The sight Arien and Shiro saw as they entered was anything but what they expected. Well, when someone says, "In there are the most powerful people," everyone expects some noble, well-organized place, but—
As soon as all three—Arien, Shiro, and Akari—entered and the door closed behind them, the first thing that welcomed them was a book flying toward them at lightning-fast speed. It came faster than Shiro could even react to, and then suddenly Akari jumped into the middle of the path and caught the book mid-air. Without missing a beat, she returned it with the same speed toward its source.
The book flew off and hit a bookshelf that was behind a little counter. Then all the books on that shelf fell over. And just then—
???: Ow, ow, ow!
A voice came from under the counter. A girl stood up from behind it, rubbing her head.
???: Oh, hi, Akari. The book didn't hit you, right?
And before Akari could answer, she suddenly grabbed both Shiro and Arien and pulled them down into a crouch. Just as they ducked, a hundred more books flew over their heads toward the first girl's spot. The attack came from the other side of the hall.
Akari: Yes, I'm fine. Are you okay?
Akari asked that with a smile.
???: Yes. Still okay.
And then Akari looked at the other side, where another girl was hiding behind another counter, attacking the girl in the opposite direction. Akari got up and moved from that spot, still holding Shiro and Arien.
Akari: Looks like you two are going all out.
And then Arien spoke, her voice trembling.
Arien: Is- this- the place where the strongest people are?
Arien's voice sounded somewhat disappointed. Well, anyone would be after seeing this.
And just then, Akari clapped her hands. Most of the time, this would get the attention of everyone in the hall. But the people in the hall were busy doing their own stuff.
One was sleeping on a couch. Two were fighting with books. Another guy, for some reason, was meticulously removing the pebbles from a flower pot while sitting on the desk it sat on. And one guy was just chilling on top of a bookshelf in the far corner, eating something.
Then Akari spoke to Shiro.
Akari: Oh, right! I forgot. Welcome to the S-Class.
Arien and Shiro both had literally no idea what was happening. Then, one man wearing normal, home-like clothing walked toward a door at the right side of the hall, passing the three of them as if they weren't even there. A few seconds after he entered the room—
BOOM.
A loud explosion echoed from that direction. Both Shiro and Arien quickly turned around to see what that was, their hands flying to their katanas. But none of the other people in the room seemed to care.
And then out came the man who had entered the room.
???: WHO—
He seemed nothing like when he went through that door. For some reason, he was holding his katana, dragging it on the ground, making sparks. His whole right arm was covered in blue flames starting from the blade.
???: WHO WAS IT?
The man slammed his katana on the ground, and as he did, the flames covering his chest area flared up brightly.
???: WHO THE HELL ATE MY PUDDING?!
Both Arien and Shiro lost the only logical reason they had believed existed in this place. And before Akari could even act—
???: Oh, he's at it again.
A voice came from behind them. Akari quickly turned around to see who it was. It was the man who had been sitting on the flower desk, removing the flower pebbles. He dropped down from the desk and walked toward the man burning in flames over his missing pudding.
Just as he passed Akari, he looked at her.
???: Oh, isn't it Asahina? When did you get here? Well, gotta take care of him. See ya.
The man talked quickly; Arien managed to get what he said, but...
asahina get take see ya.
That was the only thing Shiro heard, and he was confused. And he has the reason for it because What the hell was that?
And then, without any more words, the man walked near the other man in flames and lightly tapped him. Suddenly, the flaming man was covered in ice, freezing him on the spot. The man was still screaming for his pudding from inside the ice block. Akari, annoyed that no one was giving her attention, took a deep breath.
The place suddenly got darker, the light seeming to drain from the air itself. Then Akari, for a second time, clapped her hands. But this time it was different. The clap sent a shockwave through everyone's body, including Shiro and Arien.
For a split second, the whole place went quiet. Then, everyone noticed that Akari was there.
???: Oh, Akari! When did you get here?
Akari: A little while ago. Well, that's not the problem.
Arien thought to herself,
Arien: That wasn't the problem? You say that in a place full of literal kids'-minds-in-adults'-bodies with god-like powers?
And it was reasonable to say that, actually. From what both Arien and Shiro had seen till now, that was the only conclusion they could come up with.
Akari: Well, the reason I came here today— Her mood changed, and everyone gathered around her. Every single person looked serious. And Arien thought,
Arien: oh, they are serious now.
And then Akari dropped the unexpected.
Akari: I'm here to introduce my little brother! Yeeee!
And then everyone yelled, "Yeeee!"
Akari pulled Shiro to the center of the room.
Akari: This is my one and only brother, Shiro.
Just as she said that, a girl jumped toward Shiro and said,
???: Ohhh! He is as beautiful as you, Akari!
And then the strong-looking man who had just pitched a fit over his missing pudding came closer and looked at Shiro.
???: Looks wea-
Akari: And before you say anything, listen to this. He managed to take down a Stormclaw by himself. And not a normal one—a Monarch.
With that, Shiro's stock rose instantly. The man replied,
???: Oh ho! Worthy to be called Asahina's brother, I see.
And then another girl—the one who had been fighting at the entrance with books—reached near Arien and asked,
???: Who is she?
Akari: oh she? she is one of my little brother's friends. I happened to find both of them in the Grimwood after he defeated the beast, so I brought them both here.
???: Ohhh.
The girl was now right in front of Arien's face, peering at her intently.
Her hair was similar to Shiro's but somewhat different. Where Shiro had pure white hair, the girl's hair had a somewhat grayish tint to it. Her eyes were a piercing purple, like the sky at twilight just as the first star appears.
Akari: Okay, that's all.
Just as she said that, everyone went back to their own direction—back to reading, removing pebbles, and looking for pudding.
But the girl peeking at Shiro introduced herself.
???: Seraphina de Lys. S-Class adventurer. 29 years old. So You are Akari's brother, right?
Shiro: Y-yes. Shiro Asahina. 17 years old.
Seraphina: You must be pretty happy cause your sister is an S-Class, right? Well, of course, she managed to become an S-Class right off the bat. Unlike us who had to rank our way up.
Akari: Hey! Now it's like I'm the wrong one here.
Seraphina: Hehe. Now, enough with me. Aren't you going to show your brother to him?
Akari: Oh, yes! I was looking for him, but where is—
And then Akari saw him—the person she was looking for, and the only person who had managed to keep sleeping through all this sound.
Akari grabbed both Arien and Shiro's hands and walked over to the man sleeping on the couch.
Akari: Hey, wake up. Wake up! We're here.
The man didn't even budge. As soon as Akari realized that, the air once again turned dark around them. It wasn't the weather that was changing; it was the air itself. And then—
???: I woke up as soon as you entered, Asahina. Well, you have a different aura than the others.
Akari pointed at the man who had just opened his eyes and sat up straight.
Akari: This is one of the other S-Class from our kingdom. And just like me, he was chosen from the start as an S-Class. His name is—
???: Raiden Shizukana.
Arien was caught off guard by that name. Well, of course. That was a name that held a big place in this world, and Arien remembered something that Professor Kareth had taught them in the academy.
Arien: Shi-zu-kana.