Chapter 24

<strong>The Heroes from Earth</strong>

The D-Rank Hero, Kashima Kobato, was walking along a luxurious corridor paved with carpets .

The castle have an impression of being the same as those in your favorite fantasy movies .

The first thought that would come to mind would be that it resembles a Medieval European style .

…I feel a bit disgusted about my lack of vocabulary .

Nonetheless, this is one of the scenery that I admired .

[………]

If it weren’t for this situation though, I might have been glad .

I raise my head .

My field of view changes from the feet to the back of the human heads .

Leading the group is the goddess along with my following classmates from 2-C .

It’s like we’re on a tour trip .

[There’s one thing you all have to do before I hand over a unique item . ]

The goddess said so .

I closed my eyes .

I clasped my hands together as if like I’m praying for something .

(I’m scared…)

That moment when that third wolf has suddenly burned up .

At that time, my heart was seized with fear .

After the measurement, I was shrinking in the corner of that room .

There’s more than 10 other classmates along with me who were shaking in despair .

I understood what was happening with that magic circle .

There were those dreadful words that were flying about .

Kirihara Takuto, Oyamada Shougo, and even that Yasu Tomohiro had changed too .

Also those classmates who speak of abuse and mockery .

Even that goddess .

I’m scared of them .

[F**k you, sh*tty goddess!]

(Mimori-kun…)

Tears can’t help but flow out of my eyes .

(I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I can’t do anything…)

<strong>△</strong>

There was once a day where I had found a cat lying down near the school gate .

It seem to be terribly weak .

Everybody ignored that cat .

It was only two boys who passed by at that time that has took interest in it .

They took pictures of the amusing cat with their smartphone .

[If we post this image on and get a lot of reactions on Insta, I’ll help that cat! Heck, if it spread all over the place, maybe I’ll be talked about on TV!]

INSTA is a social network who focuses on images .

In the end, those students did not return .

I was left standing alone on the spot .

(W-what should I do…?)

First of all, I should search for information on my smartphone with the keywords “cat” and “dying” .

My fingers were shaking .

It has always been like this .

If I don’t rely on something, I can’t make a move myself .

I can’t decide what to do by myself .

[Uwwaaahhh!?]

I ended up finding an image of a cat’s corpse .

The fingers that had been operation my smartphone froze .

I closed my eyes tightly .

(It’s impossible… to continue searching, I don’t want to do that anymore…)

[Kashima?]

A voice called out to me .

It’s a boy’s voice .

[Ah… Mimori-kun…]

It’s a boy from the same class, Mimori Touka .

We have never spoken before .

He’s a boy who doesn’t stand out that much .

Or rather, he have so little presence .

I feel some familiarity with him though .

Why is that?

It’s because he doesn’t have that scary impression like from the group of Kirihara Takuto .

[Wait, that cat…]

[Ah, yeah…]

I explained the circumstances .

And then Mimori-kun replied with “I understand . ” .

[Eh?]

[Let’s take it to the vet . ]

[Ah . ]

Veterinarian .

That’s right .

Why haven’t I thought of going there first?

[Did you hurt yourself somewhere?]

Mimori-kun gently held the cat in his arms .

[Calm down, will you?]

(For Mimori-kun… to make a face like that…)

And so, we went to a veterinarian .

Apparently, it seems that the cat’s leg was injured .

The cat’s also weak because it’s lacking from sufficient nutrition .

The vet told us that it’d be fined if the cat would be treated .

The relieved me left the veterinary hospital with Mimori-kun .

[Mimori-kun… T- thank you…]

[It’s fine . I actually like cats . ]

[Ah, about the money–]

The payment have been paid by Mimori-kun .

I had only been watching the cat .

It seems that he had paid them at that time .

I had hurriedly took out my wallet at that time .

But Mimori-kun just smiled .

[It’s fine about the money . In the first place, I was the one who suggested that we bring it to the vet . ]

[But…]

[It’s fine already . I’m actually the type to expend money on things that matter . ]

I can’t come up with the words to reply back .

It’s always been like this .

Just easily accepting of the other party’s words .

Always been adjusting to the other party .

That’s how I avoid even the slightest sign of a quarrel .

Inaction .

(I have to find a topic… with a topic, even I should be able to say something…)

I made a clumsy smile .

I’m quite good at “escaping” at things with a smile .

[Say, Mimori-kun… d-do you like animals?]

[Ah, I like them . ]

Mimori-kun’s eyes look like they are looking at somewhere quite far in the distant sky .

[They’re better than humans . ]

[…eh?]

(Mimori… kun?)

Mimori-kun looks quite surprised .

His smile looks like he’s troubled by something .

[Ahhh– no no, just now… that’s not really the case! You know, animals don’t have to worry how they’re different around others, unlike how humans think . Besides, I really like my parents right now . ]

That’s quite a vague excuse .

I feel like he’s just making it up .

If I remember it right, there seems to be some kind of culture where boys at a certain age would dare to say that they “hate humanity” just in order to make it so that they appeared to be unique from other people .

The thing is that they have a different sense of character from the others, that they would think (or make others think) that they were cooler than them .

That’s what is written on the internet . ( I often rely on the internet . Even if I’m unskillful at talking, I should still reply kindly . )

However, Mimori-kun looks like he’s really trying to steer away in a hurry .

It’s like he really failed at hiding something .

I have been having that feeling .

[Umm… a- anyway… you know— you’re quite kind, Kashima . ]

[Eh? Uhmmm… T- that’s not true at all… it’s you, Mimori-kun that’s… a- anyway… s- see you tomorrow at school…]

[Ah? Ah . Be careful on your way home, Kashima . ]

Since then, I haven’t talked to Mimori Touka .

I didn’t have the courage to speak .

To talk with the boys in our school .

That hurdle was too high for a shy person like Kashima Kobato .

On the other hand, there was only that one time when I talked Mimori-kun .

But I had ignored it .

After all, I didn’t have any courage .

Since then, I have always felt a little guilty towards Mimori Touka .

Incidentally, the cat at that time had now been a member of the Kashima family .

<strong>v</strong>

(For my classmates to be like that…)

This class is scary .

When Oyamada kicked Yasu’s seat on the bus, I was quite frightened .

I must not make eye contact with Oyamada Shogou .

If I do, I may die from heart attack .

I’m a coward .

There’s also that third wolf…

(Does a hero have to fight such a thing? That’s impossible, absolutely…)

The goddess-sama is also scary .

I can’t say it exactly, but there’s something I don’t like about her .

On the other hand, Sogou Ayaka was quite amazing .

She fought against the goddess even in that kind of situation .

Ayaka is different from me .

Even the Takao sisters .

I can’t behave that way .

Kirihara Takuto, Oyamada Shogou and Yasu Tomohiro are different .

Everyone in this class is better than me .

I look down at my feet .

(A cowardly D-Rank Hero… I wonder if I will be discarded too . )

[Ko–ba–to–?]

[Ah…]

I raise my face .

[What are you staring blankly at? Are you also anxious?]

[Ikusaba-san . ]

A smiling female student talked to me while she’s walking backwards .

[Asagi . ]

[Eh?]

[Me actually… I don’t like being called being called by my surname, so I often said it back in our classroom . If you knew and yet still persist on calling me like that, 70 % of this class may ostracize you, you know?]

[I… I’m sorry . ]

Ikusaba Asagi .

Her measurement should have been B-Rank…

Oyamada Shougo’s A-Rank appraisal result outshined Asagi’s B-Rank result and thus was washed away, but her Rank is still higher than most of the class .

The top of this class consists of Kirihara Takuto’s group .

However, if it’s just limited to the female’s group, it can be said that Asagi’s group have the largest power .

It would be bad if Ikusaba Asagi looks at you with a bad light .

Everybody, every girls understand that .

So, I don’t go against it .

I’d even flatter her just to be taken in .

They must see me as a harmless bystander .

I chose to be in a neutral position .

I usually try to be as invisible as the air as long as possible .

Even in breaks, I would just read FreeWebNovels secretly .

[Oh, right~? Is it okay if I confirm something, Poppo?]

Asagi often calls me “Poppo” .

Is it because of that song “Hatopoppo” .

(T/N: dunno about the reference here actually . Poppo could be referred to as “choo-choo” as in the sound of train . Poppo can then be said as a nickname for her because she always the one who follows . Hatopoppo… A hat for train drivers? Hato could also mean pigeon, which can also be read as Kobato, which is her name . )

[Uh, yeah… what is it?]

Asagi moved to my side and put her hand around my waist .

I won’t let it go— my airiness .

[It’s just what I think would happen, but probably this class… would collapse sooner or later . ]

(eh…?)

[Collapse…?]

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