Arifureta: Similar Story, Different World

Chapter 8: Similar Friends, Different Intentions

"Ready… Strike!"

"HA!"

THUNK

"Again!"

"HA!"

THUNK

"Again!"

"HA!"

THUNK

Under the peaceful morning sun, the air breezed past the heads of the hardworking teenagers locked in combat training. With targets lined up before each student, the repetitive swings made for a synchronized beating of wood that sounded the class's usual practice. First was training with maintaining a combat stance, followed by moves using the stances, ending with the repetition of hitting strawmen dummies.

"Alright, you lot, take a break. Next group, you're up!" Meld's orders had the students shuffling around before they began again.

For the melee training, this was the norm. On the other side of the training field, others were also hard at work.

"On my signal, ready… Go!"

"""… As I command thee…"""

"Fire Ball!" "Wind Blade!" "Water Ball!"

FOOSH SLINK SPLOOSH

"Impressive, Apostles-sama. But most of you still need to practice your aim."

Straw littered the impact zones as water and wind scattered their targets or ripped them to shreds. Ashes remained for the poor dummies to be targeted by flames. A handful were saved from the carnage but only barely as a second attempt and sometimes third struck true soon enough. Under the care of the Court Mage, Break, they continued to train their magic skills.

"HAAA—!" DANG "—NGUOH?!"

WOOSH—CHING "Kuh!"

"Transmute!"

But a select few weren't having the usual practice. It wasn't that they were avoiding the basic training. In fact, others might say what they were doing was practically more grueling.

"HOW ABOUT THIS—UWAH!"

"Announcing an attack ruins your chance at surprise! Less mouth, more hustle, Jugo!"

WOOS—KATHANG

"Even sneak attacks are useless if you go for the obvious, Kousuke. Try thinking outside the box."

"Trans—Woah!"

"Hajime! You left yourself wide open!"

From their side of the training grounds, Kentarou watched as Eichirou tripped Jugo, intercepted Kousuke's stab, and knocked back Hajime in rapid succession. Despite it being three versus one, the lithe young man was gracefully avoiding their attacks.

"Amazing…" was Kentarou's only comment as his two old friends and one new one were held back by the skills of his fellow teenager.

"Transmute!"

A wall was brought up between Hajime and Eichirou. With the earth pillars and walls randomly placed in the field made by Kentarou at Eichirou's request, Hajime now had a barrier hiding him from the solo spear fighter.

Unlike the earthen walls made by Kentarou, Hajime's were built through a skill and not a spell, hence the quick creation without the use of a magic circle. But from Kentarou's view of the battlefield, he saw Hajime breathing hard after summoning the makeshift barrier.

His magic was recorded as the lowest of the Apostles, or so Meld-san said. But it didn't seem to be much of a hindrance as Hajime just drunk a potion and started moving again.

"Good, you know when to back off. If you plan on just hiding behind the rock, though, it's gonna be a waste of time." Eichirou's spear aimed towards Jugo as soon as Hajime was out of his line of sight. "Jugo, stop waiting at the side. Come at me!"

The old-man faced teenager gritted his teeth with a smile and charged yelling. Shield raised high, the boy aimed for a bash to knock Eichirou's spear aside. He may have planned to disarm him, but Kentarou could tell it was done way too obviously and early.

"HAAA—What the—?!"

As soon as Jugo got to the spearhead, Eichirou pulled his weapon back and jumped. He kicked off of the raised shield and landed right behind the heavily armored soldier. Being weighed down by so much gear, Jugo couldn't react in time to the butt of the spear rushing towards his head.

"Jugo, duck!"

The boy squatted in place and ended up rolling forward with his momentum. The shouter, however, jumped in to intercept the wooden shaft with a cross-guard of his twin daggers.

"Not bad, Kousuke," Eichirou casually complimented while the normally silent boy struggled under the weight of the weapon. Until now, Eichirou barely even lost a sweat. His glasses were just as dry. "But if you'd instead gone for the offensive while Jugo rolled away, you wouldn't be pinned down here."

"Kuh!" Kousuke grit his teeth as Eichirou gently leaned down on his weapon's shaft. The lever effect as well as the spear's hard wood made it feel heavier on the boy's crossed daggers.

"Agility is your strongpoint. As an Assassin, stealth is your ally. But you're being too obvious. It offsets those advantages."

"Kuho!"

Kentarou saw Eichirou release the weight on his spear and thrust it at Kousuke. Caught off guard by the quick jab, he tossed his daggers forward to intercept only for the thrust to be a feint and cause him to overcorrect. He saw and blocked the roundhouse kick too late. His upper half was pushed back, sending him careening and tripping on the back of the still-downed Jugo, much to the larger boy's dismay.

"Jugo, vanguards shouldn't stay low for too long. The backline is vulnerable and no one is going to keep them from the melee if you stay down—"

"Transmute!"

A sudden rock spike flew out of the ground behind Eichirou, forcing him to jump out of the way. But as soon as he was airborne, another stone spire jutting out of the initial one shot out at his hand, knocking away the spear. Landing weaponless, Eichirou was open.

"HAAA!"

At that moment, Hajime, who had been lying in wait behind a few other previously built walls, jumped out with sword in hand, ready to strike.

"I got—Eh?! AH! UWOAH—Guho!"

However, Eichirou simply grabbed the boy's wrist, tripped him forward, grabbed his collar, and used his momentum to bring Hajime down with a one arm shoulder throw. Disarmed on the floor, Hajime could only groan as

"Ippon."

Eichirou smiled as he held Hajime's sword over his neck. The metal was dulled to the point that it was just hard and not sharp, but the sight of him so casually using the weapon to pin the boy by the throat was enough to send a chill down Kentarou's spine.

"I guess we should take a break." Lending Hajime a hand, he helped the boy up before strolling over to the two who still lied flat on their backs. "How are you guys doing?"

"Agh… I've been better."

"…"

Jugo lightly gave a thumbs up. Kousuke, on the other hand, silently gave Eichirou the finger. Had this been a month before, Kentarou would have been surprised. But seeing as Kousuke was beginning to be more expressive since befriending Eichirou, this was probably the norm between them now.

"Ayako, could you please patch these two up?" the girl could only nod as Yoshino applauded the end of the bout. "Seriously, though. Why did you two drop out faster than Hajime who has the weakest of stats?"

Kentarou shook his head alongside the sighing Ayako ash she stepped in for her turn healing their bruises. Hajime, on the other hand, shyly scratching the back of his head as he chuckled along with Eichirou.

"That's because you're too good, Eichin." To be fair, he had been moving with such ease that Kentarou actually believed him to be a natural fighter. "Did you learn martial arts back home?"

"My siblings got interested to learn some judo and aikido while we were abroad. My dad's idea of getting to know Japanese culture." Eichirou shrugged. "Why it couldn't be food, anime, or historical stuff, I'll never know, but as my kid brother was pretty much guaranteed to hurt himself, I got pulled along for the lessons."

"Self-defense classes with your siblings? That's pretty cool!" Ayako's side comment rubbed Kentarou in the wrong way for a bit, but he soon shrugged it off. "I never took you for the caring older brother type."

"Yeah, well, it was supposed to be fun… until we got to know the instructor." The nostalgic smirk he wore meant he was enjoying an inside joke. "The instructor was far from Asian and always did normal greetings in an exaggerated way."

"Exaggerated?" Hajime asked.

"He was German but had a strange obsession with Japanese culture."

"Ah," Hajime's expression was that of awkward embarrassment, or maybe sympathy? Kentarou wasn't sure.

"Meeting weeaboos is always humiliating. More so when they keep saying they're envious of my being born Japanese. I am technically an outsider who has never lived in Japan ever since I was a toddler after all."

Eichirou's sigh was deep and heavy. Kentarou couldn't fathom just how embarrassing it actually was. He'd seen those types of tourists before. Rude and rowdy, and kind of weird, but that was just it. He never involved himself with one or had to, thankfully.

"Anyhow, the lessons were useful, in a way. After a while, it wasn't just judo and aikido. While we traveled, I picked up taekwondo, kickboxing and a few others. Just the basics, of course."

That explained a lot. He had been fighting them for nearly an hour now and still didn't seem fazed. Only taking a break to request Kentarou to put up new walls or randomly destroy the ones already in place.

"Still, that doesn't excuse you two for being unable to keep up with Hajime."

True. It didn't. All of them, even the guards had higher stats than Hajime. Kentarou just didn't mention it for fear of offending the guy. Even he could hardly call himself a good guy after all that grief he and the rest of the class mistakenly gave Nagumo.

After a quick introduction by Eichirou just after the poisoning incident, as well as an embarrassing explanation of how Hajime wasn't at fault for all the attention he got from Shirasaki, Jugo and Kentarou were pretty much okay with the guy. In fact, after they observed him and got along inn under several days, they realized he was actually a pretty swell guy.

The only thing that irked them was the constant worry their angel just couldn't help but shower the poor boy.

It was a shame they couldn't have dropped the prejudice earlier though. Despite what Ryutarou or Kouki said, Hajime wasn't lacking in terms of effort. He just didn't like showing it. In that aspect, he was humbler and more likable when you got to know him.

"Hachin's been training with you for over a week now. Whatever you two have been doing is different compared to Meld-san's teachings."

"Kousuke told me. That's why he requested I come and join in. See if I could provide something more."

And wasn't that a total bummer. In Kentarou's opinion, Eichirou's training method was more unorthodox. Instead of drills, he decided on a melee, lumped them all into a team, asked Kentarou to create a 'fighting field', and despite the numerical advantage and haphazard environment good for ambushes and sneak attacks, he still proceeded to kick their ass over and over.

"If that something more included bruises and bumps, well you got it in spades." Ayako muttered under her breath as she prepared another healing spell. "At least I get to practice being a Priest."

"We can always train in magic skills, if you'd like."

The way he smiled and how he said it while looking over Kentarou, Ayako, and Mao sent them all slowly taking their distance.

"I'd rather live."

"I agree with him on this one."

"Eheh, sorry, Yamamoto-kun."

The silent agreement between the three was all because of their witnessing of Eichirou's true potential with magic. During their first magic lesson, he had pretty much blown the socks off the Court Mage, who was still begging to become the boy's student. It got worse after the poisoning. All because he was able to cure what they all had given up on.

Even the Church's priests looked at him strangely.

Sure, it was impressive and all, but all three by now had agreed his magic was overpowered even by their current standards as the Hero's companions. If he would train them, that was great news. But the drain on using magic too extensively was something none of the classmates could quite endure. Nor did they want to.

It was mentally tiring. Just casting ten spells or so in a row was enough to sap them of all energy. Break had explained it as the mind trying too hard to function normally after being forced to channel so much magic into a circle. They only understood it after Ayako paraphrased it as a braining functioning like a computer, not being allowed to rest after processing too much and overheating due to the stress.

Such a strain was capable of knocking someone unconscious for several days, maybe a week, if they overdid it. There were already rumors amongst the instructors that the overusing of magic could lead to physical damage as well as mental one. Ai-chan-sensei, having overheard this, warned everyone to take it easy when it came to magic.

So naturally, they avoided overdoing it. None of them wanted to lose their consciousness, or worse their minds, after all. But seeing Eichirou take physical training in such an unconventional manner, the circle of friends all feared what hell would await them if they opted for Yamamoto's Magic Class. Taking his advice or suggestions was the most they did.

The only one currently capable of keeping up was of course Hajime who was now downing several magic potions at once while sipping on some water. The potions were helpful, sure. But they did nothing to alleviate the mental stress of using magic. The mind worked more like an engine with mana as a fuel. Putting in more mana just allowed the engine to run for longer periods of time, not cool it down. But maybe it explained how Hajime was able to get so good despite having weak stats.

It was certainly proof enough that he was exerting a lot of effort into his training, if not more than the others, by enduring the pain.

"Yamamoto-sama?"

"Ara, if it isn't Tear-sama and Ruina-sama. Good day to you both."

Looking over his shoulder, Kentarou and the rest of the teenagers saw who Eichirou was giving a generous bow. The elder sorceress that supervised their magic training and also one of the Kingdom of Heiligh's best mages. Accompanying her was the younger colleague, several scrolls and books in hand and seemingly about to fall over if not for Tear's gentle grasp on her shoulder.

"Ruina-sensei, do you need help with that?"

"Sensei is going to keel over soon. Please let me help you with that!"

"Eh?! Eh?! Wai—!"

Quickly responding to the sight, Mao and Ayako moved to assist the younger instructor before she could even deny them. Having seen how she carried herself, Kentarou didn't argue that she needed more help than the average person. In reality, he hoped they would move faster. One can only watch another person accidentally trip and ruin books, scrolls, records, equipment, and so on so many times before you develop the habit of keeping her as far away from those things as possible.

She wasn't stupid, just a klutz. They didn't mean any disrespect. They just wanted to avoid her causing an accident or something similarly self-destructive again.

"Seems like my former student is well-loved by her own." Tear-san, rarely revealing her emotions, nodded approvingly as the two girls relieved the flustered magic instructor. "Yamamoto-sama, I come with the same request as usual."

"Ugh," sighing tiredly, Eichirou ruffled the back of his head while making a frustrated face. "He's so persistent. Did he even finish the homework I gave him?"

"Break-sama hasn't made a single breakthrough as of late." Tear blankly stated while nodding apologetically. "He still insists to have you explain it to him once more in clearer detail."

"Even after giving him the answer, just how spoiled can that old coot be?"

"Uh, Eichin," Kentarou, clueless as the rest, decided to ask. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, right. I haven't told anyone yet." Clearing his throat, he then explained. "Senec-sama has been pestering me on how I've managed to clear the pleap fruit poison from all the victims last week."

"Oh yeah, how did you do that?" Ayako, a concerned Priest that she was also wanted to know.

"I used magic to locate the poisonous chemicals within the body then have it react so that it expelled it as naturally as it could via sweating, vomiting, tears, sometimes urine. I had to neutralize the poison first otherwise the body would just deliver it through the bloodstream while reabsorbing it. I also had to delay the flow so the body could naturally convert the residual chemicals to non-lethal doses but all in all, the use of the circle simplified all of those things."

"""…"""

"Smaller words, Eichirou-kun. Smaller words."

The silence he got was more than enough of an indication that they didn't get it. Hajime speaking for them was a sign he did. Probably. Kentarou couldn't tell. He was still trying to wrap his head around the heavy words delivered in casual succession.

"Ah, right. Sorry. Long story, short: Magic finds poison, makes it harmless, lets human puke, spit, vomit, cry, etc., it out until no more poison. Easy-peasy."

So he says, but all the class had ever done was raise stone walls, shoot balls of fire and water, create flying wind blades, heal wounds, and create transparent barriers. All without knowing the how. The complexity of spells was beyond the simple teenagers. One or two had likened the magic circles to equations or something, but they just left it at that and simply repeated the casting and chant without ever going into the specifics.

During one of their magic lectures, the Court Mage wanted to try have them make their own unique magic circles, but after a few shoddy attempts, they could only default back to the already existing ones. Those who had aptitudes just stuck with magic circles engraved on their equipment. Yoshino Mao's pendant was one for invoking offense-type elemental magic. Kentarou's rod had earth-based ones in the magic stone at its tip.

"Seems… … complicated," was one of their responses.

"Not really. It's just like a step-by-step curry recipe."

Eichirou's likening of food to spells raised a couple of eyebrows and had Hajime stifling a chuckle. Theirs were for more in how unassuming he took the intricacies of making magic. The ones from the instructors were mostly about what curry really was.

"But even after I gave him all the answers and methods, Senec-sama still insists that I help him recreate it."

They then had to listen about his woes about how Break nearly attempted to poison himself to get Eichirou to repeat it and how the old man was then put on house arrest until he calmed down, agreeing to an arrangement where Eichirou was the teacher and the old man the student until he could understand it all.

"Once again, I am truly regretful to have let it come to this."

"It's not your fault, Tear-sama." Eichirou waved off the older woman's deep bow alongside her junior who had been watching the explanation from start to finish in awe. "In any case, I'll have to give him another lecture today—ah, crap."

"What's up?" Getting up with a hand on his aching back, Kousuke joined the conversation.

"I forgot I promised I'd meet with Eliheid today as well." Hearing that he was casually meeting with the king was nothing surprising anymore. Not after hearing what they were calling him nowadays. "I guess I'll have to keep the explanation brief."

"Not to worry, Yamamoto-sama!" Ruina, randomly raising her voice ang enthusiastically raising her hand, popped in. "Let me transcribe for you today. I'll make sure Senec-sama at least has a written copy of your lectures to reference while you go meet with His Highness."

"Then, I shall take you up on that offer."

"In exchange, please let me listen in!"

Everyone's eyes twitched at the obvious slip. How exactly would she be able to transcribe something she didn't hear for herself, they wondered. But Eichirou took it in stride and simply nodded with his trademark smile.

"I would be delighted to have you join us, Ruina-sama."

"Oh, please. Ruina is fine."

"Eh?" the trademark shook a little.

"No need to address me so formally, Yamamoto-sama. Being the teacher to my senior, as well as allowing me to listen to your lectures, you're practically my senior in magic already. Please drop all formality and just call me Ruina."

"But Ruina-sama—?"

"Yamamoto-sama, please?!"

"… Uh, fine… Ruina… san?"

Faced with the woman's boundless energy and persistent stare, Eichirou was made to compromise. However, it didn't stop the girl from beaming with the same energy you'd expect from a kouhai at a club. Before Eichirou could even change his mind and revert back to -sama, she left, off to prepare materials for the upcoming lecture.

"I'll see you later then, Yamamoto-sensei—Fugah!"

Recovering from her tripping on her own robes, the young woman bowed, embarrassed, and resumed her mad dash to the lecture room.

"Eichirou," first to break the silence, Ayako leaned towards the boy, scrolls in hand. "Don't even think about going after Ruina-sensei."

"… … … Ha?!"

"Well, Eichin's a natural. Liliana-sama was powerless before him in the first day after all." Kentarou couldn't help but give the guy his two cents. "I'm surprised it took him a few weeks before he baited a full-grown adult."

"Wai—Oy! What the hell, man?! Stop misunderstanding—!"

"Natural… playboy?" Mao took a step away from him, keeping Ruina's books that she carried raised in his direction like a makeshift barrier.

"How the hell did you get to that—?!"

"Yamamoto-sama," even Tear decided to speak up. "As an instructor, I suggest you keep your relationships with the students on a professional level. We don't want any incidents erupting from your… tryst. More so when the involved parties include her Highness and one of my most hardworking, if a bit clumsy, apprentice."

She was joking, of course. The rare smirk she had on was all the sign they needed. Despite this, they all enjoyed a laugh at Eichirou's expense.

"Here should be good."

After getting a breather, Hajime took up position once more on the field. Unlike the others who sat back down to rest, Hajime decided to train by himself. Raising his weapon of choice, the short sword from before, he tried giving it a few swings before reversing his grip and lowering his stance. Repeating the process again, he breathed deep and relaxed for a second to pace himself.

Glancing over to the group, he spied on his new ever-growing circle of friends.

Initially, he had been reserved about getting close to anyone even after entering Tortus. He was weak, that fact was obvious. But after recognizing it was so, he felt bad on having to rely on others. The only reason he did with Eichirou was that the guy didn't force the issue.

Rather, it was Eichirou who asked him for help in studying magic.

It was odd. Eichirou asked him for help but as soon as they started working out the kinks and basics, the guy turned his focus on improving Hajime's skills and magic. He said it was to see if they could improve upon their findings as well as to thank him. But in Hajime's opinion, the repayment was given back in spades.

How so? From being able to turn a fork into a sharp, brittle rod to this.

"Transmute."

With a hand to one of the standing earth pillars made by Nomura-kun, Hajime imagined a rough and chunky outline. Repeating the spell, the chunk was carved smaller and smaller. After several attempts, he had turned the upper half of the stone pillar into a stone sword. He tried for a single tug to snap the tip off the base.

CRACK

"Ah, shoot. Overdid it. Or maybe the stone was too brittle?"

The blade had partially snapped as well, leaving the stone sword shorter by half its blade's original length. Transmuting it again, the blunt section where it snapped was carved once more. Now it was a stone dagger just short a few centimeters compared to his short sword. Using a little trick of transmuting thin lines within the stone, he added a few details to the hilt to carve out a pommel, chip in a grip, and finish the guard. Afterwards, he then checked the sharpness of the edge.

Satisfied with his work, it was now indistinguishable from an actual dagger, minus the material used. It was probably comparable to Stone Age weapons if they just kept on improving their tools and never moved on to using bronze. Slightly heavier than his dull training sword, but that was most likely due to being made exclusively from stone.

This was but one of the new things he was now capable of because he got to know Eichirou. Precise control using his Transmutation skill to manipulate not only minerals but any material from the earth itself. It didn't work on the same scale as earth magic, but it had better perks. For one, all he needed was mana and material. No fancy circles. No chants. Just an image of what shape he wanted and calling out the skill.

Bada-Bing. Bada-Boom. He was now able to create spare weapons from rock and stone. Once they upped his training, he'll probably be able to do the same for metal. It wasn't just weapons either. He could now make traps, pitfalls, and sinkholes with the skill. Seems boring and dull and maybe a bit underhanded, but Eichirou beat him to the punch by telling him one statement after one of their training sessions.

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. There is value in all things. If there isn't, give it one to suit your needs."

Hajime was weak.

That was a fact. Given that, these new unconventional applications of his class were, even if he liked them or not, improvements compared to his previous role in combat. Had he fought with the previous mindset, he would just be a parasite to his fellows. But with this, he had actual purpose.

He wasn't a Hero. Kouki was living proof. He wasn't a ninja assassin, or a chivalrous knight, or a hard-hitting brawler, or even a powerful magician. He was just Hajime. And just Hajime needed to find his own way. His friend suggested this one. Why would it not be a path worth exploring?

"You may not like it now, but it's better than being helpless, no?"

In every sense of the word, Hajime was grateful to Eichirou for his help. He didn't dismiss him as useless unlike the rest of the class. He had seen and appreciated, even supported, Hajime's efforts to quietly improve himself. And all of it was done out of gratitude for helping him with magic research.

Just for Eichirou's trying, Hajime felt that he needed to return the favor tenfold. Not that he expected anything in return. It was more because Eichirou was the first person to ever acknowledge him for who he was. Besides his parents of course.

A friend was a friend. And he would do his best to repay the debt.

However, as for Eichirou's side, progress was slow. A snail's pace. Magic research into creating an interdimensional portal home was practically nil as they have yet to find any magic related to space, and if Eichirou's most pessimistic theories were right, they needed to get the concept of time as well. Otherwise, they might get back to Earth but end up sometime in the future beyond their original lifetimes. Worst case, they hop to the past and need to stay in hiding until the summoning incident, trying to lay low else the present be undone by their recklessness.

It may be because they both read too many sci-fi novels and manga but the possibility still stands. Get it right, they are free from war and may be able to get some help from the government or military. Get it wrong and they could end up as time-travelers or interdimensional wanderers.

Oh how Hajime's parents would be thrilled at the prospect of creating a story or game for this premise! "That Time My Son Hopped Across Dimensions and Time to Get Home!" was a generic light novel title yet to be coined. Or was it? Anyways, delays.

Hajime sighed as he put away the stone dagger. Pulling out a small slip of paper, he reviewed the shape of the ink and committed it to memory before returning to his training-contemplation.

The delay was attributed more on their limited information and what resources they had rather than the inability to get things done. An example to their progress in magic research was the discovery of transmuting magic circles instead of writing them down. The second thing he was able to do thanks to Eichirou's assistance.

Sure, the idea came from an alchemy-themed anime they both had the pleasure of watching on Earth. But the idea itself wasn't bad. It was practical in saving time and paper. Also, it only needed a small amount of mana to trace for the simplest circles. Eichirou actually called it revolutionary as the idea didn't seem to catch on with the denizens of Tortus. If it had, there wouldn't be such a prejudice against the Synergist class.

If the king's court was anything to go by, they might want to hire more Synergists to assist magicians in their craft.

Putting a hand to the ground, Hajime thought back to one of the first spells he had tried to use. Back then, he didn't have enough mana or aptitude to invoke the standard circle.

"Transmute."

Now though, with a modified version of the circle tailored specifically for him, intricately carved into the ground via his skill, Hajime was confident he could cast the spell no matter how many times. Well, not really, but it worked better than what the textbooks gave him.

"Light up the path of your children. Guide their way through the darkness. Shine, as I—."

"Oy, oy, oy! What do we have here?!" He stopped his chanting and slowly got up, coming face to face with someone he really didn't want to see, like, at all. If he could choose, maybe never. "Don't tell me you're practicing magic, are you Nagumo?"

"Ah, good day to you too, Hiyama-kun."

It wasn't just Hiyama. Of course, the big man couldn't be left alone without his three other cheerleading squad/backup dancers/ego boosters. From the distance, Eichirou had crossed his arms and was watching it all unfold. He wasn't just observing, Hajime noted. He was waiting for a chance to come barging in.

Given the current scenario, it would be weird for him to suddenly popup behind the Bastard Four. He needed to have a legitimate reason to intervene. But maybe he didn't have to. Not this time, at least.

"Oy! I'm talking to you, Nagumo. Answer the question. Or is your poor stats also affecting your hearing?"

"Just getting some training done before I take magic lectures."

The sneer the other three made was too cliché. Like a cheap bit from one of his mom's shoujo manga where the Prince's bishoujo fiancé begins to mock and harass the plain heroine just because she caught the ikemen Prince's attention.

A really unmanly comparison, certainly. Hajime wasn't waiting for a Prince on a white stallion to come riding into his rescue. Dear god. If Shirasaki-san did it, forget being a man, Hajime would lose all self-confidence in calling himself a boy.

But if Eichirou did it… … … It would probably funny as hell.

Granted, not really manly having a friend ride into the rescue, but Hajime had to give the guy credit. Eichirou was a great performer. More than several times, he reenacted a few of his sibling's favorite anime characters during their breaks from research. They had nothing much in common other than their interests in magic and after a bit of small talk, they got to that and just took off.

The guy was a natural. From a teenager to a shell-backed old man to a black-masked rebel leader to a young determined ninja. He even did female characters legit. Turns out, he was a fan of Sumire of the South's shoujo manga as well. Hajime was speechless to meet a fan of his mom's manga, to be sure. He didn't expect one to be in the class, let alone the transfer student that was always abroad. But apparently, having eccentric grandparents throw whatever game, manga, or anime they could find at their grandkids was the deciding factor.

Hajime couldn't thank them in his prayers enough for the unintentional red string of fate that led him to the dude becoming his pal.

On another note, Eichirou may have acted embarrassed at first, but Hajime could tell. Eichirou was a natural thespian to be able to reenact his mother's most popular series, which many readers demanded to have continue on till the anime series gets hyped.

Had he come riding in to save 'the princess', he would thoroughly embarrass 'the villainess'. So much so, they might actually just drop it before an incident took place. All the while, he would be rocking that 'princely persona' and with roses in the background, he would speak 'are you alright, himesama?'

.

.

.

"Pffft~…" The thought was enough to cause Hajime to snicker.

"What's so funny, Nagumo?"

Ah, the Bastards were glaring. Hajime thought he may have been having too much fun with his new friend that he forgot all about these assholes.

"Ah, my bad. I was just thinking of something else. I forgot you were still here. Sorry about that, Hiyama-kun."

The guy was seething. More so than Hajime ever thought he would be. And for once, Hajime felt good making him angry. Soon enough though, the anger softened, replaced by a sick and twisted smile that subtly said he wanted to kick something around, preferably the boy that stood calmly before him.

"Well, doesn't really matter. Hey, since your practicing magic, how about we help you with that?"

"Yeah."

"It'll be fun."

'For you, maybe.' Hajime noted that it was not a suggestion. If the arrogant looks they wore was anything to go by, they wanted to beat Hajime down. Had this been a month before, Hajime may have wanted to hide in a hole until they forgot about him.

They were better than Hajime. Or so, that was how they saw themselves.

But it was more out of envy. Mainly for the attention he got from Shirasaki-san. That much was clear to Hajime. How they went about it, the bullying, teasing, etc., was the wrong way method. Because every time they did something against him and Hajime ended up losing sleep for it or got exhausted from thinking, Shirasaki-san just became more concerned, showering him with even more attention.

A ridiculously stupid self-destructive cycle, as Eichirou-kun put it himself while they talked.

It would have been avoided if Hajime stood up for himself and won, or if he convinced Shirasaki-san to lay off, or if he just sucked all the exhaustion in and acted fine from the beginning. But it was also obvious that Hajime couldn't do all that.

He was too nice. Eichirou commented on it as such, but unable to refute him, Hajime merely shrugged and laughed it off.

The first was too difficult. Try and he was guaranteed a beating. If he was lucky, he would die. If he didn't, the cycle would then repeat itself with Shirasaki not leaving him alone ever and he would be forever showered in her accursed presence.

For the second, he didn't wish to turn away Shirasaki lest he face the untold wrath of the rest of the school's population. Even in Tortus, he would still be ostracized by the whole class. Not including Eichirou or Ai-chan-sensei, but still, way too bad to have the animosity of his overpowered classmates. Maybe it would have lasted a short while or so, but the intensity of the bullying could oh so possibly escalate or go on for longer.

The last one was too difficult. Faking it was hard when you were too tired to fake it. Not to mention, his acting skills were way beyond deplorable.

But now, he really should do something about it.

Faking fatigue was a no go. He had been too excited about all the magic and research they'd been doing to even try to sleep and rest properly. Refusing Shirasaki-san's help would be easier here but it didn't guarantee she would stop at all. She was a persistent one after all.

But now? After all the effort Eichirou had put in to give Hajime confidence? After all the hard work and headaches he had to endure to improve his stats and skill, there was one other solution. A more direct one. His expression caught them off guard but only for a second until he replied.

"Sure. Why not?"

For Hajime, it was the first time his smile was void of all politeness. But to Hiyama and the four, it was just another day of him accepting his inferiority to them.

Oh just how wrong they were.

As soon as the Hero saw his target separate from the others to stand alone and watch the training field, Kouki made his move. Shizuku might've inserted another homo joke there, but he just wanted to speak with the boy one-on-one. As this was the first time he was alone and free, this was the prime opportunity Kouki had been waiting for.

"Yamamoto."

"What can I help you with, Amanogawa?"

The guy didn't even bother facing the Hero as he stared at the grounds with crossed arms. The fact that he wasn't being ignored this time was a good sign. Kouki had tried approaching him multiple times over the week ever since the incident but it was only now that Yamamoto wasn't too busy or tired.

Only a handful of the casualties were left staying in the palace for their recovery and rehabilitation. Mostly children. Yamamoto did the responsible thing and had been monitoring their condition over the course of the week. With the number of rehab patients slowly dwindling, it freed the boy up somewhat. This opportunity he took to train was a result of that. And now, Kouki could try to convince him.

Kouki had been trying. He really did. But somehow, Yamamoto was always preoccupied. Be it lectures with the elderly Court Mage, research in the library, a meeting with the Royal Family members, or even the poisoned victims. He was always unavailable. At night, he went to bed early. Admirable lifestyle, being early to bed and an early riser to boot, but it kinda hampered Kouki's opportunities.

At least now though, he acknowledged being addressed. Not even giving Kouki a glance was somewhat irritating, but it would do.

"Good morning, Yamamoto."

"How are you today, Yamamoto-kun?"

When he turned to face the other two who followed after him, however, the irritation flared into somewhat of an annoyance that made Kouki's eye twitch.

"Ara, good morning to you two as well, Yaegashi-kun, Shirasaki-kun." He smiled politely and gave them a nod before looking back to the field. "A bit tired from running around but fine. How's training?"

"Meld-san's been helping us improve." Kouki answered that one. Unaware that it wasn't he who was being addressed, he replied in their steed, nonetheless. "We've been consistently honing our skills for the past two weeks and preparing ourselves for the fight."

'Unlike you and a certain someone' was a phrase left unsaid but his eyes conveyed it. Behind him, Shizuku facepalmed while Kaori smiled apologetically.

"Have you now…" The bored reply caused Kouki's eye to twitch again. "Well, good for you then."

He didn't even bother continuing the topic. Only gazing to the field and even smiling a bit at whatever he saw. Kaori and Shizuku followed his gaze and were surprised at the sight. Kouki, however, remained steadfast and kept his gaze on Yamamoto.

"Yamamoto, can we talk for a bit."

"You're doing it right now, aren't you?"

While the reply wasn't meant to be offensive, Kouki felt like he was still being ignored. The boy's expression was shifting between intrigued, proud, curious, and surprised. But none of that emotion was directed to Kouki or anyone else. Rather, he kept it pointed at the middle of the training ground. Coincidentally, almost everyone had now directed their attention to the fight.

The only exception was the stalwart Hero.

"I'm being serious here." Kouki breathed deep to calm himself and spoke clearly. "Yamamoto, would you consider helping us in the war against the demons?"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"… Hm? I'm sorry. Come again?"

Kouki had never felt the need to get mad before. Nor did he ever wish to cause harm to another human being. But somehow, somewhere in his heart, he felt the need to give the guy before him a stern glare. And maybe a punch to the gut.

Not yet though. It was unbecoming of a Hero to lose his cool.

"Yamamoto—"

"Amanogawa, can I ask you a question before I answer yours?"

"Eh?" It wasn't polite to answer a question with another question. But wasn't it alright to ask for permission before doing so? It was a dilemma for Kouki, sure. But his desire to get it over and done with overruled the basic etiquette. "What is it?"

"Why is it that you insist on forcing me to fight in a war?" Without taking his eyes away from the field, Yamamoto's smile caused Kouki to eye him with confusion. "You do remember that I said I didn't want a part in it, no?"

That much was obvious. Kouki grit his teeth at that, but he couldn't back down now.

"I know what you said. And though it pains me to force you into anything, I must ask you to reconsider that decision."

"Why?"

"Eh?" the blatant and bored response was off-putting in more ways than one.

"Like I said, why should I reconsider?"

For the first time since their conversation began, Yamamoto Eichirou stared Amanogawa Kouki in the eye. His violet eyes were piercing from behind his thick glasses. Despite them covering half his face, the specs didn't seem to hinder the penetrating gaze.

"Why should I, someone who was dragged into this world without my say, be made to join a fight I have no stake in and risk losing my own life?"

The answer was obvious. He shouldn't.

But after witnessing the good he was capable of, and the help he could provide them with, it wasn't just for Kouki's sake that he needed Yamamoto's cooperation.

Being able to heal others was a good thing. Being able to heal an ailment that the Church itself couldn't was even better. Seeing justice through to save the innocents wrongly accused while maintaining a calm Kouki could not yet emulate was the objective the Hero strived for.

Yamamoto did all of those things and yet stood back from the fight to save humanity. How could Kouki, a believer of justice and an ally to all that is right, let that pass?

"You must take responsibility for your own capabilities." Kouki didn't notice it but Eichirou's eyes winced at the line before sighing. "You can heal people. You can save others. You should use that power you have to protect and save the innocent from evil."

The Hero remained standing tall and voiced his opinion.

"Someone with the power should use it for the good of others."

'How's that? Does it convince you?' was Kouki's internal line of thought. It was a fact that those in power had the responsibility of caring for those beneath them. It was one of the things that the all-talented, genius and popular Amanogawa Kouki had tried to keep true. Despite his talents and skills, he didn't wish to lord over everyone from his pedestal. He just wished they would all share his viewpoint in doing the right thing.

"Haaah," a tired sigh escaped Yamamoto's lips. "'To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked' is it?"

"What's that?" the Hero, curious but confused as well, asked.

"It's the origin of the line 'with great power comes great responsibility', Amanogawa."

Yamamoto's honest expression was one thing. But the implication of him knowing those words spoke of how he was aware of such responsibilities born from power. The line itself was like the personification of Kouki's heroic ideals. Something that brought hope and an expectant smile to his face.

"Does that mean—?"

"No. I refuse."

The Hero's hope crash and burned just as soon as it took flight.

"I don't want to fight in a war. I don't want to risk my life. I may have the power and ability to save people, but there is no way I will use said power to take part in this world's conflict." Yamamoto shrugged dramatically as he spoke. "I understand the noblesse oblige you want me to conform to, however I am not so naïve as to do just that without thinking of the consequences."

"I thought you believed in a compassionate god?!"

"Anima's teachings are to be true to oneself and one's desires. To believe in what we will and choose to commit to our choices. That also includes accepting the consequences of our decision."

"Are you saying it's alright for the innocent to just suffer?!" Kouki couldn't believe his ears. Because of his disbelief, he unintentionally raised his voice, calling the attention of both Kaori and Shizuku. "Are you just going to turn your back on those who need your help?! How can you be so selfish—?!"

"That's enough, Kouki!" Shizuku pulled him back by the shoulder. Normally, her tug wouldn't do so much as nudge him back. But due to the training over the past few weeks, her body had become strong enough to turn him backwards to face her. "Stop forcing your beliefs on Yamamoto. You shouldn't be picking fights with a classmate. I'm really sorry about this, Yama—"

"I won't stand for this, Shizuku."

Pushing his friend aside, Kouki took a few steps forward and came a foot close to the boy who simply stared him down. Unafraid, Kouki maintained his gaze.

"You should be helping others. Helping us to save the innocent people of this world. They need us. Once they've been saved, we can go back home. Stop being arrogant and—"

"There's a lot of assumption in your words, Kouki." The use of his name was enough to stop his justice-based tirade. "Where you there to negotiate our safe return with the god of Tortus? No, you were not. By whose authority do you speak of that we will all go back? By what binding contract have you assured our safe passage home after fighting in their war? After dying in their war?"

He didn't respond immediately. He couldn't. Yamamoto wasn't right. He couldn't be. What he said was against what Kouki believed to be true.

And yet, Kouki found it hard to entirely dismiss it.

There was no one there to guarantee their safe return. Ishtar-san only said they would go back as soon as they finished their duty. On Ishtar-san's word, he promised Ehito would reward them. There's no way Ishtar would lie to them… … … Is there?

Of course not! As a leader of their religion, Ishtar had a huge responsibility. Doing the right thing and not lying was par for the course as this world's pope.

"What do you mean 'dying'?" Kouki asked, bitterly. "There's no way I will let any of my comrades die on my watch!"

"Pffft~! 'On his watch' he says," the boy scoffed. "Then let me ask you this, Amanogawa Kouki. Where were you when your classmate was in dire need of help? What did you do to help when one of your 'comrades' was being bullied by your fellows?"

"What're you—?"

"Kouki!" Shizuku snapped him back. "Yamamoto-kun, please. That's enough."

Shockingly, it sounded as if Shizuku was defending Kouki, not stopping him. But blinded by the disagreeing boy his eyes locked onto, he failed to even notice his close friend worry.

"What's the matter, Yaegashi-kun? You don't want the issue addressed?" The surprised expression Yamamoto wore felt false. It looked like he was shocked but making a show of it. "And here I thought you were the most sensible of the class. Or maybe is it because you are unsure as how to give them the truth that they will accept or not do anything stupid after hearing it?"

He dropped the sarcasm in favor of a blunt and disappointed expression. One that caused Kouki to question why.

"Shizuku-chan, what's he talking about?"

Even Kaori was asking. Pinned between the questioning gaze of her two best friends, Yaegashi Shizuku grit her teeth. This sight of his friend struggling overrode Kouki's initial concern. Now, he only saw Yamamoto as the one to blame.

"Yamamoto, stop pinning this on Shizuku. You're discussion is—"

"With you, of course it is. You started this conversation with me and therefore all your problems are between me and you, not any other," Releasing his crossed arms, Yamamoto dramatically shrugged as if to convey his thought of 'why else wouldn't it be'. "Very well. Kouki, are you aware of Hiyama Daisuke's bullying of Nagumo Hajime?"

"Ha? What are you talking about?"

In all seriousness, Kouki didn't get what was being said. Hiyama bullying Hajime? Absurd! Weren't they just friends who got along so well? Everyone saw it that way. Therefore, shouldn't it be true? Why in the world would Yamamoto stop to think that Hiyama was a bad person who would drop so low as to hurt his fellow classmate?

"Well, judging by that 'confused' expression you're making, you had no idea. A pity. And I had such high hopes for the 'Hero from Another World."

Kouki's brow furrowed at thee sarcasm he could feel in those words. Never before had he sensed such negativity from another person before. At people directing their hate and anger at another but never one to himself. He had never been on any end of the hate stick before.

He had always stood for what he believed was right. Be it in kindergarten fights, a petty thief stealing because they were hungry, a stalker who was harassing their neighbor, or the taking advantage of his friend's kindness. He had always tried to fix things or at least get them to right themselves.

Breaking up the fights and getting both sides to get along, asking the stall owner to forgive the thief and lecturing them to work for it instead of stealing, getting the stalker to leave because they were a bother to others, he even went so far as to advise Nagumo to improve himself so that he didn't need to rely on Kaori's kindness.

Everything he did was the right thing. There was nothing wrong in his wanting to help or save someone. Even advising them to do the right thing was never wrong.

But before he could convey all this to Yamamoto, he was being ignored for his friends. Again.

"Shirasaki-kun, I want to ask you a question about Hajime. Is it alright?"

"Yamamoto—!" Shizuku was already up in arms and about to stop him.

"Shizuku-chan. Please." Well, she would have, if not for Kaori stepping forward with a determined look. A look Kouki had never seen his friend make before. "What is it you want to ask, Yamamoto-kun?"

"Are you aware that your presence has caused Nagumo much grief? That your very concern has been the cause for his problems and exhaustion for the past few weeks that I've seen you with him?"

The question was blunt and straight to the point, causing Kaori to stiffen up as soon as she heard it. And this was apparently all the response he needed.

"Hm. I see. Thank you for the answer."

Kaori didn't refute it. Nor did she react violently to it. Instead, her voice wavered.

"I… my concern was… I didn't… eh?"

She looked like she didn't get it. And neither did Kouki. He watched as one of his close friends lowered her head in contemplation. Another line Yamamoto crossed.

"Well, I hardly expected you would. You only had eyes for Nagumo after all."

She merely raised her hands and held them close to her chest as if to affirm it. A fact that was lost to Kouki. After all, he could never see the subtle hints behind anyone's actions. He only saw them for what he thought they were. In Kaori's case, he was of the firm belief that she was only doing it because she was a nice girl. He still did. And no one will ever change that view of his.

"What do they call it, ah right. 'Ignorance is bliss'."

As soon as Kouki noticed Kaori's tears, however, he didn't think he could stay calm.

"Oy, Yamamoto! Why are you making Kaori cry? She hasn't done anything to deserve—!"

"And you are the most ignorant of all, Amanogawa Kouki."

The interruption and accusation carried with it a cold and dismissive tone that caused Kouki to stop with a cold sweat. The eyes Yamamoto gave Kaori while he spoke were those of compassion and sadness.

The ones he gave Kouki had disappointment as well as disgust.

Those eyes were painful to look at. He had tried to never disappoint any one ever as he always did everything that was just. Hence, he had never received such a glare as heartrending as that. It was as if his own friends, family, even the deceased were looking at him, disappointed, through the glowing violet gems behind Yamamoto's glasses.

"Amanogawa, I'll ask again." The young man's tone sent a chill down Kouki's spine as it was whispered close to his face. "What did you do when Nagumo was bullied?"

"He wasn't being bullied." The statement left his lips even before he could check it was true. He firmly believed it was, but his reply was so automatic, he never really had to think about it. "Hiyama and the others are his friends."

"Then," Yamamoto pulled back, scoffing. "Is that what you call friendship?"

His hand, gesturing out to the field pointed out a scene which Kouki had unintentionally shut out in favor of focusing his attention to Yamamoto.

On the field, surrounded by Hiyama and his 'friends', Hajime was kneeling on the ground while trying to catch his breath. Circling him, the other four called out but didn't make any attempts to see if he needed help. They just stayed their distance and circled him. Watching. Waiting.

No sooner did Kouki glance that he saw Hajime pull up a wall around himself. Creating a makeshift bunker out of the ground using his Transmute skill, Hajime braced for it. He was soon bombarded with fire and wind magic from all sides.

"Wha—?!"

"Nagumo-kun?!"

"O-o-oy… What is—why—?!"

Shizuku was shocked. Kaori was panicked. Kouki, however, just watched and stared. Unable to process what he was seeing, he tried to come up with an explanation.

'Where were they? The training field! Of course!'

'What were they doing? Training! Of course!'

'Was there anything wrong with training? None! Nothing wrong at all!'

'Why were they training this way? Because helping friends was the right thing to do!'

"If you still call that one-sided exchange as training with friends, then," Yamamoto's voice chilled him to the bone as he saw the eyes glare with fury at Hiyama's turned back. "You wouldn't mind if I and a few others assaulted Yaegashi or Shirasaki, or maybe even you, from all sides with spells while you hide in a hole as well, wouldn't you, Amanogawa?"

"O-of course not!" The answer left his lips before he could even think on it. "Hurting your friends is wrong! That is not a fair way to practice—"

"Then I guess you just letting this all happen to Nagumo is what the Hero himself considers 'a fair way to practice'. My, how the Hero has fallen, to allow injustice as a fair action."

Kouki wasn't wrong. He firmly believed that he wasn't. But those words, the sight he was seeing now, and that statement caused a conflict within him. Because if he admitted to not being wrong, then Yamamoto would take it as him admitting that his earlier example of either Shizuku or Kaori on the receiving end to be correct! But if he admitted to be wrong… It was against everything he stood for… of being correct.

"Nagumo-kun! Nagumo—!" Before Kouki could even respond, Kaori had rushed forward to try and break up the scuffle. But she didn't get far before someone grabbed her by the arm. "Let go of me, Yamamoto-kun! Nagumo-kun will get—"

"I've said it before, didn't I?" Kaori stopped as soon as she met his eyes. "Your concern for Nagumo has caused him only grief. You may have good intentions, but every time you baby him with your worry, you cause others to pity him as well. After doing it for so long and him never being able to fight for himself, they all started bullying him because of the attention you continued to shower him."

Kaori tried resisting, but her arms failed her as soon as he said it all.

"You are the reason why he gets the short end of the stick! Open your eyes and see the bigger picture! If you want to look at Nagumo, look at how your actions affect him as well, be it directly or otherwise."

"That's—"

"Enough, Yamamoto!" Shizuku, who had been remaining quiet for so long stepped forward. "Kaori, he's right. Let's leave this to him and Nagumo."

"Shizuku-chan? Why are you getting in the way? If we don't help now, Nagumo-kun could get hurt!"

She looked at her friend with disbelief. But as soon as Shizuku's grip tightened on Kaori's other arm, she knew she wouldn't find help there. Turning to Yamamoto with tear-stained eyes, she very nearly spat in his face.

"Why won't you help him then?! Aren't you his friend a well?"

"What was it that you all told him to do? To 'fix himself' and 'improve by his own effort'? All that, right?"

Kouki stiffened at the sound of his own advice. Seeing Nagumo's predicament now, he wanted to step in and protect him. But then that would be admitting he was wrong again. The thought of that being true was abhorrent and disgusting to his ideals of becoming a person of justice, someone who was always in the right.

"Don't look at me like that, Shirasaki-kun. Unlike you people, I truly do watch out for my friends. I didn't just give him advice. I helped him act on it."

The jab at Kouki was pretty obvious. So much so that he flinched and balled his fist.

"But I don't baby him like you do either. I prefer showing him how to do things and let him take it from there. Different from those who just tell him to do things they think is best and wash their hands of responsibility afterwards, I do not abandon my friends."

The glare he sent the Hero made the ikemen recoil slightly, his handsome features now marred by a dark and conflicted face.

For the first time ever in his life, Kouki felt doubt cloud his thoughts. He soon shook it away though, trying to lie… no… trying to believe himself to be correct.

But the doubt still remained in his heart. The question of whether he was absolutely right or only partially and must correct it. At this time, it didn't mean much of anything. But as a seed of doubt, it could only bloom.

For now though, it remained as a dark, poisonous seed that could potentially shatter his righteous viewpoint.

"Good. Now that you're calm, we can let him properly face his own problems." Yamamoto turned to face the field as soon he released Kaori's arm. Smiling normally, after all the arguing with the trio, he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Oy! Hajime! Are you done playing around yet?"

The cry from across the field turned more than several heads. It minorly distracted the four on the field, but before long, they ignored it and turned their attention back to the stubborn one hiding behind a stone shell. But the contents of said shell merely sighed and breathed in.

"Mou, he saw through me already? I should think of something else instead of hiding behind a bunker." Hajime spoke naturally as spell after spell rocked the top of his stone shelter. They didn't get through, the walls being so thick and all, but he could feel the vibrations somewhat. Just by touching. "Maybe I should dig under—nah, too difficult. I don't have that much mana yet either."

Initially, the fight began with Hiyama trying to push him back. After dodging his attempts, he noticed the other boys closing in from different angles. He dodged them all with ease as they tried to pick on him not with their training, but rather their raw strength.

Maybe it was arrogance, but they didn't even seem to recognize that Hajime would be able to dodge at all. After a while, they started using their weapons. In the two mages' case, they tried to trip or club him via their staves. Hiyama just kept pushing and kicking debris his way while a spear prodded him from the sides. It all got too exhausting as they started to get serious.

Hence why he had to retreat in this stone shell.

"This should be fine for those four."

With a hand checking for dust on the clean floor beneath him, Hajime reviewed the plan. Reminiscing the designs of one of Eichirou's custom circles he had shown Hajime previously, he exhaled and breathed deep once more.

Taking out a handkerchief, he tied it securely to his face. He pulled out several mana potions and drunk one now before chucking the empty bottle in his pants pocket. He then placed his other free hand on the floor. After a few seconds of calm and ignoring the thundering spells, he opened his eyes and imagined using his skill in the most effective way he could as of now.

"TRANSMUTE!"

The whole class was now watching. Even the Court Mage and Knight Commander stopped what they were doing to observe the one-sided fight. Once or twice, they tried to approach and break it up, but they stopped as soon as they met Eichirou's gaze.

A shaking of his head and a knowing smile. It was a message that said they shouldn't interfere. If it was a squabble among men, then it should be left up to them to settle the dispute. But as they were but children, Meld felt off about letting them do as they wish. Break was just bored at how roughly the four boys were continuously chucking magic at the stone target which, quite impressively, withstood each hit.

Granted, it had a few cracks and dents, but after a while those were restored. Meld assumed it was magic at work. If not, then maybe Hajime was doing something to repair it overtime as he endured the onslaught.

"Oy! Come out of your hidey hole, already!"

"What's the matter, Nagumo? Chicken?!"

The jeers and taunts was only received by solid stone. It made them look like idiots for taunting a hunk of rock before they chucked a few more spells at it. But the boy in question made no move to comply with their request.

Instead, they heard him shout.

"TRANSMUTE!"

Immediately, Meld noticed something off. The ground around the circle changed. Not by change in color or texture. But there were now lines being carved out into the earth with Hajime's shell as its center. Runes etched itself all around, causing the stone floor to spit out the dust and dirt all over until the image was complete.

"OHO! This is—!"

Break didn't even have to finish. Meld saw the magic circle and was appalled. Its complexity near the center was unbelievable, the scale was massive enough to encompass the large field, and the creation speed was astounding!

"So this is what a Synergist can do?!"

Had he known Synergists could be applied this way, he would have them trained by the Mages before being assigned to the Knight Order as mere blacksmiths and craftsmen. They could work well as emergency spellcasters if need be.

The question now was, 'could he activate such a massive circle?'

He knew Hajime was of the lowest caliber when it came to the Apostles' stats. Meld had the pleasure of embarrassing the boy on the first day, much to his regret. But as it was now, he had to have a lot of magic to activate such a grand magic circle. Even his opponents knew this as they juts jeered while staying inside the circle's perimeter.

"Oy, oy, oy! Nagumo, what the hell is this?"

"Some sort of party trick?!"

"Don't force yourself too much, man. You could end up hurting your—"

"… … … Fly high, as I beseech thee, Gust!"

The end of the chant and cry of the spell's name was all they heard until the circle launched a gust of wind into the air. All the dust and dirt that came as a result of the Transmute skill's etching into the floor caused a dust cloud to envelop the area.

"What the—?!"

"Damn you!"

"Fuck, I can't see!"

The four idiots who remained within range were enveloped as well and partially blinded by the shock as well as dust in their eyes. To them, they were caught with some cheap trick.

To Meld, it was a preemptive strike.

"Oy! Blow the wind away! We can't see him!"

"On it! Head my cry as I cast this wind. Protect me from my enemies and blow them back. Rise, as I command thee, Wind—GUHO!"

"Transmute!"

BADOOM

A large noise interrupted the chant. A follow-up cry activated a skill. The next thing anybody knew, Saitou Yoshiki was flying out of the dust cloud and into the outer crowd. He landed square on his back with a bruise on the side of his head. Unconscious.

"Healers, you're up!"

Meld ordered them to move out of fear that they would remain dumbstruck. But credit given where credit was due, the top mage healers of the Kingdom wouldn't lose focus even in this scenario. Unlike the remaining trio stuck in the ambush, Heiligh's top priests and healing mages were already monitoring the boy and ready to catch another just in case.

"How is he?" Meld approached to assess the damages, but with how the healers were taking it, he needn't worry.

"He's fine. He got knocked a hit to the head. Looks like a sword pommel or something small. The one that sent him flying was a stone object to the gut."

"How'd you know it was stone?"

The mage dusted the boy's chest. His robes were covered in small rocks and large chunks of dirt. It was as if he was hit by the basic earth magic 'Stone Pillar'. But that move was normally reserved for defensive ramparts and temporary architectural support on collapsing buildings.

To think it would be used offensively.

"Oy! Where's that wind?"

"I don't know. Yoshiki! The hell are you waiting for?"

"Dammit! Where are you, bastard?!"

Turning his attention back to the battlefield, the dust had yet to settle. The remaining three of the original four on the offensive were now in a chaotic state of anger, frustration, and panic. Thinking that Hajime was no longer on the defensive, they began their manhunt in the cloud.

The weakest of them all had the advantage of surprise. Meld nodded approvingly at the child's ingenuity. And, to be fair, he applauded Hajime's resolve to toss away any form of prideful, head-on fights in favor of this impressive use of skill.

"Clever kid."

"'Being strong does not mean you don't have a weakness. Everything is flawed in one way or another. Apply what you know. Use what you have. You are weak. You don't get the option to complain.'"

So went one of the lines his friend had repeated over the past few days during their training sessions. Despite losing control and nearly dropping from exhaustion during their first weapon practice a weak ago, Eichirou was adamant about continuing the routine of early morning bouts and midafternoon magic exercise.

This was the result of all that training.

"Oy! Yoshiki! Where's that wind, dammit!"

"Fuck, he's not in his hole! Nagumo got away!"

"Shit! Find him!"

"Come out, you coward!"

The trio were currently in a mad panic. Searching around in the dust cloud was going to be futile if they couldn't see. So removing the Aeromancer first was the best solution. Sure, one of them could chant another wind magic to blow away the wind, but they would have to chant for longer. That gave time for Hajime to find and silence them.

Saitou, the one Hajime knocked out initially, was easy to surprise as he was the loudest of the bunch. He always found the need to shout out his lines. A fact that Hajime picked up from Kousuke who, like Hajime and Eichirou, found the Bastards Four an annoyance.

"'Know the enemy and you can find their weaknesses', heh." Behind the handkerchief mask, Hajime chuckled as he whispered the advice to himself. "Seems pretty underhanded."

But then again, Eichirou would have kicked his ass if he let pride get the better of him. The weak had no use of it. More so if it turned to hubris.

"You two, fan out! He can't have gotten far."

"Right!"

"Got it!"

"'Being obvious is a weakness. If you already are in a disadvantage, it's plain stupidity.'"

Hajime rolled his eyes as he mulled over the words. Given the fact that neither of the other two could see the speaker, Hiyama, this was probably the best they could do given the dust cloud that blocked their view. But as he didn't have much time until the modified gust spell wore off, he got moving.

The idea behind the spell was to encompass all four of them in a 'living smoke bomb'. The large circle mainly outlined the border of the spell. The smaller, inner circle was the one that sent dust into the air, the outer one simply contained it and sent the dust back to the middle via a low air current hugging the ground. As the center of the spell was where he originally was, Hajime could navigate the field just by observing the air current and flow of dust on the ground. Another plus side was that it softened his footsteps. With all the wind flowing about, the muffled steps he took went unnoticed until he was already behind another one.

"Transmute!"

"Huh? Guys! I found—OY! Let me out!"

"'Take away the enemy's advantage.' Sorry about this, Nakano."

"Don't fuck with me! Get me outta here!"

After summoning four high walls around Nakano Shinji, Hajime quickly drank one of his mana potions and started making his way around in the shadows of the cloud. Neutralizing the spellcasters first was done. The next one was—

"There you are! Reichi, over here!" A hand tried grasping him from the side but only knocked the handkerchief away from his face. "I'm going to kick your ass!"

Hiyama had found him. Just great.

All according to plan.

Had Hajime ever worn glasses like Eichirou did, he would've pushed it up the bridge of his nose. Even with the dust obscuring the sunlight, he was guaranteed a shine from the anime gods above. Ah, he was distracted. Better get to work.

Rolling away from Hiyama, Hajime tried to escape his reach. The roll was a flop and he only made it a few feet away before Hiyama closed the distance with a single leap.

"Where are you going?!"

'Damn that agility stat!'

Hajime was not jealous of Hiyama. Okay, maybe he was, but only a little.

The stat difference made the fight all the more unreasonable. If his pops saw him now, he would definitely make a Dark Souls reference. And as much as he'd cringe at that, Hajime knew it too be appropriate.

"Stand and fight, you little—!" "Transmute!" "What the—!"

He didn't get to finish as soon as he took a step forward. The ground that Hajime had rolled on put him in the perfect spot where the ground was softer than normal. Due to the shifting of the earth by Kentarou before their practice fight, the flooring of this section of the field was unevenly distributed. Thus, it made for the perfect sinkhole.

Drawing his sword and the stone dagger he dual held it before him like some bland anime protag. All the while, Hajime smiled with a dark chuuni air.

"Heh," he was met with a scoff. "What? You think you got me just because I can't move? Stop getting ahead of yourself, you disgusting otaku!"

He didn't get far by taunts. As far as Hajime was concerned, Hiyama wouldn't be able to harm him until he got out. But because of the guy's stats which were higher than Hajime's by several folds by now, he couldn't do anything either. It was a stalemate.

"Once Reichi gets here, your fucking dead!"

"Heh," Hajime's chuuni smile grew. After all, he was counting on it! Slamming an open palm in the floor, he willed his image into the earth. "Transmute!"

"I GOT YOU!"

Right on time, the spear-wielding Dragoon came right out of the cloud and into their little party. Spear in hand, he was aiming for a central lunge using the spear's skill. Even if it was a practice weapon, such an attack could kill Hajime who had low vitality to begin with. But as they had healing magic, they didn't care if they maimed or skewered him too much.

Hajime, however, didn't want to become a shish kebab. So he raised his right sword hand and used its guard to parry the tip. Spinning in place with an outstretched right arm, the lunge missed its mark by several feet to Hajime's right. Reichi tried to stop and adjust, but there was no way he could. After all, Hajime had smoothened the ground around him into a glassy surface.

"'A spear has good range. But get up close, and it's just a hindrance to the inexperienced.'"

"Wha—Woah—Guho!"

Kondou Reichi's shout when from astonishment to shock to unconscious in a matter of seconds. The reason for the finale was due to Hajime's stone sword's pommel in his left hand striking the guy by the back of his head.

But the end wasn't in his favor yet.

"You little shit!" Tossing aside Reichi's falling body, Hiyama used his sleeping friend's spear as a foothold and pulled himself free from the sink trap before charging in a mad dash. He leapt towards Hajime, ready to pound his face in with the open palm. "Come here!"

"Transmute!"

"GAH!"

A wall burst forth between him and the enraged boy, separating the two. A sickening crunch could be heard as hand struck stone. A broken wrist or maybe a fractured bone? Hajime didn't care either. It was obvious Hiyama was pissed off already. Not waiting for the bastard's reaction, Hajime cut past him and ran towards the center of the magic circle. The weakening wind guiding his way.

"I'm gonna kill you!"

Hajime didn't bother sparing him a glance as he saw his objective. Just close to the modified gust's center, he spied the one he was practicing with before they started pushing their bullshit on him.

He slipped into a slide, emptied another mana potion, and cupped his palm on the other custom-made spell, the open side of his palm directed at the direction he just came from. He began his chant just as the wind magic dispelled. With the dust settling, he was locked on by a furious Hiyama.

"NAGUMO!"

"Light up the path of your children. Guide their way through the darkness. Shine, as I command thee. CANDLELIGHT!"

He closed his eyes at the last second and saved himself from the powered up version of the Candlelight spell. Hiyama, who was too lost to even notice the chant, got the full blast directed to his face, effectively flash-blinding him.

"YOU SHITTY BASTARD! DAMN YOU!"

It slowed him down, but not by enough. He still ran in Hajime's general direction, his good hand swinging dangerously with Kondou's spear before him. Not wanting to take a risk, Hajime slammed his hand facing Hiyama and dealt the final hit.

"Transmute!"

"GAH!"

Just as Hiyama's located him by the skill's activation, a pillar of stone struck Hiyama in the gut. The force was powerful enough to knock the air out of him and, like Saitou Yoshiki before him, tossed him out of the thinned dust cloud.

THUD

The sound of Hiyama's form crashing into the side was enough to send relief flowing through Hajime as he sat back, dusting himself off. Before him, the carnage was apparent. The large scale circle was covered in dirt and powder. Kondou still asleep next to the slip stone and sinkhole. The pillars Hajime used to knock two idiots out of the cloud stood tall, about his height plus a few centimeters.

Looking to the side, he saw Saitou being cared for by the healers. Hiyama was being checked on by the other mages. Kondou's spear thudded as it struck the training ground on the other side. Its light weight and small form allowed the momentum of Hiyama's exit to launch it high enough for the blunt spearhead to pierce through solid stone.

All in all, better than any would expect of the weakest Apostle.

"… better than being helpless, no?"

The words brought a smile and chuckle out of Hajime. Soon, he was laughing so heartily that he didn't care if they all stared or that he was laying down on a pile of dust.

'I did it! I actually fucking did it!'

The thought raced through his mind. To think, after all this time, all he needed was a little help. Who knew that getting a little advice and some support from someone who actually gave a damn was all he needed to improve?

The newfound feeling of success and achievement caused the smile on Hajime's face to grow as wide as it possibly could. Despite being alone on the battlefield and drunk on his victory, Hajime enjoyed the feeling. Too bad, his lonesome wasn't to last.

"Nagumo-kun!"

Shifting his gaze, he saw the angelic figure of Shirasaki Kaori running towards him. Her face, filled with the most worry he had ever seen from her, was just about in tears as she got closer to him.

"Ah, hi there, Shirasaki… san— Get down!"

"Eh?!"

Panic replaced his victory as he saw the angel coming towards him at full speed as well as the incoming fireball shot by the dazed Nakano who took it upon himself to scale the stone prison's walls to escape. The moment he saw both rushing towards his position, Hajime had already jumped to his feet and pushed Shirasaki down.

"Nagumo-kun?! What are you—?!"

"Sorry! TRANSMUTE!"

BOOOOM

"GAH!"

"AAAH!"

Just as the earthen barrier was erected over his body atop hers, the sound of the impact muffled Shirasaki's screams while it also blew a chunk of stone away, sending shards flying everywhere. A fair few flew straight towards his back and embedded itself under his skin, causing immense pain.

"Nagumo-kun! You're… you're bleeding!"

"I'm alright!" He really wasn't and it hurt like a bitch. But gritting his teeth, he managed a face that tried to convey his calm. "I'm okay, Shirasaki-san. How about you?!"

"I'm fine. Thanks to you!"

'All is well then. Thank goodness.'

He sighed heavily as soon as he knew she was unharmed. Despite how he found he presence somewhat troubling, he didn't hate her. Just the fact that she could've been hurt was enough to send him into a semi-catatonic shock. Thanks to Eichirou's training to emergency situations, however, he managed to dodge the metaphorical bullet as well as avoid the very real ball of flames.

"Incinerate all that stands in my path," Oh for crying out loud! "Fireball!"

A second fireball could be seen from the corner of his eye. With Shirasaki firmly hidden beneath him, all he had to do was raise another wall and replace the shattered one.

"Transmute—Urgh! What the…? TRANS—GAAAAH!"

Only, Hajime wasn't able to call his skill out. Instead, a heavy shock ran through his skull, repeated a thumping in his head as a bad sign. There was only one thing it could mean.

"Nagumo-kun?!"

"I'm out of… mana!"

Tired and exhausted from the earlier fight, he overused his mana. Digging into his pockets, he found only empty bottles. The fireball was soon upon them, and he had no way to protect them both. Unless...

"Shirasaki-san, stay down!"

Pushing her down and covering her as best as he could, Hajime braced. However, it was unnecessary.

"Celero!"

The familiar voice spoke a language that felt foreign yet understandable due to the Language Comprehension skill. What's more, Hajime had heard it as a shout from far away, but the words that followed were spoken near his prone body.

"I'll handle this one."

Opening his eyes, the back of his friend was all that he could see blocking the fireball from view. A spear rested in one hand while the empty one was held before the blazing meteor. Hajime couldn't see Eichirou's face, but by the sound of his voice, he could imagine the guy wearing an eerily calm expression.

"Terra Murus."

With just the two words, a giant wall erupted from the ground. In less than half a second, Eichirou had done what Hajime's skill could with a decent chunk of mana.

"Munio!"

The palm he placed on the wall caused a light glow to envelope the stone barrier.

BOOM

Hajime had to cover his eyes as sparks and flames danced all around the edges of the wall. It held strong, which was astounding as the power was strong for a simple fireball spell. Way too much for a simple practice match.

"Something's not right. Stay here."

Eichirou must've noticed as well as he vanished into the smoke just as soon as the spell failed to hit its target. Getting up and dusting himself off, Hajime wondered what the hell was going on for Nakano to fire off such a powerful spell consecutively. But he didn't have the energy to spend on contemplation. For now, he should be concerned for those in need.

"Shirasaki-san, are you al…right…?"

The gears in Hajime's head stopped turning. Before he knew it,

THUD

His consciousness was fading fast as he laid on the ground next to Shirasaki's panicking visage. She was shouting something. Judging by how her mouth moved, it was probably his name. He also noticed that even Yaegashi and Kousuke were there too. Ah, even Kentarou and the others. So they were now fussing over him.

Soon after, his perspective was blocked by an old man he recognized as Break Senec, the elder Court Mage. Reading his lips, Hajime noted the words 'mana' and 'exhaustion'.

'Ah, that's right. I ran out.'

He thought to himself that maybe it was a bad thing. Throughout their experiments, Hajime and Eichirou had never gotten to the point that they lost all their mana. Mainly because Eichirou tested the spell for efficiency and modified it before Hajime could try the old and inefficient ones himself. They guy never seemed to run dry, a fact that Hajime tried to note down.

The adrenaline could have also been a factor as to why his own body didn't seem to want to react. The emergency was something he tried to be prepared for but the real deal did more than just tire him out. His body really had weak stats. He would've laughed at this, but his throat didn't seem to want to cooperate either.

Ah well, nothing he could do about it now, anyways. With his mind tuckered out and his body not responding, he let the darkness claim him a little too early in the day. Under the morning sun, successful in proving himself and protecting his fellow classmate, Hajime just did what felt natural and went to asleep.

In a certain room of the palace, all the windows had drapes pulled over them. The daylight peered through the tiny cracks, revealing several tens of stacks of books scattered all over the study. Several of the stacks fell as soon as the door was pushed open, knocking the haphazardly organized piles over.

"Break. How many times do I have to tell you to clean after yourself?"

The new visitor shook her head at the sight of the mess. Despite her monotone voice and blank expression, Tear looked very disappointed at her colleague's old habits as she went to pull open one of the drapes.

"Can't be helped. I'm too busy to bother myself with putting them away. Besides, I need them on hand for research." The old Court Mage followed the other into his own study, leading two guards and a struggling Apostle over to his desk. The sudden light from the open window bathed the cool room in the sun's warmth. "Sit him here."

"Grrrgh!" The writhing form of Nakano Shinji struggled against the binds to his wrist and the gag on his mouth as he was sat on one of the two seats laid before the elder's table. "Gaaaaah!"

"Is the Apostle-sama going to be alright?" one of the guards asked curiously. The other just wore a similarly worried expression. "What's wrong with him? Why is he going berserk—Gah!"

"That's what we brought him here for!" Break, waving his own magic rod over his head after using it to smack the guard, berated the men. "Right now, all you need to do is keep him restrained. He may be a Pyromancer, but an Apostle is still capable of tearing your head off your shoulders if you're not careful!"

"Break, stop beating my men. But stay alert, you two. He's right." Another man entered the musty room. This one's presence caused the two guards to salute before returning their hands to the thrashing Nakano. "Eichirou will be here soon. He just dropped off Hajime in the infirmary. He says to try not to harm Shinji as much as possible."

The two guards nodded but nervously watched their charge. Being there to witness the Apostles' spar, they were amazed at the power, ingenuity, and skill the otherworlders possessed. Notably, the one that was a Synergist, Nagumo Hajime, was one of if not the most amazing one of all. After dismissing him for his class, the way he carried himself and how he managed to defeat four other Apostles was astounding to all of the Tortusians who took him for a fluke.

No one present at the arena could just ignore him now.

"Hmph. Had the boy not lost consciousness, I would've been able to learn his secrets much, much sooner. Dammit, I knew I should've hunted him down after Yamamoto-sama mentioned him during the audience with His Highness."

"Don't think of breaking into the infirmary, Break." Meld warned the old man. He knew the elder still had some sense in him. But when it came to magic and research, he tended to go way past overboard. "He needs his rest and it's not good to wake someone who's knocked out by mana exhaustion."

"Yeah, yeah. Ruin my fun…" The old man merely shrugged as he huffed away to retrieve one of the fallen books of a nearby pile. Dusting it off, he flipped the tome open and ran his fingers through the leaves, searching. "Let's see. No. No. Maybe… no. Ahah!"

"Which spell is it?"

Tear didn't even bother turning to face him as she kept her eyes on the still-resisting Apostle. She continued studying his resisting form until Break returned to the desk and laid down the open book.

"Seems he's been hit by an Obscured Vision spell." Turning to the Knight Commander, he explained. "Basic effects falsifies what he sees with an illusion."

"That explains why Shinji kept shooting Fireballs despite Kaori getting in the way."

"Grrrraaaaaaaaaaaagh!" Meld frowned harder as he watched the boy continue resisting his binds. Toppling over another nearby stack with his thrashing legs, the boy now attempted to bite at the guards' fingers.

"There's more to it than just that, though. Whatever he's seeing, it's more than obscuring reality. It's causing him to lose himself and attack relentlessly."

"Isn't that the advanced version of the spell, Malefic Vision?!" Tear, for once, made a surprised expression as she drew closer to Break's open tome. Pushing past him, she made to find the passage herself. "If he continues on like this, there's a risk of him going insane. We should release him from it. Immediately!"

"I understand," Meld's crossed arms tightened their grip slightly. "But if we take off the magic now, we won't be able to know just what the hell is going on and why he went berserk in the first place."

The other two mages didn't refute it, nor did they agree with it either. The boy continued to struggle as the guards tried to keep him in place.

"Gaaaarrng Ooouuuu!"

"Wouldn't it be better to let him speak, sir?" one of the guards asked. Faced with his superior's questioning gaze, he gave his opinion. "If you say he's angry at something or someone… shouldn't we try and reason with him… to know what it is?"

He had a point. And if they didn't do anything now, they would be wasting time. After considering it, Meld nodded.

"Release his gag." The two mages prepared themselves just as Meld gave them a glance. "If he tries to chant a spell-"

"We'll stop him." Tear nodded, opening the tome she carried at all times and raising her staff. Break merely readied his own stave and tapped it on the dirty carpet.

"Do it." At his signal, the guards unbound the boy's mouth.

"DAMN YOU! I'M GONNA KILL YOU, BASTARD!" The shouting was too loud for the small room and threatened to echo through the hallway outside. Still thrashing about, Nakano was now free to try and bite his keepers. "LET ME GO! I'M GONNA BURN YOU ALIVE, NAGUMO!"

"Well that answers who he's mad at." Break winced slightly at the loudness of the shouting. Old age might not have dulled his mind and magic, but his ears where another story.

"Shinji! SHINJI!" Meld's attempts to get through didn't look like they made any progress. "Answer me, Shinji! Why did you attack Hajime?!"

"GAAAAAH! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"

Meld's voice was promptly drowned out by Shinji's cries.

"YOU GODAMNED MURDERER!"

"Thank you for your assistance again. I'm grateful you're able to look after my friend and colleagues."

I bowed to the senior physician. This being the umpteenth time I've met him this week, it's become a habit for me to start my greeting like so.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, Yamamoto-sama! It is us who should be thankful for all that you've done."

And it was also a habit of his to add another 'no' to his humble response. I swear, his 'no's' will become a speech at the rate this is going.

'So polite, just accept it already. There's no way you can just deny it. Not after all you've done for them.'

Correction. What we've done for them. Don't think you can skimp out on responsibility here.

'You have the gall to say that? After denying the 'great power comes with great responsibility' speech from the fool of a Hero just a few minutes ago?'

This and that are two different things. We saved all those people because if we didn't, after showing that we were capable of saving Liliana and Lundel, it would've roused suspicion. As for Amanogawa, I don't want to be held accountable for a bunch of reckless fools. Their willingness to dance to Ishtar's tune makes them more of a liability than a tumor.

"Do you really have to compare them to genetic disease?"

I promptly ignored this and looked over Hajime's sleeping form. Performing Appraisal just a short while ago, Break was right. Mana exhaustion had forced him to lose consciousness.

Having had to save Shirasaki right after facing the four idiots, three of which were now resting just across the other side of the room, must've triggered his fight-or-flight response. It was a miracle he had enough mana to create the first barrier. Had he not, he would've been burnt to a crisp trying to protect the girl.

I shouldn't have let her run to him until the fight was truly over.

'You didn't know that the boy would lose control and act irrationally. Blaming yourself for this little mishap is way beyond presumptuous. Stop taking responsibility for this child when you don't even want to involve yourself with the rest of his fellow fools.'

Can't do that, Mia. This one's already a friend. And like I told that self-righteous prick, I do not abandon my friends.

'Haaah, you are walking contradiction.'

What can I say other than I'm selfish?

Mia's sigh was the only response I got. Getting to know someone who had access to my memories and none of her own was too easy. Getting along with her when she can't exactly leave my head was another story.

She wasn't just a voice. Something I learned over our week of being stuck together was that she was a very curious existence. Less of the fact that whatever she was before now is a complete mystery. More in that having no memories prompted her to try and learn about everything and everyone around her.

Every time I did something, she would wonder why. When I made decisions, she saw it fit to question my reasons for it despite 'knowing' enough about me already. Just several days ago at morning, she kept asking me why I woke up so early and pestered me that she was tired.

I don't know how the hell that was possible when it was I who was doing the majority of any activity with my body. I only lent her some control when we stuck ourselves in my room to have a little meeting, but whatever.

In any case, my anxiety of being in another world hasn't left me. At all.

Just the thought of Ishtar planning something had me waking up in cold sweat before the sun even crested the horizon. Because of this, even my turning in at early evenings has been all for naught. Mia couldn't do anything but deal with the sleep deprivation. Didn't stop her from questioning the reasons and validity of my anxiety though. That was a major pain in the ass.

'I'm just saying. The little maid doesn't seem all that suspicious to me. Less than being a spy, I'd say she has more of an admiration of you and your actions. At the very least, she's grateful for your saving her and her fellows.'

I didn't respond to this as my suspicions still didn't let up. It may have lessened somewhat after that display Ishtar pulled when he was willing to enslave and execute them without trial. But I can't use Earth's modern common sense to make too many assumptions.

For all we knew, she could still be a spy to some other political group that Ishtar tried to delete or she's being used via blackmail or threats.

'That exaggerated skepticism of yours is astounding.' She said so sarcastically. 'Just how deep do your trust issues go?'

Deep enough.

I didn't respond further to her questions. Not that I found them prying. It was just that Mia was actively trying to learn about me without sifting through my memories and the people around me by observing through my own eyes. Why she wouldn't just go through my memories and be done with pestering me, I have no idea why.

'I'd rather not freely go through your personal experiences. It feels… wrong… to just rely on memories not my own.'

Even though I'd given her my consent on it already, this stubborn side of hers was really annoying. But at least, because of it, I understand her character to be very moral and honest. Being mentally stuck together and coming to agree with the majority of her mindset as she did mine, I believe we were similar in some regard.

I believe that Mia is someone I can trust.

'You're most welcome.'

However, that didn't mean we completely agreed with everything. Her methods, for one, were pretty flashy. Just this morning, when we leaped in to save Hajime, she pulled out another new spell without the use of a circle.

'It was an emergency, was it not?'

It would have caused problems if Break and the other mages were not distracted by Nakano's berserk state! Think of what would've happened if they found out!

'You preferred the boy and the foolish girl die or be seriously injured?'

Of course, not! And thank you for that. But please, for the love of god, stop trying to draw too much attention! We already stick out as it is. You could have used one of the slips I had ready in my pocket. You didn't have to resort to… whatever it is that Latin-related sorcery is.

'Fine. But, in exchange, you have to find some way for me to be able to practice my magic without interruption. I feel… something… whenever I use it. Something familiar. Like it belongs.'

Haaah, you're not even sure where the hell it came from. It just so happened to pop up when it was so desperately needed. What is this? Divine intervention? Deus ex Machina?

'Say what you will, but whatever it is, I can't control it. Grasping at straws is the best I can do right now. Even you are curious about it, are you not?'

True. I was. Unlike the magic of Tortus that left a bad tingle whenever I used it, Mia channeling the Latin words through me carried a warm feeling that was curiously comfortable as well as unknown.

But strange as it was, it carried different rules compared to Tortusian magic.

The lack of a circle was a biggie. Chants could be omitted if one had the aptitude. But to lack a circle, magic needed to be channeled by someone possessing the Mana Manipulation skill to directly form the spell out of thin air. The thing was though, only demons and monster had that.

Not humans.

In that sense, if any of them noticed, we may get lynched as demons undercover.

'We could pass it off as Anima's magic. They wouldn't question magic from another world, now would they?'

Problem in that is there can't be magic from Earth. Not too powerful or specific ones either that can control the elements besides free will. The other classmates not hearing of anything were proof of that. We can't just pass it off as being a member of some secret cult or the like either. The probability of such things happening are too slim to be believable compared to 'demon spy in the palace'.

Between the two, I guarantee Ishtar would push for the latter.

'That's because you strongly oppose him. If you just played his game, none of this would've happened.'

And be a political pawn to that deranged bastard or someone else in the palace? Hell no. You and I both know that letting them use us is the same as taking a risk in war against demons. They'd use us until there was nothing left to exploit.

At least, with our current position, he can't do anything to us directly.

'And yet, you complain too much. For someone who refused to be a piece, you sure are a reluctant player.'

And look what good that did them.

I glanced over to the trio lying asleep on the far side of the infirmary. Having used Appraisal on all three, one of them was afflicted with an illusion spell. It was minor and would wear off soon, but compared to the one afflicting their fourth member, Hiyama's curse was a cherry and Nakano's was the cake.

It was probably due to the time spent cursed. Someone wanted to harm Hajime or Shirasaki. Maybe they tried for Hiyama's weak mind but failed due to him being blinded and knocked out just as the dust settled. Nakano had been in plain sight for quite a while, trying to escape by climbing his stone jail made by Hajime. As soon as he got out, however, Nakano must've gotten the full brunt of whatever curse it was, causing him to go mad and chuck consecutive fireballs at my friend's position.

Because of that, Hajime nearly died for it.

He didn't eve react when I got close and tried to stop him. Nakano just tried shoving me aside and made to chant another spell. Thankfully for me, not so for him or whoever cursed him, he didn't bother stopping me as I knocked him down and gagged the bastard.

'Why do they all hate the boy anyway?'

Mia asked the same question I kept asking myself.

I don't know. An inferiority complex? I've never stayed long in Japan to get the social cues. Vacation with the grandparents was really all we had before… well before whatever asshole thought bringing kids here was a good idea to prevent their race from being obliterated.

"Ara, Apostle-sama." A familiar voice made its presence known from the infirmary's entrance.

"A good day to you, Head Maid." I bowed as she curtsied.

'Really? You don't know her name?'

No one ever said it out loud and I never had a reason to ask.

"Are you, by any chance, here to see the patients again?"

"I'm currently looking over my colleagues right now." I tapped on Hajime's bed post and nodded my head to the other three. I didn't like them, but I had to play nice. Glancing to the doorway that led to another wing, I added. "I plan on visiting the remaining patients later, when they are scheduled to leave."

The old woman graciously nodded while a few younger maids filed into the room from behind her and started replacing the sheets of the empty beds. Some even entered the wing designated for those undergoing recovery from the poison. I couldn't exactly let the sweet-loving kids just throw up all the poison they downed in one sitting. Not only would it hurt their body, it could scar them for life. I needed to be careful with their mental as well as their physical health.

'What's the harm if they don't come to enjoy sweets anymore? At least you wouldn't have to bother with them for this long.'

You don't exactly know how fragile a child's mind can be, despite being a vocally intelligent and sentient one in my head that is less than a week old.

'Are you calling me a child?!'

Is that a problem? You technically are. How about you let the grownups handle the problem, little one?

'Hmph.'

I sensed an odd feeling there. Like a hint of jealousy that I focused more on the nobles kids than her. Or maybe it was that I never properly thanked her for giving me the method to heal them.

'I'm not jealous!'

Okay, so Mia was mad. Haaah, such a child. I should think of something to do for her a little later then.

As I stood by and let the maids do their job, a few of them I recognized. Among them was Amelia. They did as well of me from the accusation incident and quickly nodded their sincere thanks, again. But being on duty meant that they couldn't dawdle under the watchful eyes of their strict Head.

That being the case, it was odd that she was still here.

I didn't read much on the Victorian era other than the fashion and culture, so I also didn't understand much about her duties. But maybe she was tasked to watch over those who were let go. If the Prime Minister was being meticulous, then it wouldn't surprise me if he had others keeping an eye on the would-have-been executed lest something crop up as a lead.

It wouldn't be odd if that whole kafuffle was done with ill-intent to the servants for an ulterior motive by external parties. Earth has lots of examples of framed incidents by sabotage or ill-informing.

'I thought you said we couldn't rely on your world's common sense?'

I didn't say I couldn't rely on it. Just that we can't use it to make too many assumptions. I could use Earth's knowledge. But not to the degree that a light novel protagonist would. Knowing a lot of something when this world knew little was a double-edged sword after all.

Before long, the Head Maid had left with a bow to me. I returned it and gave more to those who repeated their thanks until we were left alone with the one patient, two guards in the poisoned victims' wing, the three pricks unconscious, and a few physicians milling about.

'Enough of the narrating. I can see what's happening without you telling me. Now hurry up and explain why you don't want to use Earth knowledge. I'm curious!'

Since when were you not?

'Hm?'

Haaah, fiiiiine.

In terms of technology, Earth's science is too far advanced enough that it can be considered magic to the… lesser educated of Tortus. Just the concept of poisons as non-magical and a mere chemical with negative effects on the human body is boggling enough for these doctors and healers.

It's proof enough that this world's fully reliant on magic. Going so far as to even worship its origins. To bring technological advances that could help the common folk without magic and reduce their dependence on the Church could cripple the religion's support. By a small amount is a bit of a hit for their small population.

But if many humans done have much proficiency with magic, then they have a problem if all those people swap technology over magic. There will still be believers, sure. But if their funds came in more from the cost of healing or magical assistance than donations, they won't last long. At the very least, they won't have the influence or funds to keep up their power.

'You think they are the same as those of Earth's?'

No. Worse.

The religions of Earth all had corruptions at some point and more than a few misguided leaders here and there. Tortus' Church of Saints is similar to Earth's Catholicism in a lot of points. Two of those in common are miracles and the promise of paradise after death. These things are pretty much par for the course, but the majority of believers who come because of them are of the commoner class or the uneducated.

This one's worse because it's backed by magic that proves miracles are true and exist. Not just that, but the masses rely on the Church of Saints for guidance and healing according to their library. It also functions as a support base against the monster hordes and rallies the human race together against the other two races.

If you took away the healing part of their creed, they might need to rely on other means to support themselves. In a serfdom society, the money would be emptied out of the commoner class' pockets long before the nobility will ever need to. Once that condition is clear, add the corruption of some noble families and…

'… revolution…'

I winced at the conclusion. It wasn't a precise prediction. Merely one of many gruesome ones that could happen. France's clergy before Napoleon were corrupt to a T, but that was because they relied on nobility. This was the reverse case of the matter, however, just because it won't happen, doesn't mean it can't.

All they need is a weakened or defaced belief and a strong enough spark.

'The pope may be a fool, but he won't take the risk.'

Not if he truly believes he is backed by a god.

'?'

I glanced up at the stained glass window above that bathed the infirmary with the morning light. The mural of the cold-eyed god stared down from above.

'Nguh…'

What's wrong?

'Nothing… nothing… just… keep going.'

Hm, if you say so… I shrugged off her weird tone and resumed.

Compared to the religions of Earth, the Church of Saints is much, much more powerful. The 'relics' on Earth amounted to nothing more than remains or accessories of the dead. If they could kill, it would probably be after they've been sold to the highest bidder and cursed the thief with a cold or maybe cancer.

But the Church off Saints has a Priest Order of healers who are also capable magicians as well as a holy site on the mountains that this kingdom was built at the base of. Not just those, but despite having to rely on donations and payment for magical assistance, the nobles here give hefty sums of money due to the Church's favorable opinions. Getting the backing of a god is always a good thing.

Having the magic to prove it, the Church of Saints has all the support it needs to stay afloat and regain any influence they lose in a revolt. Worst case, they could crush it with impunity and make use it as an excuse for reforms to rule more strictly or censor a lot more perspectives.

''You can threaten a man and his family with excommunication, or just blow him up instead', is it?'

That's a little too extreme. The better method is to 'use them as a pawn or seize his property and use it as your own'.

'Your world's history sounds like a fight for survival amongst animals.'

That's the general idea. The strong live and the weak die. Earth's monarchies survived like that and could do this all just the same during their time. But not in the same scale that Ishtar and his people can manage.

'A larger playing field. With bigger effects.'

I mentally nodded.

This is why I can't rely on Earth's knowledge too much. It's on a magnitude beyond me or anyone on Earth could ever predict or counteract. One wrong move, and not just me, but a lot more could get caught in it.

But there was still hope yet.

'You mean to find allies in this world that you can rely on without exposing us?'

That's the idea. As long as we have backers, I wouldn't need to predict much other than for self-preservation. Less hassle for me who has to find a way home. It should be someone high enough in power that respects us or needs our help more than the Church. Not every man is a firm believer of the faith, after all. No matter the world, there are bound to be a few enlightened or cynical folk.

'Meld seems like the former. His demeanor declares that he lacks faith in the Pope's decision-making concerning sending children to fight a war. The Prime Minister may be beginning to doubt the old fool as well. Both seem to value your insight as well as respect the aid you've—'

Ahem?

'—we've given there people.'

Making allies with them is good and all, but if I play politics too much, Ishtar could pick it up and try to snuff it out before I even get a support base. Being the pope of a world religion is no joke. Especially for an age akin to the Middle Ages but on magical steroids.

For now, we start closer.

My eyes landed on the sleeping form of Hajime.

'Is that why…?'

Yes and no.

Yes, he doubts Ishtar and he was a convenient piece to distract the pope. But no. Hajime is more than that.

'Is this that thing about not abandoning him again? Why do you persist with him?'

I've hardly known these people for more than a month. Among them, I can get along with a lot, be friends, have a fun time, and so on. They're good people, bar a few exceptions.

I could feel Mia look to the sleeping trio through my eyes before returning a glance to Hajime. Huh. Weird way to put it.

Hajime was one of those good people if not the kindest. But unlike the others, he was never given the proper chance to express it. Maybe, I just thought he deserved one. If it benefits me, so be it. But I honestly just want this kid to achieve something. Something he can call his own.

If I can give him that while working on finding a way to escape this hell hole, then two birds with one stone.

'That doesn't answer my question. You hardly gain anything by helping him!'

I winced at her interrogative tone.

I'm not playing a zero-sum game, Mia. The value I gain from him is not for you to decide.

'Why, Eichirou? Why give this child so much? What exactly do you value that helping him gives you?'

…

'…'

…

'…'

I want to give this kid the same opportunity I had before it's too late.

'What does that—?'

"Yamamoto…kun?"

I didn't need to turn around to know who was behind me. The way her voice shook when she said my name more than told me what I said still weighed heavily on her.

"Perfect timing, Shirasaki-kun," I gave her my most non-threatening smile that I could. Sad to say, it hardly worked. "I was just about to leave. Do me a favor and keep an eye on him for me. I still have something to attend to."

"Eh? But you said…?" She made a difficult face before settling on a frown and turning away. "No, nevermind me."

"Where are you going?" She stopped as I grabbed on her shoulder. The tears were obviously held back, more for Hajime's sake than my prodding, but it was still hard for her to look my way. With Hajime just behind me, it was probably too hard for her. "Are you just going to leave your savior here unattended?"

"You said that my presence was a bother to him." She trembled but didn't cry. She was strong enough to hold it in. "That my concern was the reason why this all happened."

"And, do tell, are you planning on running away? Just going to walk away without so much as an apology or a thank you?"

That was the last straw for her. Pulling away from my light grip, she turned to face me and glare. Dead in the eye, I could see the fiery defiance to my questions. She didn't say anything, but I already knew her answer.

"Shirasaki-kun. I'm only going to say this once." I kept my composure as she did her defiance. "How about you be little a bit more honest with your feelings towards Hajime? Hm?"

POOF

T'was the sound I heard as her boldness melted away into embarrassment.

"Wha-wha-wha-How d-d-d-did y-y-y-you—?!"

"Haaah," I am tempted to facepalm just hard enough to snap my glasses in half by the bridge of my nose. But I resisted the urge. "Because I'm not blind, Shirasaki, and I don't assume people do things on a whim. You offered Hajime concern, repeatedly. If you didn't have some affection for him, I'd say you had an ulterior mot—"

"I DO NOT—!" She realized her mistake and covered her mouth before hissing. "I never had any bad intentions for Nagumo-kun!"

Damn. She has quite the lungs. And these four must really be tired not even stir in their sleep.

"I know you don't. You're too airheaded for that." I swore I heard a muffled giggle coming from the infirmary's open entrance. A sway of the end of a hiding ponytail told me enough, but the one in front of me needed convincing. "You always had good intentions, especially for Hajime."

Man, she was so red, she couldn't even prove it false.

"But many others misunderstood you and thought you just pitied him. After that, they all started thinking in the negative for him not even appreciating your concern." Realization dawned in her eyes. Finally. "Because you never clearly explained, even he started to think you were doing it to spite him."

"I would never—!"

"Ah, ah, ah!" I wagged my finger before her face. Being slightly taller than her, it felt like I was doing it to my siblings all over again. But as we were about the same age, this would probably be considered offensive. Regardless, she stopped talking. "I'm not the one you need to explain it to."

Nodding my head to gesture towards Hajime's bed, a stepped aside and made my way to the exit.

"Good luck."

I whispered knowingly while I passed her with a little push on the back. She stumbled at first. But slowly, she got to his bedside and sat down. Right now, she was no doubt contemplating on what I said. If all goes well, she gets over whatever's keeping her and does what needs to be done.

"Shirasaki-kun's concern may have started this, but you do understand that your leaving things alone only let the problem grow, don't you?"

The eavesdropper held her breath, shocked that she was noticed. But the boy who just exited the infirmary didn't even look in her direction as he continued to speak.

"It's not in my place to tell you what to do with your life. But your actions… no. Your inaction caused a friend of mine to get hurt. Forgive me if I'm a little… pissed off about it."

The expression he turned to her with was beyond pissed off. The anger hidden behind his glasses was borderline murderous. But just as he turned away, it softened and vanished, leaving just disappointment.

"Do you have any excuses?"

"'Excuses'?" Shizuku's brow scrunched in confusion.

"For your actions, Yaegashi." He didn't face her, but it felt like his disappointment was trying to freeze her solid. "Is it because of the love of your friends? Or do you just not care about the people around you that you left Hajime alone to suffer, merely apologizing to him every day for Amanogawa and Shirasaki's mistakes?"

Shizuku's teeth audibly grinded as she faced him with her cold and sharp eyes. However, from where she stood, her stance partially wavered. Only the former of his statement was true. Her compassionate nature was what kept Shizuku going on and on about covering for Kouki and supporting Kaori. But because of today's incident, it was hard to deny the latter.

Hajime getting beat up was not her own fault. But it may have helped lead to it as she never enlightened Kaori to the fact that her friend's presence caused the boy so much trouble.

"Shirasaki's absentmindedness, I forgive. She was distracted by her feelings and I can't fault a teenager for that since, well, she doesn't know any better." The boy took a step towards her, then another, then another. For each step he took, she retreated half back. All the while, he kept his gaze low, towards Shizuku's feet. "But then, there's you and Amanogawa Kouki."

In under six, Eichirou towered over her, his disappointed glare placed square on her forehead. Not her eyes because the moment he got within arm's reach, she looked away, unable to maintain eye contact.

"Ignorant, blind to the plight of others, egotistical, self-centered, irresponsible, selfish. Take your pick. One of these words may describe you." She couldn't see his face but the tone he used was just as dismissive as Kouki was to Nagumo. "But all of them is Amanogawa in a nutshell—"

"Don't talk about Kouki like you know him!" She grit her teeth but wasn't able to steady her gaze. "He may be wrong in his methods, but that doesn't change that he's trying to do his—"

"Trying isn't good enough when all he's done is speak of justice and show off his righteousness!" His voice grew a little louder. Not a shout, but more of a hiss. "It may have worked on the simpleminded, but you and I both know how warped his naïve mindset is."

Her excuses faltered. Her stance, more so. Never had she met a person so mad and yet so disappointed that she wanted to cower away and hide her shame. She tried maintaining her calm expression but was already losing ground.

"You and I both know that Amanogawa Kouki is wrong, and yet, you have done nothing but apologize for his actions over, and over, and over instead of correcting him. Be it causing a misunderstanding or his good intentions rubbing off a person in the wrong way. I've only been in school with all of you for less than a month. But it never ceases to amaze me that even in another world, you would stick up for someone who has done nothing but trouble others while pushing his beliefs on them."

Shizuku didn't respond. She couldn't. All that she can do was look away with a cold stare towards the floor. Shizuku's palm was balled into a fist. Not in anger, but in frustration at how not a single one of his points was a lie.

In all honesty, she didn't know what to do. Shizuku had the personality that couldn't help but support her friends. Kaori was simple. She just wanted to get close to Nagumo so Shizuku assisted her best friend research the boy's hobby while they repeated talks about what and how much she felt about him.

When it came to Kouki, however, she couldn't do anything but try to keep him satisfied and smiling. Even if it meant letting him push his opinions on others. What else could she do? She tried convincing him before of how wrong he could be. All that amounted to was him not believing her and being disappointed in her lack of faith in him, her close friend. That was painful in its own right.

More so for the girl who just wanted her friends to get along and not worry them with her own feelings. Her own brand of selfishness of wanting to keep things as they are.

She succeeded in that. But to what end? Leaving Nagumo to be bullied as a result of her friends' own self-interests?

Due to her failure to act, Kaori's concern towards the boy earned him the world's envy while Kouki's careless reprimands made it easier for everyone to side against him for being 'wrong' in his way of life. Because, as it had already been established, whatever Kouki saw was right was right. Everything else had to be wrong and… 'fixed'. If not, then it was injustice to leave it be.

She knew Hajime didn't want any trouble. Shizuku left him with double. With Kaori now realizing her part in this, the frustration caused her friend grief. The regret she felt partnered with her feelings for the boy was sure to be heartrending. But she knew Kaori's personality. There was no way that girl would leave things as they are. She would try and fix it as best as she could.

That responsible character of hers was always endearing in Shizuku's eyes.

As for Kouki who had yet to change, Shizuku knew he would never accept being wrong. He always viewed their circle of friends as something that would remain as it was. Throw in being wrong about Hajime besides Kaori's feelings, he wouldn't come to terms with any of it. He never accepted things that went against his way. Kaori wanted to get closer to Nagumo, of that Shizuku was sure.

But Kouki's ideals always ran counter to everyone when they began to think of their own personal feelings. Kaori's love for the boy was obviously something Kouki would never find acceptable. He didn't approve of Nagumo in the first place.

And if he had to admit he was wrong to do so, he never will.

The thought of confronting her old friend who was stubborn as the sun was blistering didn't bode well either. In fact, she thought it might end their friendship for good. For as long as Yaegashi Shizuku had known Amanogawa Kouki, he would never accept a world view that ran contrary to his own.

Being a goody-two-shoes that was popular with everyone, it was hard not to side with him. And all because he viewed everyone's opinion as the deciding factor if something was right or wrong, it didn't even have to be either. He would just run with what the majority decided and they always sided with Kouki.

Him changing his way of thinking was of a minority concern. Mainly exclusive to those closest to him like his parents and Shizuku herself.

The 'twisted' part of Yamamoto's description was accurate.

It pained the Shizuku just thinking of how to not break their long lived friendship. Such as why Shizuku's face was now close to tears but maintained the composed visage. Well, mostly composed.

Her silence was also imperfect with how much she was grinding her teeth and sniffling. All the frustration that Yamamoto brought out of her with a brief scolding had her mask, already being held together by the seams, cracking away.

"Haaah. Here." To that, Eichirou just sighed, shook his head, and threw her a handkerchief.

The act surprised Shizuku. Her senses, honed by training, was caught off guard due to the aggravation she felt. This left Eichirou's piece of cloth momentarily obscuring her vision before she took it off her face. With his back already turned to Shizuku, he spoke quietly without ever glancing in her direction.

"At this rate, you're gonna break. So I'll give you the same advice I gave Shirasaki."

"Huh? What are you—?"

"Be more honest with yourself."

Her mask cracked ever more slightly. A small chink in her metaphorical armor.

"Stop holding yourself back too much. Let loose every now and then. If you care for your friends so much, at least have the decency to keep them on the right track. You're entitled to at least complain and voice your opinions, whether they like it or not. If you truly are friends, you wouldn't hold anything back."

"What are you talking about? First you tell me I'm wrong and now you… you just give me advice?" His sudden change in tone was too much for Shizuku. It was as if he wasn't truly mad. Merely scolding her as an older sibling would. "Where do you get that nerve to—?!"

"Don't misunderstand me, Yaegashi. I'm mad that what you allowed to happen hurt my friend. Of that, you can be certain." His tone reverted to icy cold before melting away. "But I'm not so cruel as to deny giving you another chance. I'm not as heartless as..."

He paused, but even if Shizuku noticed him clenching and releasing his fist, she never commented on it.

"I don't claim to be righteous like Amanogawa. Or as nice as Shirasaki." He spoke silently in a hoarse whisper. "But if super-nice-guy Hajime were awake, he wouldn't want you to wallow in regret for not acting. I share that sentiment."

With how calmly he was speaking right after getting so intimidating, Shizuku could hardly believe that.

"Don't take it personally. I'm doing this for my sake as well as his."

That made even less sense to the girl who was now tempted to throw the handkerchief back. She resisted, sure. But Shizuku could only do so much with how much of a mess she felt.

"Hajime's really such a nice guy. To think he never blamed you despite your inaction. Nor did he even bother to be seriously mad at Shirasaki. He just chose to stand alone and take it all like a champ. The funny part is that he can actually handle it. Really now. As his friend, I can't seem to wrap my head around his strong will."

He continued, seemingly speaking to himself.

"You, on the other hand, play the part of a level-headed guardian but can't seem to catch a break. Not only are you unable to keep your friends in line, you can't even take comfort in the fact that you try." He shook his head again. This time, he made to sound comforting rather than mocking. "It's not your job to be everyone's watchful knight. A nice girl like you shouldn't have to force herself to be one."

With a quick look over his shoulder, Shizuku's face tried to maintain the cool, steadfast façade. But it faltered as soon as she saw his eyes warmly look over her with a certain sadness in them.

"It's a shame that you restrict yourself so much. You'd look better without wearing that mask."

The guise that she had practiced for so long was now gone entirely.

"Look after those two for me. I still have something to attend to. Make sure Hiyama doesn't ruin the moment. And keep Shirasaki from overwhelming Hajime. The guy still needs to recover after all." The boy started walking away while cracking jokes. Still, they didn't bother Shizuku as much as she thought they would. "Also, you don't need to return my handkerchief."

With that, Eichirou took his leave down the quiet halls. Now alone, Shizuku didn't have to keep herself anymore. Tears streaked down her face as she recalled the emotions she kept buried.

The helpless one she felt when she saw Kaori nearly fried to a crisp. Another one of frustration whenever Kouki would open his mouth. Then the remorse she felt for leaving Nagumo be.

Despite her simply apologizing, she never did anything else to compensate him for all the troubles her friends gave the guy. Despite her inaction, he was still kind enough to prioritize saving her friend which brought all this trouble to his doorstep in the first place.

The handkerchief was beyond used. It represented just how heavy it felt to have nearly lost her best friend. In a way, it was thanks to Yamamoto who helped train Hajime that Kaori lived. More on the fact that Hajime survived while attempting to save Kaori. But as Hajime was fine, it meant her best friend didn't lose someone dear to her as well.

The thought of that sent relief throughout the scared Shizuku.

When she was done, she had composed herself once more. The calm and collected mask was on once again as she joined Kaori in her visit to Nagumo. She needed to thank him as well. An apology wasn't going to cut it anymore. She owed him more than that now.

Unknown to her and Kaori, a pair of eyes watched over them and Nagumo's sleeping form from outside their periphery.

The clear blue eyes, however, did not belong to the unconscious Hiyama.

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"

"We're not getting anywhere." Meld sighed as he released his grip on the boy's shoulder to one of his men. "Gag him again. We'll wait for Eichirou."

The man nodded and did as ordered. But on his face, as well as the others, frustration was apparent as well as the exhaustion. Having had to restrain the raging young man while his commanding officer questioned him was akin to taming a monster without a Tamer class.

It was futile.

They had all gone ignored for the rest of thirty minutes or so. The entire time, the rabid Apostle didn't seem to focus on them except for the guards' hands. No matter what Meld and the others said to him, all he would do was scream murder.

Shinji didn't crack. Rather, he was already acting broken to begin with. They shortly came to the conclusion that normal interrogation wouldn't work on their mad prisoner.

"At least we tried." Tear's reassurance tried but couldn't uplift their spirits. "But we can't dawdle for too long. Given how much time has passed, it wouldn't take any longer before heh starts getting mental damage."

"We can't just let this chance slip! If he truly is under the effects of Malefic Visions, he's being misled to attack his comrades. We need to know why and who could be responsible for this—!"

DAN

The door burst open and another person made their appearance, knocking even more books down as the door slammed into a stack of them.

"Apologies for my lateness. By the Church's orders, I have come to assist—" The young man in his mid-twenties paused, stunned. His eyes roved over the people in the room and as soon as he saw the bound Nakano, his teeth audibly gnashed before he dramatically whipped up the end of his robe to stalk forward. "What is the meaning of this?! To bound a servant of Ehito-sama, have you no shame?!"

"Please, stop right there!" The man made to push past Meld and the mages but was stopped by one of the guards who held him back from the kicking and screaming teenager. His colleague struggled to keep Nakano seated, but with the boy in his current state, he found it difficult to do so without getting bitten through the gag. "I don't know who you are, but it's not safe to approach—!"

"Unhand me, sir. As a priest of Ehito-sama, I demand you release the Apostle. Such actions against the saviors of Tortus are an affront to our god himself! Are you willingly going to commit a sin against god?!"

"But…!"

The guard was visibly conflicted. Meld knew many of the soldiers were firm believers of the faith. This man and his fellow holding down Shinji were no exception. But to let the berserk Apostle free was akin to letting a monster loose on innocent civilians.

Granted, drawing parallels between those accursed beasts and the would-be saviors of Tortus was a disrespectful act, but if you looked at it objectively, they were powerful if not more so than the average human. If he was released in his current state, not just the guards themselves, anyone could get hurt.

It also wasn't that they didn't think their Commander and the mages couldn't do anything to defend themselves. Meld had what was probably the highest stats of a Tortusian. He could hold his own to a group of an Apostles as they were, but if Shinji himself was hurt in the exchange, it would be more problematic with the Church of Saints.

Neither of the guards were officers of high positions, nor were they simple commoners. But they were educated people that knew they had to stand their ground. Despite being accused of committing a crime against Ehito, they only wished to do the right thing as they performed their duty. To let a potential danger free or to disobey the Church. Neither option was acceptable.

Fortunately, they didn't have to choose.

"Deene! Stop interfering with Break-sensei and Tear-sensei's treating of the Apostle-sama!"

The newest addition to the party, stepped forward and sternly scolded the young priest named Deene.

"Ruina? You knew of this—, ahem. That's not important. What is important is how the servants of god are being ill-treated by the King's court. Such actions are unforgivable—!"

"And I'm telling you that you're interfering with Apostle-sama's treatment!" Ruina interrupted and pushed a stern finger on his chest. Despite him being a priest, practically above the youngest instructor's position, she didn't waver as she stepped into his personal space. "The Apostle-sama has been reported to be acting differently than normal. They don't know if the cause is magic or not. That's why he's under investigation to find out what's wrong!"

"Ridiculous! As if the Apostles would be affected by weak magics!"

"She's not lying." Meld stepped forward. Even with his gruff way of speaking and demanding aura, this young lad didn't quake. Meld took this as him being a true man of the faith, wavering only to Ehito or someone in the Church's higher echelon. Admirable, the Knight Commander thought to himself. "Shinji's currently suffering from a Malefic Vision spell. What he sees is all false and it's causing him to go berserk."

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAGGHHHHH!"

As if to prove his point, the boy let out a rabid howl from his seat.

"If the Knight Commander says so, then I shall perform a purification of the illusion—"

"I'm afraid you can't do that just yet." Meld took a step further and patted the boy on the shoulder, forcing him to lower his hand going for a short staff hidden in his robes. "He is still under investigation and you are hindering—"

"Leaving the Apostle-sama to suffer in such a state, have you no shame? Investigation be damned. As a servant of god, I will not stand by and let you disgrace him further."

It was bad. Meld didn't have the influence to rival the Church. If he stood in their way, he might as well be removed from office or disgraced for interfering. However, if he relented, they might lose their only lead to someone who meant harm to the Apostles.

A potential spy was bad, but a saboteur was worse.

Let this chance slip by and he or she, or whatever it was demon or man, could strike again. If they get another chance, success was a possibility. It would potentially knock out some of the Kingdom's war potential. If the attack causes the Apostles to distrust them for not keeping them safe, the Heiligh Kingdom might as well be doomed.

Glaring him straight in the eye, the younger man didn't falter for a second. Had he not been a priest but a knight instead, he may have become someone of note in Meld's books. But right now, this headstrong young man foolishly opposed the Knight Commander with the support of god's followers backing him.

The dilemma this brought caused Meld to seriously doubt the Church's actual capability to perceive danger. This lad, at the very least, didn't seem to understand how bad the situation could get, for the kingdom as well as the rest of humanity.

"That's enough." Yet another person stepped into the musty room. This one brought a relieved smile from the mages and guards, as well as a nod from Meld. "If you have enough time to be shouting at each other, at least tell me you got something out of Shinji."

His tone was heavy but not as demanding. Eichirou strode in with an unamused look on his face. The priest named Deene however merely brushed Ruina aside before stalking up to the young man slightly shorter than himself.

"And who might you be, siding with these sinners? Do you plan on violating the Apostle's rights as well?"

"Deene! What are you saying to—?!"

"It's fine, Ruina-san." The boy didn't even flinch. Instead, he tilted his head as he faced the young man. The casualness of his calling Ruina by her name seemed to tick him off. "You know the boy being restrained as an Apostle and yet you don't even know who I am. I guess you're not as well informed as the others. May I ask, who might you be, sir?"

"Hmph! I am Deene Ambrogio. A priest of the Church of Saints." The confident young lad said with a pious yet arrogant air. "I was ordered by Ishtar Langbard-sama to assist the Apostles in any way I can. I was told that one of them was in need of Ehito-sama's blessing as he was being detained by the Knight Commander's men. I didn't expect this…" he made to gesture to the bound Shinji. "This atrocity to be committed onto him!"

"AAAGGGGHHH! RAAAAAGGUUUUUUOOOOOOOO!" The boy was now swinging his upper torso wildly, trying to break free from the bindings to his wrist.

"And yet, you didn't think to ask yourself why it necessitated such measures." Eichirou's head dropped as he massaged his forehead while sighing with disappointment. "This is why I can't agree with that old fool."

"What did you say—?!"

"NGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"Excuse me, Ambrogio-sama." Brushing past Deene, Eichirou stepped forward towards the two mages. "Did you find anything?"

"We found the cause… but…"

Curious, Eichirou let them explain. He remained quiet for the entirety of it and only took the seat opposite Nakano as soon as they were done. With a face of contemplation, he stared deeply at the raging guy.

"What are you all waiting for? If he needs help, then release him from this spell!" Deene, who originally didn't believe Ruina's reasoning, was now pestering them into action. "Why are you prolonging his suffering?"

"As we've already explained," Meld rubbed his head in mild annoyance while repeating to the young man. "We need to know why and how he got like this. We can't just clear it up. We could lose a lead in the investigation."

"But if you leave him for too long, you risk causing him permanent damage!" Deene's express was one of frustration as well, but more for their delaying. "As a servant of Ehito-sama, I will not stand by and let it happen—"

"Could you please remain silent for a while."

With a calm tone, Eichirou's gaze remained locked onto Shinji. His chin rested on his thumb in a thinking pose. While the other hand was held towards the priest.

"How dare—"

"Deene, shut up for a second."

Meld didn't like the first impression he got from the young priest. Hell, he was annoyed to death for the attitude he was giving them. The awkward face he made when he was silenced by Ruina, however, was definitely satisfying. After a long morning of witnessing four of his trainees lose their cool to Hajime plus this one short-tempered member of the Church, some peace and quiet was definitely overdue.

"Thank you, Ruina-san."

Eichirou, on the other hand, had remained as composed as can be for the past while. From the one-sided harassment of Hajime to jumping in and saving both him and Kaori at the last second, the boy had remained calm all throughout. He had shown his worry when Hajime was rushed out on a stretcher, but as far as losing his cool was concerned, the Apostle called Yamamoto Eichirou was more composed than any normal teenager should be.

Just the thought of that didn't sit well with Meld. It was better than what experienced during the boy's panicked reaction after getting into his first fight. He very nearly skewered Meld's face back then. But after a few days, he'd grown into a natural.

The growth speed was a scary thing. His calmness about all of this though was ominous to say the least.

Faced with the struggling Shinji, Meld thought it would take a little longer for Eichirou to figure out what to do. The raging kid had been a handful even when two people had him bound. Eichirou though, just sighed and pulled a slip of paper from his person.

"Oh! That's—!"

"I advise you all to remain quiet until I'm done. Meld, a parchment about this size, please."

The boy didn't even let Break have a moment. The old man was just about to jump the slip of paper if it wasn't for Tear blocking his way with her stave. Meld picked up one of Break's scattered scrolls and tossed it over to Eichirou. Receiving it with a nod, the boy turned to the two behind Shinji.

"Please keep him gagged and hold him down until he stops struggling."

The guards nodded and Eichirou immediately got to work. Placing the slip of paper on Shinji's forehead, Eichirou had to hold him down by the head as he thrashed further. The guards helped in that regard as well by the boy's arms and legs. It didn't take long before he activated the spell.

"Relieve this poor soul. Ease, as I command thee, Respite!"

"AARRRRHGGGHG—Kuhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah…"

A small light enveloped the writhing boy and he soon stopped thrashing. Sitting back, he looked confused and unaware of what was happening. He kept glancing about, looking for something, or someone, but he didn't show anger anymore.

"What is that—Mmmf!" Deene, about to interrupt once again, had Ruina's hands cupped over the lower half of his face.

Eichirou tossed aside the ashes of the used slip aside and pulled out another slip of paper with an even more complicated magic circle as well as a chalk-like substance. He then pulled the blank scroll open. It was around the length of half the standard size for a soldier's bunk. On it, he copied the contents of the slip into a larger surface before laying it down on the floor. Meld soon noticed he was repeating what he had done during the King's audience after the incident.

The truth-telling magic of foreign origin.

"Oho—Geh!"

Standing by next to Tear, Break was held at bay by a poke of her stave to his side. The old man understood it as a warning to not interfere, but it didn't stop him from ogling the colorful shine of the circle.

Personally, Meld thought it an amazing sight. There were few spells he had the pleasure of witnessing on such a grand scale, but hardly any had such the vibrancy or drew such childish wonder from him. Its effects of forcing out the truth was also something else to behold. The need for barbaric interrogation was lost before it. However, sitting before him on the floor, Eichirou repeated the shrunken chant with indifference. As if the wonderous and inconceivable spell was merely just a tool.

"Veritatem Fateri!" Finishing the casting, he tidied up the space and looked towards the target to be interrogated "Alright, lay him down on this circle."

The guards did as instructed and laid Shinji atop the scroll. He was conscious, but unlike before, he didn't thrash and scream. He was sitting quietly, shifting from side to side, calm yet jumbled in thought as well as expression.

The circle beneath him, on the other hand, was colored erratically. At an interval, it changed between a dark shade and cloudy light color. It swirled and churned like murky glowing liquid shining from its thin lines.

"Nakano-kun, do you know who I am?" Taking off the gag, Eichirou spoke calmly to the once berserk boy.

"Yama…moto-kun…" He responded, calmly for the first time since the training field. The circle beneath him fluctuated, from crimson to greenish to muddy grey and back.

"Do you remember the training arena?"

"Y-yeah…" Even more colors swirled.

"Do you know what you were doing there?"

"Training… and kicking around… Nagu—!" He held his breath but then started coughing before regaining his sense. "We were… beaten by Nagumo—Hurk!"

The colors turned murky blue and grey before violet then reddening once more.

"Good, good." Eichirou pulled another two slips of paper from his person. "Do you know why you wanted to murder Nagumo?"

"Because… he…" the boy's fingers twitched just as his face contorted in rage. The crimson light similarly reacted, from bright red to bloody vermillion. "Nagumo… he killed… Daisuke… and Reichi… Gaaaah!"

Next thing they know, Shinji had thrown his head back in pain as he tried to grasp his skull but failed. Meld noted how the colors swirled into a deep black vortex after turning red. Like a whirlpool of blood.

"Relieve this poor soul. Ease, as I command thee, Respite!"

The spell was cast once more, easing his pain. But Meld knew the spell was only a temporary fix. The colors of the truth-speak spell was back to its normal vibrancy. However, there was a mix of black that the knight noticed never went away and was growing again in size. Eichirou needed to end it quickly.

"Do you remember anything else before you saw Nagumo do all that?"

"I… I… was trapped… I climbed… I saw… some… one… all black, hooded… had a… staff, and… Nguh!… watching… from the… other… side of the… Gah!... grounds…Guh! AAAGHHH!"

His breathing was escalating. Tears were forming on the corners of his eyes. A rush of colors were all in shades of red. Of distress.

"And?" Regardless, Eichirou egged him on. "What next?"

"Then…! I saw Nagumo! He was stabbing… he stabbed Reichi… in the head! Then he… he blew Daisuke's… Daisuke's head off! Blood… Blood everywhere! Uuurrrggg! GAAAAAAAGH!"

He was retching with nothing coming out. A phantom pain continued to assail his head. The black started to consume all light once more.

"Libero."

Not wasting anymore time, Eichirou cast one more spell and allowed Shinji's body to fall back into the arms of the nearby guards. A befuddled look in his face as he glanced up and down all around, searching for answers. The spell beneath him still glowed but was now clearing. Gone was the darkness that threatened to envelop him. What was left was a mixture of bright fusion of a multitude of colors, emulating his state of confusion.

"What—What's going… Daisuke! Where's Daisuke and Reichi?! We have to—?!"

"Sleep for now, Nakano-kun. Dormeo."

Meld didn't even hear a chant as Eichirou's palm rested atop the panicked boy's face and silenced his woes. The spell beneath him lost all color except for white as the boy's unconscious form leaned back, caught by one of the guards. Heaving a sigh of relief, Eichirou stood up and spoke to the man.

"Take him to the infirmary to rest with the others. Set him as far away from Nagumo Hajime as you can and have the guards there keep a close eye on him and the other three."

Handing the guard multiple slips, copies of the Relief spell, he urged him on.

"He'll be having one hell of a nightmare so tell them this will stop him from overreacting, at least for a while. When he stabilizes, makes sure the doctors keep him in bed for at least two days after."

"Understood, Yamamoto-sama."

Nodding in affirmation, the man heaved the unconscious Nakano over his shoulders. With the boy asleep and not going berserk, there was no longer any need to restrain him. Giving Meld and the others a quick salute, the man was off to accomplish his task, a sleeping Nakano Shinji in tow.

"Meld, this mystery magician Nakano saw—"

"—will need to be investigated as soon as possible." Assuming his duty, Meld looked to the other guard that remained. "Inform the Prime Minister of what happened here. Have him summon His Highness for an emergency meeting then go call Jose. Have him assign more men to keep an eye on the Apostles. Not just the ones in the infirmary. Then tell him to join us in the meeting along with the other squad captains. I will explain the rest of the situation to them myself."

"Sir!"

Without even blinking, the other guard took to the halls as well, going opposite the direction the other one went.

"First a poison attempt, now this." Tear broke their silence. She took a seat and made a thinking pose while crossing her arms. "If their aim was the nobility or the Royal Family, they didn't need to cause a ruckus in the training field."

"As much as I hate to agree with you, I have to say Tear has a point. Regardless of motive, these actions obviously show their desired mark."

Break nodded with her speculation as he quickly dashed before Eichirou to study the circle. But as soon as he picked it off the ground, the magic crystal chalk's dust slid off the scroll, much to his shock and panic before he settled on tracing the indents on the parchment's surface instead.

"Something tells me there are those who wish to target the Apostles. Call it an instinct, but I believe demons could be at work here."

"Hard to deny, considering we are at war. Eichirou," Meld turned to face the Apostle who had sat down in Shinji's former seat. "Considering our options, you should be careful as well. If it really is demons, you and the others aren't… Eichirou?"

"Oh? Yes. I'm listening, Meld."

"You alright?"

"Yeah. Why do you ask?"

Meld didn't believe it one bit. Before he even asked, he already knew the boy wasn't. For a brief moment, before Meld even called on him, Eichirou looked like he aged a few years as he massaged his temple. Meld jokingly wondered whether the boy was already suffering from what Break's age brought the old man, but looking at him tired as he was, Meld didn't think it was a nice thing to poke fun of.

Especially since the boy had just witnessed his friends and colleague's near brush with death and attempted murder.

"Maybe you should lie down—"

"No, it's fine. I just need some time to wrap my head around things for a sec. You know, take it all in." The eyes he gave the adults spoke well of his willpower to maintain composure. But this may be the second time Meld saw the boy at his weakest. The first being the panic during their little sparing session. "But enough about me. Ruina-san, any longer and Ambrogio-sama might not be with us anymore."

"Eh?"

"MMMMMMFF!"

"Oh!" Noting the Apostle's gesture to the priest's mouth, Ruina quickly relinquished her grip. "I'm so sorry, Deene!"

"PUHA! Haaah… Haaah…. Haaah… Ruina," massaging his chest, red-faced Deene heaved while nearly keeling over. "Were you… Kuho… trying to kill me?!"

"I said I'm sorry!"

Meld observed from the side as the young priest tried desperately to heave in more air while the mage massaged his back in apology.

"My word, this girl…" Tear just shook her head as she observed from the side.

Apparently, she had tried to keep him silent. But in her usual bout of clumsiness, she ended up blocking his nose while doing the same for his mouth. But despite nearly choking, the boy didn't seem to show as much animosity to the girl as he did to them when they were detaining Shinji. Like he wasn't bothered much by it.

In fact, his expression as well as Ruina's told Meld that the two were acquainted in some way. The way he just glossed over her must've meant he was used to it. The girl's carelessness, not the choking. Hopefully.

Eichirou sighed while smiling at the sight. It may have reminded him of something cheerful in the past, but as Meld and the others saw it, he was looking way more tired than they did.

"How are Hajime and the others?" Meld decided to take the topic in another direction first. "Judging by how long you took to come here, I'm guessing it's bad."

"Not really, no," the boy shook his head, keeping a hand on his temple as he spoke with his eyes closed. "As Senec-sama stated, it was just a case of mana exhaustion. I was actually late because I had to convince a certain someone to go and visit him. Otherwise, she wouldn't stop bawling her eyes out for being saved like a princess from a myth."

The knowing smile he made as he said so told Meld it was a personal matter that was too difficult to explain. But one of them did understand without the need to say and was all for Meld's hidden idea to steer the topic sideways.

"I say, the behavior of you Apostles is certainly a curious thing. If Shirasaki-sama had been a little more forward, I'd say she wouldn't have had a problem at all."

"That would be due to a difference in cultures, Tear-sama." Eichirou shrugged penitently at that. "In our world, most cultures place different values on the human heart. Many, most especially children, sometimes overvalue it to the point that it becomes too difficult to share with others. Being too forward is sometimes considered as shameful."

"I see. I must observe this with a little more scrutiny."

"I thought you were a magician, Tear-sama?"

"Heh, don't be fooled, Yamamoto-sama," Break scoffed from the side. "This woman is hardly a scholar of just magic. There were times when she'd go missing for days on end from the lecture halls only to be found studying leathers in a tanner shop."

"I told you I was searching for materials to use in binding my enchanted tomes."

"Skimming through freshly skinned hides is beyond the scope of magic tomes! What the hell would you have use for a bloody monster skin in the first place?!"

"Finding the most effective way to keep as much mana stored in my tomes from wasting away. Unlike yourself who has degraded to begging lessons from a child, I have not lost my inquisitive nature as a scholar. No offense, Yamamoto-sama."

"None taken. To extend your scholarly reach from beyond magic to enchanted tools themselves, I'd actually call it admirable."

As one of the mages laughed, and the other grumbled, Meld stopped trying to follow their conversation. But if the boy had a peace of mind now, it would all for the better at least. Despite their ages of two seniors and one child, the three of them were very good at hiding their unease.

But the youngest one still lacked the experience to cope with all the stress that must've gotten to him.

"'Yamamoto'?" Deene, who had been trying to catch his breath all this time, suddenly stood ramrod straight with eyes locked on to Eichirou. Meld noted that he took a cautious step back. "Then, all this time, you were one of the Apostles, Yamamoto Eichirou?"

"Yes, Ambrogio-sama. I am Yamamoto. Nice to meet you." Eichirou stood up and gave a polite bow. One that he returned. Albeit, Meld saw visible hesitation from the priest as he did. "For someone from the Church to have not heard of me, is there a story behind that?"

The question was honest, more curious. But the priest looked like he didn't want to answer. Fortunately for everyone and unfortunately for him, someone did.

"I apologize for his rudeness to have not heard of you, Yamamoto-sensei!" Meld's eye, as well as Deene's, twitched at hearing Ruina address the boy so respectfully. Eichirou's did as well, though his reasons came more from obvious embarrassment. "Deene's been traveling on the Church's orders to the other side of the continent and has only recently returned from his pilgrimage."

"You seem to be awfully close. I take it you're old friends?"

"It's as you say, Yamamoto-sensei." The young woman gleefully introduced the awkwardly staring priest. "Deene and I have been together since we were orphans. When they found out he had proficiency for Divination magic, he was taken in by the Church. But since I was left alone to live on the streets, he begged the priest who adopted him at the time to take me in as well. He convinced father to do so through the use of his Divination, saying that we are meant to be together until the very end—"

"AH, ENOUGH! Enough, you idiot!" Cupping her mouth, Deene stopped the girl before she went too far. "Don't go blurting out the past to just anyone!"

Meld and the other mages all watched in silence as the priest broke character just to stop the girl from mouthing off.

"Ahem." However, Deene was mostly spared from embarrassment by Eichirou ignoring the latter half of her rambling. "I see. Thank you for the… explanation, Ruina-san."

Meld thought he heard her say a muffled 'you're welcome, sensei' through Deene's hand but that was just him. Tear just shook her head as she watched her student while Break closely examined his tracings of Eichirou's used spell.

"I apologize, Ambrogio-sama, for my rudeness earlier." As if nothing had happened, the boy resumed with a smile and nod. "I had just seen my friend hurt by our fellow colleague and needed to figure out why such a tragedy occurred. I was very much not in the mood, more so for an interference by the Church."

For a second, Meld thought he noticed Eichirou stifle a cough.

"But then again, Ishtar never ceases to amaze me."

"Wha-what are you implying?" the priest suddenly spoke accusingly. His defiant character back in play.

"Hm? That Ishtar was very punctual in sending someone to assist the Apostles. As a servant of god, his devotion shows in how attentive he can be at times." The boy, however, tilted his head curiously. "Is there something wrong with that inference, Ambrogio-sama?"

"N-no. My mistake." He took a step back further and lowered his head. "I apologize for my rudeness to you, Apostle Yamamoto-s-sama."

Meld wasn't the only one who noted the boy's hesitation. It seemed like he was trying to show respect but failing to do so. As if he was reluctant to even try.

"Since Nakano's illusions has been dispelled, I guess you don't have anything to be bothered with for today." Eichirou spoke, ignoring the uncertain show of respect. "I apologize for having this problem take up your precious time even though you have just returned."

"N-not at all." Deene didn't relax his guard but replied. "It is an honor to be of an assistance to the saviors of the world."

"Then, perhaps I'll see you again, sometime in the future." Eichirou's smile might have been genuine, but the young priest's questionable demeanor didn't vanish. "Regrettably, though, I won't have any more time this afternoon as I'll have to join Meld explain the situation to His Highness. And I do have an appointment with Eliheid after all."

""EEEEEEEEHHHHHHHH?!"" The priest would have winced and questioned why he was referring to the King in such a familiar manner but Break and Ruina beat him to the punch with surprised wails. ""What about our lecture on magic?!""

The two didn't overwhelm Eichirou so much as push him over Break's desk just by their leaned in faces. He made a remorseful smile as he made his excuse.

"I apologize. As I am now, I doubt I would be able to concentrate on our lessons. Perhaps another time. I hope you understand."

"… Very well then, sensei…"

"… blasted… fate toying around with me… at least I have this…"

Ruina gave up politely out of respect. Break did so too, maybe a little too quickly in Meld's opinion. But as he grumbled while he walked to sit behind his desk, the Knight Commander noticed the Court Mage pull out other tomes hidden beneath as he studied the scroll with a rough tracing of Eichirou's spell. He may have opted to just accept the change and satisfy himself with the abrasive sketch.

"Well, now that the problem has been dealt with from our end, I guess we'll leave it to you and Meld-sama to explain it to the King." Tear dusted herself off and moved to the door of the musty room. "I believe tomorrow will be a more peaceful day for a lecture, so I shall be taking my leave now, Yamamoto-sama."

"See you tomorrow then, Tear-sama."

She nodded with a rare smile before looking to her student.

"Ruina."

"Y-yes, ma'am?!"

"Since we're free for the time period, might as well go enjoy yourself with a little reunion. I'm sure our young priest has the time now that the Apostles have been taken care of."

Meld watched as the young woman smiled gleefully before she dragged her childhood friend out of the room. An iron grip had his arm trapped by the elbow. He also noted that, as Eichirou waved them farewell, Deene sent both of them a rather suspicious glare before being disappearing with Ruina.

Left alone in the silence, the three males all let out a sigh. One was tired. The second was relief. The third was accompanied by a grumble for finally getting some peace and quiet, but neither Meld nor Eichirou could fault Break for getting too into studying and making copies of the used scroll's markings.

"Then, I'll see you tomorrow as well, Senec-sama."

"Oh, you'd better. Lest I come knocking on your door myself."

The old man gave a casual threat Meld knew he would follow-up on. That is, if he didn't forget it. He had been deprived of his long awaited study session due to the incident, so they might as well let it go. With that in mind, the knight and the young man took their leave and set off for the audience hall where the king would soon be waiting for them to explain.

"I'm guessing Ishtar's not telling his subordinate very good things about me."

Now that they were alone, Eichirou's tired but casual tone surprised the knight. He looked none too offended but it seems he picked up on the priest's subtleties just as much as Meld did.

"I'm not sure you can just take that much as fact from that Deene guy's reactions." Meld tried to warn being overly assumptive. "But if it's true, it's dangerous to have the personal ire of the pope."

"And isn't that true for any world."

"This is not a laughing matter, Eichirou."

The boy seemed to chuckle lightly as he received Meld's stern warning. Meld thought it was just his exhaustion getting to him. But by the words he chose to reply with and how he didn't once hesitate as they walked, Meld had an inkling he already understood the precariousness of his situation. If the insinuation was anything to go by, it seems that Eichirou and the other Apostles' own world had something similar occur in the past. At least, it had been recorded and taught as fact to children.

To a Knight of Tortus and of the Heiligh Kingdom, such a thing was considered as a disgrace. For people of high positions to abuse their power out of personal feelings was something to be erased from their prestigious history, lest they shame themselves with the memory. But then, if they held a position so high up and were considered necessary, there was nothing those stuck below could do about it. Other than ignore the bad, of course.

The only solution to such corrupt powers was their immediate removal. But to exert force on a superior was akin to treason. A revolt. As an honorable Knight, Meld was bound by his duty to quell such things. Not instigate them. To even think of such was a sin to Ehito and would result in either his removal or his termination.

"I'm well aware of that fact, Meld. Being who he is, the moment I am deemed an obstacle, there would be very little stopping Pope Ishtar from ordering my end."

The mere confirmation of the fact coming from the tired child was what shocked the adult most of all. How could someone so young speak so frankly about death. Though, as their leader, Meld may have asked his men to be prepared to lay down their lives for the kingdom, it was unsettling to have Eichirou say he already knew he could die if he angered one old man.

"Rest assured, Ishtar's not a fool who would take a careless approach. Again. Despite any personal opinion he may have, I can only do what I need to in order to repay the hospitality I've been given by this Kingdom."

"You say that like you don't have a choice in the matter."

"Oh, I do have a choice. I just choose to do things with the methods I prefer. Rather than rush things, I'd like to wait and see before making my move. I also don't enjoy blindly following orders. Contrary to someone I know, I'd rather be called disobedient and live than die a mindless puppet."

'Someone he knew was acting like a puppet?' Meld's brow furrowed as he eyed the boy. 'Who could it be? Shinji? But wasn't that forced through magic?'

Meld didn't understand what the boy was leading up to, but just by watching the boy's joking eyes turn sullen and his posture brooding, he must've been thinking heavily on somethings as they talked and walked. Something that caused the Knight great unease.

The expression cleared itself up as soon as Eichirou massaged his forehead and let out a sigh.

The young man then stood tall with his usual knowing smile. Giving Meld a face that was like a new slate, the Knight observed as he noted how eerily fast the exhausted and stressed young man changed airs, replacing the tired countenance with vigor and determination that was akin to a polite child's or a good politician's.

It was… creepy. Meld knew Yamamoto Eichirou was a little more mature than he seemed. But never had he seen a kid his age swap faces that fast. Like he had just put on a mask. Or changed personalities.

"Whatever Ishtar may say about me, the fact still stands that what I'm doing is beneficial to this place." He then stretched his arms and legs before taking another step forward towards the meeting hall's doorway. "Well, even if he tries something, it won't matter to me in the slightest."

Meld saw it but couldn't believe it himself. Eichirou's eyes seemed to glow as he spoke in such an amused tone.

"After all, I'm protected by the spirit of Anima."

As much as the knight wanted to not believe him or tell him to not be arrogant, he couldn't deny what Eichirou had seen done in the name of his deity. Saving innocents by challenging the pope and healing those that were deemed incurable by the Church's healers themselves.

To say that he was causing stirs was an understatement.

The doors opened as soon as they were announced. Most of the ministers were already sat and waiting. The king himself worriedly stood up from his spot at the end of the table opposite the door as soon as Meld and Eichirou walked in. The concern in his eyes told Meld he was wondering what in Ehito's name was going on.

Ishtar, however, was not present. A strange fact, but maybe he was due for something with the Church of Saints that he couldn't make attendance.

To not have a representative in his place, however, was odd.

"Your Highness, ministers. Let us begin."

Getting to the meat of things, Meld explained the situation to those present in detail. All the while, Eichirou, who remained standing despite being offered a seat, observed quietly. When the Knight finished, only then did the boy speak up, adding a suggestion to investigate whether the other Apostles were similarly affected with illusion magic. Meld couldn't agree more just to be on the safe side.

The atmosphere was so tense, a pin could drop and everyone might probably jump at the sound.

"Another incident so soon, after we were just recently attacked by an unknown." One of the ministers gritted his teeth. "Who could have done this—No, are they connected—?!"

"It's too early to be making that assumption, Minister Denken." The Minister of Defense, Rhett Decorose, scolded but stayed calmly seated. "Think two incidents were done by one and we may not notice the second assailant before it's too late."

"But if that's the case, we're in a more precarious situation for not knowing either!"

"What about the demi-humans?"

"That race has no power over magic capable of rendering the Apostles berserk."

"The poison originated from Marquis Verdoben's territory."

"Then investigate him first!"

"But what about the mystery magician?!"

Another minister stood up as the first shouted so. Then another followed suit, and another. And another. The whole table soon devolved into pessimism and panic. Suspicions were thrown about, questions unanswered. Meld let out a tired sigh as he watched his fellow men argue on several points all at the same time. There were a few that stayed calm, like Minister Decorose and the Prime Minister. But to devolve to this mess as soon as they heard the news, Meld couldn't say he wasn't disappointed.

There was another exception to this, however.

Despite it being an emergency meeting to discuss what could have been a sabotage and/or assassination attempt on the Apostles, the youngest participant of the meeting kept a relived smile to his face. As if nothing was wrong at all.

With such a calm young man by his side in a room of panicked elders and suspicious ministers, Meld wondered to himself if Eichirou had expected this all along.

'If so, he had a better understanding of his position than these old men do along and more so than the other Apostles ever had.'

To be targeted by the demons this early should have been anticipated. The kingdom wasn't actually quiet about the presence of the Apostles as they all celebrated Ehito's aide as soon as they were successfully summoned.

Their enemy wouldn't stand by though. Couldn't. Having someone who even thought they were capable to oppose demons in battle was a challenge. And challenging their race wouldn't sit well with more than a few antsy demons that wished to prove their superiority over the humans.

Any who thought the demon race would back down or cower away was either a fool or an idiot.

They may have been a long-lived race, but they weren't exactly known for their humility and wisdom. Rather more for their prideful nature that looked down upon others, even demi-humans as well as each other. The news of challengers should have riled them up into action.

Action that could be attributed to recent events.

When talks of possible spies were brought up, the halls turned even rowdier. So much so that it called for His Highness to bring the old men to order.

"ENOUGH! As much we wish to deny such an embarrassment for our nation, to have the Apostles come into harm under our care is a disgrace. If there are such traitorous fiends in our lands, it is something we cannot simply ignore." The king's beard was as ruffled as his brow. "Neither can we allow it. Rhett."

"Your Majesty?" The recently recovered Rhett Decorose stood tall with a swift salute.

"As Minister of Defense, I shall leave further investigations of this matter to you. Be discreet as you can. If we let them escape, we will be remembered as disgraceful hosts to our lord's messengers."

"By your will." He gave a glance to Eichirou after he answered the king. "To have saved my life, I will prove my resolve."

The boy merely nodded solemnly as well as gave the man a kind nod before Rhett sat down.

Meld hadn't known that the minister would be a pious individual. But then again, he wasn't fully informed of the events that transpired before and after the incident between the Apostles and the old man. That is, until he asked the minister himself after the meeting.

"Prime Minister." As soon as Rhett sat down, the man standing closest to the king stepped forward. "See to it that the Apostles-sama all have increased security in areas they frequent. I want guards capable of chasing down suspicious individuals as well as those who can detect and dispel any magic aimed at them."

"Understood, sir." Pausing then stepping forward once more, he asked politely. "Should I have those currently in service to the Apostles undergo training with the Court Mages to at least have them ready with some knowledge on forms of magical interference?"

"Do what you must. Send some to check on those in the infirmary as well." The precaution seemed a bit demanding, even for normal palace staff. But considering who they were preparing it for and what was already at stake, it may have actually been too little a precaution. "Meld."

The knight wordlessly saluted his king. The sound of his gauntlets clanking on his chest armor was all the response his liege needed.

"Your men will assist through investigations amongst the populace. I do not want to suspect our own people, but if they have turned their backs on Ehito-sama and the Apostles to serve demons… they have committed treason to our kingdom."

They all made difficult faces at this statement. A testament to their disbelief that there may be spies amongst their citizens. It was in Ehito's teachings to unite with their fellow men against demons. But right now, it felt heavier than mere preaching.

To protect the people was their duty, be it behind a desk as a civil official or on the field as a soldier.

This was also a part of that, but it ran counter to it in some way. A contradicting method to keep the people safe through suspecting the possibility of one of them being a traitor. Thus, permitting them to arrest would-be suspects and interrogate them if need be. It was horrible to do such a thing to those who might be innocent, but as a Knight, he had a duty to protect the Kingdom. So he wordlessly saluted.

Even if he understood that humans weren't perfect, he didn't like the idea of one serving their enemy.

"You all have your orders. This meeting is adjourned. Do not fail this Kingdom or our Apostles."

"""By Ehito-sama's name, we shall fulfill our duty!"""

"Haaah," Eliheid sat back down uncomfortably in his seat. It wasn't the throne, but a more ornate chair used during meetings. Despite the cushions in place that made it more luxurious than the hard and plain wooden ones the others used, the stress still caused simply sitting back to strain his nerves.

"Keep up the good work, Eliheid-sama."

The soothing voice of the Apostle that remained at the meeting hall with him as the others left relieved him ever so slightly.

"Ah, Eichirou-sama." The young man smiled as he approached the king's side of the end of the long table. "It's good to see that you're alright."

"No need to worry about me, my friend. I'm as healthy as a horse."

The word resonated with the king. To be called a friend by a holy figure was more than enough to dispel the stress entirely. But the expression he wore was enough to cause a different kind of unease to crop up within the king.

"Is something the matter, Eichirou-sama? Is there something that bothers you? Let this Eliheid be of some assistance, if I can be so presumptuous."

"No. It's not much of a trouble as it has already been resolved. And it's not a bother to me specifically."

He shook his head while wordlessly gesturing to the seat next to him. He need not ask the king's permission but did so anyway. Such was the politeness in the benevolent Apostle's mannerisms. Taking his seat at Eliheid's nod, the young man continued.

"It's just that a friend of mine was nearly hurt in this matter."

He then personally recounted the events that occurred during training. There were things left out, such as the context of the fight or the four's reasons behind their actions, but Eliheid unconsciously believed that if Eichirou-sama didn't tell him, it wasn't of importance.

"I see. So Nagumo-sama, one of those responsible for saving my family and people, had come so close a brush with death."

"Being the weakest of the others in terms of stats, Hajime has the lowest chances in surviving an encounter. Anima's child tries his best, but the people he's trying to join and willing to hone his skills for have yet to recognizes this. I've been trying to aid him in is trial as, despite his weakness, he still finds it worth his life to aid you all."

"His 'trial', you say?" Eliheid was curious of the term.

"Yes. His trial." Eichirou smiled as he explained. "Anima gives all her children a trial or test, in some way, shape, or form. This is not a punishment, mind you, but rather Anima's method of teaching one right from wrong."

"Are such trials announced by a Divination or passed through his chosen by means of visions like the tasks given to us by Ehito-sama?"

The king was now intrigued with childish wonder to hear of the methods of a different god. Having always heard of Anima through the stories Eichirou occasionally shared with him and his family, this was the first time the Apostle was giving an explanation as to his god's divine means.

"Not something of that sort, my friend and king. There is no point in having the trial announced so publicly." Eichirou shook his head with a smile. "Anima's trials are for the chosen child and them alone."

"But how do they accomplish such a task if they aren't allowed to share it with anyone."

"On the contrary, you see them encounter trials and face them every day."

Eichirou's knowing chuckle further heightened Eliheid's interest.

"Say, we take Hajime for an example. His trial is to grow in strength sufficient enough to count himself amongst the Heroes to save Tortus. Quite a challenge, yes?"

Knowing of the boy's starting stats had disappointed Eliheid to have one less Apostle to rely on. But when he witnessed what the Synergist child did to assist in saving his people and family from the poisoning, his initial disbelief was washed away.

Eliheid couldn't believe it at first, either. He assumed the boy was only a minor factor to Anima's benevolent healing. He was wrong when he found out that the magic circle he used was not one prepared by professionally-trained mages, but through the use of his weak class. A class unsuited for both combat and magic.

"Nagumo-sama has achieved great progress in his task." Eliheid had to concede with a nod. "Despite being a mere crafter, he could rival an apprentice mage with his skills alone."

"Yes. Yes he can. However, it is not just in strength alone that his trial is focused on. Trust amongst his peers is another factor. Even though I have trusted in him since the beginning, it is difficult to convince the more… stubborn of us."

Eliheid had heard of the dysfunctional relationship between the Apostles. He had eyes and ears within the palace. Very few of them spoke well of Nagumo-sama's relationship with the others. It had been getting better since the last week after he got closer with Eichirou-sama's friends, but it still wasn't enough.

From what Eliheid had heard, the Hero didn't get along with them both at all.

As he was the Hero or Ehito-sama's chosen, there was nothing Eliheid could do about Amanogawa Kouki. He was under the jurisdiction of the Church of Saints and to lecture him would be akin to going against the Church. Hence, Eliheid had been forced to let the boy go do his own thing.

But now that he thought about it, his benefactor sitting right next to him now has done more heroic deeds than the Hero himself.

'Was it possible the Church got it wrong?'

Eliheid mentally shook his head. No. They shouldn't be. Eichirou-sama has just been proving more generous in his own way. The Hero had yet to prove himself and he shouldn't compare the two as it was disrespectful.

"Still, I find Nagumo-sama's efforts to be admirable. Such a kind and hardworking soul should be worthy of praise, not insults. I have him, as well as Anima-sama and yourself to thank after all."

"You're welcome, Eliheid-sama. Hajime wishes you as well." Eichirou-sama's eyes seemed to shift sadly after saying that though. "But I believe this trial is a little too difficult for Hajime right now."

"How so, Eichirou-sama?"

The boy sighed before speaking his thoughts.

"You have to understand, in our world, the boy wasn't really close to most of us. I had only recently become his close friend through our research in magic. Because I found his insight valuable, I learned to appreciate our friendship. However, as for the rest of our fellows, most of them still have their judgement clouded with prejudice and bias."

To think humans would fight and behave so rudely to each other in their world, it sounded horrible to Eliheid. But when he inquired as to why men fought against their fellow men in Eichirou-sama's world, the reason was because there were no demons to rally against. Just other humans who had different opinions.

"I cannot speak for my god as Anima's trials are for her child's sake, not something I have any say in or right to comment on. But as Hajime's friend, I find the negative assumption others have of his enduring soul to be sorely misguided and undeserved. But to have nearly died before he was even given the chance to contribute is somewhat of a … frustration… to me."

Eliheid's fingers ran through his beard as he listened intently. But as soon as he noticed the eyes coldly glaring to the ceiling, sweat escaped his forehead. He noted the melancholic expression on Eichirou-sama's face turn deadly as he spoke, seemingly with disappointment as well as anger.

It was then Eliheid realized what he had forgotten to do before talking so casually with the young Apostle.

"For such horrible events to occur one after another, I dare say, this place just isn't safe for Anima's children—"

Standing up from his seat, Eichirou was stunned by how suddenly the king bowed to the boy.

"As King of Heiligh, I vehemently apologize for letting this all occur. As I am your host, it is my duty to watch over Ehito-sama's divine messengers. Having also been saved by Anima-sama's grace, I owe her an apology as well. I, Eliheid Heiligh, am not worthy to be your friend or host for I have failed in protecting you all."

The hall was filled with silence. Having bowed his head, even the Royal Guards and servants that were present all simultaneously lowered their heads to the Apostle as well. With their king showing great remorse, it was their duty to follow suit.

He had failed his duty. In the sense that they were all followers of the same belief, they failed as well for not pointing it out before the mistake occurred. If he was to be punished, they were all in the same boat. In front of the divine servants of god, they were naught but mere servants who had done wrong. They had no right to deny the upset Apostle from getting angry.

In their eyes, his wrath was just.

"Why do you apologize, Eliheid-sama?"

However, the warm way he glanced at them all was not what they expected. They expected anger, disappointment, contempt. They didn't expect a confused but comforting smile akin to that of a flustered parent.

"Raise your head, Eliheid-sama. All of you as well."

"You're not angry?" Eliheid asked, confused himself. "I thought you—"

"I am angry, Your Highness, but not at you, or any of you for that matter." They all raised their heads with shock and wonder. "To apologize for something you are not the cause of is pointless. Absurd. My punishing you would be meaningless."

"But we let such an incident to occur! As followers of Ehito-sama, it was our duty to keep you safe and accommodate you in your stay!"

"That may be the case, Eliheid, but you are a king. To bow and accept responsibility may be part of your duty as a follower of your Church," Eichirou-sama kneeled next to Eliheid and guided him up to stand. "But as a king, it is part of your trial to keep your head held high and lead this kingdom. Not to apologize for something you had no control over."

"My… trial?"

"Like I said, Anima gives all her children trials. It may be as simple as learning to make friends or thinking for one's self. But there are also others as difficult as the mountains are steep. Being a king is one of them."

"We're all… Anima's children?"

As a believer of Ehito-sama, to be told so was unheard of. The teachings of the Church was absolute faith and belief in Ehito-sama and Ehito-sama alone. Another faith was deemed blasphemous and a sin. Being told he was another's child and believer was akin to sentencing his doom as Ehito-sama's believer.

"Wipe that look off your face, my friend, lest you ruin the image of a true king." Eichirou simply smiled and spared a glance to all present as he spoke. "You are all Anima's children. Of that you can be certain. Anima is parent to all. He considers you family, even Ehito. To think otherwise would be denying her grace."

"Would you deny her favor which was freely given to you at birth?"

The teenager's saint-like smile captivated the king. Not in the sense that he wished to adopt the boy. But rather, the old man easily found solace and reprieve as he listened to the words that came from the boy before him. To be forgiven was a relief. To have received a god's favor was a blessing. But the way Eichirou-sama smiled on them all was more personal. It was special.

It reminded Eliheid of his own parents' love for their son as he grew up.

"Anima wishes only for her children to be grateful. To be happy. To Anima, his family's happiness is all she ever exists for."

'Ah. So this is how he views us through the teachings of his god.' Eliheid wondered in amazement. 'Like family.'

It wasn't just him. All the guards present stared in wonder while their chest felt warmed. To be welcomed as a family by a god was something they never felt from Ehito before. The god of Tortus demanded respect for being allowed to live with his blessing. But they were now hearing of a god that freely offered strangers familial love in exchange for simple gratitude. It felt like a dream.

And none of them wished to wake up.

"As Anima's child, you have all received a trial in some way more unique than the others and there are always more than one. You should know, Eliheid. You've nearly succeeded in fulfilling one of Anima's trials."

"I have?" The king found it surprising to have already been tested even though he was only listening to this now.

"You didn't fail as a father when you chose to accept Anima's blessing, did you not? How many of your children did you lose? That's right. Not one. As a father, one factor to success is rearing your child until they reach adulthood with a sound mind, a healthy body, and a compassionate heart."

Thinking about it, he had raised Liliana quite well. Despite not being his heir, she had grown up to be a fine young lady, great in intellect and kind-hearted to boot. Had she been his heir, she would have made a fine Queen. Sadly, this monarchy was a patriarchy. It would fall on Lundel's shoulders to lead the nation. But by Eichirou-sama's words, he hadn't failed nor succeeded just yet. This meant he could still do more for his children. As a true father should.

"The other one of your trials is the task of the King." Eichirou held the older man by the shoulders as he was sat down. "For this incident, I cannot fault you for it is not in my right to declare judgement over your task. Only Anima can do that. And as I see you now, you have yet to fail your responsibilities, my friend."

"What do you mean, Eichirou-sama?"

"Your kingdom is at peace. Granted, you are at war with the demon race, but that was beyond your control just like today's incident. After all this time, I have yet to hear anything about dissent from your people. I may not have gone beyond the palace walls just yet, but to not even have a single servant dissatisfied with your rule," Eichirou glanced at all the guards and servants present. "I must say, your family is beloved by your people."

A few nodded to show their agreement. A handful of soldiers even saluted.

Taking this as a sign, Eliheid could only believe in the Apostle's word. It had to be true. He had worked so hard ever since he inherited the throne from his father. Not just as the king, but as a parent. To find confirmation from his people proved that. The only one who usually found things to complain about was…

"But what of Ishtar-sama?" the air in the room tensed as several of the present servants stiffened while the guards looked away. "He has always stated I am lacking in my belief for Ehito-sama."

At this, Eichirou scoffed, then began to chuckle. Eliheid wondered what had amused the Apostle so, but he didn't dare to interrupt. Not when the face he gave the king was more benevolent and divine than any of Ehito-sama's murals ever were.

"Anima does not doubt your belief in Ehito, Eliheid. Someone as devoted as you, to have lowered your head to a mere child such as I is proof enough of how much you respect Ehito's authority and evidence already as to your reverence. Ishtar has no right to deny you that. Not when he himself is not perfect. You should know, my friend. He very nearly had Ehito's own followers executed due to his panic at letting a would-be perpetrator escape."

The king remembered the day so clearly. Ishtar-sama just blankly gave the order for their execution. As if they weren't even worth the mercy. And who should step in but Anima's prophet.

"Someone as old as Ishtar is bound to make a few mistakes. He is only human, after all. Ehito would never abandon your people under such dire circumstance. This is truer for Anima who has and always will see you as family. You, who have shown such gratitude, is indeed worthy of her grace."

His belief was strong. His faith was true. His devotion was his own and no one could take that from him except god himself. By Eichirou's words, Eliheid felt the doubt disappear. All those times when Ishtar would berate his decisions for trying to make his kingdom a better place was probably done out of senility on the old man's part.

"There is a saying in my world. 'To err is human; to forgive, divine.'" Eliheid watched in awe as the cosmic glow in Eichirou-sama's eyes blessed him with holy light. "All people sin or are mistaken. God forgives them for it. Hence people are divine when they forgive."

Because Ishtar was human, he was prone to make the same mistakes as Eliheid would have. But doing what one thought was right wasn't a mistake. For this reason, him doing his duty as a king was never wrong. Not even what the pope had to say should affect his decisions for his kingdom.

It was his responsibility. A because of that, it was his duty to do the best he could.

"Thank you, Eichirou-sama. Your words… have brought peace to my troubled soul."

"On the contrary, Eliheid, I must thank you." The boy's smile was childlike and innocent, but strangely endearing and comforted the old man's soul. "Having someone to talk to about Anima has spurred me to do my hardest in her name."

The king smiled at his response. In a sense, this young boy was the old king's equal. They were both followers of their own faith and did what they thought was best for theirs. Eichirou-sama for his friends and fellow Apostles. Eliheid for his kingdom and family.

This feeling of motivation, and the recent talk of doing what he could as a king for the sake of what he believed to be the right thing, compelled Eliheid to do just that.

"This may be rude of me, Eichirou-sama. But I wish to make a request. I understand that Anima's will is for her children's sake," Eliheid struggled to piece his request together. "But after learning more of the lessons through your stories, you have consistently emphasized on his focus of free will."

"Anima is a parent that wishes for her children to grow, but she does not choose how. He leaves her children's future in their hands." The boy nodded firmly. "I'm guessing your request is something that forces my hand in a way I may not agree with, is it not?"

A nod from the king, but a smile from the Apostle.

"Then there is no problem with my hearing you out. Anima does not make judgement of your character by what you ask, my friend, only through your actions. As her follower, I must strive to do the same. So speak. As long as it's all for the sake of Anima's children, I will at least consider your request. Even if I may not like it."

Swallowing hard at this, Eliheid spoke.

"I wish to request your joining the other Apostles-sama in their training within the Orcus Great Labyrinth." As Eichirou listened, the smile slowly disappeared from his face. "With the war upon us, I wish to have the means to protect my people. To do this, I require the hastening of the Apostles-sama's growth to be ready for an impending invasion."

"Such a thing is dangerous, is it not? You understand my stance on fighting."

That Eliheid did. Eichirou-sama stated himself more than once before. He didn't wish to fight because he had no stake in it. If Eliheid were to objectively put it, Eichirou-sama had been kidnapped from his own world. By all rights, he should have hated the kingdom and its people.

"I wish to support you in my own way, my friend. But I believe violence is not one of them."

But Eichirou-sama was a saint. He didn't hate them for it, nor did he blame them. The young man just took it in stride and treated them kindly.

"I'll give you a chance to convince me, Eliheid. Why should I join them in fighting when I have my own research to accomplish? What of my proposal to call for aide from another world?"

There was that as well. But frankly, the hope of surpassing the limits of humans in terms of magic was a farfetched dream as he was now. Compared to the loyal Knight Commander and the wise old Court Mage, Eichirou-sama may have seemed impressive for being so young.

But he was still weaker than the enemy.

"I'm sorry if I may offend you, Eichirou-sama, but as things are now, the Apostles including yourself are no match for the demons. Power-levelling is the only method we have left available and there is another reason as well."

Eichirou's expression didn't do more than remain neutral. But just a glance in the boy's eyes, Eliheid could sense that he was troubled. He may have understood the fact that he was weak, but that alone wouldn't convince him to put himself in danger. In any case, it would actually prevent him from risking too much.

The librarian had already reported how Eichirou-sama had researched everything on magic, even what was known about the Labyrinths, or at least the two known ones. From what Eliheid could recollect about those books, the sparse information they have on the partially explored floors only had more dangers than rewards.

So Eliheid moved on with the topic he knew would most appeal to the boy.

"The Labyrinths are also said to contain magic tools and items that could aide us in the war effort as well. Being so ancient, it is practically a ruin with ties to old magic and houses potential assets that could increase our chances against the demons." Eliheid followed up. "There may also be something that could help assist with your research!"

He was just grasping at straws, really. His daughter had informed him of Eichirou-sama's plight so it was why she asked him personally to find a way to assist. In his full capacity as king, he would order the search and hunt for magic tools that may aide the boy, however, such a search would take too long. There was also another predicament to the suggestion.

The last time a magic item was excavated from the Great Labyrinth was so long ago, it was practically during Eliheid's great-grandfather's lifetime. Not his reign as king. It came before that.

The Holy Sword that the Hero Kouki was using was still considered a vital asset as well as an ancient artifact they couldn't replicate. With the chances of such items being collected for the sake of defending the kingdom, there was still the possibility of a magic tool or artifact that could provide Eichirou-sama with some insight or support.

But it was still a vague hope.

"But if it's something you certainly disagree with, then I shall not impose." Fearing offending his friend, the king tried to retract it. "As a mere man such as myself, it is already rude of me to be so arrogant as to—"

"Eliheid-sama." The boy calmed down the rambling king. "Do not devalue yourself so. As I've said, you made the decision while thinking of Anima's children. This is for the sake of winning your war and not simply personal gain, correct?"

"It's as you say." Bowing his head low, Eliheid answered truthfully. Not a single lie escaped his lips.

"Then, I shall consider it. However," leaving his seat and turning toward the door, Eliheid didn't see the Apostle's expression as he stated so. "I think I will need some time to contemplate on this."

"Then, how about in two weeks' time? The other Apostles-sama wouldn't be ready until then, and there are still some preparations to be made for your safety as well."

"That will be… sufficient. Such an expedition could prove insightful. But I must consider if it is indeed worthwhile to explore such a possibility." Giving the king a polite bow, the boy smiled, slightly sad, as he bid the king adieu. "I will consider the matter with Anima's guidance. I hope you have a good day, my friend."

"You as well, Eichirou-sama. I pray to both Ehito-sama and Anima-sama for Nagumo-sama's recovery."

The boy nodded with a smile.

"I pray to both as well that you succeed in finding the perpetrators of today's and last week's incident. Stay well, my friend."

But as he left, Eliheid felt guilt well up in his chest. He dismissed everyone present as he returned to his quarters with only a handful of his elite escorts. Wallowing in regret, he wished there was another way to explain to the boy how drastic the situation was.

But simply telling the Apostle to just conquer the dungeon which had only been explored halfway after his father, the former King's, death was akin to demanding the impossible.

They had been many more powerful humans, who faced its dangers. But the strongest adventurer, who was still more experienced and more powerful than they were currently, failed at the sixty-fifth floor.

"To beat the demons, there is no other way. Forgive me for asking the impossible, Eichirou-sama." He truly felt regret in his heart.

The demons had already conquered one dungeon. With the power they attained, they gained the ability to manipulate monsters, which was originally thought impossible unless one was a Tamer. It was the revelation given unto them by the Church of Saints just a few months prior. With the disadvantage clear, they needed a comeback.

The nearest dungeon, the Orcus Great Labyrinth was their best bet.

"For the sake of this kingdom, I needed to make the decision for my people."

Sitting on his desk with his hands covering his face, he looked to the portrait of his family hung over the hearth. The faces of his children when they were younger and his wife's all looked down on him as the heavy feeling weighed him down.

He had grown to like the boy. He was of a good moral character, a respectable individual, compassionate as well as patient. In truth, Eliheid thought he would make a fine Hero. Sadly, the Church didn't see him as such.

He wasn't blind.

Eliheid knew just how offended Ishtar was at the boy's presence. All the talk about how the Pope berated his methods as king were true, but in all honesty, the boy's friendly nature and kind beliefs were more appealing than the pope's demeanor ever was.

Had the boy been a member of the Church, Eliheid wouldn't doubt himself for a second.

But Ishtar was getting old. He was making mistakes. Sentencing people to death without evidence went against the laws the founder of this kingdom had established. To be just and compassionate was the king's duty. Passing judgement on his people was not the Pope's responsibility. It was his.

'To any god that hears my prayer, I ask that my decision does not stray from the righteous path. I ask you guide that boy to survive as well as to cleanse this kingdom of those that would threaten to destroy it.'

Between this newfound distrust in the Church's leaders and his remorse for misleading his friend, Eliheid prayed. Not just to Ehito. He prayed to Anima as well. Sad to say, the prayer went unanswered.

But a deity heard it all.

Unbeknownst to the King of Heiligh, his prayers were heard by a divine being. Whether it decided to fulfill his wishes or not was beyond the remorseful king, however. Because to a god, this mortal's opinion mattered not.

After all, what weight did human hopes and dreams have compared to divine whims?

In the quiet halls, located somewhere beyond the palace, a multitude of individuals in robes marched in procession until they arrived at the central gathering hall.

Inside said hall, many more robed figures were all seated, waiting for the rest of their colleagues to take their seat. Among them were priests and nun, servants of great loyalty and devout followers of the one true god. Their robes, from pure white to those adorned with golden filigree, were the colors of their devotion, their purity. A symbol of their superiority over the other heretical races of Tortus.

CLANK CLANK

The sound of a wooden rod hitting the cold marble floor echoed along the stone walls as the last of the procession entered and the great doors were closed.

Presiding over this gathering of the faithful, one elderly man took up center stage before the great mural of their lord.

"I welcome you all today, brothers and sisters of the faith. It is now time to discuss the will of our lord, Ehito-sama."

"""Glory to his name."""

Ishtar nodded approvingly as the crowd's chant resounded in unison. Such was the unity they had with their fellow believers.

"To begin. One of our own had dared raising a hand against our messengers of god."

The hall burst into murmurs and surprised gasps. The mere shock of such a news was enough to break their composure. After all, it was unthinkable to raise a hand against another servant of Ehito-sama.

"Silence." The hall did so. "After using the poison within the blessed fruit, the ambrosia of Ehito-sama, to cause chaos and panic amongst the weak-minded aristocracy, the perpetrator submitted themselves to the Church's judgement. Step forward."

Chains rang as an individual took center stage. Escorted by a priest who held the shackles and a nun who held a staff to the prisoner's throat, the one in chains didn't smile or frown, merely held their hands in prayer. Kneeling before the pope, the prisoner's face was visible to all those present.

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I merely did what I thought was best. The nobles were filth, stains upon the Apostles as they let greed and power corrupt their very intentions. Instead of merely worshipping and begging the messengers of god for mercy, they dared to make requests and ask for the joining of their children and god's angels."

The disdain in the prisoner's tone was accompanied by the disgust on their face.

"Such filth must be purged lest they taint god's purity."

Ishtar sympathized with their plight. Even he wished to be rid of the faithless fools, but he stayed his hand and asked instead.

"Do you claim to have done so out of the will of Ehito-sama?!"

"No. I merely acted on my own personal belief that it would please our lord."

Murmurs amongst the crowd, questions whether they should punish or release the prisoner. More than half leaned to the latter, but there were those that argued the prisoner's arrogance in taking matters in their own hands.

Ishtar didn't bother with them, however. He had already been given his orders and he must deliver them by the will of Ehito-sama.

"For your actions, you are to be blessed. It is true that Ehito-sama is pleased with your devotion." Those who were of similar opinion nodded fervently. Those that didn't held their silence and prayed for forgiveness for having disagreed with their god. "Such piety is rewarded by Ehito-sama. Release the prisoner."

The stave was lowered immediately and the shackles magically disengaged around the prisoner's wrist and throat. But the individual didn't stand. No. They merely prayed.

"For having served the Church in the past as well as taking action for Ehito-sama's sake, you are indeed in the lord's favor." Placing a hand on the freed prisoner's head, Ishtar gave his blessing. "You are forgiven for your past misdeeds and will be allowed to return to your duties as a mortal servant to god. You still have a task to accomplish in his name"

"I thank you for delivering Ehito-sama's gracious message."

Making a surprised face, the prisoner nodded and accepted. Dismissing the freed child of Ehito and the two escorts, Ishtar was once more alone in the center of the hall.

"Next to inform you all, a heretic has been hiding amongst the Apostles."

The murmurs started once again. Only this time, they didn't die down immediately. Rather, it seemed to escalate by the second.

"Silence. SILENCE!" CLANK The hall quieted down once more at the sound of Ishtar's staff. But from the crowd, one of the priests stood up and remained standing. This was their method of asking for permission to voice their thoughts. Giving the man a glance, Ishtar nodded. "Speak."

"The heretic must be dealt with! If a sinner were to taint the Apostles, we would lose one, if not more, of the lord's servants before the demons arrive."

Nods of agreement came with it. Even a few stood up to voice their own agreement. But Ishtar was already ahead of them.

"As he says, the heretic dares to taint the Apostles with his mere presence. Just this morning, one of the Apostles had been cursed to kill one of the Heroes." This news brought the tension in the hall to an all new high. "Fret not for he has been dealt with and the Hero survived. However, the one to instigate the curse belonged to none other than the heretic himself. Yamamoto Eichirou."

The hall silenced as they attempted to memorize that name. Not just to know their enemy, but to remember that he was the world's enemy.

"The sinner has done naught to prepare himself for the war. Instead, he does Ehito-sama the dishonor of abandoning our lord's glorious quest to rid the world of the accursed demons!" The air grew as sharp as a knife. The cold air of the peaks of the mountain was no match for the frigid glares the believers gave the stone floor. "Not only has he tried to run away from the honor granted to him by god, but the impostor wishes to force the return of the other Apostles as well, claiming he would return them back without accomplishing the task set on them by the glorious Ehito-sama!"

The murmurs of the clergy went wild. From cries of execution to demands of persecution, they all agreed they wanted the false Apostle gone.

"However, it gets worse. Not only has he resisted Ehito-sama's will, he has chosen to heal the sinners and the greedy nobles while protecting those of weak faith. The monarchy's children, who were all under Ehito-sama's test of faith, escaped the lord's trial by accepting the sinner's help!"

"Calling them 'innocents'. He preaches about the mercy of his pagan deity he calls Anima. A god that he claims to be more superior than our lord. He even has the audacity to have them name him a Saint!"

Ishtar had them all on his side. They jeered and stood tall, crying for the execution of the prophet from another world. It got so bad that they had forgone the protocol of requesting permission and all just stood up from their seats. One by one, they all rose up, enraged.

"Burn them! Burn the sinners for turning their backs on god!"

"Who cares if this Kingdom's lineage is lost? All should be for Ehito-sama!"

"Fools. The lot of them. Purify the kingdom! Purify this world!"

"Death to Anima! Glory to Ehito-sama!"

"""Glory to Ehito-sama!"""

They began chanting again. This time, the sound was so loud, one could probably hear it from beyond the great doors. But as they all chanted in unison, there were some who stood up in silence. Nine nuns, not seated anywhere near each other and scattered about the hall. Hoods were drawn up to cover their heads, but the blank, clear blue eyes, monotone expressions, and a glint of hidden silver hair were the only signs Ishtar needed.

CLANK

"Silence." All sat back down with the exception of the nine nuns. "Speak."

"To dismiss this kingdom without the lord's word, a sin."

"To take action before the lord's word, also a sin."

"To wait for our lord's wishes is our task."

"To rid the heretic, we must wait for the lord's orders."

The way they responded, it was as if they shared one mind and soul but split into different bodies. All of the lord's most loyal and devoted servants knew who they were. But none dared to identify them for it was against the lord's will to reveal their names.

However, a man stood up. This was once a former lower member of the Church. Only recently was he elevated in rank and allowed to join these gatherings. It was also his first time speaking against anyone of the higher echelon. His expression seemingly disagreed with what four of the nine nuns exclaimed. When allowed permission by Ishtar, he acknowledged his differing opinion.

"If we wait, the sinner could raise a rebellion! He could cause the masses to revolt against the kingdom. If he leads the revolt,—"

"""Then the sinners shall be dealt with."""

The united answer of all nine nuns silenced the man. Their cold, indifferent glares prevented anyone else from voicing their opinion.

"Stay your hand and be patient."

"The lord's will is yet to come."

"Be it a heretic or sinner or god from another world."

"Our lord will tear them down as soon as he loses interest."

The hall remained silent as the air weighed heavily on their words. They were nuns, yes. But their presence was overbearing for even Ishtar to not be able to respond against them. However, he never planned on it as he had received his orders from Ehito-sama through one of the nuns currently making her way to the center of the hall.

"The visions of Ehito-sama compels me to pass on a message, young Ishtar."

The ninth nun stepped forward and lowered her hood. Suddenly, the room felt like it was bathed in a silvery glow as the moonlight through the lord's mural bathed the sister's silvery hair with a holy glow.

"What does my lord wish of me to accomplish, Hearst-sama?"

Despite his old age, the old man leaned forward and kneeled before the seemingly younger woman. However, anyone who knew better would know that this was no ordinary woman. She was beyond human. A being blessed by Ehito-sama's grace and only existed to serve his will.

"Ehito-sama's message is to 'Leave the heretic be.' He shall be dealt with by Ehito-sama himself."

All gawked in silence and bowed accordingly to the mural on the wall as moonlight bathed not just the nun, but the entire hall with holy silver light.

"By Ehito-sama's will, we graciously accept."

The nun didn't respond. She didn't have to nor did she have the will to do so. She merely stood there and accepted the Pope's respect as she had done over the thousands of years of her existence.

A True Apostle had no need for expressions. As much trouble as this new heretic was, the doll of an angel didn't bother thinking much of her lord's new toy. Broken as it may be, if he willed it, she would destroy the fool were he stood.

But it wasn't fun for her lord if she did so. Hence her and her sisters' interference with the Church's gathering. In the end, there was only one thing that mattered.

"""Ehito-sama's will is the world's will. Glory to Ehito-sama."""

"""Glory to his name!"""

The nine dolls chanted, followed by the whole clergy.

Night fell on Heiligh that day. But the curtains remained up for the theater hosted by Anima's playwright. Unknown to the target of the Church's ire, his role to play as Ehito's piece has already begun.

TUTURUUU

I hit a new record. 36K words, 77 pages on Word with size 11 Calibri font, to be precise.

Shit.

My bad for the poor sap who tried to read the entire thing in one sitting, but I really didn't have the time to split this up, lest I screw the plot elements while dealing with IRL.

Anyway, how're you all doing?

I'm guessing the one whose been skipping chaps is getting preeeetty pissed that I'm taking my sweet ass time. Well good luck to you, buster. This is free. Deal with it.

To the ones who may or may not have mistaken a few things, I'll clear some of them up.

No, I didn't name the Prime Minister 'Rhett Decorose'. That's the Minister of Defense. They are two different dudes. Call it a set up because I needed the dude to have some animosity to play up Hajime's apparent 'uselessness' for a war. ;)

No, Mia isn't a god. She's an unknown variable I threw in for fun… just kidding. She has a purpose, just not an amnesiac god or whatever you came up with, guest reviewer. Sorry to disappoint you, but I ain't doing that for 'too OP reasons'. Yeah, sure, Eichirou and Mia is OP right now, but that's because I've been pitting them against kids, immature ones to boot. I plan on cutting that down to size soon.

You, TheAbyssWatcher. I like you. But don't get your hopes up, please. This is an amateur ship born from mixed messages. At the moment, it's more painfully one-sided than mine is with my husbando/ waifu. :3

And dragonngo. Keep up the THICC review. Insult/compliment me with anything you find. Criticism is nasty and all, but I really am just writing this blind without your pointing out what you think. XD

I'll try shortening this next time to allow you all a little breather. Also, next update would proooobably be in another two weeks. If I'm lucky.