◇[Kashima Kobato]◇
"So, collapse. Honestly, I think Class 2-C is eventually gonna split apart~"
"S-split?"
Asagi looks forward.
The group right behind the goddess.
Kirihara Takuto's group.
Behind them follows the completely changed Yasu Tomohiro.
The further forward in the line, the higher the current class hierarchy.
Naturally, the students further back have weaker positions in the class right now.
Asagi deliberately chose to stay toward the rear.
Also, Sogo Ayaka, who fainted and was carried away, is not here now.
The disappeared Takao sisters are nowhere to be seen either.
"See? Our class is full of people with huge egos, right? A lot of annoying ones too. I totally think the factions are gonna become way more clearly divided eventually~"
Asagi smiles brightly.
"And when that happens, you'll... of course join our faction, right? You will, won't you?"
"Eh...?"
Her smile is there, but her eyes are not smiling.
"War is all about numbers, Kobato-chaaan~? You get it, right? Well, maybe fluffy Poppo-chan, whose nutrition all went to her chest, doesn't get it~?"
"—!? S-stop...!"
Asagi touches her chest.
Her chest, which had grown unusually large since middle school.
Kobato had always been self-conscious about it.
Squeeze.
"Ah—"
She is pulled forcefully by the waist again.
"Listen, okay? B-class me is personally inviting D-class you. Normally thinking about it, joining our group is obviously the smarter move. Oh, you are not seriously thinking you could get into Kirihara's group, are you? No way, no way, no way! Slow and D-class—you getting in there? Impossible."
"But I... factions..."
(But... if it was Sogo-san's group...)
Kobato respects Sogo Ayaka.
She admires her too.
A refined young lady, beautiful, great figure.
Smart, athletic.
Strong, dignified.
Kind.
"Sogo's gonna die, you know."
"...Eh?"
Words that seem to see right through Kobato's heart.
Her heart pounds like an alarm bell.
"S-Sogo-san is going to die? Asagi-san, what do you mean—"
"Huh? Are you seriously that clueless? You saw it, right? That idiot defying the goddess earlier. Someone that reckless can't survive long. Ojou-sama~ do you understand the difference between courage and recklessness~? Kobato, understand~?"
Kobato swallows.
(Even so, Sogo-san is amazing...)
But she swallows those words along with her saliva.
She cannot say them.
That one phrase.
"Well, Kobato-chan, you should really understand your own position too, okay~? Depending on the situation~? If we defeat the Great Demon Emperor or whatever and get back to the original world—"
Pat.
As if pronouncing judgment, Asagi pats her shoulder.
"The 'evaluation' in this world might result in... no place left for Kashima Kobato in Class 2-C~? Remember that well, okay? Did you understand, Poppo-chan?"
"..."
"Hey, don't just stay silent."
Fwoy, fwoy.
"Hya!?"
Asagi lifts and taps her chest from below twice.
The boys' gazes gather.
Kobato flushes rapidly.
She quickly covers her chest.
Asagi glances at the boys' reactions.
"Kobato may be bottom-tier D-rank as a hero, but for the boys, you're effective in other ways~ So when the time comes, I plan to have you use your sex appeal. Let's work hard together, okay, Poppo-chan?"
Kobato looks down again.
(That's awful... Asagi-san...)
Suddenly, the front becomes noisy.
"Heroes, please fleeeee!"
It is the robed otherworlder's voice.
Through the gaps in the line of students, Kobato catches a glimpse of the robed man running toward them with a panicked expression.
"What is it?"
The goddess asks.
"I am terribly sorry! While preparing the monsters as instructed, a foolish soldier mistakenly released a dragon-like one!"
The robed man, face pale, suddenly looks back.
"Pi gye e e e—!"
A small dragon-like monster appears from around the corner.
It is flying.
Kobato flinches.
(A-a monster...!)
"Goddess! The dragon-like one is too much for even us! P-please have mercy—"
"Move."
Kirihara Takuto steps forward.
"[Golden Dragonic, Dragon Roar Wave Buster]!"
"Gyo gye e e e—!?"
A golden beam turns the small dragon to ash.
Followed by destruction sounds.
Part of the ceiling in the direction he fired is destroyed.
"Hmph... so at LV 2, the power and speed increased too..."
For a moment, daze overtakes the students.
When the daze fades, cheers erupt.
"Amazing, Takutooo!"
"As expected of Kirihara-kun!"
"S-class hero lives up to the name!"
"So cool—!"
"Kirihara-kun, you're too wonderful♪"
"Takuto, I'm seriously falling for you..."
Kirihara cracks his neck.
"One shot, huh... it was just some weak monster. You guys are making too much noise. I did not do anything special... hm?"
Kirihara opens his status.
"They said my level went up? LV 10...?"
"Wh-what did you sayyy!?"
The robed man jumps.
He looks at the goddess with an incredible expression.
"Goddess! This is—!"
With a mix of shock and admiration, the goddess evaluates.
"Yes... Kirihara-san seems to possess terrifying potential..."
Kirihara checks.
"Not that interested, but... just asking. Is that impressive?"
The robed man answers.
"It is beyond impressive! What astonishing growth rate...! No hero in history has reached double-digit levels in a single day! The highest recorded is LV 8 in one day! And the one who reached LV 8 in a day was—"
The goddess glances at Yasu.
"...the Dark Hero alone."
Yasu snorts with satisfaction.
Apparently pleased to be called amazing.
The goddess at the front turns around and spreads her arms grandly.
"This summoning has truly yielded wonderful results. The Great Demon Emperor and his army are rumored to be the most ferocious in these thousands of years—but with all of you, victory is certain!"
The goddess turns forward again.
"Now, let us go!"
"Wait, Goddess, where exactly are you taking us?"
"Nfufu~"
The goddess answers Oyamada's question in high spirits.
"Judging from your reactions to killing monsters, it seems all of you need to first get accustomed to taking lives~"
(Accustomed... to killing living things...?)
Kobato looks down again at the ominous words.
"For heroes who lived peaceful lives, this is often the biggest hurdle~ Their spirits are fragile, or rather, they receive too much shock from taking another living being's life~ This might be the first major obstacle~?"
The goddess says cheerfully.
"However! If you cannot overcome this, you might end up like the late Touka-san! That would be sad, would it not~?"
Is this an indirect threat that "dropouts will be discarded"?
(I'm scared...)
Kobato feels like crying from anxiety.
(What is going to happen to us from now on...)