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 27   The day of the exam

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“Sigh… I feel heavy-hearted.”

It has been about a week since I parted ways with Asada and the others, and today I came to school.

To be honest, I don’t want to go, but it’s not good for me as an instructor to skip it, and I already said I would come on the day of the exam, so there’s no choice.

…There’s no helping it, but I haven’t set foot inside the school grounds. I’m stuck standing in front of the gate.

Even though I arrived just in time, I should hurry up and go…

“Why did I say something like that…”

What comes to mind is when I parted ways with them. Even though it was just something said by those kids, I responded without maturity, saying something that would shake the team.

I feel so pathetic about that.

“I can only apologize, huh.”

Even though I sought advice from Hiro and Koharu-san afterward, I haven’t completely severed ties with the past within me.

Well, even so, I feel somewhat inclined to move forward, and I think it’s not entirely meaningless since I was able to think it through again…

“…Sigh. I’m not a kid, so why am I so scared?”

Muttering that, I lightly clicked my tongue at my own weakness and passed through the school gate, heading towards where Asada and the others would be.

…However…

“Hmm, you’re here.”

“Huh? Oh, good morning, Igami-san.”

When I headed to the corner of the cafeteria where we usually gather to talk, Abe noticed my approach, and Miyano turned around and greeted me.

Following Miyano, Abe and Kitahara also greeted me, but Asada alone avoided looking at me.

But that’s all. Other than Asada averting her gaze, nothing was said, and nothing changed. It was the usual state.

…I thought there would be more to say.

“Hmm… Ah, uh… Good morning.”

“Please take care of me today.”

“Yeah…”

After greeting me, Miyano and the others exchanged a few words, then stood up and began to walk away.

“Hey, you guys…”

Seeing their backs, I felt like I had to apologize, so I called out to Asada and the others.

They reacted to my voice, and Miyano and the others turned to face me, but for some reason, my words stopped there.

However, I forced myself to speak, and I apologized to Miyano and the others.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I created an uncomfortable atmosphere with that.”

Tch… Damn.

Just apologizing to a younger girl, and yet I’m feeling this scared… Truly, how pathetic.

“I feel the same way. I’m sorry for intruding and making you feel bad.”

In response to my pathetic apology, it was not the leader, Miyano, who answered, but Asada, who had never even made eye contact with me before.

Her voice was tinged with regret, and at the same time, it seemed to convey a certain determination.

“I won’t delve deeper into that matter, and I won’t ask you what happened. But—”

As Asada spoke, she approached me and lightly grabbed my collar, pulling me closer.

“Be prepared! I won’t say anything now because we have exams, but once it’s over, there are things I want to tell you!”

After finishing her declaration, Asada let go of my clothes and turned her back, walking away with a dismissive attitude.

“That’s why, ‘Please take care of me,’ right?”

As Miyano and the others walked forward, exuding a certain dignity and confidence, I followed them, feeling slightly confused and uncertain about what just happened.

And now, we arrived at a training ground of considerable size to conduct the exams.

Unlike the place we used when Asada challenged me before, this training ground had nothing special about it, except for its spaciousness.

Several teams had already gathered there, and while other teams were having pre-exam discussions with their instructors, I stood alone in a spot slightly away from my team, feeling somewhat disconnected.

“Hey, Kana.”

“Hmm? What’s up?”

“Are you sure about your instructor? I mean, during the fight with that monster the other day, you were fighting, but your attacks were weak and your instructor is mostly just giving instructions.”

It seemed like I caught the attention of another girl from Asada’s team, who glanced at me and spoke to Asada.

“Don’t worry, it’s fine. Even though it may appear that way, when the time comes to fight, he will step up.”

“Hmm? …But he seem somewhat dissatisfied or unhappy. Having conflicts within the dungeon is dangerous, you know?”

It’s true that I might have a troubled expression, but it’s not really unhappiness or dissatisfaction.

“It’s all good. …Anyway, how about your team?”

“Our team? Well, honestly, it’s a bit iffy… We’re all high-ranked and not weak or anything… Ah, you know, like they say, being a good player doesn’t guarantee being a good coach.”

“I see. Well, I guess each team has their own difficulties.”

“Seems like it.”

As we continued the conversation, the exams began, and the teachers and students started fighting one after another.

Finally, it was our turn.

“Well, it’s our turn now. Let’s show them what we’re made of in and how strong we are ‘now.'”

As Miyaono said that, she looked at me, but I wasn’t sure if she meant for me to demonstrate my strength or for us to show our collective strength.

Well, either way, all we have to do now is fight.

“Now, the exams will begin.”

And so, we stood before the teacher team, replacing the team that had just finished their battle, and as the match began— at that very moment, a disturbance occurred.

“…! Miyano!”

“-!?”

Just before the signal from the referee, who was serving as the judge, there was a surge of murderous intent emanating from one of the teachers who had been standing by as observers and backup for the first-year class.

“-Begin!”

However, despite my shout, neither the unaware referee nor the teachers standing before us took any action or noticed what was happening.

And then, the attack was launched.

One of the teachers, presumably the one who emitted the hostile aura, unleashed an invisible attack—likely a wind-based magic that compressed the air—directed at Miyano.