"Eh? Eh eh eh?!"
"Rin... Senior Rin?!"
"Are you serious?"
"That kind... that kind of otherworld that sounds dangerous just by listening to it..."
"And you have to leave here..."
Hearing this, Mozunono, who had been shrinking in the back acting as background scenery, instantly widened her eyes. It was as if she had seen the sun rise from the west, her face filled with disbelief.
She was still tightly clutching that baton which had been returned by Haimer, her knuckles turning white from excessive force.
For her, Onigawara Rin was not just a senior, but also her aspiration in Kendo.
That Senior Rin, who always wore a mask and was stricter yet more upright than anyone else—how could she suddenly want to abandon everything at the academy?
"I have thought it through very clearly, Nono."
Onigawara Rin did not look back, but her voice was exceptionally firm.
Her back was straightened, as if she intended to straighten her backbone for a lifetime in this very moment.
"I have already... made up my mind to change."
With that said.
Onigawara Rin stepped forward, walking firmly to Haimer's side, standing shoulder to shoulder with Inaba Tsukuyo.
At this point.
Among the Five Swords, three had already stood by Haimer's side.
The originally balanced situation tilted instantly.
Pressure.
A tangible pressure instantly poured entirely onto the remaining two people.
Kikakujou Mary, and Hanasaka Warabi, who still had her head buried in the bear's belly.
The air inside the gymnasium seemed to become viscous.
All gazes, whether it was Haimer's stare that was as calm as an abyss, or the scrutinizing looks of the three who had already made their decision, felt like needles piercing into them.
"..."
Kikakujou Mary tightly hugged the thick, heavy dictionary in her arms.
Her fingernails dug deeply into the book cover.
Go?
Or stay?
This should have been a serious proposition concerning life and death.
Reason told her that staying in this academy, where she had a privileged life and the status of a young lady, was the most correct choice.
After all, who would be willing to risk their lives fighting those monsters that sounded disgusting and dangerous?
But.
In this moment.
In Kikakujou Mary's mind, rational analysis was instead completely submerged by another, more intense emotion.
—That was that Onigawara Rin was going!
That Onigawara Rin, whom she usually mocked for wearing a tacky mask and being a stickler for rules like an old fogey.
The guy who, in her view, was always indecisive.
This time, she actually chose that path filled with thorns without hesitation.
And what about herself?
Was she to shrink here like a quail at this moment?
To be outdone like this.
If she retreated at a time like this, it would mean losing to Onigawara Rin.
This feeling was simply ten thousand times more unbearable than letting her die!
"Ahhh! Seriously!"
Thinking of this, Kikakujou Mary irritably ruffled her golden hair, which was usually meticulously groomed and never allowed to have a single strand out of place.
Then.
Bang!
That heavy dictionary, which she treated as a treasure and took everywhere she went, was ruthlessly slammed onto the floor by her.
"If we're going, we're going!"
"Who's afraid of whom!"
"Anyway, I've had enough of staying here all day too!"
"Since even a coward like Rin dares to go, then what is there for this young lady to be afraid of!"
Finished speaking.
As if to prove her determination, she didn't even pick up that dictionary, striding purposefully to Haimer's other side.
She even deliberately bumped Onigawara Rin with her shoulder, letting out a cold hmph.
Thus.
Four people had taken their places.
Now.
Everyone's gaze finally fell upon that figure still sitting on the ground, burying her entire head into the black bear's thick belly.
Hanasaka Warabi.
This young girl, whose appearance was as petite as an elementary schooler, was currently acting like an ostrich, attempting to use that black bear to isolate herself from reality.
One could still hear the mumbled, indistinct muttering coming from her mouth.
"Uuu..."
"Are we going? Are we really going?"
"It sounds so scary... I'll die, right? I'll definitely die, right?"
"But..."
Hanasaka Warabi couldn't help but quietly lift her head from the thick bear fur, revealing a pair of timid, large eyes.
She cautiously scanned the circle of four people already standing beside Haimer.
Amou Kirukiru looked down from above.
Kikakujou Mary raised her chin.
Even Nomura Satori.
At this moment, she was looking at her with a smile, tilting her head as if saying: "Oh my, so Student Warabi is going to be left behind~"
If the others weren't going.
Even if only one person accompanied her, she would definitely be the first to raise her hand in favor of staying.
But now.
Everyone else was going.
Only she would be left behind?
"Hiss!"
"I'll go too! It's fine if I go too, isn't it!"
Thinking to this point, Hanasaka Warabi jumped up from the ground, stomped her feet vigorously, and then, as if to embolden herself, looked at the black bear which was still looking bewildered.
"Since everyone is going..."
"Don't you think about running either!"
With that said.
Hanasaka Warabi grabbed the thick chain on the black bear's neck.
"You're coming with me too!"
"If we're going to die, we die together!"
"Awo?!"
As soon as these words came out, the black bear instantly let out a tragic cry of disbelief.
It stared with its pair of black bean eyes, looking at its owner who, although usually unreliable, at least treated animals with care.
The bear's face was written with despairing messages of "Are you sick?" and "Let the bear go."
It was only here to watch the show!
Why was it being dragged along to be cannon fodder too!
"Yii yii yii!!"
However.
Even though the black bear clawed at the ground with all four paws, carving deep scratch marks into the floor and letting out miserable cries.
Ultimately.
It was still forcibly dragged before Haimer with no other choice.
At this point.
The Supreme Five Swords, along with the Empress Amou Kirukiru.
All members assembled.
However.
Looking at their expressions, which looked as if they were viewing death as a return home, as if they were going to the execution ground the next second.
Haimer couldn't help but shake his head, feeling a wave of helplessness.
"Alright."
"Reign in those expressions."
"Why is every single one of you putting on this kind of face?"
"Although I said it is a world with no way of retreat."
"I didn't say I would throw you over to feed the monsters immediately right now."
"There's no need to act like it's a life-or-death parting."
"Besides, I am not some unreasonable Evil God."
"Since you have already made your resolve and handed your lives over to me."
"Then."
"Naturally, I will also leave you a little time."
"Go deal with your ties to this world."
"Whether it's saying goodbye to friends, packing luggage, or eating something you want to eat for the last time."
"Whatever you want to bring, whatever you can't let go of, go solve it quickly."
"Then, come with me unburdened."
"I won't wait if you're late."
Once these words came out, the originally somewhat tragic atmosphere collapsed instantly.
The girls, whose nerves were originally taut, instantly let out long sighs of relief like deflated rubber balls.
"Phew..."
Hanasaka Warabi sat directly on the ground on her butt, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead with no regard for her image.
"Scared me to death... I thought we were going to be sent to our deaths immediately..."
Kikakujou Mary also swayed, hurriedly picking up the dictionary on the ground and hugging it in her arms.
Even Onigawara Rin, who had truly made up her mind, restrained the determination in her eyes slightly, adding a trace of complex emotion.
After all.
If one really has to leave completely, who can truly have no attachments?
Thus.
For the next few hours, Aichi Symbiosis Academy fell into a commotion.
After all.
News spreads very fast.
Or rather.
These few were the focal points of the academy to begin with.
The moment they made their decision.
Those girls who had always followed behind them quickly learned of everything.
Inside the girls' dormitory.
A group of people were waiting with various expressions.
"Senior Rin..."
Mozunono stood at the very front, her hand tightly clutching that white expandable baton that Haimer had returned.
Watching Onigawara Rin walk out of the room.
Mozunono, who had always stuck to Onigawara Rin like a shadow, was anxious to the point that her eyes were red, tears swirling within them.
"Do you... do you really have to go?"
"In the future... who will teach me swordsmanship? Who will take me on patrol?"
"Without Senior Rin here... I can't do it alone!"
Onigawara Rin stopped her steps, looking at this junior who had always relied on her.
She couldn't help but sigh, reaching out to stroke Mozunono's head, her eyes complex.
"Nono."
"You are no longer a child."
"You are also a swordsman of the Jikishinkage-ryu."
"A swordsman cannot hide behind others forever."
"Since you have already become a candidate for the next Five Swords, you must learn to stand up by yourself."
"My sword has already found a new direction."
"And you."
"You must also find the path that belongs to you."
"The academy hereafter is entrusted to you."
"This is a trial, and also an opportunity."
On the other side.
Ubaragasaki Choka was wrapping herself into a cocoon with that long whip, trying to stop Kikakujou Mary from packing her luggage.
"Miss Mary! You cannot abandon me!"
"Without your elegant guidance, my whip technique... my whip technique will become as weak and powerless as noodles!"
"Shut up! Choka!"
Kikakujou Mary roared impatiently while stuffing various skincare products and strange rapier maintenance oils into her suitcase.
"This young lady is going to conquer another world! Not to go on vacation!"
"Besides, if I don't leave, you will always just be a follower!"
"Stick your chest out for me! Don't embarrass this young lady!"
As for Hanasaka Warabi.
She was currently surrounded by a group of people.
Those were her subordinates—the Three Beast Generals.
Touko Tsunemi held an iron fan in her hand, her face full of worry.
Tanukihara Kinue had a pencil clipped on her ear, unconsciously tapping the dual batons in her hand.
Sawatari Niko pushed up the goggles on her face, tightly gripping the adjustable wrench in her hand.
"Boss..."
"Are you really not taking us?"
"We are the Three Beast Generals! We swore to follow Boss forever!"
"Idiots!"
"That kind of place is very dangerous!"
Hanasaka Warabi corrected, then pointed to the black bear behind her that was licking a fluffy little bear cub—Kyoubou.
"Moreover, not only am I going."
"Kyoubou is going too!"
"And Kyoubou's child, this little guy who was just born, is coming along too!"
"With Kyoubou and me gone, someone has to stay here to watch the house, right?"
"Otherwise, what if those boys in the academy rebel?"
"You guys watch over things properly for me!"
"Wait for me..."
"When I become a great hero, I will definitely come back to see you guys."
____
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