<Authors Notes>

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< Sogou Ayaka POV >

Enoh, the royal capital of Alion.

I, Sogou Ayaka, was running along the corridor in the dormitory with the Takao Sisters.

[I wonder, is it really the Great Demon Emperor?]

Suddenly, a strangely concentrated amount of Tyrants Miasma filled the surroundings.

As we read this as an attack from the Great Demon Emperor

[Either way With the concentration of Tyrants Miasma here, the only ones who can move properly around the royal castle now are the Heroes from Another World us. Great Demon Emperor or not, we need to strike down whatever these Tyrants Miasma came from.]

Keeping her gaze forward, Takao Hijiri replied.

(At times like this, its reassuring that Hijiri-san is that calm)

Me and the twins are currently heading for the training grounds.

In that place, the members of my group have been working hard on their training recently.

Today, they were supposed to gather at the training grounds in the morning and train until the evening.

(We need to meet up with them first and make sure theyre safe If they run into whatevers causing this, it could be dangerous.)

They too had become stronger than before.

However, if the enemy that appeared here is the Great Demon Emperor, the only ones who can fight against them would be S-Rank Heroes.

[Prez, do you know where that b*stard Kirihara is!?]

[Im sorry, Itsuki-san I also dont know Kirihara-kuns whereabouts]

For the past few days, Kirihara Takuto has been acting as he pleases alone.

Now, he only shows his face when the Goddess gathers everyone together.

[But right now, we need Kirihara-kuns help]

Now isnt the time to grumble about other things.

If the Great Demon Emperor really appeared

[The three S-Ranks need to fight together!]

[I- Im also here, Prez]

[N- No! Its not that Im neglecting your help]

[Ahh, Its alright! I know what you meant! Geez, how cute Prez, I mean!]

[I- Itsuki-san]

Thereupon, Hijiri-san spoke.

[You two, look ahead.]

[ [ ! ] ]

A Golden-eyed Monster.

It was a muscular monster with an unusually developed upper body.

There are two of them in sight.

Their head was in the shape of a crescent moon.

There were hemispherical golden eyes protruding from both sides of their crescent-shaped head.

There were no teeth or tongue where its mouth should be, only looking like a hollow opening.

However, there were many mouths with teeth and tongues on both of its arms.

Several long, snake-like tongues were sticking out of those mouths, twirling about in mid-air.

*freeze*

The two Golden-eyed Demons at the top of the stairs stopped and their heads swerved towards us.

[Houuooouooo Horororororororororooroorooooo-!]

[Elder Sister, should I deal with them?]

[I guess so, then Im]

[Both of you, continue running! < Blade Set > !]

Swoosh-!

From its waist up to its shoulder, the magic blade imbued within my spear slashed the monster.

As my spear slashed through its body, I twisted my body in midair and struck one more time.

The front wound

And the back wound I just inflicted.

Those two blows combined and formed a single wound.

The monster was split in half.

Thereupon, aiming for the other monsters head < Inner Bomb > .

The monsters head exploded.

With my skill, blood and all other stuff exploded like fireworks.

Both of the monsters then crumbled to the ground.

Pushing those monsters to the back of my mind, I rushed towards the Takao sisters who were already ahead of me.

As she continued running, Takao Itsuki looked towards me.

[S- Seriously What the heck is that move Prez just used]

[That means shes no longer the girl we knew. Frankly, its reassuring.]

I caught up with them.

Thereupon, Hijiri stopped near a window.

It was a window in a corridor that had no glass in it.

[Both of you, lets jump down from here. Going to the training ground would be faster if we go through here.]

[Eh?]

Following Hijiri, me and Itsuki suddenly stopped in our steps.

[F- From here? Well, we have our status correction, so I guess well be alright?]

[ < Wind > ]

As Hijiri activated her inherent skill

[Its alright even if you dont take that into account, oh princess- Up you go!]

[Kyaaahhhh!?]

Caught off guard, I suddenly found myself being princess carried by Itsuki.

My body was gently lifted up.

[Wait, Itsuki-sa]

[Lets go.]

Hijiri jumped down without hesitation.

With me in her arms, Itsuki followed suit.

Having no control of my own movements, I reflexively clung on Itsukis body.

In hindsight though, my thoughts earlier may have been right. I didnt need to be so scared because of the status correction.

The three of us jumped into the air.

Being in midair, carried by someone, I felt a unique floating sensation thats making me uneasy.

Then I felt the sensation of gravity pulling my body to the ground.

But then, as our bodies were nearing the ground

Fwooosh!

As if we had landed on an invisible cushion, our falling speed dropped dramatically.

Then, we landed safely.

Standing up on my own feet, keeping my distance away from Itsuki, the three of us immediately ran off.

[Hijiri-san, that just now]

[My inherent skill allows me to control the wind. That just now was one of my abilities.]

[Is that the reason why Itsuki-san easily lifted me up?]

[Yes.]

[That aside, you know, Prez Youre so strong, but your body is so soft huh. Like this part or that part It just feels so tender.]

[I- Itsuki-san]

Thereupon, Hijiri seemed to have noticed something.

On the end of her gaze is a humanoid Golden-eyed Monster.

And in its hand

[ ! ]

were two human heads.

Grabbing them by the hair, the monster is holding the heads like theyre trophies.

[It looks like theyve killed those in the castle who couldnt move. Now, other than the Heroes from Another World, all personnel in this place are unable to resist them.]

[Kuhh!]

Anger rapidly rose up from within me.

Raising my spear over my shoulder, I threw it towards the monster.

Then, with great speed, it pierced through the monsters head.

No, rather than piercing through It blew apart its head.

Perhaps, because I had put too much strength with my throw, the monsters head disappeared.

Passing by the monster, I vigorously pulled out my spear that was stuck in the wall.

As I ran past it, I caught a glimpse of the two heads lying on the ground near the monsters arms.

Feeling apologetic within my heart, I ran on.

[Prez, youre really amazing.]

[Hijiri-san!]

I called out to Hijiri-san.

[Not only the Great Demon Emperor, there are also other monsters in the castle grounds! If we dont deal with them too, the people around the royal castle would be helplessly killed!]

[Youre right.]

Hijiri seemed to be thinking about something.

[What we need to think about here Are those monsters teleported here along with the Great Demon Emperor or was the Great Demon Emperor creating them? Yes, I did hear that the Great Demon Emperor has the ability to create Golden-eyed Monsters putting aside if it was the former]

Understanding what shes saying, I gulped.

[But if its the latter]

[Yes. Unless we defeat the Great Demon Emperor, the number of monsters will continue to increase.]

[Then, how about we split up!?]

Itsuki suggested.

[One group would fight the Great Demon Emperor, while the other would exterminate the surrounding monsters!]

[Thats a great idea but its still too early to make that decision. Since we still doesnt know how strong the Great Demon Emperor, I dont want to spread our forces too thinly.]

Saying this, I felt her gaze turn towards me.

I only bit my lip.

It was just like Hijiri said.

However

(Knowing that the people around the area are just going to be helplessly killed, not doing anything is just)

I understand what shes talking about.

I understand but

[I understand why youre so conflicted, Sogou-san.]

[Im sorry, Hijiri-san. Its just I feel]

[I have no right to twist your thoughts or policies. And you have the power befitting an S-Rank. You can say that I am the one who needs your help in this fight. Most importantly You have the right to determine your own actions, Sogou-san.]

[Hijiri-san]

[Thats why, you do what you want to do. Ill do the same.]

She isnt being sarcastic.

Neither is she pushing my ideas to the side.

Just plainly speaking- but with a little bit of kindness

Takao Hijiri spoke.

[However, I just want to say one thing]

I can see it now.

The training ground.

[Me and Sogou-san will find and defeat the Great Demon Emperor. And-]

Thereupon, Nihei Yukitaka came out of the training ground.

He was gesturing something to the other Heroes who seemed to be inside.

The next person to show up was Murota Erii.

Following her is Suou Kayako.

Behind her was Minamino Moe, whose expression brightened up when she saw us.

NIhei Yukitaka waved his hand towards us.

[P- President! Look, the Takao Sisters are here too! See!? Didnt I tell you all!? I knew youd come to save us!]

[Ahh, geez, I love you lots, Prez!]

[Thank goodness.]

[Ayaka-chan! Youre safe! I- Im so glad Sniff]

The other Heroes started coming out in droves.

Looking at them for a moment, Hijiri continued her earlier words.

[Lets leave the rescue of the people in the royal castle to them and Itsuki. In the meantime, Ill submit this idea to you, Sogou-san.]

I felt myself biting my lip tighter.

After all, I was about to cry a bit.

She is saying these words indifferently.

However, I could feel Hijiri sympathizing with me.

Sympathizing with my feelings

[Hijirisan.]

[First of all, us two S-Ranks will fight against the Great Demon Emperor. The strength of the Great Demon Emperor may be unknown to us, but the current you might be able to do it. Thats how strong you are in my eyes right now.]

[Yes, I understand.]

I gripped on the spear in my hand even tighter.

[Thank you, Hijiri-san.]

[Its too early for thanks, Sogou-san. Besides, Im not as saintly as you. Im a sly woman in my own way.]

[Fufu, I think saying it like that is also rather sly of you. It makes me fall even more in love with you, Hijiri-san.]

Hijiri looks forward.

[-I guess youre also mostly a softie huh.]