As I entered the classroom, the class representative greeted me as if she had been waiting for me. When I nodded in response, she smiled slightly and took out the cleaning tools from the storage cabinet. We quietly cleaned the classroom together, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Looking at the smiling class representative made my heart feel complicated. When I was having dinner alone with Sylvia, the class representative had been staring at me intently. Despite her apology for sitting next to me and offering an apple, she still kept a slight distance, perhaps still bothered by something she had said to me before. I knew what kind of relationship she wanted with me and what I should say to make her happy. However, I felt I didn't deserve to do so, having left her to her own devices even though I knew how things would turn out.
So, I pretended not to notice her lingering around me during breaks and kept our conversations short when we did talk. The kindness in the chocolate she gave me and the promise we made by chance had gradually accumulated in my heart, making it impossible to ignore.
Inevitably, I found myself thinking:
I hope the class representative doesn't die.
*
"Everyone, pay attention! Today, we'll be doing a mock combat training session like last time! However, this time, we'll form groups of five, and the groups will be pre-assigned by me, not based on who you get along with."
Eve shouted to the students gathered in the gym, which was still under construction, with materials piled up and the entrance open.
I recalled the mock combat training from last time. The class representative and Changman had almost carried me on their backs. Apart from giving a large goblin a fiery punch, I hadn't done much.
It would be nice if this training session was as easy as last time.
As if reading my thoughts, Eve said with a meaningful expression:
"Last time, it was your first combat training, so it was set at a level similar to a children's game. Today, you'll be facing not weak monsters like last time, but demons, so be mentally prepared."
The students' faces hardened at the mention of demons.
The students at Aegis Academy, who had enrolled to become heroes, were generally strong compared to ordinary people. However, the comparison changes when the opponent is a demon.
Most of the students in this class would probably struggle to handle even a low-level demon individually.
The panic among the students on the first day of school, when Eve showed them a demon's illusion, was due to this. Demons, which have unique abilities like creating barriers that prevent people from leaving a certain area, are typically classified as mid-level or higher.
When the students couldn't leave the classroom due to Eve's illusion, they mistakenly thought it was a mid-level demon. A mid-level demon is a tough opponent even for active heroes, so their panic was understandable.
People like Yun Siwoo and Sylvia, who can face a mid-level demon without fear, are outliers.
These two could easily handle more than their share if they were active heroes right now.
In any case, the point was that the training would be difficult unless I was in the same group as Sylvia or Yun Siwoo.
Please, please put me in the same group as Sylvia!
"Then, I'll call out the groups! By the way, Siwoo, Evande, and Sylvia, you'll be in different groups this time!"
My hopes were dashed from the start.
The only silver lining was that I was in the same group as the class representative.
The other group members were two male students I recognized but hadn't spoken to and a female student who I remembered hated bugs fanatically.
I nodded in response to the group members' greetings, and then I heard Eve's voice.
"Today's training will be set up as close to a real battle as possible, so be careful not to die. While there are some protective measures in place, it won't be a pleasant experience. After all the groups have completed the training, we'll watch the training videos together and discuss what needs to be improved. Let's start with Group 1."
The students' faces turned pale as Eve, who usually spoke in a cheerful tone, spoke seriously about the training.
Group 1 included Yun Siwoo. As five students, including Yun Siwoo, stepped forward, Eve snapped her fingers.
The students disappeared as soon as her fingers snapped. Unlike last time, there was no screen showing what the students were doing.
The students reappeared after about ten minutes. The students in Yun Siwoo's group were looking at him with awe and admiration.
Since the original story didn't describe this training session, I didn't know what happened inside, but from their reactions, it seemed like Yun Siwoo had put on a show.
Next, it was Group 2's turn, which included Sylvia. When they reappeared after ten minutes, the group members, except for Sylvia, were panting heavily.
Sylvia seemed to be pretending to be fine, but her posture was a bit disheveled, indicating that it wasn't easy for her either.
The other group members were talking about how impressive Sylvia was, so I had a good idea of what happened.
Then it was Group 3's turn, our group.
The members of Group 3, including me and the class representative, lined up in front of Eve. She snapped her fingers, and the scenery changed.
What I saw was a residential area with houses and buildings. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary city.
However, the group members, aware that this was a training session, formed a defensive formation with the girl who hated bugs in the center, and the others surrounding her, guarding the area.
We had agreed beforehand to form this formation because the girl, who was a telekinetic, would be in the back, and the others, who were close-combat types, would protect her.
As we moved forward slowly, a large, dog-like monster appeared at the end of an alley.
Just as I was about to say that I saw a demon, the class representative and the other group members spoke up.
"Confirmed a demon ahead, it seems to be targeting us."
"Uh... I see one on this side too?"
"Me too..."
It seemed there were demons in all directions.
The girl in the center, who was acting as a command post, said in a trembling voice:
"Let's... each take one! I'll try to create openings for the demons from the center!"
As soon as she said that, the dog-like demon leaped at us.
Despite its fearsome appearance, which made my heart race, I had to handle one on my own.
I clenched my fists, ready to counterattack after dodging the demon's attack.
Attack, attack.
With my enhanced physical abilities, I could react to most attacks.
So, I would dodge and then land a punch.
Just as I was focused on dodging the demon's attack, it leaped over my head and landed behind me.
Caught off guard by the demon's unexpected move, I froze.
Realizing the danger, I turned around.
The class representative and the two male students were holding off the demons with their weapons.
The demon that had leaped over me was charging at the girl in the center.
The girl quickly extended her hand toward the demon.
The demon's body froze in mid-air.
It was the girl's telekinetic ability.
I let out a sigh of relief.
Taking advantage of the demon's frozen state, I wrapped my fist in flames and struck it.
The demon collapsed, seemingly dead from the blow.
The male students, who were struggling, managed to defeat their demons with my help, and the class representative, who had been handling a demon on her own, was catching her breath.
It was fortunate that no one was hurt.
I was covering for my lack of combat experience with my superior physical abilities, but sometimes my mind couldn't keep up.
"I'm sorry. I should have handled it better..."
"It's okay. That's why you're in the center, to deal with unexpected situations."
I bowed my head in apology to the girl, and she waved her hand, saying it was fine.
"Let's focus on the next wave. Get ready."
At that moment, the class representative said.
We all looked around in surprise and saw more dog-like demons charging at us.
We quickly reformed our formation and prepared for battle.
"There are five in total! Each take one! I'll try to hold one as long as I can!"
The girl's voice from the back.
With five demons, we couldn't afford to let any slip through.
I grabbed the demon charging at me with both hands.
As I set my hands on fire, the demon let out a painful scream.
My hands were shaking.
It would be better if I could finish it in one blow.
The demon's agonized cries pierced my ears.
Despite trying not to, I couldn't help but be affected.
The modern human's aversion to violence made me feel sick.
Because of this, I hesitated to finish the demon, and I was slow to react to the girl's scream from behind.
When I turned around, I saw that the demon had broken free from the telekinetic's hold and was charging at me.
The demon in my arms was still struggling.
Just as I finished it off, another demon was already at my throat.
"Scarlett!!"
I heard the class representative's shout.
She had run over and plunged her sword into the back of the demon that was attacking me.
At the same time, I saw the demon she was fighting sink its teeth into her neck.
Blood spurted out, and I screamed as I smashed the demon's head.
But the class representative, who had fallen to the ground, didn't move.