Regres held Jenuin back a bit away from the battle.
“I’ll watch from afar. Do your best, Sensei.”
“Huh? Reg-san?”
“No drawing your sword allowed. Everyone’s waiting.”
Regres seemed uninterested in joining for some reason. There was no time to pay attention to him while battles raged on in front of me. I leaped down from Jenuin’s back and dashed towards the others.
As Regres had observed, humans seemed to dominate the battle, pushing back monsters unlike anything I’d seen before. What set this apart from the Carton incident was the presence of assembled magic users—Spellsess, Yazzak, and a female mage I didn’t recognize.
Sakuragi used several Magnifying Glasses floating above her, overwhelming monsters with her numerous attacks. There was also a guy with a strangely handsome look wielding dual swords, exuding considerable ease and strength.
Indeed, my participation might have felt somewhat redundant at this point.
Despite that thought, I drew my sword and stood beside Kimishima.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes! Sensei, you seem well too.”
Kimishima appeared somewhat composed.
I wondered how effective my strikes would be with my sword drawn. Despite some unease, I joined the fray.
“Finally made it, huh?”
The situation was stabilizing. Spellsess stopped casting magic from behind and approached me.
“So, it’s Reg-san?”
“He’s an interesting one.”
“He’s amazing!”
Excited, I responded while fighting, sensing peculiar gazes. …Certainly, appearing suddenly in a place like this would make anyone suspicious. While I could understand that, I figured explanations could wait until after this was over.
Without using Iaido techniques, condensing time was almost impossible. Despite climbing up quite a few steps on the Ladder, the enhancement of my abilities through Ladder Steps was modest. I desperately tried to focus my emotions onto my sword as I fought.
Nishina and Kimishima were also here. It was a relief not to face them one-on-one. I managed to synchronize with the students and responded to the High Orc.
◇◇◇
Brian and his comrades had planned to push the High Orcs onto others and escape, but due to their companions’ mistake, they missed the opportunity to flee. Consequently, they were forced to fight the monsters desperately. However, it might have worked out for the best. They were on a roll, eliminating enemies without losing a single person.
Brian had planned to overpower the enemy if they didn’t have their three front liners. However, he had underestimated them. Amidst dangerous magic flying around, the monsters’ numbers were rapidly decreasing.
–Damn. Two sages here? In the middle of nowhere!!!
Benga, with his extraordinary strength, kept the High Orcs at bay. Amur cast spells comfortably from behind. Undoubtedly, their coordination as a couple was flawless. The recently transferred children also fulfilled their roles as front liners adequately. Among them, the figure of someone floating numerous lenses in the air and hitting enemies with light magic from various angles was impressive.
Their objective was to steal a Celestial position. Facing individuals with such unique traits, Brian’s confidence wavered.
–Huh?
In the midst of battle, two men riding a mount approached, heading towards us. Observing them, the man riding behind drew his sword and approached.
“Sensei!”
The children greeted the man joyfully. Immediately, Brian recognized that it was the Celestial rumored among them. Puppet Mother also glanced occasionally at the man.
–Lucky to see a Celestial’s strength first.
Thinking so, I kept an eye on the man while fighting. But something was off. Everyone felt it too, including Puppet Master.
–Is that… the Celestial…???
Certainly, she sensed refined swordsmanship. However, the magical power enveloping the sword didn’t feel particularly strong, and the blade speed was subtle. Even against the High Orcs, he seemed to manage with the other children’s cooperation.
It could only be seen that the replacement had been done by some kind of coincidence, without any doubt that the Celestial had no real ability.
For that reason, it seems possible to usurp him.
Brian began devising strategies to duel the man in his mind.
While fighting, everyone’s attention gradually turned to the man who appeared midway.
Although they fought without apparent danger, some were perplexed by the Celestial’s lack of exceptional strength and harbored ambitions.
Finally, Berger’s great sword delivered the finishing blow to the last High Orc.
◇◇◇
The monsters were defeated, and everyone should have felt relieved. However, the atmosphere was oddly tense, emanating from Shigeto’s presence.
However, Shigeto himself was delighted to have fought without drawing his sword, feeling exhilarated. Soon, he noticed something odd in the air.
W-What’s this?
I felt piercing stares all over my body. Reaching the 11th Step, it seemed my base was improving considerably. Even facing upper-tier High Orcs at an intermediate level, I managed to hold my ground. Although I felt some concentration even in the direct gaze stance, I was still pleased.
Without worrying too much about magical exhaustion, I fought alongside the students. Just that was proof of my efforts for over two weeks.
However…
Those adventurers who I thought were escorting the students did not lower their guard even after the battle. They glared at me with intense fighting spirit.
Unknown adventurers… Finally, it hit me.
“Who are they?”
I asked Kimishima beside me.
“Brian-san… That elf-like person is an adventurer who climbed the Ladder. The couple over there seems to be from the village ahead.”
“I see. But probably… it’s me, right?”
“Eh?”
“I’m the Celestial they’re after.”
“…I thought so.”
“You did?”
“I just had a feeling everyone might be thinking that.”
I see. Well, I guess it did feel somewhat unnatural, despite the various reasons. But still, I had gained confidence during my days of climbing the Ladder with Regres. I had also become somewhat numb to the negotiations of life and death. Even with such spirited gazes directed at me, I was a bit surprised at my lack of concern.
Suddenly, I felt a gaze and turned around. Regres was winking at me with his usual “know-it-all” smile.
…Really. But as long as I see that smile, I guess there’s no ominous future in sight.
“Let me confirm for a moment. Are you Shigeto? Recently became a Celestial?”
The first to speak was the man with pointed ears like an elf. He must be Brian that Kimishima mentioned.
“Yeah. Shigeto is my name. Somehow, I seem to have become a Celestial.”
“A reputation beyond your ability can be burdensome. How about lightening it up a bit?”
“No. Well, thanks to this, I was able to get a job with the Federation Army. I can endure a bit of burden.”
“Hmph… I’ve seen what you can do. Still, isn’t it too early to claim Celestial status? Overshooting could shorten your lifespan.”
“What’s your name again?”
“I’m Brian. The man who will soon become a Celestial.”
“I see.”
Brian said confidently. Indeed, among them, he had outstanding potential. However, Amur, seemingly anxious, snapped back.
“What are you saying, kid! The Celestial will be ours with Benga leading the way!”
“Hey now. What’s going on? You should just check out the situation in Dix Village. There’s no point in sticking your nose into unnecessary matters.”
“Unnecessary? Are you kidding me? Have you seen such a delicious Celestial? There’s no way we’re letting that slip by!”
I could only smile wryly at being called a “delicious Celestial”. Looking around, I saw unfamiliar faces. There was also a somewhat plain-looking adventurer alone, whom I didn’t recognize. And the blonde mage with Spellsess was also a new face to me.
Amidst Brian and Amur’s argument, my bewilderment deepened.
