Training and preparation

It's been two weeks since the day everyone got a status card.

Currently, Kazuto was doing his regular sword training in the training ground where other students were also doing their own independent training.

At the same, time hajime entered and also started doing his own independent practice. But it looks like he won't be able to do so as other boys once again started to bully him.

"Yo, Nagumo, what are you doing? There is no meaning with you carrying that sword, you are so useless after all~"

"Hey, Hiyama that was overboard! Even if that is the truth, you don't have to say it out~ Wehehehehe"

"Why do you come for every training! If it was me, I would have been too ashamed of myself! Heh-heh-heh"

"Ah, Daisuke, since that fellow is so pitiful, why don't let him train with us?"

Hiyama and the rest were laughing like madman, was there any meaning to this?

"Ah? Hey hey, Shinji, aren't you being too nice? Oh, actually I am also a nice guy, let's train together~"

"Oh oh, good idea. We are super nice. We are willing to spend our precious time to help this incompetent fellow~. Nagumo~ you must be grateful, right?"

After saying their piece, Hiyama and gang was all smiles as they brought Hajime to a secluded place shoulder to shoulder. Moreover, the classmates who noticed this scene also turned a blind eye to it except from kazuto who was following them silently.

"No, I am alright being alone, you can leave me by my lonesome self."

As such, Hajime tried to reject it.

"Ha? We are going out of the way to train the useless you, and yet you were saying this to us? You are being unreasonable. You just need to remain silent, and say 'thank you' afterwards. Just that sentence will be enough!"

As Hiyama said that, he hit Hajime in the side. "Urgh!" Hajime let out a groan as his face distorted in pain.

Kazuto sighed looking at this scene and started walking towards the boys. For him, it didn't matter, if they bully hajime verbally, but if they start to abuse the power they have, then he can't stand it. He never really liked these people and now they even started being drunk on their own power, so he was going to teach them a lesson. Although, he doesn't like being a hero and doing good things but he has to do so because they are his classmates and it would be bad if they keep being like this.

"Oh, it looks like you guys are training rather diligently, why don't I help you guys train properly." Kazuto said while blocking hiyama's punch with his western wooden sword and pushed him back using force with his sword.

Hearing his voice hiyama and the other showed surprised expression, after which they nodded to each other and started to attack him. Until now, they have not fought against much strong opponents, and kazuto has also never shown his full power, as he mostly trains his sword skills on the training ground and other things in the night. So, they thought that they can defeat Kazuto if they are together and started attacking him.

Kondo lunged towards kazuto with his sword slashing downwards, and at the same time nakano launched a fireball, while seito used his windball to attack him.

"Burn my target, [Fireball]"

"Slice my target, [Windball]"

Kazuto just looked at the coming attacks with same expression as before and parried kondo's sword with his own. He also used his barrier to block the incoming projectiles.

"Protect me, [barrier]"

After that, he kicked kondo on the gut and launced him forward, making him land on top of nakano. With swift movement kazuto came in front of seito and punched him straight towards hiyama. To tell the truth, Kazuto also wanted to fight against someone strong and test his strength against others, but he was disappointed as they were not even enough for his warm up.

Just as the fight finished Kaori, Shizuku, Kouki, and Ryutaro came towards the area.

Seeing hajime on the ground with a hurt expression, kaori ignored everything else and rushed towards him.

"Nagumo-kun!" She immediately casted a healing spell at hajime and then let out a relieved smile. Afterwards, she turned towards kazuto and the other four boys and asked them in a angry voice.

"Who did this?"

But no one answered her as the four boys were on the ground groaning in pain, while kazuto was clearly not interested in making them understand the situation. It was good that shizuku was here, as she saved him from getting interrogated by his classmates.

"It looks like those guys were bullying hajime, while kazuto saved him."

Shizuku said, as she knew the four boys were always bullying hajime and she also knew kazuto's personality well.

"It's fine guys, and its not like I am hurt much, so let's go, training is starting soon."

Not wanting to escalate the situation further, hajime started talking in hopes to end this situation. Hearing hajime's word Kaori reluctantly stopped glaring at the boys and began walking towards the training ground.

It was all fine till now, as they were going towards training ground in silence but kouki once again started to talk, as he made the situation to be what he believes without himself realising it.

"But, Nagumo should work harder too. Excuses will not help you become stronger. I have heard that during the break time, you are always in the library. I suppose that should stop now. If I was you, I will spend every moment of my free time training to become stronger. Nagumo, you should also be more serious, otherwise, Hiyama and his gang might bully you again."

Hearing kouki's word hajime was dazed but shizuku who really understood the situation heaved a sigh and apologized to hajime in a low voice.

****

Usually after the training ended, they would have free time till dinner time. However this time, Commander Meld held everybody back for an announcement. The students were wondering what was going on as Commander Meld used a deep voice to announce.

"From tomorrow onward, we will be conducting our practical training in Orcus Great Dungeon. All the necessary equipment will be prepared by us, I want to use the Magic Beasts outside the capital as practice target. More importantly, get your spirits up! Have a good rest tonight! Dismiss!"

He quickly conveyed the important announcement like this. Amongst the hustling and bustling of the students, Kazuto was also there as heard the information and thought about his future.