ーーYou won't be able to return to him until the Demon King is defeated.
The students, hearing this, began to reluctantly pray for their abilities to manifest, while casting pitying glances at the otaku boy lying on the floor in tears.
One by one, combat-specialized abilities began to appear above their heads.
Holy Sword User (Saber Slash), Infinite Mana (Over Energy), Mass Intelligence (Ultimate Technology).
Abilities that could wield holy swords, cast endless magic, and access the world's knowledge as their own.
The so-called "cheat abilities" appeared one after another.
Appraisal seemed to be truly a loser skill.
The other otaku friend had Dragonification (Dragonic Metamorphose) and Physical Attack Reflection (Ippoo Tsukoo), both impressive abilities. They consoled the Appraisal Otaku, but their smiles betrayed their relief that they were not in his position.
Scum to the core.
"As expected of the otherworld Saints. You've obtained abilities impossible for us to control."
"Just like the legends... it seems."
"Yes, my King! Peace will come to our country with this!"
The three leaders looked pleased, which made Ran very angry.
They distorted the lives of 21 ordinary people and yet they were pleased?
They used the threat of being unable to return home unless the Demon King was defeated to prevent any rebellion.
They summoned them selfishly and planned to use them for war without considering Ran and the others' feelings.
Ran, unusually angry, glared at them.
"...And what the hell is my ability?"
"Underling Training (Lunatic Sexual)."
Four words floated above Ran's head.
The ability seemed to allow him to train monsters and make them his servants. But the name—especially the ruby text (small Hiragana/Katakana above the Kanji)—was problematic.
Lunatic Sexual. Literally translating, it implied driving someone insane through sex.
Everyone's gaze turned painful.
It was different from the Appraisal Otaku. The girls looked at him strangely, and the boys muttered, "Uwaa, nai waa," and averted their eyes.
"Hohou, Kirishima-kun, what a filthy ability you have."
The Appraisal Otaku pointed at Ran, having found someone he could feel superior to. Though he was glared at with intense hatred, he shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
"Furthermore, isn't this ability only usable on women? What are you planning to do to those pure schoolgirls, turn them into your servants and train them?"
The glances from around became even more unpleasant. But it wasn't just Ran. The Appraisal Otaku was also being looked at disdainfully.
He reaped what he sowed.
"My ability can't be used in direct battle anyway. At least it won't harm my companions," he said, adjusting his glasses.
Of course, it was said in an unpleasant way.
"It's painful to be around you. What do you think, girls? He might turn you into an ero-doujin character while you sleep."
Ero-doujin, you say...
Ran wanted to retort, but he couldn't say anything. It didn't change the fact that his ability was Underling Training. Even if Ran had good communication skills, it wouldn't help now. He was being looked at with fear from everywhere, and it became uncomfortable.
"Hey, glasses, you've said too much!"
The class president, Torao Shigenobu, who had been quarreling with a girl earlier, placed his hand on the Appraisal Otaku's shoulder.
By the way, Torao's ability was Tigerfication (Fang Metamorphose). It changed his body just as the name suggested.
Torao Shigenobu was a twisted yet very popular good-looking guy. With an honest mind and body, he was liked by both men and women. Of course, his popularity among men wasn't filled with love.
"Torao..."
That's right. Torao might be able to stop the unreasonable treatment of Ran.
He didn't care at all, but Ran was currently hated by the entire class. The cause wasn't Kirishima Ran, but the ability Underling Training.
"Kirishima."
"...Torao."
Ran was about to thank him, but—
"Sorry, but can you leave this class?"
The outstretched hand was mercilessly pulled back.
Dark emotions welled up from the rejected hand. Discomfort and pity from being sneered at.
"W-Why..."
"The girls will be frightened if you're here. And one day, the lack of fighting spirit and unity will become evident. We have to avoid collapsing unity at all costs. Also—"
Torao paused and glanced at Nekoyama Misuzu standing at the back.
Noticing Nekoyama's glance, she showed her fang and an embarrassed smile.
"I can't stand the thought of you laying a hand on my girlfriend, Nekoyama Misuzu."
"—Wait!"
Ran tried to grab him to complain, but Torao's arm sent him flying.
The arm that hit Ran had the thickness of a tiger's, with yellow and black stripes. It looked like a pattern an unfortunate human would wear when in love with an alien.
Torao Shigenobu's arm had partially transformed into a tiger's.
"My girlfriend," he said.
Nekoyama—That angelic Nekoyama Misuzu was Torao Shigenobu's girlfriend?
That gentle, pure, and cute Nekoyama Misuzu? For Torao?
Was she wearing those stimulating light blue panties for Torao!?
"You just talked about hating unity collapsing, didn't you?"
"I did. What's wrong with that?"
"At the very beginning—we don't even know what's in this world yet, and you're going to throw away your classmate. Where's the unity in that!? What the hell is lack of unity!?"
Ran's anger was directed at Torao.
"Was I this kind of passionate character?" he wondered. "Do I have such a character when I let my emotions take over?"
Ran's roar made the schoolgirls even more afraid. Even the boys looked at him with disgust.
Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop!
Don't look at me with those eyes!
...Don't look at me with those eyes...
"We'll get you back when everything's done. When the Demon King is defeated, when we can return home, Kirishima will also return properly—"
"...Shut up."
I'll take you back.
What's with that? Aren't you just saying that I'm extra luggage?
Underling Training is an ability that can make demons my servants.
If you go to defeat the Demon King and are attacked by innumerable demons, who will protect you?
Isn't that Ran's role?
Isn't that why Ran was given this ability?
But I don't want to use this ability for these people anymore.
Ran will live by his own power.
"Fine... I won't rely on you guys anymore."
Ran turned his back on Torao and the Appraisal Otaku and began to walk away unsteadily.
It was painful.
He had been excluded by the classmates he had spent so much time with.
He had always been a loner, like air.
Is this what being boycotted by the class means?
"…Nekoyama-san."
Even if you didn't notice when I brushed your chest, I won't mention it.
She didn't even ask if I saw her panties as a joke.
To Ran, who was at the lowest tier of the class hierarchy, Nekoyama Misuzu's smiling face was unchanging.
For Ran, she was—
"No, I can't say anything more than this."
Thinking about it, he mustn't speak.
He would be satisfied if he did.
Saying it after hiding it for so long would only be lip service. It's better to translate it into action.
He would never give up out of frustration.
Kirishima Ran walked down the long, dark corridor slowly.
Nobody noticed that he harbored a revenge he couldn't break in his heart.