Chapter 15: The Man in the steel helmet

It feels like I went to get rid of a burden, but ended up adding another one, leaving me with an uncomfortable feeling.

The next day came.

The subdued atmosphere of Class C remained unchanged, and everyone was somewhat dejected.

And naturally.

The evaluation of the students who won in the sparring with Class E went up among their classmates.

“Elena is really amazing. Her opponent was strong, but she completely overwhelmed them.”

“That’s right.”

“Ehehe. It’s not really like that….”

A precious existence that filled their remaining confidence.

From the morning, they stuck close to Elena’s side and poured out praise that bordered on flattery.

Until now, Elena, who only knew me, kept glancing at me sitting next to her, wary of my reaction.

Of course, I, sitting next to her, don’t have any particular thoughts, though.

“L-Louis also fought very well in yesterday’s sparring….”

Perhaps wanting to praise me, Elena tentatively brought up my name.

But.

“Really? I thought his opponent was just a little weak?”

“Yeah. His opponent used some weird swordsmanship. I think I could have won too?”

“Wasn’t he just lucky?”

You can all hear this, you know.

The female students, whispering as if I couldn’t hear them.

But of course, their voices were very clear and audible.

It’s not like I wouldn’t hear it when they’re sitting right next to me.

Unlike the other winners who are busy being praised.

For some reason, my evaluation was not very good.

Perhaps it’s because the opponent used swordsmanship that they had never seen before and didn’t seem that strong.

‘They should try fighting that guy once to come to their senses.’

Contrary to his very static and concise swordsmanship, his sword was quite threatening to the opponent.

His sword, which flies quickly without even giving time to predict its trajectory, is hard to know without directly facing it.

But I don’t particularly feel the need to refute their evaluation.

Actually, it’s not really wrong.

I won because it was a sparring where only swordsmanship was judged without mana.

If it were a normal sparring where mana could be used freely.

It’s obvious that I, with a D-grade mana, would have surrendered without being able to resist.

But Elena doesn’t seem to think so.

“…I wish you wouldn’t talk like that.”

Elena said in a subdued voice to the female students who were subtly sarcastic about me.

The air froze for a moment at her sudden seriousness.

And soon, the female students, watching Elena’s reaction, apologized to me half-heartedly and ran away to their seats.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it that way….”

“No. It’s not exactly wrong. And I did win because I was lucky.”

I don’t really care.

I don’t think much of such petty squabbles.

“I don’t think so.”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t think you’re weak. Besides, you always work hard. A person like that can’t win just because of luck.”

…What?

Me?

It seems that she has some misunderstanding about me.

It’s not that I don’t train, but.

It’s definitely not that I work harder than others.

I was going to clear up her misunderstanding of me, but.

“Everyone, sit down.”

I couldn’t speak because of Professor Dominic’s appearance.

“Today, we will learn about the plant-type monsters that live in the East….”

I guess it’s okay to clear up the misunderstanding slowly.

I opened my textbook for class.

All classes are over.

It’s only been a day since yesterday’s joint class with Class E.

Today is the day of an important episode.

That is.

“Today is the day Elena and Ed have their first encounter.”

The two who only know each other’s existence.

The trigger that will make the two become intertwined in earnest.

Elena goes out with her maid to eat the pudding she usually likes.

But she is kidnapped due to a sudden attack by a thug.

The stupid punks, who were after the money of a noble wearing an academy uniform, knock her unconscious and kidnap her.

But just then, when the guys who saw Elena’s appearance later tried to rape her.

Ed, who happened to be passing by, hears the scream of Elena’s maid, Olly, and discovers the scene.

He saves her in danger, and the meeting of the two begins, which is the point of today’s episode.

Of course, a clean episode that I don’t even need to intervene in.

According to the original plan, I was going to rest comfortably in the dormitory.

But I’m going to watch every detail of today’s episode.

After experiencing several things.

As I am thinking about the possibility that the future may not go as I expected, I feel the need to deal with unexpected contingencies.

I already have a headache because of the variables that suddenly pop up.

“Is it here…?”

How long have I been walking?

I arrived at a very familiar street.

Harlem, where the worst of the capital live.

I slowly traced my memory and entered a nearby alley.

And an old warehouse in a secluded place that I arrived at after walking for a long time.

That place is where this episode will take place.

“Stay still!”

“Mmmph! Mmph!!”

Just then, suspicious sounds coming from somewhere.

I hid my body behind a nearby alley.

After a while.

Several men with strong physiques appeared, carrying two women.

Familiar blonde hair.

It’s Elena.

Elena, unconscious and limp, and her maid Olly, who hasn’t lost consciousness and is resisting fiercely.

I watched the series of them disappearing into the warehouse and revealed myself only after their presence completely disappeared.

The episode started as planned.

Now, all that’s left is for Ed to appear and save Elena.

Then the story will begin safely.

But.

‘Damn it. Why the hell isn’t that Ed kid showing up?!?’

The situation is urgent.

But no matter how long I wait, the most important Ed doesn’t show up at all.

The time he should have appeared has already passed.

Did the story go wrong again somewhere?

If I knew this would happen, I should have brought Ed myself…!!

The story is about to go wrong due to my complacent judgment that I didn’t want to get involved in the meeting of the two as much as possible.

If this continues, something bad will happen to Elena.

…That’s not good.

I have to save her.

But if I step in here, things might get really complicated.

At least something to cover my face…!

As I hurriedly turned my head, I found something shining in the corner.

And I opened my eyes wide when I saw it.

That’s it!

The kidnappers forgot their original goal of money.

They began to approach Elena, who was unconscious and collapsed, and Olly, who was resisting, with lewd gazes.

“Mmmph! Mmmph!!”

“Hehehehe. Let’s see?”

“Mmph…! Spit! Kyaaaak!! Help me!”

“What, this b*tch?!?”

Bang!

“Stoooooop!!”

“Wh-what!”

Just before the punks laid a hand on Elena’s body.

I broke down the warehouse door and entered.

The punks were surprised by my sudden appearance.

A sword made with the Orb of Dreams was held in the hand of I, who had entered the warehouse proudly.

And covering my face.

“What kind of madman wears only a helmet? Who the hell are you!”

Shiny steel helmet.

A while ago.

In order to hide my identity, I hurriedly looked around, and I found a thick steel helmet that looked like it would be used by knights abandoned in an alley, and I immediately put it on my head.

And then, I used the Orb of Dreams to make a sword and immediately attacked the warehouse.

The kidnappers, who stared at me fiercely without answering.

Soon, seeing the sword in my hand, they picked up their weapons.

“Help us!!”

Olly, who cried out desperately for someone to save them from their crisis.

The boss, who looks like the leader of the punks, with an irritated expression on his face.

“There’s only one of him. Deal with him!”

“Uaaaaah!!”

“Kill him!!”

When the boss gave the order, the minions started rushing at me all at once.

Clearly, an unfavorable situation where it’s many against one.

But.

I’m not afraid.

Because I have the Orb of Dreams.

I raised my mana and created electricity on the surface of the sword.

And without a moment’s hesitation, I swung my sword at the punks rushing towards me.

Soon, the sparks on the sword created a trajectory and began to spread out in a straight line towards them.

According to what I heard from Verno, when you give a name to an attack technique loaded with mana, the power becomes stronger.

What should I name the technique?

Yeah, that’s good.

“Lightning Slash”

Chijijik!!

Numerous electric currents that started from my sword created a huge storm.

And soon, it began to fill the warehouse with light.