Chapter 27

Thank you for the bookmark. This time, I included some combat scenes, but they were really difficult... I'm sorry for the lack of imagination.

Our formation settled with Zahh and Safina standing in the front row at their preferred spots, and me in the back row. We didn't really discuss it, but since Safina always trips or hesitates when Zahh and Safina charge at Kuris-senpai, she eventually started to stay away so as not to get in Zahh's way. By the way, I'm just here in the back row because I wasn't specifically asked to join.

"Hehe... What's wrong? Are you already out of breath?"

While Kuris-senpai still had plenty of room to spare, Zahh's breathing was a bit heavy. As for Safina, her courage had dropped more than her physical strength, leaving her unable to move.

(Still, she... There's a reason why senpai pays attention to her... Her stance is solid, and her steps are steady. She seems to have trained well... I think her agility in barely dodging senpai's attacks is impressive.)

I revised my evaluation of her, but added a slightly disappointing note.

(Well, all of that is ruined by her frightened attitude...)

She is so scared that her steps are weak, and when she is attacked, even if she dodges, she runs back out of fear instead of counterattacking.

(Zahh doesn't seem to want to coordinate with her either...)

Zahh, who seems to prefer individual combat, doesn't think about coordinating attacks with her, and occasionally they both step forward and collide.

Thus, they were easily dealt with by Kuris-senpai and retreated to where I was.

"Damn... As expected of senpai... No openings at all."

"I'm scared... I'm so scared..."

Zahh wiped the sweat from his forehead with one hand and readied his sword again. Safina, still holding her sword, was trembling so much that the tip of her blade was vibrating like it had been hit by a new vibration spell. She's too scared!

"Tsk, tsk, a bit disappointing... Is this your true strength?"

Kuris-senpai spread his arms wide and taunted us with a relaxed attitude. My eyebrows twitched at his attitude. Even though I knew I shouldn't, I wanted to make senpai admit defeat.

(After all, it's wrong of senpai to torment my friends like this...)

Thanks to my position a step behind everyone else, I had regained some composure and was able to think clearly.

"Okay, both of you, gather..."

I called out to the two in front of me in a calm tone, beckoning them with my fingers.

"What? At a time like this?"

"Um, um... I'm sorry... I'm really sorry..."

Zahh grumbled as he approached, while Safina, for some reason, had tears in her eyes and apologized as she came closer.

"Listen up."

Without giving them a choice, I gathered them in a circle to explain my plan. Kuris-senpai, out of courtesy, stood there and waited for us to finish.

"Seriously?"

"Got it? We'll use the power of numbers to make senpai admit defeat."

"Ah!"

The strategy meeting ended, and our circle broke apart.

"Done talking? Then let's continue."

Senpai, who had been idly swinging his sword, readied himself again, and Zahh and Safina followed suit.

"Let's go, Safina! Put some spirit into it!"

"Y-Yes!"

Safina, who had flinched at Zahh's voice, managed to (sort of) respond, so it should be okay.

"Go! Get going!"

I dramatically extended my right hand and gave the command. At that signal, the two charged at senpai.

"Tsk, tsk, if you both rush out like that, you'll just collide again."

Senpai's words trailed off, his face showing surprise. Unlike before, when they had charged recklessly, this time Zahh was in the lead, and Safina was following closely behind, almost hiding behind him.

"Hmm... What do you plan to do?"

"Oraaah!"

In response to senpai's amused expression, Zahh moved from a distance. He stopped, took a step forward, and then, unexpectedly, threw his sword at senpai.

"What!"

Surprised, Kuris-senpai deflected the flying sword with his own sword, then looked forward again, only to be even more surprised. Zahh, who had stopped, was now facing away from senpai, in a position to receive a volleyball serve, facing Safina, who was following behind.

"Jump! Safina!"

"Ah!"

Safina placed her feet on the palms of Zahh's hands, and he pushed her up into the air. She was in a half-crying state...

Kuris-senpai couldn't help but follow her with his eyes.

"Zahh!"

"Got it!"

"Haah!"

While Safina, in a half-crying state, attacked senpai from the air, Zahh, who had thrown his sword, took out an extra sword he had received from me (in case the one I gave him broke) and threw it to him. Zahh caught it and swung at senpai from the side.

The simultaneous attack from the air and the ground caught senpai off guard. Even though Safina was light, the full weight of her attack from such a height couldn't be stopped with one hand. If senpai used both hands to block her, his side would be left open, and he would be hit by Zahh's powerful attack. It was a one-against-two, sheer force of numbers!

At that moment, I noticed senpai smile and mutter something. The next instant, he was enveloped in a faint light and, incredibly, blocked Safina's full-weighted attack with his right hand and, though he couldn't parry, stopped Zahh's powerful horizontal swing with his left hand.

"Wha—!"

The scene caused a stir in the arena, and the two attackers were probably the most surprised. But I had a hunch.

(That was magic! Probably a strength-enhancing spell.)

"Not bad, but the finish is weak... Yo!"

With a victorious cry, Kuris-senpai spread his arms wide and sent the two flying, out of his sight.

And in front of senpai, who had opened up, my figure, stepping forward in a thrusting stance, was probably visible.

"Naah!"

(This is it! Jet ○○ Stream Attack!)

We attacked in a line, just like in a certain anime. Senpai's face, who had completely forgotten about me, was one of pure shock.

(Ah! This face! This is the face of defeat!)

Feeling a strange sense of superiority, I put all my strength into my sword, ready to thrust it into senpai's completely exposed chest. At that moment, I suddenly realized the hilt was crushing.

(Oh no! It's going to pierce! This is definitely going to pierce!)

In this critical moment, I realized I hadn't controlled my strength properly and panicked. Even though it was a practice sword, it was made of iron, and I had forgotten that a thrusting attack would still be dangerous.

"Stop right there!"

Just as I was hesitating, a stern female voice echoed through the arena, and I instinctively dropped my sword. I didn't have the confidence to stop it gracefully at the last moment.

A moment of silence followed, and as Kuris-senpai relaxed, a mature woman approached us.

(Who is she?)

Unable to grasp the situation, I saw a question mark appear above my head. I noticed the hilt of my dropped sword was crushed and quickly picked it up, hiding it behind my back as if nothing had happened.

"I ordered you to guide the campus, not to do this. What is the meaning of this, Class Master?"

The woman, who seemed to be a teacher rather than a student, had a strict tone. She had her brown hair tied up in a bun, and her dress, which showed her nape, had no frills, giving a neat impression. Her tight, well-fitted clothes made her mature figure easily imaginable. After admiring her nice body, I looked at my own and felt depressed.

Her red eyes sharply focused on senpai, who only laughed awkwardly in response.

"Really... What can I say about you..."

After a few moments, the woman sighed and shifted her gaze to me, who was still standing a bit away.

"It seems the Class Master caused some trouble... I am the 'Grand Master' of this Solos and also a teacher, 'Eleanor Ix.' You can just call me Ix-sensei."

Her expression softened, and she smiled at me, so I bowed while still hiding my sword. Honestly, I just wanted to leave this place quickly and dispose of the evidence.

"I'm sorry for involving the other two in this strange entertainment. You can return to the others."

As Ix-sensei looked at the two who had gathered around me, not understanding the situation,

"Then, I'll—"

Kuris-senpai tried to leave, but she grabbed his shoulder without looking at him.

"You stay here... The others, return to the discussion room!"

We couldn't see the expression on her face as she looked at senpai, but we could sense the ominous aura and quickly headed for the audience seats where everyone was.

On the way back, I secretly mixed my broken sword into a box of other damaged swords, which I found fortunately.

Thank you for reading this far.