World View

"They're coming at us from all sides, it's hopeless."

Said the man with red hair, while pacing across the room. The nervous sighs coming from most of the people here only serve to agree with him.

"No, we can't give up yet! These monsters are not that smart so we have to think of a plan."

The blonde haired baby-faced kid wearing golden robes and holding a staff way too large for him exclaims in a voice trying to encourage everyone.

He seems to be thinking we can get through this with one brilliant plan to kill the enemies in one fell swoop, such as using new magic, but that was...

Impossible.

The waves of demons and demonic beasts may be dumb, but their strength is many times more than the average knight.

Putting how strong they are aside, even their numbers are nothing to scoff at. There are at least more than a few thousand out there.

Which is why I say it is impossible. Plans against absolute strength can only be meaningless.

But, it seems I cannot win against the positivity of this little mage in front of me. He might still be a kid, but he has large ambitions.

He cannot afford to die here.

That's why...

"Hmm, commander? Wha-where are you going?"

The woman whose face was covered in a veil asked me after noticing I had stood up. She really is a perceptive one, even though I didn't make a sound.

"Where else? Of course its to get rid of some monsters. You guys can just go back to the capital and wait for me. It might take a little while."

An enigmatic voice full of bravado sounds out from my mouth as I don my cloak and equip my sword.

"Captain! Don't be like this!"

"That's right, don't be impulsive. Even if you are the commander, you can't get yourself killed for no reason. I won't allow it!"

"Let's just teleport away, a strategic retreat isn't that bad is it? There is absolutely no need for you to go out there alone, great hero!"

As if my words had caused ripples and waves in a calm lake, all of my comrades talk me out of it.

I know.

I know it as well.

This was a suicide mission.

But, there was no other person here who could do it.

Even if there was, I'd still go.

Still, I doubt they will let me go that easily.

"Haha, do you guys see that over there?"

I said, pointing my finger outside the window to a far off area, effectively silencing the room.

"That is..."

"....."

They try to answer back, but it seems they understood it as well.

"It's a city. A city full of people."

I continue.

"Thousands of lives are depending on us, on me. They, the weak who cannot defend themselves against the demons are counting on me."

Even though it sounds hypocritical, I don't mind.

People are born weak.

It is not their fault.

At least, that's what I thought then.

"Don't worry. I won't die that easily. Let's meet again at the bar we always drink at, like usual."

"Commander..."

"Captain, I-I'll..."

"If the great hero is going out there, I shall accompany you for a while then!"

"No. You guys have to stay in the capital in case those nobles have any ideas of surrendering without a fight."

"But, all right. We will follow your orders captain!"

"Don't die alright. We'll be waiting for you."

"Ah, of course. Then, here I go!"

Turning my back on those friends I shared many memories together, I leave through the door with a bright, confident smile.

•

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"....hey."

*Poke*

"..."

"Hey."

*Pat*

"..."

"HEY!"

As the slap was coming towards my head, I instinctively react and grab the wrist of the attacker.

"Oi-wha!"

Before the attacker could even react, I had spun the hand backwards and made the assailant do a backflip, plummeting into the ground.

An effective way to neutralise someone, indeed.

"It hurts! What's with you freshman? I was only trying to wake you up and I get flipped over!?"

A high-pitched complaint makes its way into my ears. Ah, how I wish I could control my eardrums into shutting out specific sounds.

"Hey are you listening to me? I know you're awake already, stop ignoring me! Besides, what are you doing skipping class on the first semester? Did you know that most students..."

Ah, it's starting again.

She rants like this almost everyday.

It is troublesome.

All of it.

"I ask this each time, but why me?"

"Eh?"

When I finally spoke, the troublesome girl stopped in shock, as if it was something to be surprised at.

In fact, I'm more surprised as to why this girl didn't give up yet. Considering all the pain I put her through in the whole of this week.

Even now, she's shrugging off how her forehead is bleeding due to the way she crashed into the floor.

Just to be clear. It was self-defense.

I do not care about gender rights or any of that crap.

In my eyes, every one else is equal.

Yeah right.

Whatever, thinking about this too much is troublesome so let's stop.

"So you've finally gotten interested huh?"

As if she won some big prize, her face quickly blooms into a complacent and smug grin.

What the hell.

"No, no, didn't I just say it. I ask this question each time. You only give me some vague quotes found on the internet every time I ask so its a pain to keep repeating this skit everyday."

That might be the most words I've spoken to someone in a long while. I can't help it.

I don't know if this girl was stupid or just plain stubborn but I had the troublesome feeling that if I don't make things clear, she won't go away.

Just thinking about that gives me the feeling of fear.

I just wish that people could just explode and disappear. Don't bother me, and don't even breathe.

It's not an exaggeration.

I literally want all troublesome things to leave me alone, and since most of them come from people, I want them to stay the hell away from me as well.

"Indeed. The man given a day is a fish. While the man that taught a fish how to swim is for a lifetime."

Ah.

This is it.

"No, didn't I just say that I want a real answer? And what's with the man turning into a fish, is he some kind of mutant? Why the hell do you need to teach a fish to swim anyway, and what lifetime!?"

I feel my blood begin to boil.

Even though I am a cold person to begin with.

But what the hell is up with this girl and her obviously butchered proverbs!?

Is she doing this on purpose? She is, isn't she?

Troublesome. Troublesome. Troublesome.

Really troublesome.

My emotions are running out of control.

I really want to punch a bear right now.

No, it doesn't have to be a bear. I just wanna punch something to get rid of this annoying feeling.

*Cough*

Clearing her throat, the girl interrupts my thoughts.

"Then let me say it once more, Kurokami Shinji."

"....Don't call me by my full name like were close."

"Eh, why!?"

"It's troublesome."

"What is with that!? I'm your senior you know?"

"I don't care."

"Ahh, you will definitely join my student council today-Oi, don't walk away! Stop!"

I won't.

"I won't join. Please don't bother me again. Please don't talk to me or come near me. In fact, just stop thinking about me entirely, got it?"

I say it once more to repeat my point.

"Isn't that too much!?"

I don't reply but I shrug in response as I open the door from the rooftop towards the stairs.

"It's troublesome after all."

I mutter to myself as my lips unconsciously turn upwards. A tinge of warmth was felt in my chest.

Today, might not be too bad.