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 6   Manga is a textbook

「Ah, I’m so exhausted~… I’m beat!」

After finishing their classes and engaging in numerous combat training sessions with other teams, Asada leans against her oversized hammer, visibly displaying signs of fatigue in her voice and posture.

“We still have some energy left, but it’s no surprise that everyone, not just us, has gotten stronger,” they say.

“Yeah, their movements are different from when we first started,” another person responds.

“Well, the others are doing pretty well too. They still have some room for improvement, but they can definitely handle themselves as professionals.”

However, simply being able to handle themselves as professionals doesn’t mean there aren’t any problems. If they were to enter the dungeon in their current state without an instructor, several teams here would probably end up dead.

This lack of proficiency among the students, despite being taught by instructors who haven’t exactly excelled as adventurers themselves, stems from their own inexperience. Although they may possess strength in pure combat, you can see hints of their lack of caution and other issues.

Of course, the fact that many of the people here hold high ranks contributes to this as well.

Young people tend to be overconfident in their own abilities. I understand this from experience. When things are going well, they unconsciously divert their attention from minor inconveniences.

Normally, one would learn from their failures, but it’s a different story for adventurers. If they make a mistake in the dungeon, no matter how trivial, there’s a high chance it could cost them their lives.

“Oh, when you say ‘lack of caution,’ what exactly do you mean?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, that guy only thinks about combat. Fight and win, that’s all. It’s okay to some extent, but he doesn’t think about what comes after. Being an adventurer isn’t just about dealing with immediate battles.”

But these guys will probably be fine. It’s true that they have some areas where they’re lacking caution, but I’ve at least taught them the basics. As long as they don’t start acting all righteous and justice-driven like last time, there shouldn’t be a problem.

The real problem is that I can’t control their actions driven by their sense of justice, no matter how hard I try…

Sigh… I guess the only option is to train them so that even if there are issues, they don’t become significant problems. Helping someone out of a sense of justice itself isn’t a bad thing, so I can’t deny that.

“Also, your movements are too rigid. It applies to all of you. Ah, I don’t mean physical flexibility, but rather the human element in your actions, if you can put it that way.”

“What do you mean by ‘human element’?… Well, we’re humans, so it’s only natural, right?”

“Yeah, that’s true, but it’s not quite like that…”

What should I say? Hmm… Oh, I got it…

“Do you guys read manga?”

“Manga? Well, occasionally, when a friend passes one to me, I’ll read it, but I don’t buy them myself.”

“I-I’m the same.”

Miyano and Kitahara don’t read manga. Well, that’s the impression I had. Actually, I feel like none of them really read it. It might be a biased assumption, but they’re girls, after all.

“Well, nowadays, the world itself has turned into a world like the ones in these stories, you know? Even without reading manga, there are strange things happening around us… Ah, but I do read them.”

“I read them too. They serve as a reference for magic.”

However, contrary to my thoughts, Asada and Abe seem to be reading manga.

As for Asada, well, I can somewhat understand.

Abe’s reason for reading manga was pretty much exactly what I was going to say.

“Oh, I see. That’s why?”

“What do you mean?”

“Hmm? Ah, I mean the way they move their bodies or their fighting style. Those two, they seem a bit rigid.”

“Are you referring to what you called ‘human element’ earlier?”

“Yeah.”

Miyano’s fighting style remains faithful to the basics. She follows the teachings diligently and maneuvers safely. The same goes for Kitahara.

But Asada and Abe are different.

Abe, being a magic user, follows the movements just like Kitahara, according to the teachings. However, the magic she uses sometimes goes beyond what’s written in textbooks.

And the most noticeable one is Asada. From the very beginning of the fight, she ignores the conventional wisdom and charges into the enemy lines with a heavy weapon. Such a fighting style is not recommended in textbooks, and the instructors wouldn’t teach it either.

However, even so, she doesn’t let herself be controlled by her weapon. Instead, she moves gracefully with unconventional techniques.

“Hey, like that pig girl said, ‘Hey, who are you calling a pig girl?’ Nowadays, the world has turned into a world of manga, anime, and fairy tales. So, the ones fighting there, both you and me, are characters from a fairy tale. But you two are still playing the role of ‘ordinary humans.'”

“Ordinary humans…”

“I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but both manga and reality have become part of the same fairy tale world. So, there might be some useful aspects to learn from it. As Abe mentioned earlier, she uses it as a reference for magic, and even this pig gorilla over here probably unconsciously takes inspiration from it.”

“S-So, that’s why Kana sometimes makes incredible moves?”

“Respond to the pig gorilla part, Yuzu…”

As Asada looks at Kitahara with a slightly saddened and resentful expression, Kitahara’s words themselves are correct.

“Well, natural talent plays a role too.”

“…So, you’re saying we should read manga for reference?”

In response to Miyano’s question, I nod and continue speaking.

“Yeah, not just manga, but any creative work. Things that people can imagine may exist somewhere in the world. So, it wouldn’t be strange if the enemies appearing in manga and anime actually exist, and it wouldn’t be strange to use attacks just like that. After all, there are dragons and other monstrous creatures in the world.”

I’ve encountered dragons before, and even when encountering them for the first time, their attacks followed almost exactly what I had anticipated.

They attacked with their tail, claws, and biting. Then they used magic beams called ‘Breath’ from their mouths, and also used a bit of magic.

The unexpected part was the attack using magic, but it wasn’t unexpected in the sense that I couldn’t anticipate it. Once the pattern was discerned, it was just a matter of execution.

…However, even so, it was only because there was a hero present that we managed to overcome the situation. Personally, I thought I was going to die.

If it had been just me, I believe I would have died. My attack power wasn’t enough to inflict any damage on their scales.

“So, being aware of such possibilities can be useful when encountering unknown enemies. It’s not just about enemies. The malice of intelligent beings tends to be similar. It can be helpful when dealing with traps and mechanisms.”

“Mm, it was helpful.”

“And, as experienced individuals have also mentioned, if you have the opportunity, try reading some of them later.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

Saying so and closing my words, Miyano and Kitahara nodded earnestly and replied.

…It’s a bit late to say this, but these two are obedient and good kids. Not all students would listen so willingly, so as the one teaching, I undoubtedly consider myself fortunate.

“Now then, let’s move on to the next class—ouch! What the hell are you doing?”

“Hmph. It’s punishment for calling someone a pig or gorilla!”

After lightly kicking my leg, Asada turned her back and started walking away.

I shrugged my shoulders at her behavior and, not wanting to be left behind, started following Asada together with Miyano and the others.