As soon as we''re far enough from the other group that their figures vanish into the mist, Curtis opens his stupid mouth.


    "If we come across any monsters, we take them down."


    "Shouldn''t we avoid fighting, if possible?" I ask. "Rosa said she needs to get out of the mist soon."


    "Didn''t you hear me? I said we fight. It''d be quicker to take them out than waste time going around them."


    "Sure, if they''re in our path. But if not, we should just let them be as long as they don''t bother us."


    "Shut it, level 1. I don''t want to hear anything you have to say."


    With a shake of my head, I drop the topic. Curtis won''t listen, especially when it''s me talking.


    Actually, he''d probably be more likely to avoid battle if I suggested we fight every monster we see…


    It''s too late to try reverse psychology, so all I can do is hope we don''t run across any monsters on the way back.


    Since the mysterious girl and I are both the weakest people here, we''re essentially being protected by the others. That means we''re walking close together, with the rest of my classmates several steps ahead of us.


    Because of that, I have the perfect chance to talk to her without anyone else hearing our words.


    "Hey," I say to her. "Care to explain what exactly you''re doing here?"


    "What do you mean?" She gives me a blank look.


    "I mean it''s dangerous for a spiritkin to visit the human lands, especially considering you''re–"


    A cold sensation washes over me, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It reminds me of the feeling in a scary videogame when you walk into a new room and just know that something''s going to jump out from somewhere.


    "You. So you were the one who used that spell on me." Her eyes narrow. "Who are you?"


    I brush off the feeling. "Me? I''m just this world''s weakest summoned hero. Level 1, in fact. How pitiful, right?"


    "Don''t be ridiculous. No mere weakling could use a spell like that."


    "Don''t sweat the small stuff." I wave my hand dismissively. "Rather than that, how about giving me your name?"


    "My name? Why do you want such a thing?"


    "Why? Why else? I can''t just keep referring to you as the ''mysterious girl'' in my head."


    The mysterious girl regains the emotionless expression she''s been carrying nearly since the moment we found her.


    "Lyra."


    "Lyra, huh? Well, it''s nice to meet you, Lyra. I''m Lezard Valesti, this world''s weakest hero!"


    "Why are you saying it with such pride?"


    "Because I plan to leverage it to my advantage as much as possible, of course." I give her a pair of puppy dog eyes. "You''ll protect me, right?"


    Lyra''s eyebrow twitches just a bit. "You seem a bit too practiced to have just picked that up recently."


    "Ah, well I do have quite a bit of experience messing with people for fun. More than you might expect from just looking at me."


    "What''s that supposed to–"


    Lyra cuts off her words as one of our classmates breaks off from the rest. After glancing at us, Nina slows her steps and eventually ends up walking beside us.


    "Hey," Nina says softly. "Is this the way back…?"


    "Technically, we''re still heading back, but not in a straight line."


    "Huh? What do you mean?"


    "I mean Curtis is zigzagging, looking for monsters."


    "Eh? But what about her?" She looks to Lyra.


    "Seems like he couldn''t care less."


    "Oh, by the way!" Nina suddenly smiles. "I''m Nina! What''s your name?"


    "Lyra."


    "Wow, that''s a cool name! In our world, I think there was an instrument called a lyra, or something."


    Uh, Nina. That’s a lyre…


    Nina can carry a conversation for a while, so I leave it to her to entertain Lyra.


    The three of us keep our voices low so Curtis can''t hear us and cause yet another delay on our way back by blowing a gasket. Once again, I can only hope that we''re lucky enough to avoid running into any monsters, despite him actively looking for them.


    But as is often the case, luck isn''t on my side.


    "Monster!" Curtis sounds far too happy. "Everyone form up! We''re taking it down!"


    The others don''t seem to have realized that they''re being recruited into an entirely avoidable battle thanks to Curtis'' zigzagging. But now that the monster''s seen us, it''s too late to do anything but defeat it.


    Just hurry up, will you?


    The only saving grace is that Curtis wants to level up, meaning he shouldn''t waste time dragging battles out.


    Thankfully, that is indeed the case, as they defeat the monster in under a minute. The downside is that it''s not enough for Curtis, who only increases his zigzagging pattern, slowing us down even more.


    Tch. Just wait, you dimwit. When I regain my–


    A roar in the near distance puts an end to my thoughts. In fact, it puts an end to everyone''s thoughts, as evidenced by their dumbfounded expressions.


    That roar, it was definitely from an aberrant.


    With their current strength, these level 30s could take it down with ease..


    But that''s only if they work together and use their skills effectively. And from what I''ve seen so far, that''s not likely to happen.


    Rather, they''ll likely break and run as soon as they see how terrifying an aberrant looks.


    "Hey," I say. "We need to get out of here. Now."


    "Y-yeah," Nina agrees. "That monster sounded really big."


    "Huh!? What''re you getting scared for!? We''re close to the edge of the mist, so all the monsters should be weak! It probably just sounds tougher than it is!"


    "B-but…"


    "No," Lyra says. "It''s not weak."


    Curtis turns to her. "How do you–"


    "GROARRRRR!"


    The aberrant can sense us!


    The roar is much closer than the first, meaning the monster is moving directly toward us at high speed. Without a doubt, it''s caught a whiff of our mana and is charging our way.


    As my classmates stand undecided on whether or not to run or fight, the aberrant enters my own detection range.


    Strong. They could probably win if they fought like battle-trained soldiers, but…


    I scan my classmates and see fear and anxiety in their eyes.


    They''re not soldiers. They''re just kids who''ve been told that they''re powerful heroes.


    But the truth is…


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    Ignoring my classmates’ hesitation, I grab Lyra''s hand. "Come on! We''re getting out of here!"


    "Okay." There''s not an ounce of hesitation in her voice.


    "You''re running!?" Curtis yells. "Coward!"


    "I suggest you do the same!" I shout back "You can''t beat that thing!"


    Or rather, it''s after Lyra, so you better hope I can drag it away from you!


    Rather than running in the opposite direction of the aberrant, I take Lyra and rush off to the side. If I ran away from the approaching monster, it''d put my classmates directly between us and it, meaning it''d run into them while chasing us.


    "Trying to keep them safe?" Lyra immediately recognizes my intent.


    "They''re not ready to fight an aberrant."


    "And you are?"


    "..."


    She pulls her hand free but continues running beside me. "Just who are you? You even cast a protection spell on me to stop that amulet from detecting me so that knight wouldn''t realize I''m a spiritkin."


    "That’s right, but I''m so weak that it won''t last long. Regardless, we''ll have plenty of time to talk later. Right now, we need to focus on the aberrant. If only that stupid spirit of yours wasn''t asleep, this battle would be a cinch."


    "S-stupid!?" Lyra finally shows some emotion again. "I''ll have you know the Spirit of Water is–"


    Lyra closes her mouth, having realized she was about to spill something important. However, her attempt to hide it from me is useless.


    "The Spirit of Water is one of the twelve Great Spirits," I finish for her.


    "You know!?"


    "Well, yeah. You''re gonna have to try harder if you wanna hide anything from me."


    I come to a sudden stop. Lyra does the same, and we both find ourselves staring back, where we left our classmates.


    We''ve put enough distance between us now that the aberrant should pass by them without being close enough for either party to set eyes on the other.


    At least, that should have been the case. Unfortunately…


    "The aberrant isn''t following us…" My eyes narrow.


    Lyra closes her eyes and concentrates, sending a small ripple of power emanating from her. "Yes, it''s going after your friends. A group of heroes must be too enticing for it."


    "That''s not good. They''d be fine if Rosa, Isaac, or Mitsuki were with them, but if it''s Curtis…"


    "Yes. He seemed laughably incompetent."


    "Even that''s an understatement. If anything, he''s actively detrimental to the team."


    Lyra gives me a sidelong glance. "What are you going to do?"


    I shake my head, a sigh escaping at the same time. "No choice. I''ll have to go back."


    "Even though you''re so weak?"


    "Hey, that hurts. Who goes around calling others weak like that?"


    Lyra gives me a flat stare. "Who was it again that was using their weakness as a point of pride?"


    "Hmm. Who was that…?"


    "Focus." Lyra points toward our classmates.


    "I know, I know." I motion in another direction. "Go that way and you''ll be out of the mist in just a few minutes. You should be fine against any weak monsters, right?"


    "Of course."


    "In that case, I''m going on ahead. With that idiot Curtis at the lead, there''s no telling how poorly their battle against that aberrant will go." I take a step forward. "Anyway, be safe. I''ll meet back up with you soon."


    With those parting words, I take off back toward my classmates, leaving Lyra behind.


    “[Body Enhancement I].” The basic support spell flows through me, giving me strength beyond that of a normal human.


    The mist is thinner here than it was where we first ran into Lyra, and the terrain is mostly clear of obstacles, besides the random shrub and rock. That makes it easy to move at my full speed, even without my usual detection abilities.


    Still, my top speed is laughably slow. I may be able to outpace an olympian back on Earth, but that kind of speed is nothing for this world.


    If Mitsuki were here, she''d be running at a light jog and still outpace me.


    I need to get stronger. If weak monsters don''t give me any experience points, then I''ll have to find and defeat stronger ones.


    With my strength, it''s risky to fight them alone. Still, it''s better than staying this weak forever.


    But before any of that…


    I turn my face, staring flatly at what''s covering my vision. "Why are you here?"


    "Why else?" Lyra gives me one of her expressionless glances. "I''m going to face that aberrant."


    "Your spirit is sleeping, which means most of your strength is gone. Plus, others may think you’re mutating, but the truth is that you’re immune to the mutation effects, just like heroes. The real reason you’re so pale and sweaty is simple—you’re exhausted from your long trip through this mist, both physically and magically. Do you really think you can defeat it right now?"


    "No, but neither should you be able to. Yet here you are."


    I sigh. "Fine, you can come along. Guess I''ll just deal with the consequences later."


    "I would ask what you mean, but it seems we''re out of time."


    "Kyaaa!" Nina''s voice cuts through the mist.


    Their formation broke immediately, as I suspected. How many would end up trampled as they flee?


    Not that I intend to find out!


    I break past the final layer of mist between me and my classmates. The melee fighters are scattering, with Curtis leading the retreat.


    Though to be more accurate, he''s simply running away, hoping the aberrant will decide to focus on anyone but him.


    Ignoring the coward, I set my eyes on Nina. She''s obviously terrified, as evidenced by her scream. But she''s not running.


    It’s not that she suddenly found the resolution of a hero, it’s simply that she froze after seeing that terrifying aberrant.


    Never thought I’d be grateful to have someone freeze in combat!


    “Use your barrier!” I yell as I run.


    "B-[Barrier]!" Nina follows my command, and a red forcefield appears in front of my roommate, Alex.


    The young man is a melee fighter, which means he''s on the front line. But right now, he looks dazed, likely from taking the brunt of the aberrant''s initial charge.


    "Nina." I stop beside the young girl.


    "Eep!" She jumps in surprise. "L-Lezard!? What are you doing here!? Didn''t you run away already!?"


    "I got turned around. More importantly, you need to get out of here."


    Nina flinches at the sound of the aberrant''s fist crashing into her barrier. "But Alex is…!"


    "Don''t worry about Alex. I''ll get him." I turn to Lyra. "Get her out of here."


    "Alright." Lyra takes Nina by the hand. "Follow."


    She takes off, the reluctant Nina following as ordered.


    Right. Better hurry.


    The aberrant''s fist comes down again, and this time, Nina''s barrier gives way, shattering under the monster''s immense strength.


    I''m already running toward Alex. He''s finally getting his wits back, only to look around and see that he''s facing off against the enormous creature alone.


    "Move!" I crash into Alex, pushing him out of the way from the aberrant''s next attack.


    We go tumbling to the dirt just as the fist smashes into the ground with enough force to shatter bones, leaving behind a small crater at the impact zone.


    If I take a single one of those attacks, I''m done for.


    I scramble to my feet, pulling Alex up in the process. "Get out of here."


    "W-what''s going on!? Where''d everyone go!?"


    "That way." I point to where Lyra took Nina, then give Alex a solid push. "Hurry!"


    "What about you!? Are you going to fight that thing!?"


    "Are you crazy? What can I do at level 1? I''m just going to lead him away, then escape."


    "But–"


    "Lyra!" I yell, cutting Alex off. "You know what to do!"


    "Obviously."


    She reappears after leading Nina away, so I task her with doing the same with Alex. She grabs him by the shoulder this time, turning him and forcefully leading him to safety.


    While Lyra drags him away, I''m forced to dive out of the way of the aberrant''s next attack. Although I avoid the fist, the impact still sends a shockwave coursing through my body, threatening to knock me off balance.


    As I struggle to regain my balance, the aberrant is already looming over me, the glint of murder in its pitch-black eyes.


    Its mouth is a void, as if just beyond is the eternal darkness of empty space. That same nothingness fills its eyes, the creature’s light of reason having been completely stripped away by the mist’s corruption.


    Unlike the monsters we fought until now, this aberrant is a true mutant, the resemblance to its former self not so easily discerned from just looking at the creature.


    The long, thin arms and legs move like something out of a nightmare. A monster as dark as night, evoking a primal fear that can make even a newly summoned hero freeze.


    Crap, this guy''s freaking fast!


    No, I''m just too slow…!


    The aberrant seems to have gotten angry at having his attacks miss time and again. A powerful energy begins radiating from its body, sending a shiver coursing through me.


    Can''t dodge! No choice, I''ll have to–


    The aberrant is suddenly colored in a blue hue. Or rather, the blue-white sheet of ice that appears between me and the mutant is giving everything on the other side a blue tint.


    As soon as that ice appears, the aberrant''s attack slams into it. The dark energy seeps out from around the edges of the sheet of ice, licking at me with its black tendrils.


    Ow, ow, ow!


    I take a step back, pulling myself free from the corrupt energy.


    Looking down, I see black marks on my arm where the attack touched me.


    Good thing heroes are immune to the corruption effect. Otherwise, I''d be in trouble.


    I bring my eyes back up, just as the sheet of ice explodes into a thousand shards.


    Fortunately, it held long enough to completely block the powerful attack, giving me a bit of breathing room.


    On the other side of the aberrant, I see the one who cast the ice shield spell. Our eyes meet, just in time for me to see her collapse to one knee.


    "Hah … hah…" Lyra breathes heavily. "Hope you … have a plan…"


    "You used quite a bit of power, considering your condition." I refocus on the aberrant. "But don''t worry. Leave the rest to me."


    I bring one of my hands up as the mutant roars in rage. With Lyra down for the count and all my classmates having fled, there''s nobody left to save me.


    At least, that''s what any outside observers would think, if they were here to witness these events.


    But the truth is…


    With no witnesses, there''s nobody left to save you, aberrant!


    A flash of light erupts from my raised hand. In an instant, it dies down, having done no damage or caused any infliction to my opponent.


    However, something has certainly changed.


    I bring my second hand up, grasping a cold, metallic shaft. The weight and sensation of the object in my hands always brings a smile to my face, and today is no different.


    How long''s it been since I''ve had a chance to use you like this?


    Hmm. Fifteen years, I guess. Ever since that final battle…


    But now–now it''s time for us to reclaim our title.


    I twirl my weapon, the subdued light leaking from it creating a beautiful image of a full moon with each rotation.


    With practiced movements, my hands come to a sudden stop, the curved blade hanging over my head like that of a crescent moon.


    With a smile, I run a single finger along the edge of my scythe''s blade, remembering all the battles we''ve been through together.


    That''s right. You and I–we''ll reclaim our title as this world''s strongest hero!


    "Groarrrrr!" The aberrant leaps, intent on crushing me with its huge body.


    "Foolish." I give my scythe a single twirl. "[Pale Moonlight]."


    A beam of subdued light falls seemingly from the heavens themselves, encasing the aberrant mid-jump.


    "Groaaa–" In the middle of its roar, all goes silent.


    Its voice isn''t the only thing to vanish. The mutant''s entire body goes with it, as if scattered into atoms by the beautiful beam of light.


    As I watch, the light fades. In a blink, the power that removed the aberrant from this world is gone, leaving only me and my scythe, Arc of the Crescent Moon.


    Looking up, I see the faint glow of one of this world''s twin moons, even through the thin mist. As always when I use my power, my connection to the moons strengthens.


    Unfortunately, that connection slowly fades, the moons fading from my sight. I lower my face, and the only other person in the area enters my vision.


    "W-what was…" Lyra looks at me with shock. "In an instant…? How? And that weapon, it''s…!"


    The world''s light fades. Or rather, it''s just that I can''t see anymore because…


    "Hey!" I hear Lyra stand and walk toward me with unsteady steps. "Why are you collapsing!?"


    As much as I want to keep hold of it, I have no choice but to let my scythe vanish. Without mana, I can''t keep the weapon materialized.


    With my hands freed, I raise one into the air, my thumb sticking up, even as my face is planted into the dirt.


    "Aberrant … defeated…" My hand plops back down.