CHAPTER 1 — PART 10: TEAM IS COMPLETE!

The sun still hadn't come up yet.

The whole campus was quiet.

Perfect for training.

School started at 8, so I figured I should wake up early and get some work done before classes.

That PE teacher's words were still stuck in my head.

You seem weak. Fragile. Do you even exercise?

Yeah.

That hurt.

But she wasn't wrong.

Before coming here, I basically spent all my time in my apartment, playing MMORPGs and doing nothing useful with my life.

That had to change.

If I wanted to fight seriously, I needed a real body first.

I still couldn't use [Brilliant Break] properly either.

That move was insane.

Strong as hell.

But it messed me up every time I used it.

Three days of recovery, sometimes even passing out.

Still, I had to get stronger.

If I wanted to beat the people here, I couldn't stay weak forever.

And as long as I didn't let my Malice run wild, I'd be fine.

Probably.

I got out of bed, threw on some shorts and a hoodie, grabbed my keys, and headed out.

Then Amai appeared in front of me.

She was rubbing her eyes like she had just woken up.

"Good morning, Master... is it time?" she mumbled.

I nodded.

"Yeah. Since there's a tournament coming up, I need to get in shape. I'm gonna need your help."

She straightened up a little.

"Don't worry, Master. I'll show you how every past wielder trained."

I smiled a little.

"Thanks, Amai. You're the best partner."

Then I sighed.

"Also... I need help with magic. Whenever I try to release it, it feels like something's off. Like my body isn't keeping up."

Amai gave me a tired look.

"To put it bluntly, you're not physically ready."

"...Yeah, I figured."

It stung a little.

But she wasn't lying.

I left the dorm and headed toward a quiet park area in the school.

This campus was huge.

It was basically a whole city.

It had malls, convenience stores, banks, all kinds of stuff.

And somehow I still managed to stay in my room like an idiot.

I really should go out more.

But one thing kept bothering me.

How was a school this rich and big missing an S-class Battle Maiden?

That made no sense.

Then I started thinking about the girls I had already met.

Oharu, acting like I was dirt.

Shizue, always saying "hmph" like it was her whole personality.

Yuna, creepy as hell.

Katsumi, always acting tough but clearly insecure.

Hotaru, always stalking me.

Teruko, who could hear every lewd thought of mine...

Yeah.

This school was full of spoiled brats and weirdos.

Then a thought hit me.

What if I became the first S-class student here?

My eyes widened.

That would be insane.

The first male S-class in this school.

No, wait.

The first male S-class in the world.

A grin slowly crept onto my face.

If I could do that, it would change everything.

People would have to look at me differently.

I kept jogging, pushing myself harder.

My feet hit the ground over and over.

Breathing.

Sweat.

Pain.

Then I saw someone pass by me.

A small girl.

Short dark yellow hair.

Light green eyes.

Cute.

No.

Focus.

Training first.

I kept going.

Lap after lap.

My lungs burned.

My legs felt heavy.

Eventually, I had to stop and lean against a tree.

I was trying to catch my breath when I noticed someone else was already there.

The same girl from before.

She was wiping sweat from her face.

Her sports shirt was soaked a little from training.

Then she looked at me.

"...A guy?"

I froze.

Wait.

Why did she sound so suspicious?

Then her whole body shifted.

She got defensive fast.

Too fast.

"Wait! Hold on! I'm a student here!" I said, raising both hands.

She didn't answer.

Just kept staring.

That stare was bad.

Really bad.

It felt like she was trying to tear me apart with her eyes.

"Uh... look, I can show you my ID."

I fumbled into my pocket and pulled it out.

She looked at it.

Then she pulled out her phone.

I glanced at the screen.

...Oh.

My name was on her squad list.

Yami.

And right next to it was hers.

Okubo Hisoka.

"We're on the same team...?" I muttered.

She gave a small nod.

But her face still didn't change.

"...No control?" she asked.

Her voice was flat.

Almost bored.

I frowned.

"What?"

"Weak," she said.

My pride instantly shattered.

Crack.

Why are girls in this school so mean?

Then I remembered her.

She was there when Oharu tried to kill me.

And Shizue had been hiding nearby too.

I hadn't noticed Hisoka back then because I was too busy dealing with that haughty princess.

Hisoka stared at me for a while.

Then she asked:

"How...?"

"Hm?"

"How did you beat a Yoshitaka?"

I opened my mouth to answer—

Then Amai suddenly popped in and slapped the back of my head.

"Gah!"

I glared at her.

Hisoka didn't react much at all.

Like this was normal.

"I'm hungry," Amai said. "We haven't had breakfast yet."

I sighed.

Of course that was why she came out.

Then I noticed something.

Hisoka's eyes had changed a little.

She was looking at me more carefully now.

Like she noticed my mana was stronger than before.

Just a little.

But enough.

"I see..." she murmured.

Then she bowed slightly.

"Oracle-sama. Divine Sword of Memoria. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Before I could respond, she moved.

Fast.

Really fast.

A greenish-yellow magic circle flashed near her hand, and a giant hammer appeared out of it.

A giant hammer.

A ridiculous one.

But it looked heavy enough to crush a wall.

"Wha—?!"

She jumped and came down with a front flip, swinging it straight at me.

I quickly grabbed Amai.

My arms shook from the force when the hammer slammed into us.

BOOM!

The ground trembled.

Dust exploded around us.

"W-what the hell?!"

Was she trying to kill me too?!

I thought she was on my team!

Amai hummed in my hand.

I could feel her giving me advice through our connection.

I clenched my teeth.

Fine.

If that's how it was...

I shifted my stance.

Held Amai tighter in one hand.

Then I threw my left hand forward.

My fingers touched the hammer.

I focused.

Then I pushed my mana through my hand.

The hammer cracked.

Just a little.

But enough.

I followed through with a punch.

The crack spread.

That felt good.

Really good.

For a second, I almost felt like a real protagonist.

Then Amai shouted in my head.

'Master, behind you!'

I turned too late.

A short sword was already at my throat.

"Huh?!"

Hisoka had moved again.

Too fast.

I couldn't even track her.

One second she was in front of me.

The next, she was behind me.

That speed was no joke.

Her twin tails swayed as she vanished out of sight.

Then she dissolved the blade into light and gave me a tiny smirk.

"I won."

That smug little look...

Then she changed again.

Suddenly she bowed.

"I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

I blinked.

What the hell?

"Master, she was testing you," Amai said, sounding annoyed.

Then she slapped the top of my head again.

"Ow! Seriously?!"

"You lowered your guard! Idiot. Idiot. Idiot."

I froze.

Hisoka looked at me like she was evaluating me.

Then she said, in that flat voice of hers:

"Distractions will kill you. Always stay focused in battle, Yami-san."

"...Yeah."

I rubbed my head and sighed.

She wasn't wrong.

Then she started walking away.

But after a few steps, she turned back.

Her voice was quieter this time.

"Where's the library?"

I stared at her for a second.

Then I chuckled a little.

...So she really was on my team.

Just weird.

Really weird.