appeared, but only to find out that you can’t even use magic.”After saying this, the combat skills instructor laughed.
“—— It can’t be that you don’t even know how to use a sword right?”
“That’s not it. During the time at that world, I was basically fighting with a sword.”
“Well, you decide then, just don’t overdo it. But the results of your combat abilities are related to your placement after admission, so deliberately hiding your strength will be your loss.”
“Didn’t you want us to show off our strength? That’s why this is enough.”
“Well, it is your choice. Once you’re ready, let’s begin. Having both of you come at me together is fine too, please bring out your real strength.”
The combat instructor lifted up the halberd.
“HeyHeyHey, that isn’t good right?”
Akatsuki’s face suddenly showed a smile filled with confidence.
“What if you get instantaneously killed by me, I can’t let you lose all your pride right?”
“Youuu...You should say less words, okay?”
Akatsuki’s plea was honestly too intense, so Miu quickly tried to diffuse the situation. However, the combat skills instructor seemed to be infuriated.
“This you don’t have to worry about. I have been an examiner for many years, I have confidence in my own strength. In the past, I have almost never been beaten by the new students. And even if I am not as skilled as the others, your attacks won’t damage me.”
Why?
“Babel school’s campus is enclosed within a special barrier, any physical or magic attack will only affect the opponent’s mental status and cannot harm the opponent’s body. That said, I will still feel pain and may even lose consciousness, but within the effects of the barrier, that is the biggest amount of damage that can be done, so you guys can safely attack.”
This should be a measure to prevent trespa.s.sing students and teaching staff members from having personal fights. An alternative world returnee is like a powerful time bomb; in case of a conflict with each other, there is no guarantee that it will not cause any unnecessary casualties. To reduce this sort of loss, the school set a strong defense barrier within the Babel school campus.
“Well then, there is no problem.”
Akatsuki gently stroked his chin.
“Miu, you’ll start first.”
“Huh? But the instructor wants us together...”
“It does not matter, the instructor also did not say it must be together — right?”
Akatsuki looked at the combat skills instructor in front of him. The two of them were separated by Miu.
The combat skills instructed nodded.
“Ah, that’s okay too, you guys can decide.”
“See.”
Akatsuki said while smiling.
“That’s right, ears over here.”
After Miu followed the orders and lifted her right ear, Akatsuki whispered beside her ear.
“—— How’s that, no problem right?”
“It is not a problem, But… are you really sure you want to do this?”
“If there’s no problem, then just go ahead.”
Akatsuki gently pushed Miu shoulders and brought her in front of the combat skills instructor.
“Is your fighting style using weapon or magic?”
“It’s magic, the short sword is only a weapon used for defense...”
Miu’s eyes fell to the short sword in her hand. After the instructor saw this, he could not help but smile.
“You can rest a.s.sured about this point. My goal is to test your strength; I will not initiate the attack. Since it is the use of magic, you can begin the chant now.”
“Yes... uhh, pleased to meet you.”
After bowing down, Miu began to concentrate. Just seeing a magic circle expanding by her side, bursting with a dazzling light, it turned into a defensive effect barrier.
“Hmm...”
The combat skill instructor expression changed and he took a battle posture. The more powerful the magic, the stronger the barrier needed to avoid suffering from attacks during the chanting phase. Miu made an abnormally strong defensive barrier, which meant that the magic she was about to cast had a considerable degree of power. Miu, entering the chanting phase, could clearly see the combat skills instructor calculating the time. The defensive barrier, used for the chant, must be cancelled the instant before activating the magic. Otherwise, the magic will hit the defensive barrier and the power will decrease significantly. Thus, the defensive barrier will disappear at some point of time. It is a very important signal during a magical battle.
...Do I really have to do this?
The moment Miu activated her magic, she felt some guilt.
Because she did not cancel the defensive barrier.
“Ah——!”
The combat skills instructor was deeply surprised.
After a burst of strong wind, a tornado surfaced in mid-air. The tornado did not rise from the ground to the skies, but rather from Miu to the instructor in front, directly hitting the target.
The unprepared instructor’s entire body flew off and heavily hit the arena walls.
“Guuu...!”
After standing up steadily with difficulty, the instructor took a deep breath and raised his head.
A dazzling light followed by an explosive noise came towards and impartially hit the instructor.
During the emergency, the combat skills instructor adopted a magical defense, but the magic power of Miu far exceeded the instructor’s mental strength. This time, the instructor could not stand it any longer and powerlessly lay on the floor.
Although it will produce a protective barrier during the chanting process of performing magic, a high cla.s.s magician can cancel the generation of the barrier. Because he was blindly calculating the activation timing of magic, the other side undoubtedly gained control. But then again, the protective barrier is only one method of deception in magical combat; just cancelling the barrier is not enough for experienced instructors to fall into the trap.
In truth, Miu’s defensive barrier was just a cover up. She first pretended to activate the barrier and then took the opportunity to activate magic. This is a highly skilled magician’s preferred high cla.s.s skill. While chanting magic and cancelling the defensive barrier then activate a disguised barrier, at first glance it may only seem like three steps. But, in fact, it"s necessary to maintain a high degree of balance between each action. If one of the steps failed, the magic will not activate.
Therefore, this technique is not applicable during the ever-changing battlefield. This time it was just a simple test, plus the other side stood motionless, which led to Miu succeeding easily.
“HeyHeyHey, is that really true? You are quite powerful.”
Akatsuki could not help but compliment Miu’s performance. Defeating an enemy who stood motionlessly is not rare, the rare sight was that in addition to the tornado, Miu actually even added lightning magic afterwards. In truth, Akatsuki only made the suggestion for cancelling the defensive barrier and activating a disguised barrier, but he could not believe that Miu’s performance was beyond his imagination. Of course, chanting two magics together is not as difficult as it seems; however, the chanting of the two types of magic, and at the same time, cancelling a defensive barrier, and adding a disguised barrier, this is not something every magician can do. According to Akatsuki, probably only Listy, Loutier and Galious, etc, a few dozen magicians had this capability. This meant that Miu’s strength was definitely in the ranks of a master mage. Being the demon king’s daughter wasn’t just for show. After the other staff members performed first aid on the combat instructor, Miu returned to Akatsuki’s side.
“I don’t like this sort of underhanded tricks.”
“It does not matter. The combat instructor cast a magical barrier in time, so the damage should be reduced. Besides, no matter how serious the injury, at most, it is only a temporary concussion and is not life-threatening. The only loss I see is that his clothes turned into charcoal.”
Laughing at the same time, Akatsuki twisted his shoulders.
“Then next, it’s my turn. Instructors, can you hurry up? Your body is unwell but there is no damage right?”
“Please...Please...wait for a moment...”
The instructor, who was checking for injuries on the combat skills instructor, seemed to be hesitating.
“The damage is more serious than expected, I am afraid he will awake after two or three days. It looks like he is unable to act as your opponent.”
“Then what do I do? Being admitted without being tested in combat?”
“T...That is obviously impossible.”
“Are there no other combat skill instructors?”
“There is some, but in order to change the entrance examination examiner, we must obtain permission from the high level executives such as the headmaster. The other combat skill instructors also need time to be prepared.”
“——That being said, why don’t I temporarily act as the examiner.”
A voice came from the arena’s entrance, and everyone on the scene turned and looked at the rear.
Part 6The owner of the voice was a teenager with a pair of sky blue eyes and silver hair. Covered under the Babel school uniform, his body seemed to be quite skinny, but insiders could tell that it was a well-trained body. What seemed to be an ordinary stature revealed a stable and unmovable aura. This was the confidence that a truly strong person should have.
He is not a fool, his strength is perhaps comparable to mine...no...maybe even slightly stronger.
After guessing the gap between the enemy’s strength and his own, Akatsuki could not help but narrow his eyes.
“Who are you?”
“First time meeting you, Ousawa Akatsuki. I am JPN Babel school’s student president Hikami Kyouya.”
Kyouya responded to Akatsuki’s question with a hearty smile.
After seeing Kyouya’s appearance, all the staff members at the scene revealed apologetic looks.
“Excuse me, sorry to bother you during the holidays to make you take a trip here personally.”
“That’s okay. I already know the results of the Norn Screening. If the Screening’s results are accurate, this naturally belongs in my jurisdiction.”
“...How strange...”
“Isn’t the student president only the representative of the students, why do all the teachers on the scene seem to respect and fear him?”
“I am not too certain, but ——”
Akatsuki’s gaze moved from Miu’s back to Kyouya in front of him.
“I’ve heard that the student president’s position is held by the strongest student in the Babel school, That means he is the current top dog here.”
At the same time, he was the strongest returnee out of all the returnees who came back from an alternative world.
In short, he was the strongest j.a.panese student.
After the conversation between the staff members ended, Kyouya turned around.
“Ousawa-kun, about the last topic, the performance examination, I will be your opponent. Are there any objections?”
“No, I’m fine with that.”
This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Babel school student president was undoubtedly the best testing stone.
—— Taking advantage of this opportunity and testing whether he, who obtained a powerful strength in the alternative world, could stop those two men now.
So Akatsuki and Kyouya both took a step forward.
Akatsuki originally intended to keep a low profile temporarily after being admitted, but this sudden incident caused him to change his plans and directly challenge the strongest, the student president.
“——Ousawa-kun, there is no need to be that serious.”
When the remaining distance between the two was only a few meters, Kyouya suddenly exposed a bitter smile, as if he had seen through Akatsuki’s mind.
“This is only an examination for combat abilities, I did not mean to have a showdown with you and there is no need to. I only want to test your strengths ——.”
At this moment...
Under Akatsuki’s foot, the sandy floor suddenly broke into a hole, and a huge icicle rapidly came up from the hole.
“——!”
Akatsuki hurriedly jumped backwards, and glided on the sandy floor for some distance before stopping.
“Ahhh, your reaction is not bad.”
Kyouya revealed a knowing smile.
But the creation of his icicle made others unable to laugh.
“Amazing...”
As Miu’s praise came from behind and entered his ears, Akatsuki subconsciously looked up.
An icicle with a height of over five meters stood in front of his eyes. Its weight was probably around ten tons. Ice crystal-like spikes were placed across the surface, like a mirror reflecting the surrounding landscape.
By creating such a high purity and tall icicle instantly, the pract.i.tioner’s strength is self-evident.
...As expected of the strongest j.a.panese student, I won’t let you down.
This way, it would be fun. Akatsuki concealed his inner excitement. On the other side of the icicle, Kyouya could not help but grin.
“Ousawa-kun, I’ve heard that you plan to take this test barehanded? So what about this, why don’t you use your prized fist and attack my icicle?”
Akatsuki was stunned for a moment.
“No wayyy right, that simple?”
“You can’t, you can’t fall for his trap!”
Miu hurriedly spoke to stop him with a serious expression.
“This is not a simple icicle, inside it contains a large amount of magic power, its hardness has probably been increased several times. Using your bare hands to hit the icicle will most likely cause an ending with a bone fracture.”
Kyouya shook his head.
“This, you do not have to worry about. As long as you are within the barrier, Ousawa-kun’s fist will definitely not be injured, at most it will only hurt a few days.”
“——You do not have to bother.”
With the huge opportunity in front of him, some pain did not matter much.
So Akatsuki clenched his right fist and took a posture.
“If I can crush your giant icicle in one punch——"
Akatsuki stared at the other side of the icicle.
— At that time, you will be my opponent, Hikami Kyouya.
Kyouya listened and smiled happily.
“Okay, that’s not an issue.”
“Very well, that’s a promise.”
Akatsuki’s ki began to circulate within his body, he was preparing to use Renkan Keikikou. The stimulated ki entered his meridian and finally concentrated into Akatsuki’s right first.
The pa.s.sing requirement is to crush the icicle, he will not allow any failure.
...Okay, Let’s go.
“——!”
Akatsuki raised his right fist and violently swung it.
After an explosive noise, it was followed by a burst of shaking impacts.
Witnessing everything, Miu hurriedly closed her eyes and covered her ears with both hands.
After a period of time, the surroundings calmed down, and Miu then slowly opened her eyes.
“Waaahh...”
Miu could not help but be shocked.
—— The result was the following: Kyouya’s icicle was not crushed, not even a single crack lay on it. But the power of Akatsuki’s fist was clearly shown in the icicle’s surroundings. The surrounding sand was blasted several feet, exposing the hard ground, and made it look like the icicle fell down from heaven. A sight that proved the power of the iron fist, but Kyouya’s created icicle was also intact.
“d.a.m.n it, I failed!”
Akatsuki, who raised his head staring at the icicle, was angry. Miu then suddenly realized why.
...I understand now, the reason why the icicle remained intact...
Miu hurriedly rushed to Akatsuki’s side.
“Is your hand still okay?”
“Ah, no problem. You can see for yourself.”
Akatsuki swung his right hand, proving that he himself did not have any problems. His right hand did not have any broken skin, even a single spot of swelling was nowhere seen. Miu’s eyes widened, revealing an incredulous look.
“Whether the giant icicle, which could not be broken, or your fists, both are too exaggerated!”
“I thought I would succeed, d.a.m.n it!”
“Excellent, very excellent.”
Kyouya also generously praised him.
“With such strength, it seems like the day where you and I have a showdown will eventually occur. Okay, the entrance inspection of the two of you is finished now.”
Kyouya looked at Akatsuki, then looked at Miu, and with a face filled with smiles.
“Welcome both of you to become part of Babel school.”
Part 7After Akatsuki and Miu left the arena, Kyouya raised his hand and lightly touched the icicle.
Only to see the huge icicle instantly shattered into sand-like fragments, becoming a mist that melted itself in the air.
Leaving the scene with only a huge meteorite crater.
The inspector also slowly walked behind Kyouya.
“We apologize for making you specially come over this time, and also...President?”
“Huh, ah, that’s okay, I did not expect that I would encounter such a fascinating thing.”
“What are you looking at...?”
The staff member walked up to Kyouya, followed his line of sight and looked. He could not help but immediately turn pale.
“Thii...This...I...is?
“He really is amazing.”
Kyouya happily said while smiling.
The crater which should have had the same shape as the icicle was actually crooked to one side.
On the side facing Kyouya dirt was lifted well up, on the other side—that was the the direction facing Akatsuki—was a slight sink into the ground. What did this phenomenon represent?
“A single fist moving an icicle, weighing a few tons, is not that simple. Maybe he really is the legendary hero.”
Also, Akatsuki angrily expressed that “he had failed”.
To judge from the literal meaning, it should mean that he did not shatter the icicle.
Akatsuki’s little actions did not manage to hide themselves from Kyouya’s eyes.
Kyouya clearly noticed that Akatsuki deliberately adjusted the strength of his fist in order to avoid using excessive strength.
The condition that Kyouya had originally raised was to shatter the icicle. If there was excessive strength, only a large hole would be drilled into the icicle and it would not shatter.
In reality, drilling a big hole in the icicle is much more difficult than shattering the icicle, but if Akatsuki did it that way, he would have lost the bet. Thus, he deliberately weakened his punch.
...This guy is really interesting.
If he went all out, my icicle should have easily been shattered or at least a large hole would have been drilled open. At the thought that a returnee who could not use magic actually had such a powerful strength, even if this giant icicle only used ten percent of his powers to create, Kyouya could hardly hide his excitement.
“——I really want that power.”
On Kyouya’s face gradually emerged a cold, shallow smile.
Part 8A silver brilliance of light emerged into the night skies.
The bright moon reflecting the sun’s rays quietly lit up the dark skies.
Standing on the balcony staring at the skies, Miu could not help but feel that these night skies were as beautiful as the night skies back in Alayzard.
Babel school uses a power ranking to divide all the students from A cla.s.s to E cla.s.s. Miu and Akatsuki appeared to be highly rated at the combat test, so both of them were enrolled in the highest cla.s.s: B cla.s.s. Normally, freshly admitted students would enter into E cla.s.s, and those with superior results would also only enter D cla.s.s. Directly entering B cla.s.s was an unprecedented achievement.
...Ah!
Miu suddenly noticed a small bird. Looking carefully, it was a giant bird without any life force, and possessed steel wings. She remembered that Akatsuki mentioned that was called an airplane, a product of technology to carry people and items around. Alayzard did not have any flying contraptions; even the country of Disdia, that was well-known for their machinery, only had tanks or submarines. Just those two military weapons already caused a huge threat on the battle field. If those flying machines appeared in Alayzard, the country with such military might would definitely have the advantage. There was no guarantee that it would not overturn the balance of power within the world.
On the other side, the alternative world returnees also play a role of maintaining the power difference within this world.
—— I really came to a completely different world.
Miu stared at the sky, thinking about her own future.
Starting from tomorrow, she was an official student of Babel school. The uniforms and textbooks were provided by the new United Nations and they would be exempted from tuition and fees. As for the living costs, Akatsuki had explained that they could use the other family member’s “card”, so there was no need to worry. Akatsuki also said that they needed to find some time to bring Miu around to buy clothes and other daily necessities.
If she said that she does not have any fear, that is obviously a lie. However, Miu also found that she was gradually getting used to this world.
Looking back to the room from the balcony, Miu was still not used to the darkened room’s furnishings.
The owner of this room was Akatsuki’s sister, the real Ousuwa Miu.
Miu sat on the bed and the mattress’s springs emitted a subtle sound.
A frame stood on the bedside table. The real Ousawa Miu was inside the frame. The face revealed an innocent smile, and was very lovable. In the photos also appeared someone who looked like Ousawa Miu’s brother, but seemingly not around Akatsuki’s age, and a looks-alike middle-aged father. A very happy and peaceful family portrait.
“...”
Miu slowly laid down on the bed, both eyes staring at the ceiling.
An unfamiliar ceiling.
“...This should be normal.”
After rolling around, everything she saw was an unfamiliar sight.
The quiet night, the unfamiliar s.p.a.ce, a brand new world.
Miu could not free herself, and deeply felt her loneliness.
I’m so lonely.
...Father...
She slowly