arc01 · 026-ep26

Episode 26: All Kinds of Feelings

"…………Lost, huh."

I mutter it under my breath, watching the three of them break away from me and head back to reception.

All of it, I already knew. As information.

That people die in dungeons like it's nothing.

That monsters are strong, and some of them humanity can't even hope to match.

That irregulars happen, now and then.

…………That I'm still weak.

"Maybe I was taking it all too lightly."

My head is a complete mess.

I should have known, properly, that it was all real. But right up until this very moment, I never actually felt it. I'd just been distracted by the numbers, going up and up.

Dying in an accident in my past life, and getting killed by a monster in this world's dungeon, were nothing alike.

A head flying off, right in front of me, easy as anything. Someone else's death.

My fingertips went cold, as if my blood had frozen.

I knew, absolutely, that I couldn't win.

And even so, I couldn't put on a blank face and run off and leave the rest behind.

Because that would be supremely uncool.

What I'm aiming to be is the strongest adventurer.

Someone chasing that summit—abandoning a life he could save and running? Unthinkable.

That's not the "strongest" I'm looking for.

I want to become the kind of person I think is cool.

And on top of that, I want to be fussed over.

Doing the whole 'I'm so OP' routine, having everyone tell me how amazing I am, and then, and then————

A simple motive. A paper-thin reason.

But it was everything. The whole of everything I've lived for in the fifteen years since I reincarnated.

"…………Time to head home."

I leave the guild, still in an uproar, behind me and go home.

◇

Nine at night.

Earlier than usual.

No way I could ride the train looking like this—jersey shredded to ribbons and soaked in blood—so I walked home.

Partway there, it occurred to me: the presence concealment and perception interference were still active, so I could have ridden the train without a soul noticing.

I couldn't even manage that much thinking.

"This won't do. My head's spinning in circles. Today's a lost cause."

I survived.

That alone is enough.

That's the kind of overwhelming opponent it was.

"…………I'm absolutely getting my revenge."

The moment I got home, I collapsed face-first into my futon without even changing clothes and slept like a log.

◇

The next morning.

I woke up a little past ten. Completely, textbook late.

"Ahh, and there goes my perfect-attendance award."

I wasn't exactly aiming for it, but having my no-tardies, no-absences streak end this fast makes me feel a little pathetic.

"The pain's… mostly gone. Still stings when I touch it, but a layer of salve should sort it out."

The wound, the fatigue, the fog in my head—all of it a good deal clearer than yesterday.

Sleep really is almighty.

I peel off the wrecked jersey, take a shower, then sit down to treat the wound with ointment.

The sweat and the smell had been bugging me, hence the shower—but God, did it sting. Mistake, probably. I work the ointment into the raw, stinging scar on my chest, wincing.

"Come to think of it, she gave me this salve and the potion too. The talismans, the smoke bomb—everything. Aizawa's the reason I'm alive. I have to thank her properly."

I'm late anyway, so while I take my time making breakfast, I fire a message off to Aizawa on my phone. She's probably in class, but it'll keep.

『I survived thanks to you, Aizawa. Thank you, truly. I've used up the potion, so it would help a lot if you could make me another.』

I could buy one at a shop, but Aizawa's potions I trust.

I'll buy them off her above guild price, too.

I considered writing the whole day off, but my body's fine. I'll contact my teacher and come in for the afternoon.

◇

Lunch break. Late arrival, accomplished. The moment I explained myself at the staff room, I got hauled off to the nurse's office.

"Right then, Hashimoto-sensei—this one's in your care."

And with that, my homeroom teacher abandoned me there.

"So you're Kobayakawa-kun. Good grief—talk about reckless."

"Um, sorry about that. I just so happened to nearly die. Wait—you know who I am?"

"One does not 'just so happen' to nearly die. I am, technically speaking, the advisor of that Dungeon Research Club you're in. In name only, mind you."

"Oh. So that's how it is."

Apparently this woman—who looks to be in her thirties and is, by trade, the school nurse—is our club advisor.

"So, um. What exactly am I supposed to do here? Nobody asked before dragging me in."

"It's a nasty wound, yes? I'll use 【Recovery Magic】 on you, so show me that wound."

"What!? You're a 【Recovery Magic】 user!?"

"That's right~ I used to be a C-rank adventurer, you know."

"C-rank!"

A professional adventurer, of all people. Well, that explains the club advisor post.

I undo my uniform buttons and bare my upper body. Naturally, the wound hasn't closed yet.

"Whoa. That's one vicious wound. Amazing you survived this."

"By a hair. Without the items Aizawa from the club gave me, I'd be dead, I think."

"Then be grateful to Aizawa-san."

"Oh, I am. Truly."

"I mean, with a wound like this, if you're going anywhere it should be a hospital, not school. Honestly. …The effect's weaker up on the surface, but I'll use magic."

"Ugh… can't argue with that. Please."

"【High Heal】."

"Whoa, that's incredible… first time I've ever seen recovery magic…"

Maybe with the salve's effects stacking on top, the wound closes before my eyes. Wrapped in that warm light, it fades until only a faint line remains.

"Take it easy today and tomorrow, understood? And class—you'd just sleep through it anyway, so skip it."

"Geh. So you knew."

"You're fairly famous among the teachers, you know. 'Barely listens in class, but answers just fine when called on—and sometimes sleeps like the dead.'"

"And here I thought I was keeping my head down…"

"Well, you're on the watch list now."

"Unbelievable."

And here I'd thought I was playing it smooth. Guess it was all an open book. Well—I've never stood at a teacher's podium running a class, so me not getting their point of view is only natural.

"First I'll swing by the club room and just say hi to the two of them. Then I'll head home and rest."

"Do that. Take care, now."

I thank the advisor and leave the nurse's office behind me.

Never dreamed our high school had a C-rank adventurer in it. No wait—she did say "used to be," come to think of it. Retired, then?

What was her name again? Takahashi-sensei, was it? I'll ask the president later.

◇

Only about ten minutes of lunch left, but when I poke my head into the club room, Makoto and Aizawa are still there.

"'Sup. I have arrived, spectacularly late."

"Takeru-kun!"

"Hey. You look better off than I expected. That's a relief."

The two of them hurry over, overjoyed to see me in one piece.

"Thank you, President. You too, Aizawa. Seriously—thank you for everything. Your items are the only reason I'm alive."

"When I saw your message, I-I was, worried, the whole, entire time! Please don't do anything that reckless!"

"My bad."

It stings, having worried her this badly.

And at the same time—it makes me happy, having someone worry about me this much.

"What are you smiling about!"

"No, no, it's not that. I was just thinking—man, am I glad I'm alive."

"Moo! Moo!!"

"You a cow?"

"I am not!!!"

"Hahaha, well, you seem fine at that rate. Not much time left, but could I hear what happened? Even just the short version?"

"Yes, of course."

Aizawa, scolding me with her feelings laid bare. The president, welcoming me back so gently.

Truly, I'm glad I'm alive—I thought it from the bottom of my heart.