them back for what they’d done.
Inside the building where he had hidden, Gouda laid the battered and bruised Megumi on the floor. Then, he called over the Support Course student he was assigned to protect.
“Sato, you can come out now.”
“A-Are the enemies gone?”
“Yeah. But they’ll be here soon.”
“Whaaat?! Then why did you call me?”
“Ah, that’s because I want you to look after Kizaki. As you can see, Kizaki fell into their despicable trap and is battered and bruised. It’s a wonder she hasn’t received a death judgment despite such severe injuries…”
“Eh, uwaah…! Is this okay? Shouldn’t we get her out of the Virtual Space?”
“Mmm, I think so too, but it’s impossible unless she receives a death judgment. The word ‘surrender’ doesn’t exist in this training, after all.”
“I just don’t get that. There are people who would hurt Kizaki-san this much, so I wish they’d add a surrender function.”
“Well, you have a point. More importantly, we can’t talk for long. Sorry, but take Kizaki and get away from here.”
“O-Okay.”
Saying so, Sato picked up Megumi and moved away from the spot. As soon as Sato and Megumi were gone, Inoue and Tamura appeared before Gouda. Their shoulders heaved, whether from exhaustion, anger, or perhaps both.
“Found you, Gorilla!”
“I’ve told you many times, I’m not a gorilla. I’m Gouda!”
“Shut up! A muscle-brain like you is a gorilla!”
“Good grief. For people who call others muscle-brained, you two don’t seem to see what’s around you.”
“Huh?!”
Gouda shrugged at Inoue, who was verbally abusing him, consumed by anger. Seeing this, Inoue’s blood rushed further to his head, his face turning bright red. And Tamura, standing beside him, was also furious with Gouda, his face contorting as he tried to activate his Gift.
“It seems you’ve completely forgotten about my presence.”
“Eh, ah?!”
“Too late! Die, you scumbag!!!”
The two, so focused on Gouda, had forgotten about Kaori. Because of that, Inoue failed to notice Kaori approaching from behind and was sliced in two by her naginata. Tamura, witnessing this, gasped and turned to flee, only to find Gouda appearing right in front of him.
“This time, I’ll finish you properly! Hah!!!”
“Ugeh!!!”
Stomping hard enough to make the floor cave in, Gouda drove a straight punch into Tamura’s abdomen. Unable to dodge, Tamura took the hit head-on, and Gouda’s fist pierced through his stomach. Then, Tamura received a death judgment, turned into particles of light, and vanished from the Virtual Space.
“Hardly a challenge.”
“Thanks, Gouda. You saved me.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s only natural to help a comrade. More importantly, go to Kizaki. She’s the one who deserves the Distinguished Service Award this time. Taken hostage, tormented by those two, yet she endured and remained standing until we arrived.”
“You’re right! But before that, I’ll go get Seto-san, so could you wait for me?”
“Yeah, got it.”
Kaori once again went outside the building to bring Kyoko. She informed Kyoko, who was hiding behind something, that they had defeated the enemy, and they returned to Gouda together. Since Kaori had returned with Kyoko, Gouda guided the two to Megumi.
“This way. I’ll show you.”
Guided by Gouda, Kaori and Kyoko headed towards Megumi. At the place they were led to, Sato was sitting with his knees drawn up, and beside him lay Megumi. Sato’s uniform jacket was draped over Megumi. Since Megumi’s clothes had been burned in places by Inoue’s fire, this was likely his way of showing consideration.
“Ah, is it over?”
Sato, who had been sitting with his knees drawn up, noticed the three approaching and looked up. His expression brightened upon confirming their presence. The fact that the three had arrived safely meant the enemy had already been defeated, so Sato let out a sigh of relief, no longer needing to be afraid.
“Yeah, it’s over,” Gouda replied to Sato’s question, just as Kaori, spotting Megumi, rushed to her side.
Having received Gifts from the two, the battered and bruised Megumi hadn’t received a death judgment, but she was in no condition to move properly. Since it was a Virtual Space and training, pain sensations were blocked, so she didn’t actually feel pain, but her body still reacted to the realistic sensations. She ended up believing it was painful even when it wasn’t.
“Nn… Ugh, Kaori-chan?”
“Megumi! I’m sorry! I should have been faster, no, I should have thought things through more… Because of that, Megumi, you…”
“Ehehe, I’m fine, this is nothing. More importantly, thank you, Kaori-chan. For saving me.”
“You don’t need to thank me! If only I had been more careful…”
“I heard that already. Kaori-chan… you say you don’t need thanks, but since I was saved like this, I want to express my gratitude. Because, if this had been reality, it means I would have survived.”
“Megumi…!”
Perhaps overcome with emotion, Kaori, with tears welling up in her eyes, suddenly pulled Megumi into a tight hug.
“Ahaha, Kaori-chan. I’m technically injured, you know, so I’d appreciate it if you were a bit gentle.”
“Ah, s-sorry!”
Even though it was a Virtual Space, Megumi was currently severely injured, so hugging her was, as expected, not a good idea. However, she was still happy that Kaori had hugged her out of concern, and Megumi was smiling. Gouda and the others just quietly watched the scene.
＊＊＊＊
Kazuma and the others in the monitor room
Kazuma: “That Gouda guy, isn’t he strong?”
Shunsuke: “Yeah, he’s a Gifted with Body Enhancement and a black belt in karate.”
Kaede: “He’s probably strong enough to be ranked among the top first-year boys, don’t you think?”
Kazuma: “Hyoee~, awesome!”
Shunsuke: “More importantly, is it okay?”
Kazuma: “What is?”
Kaede: “Those two are coming here, you know. Because they died, after all!”
Kazuma: “Ah… Well, you two are here with me, so it’ll be fine, right!”