"Mmm~! The air is so fresh, and super cool!"
Weekend.
The bus sped along the highway, both sides' windows wide open. Wild winds surged freely through the cabin, making the whole bus pleasantly cool.
Stella stuck her head out the window and let out a delighted shout.
"Stella, watch the traffic rules!" Kurogane Ikki hurriedly pulled her back inside.
"Hahaha, Stella is a princess of a country after all. You probably haven't had much experience riding a bus like this, have you?" Misogi Awa, seated in the row in front of them, leaned over the seatback and turned around, wearing his eternally gentle smile.
"I actually really wanted to ride one, but Mother and the Royal Sister never allow it. They say a princess has to act like a princess."
Even after sitting back properly, Stella still looked unsatisfied. Hearing this, she couldn't help but look dejected.
"Whenever I sneak out wanting to try it, the royal guards always pop out from who-knows-where, and even bring the special car along. I never get the chance…"
"That sounds a bit strange." Misogi Awa nodded as if he half-understood.
Just wanting to try it didn't sound like a bad thing, surely it wasn't something that needed to be blocked so thoroughly?
Then again, maybe that was just how royal families operated.
"By the way, how did you two end up coming along?" Ryoji, sitting on the other side of the aisle, looked over at them curiously.
"Eh? By bus?"
"I mean, how did you join this group."
"Oh, Misogi-senpai invited us."
Kurogane Ikki suddenly realized and answered honestly. "He said it was mountain climbing and a picnic. Stella got really excited and insisted on coming, I couldn't stop her."
Oh.
Two more strong laborers successfully tricked into joining.
"Taka-chan!"
Hearing this, Toudou Touka, sitting beside Ryoji, immediately darkened her expression and started cracking her knuckles.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Touka! Don't pull my ears!" Misogi Awa shrank into the corner with a look of terror, letting out a miserable scream.
"Eh… don't tell me it's not that?" Stella looked stunned, her face clearly showing disappointment.
"Saying it's mountain climbing and a picnic isn't exactly wrong." Totokubara Kanata, sitting in the front passenger seat, joined the conversation at this point.
"But this time, we're going with a quest… We've received reports that a giant over four meters tall was spotted at the training site in the Okutama area. The Director asked us to investigate."
"A giant?" This was the first Ryoji had heard of it.
"That's right!"
Tomaru Renren couldn't sit still and paced back and forth in the cabin, making people dizzy. Seeing their reactions, she shouted excitedly.
"A giant! That's an unconfirmed life-form! Isn't that super interesting?!"
"It's a suspicious individual, Renren. Don't get it wrong."
Totokubara Kanata corrected her, then explained carefully.
"Our objective this time is to investigate the possible existence of that giant, or a Blazer controlling a giant. Mountain climbing and the picnic are just extras."
Although there were special individuals in this world, mythological creatures had never truly existed.
According to the theories of many scientists, the divine beasts and devil monsters that appeared in myths were actually ancient animals that had awakened Blazer abilities. After being seen by humans, they were recorded in the form of legends.
So-called beings like Titan giants or frost giants were, in reality, believed not to exist. Those exaggerated forms were likely the result of distorted retellings.
This so-called four-meter-tall giant was most likely the work of a Blazer as well.
However, with the training camp approaching, they couldn't just ignore such a suspicious presence. So Shinguuji Kurono handed the matter over to the Student Council, and, to gather extra manpower, brought along Ryoji, Kurogane Ikki, and the others.
"That sounds pretty great too!"
Stella looked even more excited now.
"Mountain climbing and a picnic are already awesome, and there's even a giant?! This is like maxing out the tokusatsu elements. That's so romantic!"
"Right? Right?!"
Tomaru Renren looked as if she'd found a kindred spirit, her face lighting up with excitement.
The fifth shadow member of the Student Council, the barely noticeable Saijou Ikazuchi, was driving at the moment.
The entire bus was in chaos.
"Junior Brother, are you really okay going out so casually?"
After finishing dealing with the unruly Misogi Awa, Toudou Touka returned to Ryoji's side and sat down, worry still lingering in her eyes.
Strictly speaking, with Shinguuji Kurono and Saikyou Nene stationed at Hagun Academy, the academy itself was actually the safest place possible. Even if an attack occurred, there was nothing to fear.
"Relax, Senior Sister."
Ryoji, on the other hand, didn't take it seriously at all. He simply smiled and said,
"There are so many people here, and they're all experts. No matter what happens, it'll be fine."
Among the total of eight people, there was one A-Rank Knight, two B-Rank Knights, and two C-Rank Knights, every one of them exceptionally strong.
As for the remaining three, although their levels were relatively low, one D-Rank, one E-Rank, and even one F-Rank, to put it bluntly, those three were probably the most terrifying of all.
This perfectly demonstrated just how unreliable stat sheets really were.
Seeing that Junior Brother truly didn't seem to care, Toudou Touka couldn't say much more. She simply made a silent decision to protect Junior Brother at all costs.
Totokubara Kanata glanced at the two sitting together, her mind also quietly plotting something.
......
Hagun Academy's training camp site was located deep in the mountains of Okutama. It was surrounded by several hills of varying heights, with dense forests spread throughout, making the terrain extremely rugged.
By the time they arrived deep in the mountains, it was already noon.
Fortunately, the training site itself was equipped with dormitories, a kitchen, and other facilities, and it was guarded year-round. Water and electricity were fully available, and even the internet worked.
However, having come all this way into the deep mountains, cooking indoors felt like a waste.
The group borrowed pots and utensils from the caretaker, carried various ingredients with them, and ventured deeper into the mountains. They found an open space by a river and set up their camping equipment.
"When it comes to camping, curry is a must!"
Toudou Touka took charge as the lunch chef. Among everyone present, her cooking skills were the best.
"I'll gather firewood!"
"Then I'll fetch water!"
"I'll see if there's any wild game around!"
"We'll go pick some mushrooms!"
With a round of cheers, everyone scattered, disappearing into the forest like a pack of huskies let loose.
"The weather's really nice!"
Ryoji lay on the grass, watching the busy figures in the distance with a gentle expression.
One of life's greatest pleasures was enjoying leisure while everyone else was busy.
A refreshing mountain breeze brushed against his face.
Beside his ears was the clear, babbling sound of flowing water.
Immersed in it, it felt as though all worries had been washed away, even the soul itself purified.
Ryoji sat up.
He gazed at the rushing current before him, watching the rocks in the middle of the river polished smooth and gleaming by the water, a thoughtful look on his face.
Reflection, at its core, was the rebound of force. But in truth, nature itself was filled with rebounds, whenever anything collided, a counterforce was inevitably produced.
The key wasn't how to suppress reflection, but how to dissolve the rebounding force.
Ryoji suddenly realized the answer and sat quietly by the river for half an hour.
(End of Chapter)
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