Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Chapter  33    Asuka: A wish as worthless as trash.

“…Too much trouble? That’s your reason for not fighting?”

The unexpected words from Koosuke left Asuka momentarily stunned, her mind going blank. Was it because she couldn’t comprehend his reasoning, or was it anger that consumed her?

“Yeah. Helping others, sure, it sounds noble. But don’t force it onto others. Not everyone is as strong as you. Look at us, with your exceptional talent and my third-rate abilities. Are you telling me to pursue the same goals as you? That’s impossible. It’s like telling me to go and have a heroic suicide,” Koosuke scoffed.

Indeed, there is some truth in Koosuke’s words, as the rational part of Asuka’s mind acknowledged. However, her emotions told a different story.

“Don’t mock me. That’s wrong.”

Unspoken feelings swirled within Asuka’s mind, unable to find the right words to express them.

“Even so! Even if that’s the case, there must be something we can do!”

“Maybe. But like I said, don’t impose your wishes on others. I’m not someone who can help others. I’m just trying to survive myself, and that’s already a struggle. The most I can do is ensure the survival of my friends and family, nothing more. Even if I could do more, I wouldn’t have the motivation for it. If you want to help people, go ahead and do it on your own. I refuse. I won’t die carrying a wish as worthless as helping others.”

A wish as worthless as trash.

The moment Asuka heard those words, something inside her snapped.

“…It seems we’ll never see eye to eye, no matter what.”

“I suppose so. Miss Talented, who knows nothing about the real world, wouldn’t understand what I’m saying.”

“In that case, further conversation is unnecessary. I’ll defeat you and move forward.”

“…Fine.”

With that, the two concluded their conversation, and Asuka, determined to finish him off this time, tightly gripped her spear and sprinted forward, filled with a hint of hatred.

“I surrender!!”

But the instant Asuka began her charge, Koosuke raised both hands above his head and shouted.

“…Huh?”

“I surrender! I can’t defeat you! So please don’t attack!”

Asuka managed to halt her attack before it landed, but her momentum carried her past him, and she reluctantly leaped away from her original position.

When she landed and turned back to where she had been just moments ago, she saw Koosuke, now on his knees in a pitiful display, offering an apology while shouting.

“Ugh! How far will you…! How much more will you mock me!”

As Asuka witnessed Koosuke’s behavior, her mind once again went blank, but as she caught up with the situation, she erupted in anger and shouted.

“Mock you? Indeed, I did mock your wish. It’s utterly ridiculous. I think it’s a damn pointless thing. Thinking that you can drag others into it, you idiot.”

“You…!”

“Oops, are you going to attack someone who admitted defeat? How does that fit in with the rules? If I remember correctly, attacking would result in disqualification, right?”

“Grr…!”

As Asuka, about to launch an attack driven by anger, aimed toward Koosuke, the composed part of her mind stopped her in her tracks upon hearing his words.

Seeing Asuka’s reaction, Koosuke grinned and continued speaking, shifting his posture from kneeling.

“So, there you have it. I did mock your wish, which you’re trying to impose on others, but I never intended to mock your actual abilities. The gap between your top-tier talent and my third-rate talent is clear, isn’t it? Fight? No way. Everyone can predict the outcome without even fighting.”

“…Still, don’t you have the determination to fight? Don’t you have any pride?”

“I don’t.”

Upon hearing those firmly spoken words, Asuka clenched her fist tightly and gritted her teeth, but Koosuke continued speaking as if he couldn’t care less about her reaction.

“I don’t want pain. I don’t want suffering. I don’t want sadness or hardship. I’m fine as long as I live and everything ends peacefully without any trouble. Determination to fight? Pride? Hah! Those things are unnecessary to live an easy life. I gave up on them long ago.”

“…I see.”

“Ah!”

With Asuka’s quiet nod, erasing any trace of the slight respect she initially felt, Koosuke nodded in return. However, right after that, a powerful thrust, impossible by conventional standards, pierced through the ground just beside Koosuke, merely a meter away.

The shockwave generated by the attack caused Koosuke to lose his balance, but he seemed uninjured.

“I didn’t hit you. However, please leave immediately. Just looking at someone like you is unpleasant.”

Even though she knew that the shockwave had reached him, Asuka couldn’t help but do something.

“Is that so? Well, I’ll take a little break here then. I injured my leg in your initial surprise attack, so I’ll rest for a while before heading outside.”

“Do as you please.”

“Yeah… Oh, take this too. It’s nothing impressive, but you might want it.”

Koosuke reached for a rolled-up piece of paper attached to his belt and tossed it towards Asuka.

“North Side.”

Without saying a word, Asuka received the paper, which had only those words written on it.

“And I hope to never see your face again.”

With those parting words, Asuka took the paper handed to her by Koosuke and ran off.

“…I guess it worked out somehow. Well then, time to prepare for the ‘next’.”

Koosuke muttered those words to himself, but Asuka, who had already run off, couldn’t hear them.