Those Who Remain

--The Sky Temple

Shigeto Kusunoki was teleported, and in the stillness, Kyohei Domoto turned toward Akira Kohinata and bent down on one knee. Kohinata noticed Domoto and looked a little frightened. The priest who had been holding Kohinata back was momentarily alarmed by Domoto's movement, but noticing this, Domoto extended his hands in a gesture of nonchalance, saying, "It's all right".

"You don't need this, do you?"

Without changing his expression, Domoto pulled out the sword that was at Kohinata's waist. He drew it out a little, checked its condition, and then inserted it into his own waistband, satisfied with the condition of the sword.

“Kyo-Kyohei???"

Not answering Kohinata's voice, Domoto turned to the Head Priest.

"What about Akira? He's not coming with us?"

"Yes..., I'm sorry, but you'll have to go your separate ways.

"…I see."

“He will be sent to the new continent due to his risk factor. To the settlements. We'll see how he does there, and if he's deemed safe, he can be with you again."

"... For how long?"

"At least one year..."

"I see…"

"S-settlements???"

Kohinata's complexion changed when he heard the Head Priest's words. It was easy to see that the new continent would be the Irminsul continent. Unlike the Yggdrasil continent where they were supposed to go, the human living area was still vague and there were many dangerous areas. Naturally, there were also many risks to human life. Everyone had heard about this during courses here.

"Hey! Wait a minute!!!"

Kohinata tried to stand up in a panic, but the strong priests restrained him and he was unable to move. "Move aside!" He was in a rage and was about to use magic, but a priest quickly put a collar around Kohinata's neck, and at that moment, Kohinata was on the floor like his strength had been drained from him.

"Agghh... What is this..."

Seeing Kohinata unable to move, the priests stood up straight away.

"Kyohei! Help me! It's Yuzuki's fault, isn't it? Why me!!!"

"Akira… It's alright."

"Wh-what... but...?"

"I've been having a little trouble with you too. You need to be a little more mature. Anyone who can't control their emotions is always going to drag us down with them."

"No..."

"Go to the frontier and get your mind straightened out. Then come back when you're sane."

"Wh... what? Are you... abandoning me?"

"No. You're out of line yourself. From my standards.

"Guh... Kyohei!!!"

Domoto took his gaze away from Kohinata and turned to Daiji Tsuji and Tetsuya Sato. These two were also friends who had been in the kendo club with Domoto and Kohinata for three years. However, they were unable to keep up with Kohinata's behavior, no. They were not making eye contact with Kohinata, perhaps following Domoto's wishes.

"You two ... have changed a lot from our original plan and now there are three of us, but do you still want to come with me?"

"Hmm? Three? We still have Nishina and Sakuragi."

What was Domoto's comment to Tsuji? And the reply. Domoto spoke to the direction where the two first-year students were standing.

"Sakuragi, you're going to change your destination, aren't you?"

Miki Sakuragi was startled by the voice and turned toward Domoto. When her eyes met Domoto's, she shook her head.

"I'm sorry ... Captain ..."

"But even if we recruit people from there, we won't be able to gather enough people to follow us to the Temple of Galal Blue, will we?"

"Even so,... Sensei said he would definitely help Yuzuki-senpai!"

"What do you think he can do?"

"I … want to wait as close ... as possible...! Yes, that's right. You too, Captain."

"I'm sorry, but I'm not taking any chances. I don't even believe that Kimishima will survive."

"But Captain! You gave him your sword..."

"He carried out his own pride. So I just answered him."

"..."

"But you know he'll never rise to the high level of this world's standards, right?"

"...B-but...Yuzuki-senpai is there too."

“The area around the Temple of Galal Blue is said to be riddled with upper level monsters. Yuzuki's spear could barely cut through intermediate level monsters. You know what that means, right?"

"…But…"

At Domoto's questioning tone, Sakuragi fell silent with tears in her eyes.

"Captain. I'm also ... worried about Sakuragi being alone... I'm sorry."

"Takato-kun..."

Takato Nishina, who was listening to the conversation, also told Domoto that she was going to change his destination. Domoto sighed deeply, as though he knew it was coming.

"We will join the Adventurers' Guild of the Republic of Rigaland, as we had planned at the beginning. The strength of the monsters is just right for a starting point, and as we improve our skills, we'll change locations accordingly."

"Yes…"

“If you don't know where we're headed, ask at the Guild. We'll try to figure it out. You'll always be welcome."

"…Got it."

"Don't be reckless."

"Understood."

And the remaining six began to walk down their own paths.

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