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 34   Mizuki: “The Choice of the Hero”

——Mizuki Miyano——

“You know, he still hasn’t come back at all. The communication has been cut off too… I hope he’s okay.”

After Igami left the defense line protected by the first-year students, they started to gain some breathing room. Now they could engage in light conversations without much difficulty.

“I’m sure Igami-san and the others are fine. After all, even if we gather our forces, we can’t defeat them.”

However, it didn’t necessarily mean that the situation was heading towards a resolution. The attacks were still ongoing, and they could sense the distant presence of ongoing battles.

Furthermore, Igami, who was both a comrade and mentor to Kana and Mizuki, hadn’t returned yet.

That fact alone was the undeniable evidence that things were far from over.

“That’s right.”

“Yes, but more importantly, this is what truly matters. If we can’t protect this place when Igami-san and the others return, it would be unforgivable. They entrusted this to us, so we mustn’t disappoint their expectations.”

But even so, it’s going to be alright. Mizuki encouraged Kana, her friend and fellow teammate, believing that they would survive.

“Sigh… Sorry. I got a bit discouraged.”

“Well, considering the circumstances, it’s unavoidable.”

Mizuki smiled at Kana, who took a deep breath and apologized.

However, deep down, Mizuki was feeling a sense of urgency, even while smiling.

She believed in Igami and thought they would be fine.

But it had already been four hours since the attack began.

Their focus was waning, and fatigue was starting to accumulate.

While Mizuki’s team could still fight, other teams would likely become unable to fight properly within a few more hours.

“By the way, how long do you think this will continue?”

“It seems weaker than at the beginning, but there’s no sign of them retreating.”

Hence, the desire for it to end quickly overflowed into words, but fortunately, Kana didn’t seem to notice Mizuki’s sense of urgency.

“Mizuki!”

And the situation did not end there.

Haruka Abe, who usually never raised her voice, rushed towards Mizuki and the others with an unprecedented sense of panic.

“Haruka? Is something wrong—”

“No, it’s not good! She’s coming!”

Clutching onto Mizuki’s uniform as if seeking support, Haruka shouted with few words.

However, even though Mizuki could clearly sense that something was off about Haruka’s behavior, she didn’t understand what was happening or why Haruka was so frantic.

Following closely behind Haruka, Yuzu also arrived, showing a perplexed expression as if she didn’t comprehend what was going on or what Haruka was thinking.

For now, Mizuki knew she had to get more information, so she asked Haruka while still feeling puzzled.

“H-Haruka, wait a minute. What do you mean by ‘she’s coming’—”

“The strongest!”

“Huh?”

“The world’s strongest is coming!”

With such a loud shout, naturally, the voice reached the surrounding individuals as well.

Upon hearing Haruka’s words, the students rejoiced, thinking that reinforcements had arrived. However, Haruka’s complexion was grim.

In the first place, if it were truly help, there would be no need for Haruka to be in such a panic.

But the students were oblivious to that fact.

“Why are you so frantic? It’s not—”

“No, it’s different! She’s furious! It’s really bad!”

As a mage with exceptional ability to perceive the magical energy of others, Haruka could sense that the distant magical energy was heading towards them, and it was filled with immense anger.

“…But why?”

“I don’t know. I think something happened to Igami-san.”

Nina expressing anger openly meant that it could only be about Igami.

Understanding this, Haruka made that judgment, and it was correct. Nina being angry about something related to Igami meant that something had indeed happened to him.

“What? Him!? Then we have to help!”

“But we can’t just run blindly!”

Upon hearing Haruka’s speculation, Mizuki was about to ask for more details, but Kana, who had been listening to their conversation, interrupted.

He might not be dead, but it’s undoubtedly a dangerous situation. We have to help!

That was a perfectly reasonable thought.

However, in the current circumstances, even such a sensible opinion differed.

Overwhelmed by Haruka’s forceful manner, Kana hesitated and fell silent.

“…Could it be that Igami-san was targeted for this?”

Did something happen to Igami just to lure Nina here? Mizuki speculated that Igami was harmed in order to bring Nina to this location and use the “World’s Strongest” to attack.

Although Mizuki and her team had only met Nina a handful of times, they understood her obsession with Igami. Therefore, they could anticipate Nina’s actions if something were to happen to Igami.

Indeed, that was the case. Provoking Nina was part of a scheme to manipulate her into killing not only future adventurers and exceptional individuals who could become future instructors but, above all, to eliminate the new ‘Hero’.

The puppet that conveyed information about Igami to Nina had purposely said various things to guide her towards the path of killing students. The organization’s objective was to have Nina use her flames to erase the students and the school.

By causing Igami, whom she had tried to save, to be burned by her own flames, they aimed to shatter Nina’s heart. If she realized that she had killed Igami with her flames, she would lose her sanity.

And then, they expected Nina to resent and seek revenge against the organization that manipulated her. Regardless of the collateral damage it caused.

However, there was something strange about this plan.

The organization that created Nina in the first place had made Awakening users for their own benefit and pleasure. Yet, it was bizarre for them to take actions that would lead to destruction.

However, that was the original organization’s objective. For the current members, it was different. The organization that created Nina had been absorbed by another group, altering its purpose.

That was the so-called Savior Army, proclaiming to purify the world.

It was impossible to imagine the details, but even so, Nina’s arrival aligned with the enemies’ plans. Their intention to utilize Nina for a large-scale attack was not misguided.

“…Haruka, if Nina is coming here, how much time do we have left?”

“I think we have about ten minutes. So, we need to escape as far as possible during that time.”

Haruka judged from the overwhelming power approaching them that they had “enough” time and proposed escape.

However, Mizuki looked around and shook her head in response to Haruka’s words.

“No… We need to inform everyone and fortify our defenses.”

“Mizuki!”

“We have everyone here. Even if we managed to gather everyone and escape, we wouldn’t be able to get far enough. Besides, I doubt the enemy would let us escape so easily.”

Moving a large group of people already takes time, and now they were surrounded by enemies. Naturally, any attempt to flee would be met with attacks.

It would require a considerable amount of time to escape from there, and Mizuki didn’t believe they could make it. Their current endurance was only possible because they had established their position.

“If that’s the case, even just the two of us—”

“I won’t run away.”

“Kana!?”

“But he’s still here, isn’t he? Nina is angry because something happened to him, right? Abandoning our comrades and fleeing, I can’t stand that.”

Kana’s words weren’t entirely wrong.

To abandon comrades whom they entrusted their lives to is the most contemptible act among adventurers.

Therefore, Kana’s response wasn’t incorrect, but…

Still, considering the current situation, Haruka gritted her teeth in frustration at Kana’s words.

“Mizuki…!”

“I’m sorry too.”

“Why…!”

“Because I am the ‘Hero.'”

What does it matter if she’s a hero?

Such a title was merely imposed upon her by others.

It wasn’t something worth risking her life for.

That was the true sentiment in Haruka’s heart.

“Besides, I admired him. Despite complaining about various things, he became our teacher who helps people in need. I wanted to become like Igami-san, to be someone who helps others. I’m sure he will help everyone this time too. That’s why I don’t want to be the one chasing after his back and then running away here…. I’m sorry.”

After saying it herself, Mizuki’s expression changed from serious to a troubled smile.

Just like back then. It was the same as when she confronted a high-ranking monster to protect the person behind her.

If you see such a face, hear such words, how can you tell someone to run away?

They might die from now on. Even so, this girl—her friend won’t run away.

Because that’s Miyano Mizuki.

Understanding this, Haruka’s expression distorted as if she were about to burst into tears, and she clenched her fist, remaining silent.