Episode 17
I’m done for. This Gouketu is as strong as he looks. Too strong.
Even with my level being close to twenty and my sword skills supposedly developed to a decent extent, I can’t even touch him.
Certainly, my level and skills are far inferior, but I sense an abundance of real combat experience from this Gouketu, even more so than that. At least, someone like me, who can only properly use long-range attacks like ‘Slashing Airwave’ and fire-starting ‘True Flame Phoenix Palm,’ wouldn’t stand a chance no matter how hard I struggle.
“Alright. Well, I guess that’s about it. Not bad potential, I’d say.”
“Damn it, damn it, damn it! Making a fool of me… I’ll use Waslein’s power to crush you into a pulp…!”
“Whoa, scary. You’re not that kind of character… and what’s with Waslein’s power?”
“I’m Waslein’s eldest son, you know. If I tried, I’d probably get a severe scolding, though.”
“Seriously a big-shot noble… then even if you commit a sex crime, it’ll be covered up, so no problem, right…?”
“No, I’d probably be disowned in an instant.”
It’s not okay just because it won’t be a problem, is it? I’ve been vaguely aware of it, but isn’t this guy unfit to be a teacher?
Besides, it won’t go like that of a prestigious Japanese university student. Father is a clean and upright person despite being a big-shot noble.
Even so, I’m exhausted. This Gouketu is mercilessly showering me with killing intent, and I’m being toyed with in every way imaginable. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been disarmed, and I only managed to take one point out of pity at the very end—ah, leveled up.
“…………”
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
“…No, I’m just saying I’m tired, as expected.”
What is this…? Just a mock battle, not defeating a Monster… or maybe it counts. In RPGs, there are often cases where you get experience points in these event battles. But that usually requires a victory… right, I guess I technically won in the end.
“Well, of course. Go home quickly today and come again tomorrow.”
“Eh, tomorrow too?”
“You’re probably free since you don’t have any friends anyway. I’m free too, so it’s perfect.”
“Can’t you do something about that lack of tact? If I were even slightly less strong-willed, I’d be crying right now.”
“You probably don’t care at all, do you? I’ve never seen anyone with a stronger will than you.”
Calling me, who has lived by caution and humility alone, strong-willed is quite the misjudgment.
I’m certainly aware that I’ve been getting stronger lately, but that’s because anything that happens will be reset, so it’s a strength based on the loop.
In other words, it’s a false strength, a cardboard castle wall. Behind this thin wall is a cowardly me, curled up in a ball—
“Hey, what are you spacing out for? I’m closing up, so go home quickly.”
“Aye aye.”
As expected, Gouketu is as rough as he looks. He doesn’t care about my inner turmoil, and he’s probably lived a life free from worries.
Anyway, tomorrow morning, I’ll charge into the second-year classrooms. If there’s a handsome guy talking to a girl, I’ll thoroughly mark him and investigate his social circle to expose it to the light of day. No, that’s not right. I won’t expose him.
“You… how starved for women are you after just yesterday?”
“No, I haven’t investigated the second-years yet.”
The next day after school, I, undeterred, came to Gouketu’s territory and was being lectured before the mock battle. I shouldn’t have come if I knew this would happen.
Learning from the previous day’s mistakes, I quickly made my rounds, so I wasn’t caught in the act, but because it was the same method, I was apprehended like this.
“Haa, is that so? So? Are you going to charge into the first-year classes tomorrow?”
“No, not the first-years…”
“Looking for a Harem Bastard to kidnap a beautiful girl? ~Even if you charge into the classroom on the third day of enrollment, it’s ‘still too early’~.”
“What, do you like older women?”
“That’s not it… I’ll charge in again when freshmen enter next year and the year after.”
“Targeting anyone but classmates, what kind of weird fetish is that… and stop scaring them, they’ll freak out.”
“I don’t want to do it either if possible. Alas, things don’t always go as planned.”
“Sounds like you’re being tossed around by an irresistible fate… well, whatever, let’s do it today too.”
“Yessir.”
…And so, the mock battles with Gouketu, which had become routine, eventually developed into a Swordsmanship Club, and I, who was appointed as its glorious first president, unexpectedly ended up advancing on the path of the Sword that I had once sworn to Father.
And then came the day of graduation. I, who had managed to graduate by the skin of my teeth, was surrounded by juniors who were sad to part ways in the mysterious square that was the club’s activity space.
“S-Senior…! C-Congratulations on your graduation…!”
“Sniff… Senior? Why don’t you just not graduate and do another year? Huh? Let’s repeat a year?”
“Even if Geld-senpai is gone…! We’ll keep the Swordsmanship Club going… u, uuuuu…”
They’re really fond of me. Especially the five second-years, who all seem to be shedding copious tears.
…Come to think of it, it was just me at first, but when these five joined, it suddenly became like a real club.
From daily mock battles to practical training camps in the southern Forest, and even trips combined with exchange matches with schools from other countries, we’ve spent invaluable time together.
“I’ll become active in the fighting tournament like Geld-senpai someday, too!”
“Geld-senpai is, and always will be, my idol!”
“I’ll be waiting for the day Senpai gets revenge on the Knight Commander!”
And then fourteen freshmen joined a year later. A significant increase in members.
Many students came after hearing about how I, who had somehow ended up participating in the kingdom-sponsored regular fighting tournament, narrowly lost in a fierce battle against the Knight Commander in the final match.
Revenge on the Knight Commander… I won’t be able to show them that this time, at least.
“Aah, aah, don’t cry so much, you guys. It’s not like we’re saying goodbye forever. …Well then, have fun!”
“Senpai, until now…”
“Thank you very much!!”
“Ooh.”
I respond to my juniors’ words by lightly waving my hand behind me without turning around. Was that a little too cool?
I’ve become a mysterious man who is disliked by classmates and seniors, and strangely loved by juniors.
And on the day of his top disciple’s departure, the master and advisor, Gouketu-sensei, is absent due to urgent business… but he’s probably somewhere near the northern border right now.
I, who fought evenly with the Knight Commander of the Royal Capital, still don’t feel like I can beat Gouketu-sensei. I think I’ve gotten a lot closer than I was at first, but the summit that I thought was right there never seems to get any closer no matter how much I climb. That Gouketu was an incredible Gouketu, apparently.
Of course, there’s no way such a monster would just be a physical education teacher. He’s probably in a special position where he’s usually in charge of training successors, and then sent to the front lines in times of emergency, or something like that.
Anyway, I’ll leave the school gate and first go to a suitable inn to rest for now… or so I’m thinking, when I sense someone quietly running up from behind. This is… well, it’s probably Claire.
At the moment of impact, I quickly jump to the side to avoid the tackle. I can’t let a junior get the drop on me.
“You dodged again! That’s mean, Senpai, especially on the last day!”
“Your ability to mask your presence is still not good enough. I can’t give you my back with that.”
“It’s impossible! Hey, won’t you redo it with a slightly careless feeling? Huh?”
This weird technique of reading presence wasn’t the result of harsh training with Gouketu… but was mostly acquired in the Forest. However, Gouketu modified it so that I could use it in the city as well, even though it was limited to the Forest.
“So, what’s up? You went out in such a good mood.”
“You know why I’m asking, right? I came to catch Senpai.”
“Ummm, well, that’s the story… hmmm.”
“Why are you so dissatisfied! I’m a cute junior, a beautiful girl, with big boobs!”
“That’s true, but… hmmm.”
It’s not that I’m dissatisfied with Claire and groaning. She’s not as strikingly beautiful as Shino, but she’s definitely a beautiful girl, and her breasts are certainly large. She was the last of the second-years to open up to me, but in the end, she’s become a cute junior who admires me more than anyone else.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t blessed with talent, but she’s earnest because of that, and that’s why she took the most effort, and as a result, she became the person I crossed swords with the most. Of course, I have some special feelings for her.
However, time will rewind in about two weeks. Everything will be as if it never happened.
The fighting in the north should be intensifying soon, and the evacuation from Waslein should be gradually starting.
It seems the Royal Capital hasn’t fully grasped the severity of the situation yet, but from here on, news of the deteriorating war situation will spread rapidly, and by the time the refugees from Waslein arrive, that familiar, gloomy atmosphere will likely descend.
Being approached like this in such times, I’m not sure how to respond. If it were someone I didn’t care about, I could just mess around until it’s over, but…
“From the Swordsmanship Club, and a second-year… I can’t just mess around…”
“It’s okay if it’s just messing around, okay? It’s like a trial run. Let’s start with something light. Okay?”
Crap. I blurted out what I was thinking.
More importantly, she’s incredibly desperate. I’ve never seen Claire this desperate, even during training.
I don’t remember doing anything that would cause this… but I guess I do. If I were a seventeen-year-old guy and an older female upperclassman did something like this, I’d definitely admire her. It wouldn’t be strange if that turned into romantic feelings.
On top of that, Geld is reasonably handsome, has become incredibly strong, and his family is a great noble house… Wait, am I actually a pretty good catch?
No, considering that, everyone except Claire seems to hate me… or rather, I was hated by everyone except the Swordsmanship Club members… What’s going on? How can I be so hated with such good conditions?
Could it be that someone jealous of my high specs spread nasty rumors? That’s the only explanation.
Or maybe the Harem Bastard and the search for beautiful girls wasn’t a good idea? I couldn’t find any, so for a while, I desperately stormed into classrooms, only to be scolded by Gouketu. Around that time, Claire said my eyes were scary… And in the end, I didn’t find anyone…
“Yes, senpai, we’re hugging on the street. This is a fait accompli. There are many witnesses.”
“…………”
While I was lost in thought, I realized Claire was hugging me from the front and saying something incomprehensible.
This girl is definitely an idiot. Thinking about all sorts of complicated things is starting to feel idiotic. Should I just become an idiot too…?