My Party Members, Once Again
Maria, Komachi, Chiaki, Kakko, Hisui - these are my party members. Though we've had our fair share of mishaps, including Kakko being in charge of DROTS, which has been acting up recently, they have all stayed loyal and committed to me.
Kakko and Hisui are not exactly the main members of the party, as they specialize in gathering information and working behind the scenes. However, they too need to be strengthened, and I intend to use my current savings to level them up.
Of course, time is of the essence, and there is no telling how far we can go in leveling them up. But, as I have a brilliant plan in mind, I know that it will all work out.
"Hehehe... Inspiration has struck!" I chuckled to myself.
"We need to move on to the second phase of the plan. Let's begin the "Weakest to Strongest" plan."
With that, I let out a wicked laugh, looking forward to seeing the results of my scheme.
.
.
.
I and Kakko were heading towards the public bathhouse on the day before the start of our consecutive holidays, just to have a meeting.
I simply wanted to go to the bathhouse.
We didn't talk about DROTS. I didn't see or hear anything.
Let's pretend we don't know anything. I think it was just a daydream that I saw.
Let's just leave it at that.
"You know, the day before consecutive holidays is the most exciting, isn't it?"
"Is it? I get excited before and after entering the bath, Amachi-kun."
Kakko looks like an ordinary male student.
He's not wearing his usual black outfit. He's calling me "Amachi-kun," not "Your Excellency."
That's because he's my friend when we're not in public.
"Tomorrow, I'm taking Kakko with me to the training camp as my friend."
"Oh."
"Of course, Hisui will also come, but we'll set her as your sister, girlfriend, or whatever you prefer."
"Hisui-san is coming too!? And she's going to be my... my girlfriend!?"
"What's with that surprised look? Well, calm down. It's just a role-playing game."
"No, it's just unexpected, that's all."
Kakko stumbled over his words.
"Anyway, it doesn't matter. Just come with me as my friend A or B. By the way, what's your real name?"
"T-That's too much! My name is Usui Kei!"
Kakko showed me his student ID with great force.
"Okay, okay, Kakko. Your real name hurts my eyes. It's like my instincts are telling me that your name is thin and light. Let's just call you 'Kei' during the training camp. That's settled now. Don't show me your student ID again."
"Th-That's terrible," Kakko said with a drooping shoulder.
"What are we going to do there?"
"I'm thinking of strengthening you and Hisui too."
"Oh, I see."
Kakko's mind is too quick.
"That's right. I think even shadows need a minimum level of combat ability. No, that's not it. I just want you to become stronger."
Kakko wore a face that suggested everything was going as planned.
"So, that means we'll be going to a training camp to strengthen ourselves. It'll also be useful for intelligence-gathering, won't it?"
"That's right."
When we arrived at the super sento, we washed each other's backs and then entered the sauna. With towels wrapped around our heads, we began to speak in hushed tones amongst the older gentlemen.
"First, we'll go down to the lower levels and train in the dungeon I know of. There are only weak monsters down there, so it shouldn't be a problem."
"I see. But, even if we defeat weak monsters, we won't obtain much magical essence, will we?"
"That's true. However..."
I taught Kakko about a monster called Metal Perippera and also about practical investments. I told him that it would require a huge amount of money.
He listened to me intently, sweating profusely.
"I see. Such a monster exists...but why do you know about it?"
Of course he would ask.
"That's top secret."
Kakko closed his eyes and said, "I understand. Let's leave it at that. It's pointless to ask any further questions."
"Right. That was quick. Now, here's the real point. My plan is to make you the Jet-Black Knight."
"The Jet-Black Knight...?"
"Yes. In the mid-term exam, that is, at the school martial arts festival, I want you to become one of the top-ranked fighters. You will debut as the Jet-Black Knight in that arena, shining brilliantly. You might even become the dark horse among dark horses and win the tournament."
I set my eyes on 'kakko'.
A plain appearance with no remarkable features, black hair and black eyes.
A typical Japanese person.
A man with a look that seems to have been designed by ordering a designer to create an ordinary male student with all uniqueness stripped away.
That's 'kakko.'
If you were to extract the 'average,' 'ordinary,' 'typical,' and 'common' traits of the general male population, 'kakko' would surely be the sample selected by a specialized organization.
That's... 'kakko.'
It's fitting for a plain-looking guy like him to be the jet-black knight. I'm planning to have him stand out in the martial arts festival. I want him to do that thing, going from weakest to strongest.
'Shadow Mob - The Jet-Black Knight, Weakest and Strongest of the Ordinary Me.'
Let's go with this title.
Wow, this could sell.
I sense the emergence of "The Great Producer Me."
"What?! That's impossible!"
"It's possible. Believe in me. Winning may be difficult, but I will definitely get you into the top 10."
"But..."
"Kakko, what was your favorite weapon again?"
"A sword."
"Excellent."
I clapped my hands casually.
"It's just normal. I can only use an ordinary sword without any special skills."
"That's fine. The jet-black knight is a traditional knight. To the point where you can't use anything other than a sword."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. And a black-bladed sword would also be eye-catching. What was your favorite magic again?"
"Spirit magic without any talent."
"That's okay!"
"Excellent!"
This is the Megashuva's weakest magic, yet it is also known as a special attack magic. In this world, it's considered spirit magic that lacks talent. However, this magic is a huge success. To aim for the strongest from the weakest, this magic is a jackpot. It manipulates mana and od, which are spirits and magical energy in this world. It has the ability to manipulate the od internal magical power within oneself and the external mana magical power in the atmosphere, which is outside the Yin Yang Five Elements. This non-combat type of magic can't create energy like fire or water outside the body, but it supports with the ability to manipulate mana and od.
"There's a technique called Drain Absorption in spirit magic. It's not an exaggeration to say that this magic was developed just for this purpose.That is the true purpose of spirit magic - to absorb and control od and mana. And the technique I want you to be able to use is a skill that drains the opponent's od. It's called Drain MP Absorption."
"Drain? I've never heard of it. Does it mean absorption?"
"Hahaha, that's right. You're so wise, Kakko-kun. From now on, you'll learn the extreme of martial arts. I'll teach you my "wisdom," the one and only knowledge. By combining this with Drain, you'll become a feared existence of the black storm."
"Only knowledge, and the black storm... it seems like the meanings overlap."
A gulp was heard in the sauna room. "Shut up!" I was embarrassed, so I barked at him for the time being.
It's a technique that undermines the opponent's od and confines them by reducing their MP, using only pure swordsmanship and arts. Spirit magic is difficult to master because it's non-combat-oriented, and only super-advanced users are allowed to use it.
The basic attack of Tsukasa's Kaiser Magnus, "MP Drain," is pseudo-recreated, depicting famine and balance.
"I'll train you, Kakko. You'll be born again as the craziest black swordsman," he said.
"Huh, um..." Kakko responded reluctantly.
"Your inherent shadow, my basic body technique and swordsmanship, and Drain. By combining these three things, you will walk a success story from weakest to strongest! You will thoroughly taste the feeling of 'serves you right!'" he explained.
"I don't really understand the latter half, but you mean to become stronger, right?" Kakko asked.
"Well, in a word, yes! Hey...it's hot, let's go out," he suggested.
"You're right. I was reaching my limit too," Kakko agreed.
"Wanna drink coffee milk?" he offered.
"Oh, I prefer mineral water," Kakko declined.
"Got it," he acknowledged.
The two of us left the sauna room together. Later on, we played table tennis with a drink bet and went home.