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 4 Chapter 13   The fact that nothing happened… is something going to happen?

“Hey, hey, stop resting there and come over here to play!”

“What do you mean by ‘play’? You want me to join you guys in beach volleyball or something?”

“Yeah, that’s right! I’ll be your partner.”

“If you don’t want to play volleyball, how about surfing?”

Miyano suggested surfing, but have these guys ever tried it before?

“Can you guys even do it?”

“Well, we’ve never tried it.”

“Besides, is it even allowed here?”

Surfing gives off the impression that you need some sort of permission. Can you do it at a beach like this?

“I’m not sure.”

“It’s probably not allowed.”

“Then how about swimming?”

“And what about boating?”

Following Miyano’s disappointed expression, Abe and Kitahara also suggested some activities, but honestly, I’m perfectly fine just resting here.

“Why are you pushing it so much? I can’t keep up with the high school girl’s enthusiasm, as an old man.”

“Don’t say such old man-like things! Ah, come on, let’s do it!”

“Are you a kid or something?”

Since we started talking about the ocean, this guy seems more childish. Maybe it’s just her way of letting loose and having fun, but it’s tiring for me to deal with.

But well, surfing, huh? I’ve never tried it, but it might have been okay to give it a shot… Oh wait, that would just end up with me making a fool of myself.

Well, with a few tries, I could probably manage it with my awakened physical abilities and honed sense of balance.

…Wait a second, couldn’t I ride the waves without even using a board? I mean, just like this, a little bit with magic.

I do have some free time, so why not give it a try?

“…Alright, alright.”

With a little idea in mind, I stood up and activated a theft-prevention barrier before walking away.

However, the direction I was heading wasn’t towards the ocean where other people were swimming. Well, it’s still the sea, but I’m aiming for a slightly secluded spot.

“Hey, where are you going?”

Doing what I’m about to do in a place where there are other people might be a bit inconvenient, so it’s better to go to a slightly more distant location.

…Is that area over there fine? It’s a bit rocky, so it seems like not many people approach it. It’s just right.

“You, what do you plan on doing by bringing me to a place like this?”

“What else? It should be obvious.”

Arriving at the spot that seemed suitable, Asada had a slightly different posture, with her arms crossed, and she was glaring at me with an indescribable expression on her face.

What is this guy up to?

Now that I look closely, it’s not just Asada, but Miyano and the others also seem a bit off?

…Well, it doesn’t seem like they’re about to collapse or anything, so I’ll just leave it be.

“We’re here to have fun, right? I wanted to try surfing, but I wasn’t sure if it was allowed. So, that’s why—I tried it like this.”

As I spoke to Miyano and the others who followed behind me, I stood on top of a rock and took a step into the sea from there.

“It can be done if you try.”

But my body remained afloat, standing on the surface of the water without sinking.

“How are you doing that, Igami-san?”

“I’m manipulating the water at my feet, spreading it thinly. It requires continuous control, so it can be quite tiring, but it doesn’t consume much magical energy, so I can maintain it for a while.”

I heard that advanced water elemental magic users can stand on water, but depending on the method, even non-advanced users might be able to do it, right? So I thought I’d give it a try, and it worked.

Probably the reason it’s said that only advanced users can do it is because it requires the use of magical energy. Regular people forcefully solidify the water at their feet to create a solid surface to stand on, but for that, the water needs to be solidified enough for a person to stand on it properly.

In my case, it’s more like I’m creating a board. I form a membrane and stand on it, so the foothold isn’t firmly fixed, and I’m affected by the waves. I have to continuously manipulate it to adapt to the waves.

To give an analogy, it’s like the difference between constructing a platform using wood or controlling a raft made of the same material. It’s the same material but used in different quantities and ways, I think.

“It’s not that complicated, and even those of you who aren’t naturally inclined to water might be able to do it for a short period of time.”

Well, even if I say it’s not complicated, it’s not exactly easy either.

“Why… I feel like I wasted my time pondering…”

“You’re the one who suggested playing, so why do you need to worry about anything?”

“W-Well… I mean… It’s just… Because we’re in a place like this…”

“A place like this? …Oh.”

If you look around, it’s a rocky area, and there are no people nearby.

It’s only natural that I brought them to a place like this.

But think about it for a moment.

A man bringing a woman to an isolated rocky area.

The dynamic between us until now was something like this.

In other words, maybe Asada was expecting “that” to happen? …She’s such a moody girl.

But well, what should I say about it?

…No, let’s not say anything. If I say something, it’ll just stir up unnecessary trouble. It’s definitely going to be a mess.

I don’t even know what to ask, and whatever response I get will surely be awkward.

So it’s best to just ignore it.

“Well, whatever. …Let’s play.”

With just that, I slid away from walking on water and left the spot.

“Hey, wait! I can’t do that! I’m the only one left out!”

As soon as Asada saw me leaving, she voiced her dissatisfaction towards me.

Come to think of it, she’s the only one among us who can’t use magic.

Regardless of elemental affinity, if you can’t use magic, there’s not much you can do.

“You know… what if you try running on water?”

“Running on water… like, stepping with the opposite foot before the other sinks? Can you actually do that?”

“I don’t know if you can, but maybe you can.”

Though I still feel a bit embarrassed from the strange fantasies earlier, the questions have returned to normal, as if nothing happened.

“I remember there was a lizard that runs on water, like a basilisk or something. If you take steps at around 200 kilometers per hour, maybe you could walk on water?”

A basilisk, I think it was called, a lizard with a name that sounds like it could turn you to stone if it stares at you. Well, I’m not sure if it would really allow humans to walk on water.

“200 kilometers, huh… Should I give it a try?”

Casually suggesting something that is impossible for an average person, but well, if anyone can do it, it’s probably Asada.

“Splish! Wait, you… Hey!”

“Eek!”

“Mmmph!”

“Ka-Kana-chan—”

As Asada attempted to stand on the rocky surface just like I did, the collision of something moving at 200 kilometers per hour with the water naturally created a spray of water.

Both me, who was standing a little away from the rocky area, and Miyano and the others, who were trying their best to stand on water, were engulfed in the spray created by Asada.

“Hahaha! Surprisingly, I can—waah!”

As Asada ran on the water, creating a spectacular spray, she laughed and tripped, falling face-first into the sea.

After that, despite receiving scolding from Miyano and the others, we continued to have fun, and time flew by.

──◆◇◆◇──

As Miyano and the others, primarily led by Asada, continued to enjoy themselves, we got into the car and started our journey back home.

Originally, we had planned to take the train, but for some reason, we ended up using the car due to luggage concerns. These guys had brought parasols and various other items, so it would have been inconvenient on the train.

However, since we rarely use the car except for shopping, the backseat was quite messy, and it was a hassle to clean up the space for them to ride.

By the way, I’m the one driving, but I usually take the bus to school, so I rarely use the car. After all, I got a free student pass, and not using it would be a waste, right? Well, even though I have enough money to cover it as a negligible expense, I have a tendency to save wherever I can.

“Uh-oh…”

In the car on the way back, while driving, I couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of unease and murmured.

“What’s wrong?”

“Did you forget something?”

In response to my voice, Miyano and the others asked, but that wasn’t the issue.

“No, it’s not that. But seriously…?”

It’s not that I forgot something or left something unfinished.

In fact, there’s no clear abnormality, anomaly, or sense of discomfort.

Yet, I couldn’t help but say, “This is bad.”

“So, what is it then?”

Perhaps due to fatigue, Asada asked with a voice lacking enthusiasm, sounding tired.

“You know, it’s been a while since I participated in an event like this and nothing happened.”

“Huh?”

Not only Asada, but everyone must have had that question in mind. However, the only response I received was a dumbfounded voice.

Certainly, it might sound absurd to say that the abnormality was the lack of abnormalities. I understand that myself.

But, but, I want you to think about it. It’s me we’re talking about, right? Has there ever been an event I participated in where nothing happened?

No, there hasn’t.

“After awakening, I encountered a spontaneous gate during a trip abroad, attracted the attention of the so-called strongest beings, faced irregularities during the student match with you guys, and even got attacked during exams. And just recently, I experienced irregularities again at the cultural festival event.”

As I self-denied, I felt a little sad. It’s as if I’m cursed, always encountering some kind of anomaly.

But despite that, nothing happened this time.

There were no spontaneous gate openings, no overflowing monsters from nearby gates, no attacks from mysterious groups, no unwanted encounters with acquaintances of that kind. Nothing at all.

Sure, you could argue that the swimsuit event itself is abnormal or problematic, but that falls under a different category of “abnormality.”

If it had been a participation that involved wearing the infamous string swimsuits that Asada and the others apparently bought, that would have been a clear problem, but that plan fell through beforehand, and nothing went wrong.

See? Isn’t that strange?

“I was secretly on edge, thinking something might happen at this beach event, but remarkably, nothing happened. It’s a miracle.”

As I said that, I glanced at Asada sitting next to me, and her expression was indescribable.

Curious about the reactions of the others, I looked at them through the rearview mirror, and they too had similarly ambiguous expressions.

“A miracle, huh…”

“Well, that’s what’s normal.”

“Well, you’ve been surprisingly unharmed until now.”

“Reverse miracle?”

“I don’t need that. Just give me a regular miracle.”

I know very well that I’m abnormal myself.

But given the fact that it has been that way until now, there’s no helping it.

Receiving pitiful looks from Miyano and the others, I chose to ignore them.

And so, with a sense of worry about something happening, yet nothing actually happening, I was able to return home.