8th April, year 907 of the saint calendar (Monday) 3:00 p.m.
Mia is presently in the most popular restaurant of Leithー一一 Teardrop pavilion. As it was still early for the rush hour, there were only few guests here and there. And then, the members of S-2 class that were already there reflected in her eyes,
"I made you guys wait"
Mia approached her friends.
"It's ok, we ourselves has just come"
Cliff, Teresa and Eight nodded lightly at Pluto's word. Mia also sat down on one of seats and after ordering simple chicken rice dish, she asked,
"So? Have you guys heard the rumors?"
"Yeah, but is that really true? There's still not any announcement from the academy after all"
Mia too agrees with Cliff's opinion. They have been in the academy for two full years already and are now able to grasp the standing of Shirabe Sensei in the academy. At the very least, there would be no less than half of the forces of the academy who will be restless after hearing the rumor.
"It's true. I have it verified by Oscar Sensei. Apparently it's decided in the faculty meeting"
As Eight confirmed, everyone could feel them gasping.
"Shirabe Sensei is going to be the homeroom teacher of the class who will win the championship in the practical exam. But we will be 4th year next year, and going to graduate though"
"It seems to be like the reward of the champion class, and is irrelevant to the grade"
Ever since this rumor broke out, literally all of the students' expressions have changed.
Excluding the newly enrolled students this year, there is no one in this academy who's unaware of the supremacy of Shirabe Sensei's class. It can be inferred from how the normal classroom in the second school building where Shirabe Sensei was teaching the basic magic classes couldn't accommodate the number of students who want to joint it and hence, a new large classroom, the five times the sizes of normal classroom was built and even then, it seems to be fully crowded.
"Let's aim for the championship in the next exam!"
"But you know, it's not much different from the team battle in the end. It's impossible"
At the line of Pluto which wasn't like him, which was full of resignation,
"I don't think it's that much of a lost game already. Don't you think Stella might not be in the representative members of next year's championship too?"
Cliff swiftly makes a valid point.
"Yeah, Stella-chan didn't participated last year"
The champions of this year were Mia and her other friend, the S-2 class. Of course, Stella didn't appear even once. That's why they were able to win.
"No, she will participate"
"Why are you so sure?"
"Because Stella was there when I heard about the rumors. And well, I think she would participate, no matter what anyone says. I'm sure she wouldn't hold back even a bit either. In short, we can just forget about becoming the winner if we can't defeat that monster in the form of girl"
Pluto's biting remarks instantly made the S-2 class members fell silent.
S-1 and S-2 classes are indeed two different classes. However the professors' group teaching them is the same, and there are also many joint classes. That's why Mia and others themselves best understand just how absurd that girl is.
"What's wrong with that? It's rather convenient, isn't it?"
"Convenient?"
Looking at Eight's showing a bold smile, Mia asked back.
"Well, didn't you guys lose your edge after being defeated by her!?"
"Or course not. But you know...... "
"Have you forgotten the oath we took at that time? We will win against her and have Sensei become our homeroom teacher once again!"
"There's no way I could forget. But――"
"Only when we win the match in which she participates will then our halted time begin to move again. Isn't that the case!?"
In that match one year ago, they lost before they knew what's going on. And then, Shirabe Sensei's figure disappeared from their life.
They lost so easily, disappointing the Shirabe Sensei. That's why Sensei isn't meeting them. Thinking so inwardly, Mia and other class members sworn a path. That they must win against the little girl called Stella, who ended their fateful match.
"Then, what are we going to do? The way we are now, we can't win against Stella no matter how much we train, can we?"
Mia also agrees with that. Stella's strength is just in a different dimension. Rather than saying as same student, she seems much closer to the Sensei or those people they accidentally met in that Kirikala dunge一一 no way!
She suddenly realized something and looked at Eight.
"Seems like you have noticed. That's right. To win against the absurd, we ourselves have to go beyond the domain of common sense. For example, just like Sensei or those people. And no one knows the method better than themselves. Don't you think so?"
"You are asking for the impossible! We haven't seen those people even once after that"
Pluto shook his head left and right vigorously, and gulped down the water from the glass cup.
"Every Monday at 5:00 p.m."
"What?"
"Every week at that time, the monocle wearing man can be seen sitting on a bench in the park by the second school building of the academy"
By the second school building? I guess those people are connected to Sensei, judging from how they asked us to keep quiet about them.
We may have only been involved with them for a short time but that monocle person didn't seem like the kind who will sneak attack at anyone. If he had to battle, he would fight fair and square by challenging them directly and crushing them into bits. He's like an incarnation of destruction.
"Nerooo!!!"
Their bodies cowered subconsciously from the bellow which shook even the air itself. Crimson flames wafts from Lars's entire body like shimmering flames.
"nuh-uh, it seems Lars-chan aso care about you kids unexpectedly♪ but you don't have to worry, it's OK♫~ I will not do anything except awaking you guys♬"
Awaking Mia and her friends? She wonders if it does have any connection with the secret why Stella is so strong.
"By doing that, will we be strong enough to win against Stella?"
"Her strength is already approaching us, so that will depend on you guys~ depend on you~♬ but... there's one thing I can assure you. If you do that, it will put you in danger and you guys will never be able to go back again. Think carefully and decide. Do you really want to proceed with this even so?"
The faint smile faded from Nero's face for the first time, replaced by an awfully grave face.
"Stop there Nero. I will kill you even if you speak any further. And you, hurry up and get lost!"
Lars's hawk-like sharp gazes shoot at Mia and others. However with just this, Mia's leg, teeth and the whole body began to rattle and scream.
"Of coursee~ that's all I want to say, rest depends on you guys"
Saying this, Nero crossed his arms and closed his eyes. The cheerful vibe Nero had until now has now completely faded. Lars too clicked his tongue and glared at them. They felt like a frog being stared at by a snake. Facing the situation where they felt as if they aren't alive,
"I want to do it"
Eight replied immediately with a smiling face.
"Youuu――"
The pressure coming out of Lars has already reached the level where it's becoming difficult to breathe.
"Lars, this is the road he has chosen with his own free will. Besides, it's not yet confirmed they will be like us. So draw back a bit now"
Pressure oozing out Lars becomes even more at the shuddering words of Nero. In the park, where situation has unexpectedly taken a explosive turn,
"Are you guys going to fight again? Just what are you thinking"
The shoulder length blonde hair woman appeared out of nowhere suddenly like before and called out to them in a fed-up voice.
"Let them be. Either way, once he vent out, he will be tired and keep his quiet"
A beautiful young man wearing a headband with black cloth wrapping around his face utters out a line without any tension.
"Nero, are you planning to atone with this?"
"No way! You should have known me better than anyone, I don't have such an admirable personality, don't you? I just wanted to try it out by believing in it"
Those words of Nero seem sad and full of melancholy.
"Do what you want"
Lars said as if spitting. His whole body was then engulfed in flame and disappeared.
"Now, what will you guys do?"
He asked what Mia and others had decided.
"I will do it. I want to return to those days once again. I don't want to part away from Sensei so pathetically"
"I am the same!"
Teresa raised her right hand in agreement with Cliff's word.
"I will also do it. We aren't G class if we continue to live in fear!"
"Mia too!"
If they can't be recognised by Sensei without doing this, they they aren't in place to choose the means.
Besides, they just can't feel any maliciousness from those people.
"So you guys decided♫"
Nero took out a magic weapon similar to the form of Eight's beloved gun from the chest pocket of his coat.
Seeing this, the complexion of the blonde haired woman and headband wearing young man changed immediately.
"Was that the reason for Lars to be angry!?"
"Are you planning to use this on those kids!? Nero, you definitely aren't sane now!!"
Nero aimed the muzzle at Mia and her friends, humming a song and said,
"This is, in a sense, reincarnation. You will be different when you wake up. Will you simply reborn as a slave to save the world, or else一一"
The gunshot resounded and the consciousness of Mia and others rapidly became dim. In the process, she seems to have heard the toneless voice of a woman.
["Bravification" has been used against Teresa, Pluto, Cliff, Mia and Eight. Teresa, Pluto, Cliff, Mia, and Eight will evolve from "human (ordinary person)" to "human (Brave apprentice)".
Confirms the hidden title "―――― 's disciple (temporary)" forTeresa, Pluto, Cliff, Mia, and Eight. The title with bestows effects on the evolution――]
"He, Holy shit! With this――"
They seem to have heard Nero's astonished voice filled with excitement. With these last words, their consciousness cut off completely.
T/N : Hi there. Thanks for giving your attention and care to this novel until now, but unfortunately due to lack of patreon, we will be halting the translation for indefinite time. Arc 4 chapter 49 would be the last chapter of this series.