About 70 Million

Originally planned, we were talking about going back to the dormitory where we were originally located when our work at the temple was finished. Naturally, we had to cross that suspension bridge. When the Priest guided me to the entrance of the building, Millet was waiting for me.

“Thank you very much for your hard work. You even registered as a divine citizen, didn't you?"

"Yes, there were many shocks, but strength is not everything."

"Oh..., what is your rank?"

"Um... around 70 million... maybe?"

"Ah, well. There are about 200 million people in this world. If you think about it that way."

"Yeah, that's right."

200 million ... less population than I thought. No, not really. Is it possible if there are few cultures that can feed their people like on earth? If we consider children under 10 years old, women, elderly, and so on..., this number is still very hard to estimate.

After that, Millet put me to sleep? We returned to our accommodation safely.

"Buhhhhhhhhh. You're too lame!"

"Sensei~ Aren't you a disgrace to be carried around by a girl like that?"

The students laughed at me in the cafeteria during dinner time. I'm aware that I'm pathetic, so it's pretty hard to bear. Kohinata, who happened to see me, took the opportunity to laugh at me, as did the third-year students Tsuji and Sato.

"So...about 70 million? Because? How many is that? Did you really not have any perks for transferees or anything like that."

As I ignored the laughing students and continued to eat, they began pestering me about my ranking, probably having heard about it from Millet.

"Kohinata, what do you care about my ranking? I heard that your guardian spirit is very unpredictable. Be careful."

"Huh! Be careful? Are you still acting like a teacher?"

"A teacher is a teacher. That fact will never change. No matter how many blessings you have received from the good spirits in this different world from Japan, you are still just children. It would not be good for you to immediately make fun of adults like that."

"Oh, really? In this world, strength is everything. It's interesting, isn't it? The rank is what makes a person valuable. The difference between you and me is also a number, a rank!"

"...You only see the value of a person in terms of strength?"

"Even before the numbers showed up, you were already unfit to be a kendo club advisor."

"I didn't take on the job of kendo coach or anything like that. I was an advisor. I was there to watch over the students, not to train them in kendo."

Kohinata's attitude was worse than when we were in Japan, whether it was due to my fear of heights or my ranking. Suddenly brought to another world, it was understandable that the children were stressed by the change of environment and so on. I can't help but wonder if it's the influence of the spirits that they've gained protection from...

"Teachers are always the mob in a group transfer, huh."

"You're a mob and you act like you're a teacher."

Mob? I don't know what that means, but I know he's probably making fun of me. I think it is my role as a teacher to warn students who treat adults like that.

... However, there is also a part of me that is gradually losing confidence.

“Akira-kun, you should leave it at that."

"Hmm? Yuzuki. Why do you have to defend him? I couldn't say anything in school, but I've been annoyed with him for a long time."

"That's beside the point. Comparing myself with Enomoto-sensei is not right. I've never done kendo before."

"Iaido, right? Just because you are doing a form of martial arts using a serious weapon, it doesn't mean you should be an advisor for the kendo club. It's a joke that you're volunteering to be the advisor of the kendo club."

Kimishima, perhaps unable to bear the sight, tried to stop Kohinata, but this guy wouldn't stop. Is this what it means to be a Berserker? Just when I was thinking that, Domoto entered as well.

“Akira, leave it at that. We're almost there anyway. Once we get out of here, we won't have to deal with this guy anymore."

But rather than trying to protect me, Domoto was taking the stance of telling them not to deal with me. Even that is not an easy thing to accept.

"Do-Domoto ... No. But even so, we don't know what's down there either, so let's just let..."

"What can you do? We might sacrifice ourselves to protect you in the dangerous world below. Didn't you ever think of that?"

"No... But..."

"About 70 million. If there are 200 million people in this world, half of them are women, and more than half of them are children and the elderly. If you think about it that way, you'll realize how far away you are."

"Ngu..."

“I have the protection of what is called a "cheat" in this world. Not only me, but all the other members of the club have the protection of a certain kind of being. I have been told that I can even aim for the top 100."

"..."

"What can you do to help us here? Are you asking us to protect you?"

"..."

"You're not suggesting that I live my life as a student servant, are you?"

"That's..."

I couldn't say anything in response to Domoto's harsh words.

"Huh? You understand, don't you? If you know someone from the same hometown, they must be willing to do something for nothing. Some people feel that way. Although it may be a burden."

"Senpai, you don't have to go that far ..."

"...Huh? Ah. Come to think of it, you were Nishina's homeroom teacher. I understand how you feel. But it's dangerous to get caught up in emotion."

"Yes..."

"You are the youngest person here in this world where the younger you are, the more you benefit. Don't sell yourself too cheap."

"Yes…"

Completely left behind, I slowly considered my position. Would I lead my students as a teacher? Or...

Eventually I was alone in the cafeteria, looking at the dishes I had finished eating. I remember eating normally, but as a meal, it wasn't that much different from what I was eating on Earth. ... I wasn't quite sure what it tasted like, but I couldn't face the students, and all I could do was desperately digest the meal in front of me.

...

"Sensei?"

Hm?

I turned around and saw Sakuragi quietly looking at me from the entrance to the cafeteria.

"Sakuragi? What's wrong?"

"Please don't be too depressed,... I think everyone is just a little bit worked up about ... coming all of a sudden into a world like this."

"Oh ... it's all right. I'm an adult, okay? Don't worry."

"Yes…"

“Sakuragi was training today, weren't you? Get some rest.

"Yes."

"... well... but thank you."

"Yes"

I thanked her, and Sakuragi smiled and walked away, perhaps feeling a little more at ease.

I am sure she was watching our exchange and waiting for the right moment, and after Sakuragi left, Millet-san came into the room right away.

"Shigeto-san, … may I?"

"…Ah."

"I'll give you a brief description of the facility."

"Oh, yes, please."

After that, I was briefed on the facilities. There were no large public baths, which is the Japanese way of doing things, and the rooms seemed to have their own toilets and shower rooms. Meals were served three times a day. My training program started tomorrow, so they said they would come to pick me up after breakfast. After seeing our interactions, it seemed that they decided that it would be too difficult for me to go with them, so they made a separate schedule for me and the students.

However, I was told that we might have to share a meal together in the cafeteria, but since I would rather see the students than not be able to see them at all, I told them it was no problem.

The ceiling was without electricity, but there were magic stones attached to the walls, and by passing magic power through them, the entire ceiling could be used for lighting. The cafeteria was set up like that at dinner time, so I understood immediately,... but it took me about an hour to be able to turn on the lights because I couldn't quite figure out how to pass the magic power.

You can get access to 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on my Patreon. <3