Chapter 60 - S-Rank Heroes and the Magic Aptitude Ruins (1/2)

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 I’ve struck.

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

The name of the monster I’m fighting is— a Skeleton.

It seems that the Skeleton’s movement had completely stopped.

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

I wiped the sweat that’s 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 it’s 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, I’m 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 I’m inside this ruins.

The weapon I’m using now is a flail.

It’s a weapon that consists of a clump of iron that’s 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, it’s main focus was battling with the spear.

However, practitioners are also taught techniques that makes it possible to deal with situations where we couldn’t 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, I’ve never used a flail before…)

I’ve used a sickle and chain before. It’s the closest weapon that I’ve used that kind of resembles a flail as they both we’re weapons that makes use of its weight as it’s thrown against the enemies.

However, the center of gravity as they’re 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 don’t know if I should be happy for you or not when you’re born with a talent that isn’t needed in this country and in an era where you don’t need need something like this in wars.”

Those were my grandmother’s 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 haven’t acquired my unique skill, huh)

The afternoon sun is about to set.

I stood alone in silence in this ruins that’s enclosed inside the forest.

[…………..]

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

First of them is Kirihara Takuto’s 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 Asagi’s 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.

That’s because majority of the girls had joined Asagi’s group.

The organizers of this group are only girls.

I’m just a little worried about Kashima Kobato who had joined this group.

(Please stay safe, Kashima-san…)

The third is Yasu Tomohiro’s group.

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

They’re the students that were pushed away by Kirihara and Asagi’s 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 Asagi’s 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, it’s not like they’re any different to how they acted back in our previous world.

It seems that the other students consciously avoid them.

No— It’s as if they’re treating them as if they didn’t exist at all.

Though, it seems that the seems doesn’t particularly care about how others treated them.

These sisters haven’t changed even when they’re in another world.

I honestly want to follow how straightforward they are.

There are still several men and women that haven’t overcome the goddess’ “qualification rite” like Zakurogi. These people were still inside the castle.

And the one who’s 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 wouldn’t be able to do something horrible like that.

It seems that they’re already like that.

It can’t be helped.

They’re just moving according to how the stream of nature directs them.

(Even I’m 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! You’re just a f*cking bone, how dare you move so fast like that!?]

[Don’t f*cking kidding me! You’re not getting away!]

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

A familiar voice approaches.

I immediately knew whose group that is.

That’s Kirihara Takuto’s group.