Chapter 37

Sitting by the spring, I gaze at the surface of the water.

It’s faintly glowing, but I wonder what principle is behind it?

If someone said it’s a glowing paint spring, it might feel like a pollutant...

Rather, it seems like there’s lighting inside the spring, but it doesn’t seem to be that.

“Thinking back, we’ve been through a lot, haven’t we?”

“Yeah, we have.”

After our class was transferred to another world, we faced a monster attack... After the defeat of the monsters thanks to the efforts of Tazumi and the others, we had our abilities checked and returned.

Since then, I’ve also given my opinions and tried to take action with Tazumi and the others.

However, I was treated like a nobody, and my words were ignored. I was forcibly held back when they said the forest was dangerous.

I didn’t do nothing, though. I did give my opinions with Momonobu.

But they didn’t listen at all, and the base group shrank in fear after the teacher was burned alive.

I think that’s when the leader for survival was decided.

By this time, I had already been punched by Otsuka and was acting like a bystander...

After that, Tazumi’s influence just kept growing, like a snowball rolling down a hill.

I was optimistic, but Tazumi ended up taking worse actions than I expected.

Dividing the group into a base team and a combat team... If you’re familiar with games, manga, and novels, you’d think the base team should also be developed.

The power gap between Level 5 and Level 1 is too wide... By that point, it was already too late.

It was two or three days later.

When we first built our houses, we went to the edge of the village to cut and transport wood, and monsters appeared.

I heard that the base team was initially enthusiastic about fighting the monsters.

If it weren’t for the help of the combat team, some of them would have been in danger, as I saw from the injured.

After that, it’s been two weeks, as you know.

Now, we’re at a level where we can fight... Looking back, we’ve come a long way.

“Kousuke-kun”

“What?”

From tomorrow, we have to fight again.

It’s just a little more.

Until we can stop Tazumi and the others’ reckless actions.

Even if we don’t find a village, we can do something.

“Why... why can Kousuke-kun be so kind to others?”

“...I’m not really being kind.”

“Liar. You always care about everyone in the base team, don’t you?”

“I have the spare time, and I should be worried about those who are energetic.”

“You share your limited food with everyone.”

“I actually order food, so it’s fine. Rather, I might be looked down upon.”

“I’ve seen you give out your limited candies and chocolates.”

“You noticed...”

Wasn’t it supposed to be a secret when I gave them out?

Meguru-san watches closely, even though I tried not to draw attention.

“I had them, and I don’t like sweet things, as I’ve said.”

“But in this situation, it’s not easy to give things to others without hesitation.”

...Indeed.

But I... I’ve gained the ability to show composure even in situations where I’m supposed to be in a tight spot.

That’s why I can do various things for everyone.

“You know... I think Kousuke-kun’s kindness is... very wonderful.”

Meguru-san’s words, trying to praise me, pierce my heart.

The voice, the face... I can imagine how they would change when she finds out the truth... It’s painful.

“It’s not just that...”

Uh... No way!?

“Will you go out with me?”

Meguru-san bowed deeply and said it to me.

A cute girl asking me out... Normally, it’s the other way around.

I’m not without joy.

But...

“Sorry...”

I don’t deserve to accept it.

I’m just giving handouts to everyone for my small self-satisfaction.

I don’t want to abandon everyone.

But I can’t do anything.

I didn’t stand up to Tazumi and the others.

So... I don’t deserve Meguru-san’s kindness.

Meguru-san’s face, about to cry, makes me speechless.

But I force out the words.

“Right now... I can’t think about it, and I don’t have the right to accept Meguru-san’s kindness.”

Not being able to tell the truth, I fall into self-loathing.

My heart wavers between the desire to tell the truth and the fear of being exposed to the class.

If I’m expelled from the class, it might be better.

But I’m afraid of involving those who know my secret...

What will happen to Meguru-san if she’s found out to be in on it? She won’t have anywhere to run.

Even if she can escape by transfer, it’s uncertain if she can survive long in this forest.

This place might not attract monsters, but it’s not guaranteed.

“Right...”

“If you find out, Meguru-san will despise me. I’m that despicable.”

Self-loathing overflows.

I’m aware of it.

The arrogance of wanting to help from a safe place while everyone is struggling to survive.

I know I should act with everyone, not run away to Japan.

But if I give my share of the limited food to my classmates who look enviously at others’ meals, what will be the consequence?

I can’t send them back.

I’m aware of my luxurious thoughts.

“So... until everyone can return safely to Japan... I can’t think about it, and I don’t have the right.”

“What if... when we all return to Japan and your secret is revealed... Will you listen to me again?”

“...If you still feel the same after hearing what I’ve done... But no matter what, I can’t think about it until everyone returns to Japan.”

I’m just a coward.

But I’m not so much of a scumbag to use this situation to get close to a girl.

I have to convince myself of that to keep going.

“Then, I’ll try my best to get Kousuke-kun to go out with me.”

Meguru-san stretched her arms and smiled at me.

Her smile, combined with the brightening sky, seemed very... dazzling.

---

Here’s the report for the past two days.

This is the result of using the gloves.

Kangaroo Punch Glove +10

Effects: Improved Dynamic Vision, Wind Fist, Wild Instinct, Instant Expansion Ability, Kangaroo Step, Boxer

It’s already a weapon that surpasses a kitchen knife.

Fortunately, the limit is 10, and its attack power is only about a third of the Metal Turtle’s sword.

The Metal Turtle’s sword is very powerful but requires a lot of points to enhance, so I’m not using it right now.

Ah, during this time, Jitsu’s level increased to 10.

“Level up! It’s for repair.”

“Repair? Like fixing the wear and tear on weapons?”

The weapons created by ability are durable, but Momonobu regularly sharpens and repairs them.

So we’ve been able to use them without issues until now...

“Yeah, I’ll try it out.”

Jitsu uses her ability on a kitchen knife whose edge has dulled.

“Hmm... It seems to take time.”

“Then I’ll leave it with you for a while. I’m a boxer anyway.”

“Don’t be jealous, don’t be jealous.”

Momonobu comforts me.

You’re the one who told me to fight with specialized equipment.

“Ah... But thanks to Kousuke-kun, it’s easier to fight, right?”

“Yeah. The gloves are effective against flying monsters.”

Thanks to the improved dynamic vision, it’s easier to hit, and I can use them endlessly. Fighting flying monsters, which used to be difficult, has become easier.

With these, I can handle flying monsters quite easily.

I don’t need bows and crossbows right now.

There are ability users in the combat team, but I wonder how they’re being utilized?