Shizuya Kirihara's Noble Art, Hunter's Forest, was straightforward yet effective. By channeling his mana, he could create a dense, shadowy forest. Within this forest, his figure, presence, and even his scent were completely masked, rendering him virtually invisible.
Kirihara's strategy was to lurk within this forest and attack from a distance. As long as his opponent couldn't locate him, he could whittle down any adversary.
It was a highly specific ability: ineffective against fighters like Stella, who wielded large area-of-effect attacks, but perfectly suited to counter someone like Ikki Kurogane, who lacked range or area-based attacks.
Unfortunately, Kirihara's character was as slimy as his fighting style. Against opponents who countered his tactics, he would forfeit. But against those he could overpower, he'd toy with them, purposely aiming at non-fatal spots to draw out their suffering.
Far from seeing this as dishonorable, Kirihara proudly called himself a "hunter."
To be fair, Okita Souji didn't think there was anything wrong with underhanded tactics. Victory was all that mattered in a fight, even if it meant resorting to unsavory means.
But Kirihara had the gall to take pride in it—and that was what disgusted her.
"Honestly, Ikki, I feel bad for you. This kind of opponent isn't even worth my time."
"Haha…" Ikki chuckled awkwardly as Souji tossed his student handbook back to him, looking at it like it was something filthy.
Suddenly, he felt her hand gently slip into his. Her hand was warm and surprisingly soft.
"Hmm! This type of opponent is easy for me, but it's pretty tricky for you, isn't it?"
Souji looked back at him with a smug smile, her voice cheerful as a bird's song.
"So, be grateful! I'm going to teach you a surefire technique to win!"
"A… surefire technique?"
Ikki's attention quickly shifted from the warmth of her hand to her words.
"Exactly! It's—"
Before she could explain, a grating voice interrupted from nearby. Both Ikki and Souji frowned instinctively as they recognized it.
"Oh? I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me! Isn't this Kurogane?"
Ikki took a slow, calming breath before turning toward the speaker, his face darkening. Souji, annoyed at the interruption, also looked over.
Sure enough, the speaker was a slim, young man around Ikki's age. He wasn't alone, either; a group of brightly dressed girls surrounded him, each wearing a look of infatuation when they looked at him—but disdain when they glanced at Ikki.
"Seriously? He can't join practical classes because his ability scores are too low?"
"So he's basically useless, then?"
"Ugh, pathetic. Kirihara-kun, let's stay away from him. I feel like his worthlessness might rub off on us."
"Yeah, why even bother coming over here?"
Their sneering comments grated on Souji's nerves.
But when she stole a quick glance at Ikki, she saw that, while his expression was a bit heavy, he was calm—almost eerily so.
"Oh, come now, ladies, that's too harsh," Kirihara said with faux kindness. "Even if Kurogane is just an F-ranked nobody, he's still our classmate, isn't he? We should be supportive."
"Aw, Kirihara-kun, you're so kind!"
"Right? Even showing kindness to trash like him…"
"You're amazing!"
I think I might vomit, Souji thought, barely containing her disgust.
She didn't mind a bit of scheming here and there, and she didn't look down on people who used dirty tricks in battle. On the battlefield, idealistic notions like fairness were a luxury. You'd do whatever it took to stay alive.
But the hypocrisy—the sanctimonious act—that Kirihara put on was intolerable.
Ikki suddenly felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. He glanced down to see Souji's face twisted in a look of revulsion, as though she'd spotted a cockroach.
"Can we leave? If we don't, I'm going to start thinking about how nice it'd feel to cut him down…"
"Ha…haha…"
Ikki stifled a laugh, but her reaction made him feel a bit better inside.
He always kept a calm face when faced with hardships or taunts, comforting himself by saying he'd "grown used to it."
But in truth… how could anyone truly get used to it?
To shield himself from these endless slights, he'd built a wall around his heart. But walls that protect can also imprison.
The idea that "I've grown used to it" was nothing more than a lie he told himself.
But standing beside Souji now, having her by his side, he felt an unexpected warmth, like sunlight breaking through clouds.
"I'm sorry, Kirihara. Souji and I have things to do, so we'll be on our way."
With a polite nod, Ikki turned away, pulling Souji along.
What…?
Shizuya Kirihara was bewildered.
Why did this nobody look so… content?
Why was he smiling like that in my presence?
That worthless, F-ranked trash should be groveling at my feet, begging—no, pleading—for mercy!
Kirihara's twisted thoughts contorted his face. In a sudden burst of rage, he accidentally shoved one of the girls near him, who stumbled back with a startled gasp.
"Oh, don't be in such a hurry to leave."
Kirihara blocked Ikki and Souji's path once more, his fake smile looking more like a mask than ever.
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Posture and water check! Remember this is a fan translation!
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