Episode 169 – Second Test (5)

Second Test (5)

On the screen, Shion Ascal was deploying the [Eight Swords].

Based on the ‘line’ drawn on the ground, he swung his sword and cut down his enemies.

A self-hypnosis commonly used by swordsmen. However, the sudden change in his posture of non-action is far from common.

The ‘trembling’ has disappeared from his demeanor as he cuts down his enemies.

If an enemy crosses the line, he calmly cuts them down.

He doesn’t allow even an inch of approach, focusing solely on his own purpose.

His defensive sword using the [Eight Swords] is remarkably calm. The whole process of deployment is too natural.

As if he had become one with his sword….

Arkne’s Igris was watching it.

Not just Igris.

Famous people, influential people, and a few so-called strong people who were invited to the VVIP college board were all appreciating him.

─Is this the guy who beat Gerkhen in the Three Sword Forms duel?

─Yes, that’s right.

─I see. I remember. The kid who put his body on the line while using that sword. Now it seems like [Eight Swords], but he’s using [Eight Swords] in his own way.

─It’s interesting. Because the test is difficult, these kinds of guys pop up. It wasn’t for nothing that the scouts flagged his name.

While Igris was trying not to listen to their words, trying not to show any reaction even if he heard, managing his expression.

“Igris.”

Someone called him.

“You’re staying for a long time.”

Igris looked in that direction.

It was Theia. Theia Esil, a professor at Edsilla National University.

“……It’s worth watching. They said this batch is good, it seems to be true.”

He responded leisurely. Theia glanced at his screen.

“Aren’t you watching your daughter?”

“She’ll do well on her own.”

“…….”

Theia was silent for a moment.

In fact, she too had seen Shion Ascal. She had seen his use of [Eight Swords]. It wasn’t a typical [Eight Swords], but she didn’t bother to say it out loud.

“It’s the pros and cons of popularization.”

So Igris opened his mouth first.

“Even someone without any foundation can learn [Eight Swords] and modify it in their own way.”

“Is that okay, though?”

“There’s nothing I can do to stop it. As a family that became the origin of swordsmanship, we have to generously accept it. Although it’s annoying.”

Igris chuckled. Theia looked back at the screen with a blank expression.

Shion Ascal. A senior who claims to be a loyal knight of Libra.

So Theia doesn’t like him.

There’s no way she could like him.

A guy whose future hope is to serve a family that is an enemy of the world.

“Your daughter is moving.”

“……Soliette?”

Igris looked back at the screen.

Just as she said, Soliette had left the front line.

Suddenly, she started running somewhere.

Igris calculated her direction and route.

Facilities office… more precisely, the direction of the broadcast room.

Could it be, she’s going to save that guy?

Igris ground his teeth at the thought.

Just then, Soliette was surrounded by monsters. She was encircled by a massive number of them.

“Fuck.”

Being swallowed up on all sides meant game over. Igris wore a face of dejection. It was ridiculous, he had lost his composure without realizing it.

But then.

Kwaaaaa─────!

A huge flame surged up, as if to reach the sky. The monsters surrounding Soliette were turned to ash in an instant.

“……?”

Igris quickly leaned forward. He stared hard at Soliette.

The massive explosion of fire. Her sword that caused it was flickering with flames.

It was a [Flame Sword].

“Oh?”

Even Theia couldn’t help but admire.

The corners of Igris’s mouth twitched slightly. Indeed, it was a growth to be proud of.

“She’s reached the point where she can manifest a Flame Sword…….”

Soliette incinerated everything that clung to her.

And then she ran again, towards the broadcast room.

“Your daughter seems to be close to Shion Ascal.”

Theia made a very annoying remark, but Igris didn’t bite.

“Friend…… it seems.”

He spoke as if it were a delight.

“I’m glad she’s made a friend after a long time.”

He’s just a commoner who will soon fall away.

Whether a friend or whatever, Soliette is in a world that mere commoners can’t stand.

Igris stroked the sword at his waist without any worries.

* * *

I’m still in the booth. The monsters are rushing in like a tide, and my sword cuts down those who cross the ‘line’.

It’s a bit strange.

I’m clearly swinging my sword with my hand and arm, but it doesn’t feel like I’m the one swinging it. It feels like the automation algorithm of the 「Notepad」 is controlling me.

Squeak───!

I can’t help but admire it.

The [Eight Swords] is definitely the pinnacle of basics. It can respond in any situation.

Indeed, it’s a swordsmanship worthy of the epithet of all-purpose sword.

But even that has its limits.

I’m cutting down the enemies as concisely as possible, but my stamina is still being drained.

Squeak───!

Of course, my body is sturdy.

No matter how I swing my sword, even if I put a load on my joints that feels like they’ll twist, my body doesn’t break.

If anything, I lack stamina.

As a patient with cancer of the magic’s core, I lack the ‘inside’ to handle such a good ‘outside’.

“Ah…….”

I can’t go on.

Suddenly, that thought came to me.

I swung my sword with one hand and put the other hand in my pocket.

And then…….

──────!

I heard something burning below. Soon, a strong heat rose up. All the monsters in the space were burning fiercely.

The sight dyed in crimson.

In those flames, a woman with red long hair approached me.

“It’s too early to give up, Shion.”

Soliette.

She smiled at me.

* * *

……1 hour ago.

The eastern gate of the barricade that Soliette was in charge of.

Kraaaaaa──!

The monsters were still pouring in relentlessly, but the front line was now somewhat stable.

Hweeeeeek───!

Layla stretched out her magic like a wedge, splitting the monsters within a fan-shaped radius in half.

“Phew. I was awesome just now.”

While praising herself, she sneakily glanced at Soliette.

She was swinging her sword in the middle of the front line, but her complexion was not good. She had been looking worried for a while now.

It probably wasn’t physical fatigue.

“Soliette!”

Layla called out to her. Soliette, after slaying a monster, turned to look at her.

“Yes.”

“Soliette, you~!”

“……Yes?”

Layla squinted her eyes, nose, and mouth as if she knew everything.

“You look like you’re thinking too much! Are you thinking about Shion?!”

Soliette was taken aback.

Could it be that obvious?

“No, it’s not that. Shion is-”

“You’re lying!”

Layla rushed over to her and handed her a box filled with supplies. Soliette tilted her head.

“What is this?”

“Take it and go quickly. If you’re going to go, now is the only time.”

“…….”

Soliette’s expression hardened for a moment. She looked around.

The number of monsters had significantly decreased. Another wave would start soon, but for now, it was relatively calm.

“Are you going or not?”

Layla asked again.

“Are you going to leave Shion in the broadcast room like this?”

Soliette alternated her gaze between the supply box and the barricade, contemplating, but soon clenched her fist.

“……Layla.”

In Soliette’s opinion, it was irresponsible.

No matter how she thought about it, that was the case, but she couldn’t help it.

Even if the barricade was breached and 600 people were crushed, she wanted to save Shion.

Because to her, the ‘individual’ was more important than the group.

“Don’t worry! I’ll take care of things here!”

Layla said to Soliette, who had a determined look on her face.

“Yes. I’m counting on you. I’ll be back.”

“Trust me! I’m Layla!”

Ssang-

Without even listening, she ran off beyond the eastern gate.

As Soliette was getting farther away, Layla watched her swaying red hair and smirked.

“Kuhuhuhut…… according to plan.”

Now, Soliette was not at the eastern gate.

In that case.

“Everyone listen up!! From now on, I’m in charge here!!! I’m Layla─!!”

Layla quickly took command.

At the same time, she activated the temporary suit she had secretly made in the Planarium.

“Everyone follow my lead!! Don’t go outside the barricade, fight them from inside!! There’s no need to go out!!”

Pazuzzuzz─!

Just then, a summoning formula flickered in the air.

Another wave had begun.

“Here they come!! Everyone get ready!!”

-Shut up.

A small complaint trickled in.

“What did you say?! Who was that just now!”

-……

It quickly quieted down.

“Assholes. Don’t talk back to the person in charge, everyone get ready!!”

Kraaaaa───!

Monsters poured down from the sky, screeching.

“Hup!”

Layla faced them with both fists.

“Hup! Hah! Hah!”

With each punch of her authority, the monsters’ heads and teeth exploded……

“Wait! What’s that gummy!”

Some supply caught her eye.

“You there, yes you!”

It was a bear-shaped gummy that a kid shooting arrows from behind was about to pop into his mouth.

“What’s that bear-shaped gummy! Where did it come from!”

“……This, this? A friend made it. He has a ‘Spectrum’ in the food production skill-”

“Give it!”

“Uh, uh?”

“Since I’m at the front line, I should eat it.”

Layla monopolized the tasty-looking snacks among the supplies. She didn’t eat all of them out of conscience, she ate half and returned the other half.

In the midst of this.

“……Layla.”

Elise approached. Layla was startled and looked at her. The commander had a slightly bitter face.

“Uh, Elly. Um…… that is…… Soliette is…….”

“I know. She must have left.”

“……Ah, you knew?”

“Of course.”

Elise nodded.

“I think we can dispatch a few more people that way.”

At her words, Layla’s eyes widened.

“Are you going yourself, Elly?”

“No. Are you crazy. What will happen here if I go.”

Elise prioritizes the group over the individual.

“They’ll manage on their own.”

Even if the two of them retire there, she will command the barricade here.

Above all……

If there is someone worthy of Shion. If there is someone he needs right now.

It would be Soliette, not Elise.

* * *

“──That’s what happened.”

Broadcast room.

Soliette was rubbing her right forearm as she spoke. I looked at it too. There was a wound. The bleeding was relatively light, but I tore my clothes. I wrapped her forearm with it.

“That’s what happened, but why did you come here.”

I was slightly angry. I was about to press the comfort button just now.

Soliette narrowed her eyes.

“Why? I came here to find a way.”

“There’s no way. I was about to give up because there’s no way……”

For now, it’s a very long-awaited rest time. Thanks to Soliette almost completely burning down the facility management room.

“If it were me, Shion would have done the same. Wouldn’t you?”

Soliette asked very naturally.

“…….”

I was momentarily at a loss for words, and she firmly continued.

“Shion has already done so. During the evaluation test. When I couldn’t finish the stairs and collapsed. Why did you help me?”

“Well, that’s…”

“‘That’s’ what? I’m right. When it seemed like there was no way for me, Shion also came looking for me.”

I looked at her. She gave a faint smile.

“So, I came looking too.”

“…Sigh.”

I sighed.

In this situation, I have no choice but to endure it semi-forcibly. If I give up, Soliette will have to handle this place alone.

Kyaaaaa──.

The sound of the rapidly proliferating monsters rushing in again echoed, and although it’s now hard for me to even lift a finger.

“Shion, conserve your strength.”

Soliette stood up.

“I’ll take over from here.”

“…Alright.”

Fortunately, if we can hold out for another 6 hours, another fruit will ripen.

─There!

But, again, there was a strange noise from the ceiling. Soliette and I looked up.

Thud-! Thud-!

The sound of footsteps landing on the ceiling.

Those presences quickly descended and joined us.

“Here they are! Guys, over here!”

There were four seniors. Three of them looked familiar. They were the guys who had received half a chocolate bar and a piece of meat from me.

I blinked my eyes.

“…What? How did you guys get here?”

“We rode a hang glider. We have to repay the chocolate bar!”

The three of them came into the booth with a fleeting smile.

And the remaining one, the guy loitering outside the booth.

“Kielli?”

It was Kielli. Why, he was on the same team as Soliette in a previous group project.

The nuisance from ‘Fog Mountain’.

“…Ahem. Yes. Yes.”

Kielli scratched the back of his neck and drew his sword.

“I also came to repay a debt. The debt from that time at Fog Mountain.”

“…”

Soliette and I looked around at them.

“First, I’ll install the 「Vitality Formula」! We’re all long-range fighters, so we won’t overlap.”

The chocolate bar team each took their positions and laid down supplies inside the soundproof booth.

Thump-

Soliette tapped my shoulder. She glanced sideways and raised an eyebrow.

“Shion. You did well.”

“…I just gave a few chocolate bars?”

Anyway, I sat down on the floor.

“Well… please hold on a bit. I’m going to rest for a while.”

“Leave it to us!”

With their confident voices behind me.

I closed my eyes.

And fell into a deep sleep.