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?

Volume 2  Chapter 26  Mizuki: Hidden Heart

“I pretended to be a top-ranked adventurer and acted like it because everyone laughed and seemed happy, but deep down, I didn’t want this kind of power.”

Although they had only known each other since high school, Kana had never even considered that Mizuki might feel that way. After all, Mizuki had always been smiling.

“I was born as a top-ranked adventurer, but something felt off about my parents’ reactions and the way relatives treated me. It took me a while to realize, but I started noticing how different their attitudes were compared to my friends’ families. And there was this one time when I accidentally hurt a friend while playing, and that’s when it hit me.”

As Mizuki spoke, there was a slight hesitation, but she quickly gathered herself and continued.

“My parents… no, not just my parents, but also my relatives, the parents of the kids I thought were my friends, even the elementary school teachers—no one around me saw me as the same person.”

Even though Gates appeared on Earth and the existence of Awakened individuals became known, the majority of people were still powerless ordinary citizens.

Imagine if there were someone who could kill a lion with just one hand. How would you perceive them?

And if there was a child who could unleash lightning with explosive emotions, what would you think?

In reality, Mizuki was still a child and couldn’t do such things exactly, but they were capable of similar feats.

Once that power was unleashed, there was no turning back. The perception of those around them would be fixed as a dangerous individual.

A dangerous individual. But that was putting it gently. If we accurately express the emotions of those around them—

“You met Nina the other day, right? Those people there called her a monster, and I was the same. I was a monster too.”

—Monster. That single word summed it up.

“No, you’re not a monster!”

“Thank you. I feel the same way. But you see, others don’t see it that way. To those who aren’t Awakened, Awakened individuals are no different from monsters. And…”

As Mizuki spoke, she lifted her face, which had been lowered until then, and looked at Kana with a sorrowful gaze.

“…that applies to top-ranked individuals and everyone else. To adventurers below the top rank, top-ranked individuals are no different from monsters.”

“No, that’s not true!”

In response to Kana’s emphatic denial, Mizuki smiled, but her smile was weaker than usual.

“Still, I tried my best not to be disliked by everyone… but it seems like I couldn’t hide that ‘strain’ or whatever from Igami-san.”

As Mizuki said that, she leaned her body against the backrest of the bench and gazed up at the sky.

“Kana.”

Taking a few deep breaths, Mizuki clenched her trembling hand tightly, mustering her resolve. She stared directly at Kana with a determined expression and opened her mouth.

“Hey—”

But those words were never completed.

Kana interrupted her, cutting her off.

“I can somewhat guess what you’re trying to say, Mizuki… but no matter what you say, even if you’re called a monster by others, even if you drift away from us, my attitude won’t change. I won’t let it change. So, don’t say discouraging things, okay? We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Kana’s gaze at Mizuki was not filled with frustration or disappointment, unlike moments ago when they felt inadequate. It was a clear expression of anger towards their friend.

“Heh… It’s strange, isn’t it? Why am I being comforted when I came to comfort you?”

With widened eyes, Mizuki blinked a few times, mixing in a hint of tears and laughed.

But despite the tears, it wasn’t because she was sad. On the contrary, it was the opposite. She was happy.

—I was scared.

The reason her comrades were getting along with her now was because they didn’t understand the abnormality of being a “top-ranked” individual. If Mizuki were to talk about it and make them aware, would her comrades reject her?

Even if they didn’t drift away, would their attitude change—just like the people she used to think were her friends in the past?

Mizuki had such thoughts.

Of course, Mizuki didn’t want it to be that way, but it had already happened once. She couldn’t completely believe that it wouldn’t happen again.

That’s why Mizuki remained a “good child.” As the mediator for everyone, she stood up and moved forward even when it was difficult and painful. Such a “hero” had been forged.

The hesitation in Mizuki’s heart was denied by the girl in front….. her friend.

She didn’t think deeply about it.

It was just a word without clear evidence or proof. It could be dismissed as mere impromptu thoughts spoken aloud.

Therefore, there was a possibility that Mizuki’s feelings could be betrayed once again.

However, without a shred of doubt, Mizuki didn’t consider the possibility of her feelings being betrayed. She understood, not with her mind but with her heart, that those words carried genuine emotions.

“Ah, how silly! Sure, this time it was my fault. I admit that! But isn’t it ridiculous to be troubled by such things? What’s my specialty? It’s smashing everything in my path! I don’t care about his past!”

Because she doesn’t dwell on those things. By facing everything as it is and clashing head-on, the results come naturally.

Though the person in question would probably be indignant if they heard it, Igami’s words about “carefree and thoughtless living” were the perfect description for Asada Kana, the girl herself.

Because of her carefree nature, she can boldly collide without concerning herself with the other person’s circumstances.

Because of her thoughtless approach, she can firmly pull back the hand of the person she collided with without hesitation.

The assessment of strength as an Awakened individual may remain the same, but in terms of essence and way of being, perhaps Asada Kana is closer to being a “hero” than Miyano Mizuki.

In the end, they would forcefully bring smiles to everyone’s faces. A hero who could do that—

“If you don’t want me to ask, then I won’t, but that’s a separate matter. I won’t ask. However, even so, I will break down the walls blocking his path!”

“Yes, I agree. I’ll do it too. Shall we break them down together?”

Upon hearing Kana’s determination, Mizuki stood up from the bench and extended a hand towards her.

“But let’s be careful not to go too far, okay? Boldly, yet cautiously.”

Saying that, Mizuki smiled, and Kana returned the smile as their hands overlapped and tightly gripped each other.

──◆◇◆◇──

The next day, Mizuki and Kana arrived at school as usual, and Yuzu and Haruka were also gathered there, but Igami was nowhere to be seen.

Normally, even on days without classes, he would be there with them, engaging in mischief disguised as training. However, his presence was absent today.

Among the five of them, there was a noticeable void, a sense of loneliness in that one empty spot. However, no one mentioned it and they continued their conversation without touching upon that matter.

“I understand the situation.”

“Yeah, I’ll help too.”

Reflecting on the youthful words and actions from the previous night, which now seemed embarrassingly in the midst of adolescence, Kana shared with Yuzu and Haruka the conclusion she had discussed with Mizuki.

“Also, let’s continue working together from now on.”

“I’m in too. Count me in.”

Mizuki then confided her own anxieties to the two, just as she had done with Kana, and like Kana, Haruka and Yuzu extended their hands without hesitation.

“Thank you, Haruka, Yuzu.”

With that, the discussion reached a consensus, and the four of them made a decision to persuade Igami to stay in the team even after the end of the current school year.

“However, first, we need to do our best on the exams starting the day after tomorrow. Even if we reconcile, if our grades drop, it might become a burden for Igami-san.”

Upon Mizuki’s words, the other three set their goals and nodded firmly.

“We absolutely won’t let it end like this! We’ll make sure to keep him in this team!”

Currently, Kana and the others were within the school grounds, so naturally, their voices could be heard by those around them. However, Kana, without paying any mind to that, or rather, without even realizing it, had made up her mind.