Sogou's eyes widened as she collapsed to the floor. Her body lay motionless, a troubling sight. Instinctively, I reached out, driven by our shared bond as classmates.
Relief washed over me knowing she'd be cared for. Yet, guilt gnawed at my heart. I felt utterly powerless, a failure in that moment.
The goddess issued sharp commands, and a female officer arrived. Soldiers gently placed Sogou on a stretcher. "She's S-Rank. Handle her with care, or face consequences worse than death," the goddess warned.
The officers nodded, faces pale with fear. Sogou was swiftly carried away. "Let's proceed," the goddess said, her voice cold and unyielding.
The ritual continued as my classmates whispered among themselves. "Sogou-san is so kind," one murmured. "But that goddess… she's terrifying," another added quietly.
"Even Sogou-san couldn't stand against her," someone said. "Defying the goddess is unthinkable," another whispered. "That Demon Lord must be a real threat," a voice concluded.
Kirihara stood with a scowl, clearly displeased. Oyamada's face betrayed his unease, open for all to see. Yasu, oddly, wore an expression of irritation.
"Witness the fate of the Disposed Hero!" the goddess proclaimed loudly. "This is the end for the unwanted, the losers! But you are destined for greatness!"
My arm lifted, trembling with defiance. "This is bullshit…" I muttered under my breath. The goddess raised an eyebrow, her lips curling. "Oh?"
I recalled the magic that burned the three-eyed wolf. My Paralysis Endowment was my only weapon. I had to test it, no matter how slim the odds.
Rage surged within me, uncontainable. I cast my skill, a desperate act of rebellion. The goddess smirked, completely unaffected.
"How impudent. Your skill is useless," she said mockingly. "My barrier repels status ailments, even from an E-Rank like you." Her tone oozed disdain.
My arm dropped, defeat sinking in. "Behold the discarded E-Rank hero," she sneered. The magic circle hummed louder, the transfer drawing near.
A brilliant light flashed beside me, blasting a hole in the wall. Kirihara stood smugly. "Just checking my skill," he said, his eyes cold and dismissive.
His S-Rank power outshone mine effortlessly. "If you're going to vanish, just do it, trash," he spat. My classmates' gazes echoed his contempt.
The robed men gasped at Kirihara's display. "Such power at Level 1!" one exclaimed. "Takuto-dono's future is boundless!" another praised eagerly.
The light grew blinding, the transfer moments away. Tears spilled from my eyes, unbidden. Disappointment—in them, in myself—overwhelmed me.
Oyamada laughed cruelly. "What, the low-rank's breaking down? Typical!" he taunted. "Shame I won't see your pathetic end, Mimori!"
Anger, fear, and betrayal flooded my heart. Yasu's voice cut through, "Rest in peace, Mimori Touka…" The weight of their scorn pressed down on me.
My classmates' faces gleamed with superiority. Their voices mocked and cursed me. The air was thick with their disdain, suffocating.
Yet, the Takao sisters stood apart. "They're all garbage," Itsuki muttered. They turned, heading for the door, ignoring the ritual entirely.
A robed man shouted, "You can't leave without permission!" The goddess raised a hand. "Let them go. S-Rank and A-Rank require delicate handling."
She turned to me, her smile venomous. "Touka Mimori, any final words?" The transfer's light pulsed, my fate sealed.
A weight lifted, my true self breaking free. I'd lived suppressing it, avoiding conflict. But that ended now.
I looked down, grinned fiercely, and laughed. "Screw you, shitty goddess." The words felt like freedom, raw and true.
My classmates stared, shocked into silence. The goddess's eyes darkened with malice. "You'll perish in the ruins, where none survive," she hissed.
A radiant blue light enveloped me. "If I survive," I said, locking eyes with her, "you'd better watch out." I flipped her off as the world dissolved.