Chapter-05 · EP-081

Episode 81: Hikaru Kujo (Part 10)

Slimes are hard to find unless you search carefully. It's said that's because slimes are weak and not very aggressive. Especially with so many people around. If that theory is true, a timid slime is unlikely to come toward us.

Walking at the front, I advanced through the labyrinth, carefully checking our surroundings.

I spotted a slime quite high up on a rock wall, but it quickly disappeared into a crevice as if fleeing. Slimes really are timid, I thought.

I pushed further in.

Okumoto-san and everyone who came to cheer for me followed silently behind.

I felt bad spending too much time searching for a slime.

I began to get anxious.

"Are you deliberately avoiding areas with slimes because you don't want the bet to happen?"

Okumoto-san started making snide remarks.

"That's not true. I just can't find a slime right now. If you like, Okumoto-san, won't you help me search?"

"Well, actually, I've been searching too. They're harder to find than usual today."

Even during exploration class, there were days like this.

Sometimes you could go an hour without encountering a single slime.

I had thought I could quickly enter the dungeon, quickly defeat a slime, and be done, but not being able to find one was making me anxious.

Then Ichinose-san suggested something.

"Should we split up and search? I'll look with Maika and the others."

"Ah, yes. I'll leave it to you."

Ichinose-san went off with Momota-san, Hayasaka-san, and Takigawa-san.

Following them, Murasakimura-san and Sendo-san also started searching separately, as did Mochizuki-san and Toba-san.

Only Mei and Okumoto-san remained with me.

"I have to witness whether Kujo-san can defeat a slime in one hit, after all."

Okumoto-san said and began searching for slimes with us.

I had to find one quickly.

Thinking that, I walked a bit further.

"Young lady! I found some!"

It was Ichinose-san's voice.

I immediately turned around.

His shout was so loud that everyone else must have heard it too. By the time I reached Ichinose-san and the others, everyone who had split up had gathered.

And where Ichinose-san pointed, there were five slimes gathered in one spot.

"You really have sharp instincts, don't you?"

I was impressed by Ichinose-san, who had easily found slimes that we had been struggling to locate. He didn't brag; he just smiled.

It was the first time I had seen five slimes gathered in one place.

I grew nervous again.

I had to pick one of them and defeat it in a single blow.

I hadn't been too worried until I got here, but now that the slime was right in front of me, I felt tension in my shoulders.

In truth, I had never defeated a slime in one hit.

I had learned proper posture and stance in the Second Swordsmanship Club, and I felt my swordsmanship had improved, but I had never put it into practice.

Thinking that if I failed, Ichinose-san would lose his Rank 3 potion, I couldn't afford to fail.

My grip on the wooden sword tightened.

Noticing my tension, Ichinose-san approached and whispered in my ear.

"Young lady, even if you fail, it's okay."

"But if I fail…"

"Actually, I've discovered a way to mass-produce Rank 3 potions."

"Eh?"

I stared at Ichinose-san's face in surprise.

Mass-produce Rank 3 potions? If that were true, losing one wouldn't be a big loss. Perhaps that's why he was willing to bet the potion in the first place.

But if that were true, it would be incredible. Potion prices in the country would plummet.

Ichinose-san's whispered words seemed meant only for me. Everyone else just looked at me, wondering what had happened.

"So relax your shoulders."

Ichinose-san said, patting my shoulder.

I let the tension out of my shoulders as he said. I had been more tense than I realized.

Then Mei shouted at us.

"Hey, Ichinose! Don't take the opportunity to touch Hikaru-sama!"

Mei slapped Ichinose-san's hand.

Only then did I realize I had been touched by a man, and I blushed involuntarily.

"Ow! Don't hit me! I'm sorry. Iori! The rest is up to you!"

Ichinose-san said, moving away from me as if being chased off by Mei.

Then Takigawa-san, prompted by Ichinose-san, came to my side.

"Hikaru, remember your practice. You're so tense your whole body is stiff. That's right. Don't rely on arm strength."

Takigawa-san gave me advice, lightly touching my shoulders and back to correct my posture.

I felt myself return from my tense, bad posture to the posture I used in practice.

"Takigawa-san, thank you. I remember now."

I knew I had released the tension and was holding the wooden sword naturally.

"Since we've found a slime, would you get on with it?"

Losing patience, Okumoto-san said. Taking that as my cue, I swung my wooden sword at the slime.

With a light whoosh, my wooden sword came down on the slime.

A strike that wasn't too forceful yet carried weight.

My perfect strike made the slime vanish in one hit, transforming it into a Magic Gem.

"I did it!"

I turned around in joy, and the surprised faces of everyone, even more surprised than me, came into view.

"You did it!"

"Congratulations!"

"Whoa!"

Some shouted with joy, Ichinose-san gave a thumbs up and grinned, and Murasakimura-san applauded.

It was just defeating a slime. Something all first-years could do, finally I could do it too. Yet everyone there celebrated for me.

I almost started crying.

"Wait! That could have been a fluke! There are still four more. Try defeating the others!"

"Of course I can."

Okumoto-san's words snapped me back. I attacked the remaining slimes the same way.

I struck, they vanished. Struck, vanished. I defeated all four slimes with one blow each, four attacks total.

I had always found dungeon exploration difficult, but now I was beginning to find it enjoyable.

"Alright! We win, Okumoto! Take care of the Class C thing!"

"Gu…"

Okumoto-san couldn't retort.

But I even felt grateful to him.

"Okumoto-san, thank you."

"Wh-what for, all of a sudden?"

He was surprised by my sudden thanks.

I began to explain what I was feeling.

"Okumoto-san, thanks to you, I can now defeat a slime in one hit. Because you encouraged me, weak as I was. In combat, I was the worst in the grade. But now I've finally caught up with everyone, thanks to you. Thank you."

"I-I haven't done anything for you to thank me for!"

Then Ichinose-san went over to Okumoto-san, put his arm around his shoulder, and said.

"Well, that's how it is. So get along with the young lady from now on!"

"Wh-what! Even without you telling me, if Kujo-san shows her ability as class president, I'll cooperate!"

"You're not very honest. Well, fine!"

Thanks to Ichinose-san, the friction with Okumoto-san seemed to be resolving.

Between the potion and this, I was truly grateful to him.

"Kujo-san, don't get too comfortable! If I win the final exam, I'll be class president in the second semester, and you'll be the one cooperating with me!"

"Fufu. Of course. But I don't intend to lose so easily."

Okumoto-san could be a good ally and rival.

The lack of unity in Class A that had been troubling me seemed like it might be resolved. I was confident that the whole class would have a better atmosphere going forward.

Until yesterday, I had felt down about my school life not going as I hoped. But surely, my next three years would be enjoyable. With these friends.

I turned to face everyone and declared loudly.

"I will continue to strive. Please be prepared."

I said with a smile, gripping my wooden sword tightly.