Chapter 14

Chapter 14

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“Vocation ‘Saint’ huh… Is that even a job?”

“Geez, don’t say that, it’s too embarrassing!”

Cheeks fuming in red, it’s the same old Sakura. I guess even receiving a ‘Vocation’, a supernatural power from the gods of this world, won’t change people all that much.

“And nii-san too, what indeed is up with that ‘Hero’ vocation of yours?”

“Hahaha, having is said to my face is pretty embarrassing too”

I had become a ‘Hero’ before I knew it. Don’t remember using that magic circle, but when my consciousness got floaty after getting a beatdown by the Armor Bear, I clearly remember hearing the voice of a Goddess.[1]

 

“Mayst thou bring light to this world and become — the ‘Hero’.”

 

Is what the Goddess had said. I must’ve become a ‘Hero’ right at that moment.

“Sigh, forget saving the world, I wanna know if I can save ourselves”

“I for one would like a one-way ticket to Earth the moment we escape”

“Goes without saying, but why the harsh tone?”

“C’mon nii-san, you know you’re the type to dive straight into danger, saying things like the people of this world are in danger from monsters or something”

“I mean, if it’s in my power, I probably would”

“But, what happens when you keep fighting on and on? You could even get thrown into a war… that and bashing heads with punks back in Japan are on a completely different dimension”

I do realize. In this world the word ‘fight’ definitely implies one where both parties bet their lives. I can easily imagine what’s lying ahead if I kept fighting these harsh battles.

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely get you, and everyone else out of this dungeon; we’ll get back to our world. I have my priorities straight”

“Alright, nii-san. But don’t try doing everything by yourself now. Thanks to this vocation, even I can fight”

“Yeah, you’re right, depending on you, Sakura”

I am already witness to Sakura’s powers as a ‘Saint’.

Now that we’re at a safe zone known as a ‘Fairy Square’, I think back on what Sakura means by her ability to fight. I have a deep impression that every one of her Skills are powerful.

There are 3 skills that come with a vocation

 

<table>\n\nThis excellent sister of mine thinking dearly of her brother, really does warm my heart… but huh, this heartwarming feeling doesn’t match scenery of me in the middle of a slaughterfest at all. Atmosphere is pretty important.

Anyway, after a breather, we continued on the passage with no end in sight.

On the way, we got into a large domed space filled with vegetation like a botanical garden, where we encountered more Goma and packs of wild, reddish dogs. They were in packs, but there was no special powers or magic as a result of them being grouped, so with Sakura’s support fire, and ‘High Walk’s’ maneuverability, we easily eliminated them.

Up till now, the monsters were smallfry. But there’s no telling when a big shot with the Armor Bear would appear, so we made sure to be on maximum alert while advancing through the dungeon.

It was when we’d been in this place long enough to notice that the safe, relief stations known as Fairy Squares, were scattered at quite reasonable intervals. It was when we arrived at another one of those Fairy Squares.

“…No way, Souma-kun?”

There, we found the previous guests.

“Ah, i-it’s true… Souma-kun, and Sakura-chan… I’m not in a dream, right?”

Familiar faces, there were 2 girls.

“Class rep and Natsukawa-san! What a relief, you’re both alrig—”

“U, uu…uwaaaaa! Souma-kuuun!”

“Wha! H-hold on, Natsukawa-san!?”

Suddenly hugging me in tears, I can’t do anything but get flustered. I’m just normal friends with Natsukawa-san, nothing on the level of embracing each upon reuniting. And now’d be when Sakura misunderstands and looks at me coldly… is what I though, but Sakura was facing class rep with a weighty expression.

“Ryouko, I hoped to say I’m glad you’re alright… but that, doesn’t really seem to be the case”

“Yeah, Sakura, and Yuuto-kun, we’re really saved now that you’re here. Thanks“

Apparently their situation was worse than I thought. Natsukawa-san too, it doesn’t seem like she’s crying from simple anxiety. I could see her having been mentally cornered at a severe level.

For now, I return the sobbing Natsukawa-san’s embrace to calm her down. And asking what happened, would be towards class rep who has an awfully tired and pale face, yet was still holding together.

“Class rep, what exactly, happened to you guys”

“… A friend, another one died. Just a while ago”

It was an event I hadn’t imagined… No, that’s wrong, I purposefully didn’t think about it. The powerful ‘Vocation’, the weak monsters that could only crowd together. So everyone else was fine too.

Naively, I made myself think like that.

That that kind of thinking was not hope, but merely a convenient desire, is proven fact, right here, right now.

Thus, I was finally made aware that among my classmates, there was a casualty.

 

 

[1]I’ve decided to use -G-od(dess) for respectful addressing, like kami-sama, and -g-od(s), when they’re referring to the many gods or just mentioning a god in passing. No deep meaning here, just thought it could use a distinction.

[2]I try to make a note when names are involved. Thankfully, all names in this case have their dictionsfurigana given. So no changes there. Source for ‘Keeper of the Light’. Cure and Heal are also in furi, but they’re really very obvious. Also, stuff like ‘Lux Sagitta’ appear in Kuro no Maou too! I bet the reader’s familiar with it, but I’ll take any excuse to squeeze that in~

[3]I’ll use they for gender neutrality.

[4]Glorious japanese katana folded 1000 times vs boring western longsword, also, Shotels.

[5]I made a table. Well, I’ll get to doing this for the other skill listings soon™. Also, I don’t know why I said Full Boost before. typo = fixed. All skills are as per dictionfurigana. The descriptions are pretty straightforward too, so nothing to say on that. The meanings are pretty similar to the dictions, except ‘Iron Guard’. I’m debating changing ‘Acquired’ to ‘Integrated’ or ‘Assimilated’. All of these seem ok, doushio~