Chapter 3


    "Hah…" I let out a long breath, holding my sword in a battle-ready grip. "Stop being a bully."


    Mitsuki raises an eyebrow, her own sword held before her. "Wasn''t it I who suggested you sit out the training session?"


    "That''s bullying, too."


    "So I''m a bully when I ask you to sit it out, and I''m a bully when I respectfully defeat you in a training match?"


    "That''s right. I''m glad you understand."


    She shakes her head. "There''s nothing to understand about your logic, Lezard."


    "It''s simple." I widen my stance. "Just let me win, and you won''t be a bully anymore!"


    I dash at Mitsuki, my sword angled behind me. Unlike when I was training with Nina, I''m not using a wooden weapon. Mine''s the real deal, though the edge is blunted.


    Mitsuki, on the other hand, is using the very same wooden sword I used against Nina. The reason for that is obvious.


    As a level 1, there''s no way for me to injure the level 45 Mitsuki. Even if I hit her with all my strength, it''s questionable if I could even leave a mark on her skin.


    But the same can''t be said for Mitsuki. With a flick of her wrist, she could put me on the ground. That''s just the difference between a level 1 and a level 45 in this world.


    The distance between us shrinks to nothing, my weapon blurring as I strike at an opening in her defenses.


    The metal sings as it cuts the air, my attack both quick and precise. Any swordsman on Earth would agree that there''s no way for Mitsuki to block my weapon, given her casual movements.


    And yet…


    A loud thunk rings out as her wooden sword appears in my weapon''s path at an impossible speed.


    I expected that, of course. That''s why I held back, only putting enough force behind my attack to threaten her just a bit.


    The metal sword in my hand recoils from Mitsuki''s parry, and I use that momentum to fuel my next attack. That too is blocked, as is my third strike.


    I''ve been giving it my all, holding nothing back as I desperately try to land even a single hit against her. Yet Mitsuki has thwarted my every attempt without an ounce of difficulty.


    Looks like I need to step it up even more!


    I release one hand from the hilt of my sword, pointing it directly at Mitsuki. She stares at my open palm, a hint of surprise in her eyes.


    I''ve already shown how useless my magic is, so there shouldn''t be anything to fear, even if I land a direct hit on her. Yet her posture changes just a bit, showing me that she''s preparing to dodge whatever it is I''m about to send her way.


    "Got you! [Water Gun]!" The pitiful stream of water emerges from my palm.


    "Lezard…" Mitsuki moves her head, and the water passes right by her ear.


    But the spell isn''t a one and done deal. It keeps flowing, draining my mana for as long as I keep it active. Because of that…


    "It''s not over yet!" I move my hand, pointing the faucet directly at her face again.


    She''s forced to dodge. Not because she''s afraid of my spell. No, it''s simply because who in their right mind would want to have water sprayed directly into their face?


    At the same time as I keep her eyes focused on the water, I swing my sword. For the first time, Mitsuki is put on the backfoot as my multi attack pressures her.


    However…


    "Rude." Mitsuki smacks my wrist away, then parries my sword.


    Just like that, my trump card is dealt with in a casual manner. Having failed even after that, I have no choice but to admit defeat.


    "Oh, man…" I let out a long breath. "Training against high levels sure is tiresome."


    "I''m not repeating myself." Mitsuki places her wooden sword into an imaginary sheath on her waist.


    "I know, I know. Sit out training, and all that. Still not happening."


    "It''s good to keep up your training, but is it really necessary to face us? There should be some lower level soldiers here for you to spar against."


    "True, but wouldn''t it be embarrassing for me to lose against them when I''m supposed to be a powerful hero? Think about my reputation!"


    "What reputation?"


    "Uh…" My eyes drift off. "I''m a hero?"


    "There''s no need to repeat yourself." Mitsuki shakes her head when she sees the smirk on my lips. "As carefree as ever, I see. Even I''m a bit surprised that you can take this situation with your usual attitude."


    "I find that in life, consistency is the key to success."


    During our post-duel conversation, Mitsuki and I have made our way to the weapon rack. Since all the others have finished their battles, that just leaves the two of us to put up our swords.


    We place them in their proper spots without fanfare, then turn toward Rosa and our classmates who are watching us from the edge of the arena.


    None of them have even a hint of sweat on their faces. Something like a half-hour training session isn''t enough to push any of them to their limits, even the level 30s.


    However, the same can''t be said of me. Since I was facing a level 45 opponent, I had to go all out just to be considered on the level of a mosquito worth swatting.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Though it''s fortunate that Mitsuki didn''t do any swatting. Otherwise, I''d be a splatter on the arena floor, just like said mosquito.


    "Wow," Nina says when we make it to the group. "You really were holding back when you were teaching me about how magic works."


    "Ah, right. I guess nobody here knew, huh?" I look to Mitsuki. "She''s been training me for a long time, so I guess I have some skill with the sword."


    "Me, training you?" Mitsuki sighs. "That''s quite a fine joke."


    "Eh?" Nina looks between us. "But Mitsuki, didn''t you win the regional swordfighting competition, or something? Are you saying Lezard is even better than you?"


    "Yes, and no."


    "That … doesn''t make sense?"


    "You''ll get used to that feeling when dealing with Lezard."


    "Hey," I say. "I''m right here, you know."


    "I''m aware."


    "How cruel. At least pretend to care. I''m just a pitiful level 1, you know?"


    "If you want to be treated with pity, then act appropriately."


    "But I can''t have fun like that."


    Mitsuki nods, as if waiting for this moment. "The truth finally comes out."


    Since all our initial training is complete, there''s nothing else for us to do here at the moment. But many of my classmates are taking a long look around, knowing they''ll be spending a lot of time here from now on.


    There''s not much to do within the arena except fight. It''s kept wide and open so people can train without obstacles getting in their way. The weapon rack is one of the only notable things in the room, but there is one more object that''s likely to grab people''s attention.


    That object just happens to be near where everyone gathered after their duels. Or rather, they gathered here precisely because it''s one of the only landmarks in the room.


    So despite having done my best to ignore this particular object, I find myself looking at it alongside them.


    A bronze statue stands on a large base made of the same metal, gleaming in the magical light of the orbs that float high above.


    The statue depicts a young man, no more than two or three years older than us. In his hands is a scythe that looks far more elaborate than practical, with curves and flourishes that enhance its aesthetic appeal but can''t have any use in real combat.


    "Triton, Hero of the Twin Moons," Josh says, reading the text stamped onto a metal plate. "Hero? Is this the guy you were talking about before?”


    "Yes." Rosa looks up at the statue with a bit of reverence. "It was built to honor the hero who came before you."


    "You mean the one that failed? I thought those important looking guys didn''t like him."


    "They don''t, but the soldiers do, hence why his statue is still maintained to this day."


    Josh looks back up at the figure. "He was from Earth, right? Triton seems like a strange name for someone from our planet.”


    “He chose the name himself,” Rosa says. “He claimed that a hero should have a name to match his status. He chose his heroic title, as well. For some reason, he was always fond of the two moons that orbit our world.”


    “Right…” Josh shakes his head. “But he really was young, huh? And he had to save the world by himself?"


    "Not by himself. He had allies, though they didn''t join him in the final battle. Or perhaps it''s more accurate to say that he left them behind for reasons we still don''t understand."


    "Why''d he do something like that? Did his strength go to his head?"


    "He wasn''t like that at all. Not only was he an enormously powerful warrior and mage, but he was what you could only describe as a true hero. Unbreakable will and strong of character, if a bit eccentric."


    Rose raises her head, looking at the statue''s face. "He was summoned at level 75, the highest in recorded history. Afterwards, he spent a year growing stronger, until not a single person in this world could even come close to matching his strength. And yet…"


    "He still lost," I say.


    "Yes. After his disappearance, the mist began to recede. Many believed he was victorious, yet lost his life in the battle. But a few years after the war, the mist stopped. Then, it began to creep forward once again."


    "How much time has passed since he disappeared?"


    "Fifteen years."


    "I see. Well he probably lost because he fought with a scythe. I mean, who would use a weapon like that, anyway?"


    "Lezard," Mitsuki says. "It''s rude to speak of him in such a way."


    "It''s fine. If he''s that honorable, then he''d forgive me, right?"


    "I don''t think that''s the issue here…"


    "The scythe may be an unusual weapon," Rosa says. "But in Triton’s hands, there was nothing more deadly."


    I shrug. "Next you''re going to tell me he gave his weapon a name. That''d be quite embarrassing."


    "Arc of the Crescent Moon." Rosa looks at the scythe. "The most powerful weapon this world has ever known."


    "Sheesh. He sure had a penchant for the grandiose, giving it a name like that." I turn from the statue. "Anyway, I''m exhausted. How about we go get something to eat. And maybe a cup of water, too. Unless you really expect me to use my magic as a glorified faucet."


    I raise my hand, and the stream of water returns. My lips disappear inside, followed by a slurping sound as I take a few sips.


    "Wow. Delicious."


    Mitsuki sighs. "Not even a thought for the time and place."


    I give her a simple shrug.


    On the way out of the arena, Rosa explains a bit more about the disaster this world is facing. It''s a bit boring to me since I''ve already got a good grasp of the situation, but I still listen with half an ear, just in case there''s new information that I don''t already know.


    "Heroes are immune to the effects of the mist," Rosa says during her explanation. "But anything else that spends too long inside will eventually become a monster, including humans. Though I can''t help but wonder if we should take precautions for one of you…"


    All eyes fall on me.


    "I''ll be fine."


    "What makes you so sure?"


    "Hmm. Gut feeling?"


    "That''s absurd," Isaac says. "I''m not risking any of our lives on your gut."


    "Don''t worry. If I did transform into a monster, I''d be a weak one. I''m only level 1, after all."


    "Are you saying a creature''s strength directly determines how powerful the monster will be?"


    "Well, doesn''t that make sense?"


    Isaac narrows his eyes. "It does, and it''s a possibility I considered. But Rosa has yet to confirm it, so what makes you so confident?"


    "Hmm. Gut feeling?"


    "Dealing with you is always…" Isaac shakes his head. "No, it''s not worth the headache. Captain Rosa, do you have a way to enter the mist?"


    "Yes." She pulls an amulet from beneath her uniform. "This artifact can repel the effects, but only for a limited time. A day, maybe two."


    "If you were to carry more, couldn''t you stave off the mist for a long time?"


    "Perhaps, but unfortunately, we only have a few in the entire kingdom. The previous hero made them, but he never shared the knowledge on how to craft them. So all we can do is use the ones we have."


    "That seems rather selfish. If he knew how to repel the mist with a simple artifact, then maybe you could have solved this crisis yourselves."


    "I''m sure there was a reason he refused to tell us. Though I can''t even fathom a guess."


    I look at the amulet still sitting in Rosa''s hand. It puts out a magical energy, similar to that of a person. But it''s different, purer than the mana coming from everyone else.


    How much longer will that amulet last?


    Rosa leads us to a hall lined with doors. Since they were expecting only a single hero to arrive, they had to prepare several extra rooms to accommodate all of us.


    But something like that is easy for the high-ranking officials and commanders of a major kingdom. The only question is who''s going to be staying together in each room.


    "Hey, Josh." I wave at the football junkie. "Wanna bunk up together?"


    "Sure, doesn''t matter to me." He shrugs.


    "Sweet! From the number of doors in this hall, we''ll probably end up three to a room. Is that right, Rosa?"


    "Since there are eight male heroes and three rooms, you are correct. Though one of the rooms will only have two occupants."


    "Well?" I look around at the other six guys. "Any takers?"


    The level 50 Isaac doesn''t acknowledge my question. Neither does the bully, Curtis. That leaves four people to consider my offer.


    Josh is a popular guy, being on the varsity football team and all. But that popularity is mostly among the girls, who have their own rooms in another hall.


    And considering that I''m the only level 1 among us, it doesn''t surprise me that none of the remaining four guys are jumping at the chance to room with us.


    That means I have to take matters into my own hands.


    My eyes meet with a certain student, the very first one that was called forward to have his status checked. I know from experience that he''d rather keep his head down, so I wouldn''t expect him to speak up to join us.


    But that also means he''d have a hard time refusing if pressured.


    "Alex!" I call out his name. "How about it, buddy? We''ll order pizza on our first night!"


    "Um, I mean, I guess so. But do they even have pizza in this world?"


    "Nope."


    "Then how are we going to get some?"


    "Hm? I just said we''d order it. I didn''t say we''d ever get any."


    Alex realizes his mistake. "I messed up…"


    "Hah!" Josh gives him a slap on the back. "Don''t worry, man. We''ll go out to the city and have ourselves a good time."


    "Please, spare me…"


    With that settled, the three of us stop in front of one of the doors and open it. The inside is quite large, with three full-size beds lined up against the far wall.


    Josh and Alex step inside, but I stay out in the hall, watching as the next group stops in front of their own door. Surprisingly, both Isaac and Curtis opt to skip that room as well, meaning the two of them will be sharing their own room at the far end of the hall.


    I wonder why those two decided to stay together.


    Or did it just happen to end up like that on its own?


    With a shrug, I step inside my room and lay claim to my bed. Or rather, the other two have already picked theirs, so I don''t really have a choice in the matter.


    Of course I''d end up with the middle bed…