Episode (6): Nanase Aoi(2)
SOVEREIGN OF DEATH~(6)
My eyes squinted trying to get used to the rapid shift of brightness.
Where in the world was this?
She was baffled, how did she go from inside a classroom to wherever this was?
And it seemed she wasn't the only one in this situation.
There were those in the same year from different classes, upperclassmen and even teachers.
Was it a dream? She couldn't grasp the situation at all!
But, before she could continue the questions the huge door at the end of the room opened and several figures stepped out.
Most prominent was a middle aged man in gaudy attire.
She couldn't even gauge his identity before a heavy pressure descended.
What…is this!?
As an ordinary girl facing killing intent for the first time it was rather fortunate she didn't immediately pass out.
All her classmates were in the same situation, barely staying conscious and the king seemed satisfied by their reactions and grinned.
His eyes traced the crowd and then paused on something, no someone.
'Hou'
At the end of his gaze, a familiar figure.
Black hair and bangs covering his face.
With nerdy glasses, bangs covering half his face the person seemed like the personification of the word loser.
Kanata Nagisa.
How can he stand this pressure?
Aoi felt like she was teetering on the edge of losing consciousness so this sight shook her.
The mountainous pressure felt as if it would crush her to death any moment.
Why was this guy so unbothered?
They had known each other since they developed consciousness of the outside world.
In a sense, they were childhood friends.
Movies depicted relationships like these like a fairytale in real life and Aoi had to admit she wanted the same.
But she had grown up, now a high schooler worried about her reputation and trying not to get bullied, how could she talk to this loser of a childhood friend in public?
Where was the silver blue haired golden eyed cutie from her memories?
Why did he now look like an otaku?
How could a teenage girl going through adolescence take it?
Yes, at first she didn't mind it and wanted to reminisce with this childhood friend.
But her friends were ruthless.
Creepy, introvert, loser, virgin, otaku. Every curse available, they tossed it out like nothing without regards for the feelings of another human being.
Aoi was terrified, would she have to face the same treatment if she got close to him?
So, she treated him coldly. She didn't even acknowledge his presence.
Afterwards guilt ate her constantly.
But what was she supposed to do in that situation?
Seeing firsthand how terrifying these girls were, was she supposed to willingly become the next target?
No way.
But her guilt won out and she lashed out unconsciously.
Who told her to be bold?
She tried apologizing but she was hit with a barrage of insults that would make even cult leaders cry tears of blood.
Then she was all alone.
It was better than tiptoeing around those awful girls, but isolation felt even more excruciating.
It was then that she met Akane. Although they were from the same middle school, there were in different groups so they never hung out but Akane was cool.
Even when she was isolated by other girls she never cared one bit and still hung out with Aoi.
She was a friend who listened and gave advice, even helping her muster courage to apologize to Nagisa.
But, that incident happened and Nagisa became the focus of rumors.
Aoi didn't want to believe it was true, however the person who said it was Renji and he would never lie so Nagisa must be a pervert.
After that, Aoi never even bothered to notice him ever again.
The very same Nagisa, stood against the pressure as if it didn't exit.
Finally satisfied, the king waved his hand and the knights pressure eased.
It was hard to breathe and so I clutched my chest while heaving.
It was then I had the chance to look around and was even more confused.
A government experiment?
However the king soon cleared up the confusion as if reading her mind.
But the explanation made no sense.
They were all summoned to another world as heroes?
How did that even make sense? Maybe this was a prank show or something.
Who would believe they had crossed another world and gained supernatural abilities out of nowhere?
Looking at Renji deep in thought, her heart eased however. As long as her white knight was there she would be safe.
Another moment passed and a princess appeared easily capturing the hearts of everyone.
Boys, hmph!
Even Renji seemed ensnared by her beauty.
Aoi was angry but feeling that even she was attracted to the princess she had no words to say.
Unconsciously, her eyes wandered to Nagisa and saw him take a short glance before turning away.
He seemed not to be interested, but how could someone who would even molest a girl on a train not be interested in a beauty?
He must be acting!
The princess then explained in more detail about the world as well as the phenomenon known as 'Status'.
A status?
The next moment-
Wow!
[Aoi Nanase – (Lv.1)]
[Class– Saint]
[Trait – Holy Magic (S+)]
[Mana–100/100]
"Skills"
[Healing (D)] [Barrier (D-)] [Cure (D)]
Sa..int?
A status appeared!
She tried touching the panel glowing before her but her hands passed right through.
I can't touch it?
No, that hardly matters. It's real! It's all real!
This wasn't an inhumane government experiment but a genuine otherworld travel!
But what is a saint?
It's not a combat class judging on the skills.
Perhaps she could ask more later?
Soon they all began to reveal their occupations.
Renji went first, his class was hero.
An uproar exploded and even the king seemed excited, so were all the other girls since Renji had always been dreamy like a true hero.
Now he was actually 'The" hero!
When it was my turn, it turns out my class was just as rare as Renji's.
Then, does it mean we can get even closer than before?
She was excited at the thought.
At last, it was Nagisa.
His class reveal caused an uproar in a different way than Renji.
A…chef?
Classmates laughed and the king cursed him for being an incompetent and waste of resources.
The princess tried to calm her father's rage but the situation was developing too fast for any of us to intervene.
The king ordered his execution and the knights all attacked without mercy.
It didn't seem like they were facing a teenage boy of 15 years old but a vile criminal that had committed all sorts of misdeeds.
No one had the thought or courage to stand up for Nagisa as they all realized.
This was another world.
If the king didn't like something he could just easily send them to the gallows for an execution.
He was done for.
How could the ordinary Nagisa escape death by the hands of trained knights?
Yet, the next moment shocked everyone.
Not only did Nagisa not die instantly, he even fought back at an even pace with the knights.
He even killed them, spilling blood as if it was just another common day.
It felt, unnervingly natural.
It was hard to watch.
Even if they had become distant, they were still once good friends.
Someone needed to stop him, but whom?
Just then, a voice echoed shining through like a light in the dark.
It was Renji, denouncing Nagisa for his actions and telling him to repent.
This was truly the hero, her knight in shining armor!
Even facing this sight he still steps forward, no way that guy will ignore his words!
Still, the kind words given were mercilessly shut down with a threat.
What an arrogant bastard!
How dare you yell at Renji!?
Didn't he know those words were said for his good?
Whatever, she didn't care anymore. He was done killing anyway and should just runaway forever.
But, as if to say it wasn't over yet an arrow pierced through to silent throne room.
Nagisa however moved as if he had eyes behind him and diverted the sudden attack.
A cute girl appeared firing arrows continuously which Nagisa also blocked as they chatted.
Before my mind could even wonder what they were talking about, I saw Nagisa fall over suddenly.
The little girl gave an evil laugh and her murderous aura swept the scene.
She was terrified.
No, the situation just kept going from bad to worse way too quickly!
There were corpses lying on the ground, a cute little girl with a deadly aura and Nagisa seemed to be in a pinch.
A really bad pinch!
Aoi felt the urge to step forward.
She couldn't just abandon him to die right?
Sure, she was angry at his actions but also relieved he survived the earlier predicament.
But again, he was in danger.
What could she even do?
Nothing.
She felt helpless.
In her helplessness she could only watch as a majestic woman calling herself a Valkyrie descended and subdued the resisting Nagisa like a chicken trying to avoid slaughter.
Aoi glanced at the figure trapped in the glowing circle of light.
She was indifferent when rumors spread and ignored him, yet he never once badmouthed her or showed a look of resentment.
He just fulfilled her wish and became invisible.
The glow of the magic circle became even more intense and a feeling of loss surged in her heart.
No matter what, he was precious to her and she didn't want to lose him.
Determined, although still scared Aoi mustered her courage to step forward. But her steps were halted as a hand pulled her back.
Looking at Renji shaking his head as if to say she was powerless, Aoi gritted her teeth.
So what if she was powerless? It didn't matter!
Yet, no matter how she struggled she could not get away from Renji.
I could only watch the circle of light swallow my childhood friend without mercy.
Tears fell silently and sorrow rose deep within me.
[Aoi....]
A warm embrace came from behind and I could only face my best friend.
She wanted to do good by him, she really wanted to.
[I know, I know]
Akane glared at the grinning Renji and comforted her friend who could only escape reality through her tears.