chapter4 · 091-ep91

Episode 91: Well Then, Ren-kun. Let's Get Started.

"It's been a while, Ren-kun!"

"It's been a while, Rio-senpai."

The training facility we'd used during the Awakener Development Program.

When I entered the training room, Rio-senpai waved with his usual smile.

The email from Rio-senpai that had arrived during yesterday's lunch break.

『Ren-kun, do you have a little time tomorrow?』

When I replied that I had time, he messaged back asking me to come to the training facility we'd used before.

Even when I asked what we'd be doing, all he said was "I'll tell you when we meet!" So I'd come without really knowing.

Incidentally, the last time I'd seen Rio-senpai was when we went out to celebrate with Mibu and Nanami-san after the Cooperation Officer aptitude assessment.

"Have you been well?"

"Yeah, I've been fine. You?"

"I've been good too! Though I've been busy with all sorts of things lately."

"Ahh, I figured."

Of course.

Unlike me, Rio-senpai had been participating in government dungeon expeditions and the like for a while.

And now he'd evolved into a Sword Saint. No way he was free.

"Still, that was sudden."

"Hm?"

"Yesterday's email. All it said was 'Do you have time tomorrow?' I thought something had happened."

"Ahaha, sorry, sorry!"

He didn't look sorry at all.

Well, it was fine.

"So what's going on today?"

"Yeah. Before that, there's something I want to ask."

"Yes?"

"You're going to be working as a Cooperation Officer from now on too, right, Ren-kun?"

"Ah, yes. We finally finished the explanation to my parents the other day."

"I see! Then we're the same!"

Rio-senpai smiled happily.

"By the way, have you heard anything about squad assignments yet?"

"No, not yet."

"I see."

"I figure Kujō-san will get in touch."

Right — that day, Kujō-san had said he'd think about a position that made use of my abilities.

There hadn't been any word since.

Well, there was still paperwork and such. It probably wasn't something decided overnight.

"I'm looking forward to finding out who I'll be teamed with, too."

"Yeah. It'll be different from the people I've trained with so far."

"Right, right! But there's a chance I'll end up with you, too."

"Ahh, true."

So that was possible.

In the development program up to now, I'd basically trained with the same participants.

But being a Cooperation Officer was a different story.

Apparently I'd sometimes work alongside police and government people, and there'd be Awakeners I didn't know, naturally.

Thinking about it, having someone I knew in the same squad might be a relief.

"If I were with you, Rio-senpai, I'd feel a lot safer."

"Ehh, really?"

"Of course. You're a Sword Saint."

"Ahaha! You shouldn't judge by Job alone, you know?"

"Come on, what's a guy who was that strong during the assessment saying?"

While Mibu and I were struggling against the instructors, this guy alone was obviously on another level.

After seeing that, no amount of modesty from him was convincing.

"But you were amazing too, Ren-kun. There aren't many people who can fight Kujō-san to that extent, you know?"

"Ahh..."

Hearing that made me a little happy.

Actually, I really did get the crap beaten out of me.

It was a good thing I landed one at the end. If it had gone on longer, who knows what would've happened.

"Well, anyway."

Rio-senpai said that and looked toward the center of the training room.

"Before that, today I wanted to get a sense of my own ability."

"...Your ability?"

"Yeah."

"I mean, your ability? You overwhelmed the examiner during the assessment, didn't you?"

"Ahaha, you're exaggerating!"

"No, no, I was watching, you know?"

If anything, watching that made me think I never wanted to fight this guy.

Since becoming a Sword Saint, Rio-senpai had gotten incomparably stronger than before.

That much was certain.

"But that was just an assessment, right?"

"Well, yes."

"Neither I nor the examiners were fighting to beat the other side."

"Ahh... I see."

True.

At first I'd been fighting to observe Saeki-san's movements, and even in the spar with Kujō-san, showing my abilities became the goal partway through.

It wasn't that I was only thinking about winning.

...No, partway through I did genuinely want to land one on Kujō-san.

Well, let's set that aside.

"So I wanted to check once just how far I can go if I fight seriously now."

"I see..."

"So, you know."

Rio-senpai turned to me.

"I figured you'd be the right opponent, Ren-kun."

"........"

Huh.

Me?

"No, wait."

"Hm?"

"You said you wanted to check your current ability, right?"

"Yeah."

"So why me?"

"Huh? Because you're strong, Ren-kun."

The answer came instantly.

Well, I mean.

I was grateful for that.

But doesn't that fail to explain why it has to be me?

"Besides, our last match ended partway through, right?"

"Ahh..."

Right, it did.

The first time I sparred with Rio-senpai, Saeki-san stopped us partway through.

Because of that, there'd been no winner, and it just ended there.

"I've been wondering about the rest of that ever since."

"...You have?"

"Yeah! You didn't even have a Job back then, right?"

"That's right."

"And you could still fight that well, so I figured you'd be even stronger now."

...Well.

I couldn't deny that.

Actually, I was totally different now from back then.

I'd hit Level 31, and evolved into a Battle-Armored Enchanter.

Plus I'd picked up several new abilities over the past week.

Honestly, if I fought the me from back then, I'd beat him in an instant.

Man.

I really have gotten stronger.

...Though.

"You've gotten stronger too since then, haven't you?"

"Of course!"

That he didn't deny.

"That's exactly why I'm looking forward to it!"

Rio-senpai said that and picked up a wooden sword that had been by the wall.

Ohh.

So he really meant it.

Well, the moment I got called all the way to a training facility, I'd kind of had a feeling.

"How about it, Ren-kun? Since we're here, why not go one round?"

"...Seriously?"

"Yeah. Serious!"

...For real.

A serious mock battle with a Sword Saint.

And against Rio-senpai, no less.

He was always cheerful and easy to talk to, sure, but in a fight he was genuinely scary.

Even in our last spar, something was clearly different near the end.

If Saeki-san hadn't stopped it, I felt like he'd have shown me something even crazier.

...No.

But hold on.

That was all before.

What I could do now and what I could do then were different.

And today I'd be fighting of my own will.

"...All right."

"Oh!"

"Since we're here, I want to test my current ability too."

"Really!? Yes!"

Rio-senpai smiled happily.

Man, this guy.

How much does he love fighting?

Well, I guess I can't talk.

After getting stronger, wanting to test it against someone was normal.

...Normal, right?

"Then let's get ready!"

"Yes."

I set my things by the wall and loosened up my body.

Rio-senpai, wooden sword still in hand, started loosening his shoulders and wrists.

Watching him out of the corner of my eye, I checked my Skills.

Now then.

How should I fight this?

Against Rio-senpai, Battle Armor Form was essential.

Before, I'd fought with just normal enchants, but this time I should use it from the start.

The opponent was a Sword Saint.

Not someone I could beat while holding back.

The question was Stagnation.

"........"

...No, not this time.

I'd told Kujō-san about the Observer thing, but that didn't mean I had to show everyone else everything.

Besides, Rio-senpai wanted to test his ability as a Sword Saint.

So I wanted to see how far I could fight as a Battle-Armored Enchanter.

This was a perfect chance.

"Ren-kun, ready?"

"Ah, yes. I'm good."

"All right!"

Rio-senpai headed to the center of the training room.

I followed and faced him with a little distance between us.

Rio-senpai held the wooden sword in one hand, wearing his usual soft smile.

...Yeah.

Seeing him like this, he didn't look scary at all.

"That reminds me, Ren-kun."

"Yes?"

"I hope it doesn't end partway through this time."

"Ahh... yeah."

"I've been looking forward to this, so don't hold back, okay?"

"That's my line."

"Ahaha! You've gotten cheeky!"

Rio-senpai laughed.

Well, I mean.

I didn't know how far I could actually go.

But at the very least, I wasn't planning to end it getting pushed around one-sidedly like before.

To shift into Battle Armor Form, I checked the enchant setup I'd prepared.

Strength.

Agility.

Endurance.

This should do for starters.

Piling everything into offense before I knew how he moved was scary.

I fixed the enchants and activated Battle Armor Form.

Good.

"...Ohh."

Rio-senpai looked at me, his eyes widening slightly.

"That's the thing you used during the assessment?"

"Yes. Battle Armor Form."

"Huh... it really is interesting."

As he said that, Rio-senpai raised his wooden sword.

The same smile as a moment ago.

And yet, the moment he held the wooden sword, I suddenly didn't want to get close.

...This. This.

This feeling.

It had been like this in our last spar too.

"Well then, Ren-kun."

"Yes."

"Let's get started!"

At those words, the match between me and Rio-senpai began.