arc4 · 076-ch76

Episode 76: Interlude - Nekoyashika Kaoru

The event Explorer High School puts the most effort into. That would be the cultural festival.

When you think of high school cultural festivals, there are many schools that keep it in-house. As a school event, it's a place for parents, students, and friends from other schools to enjoy together, and it creates precious memories.

On the other hand, Explorer High School promotes a cultural festival that also serves as external publicity.

Many classes have typical cultural festival attractions, but there are events where middle schoolers can fight pseudo-monsters while wielding weapons, exhibition rooms where they can touch actual items alongside panel maps about monster ecology, and other activities conducted energetically to acquire prospective students.

Moreover, Explorer High School provides extensive support for dungeon exploration, so there are many students with good looks. Even at training facilities where you level up, your bare face becomes as beautiful as if you'd applied makeup, your teeth alignment improves, and your facial features become somewhat more refined. Explorer High School students, whose stats can be increased even further, have so many raw gems rolling around that you might mistake it for a talent agency's cultural festival or something.

Honestly, just seeing those students enjoying the cultural festival was more than sufficient as PR for middle schoolers. "I can be like that too!" "I want to explore dungeons together with those cool people!" In reality, a considerable proportion of students decide to enroll thinking exactly that.

Not only that, but there were also flashy main events like the Magic Festival and Martial Arts Festival, which are characteristic of explorers.

Middle schoolers would look on with admiration, thinking they could do things like that too, and personnel from each guild worked hard to select promising explorers. If you performed well in this event, you'd receive scout offers from many guilds, making it an important event for Explorer High School students as well.

To give many students opportunities to shine, only one party member can participate. Basically, since the whole party gets jobs at the same guild, if the party representative performs well, the evaluation of all party members rises.

First-year students can participate too, but since it's an event common to all grades, it's basically a festival where third-year students take center stage. There's only a one or two-year age difference, but the level gap is even wider. The level difference in lower-level ranges has a significant impact, and with skills not properly assembled, it's difficult to defeat third-years. Conversely, if a second-year overturns expectations and defeats a third-year, it becomes hugely exciting and catches the eyes of scouts—there are many benefits for second-years who participate.

In the midst of all this, there was an exceptional existence: a first-year student who had advanced to the semifinals.

'Now, both fighters have entered the ring! Here's the contestant who has been winning with unstoppable momentum—Nekoyashika! Facing them is power itself! The muscle daruma we at Hachioji Explorer High School pride ourselves on—Herculean Strength—Kitano!!'

The venue was in an uproar. A third-year male student named Kitano, who had manifested the rare skill "Herculean Strength," was striking a bodybuilder pose to show off his muscles before Nekoyashika Kaoru. Herculean Strength is a simple, easy-to-use powerful skill that dramatically increases physical strength, allowing you to gain attack power beyond your stats. The sight of him swinging a great sword with ease could be said to be the very embodiment of herculean strength.

As a rule of the Martial Arts Festival, only wooden weapons obtained from Wooden Goblins are permitted. This is to reduce the risk of injury. However, the great sword Kitano wielded—even though it was wooden—would be no laughing matter if it landed a direct hit. Even though professional explorers capable of recovery magic were standing by, there must have been many students who lost because they were intimidated by Kitano brandishing that great sword before them.

But Nekoyashika desperately suppressed a smile and maintained a poker face.

To Nekoyashika, the Kitano before her was no significant barrier. Herculean Strength is a simple, easy-to-use powerful skill that increases strength, but for that very reason it breeds complacency. It tends to neglect technique and lean excessively toward power.

That might work against stupid monsters. If you cooperate with party members, they'd probably excel as finishers. But against humans, it was full of openings.

Having watched Kitano's battles so far, Nekoyashika had nothing to fear.

'Then let's begin! The countdown! 3! 2! 1! Start!!'

The venue, stirred up by the commentary, was making an incredible racket. Most third-years were cheering for their peer Kitano, but the first and second-years and spectators from outside were cheering for Nekoyashika.

She was a girl who looked cute, was working earnestly and hard despite being a first-year, and fighting against her seniors. That's how she appeared to outsiders.

But Nekoyashika didn't have such a cute personality. She would devour the muscle daruma before her eyes and conquer the finals to win the championship. All enemies were her nourishment. Not just monsters—she would accumulate experience in human-versus-human combat too. Whatever it was. Anything was fine. To get even a little closer to greater heights. Nekoyashika was a splendid explorer possessed by such obsession.

"Come at me, Nekoyashika! I'll lend you my chest that's about to burst!!"

"You're not misunderstanding something? The one who's lending their chest is me. You should learn well through this fight."

"Hahaha! Being high-spirited is a young person's privilege!"

"High-spirited? All I see is a senior desperately bluffing!"

Nekoyashika accelerated and closed in on Kitano. Nekoyashika's equipment was a round shield and one-handed sword. Unlike a great sword, it had good maneuverability. Against a great sword, close-quarters combat was the only choice.

On the other hand, Kitano also expected this strategy. Until now, he would swing his great sword around and intimidate opponents to prevent them from advancing, but he sensed this wouldn't work against Nekoyashika, so he sealed away careless wide swings. He wielded the heavy great sword with ease and blocked Nekoyashika's attacks one after another.

No explorer would underestimate Nekoyashika, who had advanced to the semifinals of the Martial Arts Festival as a first-year student. Just as Nekoyashika said, what Kitano was spouting was indeed a bluff too.

There was no difference in actual strength between them. Nekoyashika, a member of the up-and-coming zoo, couldn't possibly be weak. Even so, Kitano couldn't lose. He had to show his pride as a senior to this cheeky first-year.

'Fierce offense and defense!! Nekoyashika tries to break through with speed, but Kitano blocks every attack!! What's wrong, Kitano!! For someone who's been all about wild swings until now, who could have imagined you could move like this!!'

Several of Nekoyashika's attacks slipped through Kitano's defenses and landed blows, but they weren't decisive. With Kitano's great sword, even a single hit could be a decisive blow.

There was no need to rush. Just needed to find an opening.

With a glare filled with fighting spirit, Kitano focused on Nekoyashika's movements.

"Ha!"

Nekoyashika stepped in and launched a downward strike targeting his left arm.

This is it!!

Kitano released his left hand from the great sword and received Nekoyashika's attack with just that arm.

"Na!"

He manipulated the great sword with only his remaining right arm and unleashed a thrust, but Nekoyashika somehow reacted and took the great sword's thrust with her round shield. However, with a thrust that had power beyond what you'd expect from one hand, he succeeded in knocking away Nekoyashika's shield, whose posture had collapsed.

"It's over!!"

The great sword came swinging down. Defenseless Nekoyashika.

He probably never imagined someone could wield a great sword with one hand. The cause of defeat was underestimating Herculean Strength too much!!

The moment he confirmed his victory, Kitano saw Nekoyashika's face in his vision.

A ferocious face, like a poisonous snake finishing off prey caught in a trap.

The collapsed posture had been a bluff. The shield that seemed to have been knocked away—Nekoyashika had only made it appear so. With both hands, he might have noticed the subtle difference from the sensation of impact. But with one hand relying on Herculean Strength, he couldn't grasp such delicate sensations.

Nekoyashika instantly corrected her posture, evaded the widely swung great sword, and struck a one-handed sword into the defenseless back of his head, and Kitano's consciousness was harvested.

◇

I could hear cheers so loud I wanted to cover my ears.

"I-I'm so jealous of Nyako-chan. I wanted to participate too."

Kotori whined in a sulky voice.

Only one person from a party can participate in the Martial Arts Festival. Since Nekoyashika from zoo was participating, Kotori couldn't.

"If Kotori participated, it wouldn't even be a match. You naturally gave up your spot for my training, right?"

Kotori has manifested the unique skill Acrobat. It's specialized in dodging opponent attacks, and it's a skill that allows her to control her body marvelously no matter what posture she's in. If Kotori participated, it was obvious it would end as a one-sided game, so the Martial Arts Festival became a place for Nekoyashika's training and she was the one to participate.

"That match where you baited the attack from the Herculean Strength holder was good. It was a bit obvious, though."

"No way, that showed through? What went wrong?"

"Maybe the shield got knocked away too much. If you had limited it to just collapsing your posture a bit, it would have conveyed the feeling of being caught off guard, so that might have been better."

While receiving advice from Kirin, Nekoyashika stretched her body.

"Still, Nyako-chan is well-behaved. She should go more aggressively."

"Wanko is a muscle-brain. This tournament is training, but if you're going to participate, you should make an effort to win, right?"

"? What do you mean?"

"It means Nyako-chan made preparations leading up to the finals."

Kirin understood, but Wanko tilted her head in confusion.

"A-Ah, there's, um, Suzuka-chan over there."

Kotori, who hadn't been listening to the conversation, looked around and called out the name of an explorer acquaintance she knew.

Suzuka Jozenji. At Hachioji Explorer High School, she's a famous explorer known by the alias "Iron Pipe Princess."

Despite having such a beautiful face that even zoo members initially mistook her gender, she's a despairingly strong explorer. Kirin had been conscious of her after hearing stories, but when she saw the battle with Water Blade Weasel, she received a shock that fundamentally overturned her values.

There would be no explorer of the same generation who isn't conscious of Suzuka. Even Kotori, who seems uninterested in others, is conscious of Suzuka. The moment she heard Suzuka was coming to see the cultural festival, Kotori threw a tantrum about wanting to participate in the Martial Arts Festival.

Suzuka is a deadly poison. The more you want to approach that brilliance, the more you need to take risky explorations, which endangers party members. Kirin, as the leader, steers well in that regard, but relying entirely on Kirin wouldn't make you a comrade.

That's why Nekoyashika decided to participate in the Martial Arts Festival. Nekoyashika, who can use poison magic in addition to recovery magic, was weak at close range compared to other members. But that's just an excuse. Kirin, who can use water magic, also handles close combat without issues.

She couldn't let everyone protect her forever.

I'll protect everyone. I'll make up for that day's failure in the dungeon.

'Now now now! Ladies and gentlemen of the venue, thank you for your patience!! Now entering are the fighters who have advanced to the finals!!'

The venue's voltage went up another notch. The excitement was so great that those with weak nerves couldn't even take a step forward.

"Y-You definitely have to win, N-Nyako-chan!"

"You're participating as zoo's representative, so there's no way you'd lose, Nyako-chan!"

"Naturally. I'll win the championship, and Nyako-chan will win the championship. There are no two letters for 'defeat' in zoo."

Yesterday, Kirin had participated in the Magic Festival and naturally won the championship.

The three of them, each in their own way, piled pressure on Nekoyashika.

"Heh! Of course. Words like that don't even count as pressure."

For zoo, the Martial Arts Festival was a place for Nekoyashika's training. She had said words that would be pressure to get into the habit of being able to win even in pushed situations, but it seemed they hadn't resonated.

"Nyako-chan has grown too. Then, if you lose, you'll solo hunt three Madness Serpent Mimics."

"Eh!?"

"Good luck!"

"G-Good luck!"

Nekoyashika, who was finally given a penalty game, entered with a face that looked like she'd crushed a bitter bug, probably imagining that situation.

"I owe you for that time."

When she reached the ring, she was called out by Ryonan from Parks, her opponent in the finals.

"Not really. In the end, we couldn't do anything either."

Both Parks and zoo had been caught up in the monster train and nearly killed by Water Blade Weasel. There had been no day when she cursed her own lack of ability more than that day.

"That's not true. We survived because zoo was there. We're grateful."

"Heh, then will you go easy on me?"

"Hahaha! There's no way I'd want that in the slightest. I have my pride as a senior too. See with your own eyes how much I've grown since then."

"That's my line. I'll show you."

Suzuka was watching in the venue too. She would show Suzuka her current strength. That's surely just self-satisfaction. But to come to terms with the humiliation she felt that day, Nekoyashika stepped forward the moment the gong rang.

She aimed for a quick victory.

Until now, Nekoyashika had overwhelmed opponents with speed and number of attacks. To make them think that with her delicate appearance matching her looks, she fought in a way that toyed with opponents using speed rather than relying on power.

It's true that among zoo members, Nekoyashika might be on the weaker side in terms of power. But if she drove her high stats and body reinforcement skills to the limit, she was powerful enough to match Kitano's Herculean Strength head-on.

The preparations she had built up leading to the semifinals, plus the impression from her appearance. If she swung her sword with full power from the first strike, she could catch them off guard and finish it quickly.

Ryonan had a large shield and a long sword. Judging that she couldn't break through with a shield, she used her legs to circle around. To Nekoyashika's attack from above, Ryonan didn't use his large shield but met it with his long sword.

Then he can't block it! I won!

Nekoyashika was convinced of victory and swung her sword down. It clashed with the long sword. It should have knocked the long sword away with the momentum, but the long sword was only pushed back slightly, and Ryonan's posture didn't collapse.

"Na!?"

In the opening after Nekoyashika swung wide, Ryonan immediately used his large shield to strike Nekoyashika.

"Guh!"

Even as she leaked a voice of pain, Nekoyashika succeeded in minimizing damage by flying backward as if escaping the impact.

'Oh oh ohhh!! The first contact goes to our big brother! Ryonan takes the lead!!!'

For the first time in the Martial Arts Festival, Nekoyashika was pushed back, and screams and cheers intermingled from the venue.

"Hey hey, you've grown too much. I didn't think I'd get pushed back."

"You too. I didn't think I'd get blocked. Even though you pretended to be delicate up until the semifinals."

"There's no way a trick like that would work, right? Did you forget? That scene we saw together."

Ryonan and Nekoyashika had almost no acquaintance with each other. The only time was when they were caught up in the monster train.

That's why Nekoyashika could immediately imagine that scene. The scene of the small Suzuka beating countless monsters to death and overwhelming a giant area boss with power.

"Haha, true. No wonder you wouldn't be fooled."

"Too bad for you."

"Oh well. I'll defeat you head-on!!"

Nekoyashika launched a fierce attack. Ryonan, in response, took a waiting stance.

Ryonan's job in his party was to serve as a tank, gathering monster aggro and blocking any attack. Even if the opponent was a person, he didn't break that posture. Steady and solid. Ryonan's defense, with his earnest and honest personality, boasted hardness like stone.

In response, Nekoyashika had patience too. She immediately judged deliberately shown openings as traps and attacked to corner him accurately.

Explorers don't gamble. Challenges and gambling are completely different. If you gamble in a dungeon, what awaits is not just your own death but the death of your companions.

Nekoyashika, who had been powerfully reminded of that fact that day, attacked patiently yet boldly again and again.

'Amazing!! What an incredible match!! A high-level battle worthy of the finals is unfolding!!'

Even the commentary, watching the two of them fight, got heated.

"That girl is amazing. She's still a first-year, right?"

"Certainly that girl is good too, but he's amazing too. He's been thoroughly forged in dungeons. At that age, having the patience to devote himself entirely to defense like that is not something just anyone can do."

Here and there, explorer guild scouts were exchanging opinions. Nekoyashika, who had grown to that level as a first-year, went without saying, but Ryonan's evaluation was also high for calmly handling attacks without arrogance, underestimation, or impatience.

Due to the omnipotence from raised stats, many students in their sensitive teenage years as high schoolers lacked patience. Especially since it's also a bloody profession, many explorers have large attitudes and act haughty.

Amidst that, Ryonan, who calmly performed his work, received high evaluations from explorer guild scouts.

What explorer guilds seek from affiliated explorers is three things: don't die, don't cause problems, and meet quotas. If quotas aren't met every time, the guild is in trouble, but if you die, the loss as a human resource is huge. Furthermore, if you cause problems, the guild has to put out fires, and the costs are immeasurable.

From guilds that always seek excellent children, Ryonan appeared quite favorable.

'Whoa oh oh!? Ryonan's attacks are starting to catch Nekoyashika more and more!! Is this happening!? Ryonan, carrying the feelings of us Explorer High School third-years!! Will he be able to show his pride as a senior to his junior!!?'

Having gotten used to Nekoyashika's movements, Ryonan finally opened his heavy shell and shifted to offense.

He skillfully gauged the balance between defense and offense, and unleashed attacks on Nekoyashika aiming only at timings his opponent would dislike.

Since this exchange of blows began, Nekoyashika had been constantly thinking. What was she better at, and what was Ryonan better at.

Probably Nekoyashika had higher stats. Body reinforcement was the same level. However, Ryonan's swordsmanship skill level was higher. Including his experience until now, there should be a difference beyond the skill level.

For that reason, Nekoyashika understood early on. If it dragged on, she would lose.

To bring it to a short decisive battle, she tried to toy with him by letting her stats do the talking, but frustratingly, it didn't work against Ryonan and she was suppressed. You could say her chance to win was crushed.

But that wasn't a reason for Nekoyashika to give up on victory.

Nekoyashika's true strength was magic. However, magic use was prohibited in the Martial Arts Festival. Many magic users are rich in mana. Since her stats were higher, Nekoyashika probably had more mana than Ryonan.

Aim for mana depletion? The match would be decided before that, so it's impossible. Pour mana into body reinforcement? ...That might be a good idea. But from the feeling of the collision, I think Ryonan-senpai's body reinforcement skill level is high too. Just that isn't enough to overturn the difference in experience and swordsmanship skill levels, I think.

"Damn it!?"

Ryonan was gradually starting to catch Nekoyashika, and the long sword that had only been defending until now was now striking into Nekoyashika.

There's no point hesitating!! If this continues, it's a war of attrition. I'll pour all the mana I have into body reinforcement. That's the only way!!

She understood that this thinking couldn't be called thinking—it was abandoning thought. But Ryonan's attacks were growing sharper, and with hands idle, she would only lose gradually.

Is that all I've grown since that day!? No way! I have grown! Since that day——

In that instant, the scene from that day revived in Nekoyashika's mind. The scene filled with regret where, together with zoo members who were beaten to rags, she could only watch Suzuka.

The vicious blade of the Water Blade Weasel illuminated by the setting sun, and Suzuka's iron pipe shining brilliantly with mana. That scene was etched into Nekoyashika's memory as a vivid recollection. That's why she was able to remember it.

The shining iron pipe.

In that instant, Nekoyashika poured mana with all her might into the wooden one-handed sword. Since wooden swords aren't a material that easily conducts mana, the efficiency is terrible, and she probably wouldn't get much effect relative to the mana she poured in. Even so, if Nekoyashika, a magic user with high mana manipulation skill level, poured mana with full power, the performance difference would be vastly superior to a mere wooden sword.

"What the hell!?"

Just by looking at the mana light leaking from the wooden sword, he could understand regardless what Nekoyashika had done. Ryonan immediately tried to counter by pouring mana into his wooden sword too, but with Ryonan's low mana manipulation skill level, it was something he couldn't imitate at all.

It was like a mere wooden sword crossing with a real sword. The result was told by the wooden long sword, sliced in mid-air and sent flying.

The brilliantly shining wooden sword thrust before his eyes.

Ryonan let go of the wooden sword hilt remaining in his hand and raised both hands.

"I surrender. Thank you for not finishing me off with that wooden sword."

"Good. I didn't want to dirty the precious festival with blood either."

Nekoyashika smiled nihilistically, and the mana light from the wooden sword scattered.

'Oh oh oh ohhhhh!! Nekoyashika, who looked like she was cornered!! Overwhelmed Ryonan with the outrageous power play of pouring mana into the wooden sword!! The winner is Nekoyashika!! Nekoyashika!!!"

Receiving the biggest cheers of the day, the two shook hands, praising each other's efforts.