Chapter 11 - That it became like this finally is due to the three eroge aristocrats, though

The sage candidates, twenty-six people in all.

To be exact, the group including both the twenty-four people who had sage's skills along with Yogiri and Tomochika were guided to the residences on the royal castle's premises; though it was to be questioned whether the duo were candidates since they didn't have skills.

The building which could accommodate the twenty-six people perfectly seemed to be a kind of reception hall. If it was from the scale, it probably could even be called a 'petty castle'.

Upon coming to the entrance hall, the soldier guiding them left.

So once again, Yogiri and others decided to face their classmates. It was because he was hesitant to have a private talk in public.

"I think that there wasn't a mistake in my judgement to leave you guys behind. If I think about it now, there may have been another way of doing it, but it was because information was limited at that point in time, and there were limits to what could be done by our numbers." (Yazaki)

That was the first thing Yazaki said after opening his mouth. However, for him to say so purposefully, he also probably felt guilty.

The general class was what Yazaki got from his gift.

The general had the skill 'leadership', and due to that he was able to move a lot of people towards one goal. If that goal was something which could be agreed to, he could compel his classmates to abide to it to a certain extent.

So, the responsibility for the strategy of 'treat the incompetents as lures' was mostly Yazaki's. But then, their classmates also hadn't denied that heartless strategy, so they weren't without responsibility.

"It doesn't matter to me. In the first place, I was sleeping." (Yogiri)

To Yogiri, it was something inconsequential. From the start, he didn't have a good relationship with his classmates, nor did he think 'they betrayed me'.

"Speaking truthfully, I feel angry, but complaining about it after all this is depressing, so it doesn't matter anymore. Or, will there be some complaints if we come?" (Tomochika)

Tomochika's attitude was strong. It seemed that it was impossible to 'forgive and forget immediately'.

"That is--" (Yazaki)

"I think we should welcome the two of them linking up with us." (???)

When Yazaki hesitated to say something, a girl came out in front of him.

"Who?" (Yogiri)

Yogiri asked Tomochika who was next to him in a whisper.

"Eh? You mean you don't know Akino-san? I think she's awfully famous though." (Tomochika)

Tomochika said as if she was shocked, but what he didn't know couldn't be helped.

Her name was Akino Sora.

As Tomochika said, she was the leader of a nationally wide famous idol group. Following what she said, she seemed to be more refined than other girls, but if it was from Yogiri who didn't know much about idols, Tomochika seemed to be cute.

"They are one of our few friends in a parallel world we don't know much about, what will be done without cooperation?" (???->Akino)

"But...whether or not we can trust them is..." (Yazaki)

"Aren't you thinking like that because if you had the same experience, you would have a selfish feeling that'd tend heavily towards revenge?" (Akino)

With her saying so, Yazaki kept silent.

"I have a feeling that I heard Yazaki was the 'leader', but?" (Yogiri)

"I also thought so, but it somehow looks to be..." (Tomochika)

Since Akino came out, Yazaki's authority had disappeared completely.

"Though incompetent, I'm leading everyone now. Please treat me well, okay?" (Akino)

She probably noticed it when Yogiri and Tomochika were *whisper* talking to each other. Akino said so while smiling.

After a discussion in the lobby, everyone decided to go to their assigned rooms.

From the start, they were acting in teams. By having a room for each team, the assigning of rooms was decided without objections.

The team's rank seemed to have been decided by fighting strength, and Yogiri belonged to the lowest rank team.

"Oh yeah, although we're banned from entering the second floor, girls can move on the first floor as they please." (???)

One person who came with Yogiri complained upon entering the room.

The girls' second floor differentiated a lot from the first floor of boys.

"Yuugo-kun. Who are these guys, Takatou-kun? Do they have honor?" (???)

Another boy said. Three people-including Yogiri-were in the same group. They were separated into seven groups, so they were the '7th group'.

"Yeah. Who are you guys?" (Yogiri)

The room was large and spacious, and four beds were lined up.

Yogiri sat down on the couch in the reception corner. The other two sat on the other side so that they were aligned.

"Seriously!? Haven't I spoken to you enough? 'This and that'! You didn't try to speak to anyone, I thought 'It's no wonder he was isolated from the class'!" (???)

"Haha, Takatou-kun, you always had a sleepy face, so I guess you didn't listen much." (???)

The one with energy was Yuugo Izumida, and the timid one was Yukimasa Aihara

"Well, what 'please treat me well' is with the fellow leftover students in our 'unusable group'!" (???->Yuugo)

"Yuugo-kun. Takatou-kun is unevaluated, so he just came to us for the time being, and we don't know whether or not he's a leftover yet?" (???->Yukimasa)

"Ah, is that right? But, he can only kill insects, right?" (Yuugo)

As was decided beforehand, Yogiri's class was insect hunter, and he reported his ability 'insect killer'.

They explained that 'their delayed gifts manifested', but it looked like there wasn't any suspicion in particular at present.

"Yeah. What are your guys' powers?" (Yogiri)

"My class is cook. Meals, even if prepared halfheartedly, have good taste at least-it's useless for combat." (Yuugo)

"Mine is reader. It's the ability to be able to read books written in any language.1 I'm pleased with it, but I think it's useless in battle, the same as Yuugo-kun." (Yukimasa)

"It seems that the ability reflects the hobbies, character, personality, and stuff like that the person themself had originally. Certainly I was aiming for a cook, and Yukimasa liked books. So, as it's like that, does Takatou have a hate for insects or something like that?" (Yuugo)

"I don't know. I hate mosquitoes because they're irritating." (Yogiri)

"Doesn't everyone hate them?" (Yuugo)

Yogiri hadn't taken into account as far as about the trend of abilities that manifested. If that was the case, it may be easier for their plan to pass by him continuing to hate insects.

"Which reminds me, is it fine if I ask you what's happened so far? What everyone in the class has done is on my mind. Yazaki took control at the beginning, didn't he?" (Yogiri)

"Aah, that. How it became the current situation is because the men's side became few. The boys are eleven. The girls are fifteen. The men's side was numerous originally, but many of them went somewhere of their own accord." (Yuugo)

Three people among those who disappeared probably encountered Yogiri upon him leaving the bus. The boys should have been nineteen people, so they had decreased considerably.

"Well, that it became like this finally is due to the three eroge aristocrats, though." (Yuugo)

"'That' is--" (Yogiri)

It seemed it was about the matter where the eroge baron said such things. If it was 'three aristocrats', then it appeared there was two other barons.

Interest emerged, so he tried to listen, but then they heard a knock at the door.

Yukimasa stood up, and went to open the door.

What entered was a boy who was looking down with long hair.

"Ge. Fukai, right? What do you want?" (Yuugo)

Yuugo's face blatantly scowled.

"...Ta-Takatou-kun...i-is it fine, if we, talk a little..." (???)

Whether or not he was nervous, he spoke while stuttering.

Of course, Yogiri also didn't know about that boy.

"So, what is the eroge baron!?" (Tomochika)

In the room assigned to her on the second floor, Tomochika asked her classmate in the same room.

"The foremost thing on your mind is that!? Why are you pitching forward, as if to fall, like that!" (???)

What responded to her was Shijou Juna.

Jōgasaki Rumiko was also in the room, and these three people were called the sixth group.

The groups were a policy of 'to not mix men and women', and this group was the lowest rank among the girls. It seemed that battles were entrusted to groups one through five.

"Sorry…for leaving Tomochii." (Rumiko)

Rumiko said with a carefree tone of voice.

They were relaxing on the couch.

"Aah, I'm also sorry for that. Although Tomochika said 'it doesn't matter', I'll apologize." (???->Juna)

"Well, it's fine. I guess it couldn't be helped. So, the baron?" (Tomochika)

"You're really getting into the baron..." (Juna)

Juna looked amazed.

"Well, those guys are probably the cause of the current situation, so I'll talk while including that area. The eroge master Ushio Shinya, the eroge meister Munakata Keiichi, and the eroge enthusiast Yatate Mitsuo. Someone suggested it, and those guys were called the three eroge aristocrats." (Juna)

"Eh? That eroge whatever is an arbitrary class name?" (Tomochika)

"Yep." (Juna)

"That's quite cruel!" (Tomochika)

"And, whoever suggested it, Ushio is called the eroge baron. Munakata is called the eroge marquis. Yatate is called eroge earl." (Juna)

"Someone suggested that? They're full of ill will, aren't they!?" (Tomochika)

"Despite saying that, you seem to be having fun, Tomochika!" (Rumiko)

"Eh, I don't think it's like that, but by all means, keep talking." (Tomochika)

"So, well, things like the classes were things the sage gave, and even though they became bad classes, it doesn't mean the person himself is bad...I thought that, but when the classes of everyone were checked, I understood that this class seemed to reflect the nature of the person himself." (Juna)

"Yep. Ushio-kun and others played games like that frequently. So, the girls consulted with everyone." (Rumiko)

Rumiko supplemented.

"No, well, isn't boys doing things like that inevitable? I mean, everyone does it more or less." (Tomochika)

Tomochika was someone who played games frequently, so she understood still.

"Well, there were also those who tried to show understanding to them doing that. Their abilities being, Ushio stops time. Munakata turns transparent. Yatate establishes a tentacle." (Juna)

"His ability is 'tentacle'!?" (Tomochika)

"Ah, you're really into that. Yep. It's the ability to grow a tentacle in the spot he likes. I saw it for real, but speaking clearly, it was disgusting. So. We definitely couldn't be together with those guys who did eroge to the point that the abilities to do whatever eroge like that manifested, furthermore, who awakened abilities giving free reign to their perversion. 'This' is close to psychological disgust already. In the beginning, Yazaki faced on as the leader, but he wasn't able to settle those guys. So, Akino-san attempted to improve the situation." (Juna)

"Akino-san's class is idol." (Rumiko)

"Well, I guess it's natural as she's an actual idol." (Tomochika)

Listening to Rumiko's explanation, Tomochika thought it was like that.

"Aah, this 'idol' seems to be in the meaning of 'an idol by nature'. The religious meaning is--" (Rumiko)

Then, they heard a knock at the door, and the three people looked at each other.

There weren't any plans in particular for someone to come.

Tomochika stood up, and went to open the door.

Who came into sight were Ryouko Ninomiya and Carol S Lane.

"Um! Dannoura-san! Can we chat for a bit!" (Ryouko)

Looking at Tomochika's face, Ryouko braced herself and spoke to her.

"It's fine, but are you entering?" (Tomochika)

Despite Tomochika replying that, she was thinking in doubt. It was because the two were people she didn't have contact with in particular before this.

"No, it's a private discussion, so can I have you come out?" (Ryouko)

"Eh? Well, even if you suddenly say such a thing..." (Tomochika)

Tomochika thought in doubt. Ryouko, who was impatient, and Carol, who was calm. The combination of these two was also strange.

"It is a discussion about Takatou-kun! Please! I think you can help!" (Ryouko)

"...I understand. I'll go out for a bit." (Tomochika)

Tomochika spoke to the two inside.

She had suspicion, but they looked too desperate. Besides, if it was something about Yogiri, there was no way she could ignore it.