Chapter 44

Taniizumi and his group had been concealing the forest's exit.

Upon reflection, there were many aspects that made sense.

They had been monitoring the base group excessively and thoroughly preventing them from leveling up.

In other words, Taniizumi must have been afraid.

The existence of an exit meant the collapse of his kingdom.

"What kind of people are they!"

"How could they keep it hidden!"

"Do they even understand the meaning of everyone enduring this environment to serve the combat group!?"

The base group members vented their grievances at Taniizumi and his group.

I think it's a natural reaction.

But... something feels off.

"Shut up! Don't defy me! So what if we left the forest!"

Under the pressure, Taniizumi and his group seemed flustered... I thought they would use their abilities to silence everyone, but they all looked around in confusion.

Indeed, something is strange.

"Damn! Why are our abilities gone!?"

"Can't silence the noisy ones! Damn!"

"What's happening!?"

The fault lies entirely with Taniizumi and his group.

I can imagine what's happening, but we're in no position to object.

"For the sake of maintaining a fun and adventurous environment where we could earn the respect of our classmates, what these guys did is nothing but an unforgivable act of tyranny and oppression."

"Right, right! What kind of people are they!"

The students with barrier abilities, following Oono, began to condemn Taniizumi.

Are you part of the Oono faction too?

"Why can't we use our abilities?"

With a mocking, yet provocative tone, Oono leaned in close to Taniizumi and his group and answered.

"It's because my expanded ability has evolved to strip others of their abilities, of course."

"What!?"

Strip... abilities?

It's probably an expanded ability that activated when a certain level was reached.

Oono's ability is duplication, so it's not surprising that it evolved to include theft.

It's not strange that such an ability exists.

So that's why Taniizumi and his group can't use their abilities.

But... isn't this situation dangerous?

In a different sense from when I was in Japan, Oono is in a position to be blamed.

After all, no one knows when their abilities might be stolen.

It's impossible to feel at ease with such a person around.

If I were Oono, I would seriously hesitate about whether to say anything.

"Taniizumi, and the rest of you, you've committed unforgivable sins. And the fact that your abilities have been taken by me means that you have no value."

...?

Value?

What is Oono trying to say?

"Hey!? Don't take us for granted! Don't get too cocky!"

"Right! Don't get too cocky just because you won one-on-one!"

The Taniizumi faction members each drew their weapons and approached Oono.

"That's why you don't deserve to live!"

Oono pierced Taniizumi's chest with his sword.

"Gaah—!?"

"Disappear from this world!"

At the same time, he channeled flames through the sword, and Taniizumi exploded in a bright flash.

"...Aaaah..."

With Taniizumi killed, his followers collapsed in shock.

Of course, they would.

They just saw someone they were with a moment ago killed right in front of them.

"...Eh?"

I heard Shigenobu's stunned voice from beside me.

I could only stare at the unbelievable scene with a stunned expression.

What is he doing?

My calm side is warning me of danger.

This is an alarm.

Something worse is about to happen.

We need to get out of here as soon as possible.

"You're all guilty too! Your abilities have already been taken... you have no value! Die!"

As Oono raised his hand, wind and water blades sliced through Taniizumi's followers.

"Kyaaa—"

Before they could even scream, they were torn apart and burned to a crisp.

Even with Ishi's base recovery, it's questionable if it would have any effect.

Everyone present gulped.

"That's it! The scum has been eliminated! How about it, everyone, my performance?"

Oono's followers praised him, but no one else clapped.

Of course not.

No, rather, are the people praising him, like Otsuka, even sane?

Do they really understand what just happened?

"Eh? What's wrong with you all? I eliminated the evil that was controlling you. This is a time to celebrate, right?"

...He's saying it seriously.

Oono genuinely believes that.

At that moment, Shigenobu and Meguru stepped forward and said,

"Indeed, Taniizumi and his group did very cruel things."

Imprisoning everyone and concealing the exit was an unforgivable act of tyranny.

Everyone here would nod in agreement with that.

But the problem isn't there.

"But you didn't have to kill them!"

"Taniizumi and his group's actions were unforgivable, but can you really expect us to accept you after you killed someone right in front of us?"

Both the combat group and the base group are on guard against Oono.

It's not just a matter of a changed mindset... it's a full-fledged murder... a public execution that they just witnessed.

Even in a situation where common sense has broken down... no, because of it, no one can adapt to this situation.

What was Oono thinking when he decided to brutally kill Taniizumi in front of everyone?

Did he think he would be seen as a hero for killing Taniizumi, who controlled everyone?

All people can feel is fear towards you, who committed murder!

So I pointed at Oono and said,

"Oono, you might think you're a hero who saved everyone from evil, but everyone thinks you're a more dangerous killer than Taniizumi!"

"Huh? What are you talking about? Me, a killer?"

Oono answered as if he couldn't believe it.

His reaction made me feel a chill.

This feeling... I've felt it before.

It was last summer, when Oono was tearing off the wings of a cicada.

No, it's even worse.

Otsuka and the others, who are devoted to Oono, glared back at the class, as if they couldn't understand them.

It seems they believe what Oono did was right.

"I'm the savior who saved everyone. I dirtied my hands for everyone's sake."

He spread his arms as if to say he was wronged, but everyone was gauging the distance.

Whether to run or attack.

What is he saying after doing it himself?

Who asked for that?

That line would only work if Taniizumi had truly crossed a line.

And it's meaningless if he says it himself.

"Right, right. Taniizumi was hiding such a thing. He was a real heretic."

At that moment, a student with barrier abilities stood to protect Oono.

"You..."

"I respect you, Oono. You did well to eliminate Taniizumi. This will make everyone's daily life better."

Then, the barrier ability user started to flirt with Ishi.

Even at a time like this...

"Taniizumi, you bastard. You monopolized Ishi and made her serve you, which I've never liked. Ishi is mine—!?"

Thud. Oono thrust his sword deep into the barrier ability user's abdomen.

...What's happening?

Taniizumi... well, given Oono's thinking, it's understandable, though I don't want to.

But, isn't that guy your ally?

"I forgot to mention, you're just as guilty. You had such dirty thoughts about monopolizing Ishi."

"Wha—"

"Yeah, your ability is convenient and a lifeline for everyone, so I'll take it. Be grateful."

"Stop—"

The moment everyone, including me, tried to rush at him, a mysterious barrier appeared around us, blocking us.

"Wha!?"

"It's mine, of course... don't touch my woman. Die!"

Oono pulled out his sword, and blood gushed from the barrier ability user's abdomen.

Then he stomped on the fallen barrier ability user's head with all his might.

A sickening crunch echoed around.

"Ugh... so weak. Is a Level 1 this weak?"

"Kyaaaaaaa!?"

Screams finally rose.

The killing by ability was one thing, but the fact that someone was killed right in front of them was clear.

Anyone would scream in such a situation.