Climbing the Mountain

The next day.

The sun shone brightly over the Nagano mountains, the air cool and refreshing.

Members of Ohananomitsu High School's Archery Club had gathered in an open area near the inn, dressed in their matching sports uniforms. They were preparing to begin the real summer camp training.

"…"

Ren walked leisurely beside the Archery Club advisor, Kirisu Mafuyu, who was also in sportswear.

Though the day had just begun, Ren could sense an aura of exhaustion from her.

Mafuyu maintained her cold expression, as if the world owed her a debt, but her breathing was slightly uneven, and faint beads of sweat glistened on her forehead.

"Is Kirisu-sensei okay?"

"No, I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

Mafuyu glanced at him briefly, hiding her fatigue.

The Ohananomitsu High School Archery Club held its summer training camp in the mountains for a reason. Physical training in such an environment was designed to enhance strength, endurance, focus, and stability—all critical elements for achieving accuracy in archery.

The mountainous terrain offered additional challenges like uneven ground, altitude, and thinner air, which could be leveraged to train both body and mind to the extreme.

As the advisor, Mafuyu didn't want to be a burden to the club members, especially in front of her students. That's why she pushed herself.

"Oh, okay. If Kirisu-sensei gets tired, don't hesitate to say so."

Of course, Ren knew Mafuyu was lying. But he didn't care. Dealing with cold women like Mafuyu or Yukino felt like too much effort to persuade or understand.

Let them keep their pride and refusal of help. It wasn't his business.

Ignoring Mafuyu, Ren quickened his pace, walking alongside Umi—his next target for his harem.

"How're you holding up, Umi? Still good? If you're tired, I can carry you on my back~ Or do you prefer a princess carry?"

His tone was soft and caring, a stark contrast to his indifference toward Mafuyu.

Umi turned to him, her cheeks slightly flushed. She hadn't expected Ren to say something like that during training.

"I didn't know Ren-senpai was such a flirt. You say those words so smoothly—how many women have you charmed?"

"Why? Jealous? Or are you interested in being one of them?"

Ren chuckled softly, glancing around. Some nearby club members, including Ryōhei and Minato, stole glances, their faces showing amused smiles or curious looks.

"W-What is Senpai talking about?! Of course not!"

Umi deflected quickly, her voice catching slightly.

Ren leaned closer, whispering in her ear.

"Don't forget, Umi. You owe me a date for coming to this summer camp."

"Senpai, please don't tease me in front of everyone. It's embarrassing."

"So it's okay if I tease you when we're alone?"

"…"

Umi couldn't respond. Her cheeks now visibly redder, she chose to escape the awkward situation.

She quickened her pace, hurrying to Noa and the other girls in the group, leaving Ren smiling behind her.

(So innocent. If we're talking game difficulty preferences, conquering Sonoda Umi is easy mode.)

Ren watched Umi's retreating figure, confident he'd already planted the seeds of attraction.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

After about 20 minutes of hiking up the mountain trail, the Archery Club group reached a clear stream.

The sound of gently flowing water greeted them, a contrast to the silence of the forest they'd just passed through.

The girls, in particular, were instantly captivated by the stunning scenery.

The stream's water was so clear it flowed over smooth rocks, revealing small fish swimming near the calm surface, occasionally reflecting sunlight filtering through the leaves.

"…"

Umi, still a bit shy and awkward from Ren's teasing, widened her eyes in awe.

"Wow… it's so beautiful! The water's so clear you can see the fish. I've never seen a stream this clean in Tokyo."

Stepping to the stream's edge, Noa reached out to touch the water's surface.

"It's cold and refreshing. I kind of want to jump in right now."

"Look! There are so many fish! I want to catch them! Can we play in the water, Senpai?!" Rika looked at Seiya with sparkling eyes.

Yuna approached the stream's edge, taking a deep breath to savor the pure mountain air.

"It's so calming… I feel like all my fear from last night vanished seeing such a beautiful view."

"Haah… Haah… Haah…"

Unlike the girls' high spirits, enthralled by the stream's beauty, Mafuyu sat on the ground, leaning against a large tree.

She tried to appear calm, but her chest's irregular rise and fall betrayed how exhausted she was after the hike and training preparations.

Mafuyu was indeed pushing herself, unwilling to appear weak in front of her students.

Still, seeing the female students now playing at the stream's edge, laughing and splashing water at each other, a faint, fleeting smile appeared on her face.

It lasted only a moment before her usual cold expression returned.

Meanwhile, the boys, led by Seiya and assisted by Ryōhei, Minato, Nanao, and Kaito, began setting up training equipment.

Bows were unpacked, arrows neatly arranged in quivers, chest protectors for the girls prepared, and face targets placed on the ground.

They set up a training area by the stream's wide bank, ensuring everything was ready for the upcoming archery session.

Since Ren was no longer an official Archery Club member and was only an invited guest to assist with training, he didn't need to help with setup. He was free to do as he pleased.

Not wanting to disturb Umi and the other girls enjoying their time at the stream, Ren decided to wander the area.

(Hm? Trouble follows protagonists wherever they go. But I'm not a protagonist, so I don't want trouble.)

(Get lost!)

Silently, he deactivated his Selfless State.

*BUZZ!*

His aura as a Campione radiated outward, emitting a powerful dominating pressure.

It intimidated the yokai in the surrounding environment.

Since arriving, Ren had sensed their presence. Now, he detected kappa and other water yokai beneath the stream, slowly approaching the girls.

Though not always dangerous, they could be nuisances or even draw attention if they got too close.

Ren didn't want unnecessary incidents during training. The pressure from his aura should be enough to keep them at bay, too intimidated to approach humans.

"If a training camp like this could already cause problems without me here, I wonder how other clubs holding summer camps are faring."

"Without proper supervision, they might face incidents they can't handle."

"Japan's getting less safe lately."