S-Rank Heroes and the Magic Aptitude Ruins

<Sogou Ayaka POV>

The flail in my hand is slowly gaining momentum as I swing it around, and at the right time, I struck.

Doggooonn!

A heavy blow resounded.

Following this strike is the recoil that struck my wrist.

Biikkiiiii!

Cracks began running through the bone of the monster Ive struck.

I started preparing the flail again now that had it lost its momentum after my strike.

The name of the monster Im fighting is a Skeleton.

It seems that the Skeletons movement had completely stopped.

Immediately after, it broke down into pieces and its remains began scattering in the ground.

I wiped the sweat thats gathered on my body.

[Fuuuu.]

I am now inside an ancient ruins located near the capital of Alion.

It seems that this place is called the Magic Aptitude Ruins. (T/N: Makotsu Ruins)

The Heroes from 2-C went into this place according to the goddess decree.

She said that its so that we would get used to actual combat against monsters.

It is also for us to gain experience points.

The main purpose are these two.

I was told that this place was brimming with monsters.

We were only allowed to dive into the first floor of the underground ruins.

However, there are still monsters that spawn around this area.

There should have been enough monsters for all of us.

However, we were told that we should escape when the Tsunotsuki comes out.

The official name for the Tsunotsuki is Skeleton Knight.

Over 90% of this area has already been occupied by undead monsters.

There are different types of undead in this place but the majority of them were Skull-type monsters.

At first, I thought seeing these moving pile of bones were too creepy.

However, Im already used to it.

I pick up the spear that was leaning against some debris.

Pashi

I slung the spear into the shawl hanging on my shoulders.

Right now, I hardly use the spear while Im inside this ruins.

The weapon Im using now is a flail.

Its a weapon that consists of a clump of iron thats attached to a handle with a chain.

It uses centrifugal force to strike against the enemy with the iron clump on the end of the flail.

Against bone-like monsters, blunt weapons were more effective against them compared to bladed weapons.

Originally, The Kisou-ryu was a martial art that aims to be proficient against all kinds of martial arts.

Still, its main focus was battling with the spear.

However, practitioners are also taught techniques that makes it possible to deal with situations where we couldnt use a spear.

Kisou-ryu had already taught us what to do, assuming that we were to be sent to the battlefield.

In short, Kisou-ryu is a martial art that aimed towards actual combat.

Stealing away the weapons of your opponent.

Using the weapons of the dead for yourself.

The more weapons that you are proficient with, the higher the chances of my survival.

I would be able to deal with various situations.

(Though I say that, Ive never used a flail before)

Ive used a sickle and chain before. Its the closest weapon that Ive used that kind of resembles a flail as they both were weapons that makes use of its weight as its thrown against the enemies.

However, the center of gravity as theyre swung and the sense of impact when the weight hits the enemies were totally different.

Ayaka has a natural talent with handling weapons. However I dont know if I should be happy for you or not when youre born with a talent that isnt needed in this country and in an era where you dont need need something like this in wars.

Those were my grandmothers words.

(It seems that I have come to a place where I unintentionally needed it, Grandmother)

[Kishhiiieeeeehhh!]

A Skeleton wielding a dagger jumped out of the shadows.

A monster that could handle human weapons.

Does it still have some of its memories before it died?

I determined the timing of its attack as I evade in and powerfully slammed my flail towards it.

Bammm!

Bakkyyaaahh!

The iron clump smashed into its chest.

This monster had a differently colored bones that seems to be their weak points.

They can be easily defeated when you smash these weak points.

<Your level has increased>

<Lv 4 Lv 5>

I open my status and checked if there are some changes.

(I still havent acquired my unique skill, huh)

The afternoon sun is about to set.

I stood alone in silence in this ruins thats enclosed inside the forest.

[..]

The students of 2-C were currently divided into several groups.

First of them is Kirihara Takutos group.

The leader of this group is the S-Rank Kirihara.

The other members consists of the A-Rank Oyamada Shougo and some Heroes that are above B-Rank.

It feels like this is a top group that only have elites within their ranks.

Next is Ikusaba Asagis group.

The one who gathered this group is the B-Rank Asagi.

The strongest Hero they have is just B-Rank.

However, there are many people who have joined in this group.

Thats because majority of the girls had joined Asagis group.

The organizers of this group are only girls.

Im just a little worried about Kashima Kobato who had joined this group.

(Please stay safe, Kashima-san)

The third is Yasu Tomohiros group.

This group seems to consist of those students who have nowhere to go.

Theyre the students that were pushed away by Kirihara and Asagis group.

There are 2 C-Ranks in here.

The rest were D-Ranks.

It seems that those who were below C-Rank wanted some help to bestowed towards them by the A-Ranks.

However, the girls who were below C-Rank had joined Asagis group.

So, this group mostly consists of boys.

However, there are still many people that were in this group.

The fourth is the Takao sisters group.

Their members consists of just the sisters who were S-Rank and A-Rank.

Though, I could hardly call them a group.

They have always acted alone.

Though I say that, its not like theyre any different to how they acted back in our previous world.

It seems that the other students consciously avoid them.

No Its as if theyre treating them as if they didnt exist at all.

Though, it seems that the seems doesnt particularly care about how others treated them.

These sisters havent changed even when theyre in another world.

I honestly want to follow how straightforward they are.

There are still several men and women that havent overcome the goddess qualification rite like Zakurogi. These people were still inside the castle.

And the one whos left out, me, Sogou Ayaka.

I have already been known as the human who dared to go against the goddess.

If everyone would have acted together, I think that the goddess wouldnt be able to do something horrible like that.

It seems that theyre already like that.

It cant be helped.

Theyre just moving according to how the stream of nature directs them.

(Even Im also moving according to how my heart directs me)

This currently isolated situation is the result of my actions.

I have no choice but to accept it.

[Wait, you b*stard! Youre just a f*cking bone, how dare you move so fast like that!?]

[Dont f*cking kidding me! Youre not getting away!]

[Take this, you f*cking bone! Youve already died once, right!? Then, get freaking killed already!]

A familiar voice approaches.

I immediately knew whose group that is.

Thats Kirihara Takutos group.

A few men and women clad in the clothing of this world halted in their steps.

[What the heck!? That boner b*stard, isnt it already crushed to pieces!?]

[Ahh! Ayaka!? Dont tell me, you snatched away our bone!]

[Eh?]

[How cruel! Youre awful, Ayaka! That bone was ours!]

[Couldnt you at least ask for our permission before you defeated it!? Our chase towards it had been totally useless now!]

[As expected of someone who used to be a class president! Youre a tyrant!]

Kiriharas group members shouted out their complaints one after another.

A little later, Oyamada appears behind them.

[Well, well. Look whos here! Isnt this the loner Ayaka-sensei!? Wow How cruel To just illegally trespass into our hunting grounds]

Oyamadas great sword thats hanging on his back knocked my shoulder.

Its as if hes intentionally provoking me.

(Hunting ground?)

I look down towards the ground.

There was some kind of line that was carved on the floor.

However, I could hardly see it.

[From here on out, these part was our hunting grounds! So, youre an intruder in here, get it? Youre not a part of our group! Hey hey, if this isnt this quite an imposingly illegal act of yours? Thats no good, Ayaka, the class president who had became a criminal? How cold of you~]

[Lets go that way, Sougo.]

[What the heck, Takuto? Why are you covering for Ayaka?]

Finally, Kirihara appears.

Wearing an overcoat over his body that looks like a fur coat.

Golden Lion.

He have that kind of impression.

Kirihara shook his head as if hes disappointed.

[Even though shes this depraved, shes still an S-Rank. No matter how much of you A-Ranks bark at her, she could just simple brush you off. Shed just glance at you with disdain.]

I immediately refuted back.

[I dont intend to do that]

[Its okay already.]

Sticking out his hand, Kirihara puts my word to a stop.

[Im listening to what Vysis says.]

[Youre listening? What did she say?]

[Sogou Ayaka has a fragile heart. That crime you had committed at that time when that E-Rank trash was about to be disposed, isnt that because youre extremely nervous and became very confused? Thats enough already. I understand.]

Kirihara goes back towards Oyamadas group as they leave.

After a few seconds, he paused in his steps and said.

[You still must have been confused about the situation you are in and doesnt understand what you are doing in here?]

[Do you see me as someone like that?]

[Im afraid of what methods you can do, Sogou.]

[Eh?]

(Afraid?)

[I was shocked because I thought you were the most decent person in 2-C. Just because we were sent to another world, to think that Sogou Ayaka would become so crazy]

[Hey, Kirihara-kun. I cant trust that goddess]

[Listen here, Sogou? I know, you]

Pat~

Kirihara patted my shoulder.

[youre just not being honest when you refused to join my group when I had invited you before.]

He glanced towards me.

Its as of hes pitying me.

[Kirihara-kun]

[However, you still have some worth because youre an S-Rank. Its just that, you have been slowly turning weird in the head and slowly losing the ability to make the right judgement. I really feel pity for you.]

Kirihara turns his back towards me.

Suddenly, he raised his chin.

Its as if he suddenly thought of a great idea.

[If I am the King Sogou Ayaka should be hmm I think that youre like a Knight thats protecting the King? Well at least Im sure, someone like you is not fit for a title like the Queen.]

Kirihara turned his head and turned towards me.

With an expression on his face thats filled with absolute confidence.

[Ill wait for the day that you wake up and become a decent vassal, Sogou Ayaka.]

Oyamada cackles out loud.

[To have something like this distasteful drama, I cant believe if Im really seeing this or not. You have already fallen so low, Class President-senpai.]

The expression on the faces of Kiriharas group members.

Its as if theyre surrounded by strange sense of superiority towards others.

[I dont really get it, but keep up the good work with that Kobujutsu of yours, okay?]

[Surprisingly, didnt we just knock Sogou-chan off her high horse!?]

[I know, right?! I thought that somethings wrong has happened when Goddess-sama suddenly struck her on her belly.]

[Sogou-san is really strong! Only the Goddess-sama could possible face against her! Im sure that I cant do something like that against her!]

I just silently turned away without saying anything.

[Oi, Ayaka.]

Oyamadas call though made me stop.

[What?]

[If you can pay, you can enter our hunting ground for quite some time, you know? Actually, Asagis group who already paid some money to us now earns experience points at the hunting ground where those bone b*stards were appearing one after another.]

So, thats why Kiriharas group has momentarily came back huh

[I dont have that much at hand.]

[Huh? Didnt the goddess give you some pocket money before?]

[I didnt even get something like that though.]

[Seriously!? Pfft, the goddess must really hate you! Pitiful! That aint hot at all!]

My grip on my fist tightens.

I certainly didnt regret facing against that goddess.

At that time

[Kyaaaahhhh!]

A scream rang out.

I quickly looked over.

From the opposite side of the forest, something is approaching in this place as multiple screams resounded from that directions.

I could see the figure of a human.

Girl students.

Theyre scampering away towards this direction.

[I- It appeared! It appeared! Noooo!!!]

Theyre from Ikusaba Asagis group.

Were they the people that were earning experience points that Oyamada mentioned earlier?

Kiriharas group immediate stood ready.

[W- What the heck is that!?]

I could also see Asagi running towards here.

[Idiot! If you just look at the current situation, you should have already guessed what happened! It came out! That Tsunotsuki that they had said before!]

(The Skeleton Knight!?)

I also readied my weapon.

[Ah]

I was quickly taken aback though.

[Hah Hahh.!]

I could see Kashima Kobato running with the others. She was lending her shoulders towards a staggering girl whose legs were limping.

It seems that there was someone that had injured her leg.

[Hah Haa To think its Kobato that had saved me Thats funny]

[Were going to be okay! Well surely meet up with Kirihara-kun and the others!]

Kobatos eyes seems to finally recognize me.

[Look, theres even Sogou-san in here!]

It seems that the anxiety in Kobatos eyes has been lifted as she saw me.

Seeing that, I immediately prepared my stance.

Just as I had prepared my stance

[Uwwwaaahhhhhhh.]

A girl came out from the forest.

Appearing behind her is a gigantic shadow that looks like its made up of bones.

I think its around 3 meters?

I could see the silhouette of sinister horns that hands from its head.

Oyamada stepped away.

[Geh!? Seriously!?]

One member of Kiriharas group put his hand over his mouth.

[Urrpp!?]

The girl that had just came out of the forest.

[Aaaahhhhh Its no good Theres no way Shes completely mowed down]

Her left hand up to her wrist had completely disappeared.