Chapter 6

A week has passed since the class transfer.

The day after I returned to Japan, I went back to my class just to check, out of caution.

When I got there, only my desk was placed there, and in the class roster, only my name was written.

When I asked a passing teacher why only my name was on the list, he said, "Isn't that normal?"

"Sure, the numbers are off, but it's been like that from the beginning... Is something wrong?"

He seemed puzzled.

If I pushed the issue, something might have happened, but if I were to transfer again, the perception around that would become vague, so I didn't point it out.

Or rather, the situation was so eerie that I couldn't bring myself to point it out.

"Then, let's go hunting!"

Tazumi, as usual, was hyped up and was gathering people to go out and investigate the area and hunt monsters.

He seemed to be having a great time, getting weapons and armor made by Momotsubo.

In just a week, the class had divided into two groups: the combat group and the base group.

The combat group consisted of those with abilities suited for combat.

The party function, which had been revealed within the status menu, allowed experience points and points to be shared among party members.

Those with combat-oriented abilities, which could be activated quickly and used to attack enemies, were the first to go hunting... It felt completely like a game.

"Tazumi! Everyone can't keep up with the situation. You should have a discussion before inciting everyone."

A teacher warned Tazumi about his hasty actions.

"What? You're still acting like a teacher after running away from minor monsters? This is perfect, I'll show you how far behind you are!"

"Huh? Tazumi... Gah! Stop, stop it! Ugh..."

Tazumi used his ability on the teacher and beat him up.

He took his time, lifting the teacher with his super strength and scorching him with flames, as if to show who was the strongest and most important here.

"Stop it! What are you doing?!"

Momotsubo shouted loudly and tried to stop Tazumi, but Tazumi continued the torture.

He was completely carried away.

Momotsubo grabbed Tazumi and stopped him.

In the end, it was the sensible people, like Momotsubo, who managed to stop Tazumi, but Tazumi's faction was used to fighting, so they had the upper hand in a physical fight... It was a case of fools with weapons.

"What's with you? I was just showing you the reality."

"That's bull! This is a crime!"

"Ha! The one who disrupts the group is a criminal here. This guy tried to disrupt our group."

"Huh...?"

Even Momotsubo was genuinely flabbergasted.

Tazumi didn't understand common sense.

In the end, the torture of the teacher ended because Momotsubo intervened, but the teacher was severely injured both mentally and physically and couldn't say anything against Tazumi.

I didn't really trust teachers to begin with, but it was impossible for adults to discipline Tazumi.

He wouldn't listen unless he was physically restrained.

But there was no one here who could do that.

Those skilled in martial arts were generally part of the combat group and seemed to believe that Tazumi had a point.

"So, if you have any complaints, you'll end up like him."

Tazumi said this while pointing at the teacher.

Of course, Momotsubo had complained... but Tazumi didn't use his fire ability on Momotsubo.

At the time, I didn't understand why, but the reason became clear later.

"Damn... Alright, base group, make sure you do your job!"

He said this condescendingly and left.

The other members of the combat group, who were left behind, went to fight monsters, albeit reluctantly.

It was necessary to gather food and supplies.

"Let's get to work, then."

The base group also started moving.

The base group consisted of those with skills that could be useful in the base.

I was categorized in this group.

It wasn't exactly base defense, but the square where we regained consciousness had become our home, and several houses had been built.

It started with someone with the ability to craft, different from blacksmithing, using wood.

The combat group gathered the wood and had houses built, pushing aside the base group who had actually built the base.

"We're fighting for you guys, so we have the right to enter the houses first."

Tazumi claimed, but it was for himself, not for us.

It was obvious that he was testing how far he could go by fighting monsters.

Well... cutting down trees in the forest and transporting them would get the houses built, so it was fine.

I had been the one to transport the already cut trees during my transfer.

I wasn't unhappy about that, but my dissatisfaction with Tazumi was growing day by day.

Otsuka, who had been hysterical, started crying by the third day.

His ability was combat-oriented, so he was forced into the combat group and sent to fight, which might have accelerated his breakdown.

Tazumi was good at this.

According to Momotsubo, who was close to the combat group, Tazumi had seen Otsuka's courage and fighting spirit when he punched me.

Well, on the second day, Otsuka, along with Hiyama and me, was used in an experiment to see if combining our abilities could get us back to our original world.

If it were as simple as combining our powers like in a manga, that would be great.

I didn't know how to do it, but I tried to synchronize our consciousness and imagine Otsuka returning to his original world... but it failed.

As a result, Otsuka went berserk again, and Hiyama and I were hurt.

If something happened, I intended to make them pay.

"Hiyama-san"

"What? Habashiro-kun"

"Can you transfer me back to our original world? Specifically, just me, like creating a portal at my feet?"

"Huh? Um... I'll try."

I subtly asked Hiyama to experiment with a way to get me back... but it failed.

"Um... it doesn't seem to work."

"Okay, sorry for asking a weird question."

"No, it's fine. It's important to experiment with everything."

It failed.

It seemed that Hiyama couldn't do it.

In the base group, there was someone with the ability to create a barrier that repelled everything except a chosen person.

Thanks to this person, the square was protected from monsters, allowing everyone to rest without taking turns to keep watch.

Well... I was using my transfer ability to return home and enjoy meals, warm futons, and baths.

Tazumi and his group were gradually returning later, indicating they were going further away.

On this day, after finishing the assigned task of transporting wood, the sun was setting.

Tazumi returned around this time.

He would probably say something annoying again.

"I'm starting to find the back-and-forth trips bothersome."

As soon as he returned, Tazumi looked at Hiyama and said this.

Sure enough, he was probably thinking of something not good.

It was clear that he thought the monsters around the base were too weak to be worth fighting.

"From tomorrow, Hiyama will go with us."

"Okay... but..."

"What? Do you have a problem with my plan? If you do, come up with a better one. Complaining won't get us anywhere."

"That's not what I meant."

So, Hiyama, unlike me, was included in the combat group and was being leveled up.

Probably to ensure Hiyama could return even if they went far away.

While using Hiyama as a means of transportation, Tazumi had stopped even acknowledging my existence.

It was easier to be a bystander, but...

Incidentally, Hiyama always seemed apologetic towards us.

Especially towards me.

...Probably because he was considered a lower version of my ability and felt he needed to make an effort.

He was a good person, and as long as he didn't suddenly change, he was trustworthy.

Rather, I felt sorry for him being forced to act with Tazumi every day.

If I had the chance, I would help him.

"We're getting stronger and killing more monsters, which is a good trend. I'm the strongest!"

Tazumi was always this boastful.

He was probably the one enjoying the new world the most.

As for what I was doing...

"Ah... I'm hungry..."

After the combat group left during the day, I approached a classmate who was sighing with hunger and said this.

"Want to eat this?"

I showed them a snack I had brought from Japan through my transfer.

The classmate's expression changed.

"Is it okay?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you, Habashiro-kun!"

"But, this is a secret, okay?"

"Okay!"

The classmate nodded enthusiastically and started eating the snack discreetly.

This way, I was secretly distributing food... specifically snacks to avoid suspicion... to my classmates.

So, while the combat group ignored me, the base group didn't say anything bad about me.

It felt like a small thing to do, but it was necessary.

Since I wasn't publicly stating that I could return to Japan, I couldn't bring much.

As a result, my options were limited.

If I could come up with a good plan...

Over time, the combat group, led by Tazumi, started to change.

"Hey, you guys should serve me. I'm protecting you, after all."

Tazumi and his group started to act more tyrannically.

Whenever something happened, Tazumi would boast about being the strongest and flirt with the girls.

Some of the girls seemed to find Tazumi attractive in this extreme situation.

"What are you saying, Tazumi? We should decide on a plan democratically through a majority vote."

The class representative, showing discomfort, responded to Tazumi.

What he said was reasonable, but the person he was talking to was the problem.

Personally, I agreed with his opinion, but in the current situation, no one would nod in agreement.

"What? What are you talking about? This isn't Japan, and a majority vote? The strongest should be in charge. If you have a problem, beat me first."

Tazumi, of course, showed his superiority.

Moreover, he grabbed the class representative by the collar, almost threatening him.

I could complain, but in Tazumi's eyes, my ability was a lower version of Hiyama's.

He had started to ignore me completely, probably thinking I had no value.

"You should stop using violence!"

The class representative, showing fear at Tazumi's attitude, still spoke up.

I thought he was mentally tough.

For that reason, I respected him.

"…Yeah. You should cut it out."

Momotsubo, looking displeased, warned Tazumi.

Momotsubo was the lifeline of the combat group within the base group.

Momotsubo was currently in a position where he could voice his opinions to the combat group.

Tazumi understood that if he upset Momotsubo, who made the equipment from the monsters and items they brought back, it would be bad.

That's why he didn't turn Momotsubo into a fireball.