A Rotten Beginning

*Ren's POV*

Ah… do you know what one absolutely detests being classified as? It's not being a peasant, low-life, etc. It is… being a mob.

They're the most pitiful creatures ever alive. No, you'd be mistaken if you think that a mob is an uncomfortable loner with the least presence. A mob is someone who falls even below that!

Some people might actually say being a mob is not a bad thing because being one ensures a peaceful and stable life and the people are not necessarily wrong! My ideologies are a bit shallow but let's just say this:

"You don't feel uncomfortable when you think of yourself as a mob. You only realize the gravity of the word 'mob' when you are treated as one." I muttered seriously to my classmate who had an average face.

And no, I'm not trying to look cool saying out these embarrassing monologues. After all, no matter how you thick-skinned you are, these monologues are too much!

As I was monologue-ing, I performed the which I recently learned after reading some books on movement techniques. With that, I quickly closed the gap between us and pointed my spear to my classmate's throat calmly.

He shuddered in fear seeing my spear. "I-I admit defeat."

I posed coolly as my hair fluttered through the wind. My classmates and friends looked as if they're dazed. We-well, that's what you get for underestimating a mob. Hmph!

I made my way through the restroom nonchalantly leaving behind the image of a 'lonely spearman'. But as I was about to go on any further, some knights forced me to watch the contest.

…

..

Three days later.

I coolly made my way through the empty classroom hoping to find some mates to talk to. Unfortunately, as I said earlier, it was empty.

I calmly took my seat and waited for my classmates.

What happened, you ask? Oh, nothing special. Just that Xie made a grand entrance right after my duel and opened a 'gate' which brought us back to this world. When my classmates ask about Xie's ability, he laughed it off by saying 'it's a unique skill.'

Surprisingly, the level system and the skills and abilities that I worked so hard to learn didn't mercilessly disappear in thin air.

Only a week has passed in Earth but our parents were still worried about us. I don't know why but my classmates were strongly against the idea of telling others the 'truth'. So we just had to make an excuse like 'secret trip with my classmates'.

Thinking about the looks given by mom and sis when I returned home makes me shudder in fear every now and then.

"Wow! Papa is soooo early!" A high-pitched voice disrupted my train of thoughts.

"Why are you here!? Go back to your classroom if you don't want a spank!" I threatened her with a vicious look.

"Uwah! Papa's sooooo scary!" She stick out a tongue and ran away.

As for this brat, she wanted to tag along so Xie told me that he had taken her to his custody. It's not surprising since Xie's family is quite rich. His parents own a multi-national business company. Just thinking about it makes me feel proud being his friend. What a rotten friend I am…

"You're stupidly early today as well." Speak of the devil. Turning my head sideways, I find Xie heading towards my direction.

"Being early isn't bad at all. On the contrary, it gives me a peace of mind." I spoke the truth. After my half-assed isekai adventure, there are few things that can give me the feeling of calmness. Previously, I was a hardcore game otaku but after coming back, games hardly interest me. Maybe I'll play for a change of face but I don't get the same feeling I used to get previously…

"Rather than that, you aren't going to run away this time, are you?" I glared at Xie.

"I have no intentions of doing that. Today, I'll give you as much as you want!" With a foolish grin, he threw out some misunderstanding words and took a seat opposite to mine. Thankfully, no one is here.

"I'll start from the very beginning. Why did you disappear when we entered the forest?"

"As I said, the gate of the Earth was cracked for some unknown reasons. For us to Earth, the gate must be repaired. So I had to depart." Xie said without blinking an eye.

"So you are a mechanic… anyways, another question: Why didn't you wait for me to finish the Sparring Contest? I already told you that I need the Low-Grade Elemental Pill, didn't I?"

Xie showed a 'difficult to explain' expression but I patiently waited for his answer. If he said things like "Kukk. It'd be useless. After all, you don't intend to work as a street magician on Earth, now do you?`` I'd punch the hell out of him.

With a heavy face, he finally said. "You just don't need it. Don't ask about the details. I can show you if you really want to."

Xie's face, for the first time, looked serious. I ain't so stupid to not deduce some things out. As I thought, getting hit by the thunderstorm really increased my elemental affinity. What I don't understand is the last part of his sentence.

"Okay. Show me after you answer this question. Why did you disregard my life?" This is the most important question. For a brief moment, things became quiet. Not even the chirping of lively birds could be heard.

"You just can't die… it isn't something that can't be explained but it's better for you to see it." Xie said with a solemn expression.

Even though the answer sounds extremely ridiculous and bizarre, I didn't flip out. Let's see what he wants to show me first.

"And how do I see it?"

With this, Xie showed a surprised expression and gave a foolish smile. He touched my forehead with his index finger and… urgh.. he took his fingers back.

"I have seen nothing!"

"I know. You'll be seeing it in your dreams. In any case, aren't you going to ask me about the other world?"

"Dreams… how cool! About that, although I'm a bit interested, I'd be better off not knowing about it." I vaguely replied.

Though I'm not supposed to feel guilty about the matter, it's inevitable. No matter what, I'm a human. The citizens, there, treated us quite nicely. So it's natural for me to feel guilty thinking about it.

I heard several footsteps coming from outside the classroom. The group which entered our classroom is Satou's. He, with a gentle smile, talked with his harem members and moved to his seat with the harem members following him.

Yes. Satou brought along his other-worldly harem members to Earth. His grandfather seems to be the Director of the school, so it wasn't a big deal for the other-worldly beauties to get admission in the same class as him. What I do find mysterious is how he managed to take them to his custody…

Perhaps noticing me and Xie, he greeted us with 'good morning' to which, we greeted him back.

For some reason, Rumi-san was frequently stealing glances from me. Did she perhaps fall for me after seeing my grand performance at the contest? Hoo… I wonder what will Satou do if he gets NTR-ed by Rumi…

However, I don't remember raising any flags… As I was thinking such things, the person herself came to me.

"Don't let your imaginations run wild. You have the spear, don't you? Give it to me. It shouldn't be used by the likes of you." She said with a cold look.

Oi oi. What's with that condescending way of speaking? With a harsh look, unbefitting of a gentleman, I said.

"Buzz off! No matter how you plead, I won't give it to you. If the spear shouldn't be used by the likes of me, it shouldn't even be touched by the likes you!"

Even after seeing my violent counter-attack, she didn't back off. "Y-you bastard! I'm not joking!" After saying such useless things, I felt a cold fist on my right cheek.

Receiving it, my eyes went cold while she continued. "You deserve it! If you don't return the spear, I'll beat you to a pul- kukk!"

She couldn't finish her sentence as I punched her in the same place I got hit. Normally, I wouldn't have used violence against a woman no matter how much she cursed me but she crossed my bottom line.

After all, her fist almost made one of my teeth fall down. The most interesting thing is that my fist felt much more powerful than when I was in the other world. It's almost as I have practiced punching for several years.

Perhaps seeing me counter-attack with violence, she stood there with a baffled expression. The spot where I punched her turned bright red. Feeling satisfied, I spoke with a cold look.

"Don't blame me for hitting you. You are the one who started it. Considering our previous relationship, I won't ask you to apolog-"

Before I could even finish, I was seeing the ceiling of the classroom with my burning nose. Damn her! How dare she hit me right in my face!? Suddenly, I heard a haughty voice with some hatred and anger mixed within it.

"Don't blame me for hitting you. Considering our previous relationship, handing over the spear and prostrating yourself to me w-

Before she could complete, I landed a solid kick on her belly. This is becoming dramatic unknowingly. For a moment, she crouched down and I became certain of my victory. However, I was too naïve.

"Y-you!" With a cliched line, she pounced on me and landed repetitive punches on my unblocked face. Ah… a teeth or two are sure to break today but I'm gonna break one or two as well!

As I figured out the patterns of her punches, I quickly reversed the position by using as I slowly slipped and used my left leg to bring her down. It is a very complex case of power transfer. First, using her momentum to not let me escape, I slipped slightly which made her more vigilant and put in more effort which only helped me escape more easily… then again, who am I even explaining?

It was slowly turning into a catfight. By the way, I was wondering for quite a few seconds. Why the hell is nobody stopping us!? I looked at my classmates who were giving blank looks. Ah...they must be in a state of comprehension.

I threw some more punches before my classmates restricted me. My face was extremely swollen and red with my clothes dirtied but I had no reason to feel down. The other party was even more pitiful than me. Struggling hard to get freedom from her friends restriction, she glared hatefully at me.

"Bastard! You are going to regret this! Very soon, I'll strip you and hang you in front of the school gate!"

Her hatred gave me a chill across my spine but I still spoke in an intimidating way. "Soon? I'll do that to you right now! Wanna try!?"

After exchanging some vulgar verbal abuse, we were called in the Director's office. Apparently, some bastard reported the incident to the office due to which, without even getting time to put on bandages, we were made to forcefully head towards the office.

The Director's office.

"So, you're saying she asked for a precious thing of yours which you rejected. In a fit of rage, she directly punched you and break one of your teeth…?" A stern and muscular old man took a deep breath and asked.

"Exactly. It was her who started it." I spoke in a calm voice.

The old man then looked at Rumi who was quietly staring at the Director without fear and occasionally directing killing intent towards me.

"Is this what had happened?"

"Yes… but the sp- thing that he has is absolutely not his! I don't know what sorcery he had performed to obtain it, but he isn't the owner." Rumi spoke in a calm voice but her words were powerful. I wonder if she used some skills to enhance her voice.

To counter her, I spoke. "That's not true. I spent my precious money to buy it. Xie can testify to that."

After further interrogation, the Director gave his verdict. "Regarding the incident, I suspend both of you for a week. Shirasaki Rumi is to be blamed for starting it. However, Kashikawa Ren is also heavily at fault for resorting to violence against a woman. I suppose this much is appropriate, isn't it?"

I sighed. I already expected this. Thankfully, this is not the worse senario. "I comply with the punishment you gave and will seriously reflect on myself." I bowed respectfully.

Seeing me, Rumi too bowed and said. "I will reflect on my conduct as well."

The Director seemed a bit satisfied as he stroke his beard. "Good. Now leave. Your parents are waiting for you."

His words made me shudder. "S-sir. Can you send my parents back? There are some important topics that sensei will cover today. I can't afford to miss today's class…" But I was not the one who said it. It was her.

I followed. "Yes, Director. Today, the most important topic in my three years of high school would be covered. Missing it would make me a dropout." I wildly exaggerated but it'd work knowing that it is the simple old Director.

The Director made a thoughtful expression and pondered about it. After a while, he made an easy expression.

"Sure. You can attend today's classes after meeting your parents."

My brain received a huge damage that day…

…

..

Exiting the office, I saw two familiar faces. My mother was chatting with Rumi's when she noticed both of us and scolded me harshly in front of the students. I even saw a few of my classmates. My face turned beet red as I lowered my head.

My mind felt a bit better when I noticed that Rumi's mother was doing the same to Rumi but then, the verbal abuse became even more unbearable when both the moms formed a duo…

Thinking about it makes my scalp go numb. I looked at the bright moon and reminiscent about the night sky in the other world. Indeed. Our Earth's night sky can't compare with the other world but it's beautiful in its own way.

Thinking back the things happened till now, I feel extremely weird. Defeating the mob classmate of mine in the sparring contest, I finally felt that real adventure is about to begin but it ended right after. If this is supposed to be the beginning, then it's crappy and shitty as hell!

Every now and then, I feel the urge to shout out and ask: Am I a joke to you!??

Urgh… i-its not like I vented my anger on Rumi-san today. Don't misunderstand, okay?