Even Then, I Can't Simply Stand By (9.1)

…

Normally, most Level 2s would be dead if they were sent into a wall made of stone and wood by tendrils of a monster capable of killing a Level 3. Shock from pain alone, probably, would've caused someone other than me to get knocked unconscious. However, even as I flew into the wall, I was already limiting the damage. With my left arm already grievously injured, by how much I didn't know, the decision to collide into the wall with the right side of my body was an easy one.

Evaluate physical condition. Legs unharmed. Right torso unharmed. Spine intact. Left-side arm present but crippled. Can be healed and used for combat. Breathe. Left lung punctured in multiple locations. Outside source? Skin intact. Coat intact. Internal bone fragmentation and organ punctured. Will slow time required for Mend. Utilize Amplify Staff for greater effect. Located in right fold of jacket. Acquired.

I was keenly aware of just how much damage that single blow caused me. My left arm was hardly anything more than shards of bone wrapped in flesh. My ribs had transformed into painful spikes that penetrated my lung. It was eerie how I could simply process the pain, shunt it away to a corner of my mind, given the fact that pain is limited and my consciousness isn't. All the while, even while knowing how much I was hurt, my mind was rapidly coming up with ways and methods to ensure that I survived. Regardless of what anyone said, Conscienta Strenuissium is most definitely meant for combat despite the advantages it gave in studying and other matters.

Begin Chanting Mend. Survey current situation. Seven monsters. Rapidly being downed by Magic. Irrelevant. Central Monster, larger and better trained. Tamed monster. Enemy Adventurer supporting. Quick, but not too quick. Utilizing wrist-blades. Fast. Agile. Will require Haste to surpass. Finish Chanting Mend. Adjust facial cover. Cough up excess blood and bone shards. Disregard pain from throat lacerations. Readjust. Left arm halfway to full capacity. Lung completely healed. Amplify Staff doubles healing rate. Begin chanting Mend again.

"Sensei, where are you!?" I heard Cranel's voice even in the din. My white-haired student was protecting Viridis and Challia as they chanted. A finely-dressed blonde man was sequestered behind their defenses. I didn't need my dominant mind to tell me that Cranel wasn't going to be able to last for a prolonged period of time. There were too many people to protect. His scarlet eyes were darting towards the refugees who suddenly found their safehouse at the front of the fighting. They were also searching for me. A grievous set of mistakes since he should only concern himself with protecting his two Mages. "Sensei!"

Finish Chant. Arm fully healed. Attract attention. Confined area and presence of multiple civilians. Cannot utilize Ceaseless Thunderbolt Battery. Continuous Chain Lighting and Everlasting Bolt available. Latter too weak. No. Amplify Staff. Prepare Shaping Staff while providing support. Cast Everlasting Bolt. Damage marginal. Achieves goal. Begin Chanting for Continuous Chain Lightning.

I spied a streak of auburn running through the battle. I was nearly overwhelmed by panic and fear once more. The only reason why I wasn't was because my mind was focused on survival and the destruction of my current enemies. Metaphorically speaking, it had already gathered an immense amount of mental 'steam.' Still, pulling upon what I had felt that moment when I pushed her away at my own expense, when two parts of my mind agreed with one another, I meshed that fragment and forced it into my current mindset. The panic, as expected, fell away at the continuous stream of information and assessments until only the objective of keeping Hecate safe fell along the others.

Provide aid to allies. Enemy Adventurer targeting Mages. Intends to cripple ability of Orario to destroy monsters. Possibly only a preparatory attack. Irrelevant at current time. Enemy Adventurer now priority target. Enemy Adventurer making way towards Hecate. Enemy Adventurer now Primary Target. Speed and strength denote at least Level 3 in power. Holding back unwise. Release Limiter. Cast Haste.

I'm sure that I surprised quite a few people as I simply surged out of the crater that I had created by smashing into the wall. Given the fact I no longer had Empower, it wasn't the monumental leap that I desired, but with Haste increasing my unbound speed I was sure that I moved far quicker than anyone who was sent into a wall would normally. Crippled with a pierced lung and fully healed in less than fifteen seconds. Pain? Not a problem. Magic? Infinite. My arsenal, specially formulated around my Skill, gave me an absurdly large amount of adaptability.

Continuous Chain Lightning Blade makes contact with opponent. Cry of pain before being protected by larger version of monsters. Adventurer's armor resistant against magic. Tamed beast is trained to protect master. Body language of enemy Adventurer shows surprise. Not Tamer. Amendment: tamed beast designed to protect specific entity or owner. Sold? Given? Exchanged? Denotes extensive funds and resources to raise large army. Information currently irrelevant. Call for allied fire in destruction of Guardian.

"Focus on the largest one, it's protecting the assassin!" I was given the opportunity to go over the battlefield as my body received and carried out actions. Cranel, Viridis, and Challia were holding fast. Though my white-haired student sported a few cuts, a number of tendrils were at his side. The black edge of his specially-made knife was gleaming in the sunlight streaming from the broken roof. Viridis and Challia were steadily working their way through their opponents. Both elves seemed to be laboring as they continued to chant, sweat shining on their brows, but their gazes were steady and confident. They will hold. "Cranel, help me when you can!"

Await affirmation of support from allies. Meanwhile, focus on confronting Primary Target. Dodge to side. Utilize shaping feature. Probe for weaknesses. Duck beneath tendril. Primary Target is in center of monster. Step to left. Magic Sword available. Capable of killing Level 4. Return to original position. Overkill for Level 3. Needed for decisive destruction. Prepare for utilization. Point blank shot required. If unsuccessful, utilization of Ceaseless Thunderbolt Battery required.

"Y-yes, Sensei!" There was a note of relief in Cranel's voice. Though I didn't regret pushing Hecate out of the way, I most certainly felt that I should have thought of another method to do so. I'm sure that my white-haired student could've gone for a long time before seeing me take anything more than superficial damage. I had no doubt that I was a gruesome sight. I was sure that more than just blood was seeping out of my sleeve and I had no time to make myself seem less bloodied. "Viridis-san, Challia-san, focus on the monster at the center!"

Enemy adventurer is skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Shape lightning into shield. Bash. Cry of pain. Not skilled enough to surmount lightning constructs. Limited damage due to armor. Magic resistant bone armor. Surrounding monster attempting to grab and constrict. Cannot survive continuous damage. Disengage. Bone knives thrown by enemy adventurer. Magic resistant. High speed. Horizontal spread. Duck beneath. Reengage. Go for vitals and sensory organs. Eyes. Lungs. Neck. Kidneys. Attack on eyes find purchase. Enemy adventurer screams. Monster reacts quickly. Tendril wave incoming. Evade? No. Average chant time of all allies less than five seconds. Successfully diverted attention of monster from allies for time required. Support incoming… now.

"Go forth, Flame Sphere!"

"Firebolt!"

"Repel Evil, Dio Grail! Crush Evil, Dio Thyrsos!"

A shield of light enveloped me, just as my surroundings were surrounded by flames and spears of light. Viridis's attack was understandably powerful, turning the tendrils coming towards me to ash, along with most of the main body. Though Cranel's attack wasn't amplified by Argonaut, his constant use of Firebolt and his maximized Magic for a Level 2 made the single spell in his repertoire very powerful. It was roughly equal to a dozen blasts of Everlasting Bolt, though it tired him out quickly if he used it so rapidly. Challia's Rapid Chants surged forward to grant me a shield of golden light, even as she began to send forth bolts of lightning towards the monster with uncanny precision and power. Between the three of them, they managed to turn the largest of monsters into nothing more than a pile of flesh within moments. Leaving me with the bone-clad, Level 3 adventurer who had one of his eyes burned out just a moment earlier.

Enemy adventurer supporting monster is dead. Attempting to flee. Intercept with lightning construct. Create additional constructs to harass. Keep windows open for support. Enemy proficient in hand-to-hand and knife combat. Utilize length of staves to divert knives. Block fists with magic or evade. Speed is equal. Strength in opponent's favor. Lack of Empower means inability to catch, divert, and take blows. Attempting to subdue with unarmed techniques poses too much risk. Harass with branches of lightning. Scent of burned flesh. Breathing still steady. Very high pain tolerance and Endurance.

As far as villains go, I had to admit this one was pretty imaginative. The bone motif served to show just how different this world was, given that bone armor would be hilariously stupid in the real world. However, since I'm sure that most viewers would remember me simply blasting people with lightning, they'd know that the armor of this guy is both terrifying and practical. No monologue required to explain it. Well, if the people reading this literary masterpiece had two brain cells to rub against one another, that is. Who am I kidding? Cranel was probably asking questions aloud and Viridis was giving him exposition as they all watched me fight all by myself. Seriously, guys, some additional magic would be very appreciated at the moment.

Flash of black and white through folds of lightning. Cranel. Weapon: Scaling Knife. Length: 1/3rd of a Meter. Proficiency with knife: Excellent. Basic Skills: All Maximized. Cooperative ability: Adequate. Supplement with lightning construct defenses immediately. Cast Nourish. Begin chant for Pre-emptive mend. Dodge bone knives. Number enemy has left likely to be low. Focus on debilitating enemy. Create opening for superior melee fighter. Cranel scores blow against opponent's back. Intentional attempt for a killing blow. Knows the stakes. Knows he cannot hold back. Good.

Under normal circumstances, I would have been worried if Cranel decided to go right for the kill, but I'd taught him to always prioritize his survival. In this case, facing a Level 3 with powerful equipment, I could only acknowledge that I'd taught him very well for him to not hold back against an opponent that can quite easily kill him should he make a single mistake. Not taking an opponent like this one seriously, and going all-out, could mean dying. Looking at his bared teeth and poorly-masked discomfort, I could tell that Cranel didn't like attempting to kill someone. Perhaps under better circumstances, I'd have been able to train him in fighting against Level 3s without having to kill them, but now I could only hope that he'd forgive me for leading him into this mess.

Enemy blow incoming. Bone-clad fist. Powerful. Could cause debilitating injury. Evade and destroy ground at opponent's feet. Imbalance opponent. Reflexes are quick. Compensates swiftly. Buys split of time. Cranel capitalizes. Knife comes forward for strike to kidney. Already cut across enemy armor and flesh with ease. Enemy knows danger of knife. Knows isn't capable of stopping blow fully. Going for counterattack. No. Mutual harm. Knife going for Cranel's eye. Weakening blow. Nonlethal.

Cranel unused to combat healing. Not allowed to come to harm.

Student. My student. My responsibility.

Cease evasive maneuver and grab incoming fist.

My hand broke against the man's blow. My fingers bent past my knuckles with a sickening squelch. The bones within my palm were turned into shards and pushed into my wrist. The Level 3's fist didn't stop until it hit where my hand met my arm. It was a shock of stabbing, heated pain that traveled straight into my head.

Still, far better than the alternative of seeing Cranel severely hurt.

However, I achieved my goal, as his thrown knife cut Cranel's cheek instead of embedding itself in his scarlet eye.

Off balance, the bone-clad adventurer wasn't able to stop Cranel from driving his knife into his left kidney, through his spine, and up towards his chest.

Needless to say, everyone present was surprised as a Monster Crystal popped out of his chest within the knife's arc, and he faded away into dust.

…

Even Then, I Can't Simply Stand By (9.2)

…

The Hostess of Fertility was surprisingly untouched by the attack launched by the monsters. Given the fact that neither Lyon or Grand were Mages, though I suspected Lyon had magic given the fact she was an elf, it was probably due to luck that the Inn hadn't been destroyed. That, or someone else acted to protect it, and I was inclined to believe that was the case given the various scorch marks and melted stone that surrounded the area. Though it was worth pondering who decided on protecting my current home, the current situation required me to leave that line of thought to a later period of time.

"Four attacks in less than a month and this time with some sort of humanoid, anti-magic monster capable of fighting with weapons." Loki was uncharacteristically serious. Though the goddess seemed to be only casually leaning on her elbows, there was a sense of danger about her that was slightly unsettling. A tiger finally taking a threat seriously, perhaps? Even then, I would be able to take her more seriously if she didn't look as though she came straight from a maid café in Akiba. Oh wait, with that chest, she'd never get the job! Ah, welcome back my terrible sense of humor. I have missed you. "I'm sure that you all agree that this is no longer an isolated incident. Something or someone is definitely going out of their way to try and destroy Orario."

"Indeed, and the amount of resources they have at their disposal is far larger than I postulated, as well." Dionysus, unfortunately, was not a robust, red-faced alcoholic with an amazing sense of humor as I believed. Instead, he was simply a filthy Riajuu. I could appreciate the suit he wore, of course, but having both a cravat and ruffled sleeves was simply bad taste. I can only imagine the number of maidens who fell to his charms. Pretty boy looks and immense wealthy aside, however, he seemed like a decent guy. "A single one during the Festival, a surge in smaller numbers all across the town shortly after, then the encounter in the sewers, and now this… they must have these monsters in the hundreds to throw them about so casually."

"I concur." Hecate spoke, for perhaps the first time in the meeting, looking over the same papers Loki showed me the last day at the Training Camp. I was sure that the auburn-haired goddess was taking in the information and making sure she wasn't making any mistakes. Meticulous to a fault, in everything she did, I had no doubt that she would have a lot of information to contribute- Oi! Loki! Why aren't you paying attention to what she's saying!? Are you trying to pick a fight!? "Their attack on my Familia is obvious, they simply wished to target me, see my Familia in disarray, and launch an attack without the magical support my adventurers could provide."

"It certainly sounds like a decent method to start an attack. Ridding Orario of such a large number of Mages would hamper a response." Hestia, as expected of any decent god, took in the information provided by Hecate and contemplated it fully. Despite the fact you look like a fanservice character on the outside, you have a sound and confident mind, Hestia-sama! Do your best to make sure Loki pays attention! Also, raise your arms a bit, make sure that pretty boy is looking only at you. "Normal adventurers won't be able to fight these terrible monsters without mages. Protecting Hecate-san is a priority-."

"Hat-kun, you're alright!" Hiryute's cry and sudden latching onto me drew me from my focus on the 'Main Event' of the current Arc. Of course, I had noticed that the door into the Hostess of Fertility had admitted another group in, moments ago, but I had been paying too much attention to the meeting between the four gods to actually turn to them. Alf was speaking to her student and Wallenstein met with Cranel. Needless to say, I was displeased about being suddenly distracted by an Amazon. No, not even with that massive, cute smile you're sporting, I'm not suddenly going to-. Oi, stop squirming against me! This isn't that sort of Light Novel, you know!? "Eh! Eh?! Why do you smell like blood, Hat-kun?!"

"One tends to bleed when they get wounded." I answered the Amazon plainly while attempting to pry her off with my usual technique. However, instead of detaching, Hiryute simply ignored it as she could have every time I'd done it to her. Oh no, the power of Comedic Effect has left me, this means that this was more serious that I originally anticipated. The short-haired, tanned Level 5 held me at arm's length, looking me over, and the smile on her face turned into a small frown of discontent. Holding back a sigh, I consigned myself to telling her the same answer to the coming question. Undoubtedly, she would ask if I'm alright. "I'm perfectly fine, Hiryute, I healed myself after I was hurt-."

"Not good enough, Hat-kun! You weren't supposed to get hurt at all against those things! That's why I went with Aiz-chan and Riveria-sama!" Hiryute interjected, shaking her head and wagging her finger simultaneously. I could only sigh as I picked through her thoughts. As a very friendly girl, I was sure that she was finding some inane reason to somehow blame herself for my wounds. Letting me go, the short-haired, tanned girl placed a hand on her hips and pointed straight at me. "As your bodyguard, it looks bad on me to let you get hurt this much!"

"…I won't lie that your help would've been appreciated at the end." I admitted to that fact. I was sure that the humanoid-monster we faced wouldn't have been capable of taking her on without being smashed into a pulp. Hiryute's speed and power was easily, at least, an order of magnitude or more higher than my own. Those knives of his wouldn't have even scratched her skin. I had to admit that Hiryute was showing another side of herself that I hadn't expected. Then again, most of the Loki Familia tended to be upstanding, moral individuals. Augh. No surprise that, no matter however mischievous she is, Tiona Hiryute was undoubtedly within Loki's 'batting zone' when it came to who she chose to enter her Familia. "However, you did more good with Alf, and there's nothing wrong with that."

"That's not a good enough reason!" Hiryute crossed her arms and gave off a huff. Despite looking similar to a kid who was denied sweets, I could tell that this was about as serious as the short-haired Amazon got. Laughing was out of the question. Looking deeper into the situation, it seemed that somewhere between now and when she first became my bodyguard, she started to truly care about how I fared. Mischief aside, as I said earlier, it fit with the fact that everyone in the Loki Familia was considered the good guys by just about everyone in Orario. When she locked her gaze with mine, arms crossed, and eyes defiant, I was pretty sure I knew what she was going to say next. "Hat-kun, I'm going to train you!"

With all these training montages, I was starting to think that this was less of a Light Novel and more of an Anime with a very, very low budget. I highly doubted something with this quality of writing and so many asspulls would get another season. As expected of something Zaimokuza wrote.

Needless to say, given the opportunity to be 'trained' by a Level 5 specialized in melee combat for free, shortly after encountering an opponent with superior skills in the same field… well, it would've been out of my established character to refuse.

So, of course, I accepted Tiona Hiryute's offer.

…

A tentative alliance was formed between the Hestia, Dionysus, Hecate, and Loki Familias with Lyon and myself as independents. Given the immensity of the attack by the monsters, I couldn't simply ignore the storyline any longer. I initially made the mistake of thinking that the matter was a mere sidequest, but after the city-wide attack, I was sure that it was actually the main plotline.

Overall, I simply hadn't factored Cranel's power properly. My student's insane growth, the Hestia Knife, and Argonaut had made him a lethal answer to all the monsters involved in the attack. He proved himself more than capable of fighting against the monsters that were dangerous to even Veteran Level 3s, as expected of a bullshit, harem protagonist. Now, all I could do was make sure that my group and my plans were aligned with the 'Familia Alliance' that was set up, and hold on for the ride.

Thankfully, given the fact I had little need for sleep, I could usually work out the fine details of my plans while everyone else slept.

That would've been the case, if not for the fact that there was a city-wide attack that precluded the abrupt change.

Though I was sure that I would anger quite a few people, I wasn't at the Hostess of Fertility under the protection of a pair of Level 4s and a Level 5, and I was instead miles away in an abandoned, ruined castle with no one at my side.

The reason? Well, like any group of competent individuals, my students and I had plans when it came to disasters. Being Japanese, I knew the importance of having procedures and plans after something disastrous occurred, to ensure that no time and effort would be wasted. Having them also allowed me to focus on the task at hand, rather than allow my worries to fester and grow and cause me to make mistakes while in combat.

Allowing myself into the Tower, I felt a weight on my back disappear, as I gazed into the room and looked over the four, whole sets of coats, masks, and hats adorning the hangers installed on the walls.

My students were all here, largely unharmed, and safe.

"You're late, Sensei." Arde looked up from her bestiary, undoubtedly adding her experiences regarding the vine monsters earlier in the day. I noticed that my Pallum student's calf was bandaged and that an empty flask lay at her side. Health potion. Minor. A scratch or cut at most. Good. My auburn-haired student closed her book, put away her pen, and gave a yawn. Still, I felt her gaze linger on my bloodied side. Seems like I couldn't count on my coat hiding the stains from my students. I taught them too well in the art of picking apart details, it seems. "Naaza and Nelly are keeping watch at the top and…" A sigh. "Daphne, well, you know how she is about leaving her friend alone."

"Not my problem, I told her she could bring Illion if she wanted." Without the fog of worry clouding my sensibilities, I let myself into the door. Normally, I'd take off my coat, but I was sure that my collared, white shirt was in a terrible state. Also, I wasn't going to stay the night, as I was sure was the case for all of them. Walking over to Arde, I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. There, that should reassure her that I wasn't crippled or infirm. "Call the others. We have a few complications that need to be discussed."

"That's an understatement." Arde gave a huff and shook her head, but it was easy to tell that she was no longer disconcerted by my bloodied, left side. After she rose, I took to her chair, and pulled out my own bestiary from the shelf. "Do we at least have a plan to deal with these… complications?"

"The usual." I replied simply. An easy answer to an easy question. These were monsters, after all. Arde knew it well. All my students did. "Gather information, amass power, and then…"

"Crush it without mercy." Arde finished, a smirk playing on her face.

Heh, how scary.

…

Even Then, I Can't Simply Stand By (9.3)

…

"You left in the middle of the night, again." Lyon, as always, did not mince words when it came to addressing issues. However, this time around, there was a true, threatening edge to her tone. An unsaid warning that I unfortunately registered thanks to one of the most prominent of my 108 Skills: Reading Between the Lines. Despite how primly the blonde-haired elf sat in my room in the middle of the night, and how easily I could tease her for it, no words came out due to an unsaid warning. To put it simply, Ryuu Lyon was being very, very scary at the moment. "Hikigaya-kun, do you understand that you are testing my patience?"

"...Would it help if I said that I planned this well before I found out I was in danger?" Stepping through the window of my room, I carefully evaluated my room. Everything was in its rightful place save for my decoy. The bundle of cloth and fabric I had stuffed beneath my blankets was all over the floor. There were also several kitchen knives embedded in the pillow that I had deigned to use as my 'body.' Coupled with the calm and collected elf, I had to admit that the scene would've been hilarious to look upon from the outside. However, that wasn't the case for me. It seems that I had miscalculated outrageously. "I had to meet with my other students, to make sure they were alright, and relay our plans in dealing with the situation."

"All the while covered in blood, unrested, and without a care for your own state." Lyon's ruthless smile reached her eyes this time. The way they curled up made her seem infinitely more menacing. I was sure that any picture or scene of this situation would've had an ominous change in soundtrack and a cloud of miasma swirling about her now. Actually, now that I thought about it, I could clearly see it. Scary. Too scary! I'm fairly sure Horror isn't a subgenre for this Light Novel! "Hikigaya-kun, if you do this again, I will have to start ridding you of your ability to move every night. I'm sure that you can't get into any trouble without limbs."

"…Noted." Someway, somehow I managed to breathe out an answer despite the terrifying presence that Lyon was exuding. Though, I was wholly unprepared as the elf maid stood up from my desk chair, crossed the distance between the two of us, and began unbuttoning my coat. Now, since I've read many of Zaimokuza's trashy attempts at becoming an author. I had a clear, disgusting line of thought of what was going to happen. However, given our recent conversation, the situation in question, and the fact I was sure I'd know if anyone was remotely interested in me, I was able to keep my mind out of the gutter. "Might I ask what you're doing, Lyon?"

"There's food in the basket on the table." I was robbed of my coat within seconds and it was tucked beneath Lyon's arm. I noticed her pause at the sight of my bloodied, left side but she relaxed as soon as she noticed me carefully flex the digits of my hand. The slightest of sighs escaped her lips before her features returned to their usual, placid countenance. Thinking over her actions, I could only come to a single conclusion. That, besides her rough nature, Ryuu Lyon was most definitely a kind person. "Eat. I'll get this ready for tomorrow. You have spares of everything else, I'm sure."

"Thank you." I didn't hesitate to state my gratitude. This was a simple kindness. It might seem random, but Lyon has proven herself to be very conscious of how others acted. Though, much like Yukinoshita, the blonde elf had difficulties speaking her mind on serious occasions she was more than capable of silently acting in order to achieve her goals. Still, however, my clubmate would never have done the same. I was right to stop substituting one for the other, as Lyon is undoubtedly much kinder… because of the losses she has suffered. "I appreciate it, Lyon."

The clouds outside the window parted ever so slightly. The room smelt of blood, steel, and flowers. Silver moonlight flooded into the room for a moment. Cloth and steel were scattered about, done in frantic panic and a warning both. Lunar light caressed golden locks, illuminated porcelain skin, and emboldened emerald eyes. It was a dichotomy, pieces of a puzzle that shouldn't have fit, yet it all did. A moment born of both understanding and ignorance.

In that moment, the slightest of smiles graced Ryuu Lyon's features.

"You're welcome, Hikigaya-kun."

For perhaps the first time, she addressed me sincerely with that particular honorific.

…

Given the fact that the Hostess of Fertility was where I lived and near the middle between the Abandoned Church and Twilight House, the Inn was transformed into an impromptu meeting place. While I had an idea of what the gods were planning the previous evening, because I was successfully eavesdropping before Hiryute interrupted me, most of the adventurers involved in the 'Alliance' set up last night are only being informed of the matter today. Though I was glad to have a plan of action, I doubted that the plans would go smoothly given the high-tension left from the attacks.

Alf, being the one who was 'in command' yesterday, was relaying the information to me, Cranel, Arde, Challia, Hiryute, and Wallenstein as we were gathered around for breakfast. Lyon was most assuredly listening in, given the fact that all the other, early-morning customers were being attended to already. Undoubtedly, the same thing was occurring in the Hecate Familia and the Loki Familia, with other 'lieutenants' of the gods. Also, given the amount of food being eaten, I was sure that Grand was quite happy with the development. Despite their petite and lithe features, even the girls ate an absolute mountain of food. I better get a discount on my rent for bringing this many customers!

"In light of current events, including Lefiya's Rank Up, the Loki Familia's next expedition will be moved to next week." Alf was in better shape than she was yesterday. An incremental increase, given the fact she didn't have so much as scratch on her despite killing nearly a hundred monsters, as the Level 6 most definitely wasn't in much danger the entire time. The defeat of the invading army may as well have been only a light jog for her. However, the same could not be said for the rest of Orario. "Loki-sama is currently speaking with Ganesha-sama and Freya-sama. Combined with Hecate-sama, Dionysus-sama, and Hestia-sama, they should be more than capable of bringing the situation forward at the Denatus and making an appropriate response to the current threat to Orario."

"Plenty of time for me to train Hat-kun!" Hiryute gave a cheer after finishing chewing, raising up her arms and turning towards me. A wide, beaming smile played upon the lithe, short-haired Amazon's lips. Laying upon the wall behind her was an Adamantium Twinblade that was only a few centimeters shorter than myself. I can only imagine how much damage 'Urga' can do to an enemy given its immense weight and the fact that it was wielded by a strength-focused Amazon. It was probably along the lines of 'yes.' "Aren't you excited, Hat-kun?"

"As excited as anyone can be about learning how to use a new weapon." I offered a slight nod, putting more focus on my meal rather than the coming training ahead. I actually meant my words. I'd already shown her the weapon I had Welf make for me, and the short-haired Amazon was experienced enough to know how to handle most immense weapons. Wait. That was somewhat lewd. Zaimokuza, is Hiryute's entire character supposed to be some sort of underhanded euphemism? If so, I'm confused as to how to react. Not. Yet another notch on the noose for you, tubby chuuni! I turned to Arde and Cranel as Hiryute simply began to hum and shift in place. "Arde, you Ranked Up in the last fight, correct?"

"Yes." Arde gave a tilt of her head, the slightest of smiles playing on her lips. I noticed that Cranel was fuming slightly at her right. I had no doubt that my first student was teasing my latest one about her recent growth in strength. Don't worry, Cranel, I'm sure that your Rank Up will come from doing something suitably amazing. You and I are merely fated to confront more dangerous, terrible beings for our next strength increase… and now I'm jealous of Arde as well. At the very least, I didn't gain another Level from fighting tentacle monsters! "I'll be taking Cranel-kun along to get his armor, placing an order for a new set of my own, before going into the Dungeon to gather some funds."

"I would like to come with the two of you." Challia demurred, inclining her head towards my Arde. Though my Pallum student initially raised an eyebrow, Cranel was quick to tell her that the black-haired elf was a capable mage. I noticed a slight flush on the elf's cheeks at the praise, but she remained still and gave no sight of being flustered at my human student's words. A Kuudere, stoic Elf! …Zaimokuza, if you modelled this elf directly after Yukinoshita, you'll probably be dead before I manage to return home. Rest in peace, you perverted bastard. "Thank you very much. I will be in your care, Arde-san."

"When will you be returning?" A soft, almost-gentle, voice caused everyone present to turn their gazes to the source. Wallenstein, despite her immense power and skill, always spoke softly. I was tempted to say that she was outright meek when speaking to crowds. Indeed, given the way she fidgeted as everyone turned their gazes to her, I could easily believe that she was very, very shy and possibly socially inept. That actually might explain why the blonde knight expy couldn't tell that Cranel was head-over-heels for her. Indeed, as soon as my white-haired student realized she was speaking to him, his face turned as scarlet as his eyes. "I would like to train you for the length of the week as well, Cranel-kun; you have much potential."

"He'll be happy to." I interceded before Cranel was caught up in some sort of internal dilemma or became a stuttering wreck. I'm sure Zaimokuza's readers would be thankful for the reduced number of hyphens and ellipses strewn across their Light Novel. They probably get enough of that when Viridis is in the spotlight. At my white-haired student's surprised look, I merely gave him a nod before explaining. "Your knifework is adequate now, as is your use of Firebolt, but you need to start doing more than just exploiting extended reach and weight. I'm sure that the Sword Princess will be a more than capable teacher in that regard, Brat."

"I-I… see." Dammit, Cranel. I worked hard to keep you from stuttering and hesitating! Also, why are you twisting a lock of your hair like that!? You're even shyly looking away! Did I make some sort of mistake in thinking you were a boy? The number of 'flustered female crush' themes you're undergoing is growing by the passing moment. "I-If Sensei says so, then… I'll be in your care after returning from the Dungeon, Wallenstein-c-chan."

"Thank you. I will be sure to teach you well." A smile crossed Wallenstein's features. For a moment, I saw a girl instead of a legend. Sometimes I forget this girl was my own age, and that she's been Level 5 for years and reached Level 2 within a year of becoming an adventurer. An orphan who outstripped everyone she's met, with hardly anyone capable of keeping up with her insane growth in both power and skill… until Cranel came along. Ever so slightly, the blonde tilted her head, before coming to a decision. "Please, call me Aiz, Bell-kun."

And then Cranel fainted.

…

Interlude: The Student (Part 3)

…

Sensei fought differently from everyone else, as did Arde-senpai, and I knew that the same went for me. We… there wasn't anything beautiful about the way we fought, but it was pure. Like the Knife my Kami-sama gave me, the way each one of us fought was effective in nearly every case. Swiftness and efficiency, Sensei called it nothing more than that, with the brutality involved just an unfortunate side-effect.

I had hated it when I first saw it. It was an unclean way of fighting. Crushing, debilitating, and maiming were all just tools in Sensei's way of fighting. He didn't fight without advantages. He made them if he needed to. It took me a long time to realize that despite his carefree and bored attitude, he was still afraid of dying. No, that he was always afraid of dying, and that he fought this way to make sure that he lived. Every enemy he fought, he treated like it was a danger to him, and never took them for granted.

It was a coward's way of fighting, but as I grew to know Sensei… I realized he didn't care about what people called him as long he and his students were alive. I liked him for that. Arde-senpai did too. Possibly to a greater degree than me. The same went for Lyon-chan, Viridis-chan, and Alf-sama. By fighting in such a manner, without pride or art, he made sure that he always entered the Dungeon without an ounce of confidence… but always returned.

Sensei told me a person's choice in weapons and how they fought spoke a lot about them. There were some insults thrown into the mix, but I was able to ignore those, and I was slowly able to apply what he said to just about everyone.

Wallenstein… Aiz, was just like her sword.

Unbreakable, sharp, and in the right hands with the proper technique… unstoppable. As she went through the forms, and as I followed them, I could see that she was holding back. Constraining herself so that I could follow. There was always a spark of relief as soon she realized that I could mirror her movements to a greater degree than she originally thought. All of the physical training that Sensei made me go through every day allowed me the full range of movement required of his fighting style. I was confident that I could use any weapon adequately, as long as I used them simply. Aiz realized this as we continued and began to teach me in earnest.

I didn't have the heart to tell her that I wouldn't be able to make use of her style to its fullest.

Every lunge, swing, and swipe of her blade was meant to kill and scatter foes. All her movements were 'finishing moves' that I knew I couldn't commit myself to against anything in the Middle Floors. Her fighting style was… meant for a hero that stood against armies and armies of monsters that were weaker than them. I could see every blow killing a monster, or entire groups of monsters, by itself. An arc of indestructible metal swung with force that could shatter the walls of a castle and near-inconceivable speed.

Always heavy, always implacable, always powerful.

In a way, it told me a lot about her. I couldn't see her shifting and leaving other enemies to others. I couldn't see her fighting as seamlessly with someone else as Arde did Sensei. It was a sad technique. Built for someone who looked for danger alone, who always wanted to grow stronger, and who needed to prove something. Though she wanted for strength, she couldn't risk others in her reach for it, so she stood alone. That, in her success, she was alone and apart from others in her quest for strength.

Just as she called her sword Desperate, so was she.

"Is something wrong, Bell-kun?" I had stopped as the realization came over me. It was as clear as though Sensei had said it right by my side. Of course, Aiz had noticed my stilled form instantly. Meeting her gaze, seeing the concern and the worry, her fear of having done something wrong… I felt my throat constrict and an ache in my chest. Instantly, I wanted to tell her some excuse. That I was out of breathe, even though I wasn't, or that I had overexerted in a lunge, though I knew better than to do so. I didn't want to voice my thoughts. "Are you hurt?"

"…" I wanted to lie. To just let my realization go unsaid. However, Sensei's teachings came to mind. Overconfidence. Desperation. Pride. I knew that I only saw them that way because of how I was taught. I could have, before I met Sensei, seen them as courage, drive, and selflessness… but I met him. I had been taught by him. And, above all else, Sensei hated lies. Even words gone unsaid can fester and rot to become regrets. So, even though I didn't want to, I chose to speak my mind. Lowering my sword, I forced myself to speak as I matched her concerned gaze with my own. "Aiz-san, why do you fight like this?"

"Ah." It took a moment for her to comprehend my words. Immediately, Aiz's features changed. I felt my heart sink. Melancholy. Sorrow. Regret. I didn't know how I knew. But as she turned her gaze away, her smile slipping, and her eyes losing their splendor… I wished that I hadn't spoken. Perhaps, a part of me had hoped that she had been doing it all unconsciously, that I had to save her habits, not from herself. Now, I found myself opposing her, because she confirmed that she made this technique herself. "I… apologize, Bell-kun. The style isn't suited to you. I have another that is more-."

"That style isn't suitable for anyone, Wallenstein-san." I spoke without wanting to. As she flinched away from my words, as though struck, I wanted to do nothing more than run away. Maybe even plead for her to forget my words. She saved my life, yet I treated her so harshly. Who was I to judge her? Yet, even as those fears crept into my mind, I became aware of what could happen to her. An opponent that's far too strong, or the same strength, that is as skilled as her would kill her. She could be overwhelmed. She might die because of her way of fighting. All because I chose to stop at this moment. I owed her my life. If she hated me for this, but lived because she changed, then… it would be worth it. "No matter how strong someone is, if they fight this way, they'll die the moment they hit their limits. Wallenstein-san… please tell me that you don't fight this way."

There was no reply from Wallenstein. The silence that came was a terrifying one. One that I couldn't stand.

"Wallenstein-san, I know that you're strong. I know that we just met, that I have no place in talking to you like this, and that I could be completely wrong… that I could just not know as much about the sword as you do… " I rambled, spoke, and attempted to get Wallenstein to talk instead of staying silent. What if that silence meant the end? That there would never be words exchanged between the two of us again? An immense gap formed because of a single phrase. To go unacknowledged. To simply be forgotten. Ignored. I didn't want that. Being the target of her ire was better than that. Even if I was speaking out of turn, I didn't think I deserved being forgotten about and ignored. "But, this way of fighting is dangerous. Too dangerous. Fighting this way means that a single mistake means dying. Please." I was begging, pleading. There was no other way to describe how I spoke. Please. Say something. Anything. "Please tell me that you don't fight this way."

"…" I expected a reprimand. Even a few angered words. I was aware of the fact that I was a trespasser into Wallenstein's life. There was no reason for her to accept me, as the case had been for all the other Familias when I first reached Orario. Though I was stronger than I had been, I'm still nothing in comparison to her. Who was I to talk like this to her? I wasn't even part of her own Familia. Knowing all of that, thinking that way, and believing it… I wasn't prepared as she turned to me, tears glistening in her eyes, and with a small, sad smile on her face. "I'm sorry, but that would be a lie, Bell-kun." Turning away from me again, she shook her head. "I know how I fight is dangerous… but I can't stop. Not until I am strong. Not until I reach my dreams. My goal…. I'm so close. I can't. I'm sorry."

As those words left her mouth, the person before me was no longer an invincible, golden-haired swordswoman who saved my life. Not one of the most powerful adventurers in the entire word, capable of overturning entire countries, and who was dozens of times stronger than me. Instead, in her place, was someone I understood. Someone who wanted to become more powerful for some selfish, terrible reason. She was still strong, powerful, and so far away from my reach… but she was no longer the perfect entity who I met two months ago.

"I… I will teach you another method of fighting, Bell-kun. Something more suited for you. Something better." Aiz did not look at me as she spoke. It could have been because of any reason. She could've been angry, fearful, or worried about my reaction. I did not know which. But, steadfastly, she amended her plans to train me. Still keeping her word, even while doggedly persevering in her choice to risk her life. She could've ignored my words entirely. Never allowed them to reach her or put me in my place as a mere, friendly stranger. However, she did not. "And, Bell-kun, I believe I had spoken to you in regards to my name…"

"…" Though I was disappointed that she wasn't going to change, my fear was gone. She knew of her own weaknesses. It wasn't as I had feared. There was caution in her actions, and I took confidence in that. In that moment, I realized that I saw Aiz Wallenstein for the first time. "Hai, Aiz-san."

"I'm sorry." A slight, weak smile crossed her features as she apologized again. However, as she brushed aside the tears that didn't have a chance to spill, she spoke again. Grateful for the tiny amount of understanding I managed to convey. I knew then, that I was wrong in thinking that I was just a stranger to her. That Sensei had merely spoken up for me this morning for the sake of some sort of a joke. He was better than I was at knowing what went between people. He must have known, somehow, that both I and Aiz needed to speak like this. That I needed to see what he saw between the two of us. So that I could come to some sort of conclusion. "Thank you, Bell-kun."

Unsurprisingly, of course, and obviously… I fell in love again.

...

Even Then, I Can't Simply Stand By (9.4)

…

While I learned how to use heavier weapons with Hiryute, I also spent time training the rest of my 'students' from the Loki Familia. Generally, I threw the bunch at the Middle Floors and dragged as many monsters as I possibly could to them. Any large monsters were dealt with by me, and with Hiryute and my Mend as a safety net, they were hardly in any danger. At the start, even with my Limiter off, it was difficult to kill Minotaurs without Magic. However, despite her airheaded, tomboy archetype, Tiona Hiryute was probably the best teacher anyone could ask for when learning how to use heavy weapons like an Adventurer instead of a human.

Anyway, since I doubted that my training was barely going to be noticed by Zaimokuza, it was better to focus on my brats. Undoubtedly, given the fact that Cranel confronted me and Arde about disappearing, my meeting between my students and I was shown in an incredibly brief and vague epilogue. The plot hook for the next Arc was probably centered around me and my students, given the fact that Cranel was about to 'dress' just like them and officially be a part of my little group of irritating misfits.

Arde and Erisuis were both gathering supplies for the incursion against the Goliath. Mind Potions, Health Potions, and plenty of explosives were the way to go when fighting the Titan ripoff, especially in limited numbers. Laulos and Nelly were both securing 'time off' from their gods, given the fact that both the Hermes and Apollo Families were fairly active Familias. Even if Hermes was a wanderlust teenager and Apollo a 'collector' of particularly beautiful adventurers, they were the heads of powerful, decent Families. Miach was pretty much happy manning the store while Erisuis dragged in gold and monsters, he was now the god of housewives I guess, and I was already dragging Cranel around so Arde had no problems when concerned with Hestia.

Mikoto was guaranteed to come, though Ouka was 'on the fence' while the other survivor of the Takemikazuchi Familia wasn't going. According to Hestia, it was becoming clear that the other god intended to return to their home country for more recruits, with Mikoto joining the Hestia Familia while they were gone. Given the fact that could take perhaps a decade or more, the possibility of her leaving the main plotline was slight. I hazarded a guess that I was soundly successful in securing another route for Cranel. Another woman is now at the mercy of Zaimokuza! Good job, me!

Overall, I was sure that there was a 'relaxation' episode that I missed while I was out training myself and Loki's kids. Maybe some sort of hidden hotsprings, a date, or something along those lines went along while a week passed. I had no doubt this was the case, given the fact no audience would be content with watching someone grind in a Dungeon for hours and hours. Ah, so this is the pain of being a secondary character. Innocuously hidden away while the main character relaxes and progresses his routes!

Well, at least Zaimokuza had some way of explaining the 'surprise' that I was going to start carrying around everywhere.

…

"Looking good, Cranel!" Crozzo beamed as he looked over Cranel. The comment earned a raised eyebrow from Arde and a chuckle from Erisuis. Miach and Hestia, being good friends, apparently allowed my Chienthrope and Pallum students to spend more time with one another. I hoped Miach wasn't getting jealous. Housewives tend to overthink simple friendships, after all. Anyway, I cast my gaze towards my other student and the red-haired blacksmith. "This is my finest work with only normal drops, undoubtedly! Definitely much stronger, more durable, and maneuverable than mortal-crafted steel plate!"

"It looks… fancier than Sensei's and the ones my Senpais wear." Cranel tugged at his cuffs lightly. Looking him over, I had to shake my head. As expected, Zaimokuza couldn't help but make his self-insert character look cool. I'd made sure all my clothes were utilitarian, easy to clean, and sturdy, only for the tubby bastard to make my white-haired student look like a flowery European aristocrat. It was something one could wear in combat and to a formal ball. I had the feeling the reason why it was more powerful was because it simply looked cooler. That's how a lot of the armor and weapons in this world went. "But, I can tell it's very strong, Crozzo-san!"

"Of course, nothing but the best comes from the Hephaestus Familia!" Crozzo beamed, gave a few nods, and crossed his arms. I could almost catch sight of the blatant satisfaction and sunbeams emitting from him. Wait until you see our next order of knives, pal. That should wipe the smile off your face. Standing up, the red-haired blacksmith walked towards Cranel. "Now, it's Durable like the rest of your clothes, but you remember that this has a Limiter. The same kind people have Blacksmiths make to restrain Adventurers everywhere else in the world. You're no more than a normal human in terms of Strength, Dexterity, and Agility with that on. Your Endurance will also be limited to only Magic and Damage Resistance." He pointed at the rightmost point of Cranel's collar. "You touch that for a second and the Limiter turns off. You need to hold it for a full minute before it turns on. Enough time to make sure no one uses it against you in combat."

"However, the best method of ensuring that doesn't happen is by keeping it a secret!" Nelly commented, walking forth from the depths of Crozzo's shop. The small, human girl I helped out nearly a year ago was a side character among side characters. Normal brown hair, eyes, and features. The claymore and kite shield she carried on her back without an ounce of discomfort, however, told a different story. Much like Arde, my background-character student had a Support-based Skill simply called Tolerance. Reduced weight for her didn't mean the same for everything else, as Arde's Skill had demonstrated for me before, but it didn't allow her to carry incredibly ludicrous amounts as Arde's did. However, the fact that her Endurance was multiplied by five when it came to stamina… well, she's strong to say the least. "Like Sensei always says, secrets that you have are always to your advantage!"

"Except, of course, we know how to disable you, so if we ever fight, the coat needs to come off." Laulos, arms crossed, decided to give some advice. I initially believed that my fourth student was some sort of tomboy heroine, or at least a love interest for the Protagonist, given her out-of-the-norm hairstyle, along with her… odd fashion sense. That ended up not being the case, as nothing particularly troublesome came of me training her. Of all my students, despite everything that seemed 'special' about her, she was the most normal of them all. For an Adventurer living in Orario, that is. "Try not to get into a situation like that, alright? I'd hate to have to find my coat stolen away after I punch that face of yours in."

"I'm afraid to say that Cranel's face has been claimed by Aiz Wallenstein, Laulos." I decided to interrupt. I was sure that there was some sort of background monologue of Cranel talking about Nelly, Laulos, and Erisuis and how they were going to help out in the Goliath fight. It was a prime opportunity to get some teasing in. After all, that's what's expected of a Sensei who's close to his students, right? The student is always at the mercy of a teacher in terms of verbal sparring. Walking over to where Crozzo and my three students were gathered, I made sure to look my white-haired student over exaggeratedly. "Besides that, are you sure that you should be flirting with the Brat? Aren't you afraid that Illion will get jealous?"

"Hmph, as expected of a closet pervert Sensei, you're filled with wild delusions!" Laulos, don't you know that if you deny such things so strongly, people would get confused? Lilies have become rather popular in Japan in the past couple years, you know? I'm sure that with that irritated blush of yours, your relationship can easily be misinterpreted by the hordes of otakus. If the purity of Precure can be defiled, then there is no hope for you, my student. Accept it. We all know you like one another. "There's nothing like that going on between me and Cassandra! Not only that, but do you really expect me to believe that the Sword Princess fell for a guy like this?"

"Well, Hermes-sama always says that a Hero must have a Damsel to save!" Nelly, as always, decided to use the words of others rather than speak for herself. It was a fairly original, shy character quirk, which was surprising given the fact I thought that Zaimokuza didn't have a creative bone in his body. Logically, I supposed that it made sense that someone shy who wanted to be outgoing would resort to simply providing information stated by others. I was almost sad to see such an original character trait go, but I couldn't exactly allow one of my students to not be able to speak their own minds, right? She tilted her head as she placed a finger against her mouth. "I guess that a Heroine needs to have a Bachelor to save as well?"

"That… makes more sense than I'd care to admit." Arde commented, slouching ever so slightly before I leveled a firm look in her direction. My Pallum student gave a huff before standing up straight. Erisuis chuckled lightly and earned herself a glare from my first student. The cycle completed, Arde turned her verbal arsenal upon Cranel. Given the red flush on his face, and the fact that he could probably see the similarities behind his situation and this world's fairytales, I was very sure that his defenses were at their weakest. There was no telling how much damage my first student could render, only that it was undoubtedly going to be a catastrophic amount. As the Loli Goddess would say: Ganbare, Bell-kun. "So, kid, how are the wedding plans coming along? After all, given the fact that you've been handling her 'sword' every day for the past week, Wallenstein needs to make an honest man out of you, right?"

"A-aiz and I aren't doing anything like what y-you're thinking, Arde-senpai!" Cranel took a critical hit from Arde's comment. My red-eyed student's instinctual Shoujo Instincts kicked in. Much like the rare type of human known as the Totsuka, when teased, the Bell type naturally turned their gazes away, pouted, and twirled their hair with their index finger. Truly, nature has created a biological lifeform that is unmatched by anything else in the world. The physical manifestations of cuteness and shyness will most assuredly spell the end for all mankind. Emphasis on Man. I really hoped that this was just a running gag and Cranel hasn't secretly been a girl the entire time. I wasn't going to check, of course. I'm not going to give Ebina the pleasure. "Besides, all of you have spent time training with Sensei one on one! S-so you all need to be honest too!"

I'm sure that if I was the protagonist, those words would've sparked some sort of cute, shocked reactions focusing on each of my four, female students.

However, since I wasn't the Harem Protagonist…

"Eh, Hermes-sama is the only one for me." Nelly gave a sigh shaking her head. Wistfully staring into nothing. "I wish he'd pay me more attention, but his eyes are only on Asfi-sama."

"Miach-sama." Erisuis simply stated, brimming with unabashed smugness. "Makes me breakfast every day."

"…snrk…hah… ahahah…" Laulos was barely holding back laughter. "Sensei… and me? Jeez. What a joke."

"Uh-huh, yes, indeed." Arde rolled her eyes, scoffed, and shook her head. Each action made Cranel shrink and flush. You've brought this upon yourself, brat. "We happen to be the very picture of a tangled web of romances, kid."

…there was no sign of such blatant contrivances.

They were my students and I was their Sensei.

Nothing more, nothing less.

…