Published: March 21, 2026
I must have woken up a few minutes after Sato-kun and I had switched places.
A violent roar and a torrent of light.
Roused by the worst kind of alarm — the ground trembling — I found my eyes drawn to the battle unfolding before me.
My body protested with pain when I moved even slightly from the earlier fight; many muscles screamed and I couldn’t move properly. Even if I could, I wouldn’t be able to join this fight.
"Holy sword technique — 'Divine Judgement.'"
From Sato-kun’s sword, which was held aloft, a massive pillar of light rose up and seared the vision.
I could feel an incredible force compressed within that pillar.
After we left the castle, each of us had gained real combat experience and trained hard, raising our levels significantly.
Even so, we didn’t reach Sato-kun.
Maybe it’s a trait of the hero profession, but while we take one step forward, Sato-kun moves ten or twenty.
Earlier I’d been defeated because I hadn’t been enough — but part of that was because I’d been fighting while protecting Ueno-san and you, too.
Sato-kun grows most when he’s in real battle, absorbing everything.
That’s why, despite the strain, I’d chosen to heal him.
"Haaaaa!!!!"
Every demonic beast in the path of the descending pillar of light vanished.
This holy sword technique didn’t just cut — it erased. That’s the right way to describe it.
It was that overwhelming a difference in power.
As Sato-kun brought his sword down, I felt a memory of Commander Saran’s back — the commander who had cleared our retreat in the Cantinen Labyrinth — flash before me.
My admiration remains for Asahina-kun, but I think Sato-kun is someone everyone — young or old, male or female — admires.
"Hey!"
After the beasts were erased by Sato-kun’s technique and the forest fell silent, Nanase-kun’s voice rang out.
The familiar voice brought relief.
I hadn’t imagined Nanase-kun could be felled by demonic beasts since Mr. Zeal was with him, but there are always unexpected things.
Nanase-kun is the kind of person who gets along with anyone and even speaks to me, who used to sit in the corner of the classroom. The thought of him dying made me unbearably sad.
"Nanase-kun, Mr. Zeal! Are you alright?"
Ueno-san, who had been quiet until then, called out.
At a glance, neither of them seemed injured, and we all breathed easier.
Just as Sato-kun was about to ask how their side had fared, Nanase-kun cried out in a panic first.
"We're not hurt! More importantly, we have to get out of here, now!"
Mr. Zeal lifted the immobile Ueno-san, and Nanase-kun put an arm around my exhausted shoulders. Sato-kun, bewildered, offered his shoulder as well.
Had something happened?
"Mr. Zeal says the lord of the forest might react to the attack by Shi from earlier. It's supposedly a monster even the former Hero avoided. We should get away before it notices us."
As we ran, the explanation left my mouth agape.
Sato-kun looked the same as he glanced sideways.
"The lord of the forest?? That’s a thing?"
"Yes, so we must hurry."
About a hundred meters from where we’d been, the ground suddenly shook and we were thrown down.
"An earthquake?"
"No, that's the sound of a monster. This is the so-called lord of the forest."
Mr. Zeal lowered his voice when he spoke.
He said the lord of the forest can shake the ground with a single cry and split the earth when it moves.
He’d heard it from Mr. Crow, so it might be credible.
"...It seems it won't pursue us. I should have told you about the lord of the forest earlier. Sorry."
After moving a bit more, Mr. Zeal stopped and placed Ueno-san on a rock, doing a quick dressing on the injured leg.
The injury wasn’t something that would leave lasting damage, but walking now would be difficult.
"First priority is to regroup with Asahina-kun’s group. We need Mr. Hosoyama to treat Ueno-san’s leg."
Sato-kun said, but how would we meet up?
The forest was dense, and after moving around we’d lost track of our location.
Trees in every direction.
"Hey, look at this!!"
While we worried, Ueno-san, sitting on the rock, pointed at a tree.