With a 'bang,' the two spells collided and dissipated into nothing.
"What are you doing, Daisuke?"
Saito was stunned because the fireball had come from Hiyama Daisuke.
"What am I doing?"
Hiyama snorted coldly. He walked over to Nagumo Hajime and, under Nagumo Hajime's suspicious gaze, helped him up.
"You're all grown up, yet you still like to bully the weak."
"Don't you feel ashamed?"
!!!
At these words, Nakano and the others were stunned, looking at Hiyama as if they had seen a ghost.
What was going on? Was he possessed!?
Besides, every time they bullied Nagumo Hajime, he was the one who led the charge!
He must be putting on a show for them!
On the other side, Nagumo Hajime also looked incredulous, staring at Hiyama with a face full of suspicion, fearing that Hiyama was setting a trap for him.
But Hiyama still looked righteous and said, "I've decided. From today onwards, I'm breaking off all ties with you scoundrels!"
Immediately after, Hiyama extended his hand to Nagumo Hajime.
"Nagumo Hajime, let's be friends."
"From now on, if anyone dares to bully you again, I'll beat them until they're spitting teeth!"
"Ah?"
???
Nagumo Hajime looked utterly bewildered.
He completely failed to understand what had happened.
How could Hiyama Daisuke, who had always been so keen on bothering him, suddenly change completely and even say he wanted to be his friend?
"You...what are you really planning?"
Nagumo Hajime was a little scared. Hiyama now made him feel more afraid than usual.
Because he was completely unlike the Hiyama Daisuke he remembered!
He heard that some demons could transform into other people's appearances. Could this Hiyama Daisuke be a demon in disguise?
Not only was Nagumo Hajime trembling with fear, but Nakano, Saito, and the others also looked incredulous.
So, these frightened people came to an even more absurd conclusion.
"Did Nagumo use some kind of mind-control magic on Daisuke?"
"Maybe so!"
"This Nagumo guy is too dangerous. He might mind-control us in a bit!"
These people interpreted Hiyama's strange behavior as Nagumo Hajime's secret doing.
So, without further ado, they began chanting spells, wanting to eliminate Nagumo Hajime, the culprit!
Unfortunately, one person was much faster than them.
"Fireball!"
A massive fireball suddenly formed in the air and flew towards Nakano, Saito, and the others.
With a "boom," it exploded on the ground in front of them, creating a pit and scaring them so much that they swallowed the half-recited spells back down.
Hiyama Daisuke was, after all, the leader among these few, so his strength was naturally a bit higher than theirs. Therefore, both his casting speed and power were slightly stronger than theirs.
"I said, anyone who dares to lay a hand on my friend again, I will not let them off!"
Hiyama said coldly.
He was, after all, an adult, and his imposing aura was more than enough to suppress these few Japan minors.
Seeing Hiyama's demeanor, Nakano and the others immediately fell silent, too scared to act rashly.
[Quest Two completed, obtained Legendary Fire Element Affinity Talent!]
At this moment,
"What are you doing!"
A furious girl's voice suddenly rang out.
Upon hearing this voice, Nakano and the others immediately showed expressions of alarm.
Because the girl who was speaking and walking quickly towards them was the root cause of their bullying Nagumo Hajime—Shirazaki Kaori.
The incident started because Hiyama Daisuke and the others liked Shirazaki Kaori, and Shirazaki Kaori was very kind to Nagumo Hajime, which triggered their jealousy and led them to bully Nagumo.
Besides the Healer Shirazaki Kaori, the others who followed were the Female Swordsman Yaegashi Shizuku, the Hero Kouki, the Pugilist Ryutaro, and other main characters. They were all there.
These few were currently the strongest and the main force for conquering the labyrinth.
Although Hiyama Daisuke and his group were also combat professions, they could only bully Nagumo Hajime. Compared to these main forces, they were nothing.
"Nagumo! Are you alright!"
Seeing Nagumo Hajime's miserable state, Shirazaki Kaori hurriedly used her divine skill to cast healing magic on Nagumo Hajime.
The remaining main forces glared at Nakano and the others.
"No, we were just...just sparring with Nagumo Hajime for special training!"
"You agree, right, Daisuke!"
Nakano panicked. He hastily explained, and in his haste, he looked towards Hiyama.
The next second, he realized he had made a huge mistake.
"Sigh, I've told you not to do this many times."
Hiyama spread his hands, looking innocent.
"Thankfully, I intervened and stopped you, or Nagumo Hajime would have been beaten to death by you!"
In just a few words, he shifted his responsibility onto Nakano and the others.
Shirazaki and the others heard Hiyama's explanation, and combining it with Nagumo Hajime's bruised state and Hiyama standing in front of him protecting him, they couldn't help but believe Hiyama's words.
They glared angrily at Nakano and his gang!
"Daisuke!"
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
"Don't believe him, he's the one who told us to bully Nagumo Hajime."
Nakano and the others' faces turned dark, and they quickly argued.
"No need for excuses. Nagumo is, after all, a classmate and a companion. Don't do this again!"
"If you have free time for such pointless things, you should use it to train yourselves instead!"
The main forces also spoke righteously. *
Chapter Three: Thirty Years East, Thirty Years West!
Nakano and Saito's expressions grew even uglier, but anything they said now would be useless and only make things worse.
They could only leave the scene dejectedly.
On the other side, Shirazaki Kaori's healing magic finished, and Nagumo Hajime's wounds were completely healed.
"Thank you, Hiyama-kun. If it weren't for you, Nagumo might have been hurt even more severely."
After finishing her healing magic, Shirazaki Kaori did not forget to thank Hiyama.
"It's nothing, just a small favor," Hiyama waved his hand, signaling her not to worry about it.
"Hm?"
Shirazaki Kaori stared at Hiyama blankly, as if she was seeing him for the first time.
"What's wrong?"
Hiyama asked, puzzled.
"Oh, nothing!"
Shirazaki Kaori then realized her behavior was impolite.
Actually, in her impression, whenever Hiyama Daisuke spoke to her, he would put on a fawning expression, and his eyes were extremely vulgar and disgusting. Every conversation made her feel very uncomfortable.
But this time was different. His expression was calm, and his eyes were very clear and bright, completely unlike his usual self.
It was as if he had become a different person!
Moreover, for some reason, her heart had started beating faster when he looked at her just now, and Shirazaki quickly lowered her head.
While Shirazaki Kaori was looking at him, Hiyama was also observing the young girl.
Long, lustrous black hair reaching her waist, a pair of moist, pitiful eyes, combined with a high nose bridge, a delicate nose, and pale red cherry lips, formed a perfect face.
She was a rare beauty.
No wonder the original owner of this body was so infatuated with her that he even went so far as to kill Nagumo Hajime, his classmate, for her!
A femme fatale must be referring to this kind of girl.
"Don't be fooled by him, Kaori, this Hiyama guy is full of bad intentions!"
Yaegashi Shizuku walked over, looking at Hiyama with disgust.
She was estimated to be around 175 centimeters tall, which was tall for a girl. Coupled with her firm physique, dignified aura, very long black ponytail, and a samurai sword at her waist, she looked just like a female warrior.
She was Shirazaki Kaori's childhood friend and they usually had a very good relationship.
Yaegashi Shizuku had always disliked Hiyama Daisuke because she believed Hiyama was just a scoundrel coveting Kaori.
And indeed, he was.
"Whether I'm a bad person or not, why don't you ask Nagumo Hajime?"
The current Hiyama was no longer the original Hiyama, he said calmly.
So everyone looked at Nagumo Hajime.
Nagumo Hajime was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Just now... he helped me."
"It seems Hiyama-kun isn't a bad person, Shizuku, you misunderstood!"
Shirazaki Kaori smiled innocently and said happily.
"Hmph!"
Yaegashi Shizuku snorted coldly, seemingly unable to accept it.
"Nagumo-kun, if anything else happens, don't hesitate to tell me, okay?"
"That way, Kaori can rest assured."
After thanking Hiyama, Shirazaki Kaori turned to Nagumo Hajime and said worriedly.
"Sure enough, this Shirazaki Kaori likes Nagumo Hajime."
Hiyama observed this scene and understood.
Poor original Hiyama Daisuke still naively thought that Nagumo was merely someone who was relatively close to Shirazaki Kaori.
But he didn't know that her heart was already taken from the start.
"Ding"
[Please choose]
"1. Glare at Nagumo Hajime with hateful eyes, gain an FFF Group Torch, and obtain the title 'Ineffectual Rage.'"