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Chapter 36 – part 13

「What do you mean by ‘troublesome’? What’s going on?」

「According to the information I obtained through my perimeter detection skill, there are a total of 28 Ogre Generals within a radius of 50 meters…」

「28 Ogre Generals…? That’s on the level of organizing a small extermination squad with the power of a nation, isn’t it?」

「Hey, Saegusa? Lower your head for a moment.」

「Heh?」

「Just do it.」

Shuu.

With that sound effect, I delivered a spinning kick.
The kick is at my chest level, and the range was circular—360 degrees.

Shuppah, shuppah, shuppah, shuppah.

Everything within a 50-meter radius was engulfed with blades of vacuum.

The Ogres were annihilated in an instant, and then with a thud, thud, thud… the surrounding trees fell one after another.
The forest that was there just a moment ago now resembled a clearing with countless stumps and fallen trees.

Saegusa stood there dumbfounded, and she murmured in disbelief.

「…What did you just do?」

「Whirlwind Kick. I applied it to be a long-range strike.」

「…That’s absurd.」

「Absurd? What about it?」

「Even I, who is considered an A-rank, can’t just easily defeat a group of Ogre Generals like that… It’s impossible.」

「…」

「Lute-kun, you possess a strategic-level combat power that can be classified as S-rank… isn’t that right?」

「…Well, who knows?」

「Really… so elusive…」

It seems that even among the Saegusa clan, they don’t know about the existence of those above the S-rank.
There are quite a few, including the Dragon King, old hermits, forbidden spell users, and others besides me.

「By the way, Saegusa? You want to clear the stain on your clan’s name, right?」

「…Yes, that’s correct.」

With that, I put on the backpack I had placed on the ground and gestured to Saegusa to carry her own backpack.

「In that case, you have to graduate from here in one shot, don’t you?」

「…Yes.」

「Then, it’s not the time to talk about traumas or fears, is it? Not even the time to hide your abilities, right? I don’t understand why someone of A-rank level would pretend to be an underachiever…」

「…」

Saegusa remained silent in response to my question.

「I’ll ask you directly. Why are you pretending to be so clumsy in physical activities?」

Saegusa fell silent for a moment.

「…Lute-kun, don’t you know?」

「What?」

「A Miko… aside from when the god descends upon them, they are truly powerless.」

「But there must be limits, right? You come from a lineage of warriors.」

No, Saegusa shook her head from side to side.

「Battle Miko don’t engage in any dirty work. It’s because the gods they channel are noble gods. Therefore… Battle Miko are raised as excessively sheltered individuals. Not only their pure physical strength, but even their normal stats outside of channeling… they are no different from ordinary people, or even below average.」

Just to confirm, I asked.

「For a 100-kilometer hike… this is just the beginning. In other words… you, could it be…?」

「Yes, at the 2-kilometer mark, I reached my limit… This is my full power. I can’t walk anymore.」

Now, I pondered what to do.

「Well, let’s go as far as we can for now. I am also wearing the Golgotha Shackles for my own training. Well, to be frank, if it’s me and Lilith, we can easily take them off without anyone noticing…」

At that moment, Saegusa froze.

「Wait, in the first place… can these be removed? It’s something used to capture criminals, right?」

「Not so much removing, but it’s more like interfering with the curse that nullifies my stats.
It’s not considered a highly concealed secret technique, but rather, I’m surprised that the prestigious Saegusa family doesn’t know how to remove it.」

Saegusa’s expression turned sullen.

「Alright, alright, I get it. The Saegusa family has been born and raised in the deep mountains, living as reclusive as coelacanths.」

There was a hint of sarcasm in my words.
It seems that I stepped on a landmine.

「If you’re offended, I apologize. And honestly, I have no intention of cheating unless I’m in a truly hopeless situation. So let’s go as far as we can…」

Saegusa nodded in response.

「Yes. Let’s go as far as we can… I’ll try walking…」

――23 hours later.
The endpoint of the 100-kilometer hike was the grounds of the old school building.
All the students were sprawled on the ground, completely exhausted, while the instructor nodded with satisfaction.

「Saegusa and Mclane will be retiring as a student here――a voluntary withdrawal. Well, they’ll be safely escorted by the veteran adventurers accompanying them.」

At that moment, Lilith, who had been sitting on the ground, reluctantly stood up.
Judging from her slightly trembling knees, it can be seen that her legs are responding to her march that relied solely on her physical strength without depending on her stats.

「…Instructor?」

「What’s wrong, Lilith?」

「…Lute, voluntary withdrawal… Are you serious?」

「Hm?」

With a puzzled expression, the instructor asked Lilith.

「You… you’re the peculiar scholarship student, the one that chose this camp for the lowest-tier class…」

「…Yes. And I’m asking you. Are you in your right mind?」

「Hmm…? I think I said it before the start of the 100-kilometer hike, right? Those who couldn’t do it would retire. Well, McLane seems to possess extraordinary combat abilities… It’s regrettable to lose him, but discipline is absolute.」

「For example, let’s assume that there’s a talent with even greater power than Cordelia Allston in this lowest-tier class.」

「Such a premise is impossible… But what about it?」

「If you, based on your authority and judgment, drive that kind of person to voluntary withdrawal, and then, after a few years… no, after a few months, that person shows power surpassing Cordelia Allston and becomes renowned worldwide… What would happen to you?」

Upon hearing Lilith’s words, the instructor chuckled.

「It wouldn’t end with just getting fired, I suppose. Well, it’s an impossible premise, though.」

In response, Lilith murmured lazily.

「…I won’t say anything bad. Before resorting to voluntary withdrawal, it would be better to give Lute some kind of test. Remove the Golgotha Shackles and give him any unreasonable task… something like a straightforward assignment like defeating monsters.」

「…」

「You don’t have to understand my words now… You’ll understand if you let him do it.」

Then Lilith continued, half in exasperation.

「…There’s no need for us to cling to this place. It’s just that this place is the closest to the series of disturbances of the worldwide calamity that Cordelia Allston will be involved in from now on. Well, I’ve given my warning.」

At that moment, a commotion arose on the ground.
Their gaze was directed towards the figure of Lute Mclane, visible in the distant forest path ahead, coming from the main gate.
No, their restlessness wasn’t solely because of that. A few minutes later, as Lute arrived on the grounds, the instructor rushed towards him.

「You… are carrying her… and her luggage?」

It was no wonder the instructor was surprised.
At present, the weight Lute was carrying amounted to 40 kilograms for Saegusa, 20 kilograms for her luggage, and 20 kilograms for his own luggage.
It totaled 80 kilograms of baggage.

「There’s no rule that says you can’t carry a person, right?」

「At what kilometer point did you start carrying Saegusa?」

「At the 20-kilometer point… Even so, she showed great endurance. She had terrible blisters. But… she passed out along the way. She tried to push through unreasonably. That’s why I took on her unreasonableness like this.」

After a moment of thought, the instructor asked Lute.

「You, even though you are a villager, passed the entrance exam of our Altena Magic Academy… along with your movements in the mock battle you showed earlier… and then your physical and mental strength. Are you really human?」

Lute smiled in amusement, gently placing Saegusa on the ground.
Then he himself discarded his mountaineering backpack and collapsed on the spot, as if falling down.

「Human or not… I’m a villager… Also… sorry, but… I’m going to… sleep…」

Lilith approached Lute.
And wordlessly, she draped her own coat over him.

「Anyway… I’m tired… I… am… at my limit…」

And so, Lute, enveloped in Lilith’s coat, began to emit satisfied breathing sounds, wearing a content expression as he fell into a quiet sleep.