Chapter 2.2

"Excuse me. Norn-sensei, looks like she is injured. Can you treat her?"

Irisdina Francilt is there lending her shoulders to a student who was suspected of being injured.

Looking behind her, her best friend, Tima Lime can be seen, and she is carrying luggage that seemed to belong to Irisdina.

"All right, let the injured student sit in that chair first."

Norn-sensei immediately goes to see her students, and Nozomu also takes out a set of treatment tools such as medicines and bandages from the shelves and goes to her.

"What happened ~~~~"

Anri-sensei is listening to the situation from Irisdina and others on behalf of Nozomu and Norn which are treating the injured student.

Apparently, she was involved in a battle of students competing for popular items in the canteen.

"Hmm, She has sprained her leg, but her bones are normal, and her muscles seem to be okay. If she rests for a few days, it will heal. Let's apply the ointment for the time being."

While Nozomu helped Norn-sensei taking care of her promptly, he met Tima Lime.

"!!"

As soon as she meets Nozomu, she turns her eyes away and hides behind Irisdina.

(………… Did I do something to her?) 

Nozomu is a little depressed and skeptical about being blatantly avoided by a girl he's never spoken to, but now that he's still helping Norn-sensei, he decided to concentrate on that.

"It's okay with this. For now, just rest for a while."

""Thank you very much""

The schoolgirl and Irisdina thank Norn-sensei for her treatment. She wasn't involved with her, but when Nozomu saw that she helped the injured and brought her to the infirmary, and thanked the person who treated her. He can see the personality of Irisdina as a person.

Irisdina is the daughter of an Aristocrats in the kingdom of Forsina, a great power in the western part of the continent, and she can't be disregarded by teachers of this school, but she does not mind about it, and she has a hard-working personality. Anyone in this school knows about it.

"Well then, as sensei said, you should be quiet for a while."

"Yes !! Thank you !!"

When Irisdina called out to the schoolgirl, she blushed and replied with her energetic voice. 

By the way, it was Nozomu's childhood friend, Lisa Hounds who fought evenly with her in the first-class mock battle of the second year. Lisa is also called as "Red-Haired Princess" because of her appearance and her fiery red hair, and they seem to be rivals in practical skills.

"Thank you for your help"

Irisdina thanked Nozomu.

"N, no, I just happened to be here."

Nozomu's response became somewhat awkward, staring at her overly organized appearance and deep-black eyes.

"Ai. It's about time for class …………"

Suddenly, Tima, who was behind Iris said so. Certainly, the lunch break is nearing its end, and it's time for afternoon classes to begin.

"N, I see. Then sensei. We're going to go back to the classroom. Thank you for your treatment."

"I see. Nozomu-kun, thank you for your help. You should go back to the classroom too."

The girls said so and thanked them again and left the infirmary. Looking at the clock in the room, it's only a few minutes until the lunch break is over. Looks like, He doesn't have time to eat the rest of his lunch.

"Okay I understand, I'm going back to the classroom."

Nozomu answered so and returned to the classroom. 

***

Iris's POV

In the corridor, way back to the classroom, I, Irisdina, asked about the strange behavior of my best friend in the infirmary.

"Tima. I knew you weren't good with men, but I think your attitude towards him was a bit exaggerated."

What I say is about Tima's attitude towards a boy named Nozomu in the infirmary. Tima is certainly not good with boys, and when she stands alone in front of a man, she can't speak well.

However, her attitude towards him was too excessive.

"I, I'm sorry Ai. But that boy. That person, he toyed with Lisa-san ..."

Lisa is a female student who belongs to the first class of the same third grade as us. She is an excellent student who has reached the same rank A as us, and she is one of the few people who can compete with me in practical skills.

By the way, when she was in the first grade, I had heard such rumors. I heard that she was dating her childhood friend, but she was cheated on and she was betrayed. Was he that person?

"But as far as I hear from the rumors, his character didn't match the rumors at all."

It's not something that I hear from rumors, such as preparing medicine for an injured person or helping with the treatment.

"Un, but I was scared at that time ..."

Tima is depressed and casts her eyes down. She's kind, but she's a little timid, and she cares too much about her surroundings.

She was overreacted because she had heard the rumors.

"Well, if you have a chance to meet him next time, just apologize at that time. Don't worry too much, Tima."

"…………Un"

The lesson is about to start. I hurried to the classroom while comforting my best friend. 

***

"All right~~, let's start the afternoon lesson~~."

Anri's extended voice echoed in the training ground.

The afternoon lesson of the 10th class was about a comprehensive combat technique.

Unlike the one-on-one mock battle so far, this lesson involves forming a party to fight, so not only individual fighting ability but also teamwork is the key.

In the first place, fighting against a powerful demon beast alone is extremely dangerous even for a veteran knight. Also, since there are few rewards, freelancers such as adventurers basically organize parties of several to dozens of people, and when subduing a powerful demon beast, they sometimes form a team with another party or asks for a helper.

Therefore, in order to develop the judgment ability to respond in each role and various situations, the school has introduced many classes such as group battles starting from the third grade.

However, while the classmates formed a party, Nozomu is still alone and could not form a party with anyone.

(I knew this already, but this sure is bad)

This lesson is meaningless without several people, but even if Nozomu tried to speak to them, his classmates did not respond and ignored him instead.

(If it's like this, it will not be a lesson as it is)

If nothing is done, the party cannot be formed, the lesson itself cannot be held, and it will be meaningless for Nozomu.

However, his classmates have already formed a party, and there was no room for Nozomu to enter. 

"Hey, if you don't have a party, would you like to join us?"

At that time, there was a student who called out to Nozomu, but that person was a person that no one else expected, let alone Nozomu.

It was Mars who called out to him. His entourage is astonished and his classmates started to buzz.

"O, oi Mars, are you serious?"

"Why do you bother to put in this useless?"

It would be a natural reaction. Mars is one of the students in the class who was particularly flared up by Nozomu.

He was the first to be excluded from the candidates for humans to invite Nozomu. Nozomu didn't talk to them because he didn't think they would come to him and invite him instead.

Mars's entourage complained, but Mars didn't respond, he is just staring at Nozomu.

Nozomu also stares at Mars. Nozomu doesn't know what Mars is thinking, but he had no choice.

"......... I understand. I'll enter."

"... OK"

In this way, the most unlikely party in this class, with Nozomu, Mars, and his entourage is completed. 

The lessons are still in a mock battle format. There are four people in Mars and Nozomu's party. Two of Mars's entourage are one who uses a bow and the other who uses magic.

The opponent also consists of 4 people, there are two boys who use swords, one boy who uses a spear, and one girl who uses 2 daggers.

Along with the signal to start the mock battle, the opponent's swordman and spearman first cast strengthening magic on themself and started to approach Mars.

"Hmm!" 

Mars pulls out his greatsword and receives the attack of two people. A high-pitched sound of metal clashing reverberated, and an attack whose power has been raised by strengthening magic attacks Mars. But Mars, who had strengthened his body with kijutsu is completely unwavering.

Nozomu tries to attack the two who have stopped moving, but suddenly a blade of the wind passes in front of him and his attack is blocked. Looking in the direction of the wind blade, a dagger-wielder is chanting magic.

The blade of the wind hit again and He got separated from Mars. Apparently, the opponent intends to separate Mars and Nozomu and destroy them one by one. Certainly, given that Mars has the highest fighting ability at this party, it would be strategically necessary to separate him.

Another swordsman of the other party is approaching the separated Nozomu. 

"I got you!! " 

Nozomu immediately pulls out his katana and parries the opponent's sword. The momentum of the rush was strong because he was strengthening his body, but being parried by Nozomu causes him to lose his posture.

Nozomu immediately tried to chase after him, but suddenly a fireball rushed in from behind and exploded, and he got blown away.

"Aghh!"

"Oi oi, is that okay? He also got involved."

"It's okay right. That kind of unusable guy can only be a decoy."

It was Mars's entourage who shot the fireball. For them, Nozomu was literally a decoy, and it didn't even hurt or itchy for them if Nozomu was involved in the attack.

"Damn!"

Nozomu got up and got ready, but the opposing swordsman immediately drew near. With one dual dagger-wielder added, Nozomu will be on the defensive side against two people. While parrying three blades, he repeatedly moved so that two people will not attacking at the same time.  

"Take this!"

"Hahaha! Easy target!"

The two entourages also attacking Nozomu by magic and a bow, as if it can't be helped. Nozomu got swept away by the ranged magic attack, and the gap is pierced by accurate shooting with a bow.

The attacks of the two entourages were compatible with each other in the sense of a long-range attack, and the strengths were well intertwined. The magic casting time and the gap between the next arrow, which was a drawback of the attack, were successfully eliminated.

In a situation of 1 against 4, Nozomu has no way of dealing with it, but if he tries to counterattack, the entourage behind him will attack him, so he will have to deal with it. And He is in a loop of being attacked again by the other party.

However, this situation collapsed soon. Nozomu feels a fierce chill from the side, uses his legs, and leaves with all his might.

Mars who swinging up his greatsword is reflected in Nozomu's field of view. Mars, after defeating his two opponents, rushed with a quick movement into Nozomu and Nozomu's opponents which were in a state of turmoil

Mars, who wields a giantsword enveloped with wind blades, swung his sword to the side with all his might. With his enhanced strength and wind blades, Mars's surroundings were swept away, and the remaining two of the opponent's party were blown away, making it impossible to fight, and the mock battle is over.

Nozomu and Mars glare at each other silently. Nozomu is clearly angry with Mars who was clearly mowing down at him, and the two entourages who were attacking him.

Until now, Nozomu has turned a blind eye to everything happening at the school. He would have immediately turned his eyes away and stayed everything within himself.

Nozomu himself is unaware of such a change, but he is clearly changing.

Nozomu is angry, but soon a question came up in his heart about the unusual behavior of Mars.

Mars was mowing down at him, but he couldn't see the color of Mars's eyes that despised him until now. Nozomu didn't understand the reason, but at least he knew it wasn't hostile.

When he thinks about it, the behavior of Mars towards Nozomu has obviously changed since the third year.

He wasn't swearing at him, and he wasn't poking at him during the lesson.

(What is going on?)

There is anger in Nozomu's heart, but more than that, He is worried about the change in Mars. However, they do not talk to each other and remain silent. The entourage talks to Mars, but he doesn't respond to them, he just continues looking at Nozomu.

Eventually, the bell that signals the end of the lesson rang, and the lesson is over. Nozomu left the training ground without finding an answer to the question that had sprung up in his chest. 

***

Mars’s POV

After the class is over, Mars thinks about the mock battle while walking in the school corridor.

"He ... is changed"

He remembers Nozomu who was willing to get involved and glared at him who attacked. The old him wouldn't do that, he would just look down and turn his back.

Mars didn't know what happened to him, but he could have guessed that his feelings had changed.

“………… But what kind of training did he do?”

Mars admired Nozomu's movement, which was actually 1 against 4 in the mock battle. He was able to catch a glimpse of it during the battle because he was only against two opponents, but there was no waste in Nozomu's movement, which was handling the attacks of four people.

Mars wouldn't be able to handle attacks from four people in a suppressed state like him. It seemed that the people around him, including those who were dealing with him, didn't notice it. The movement itself was slow but it was a terrifyingly accurate movement.

He always moved to the opponent's blind spot and always moved around in a one-to-one confrontation. Moreover, in that situation, he sensed Mars's surprise attack and moved immediately. There is no doubt that he has a fairly wide field of view.

"He's pretty used to combat. Where did he get such experience?"

The only way in this city where he can gain combat experience is to receive a request from the school or the guild. There is no one willing to deal with him at the school, and he is not high-ranked enough to receive the subjugation request from the guild.

Students have to hold a certain rank or form a party with multiple higher rank people in order to receive requests such as subjugation from the guild, otherwise, only miscellaneous requests can be received. The students of the school are, after all, a group of inexperienced people, and the school side wants to avoid the loss of valuable human resource candidates, so such an arrangement is made.

"......... Is he, maybe, goes to the forest alone?"

The only place where he can gain such combat experience is the forest, but it's just reckless for a student to enter the forest where demon beasts are dominant, and no one has done that. No matter how strong those demon beasts near the city were, it wasn't absolute, and there were cases where travelers were actually attacked. 

But otherwise, the accuracy of his movements cannot be explained.

“………… Should I check it out?”

Mars made such a decision and quickly walked down the corridor.