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 5 Chapter 50   Before Operation Haruka and Yuzu

──◆◇◆◇──

Until then, our routine consisted of dealing with monsters whenever they emerged.

However, we were advised to take it easy at other times.

Yet, those relatively leisurely days quickly flew by, and there was only one week left until our intended goal of one month later.

“Just one more week… Time flies,” I remarked.

Thinking of stretching my body a bit, I headed towards the training room, where I spotted Abe unleashing magic.

“Phew.”

Abe lowered the poised staff and exhaled.

“Hmm? …Koosuke.”

Noticing the sound of the door closing, Abe turned towards me and called out my name.

“It’s unusual to see you so unsettled.”

“…Is that so?”

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t be engaging in such pointless practice.”

“…Hmm, you might be right.”

Abe was practicing by casting multiple flames towards the head of a doll placed at a distant target.

Probably, she was training against humans in preparation for assaulting the Savior Army’s base.

The practice itself wasn’t entirely meaningless, but Abe seemed to be attacking with magic without much concentration, as if just letting the attacks loose.

I only caught a glimpse, so I could be mistaken, but I think I’m probably right.

As evidence, she usually lines up her shots at the same spot if she’s aiming, but now some of the flames hitting the target have struck not only the head but also the body.

Well, she’s probably feeling pressured. Even though she appears calm and composed, she’s the type who thinks a lot internally. She’s likely still pondering various things and feeling uneasy. Well, considering their age, it’s understandable.

Even I have my concerns in a situation like this. It’s only natural in a situation where the fate of this world is at stake. And it’s not just me; it’s probably true for everyone involved in this operation.

Even adults would feel pressure and anxiety in such circumstances, so it’s impossible for a high school girl to remain oblivious to the fact that she has become one of the individuals expected to crush the enemy’s stronghold.

That’s why Abe is probably here, using magic recklessly to distract herself, even if just a little.

“If we can successfully resolve this matter, you’ll be a hero. So give it your all.”

I offer a light-hearted joke to bring some ease to her mind and smile at her, hoping to lighten her mood even just a bit.

“…And that’s troublesome in its own way.”

“Troublesome?”

“My family is noisy.”

Abe seemed to have grasped my intention, as she looked at my face for a moment and then headed toward the bench along the wall. She sat down there and patted the spot next to her. Was she suggesting I should sit?

“Ah, right. I remember now. There were various reasons because they said I have more power than the main branch”

“They should just crumble.”

“But it would be a shame for them to crumble. They’ve been going for hundreds of years, after all.”

While they may be a branch family, Abe’s household has a lineage of awakened individuals that dates back to ancient times. While I could understand the hassle, it does feel like a waste for them to collapse.

I chuckled as I sat down next to Abe, contemplating such thoughts.

“Hey…”

As I sat beside Abe, pondering what to talk about, she looked up at me and spoke.

“Hm? What is it?”

“Don’t you have any intention of having kids?”

“Pfft! …What are you talking about?”

I felt like she’d mentioned something similar before, but I never expected to hear it at a time like this. Abe’s words made me burst out laughing.

“Tomorrow is quite dangerous. We might die. I think it wouldn’t hurt to have that experience at least once before dying.”

However, the words that Abe uttered next were mixed with a hint of tremor, albeit subtle. I realized that Abe was feeling more anxiety… more fear than I had initially thought.

Naturally. Despite her composed appearance, she’s still a child at heart. It wasn’t something that could be resolved with mere ‘concern.’

“…Tch, idiot. You won’t die… I won’t let you die. So don’t come up with weird ideas like experiencing things before you die.”

I couldn’t help but click my tongue in frustration.

But I couldn’t leave her burdened with that fear like this. Part of the reason was that she wouldn’t be able to perform at her best during the attack if she carried that fear with her. But more importantly, I couldn’t let my student wear such a face.

So, I placed my hand on Abe’s head and roughly ruffled his hair, trying to dispel that fear from her mind.

“Besides, if you have kids, you won’t get caught up in trouble anymore.”

“Look for someone else. There are better people out there than me.”

Perhaps my actions had some effect, as Abe let out a small chuckle and responded with a hint of jest this time. …Or was she really joking?

“…By the way, it’s your usual self, but how serious are you about this?”

“Moderately serious. I’d lose to Mizuki and Kana though.”

Miyano and Asada, huh… What a perplexing response to deal with…

But, you know, those two need to be sorted out somehow too.

“How about the two of them?”

As I scratched my head, unsure of how to respond, Abe, as if determined not to let this topic go, posed the question again.

Judging from her tone and demeanor, she seemed to be in a lighter mood compared to earlier, so I couldn’t just end the conversation here. However, even so…

“Well, ‘how’ is a difficult question to answer.”

“Do you like them?”

“Direct, aren’t you?”

“There’s no point in beating around the bush. So?”

…I guess, no matter what, I have to answer this.

With that realization, I let out a sigh and recalled the two individuals who probably have feelings for me. Then, I began to speak.

“…I don’t dislike them. If I had to choose, well, I guess I like them.”

While Miyano didn’t explicitly say anything, her attitude was clearly different from the beginning. If it were just a misunderstanding, it would be embarrassing, but honestly, it would be easier for me to handle. But given the context of Abe asking, it probably wasn’t a misunderstanding.

As for Asada, well, she’s been quite straightforward in expressing her interest, almost flaunting it. She even directly confessed, so there’s no room for doubt there.

Even if Miyano’s feelings weren’t necessarily romantic, I don’t think it’s wrong to say there’s some level of affection.

When it comes to someone who shows you such affection, whether you like them or not, well… you tend to develop some liking for them.

However, when it comes to the question of actually getting into a relationship, I’m at a loss…

“That’s right.”

My answer was uncertain, tinged with hesitation. But it seemed like Abe was satisfied with it, as she turned her face away from me and looked straight ahead.

Awkward silence enveloped us.

Between us, a moment of wordless passage unfolded.

I couldn’t discern what Abe was thinking, but for me, it was the embarrassment that hung heavily in the air.

Why on earth did I have to divulge my romantic matters to a student almost two decades my junior?

Yet, it seemed there had been a time when Abe had experienced similar embarrassment. Slowly rising, she stood before me, her fist extended as if to offer a punch, and broke into a smile.

“I’ll give it my all, as if my life depends on it. But I absolutely won’t die.”

“Yeah, do just that.”

Meeting her extended fist with mine, I playfully tapped it before breaking into laughter.

──◆◇◆◇──

Two days after conversing with Abe, and while I contemplated the idea of discussing matters with the others, the need to deal with the overflow of monsters from the gate prevented me from finding the time for discussions.

However, with today being relatively calm, I had decided to talk and had come to the library with the remaining three members: Asada, Kitahara, and Miyano.

If Kitahara was anywhere, it would likely be here in her study or her quarters.

As I entered the library with these thoughts in mind, I found Kitahra indeed seated in a chair by the wall, engrossed in a book.

The sight was exactly as usual, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

…I had suspected this for quite some time, from the early days. But, well, it’s probably true.

Well, I suppose that’s a favorable outcome for me.

Originally, I had intended to listen and try to alleviate any anxieties or concerns, similar to what I did with Abe. But with Kiatahara, that likely wasn’t necessary.

And I believed she would probably heed my request. After all, she’s the kind of person who would.

“You’re quite composed, aren’t you?”

“Ah, Igami-san,” Kitahara replied, lifting her head in surprise as I addressed her.

“Even though we’re attacking in a week, you’re acting the same as always.”

“Rushing now wouldn’t really change much, I guess. Plus, maintaining the usual routine helps me stay calm.”

There was no doubt in Kitahara’s words. Indeed, she seemed remarkably composed. It was probably far better than being frantic or pessimistic.

…However, her current words seemed a bit odd coming from her.

As such, hearing those words, I became certain that my thoughts weren’t mistaken.

After all, Kitahara was timid. Just conversing with anyone other than her comrades made her anxious, and even when talking with her comrades, she was often unsure.

She always stuck close to her comrades, always acting alongside them, avoiding danger.

In a situation where she was about to face the highest level of danger, was it really possible for her to remain this composed, just like always?

Shouldn’t she be more flustered, perhaps locking herself in her room, or something?

At the very least, it was impossible for her to be acting as if it’s ‘business as usual’.

So, if my assumptions were correct, she must be…

“…I think I mentioned this before, but Miyano acts cheerfully and pretends to be a leader, but there’s more beneath the surface. Abe behaves as if nothing is wrong, but she’s dealing with family issues. And there’s a reason you awakened as a healer.”

“Uh…?”

Suddenly, with my words, Kitahara appeared to be confused, but I continued speaking.

“You’re timid and usually stay behind everyone, but in reality, you’re not really that timid, are you?”

From Kitahara’s perspective, my words might seem somewhat disconnected, but that was the conclusion I had reached.

Yuzu Kitahara, was not a shy and introverted girl; she was merely disguising herself to appear that way.

“And you, do you like me?”

“W-Well, I wouldn’t say…”

“Asking do you like me might be misleading. You don’t hate me, but you’re not exactly fond of me either, right? but I am not important as Miyano and the others. Is that correct?”

Unlike Abe and Asada, who seemed to have feelings for me, she had interacted with me quite amiably.

However, in reality, I didn’t feel any particular closeness.

Well, we had a reasonable degree of interaction, so I might have a more favorable impression of her compared to the average person around, but that’s about it. At best, she was an acquaintance or perhaps she thinks of me as a mentor figure.

“I-Iigami-san, I also consider you an important comrade.”

Even now, she was avoiding stating whether she liked or disliked me, veiling her feelings with the term ‘important comrade’.

“You know that a mage’s choice of elemental magic is influenced by their nature and personality, right?”

“Y-Yes.”

Ignoring Kitahara’s evasive words, I shifted the conversation once more.

“Those who manipulate fire tend to have an impulsive or fiery disposition. Even Abe, who appears calm, can unexpectedly become emotional. So, what do you think is the essence of a healer?”

“…”

As he hesitated, I continued.

“The essence of a healer is someone who seeks attention. They want to be seen. They want to be relied upon. That’s why they heal others. By healing, they receive recognition, gratitude, and dependency.”

Her apparent effort probably stemmed from her desire to be seen. She had to make an effort; otherwise, she wouldn’t receive attention.

It wasn’t that she wanted to excel for the sake of her comrades; it was because she didn’t want to lose comrades who saw her and relied on her. She also needed to excel to be recognized.

That’s why she tried to learn archery from Kei and pleaded with me not to leave her behind, just like Miyano.

“…You really do observe closely.”

Kitahara exhaled softly before uttering those words.

…So, she realized it herself, huh? She must have noticed. Sometimes, her actions were odd for just being timid. Initiating suggestions and conversations, taking proactive steps despite her timidity.

For a shy and introverted kid, it’s unusual to do such things… it felt more like the actions of a puppeteer behind the scenes.

Perhaps I thought it might have been unconscious, but it wasn’t. Well, that’s actually a relief.

“Well, in order to survive, observation is crucial. It applies to both monsters and humans. Watch, analyze, and delve into any anomalies. That has been my way of life.”

That’s why I was able to notice.

The first thing I did when I joined Miyano’s team was observe the members. From their combat styles to their personalities and interests.

I researched these aspects to understand them. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know how they’d react in critical moments.

That’s why I’ve been watching closely and was able to detect the anomalies.

“However, to say that being timid is completely wrong isn’t accurate. It’s true that you’re afraid of others and monsters, and it’s true that you want to escape.”

“But there’s a desire beyond that.”

It’s the desire to be recognized and relied upon by someone. That’s why she’s here.

“So, what now? What do you want to do?”

“No? Well, it’s not about what I want to do. It’s just that, because you’re that kind of person, I have a favor to ask.”

Being a ‘seeker of attention’ essentially means having a high need for approval. If such a person would take actions that could lead to their death.

While they might venture some minor risks within the group’s safety net, they won’t truly jeopardize their life, nor abandon someone who fulfills their desire for approval.

And that’s precisely why. Because this person wants someone to watch them with affection, they are trustworthy.

After all, they are observing from a slight distance. When things get really tough, they’ll quickly make decisions to ensure their own survival.

So, without a doubt, they should be willing to listen to my request.

“A favor…”

“Exactly. It’s…”

With this, even if something unexpected happens, things should be alright.

Even if something occurs, the chances of Miyano’s group ending up in mortal danger have decreased.

…I absolutely won’t let anyone die.