Translator: Tsukii

Editor: Lilia

Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu!

Chapter 47 – At the Temple of Trials

It had been a while since Sharon’s shocking declaration.　

Haruto had no choice but to relent in face of Sharon’s determination to sacrifice everything, including her appearance.

Although he hadn’t entered the Temple of Trials in this world, he had experienced it many times while playing the game.　

After informing the group about the content of trials in advance, Haruto came as a guide and decided to camp outside until the group’s training was over.

That said, there was still a school curriculum to consider, so he couldn’t immediately bring them there.　

Therefore, after waiting for the holiday, Sharon, as well as Erin and Kuyumi, planned to head there.

The two followed due to a legitimate reason: “Of course I also want to become stronger myself.”

After completing the preparations:　

“So this is… the Temple of Trials…!”　

Sharon, with a spark of fire in her eyes, looked up at an ordinary stone building.　

A total of four people, the trio and teacher who led them, arrived safely at the Temple of Trials.

“It’s been a while since I came here, but nothing has changed.”　

“It certainly does look like a temple but…”

“It doesn’t look like a place where one could train inside♡”

“Because the spirits have been living there for a long time, there is heavy space-time distortion compared to the outside world. It belongs to a completely different space and time. Therefore, I’ve heard of cases where people couldn’t come out even if they wanted to.”

After hearing Haruto’s explanation, Erin and Kuyumi looked up at the temple once again.　

The stone pillars had marks on them, not only from natural weathering over the years, but also had scratches that looked like they were made by people who suffered.

“It seems to be a scarier place than I thought…”　

“It really makes one worry, doesn’t it♡”

　

The two’s expressions clouded as they gently stroked their respective weapons.

However, Sharon took a step forward and shook her head without hesitation.

“But now we’re already here, I have no choice but to do it. I’ll do it alone if I have to.”　

Sharon spoke with determination in her eyes and tightly gripped her weapon, the assault spear.　

Seeing that figure, Haruto folded his arms and lowered his gaze.

…For the time being, they should have reached a safe margin of power. The people who had an accident at the Temple of Trials were basically those whose level didn’t meet the recommended value, so the possibility of anything happening to these three is extremely low.　

This time, just like his last visit, Haruto was unable to follow inside.　

It’s all their fault. Just as he was about to cuss-

[“Ahahahah.”]　

[“Ufufufufu.”]

A cheerful, gentle, and profoundly light-filled laughter rang out.　

As the group looked around, a warm light suddenly surrounded them.

There were small humanoid spirits, floating with light all over their bodies.

[“Me and I welcome you people.”] ¹　

[“Me and I like you people.”]

[“Me and I will bring trials to you people.”]

Floating spirits spun their words.　

They welcomed the three and tried to invite them inside.

The voice was a little different from the vibration that shook the air, and it was more of something that resounded through their minds using a sixth sense.

“Me and I…?”　

“They just remember the words that humans often use, and they have some semblance of intelligence, but don’t expect to be able to have a conversation.”

The three’s expressions tightened after hearing Haruto’s explanation.　

“Well then… Erin, Kuyumi.”　

“Yes!”

“Let’s go♡”

　

Just as they were about to enter the temple, spirits approached Haruto.

[“It’s Haruto.”]　

[“It’s really Haruto.”]

Erin’s group were astonished that spirits actually could remember names, but before they could say anything,　

[“Me and I don’t welcome you. Don’t come in, you octopus.”]　

“The heck you just say? Who wants to come in, assholes?”

Haruto and the spirits began to insult each other with gruff voices.　

Shocked, Sharon squinted her eyes and saw that the luminous spirit had a look of content on its face.

[“How shameless of you to come here again.”]　

[“Me and I hate you. Just go away.”]

“All this time, and you people still haven’t learned any manners.”

[“Garbage. Don’t breathe.”]

“Enough with that, you assholes.”

A bulging blue vein appeared on Haruto’s forehead.　

The vein was so prominent, it looked like a small mountain range.

“Eh… he said they didn’t get along, but this is already beyond that level.”

“Sensei’s angry face filled with malice is refreshing to see♡”

“……C-certainly, that… is good in its own way.”

“Wah, I think Erin-chan should reconsider your preference♡”

　

Seeing Erin blush a little, Kuyumi felt a slight sense of crisis.

Her classmate’s preference was clearly twisted.

If she didn’t do anything about it, she would be in trouble in the future.

“……Both of you, let’s go.”

On the other hand, Sharon shook her head and returned her gaze to the temple.　

Sharon already heard that Haruto was hated by the spirits before, so she already expected the scene.

“Hm, you’re right. Then we’ll be going, teach’!”　

“Be a good boy and wait♡”

　

Haruto, who seemed about to start a scuffle (?) with spirits, absently waved back to his students.

Leaving him outside, the three of them went inside the temple.

　

　◇

　

I sighed.　

The three of them disappeared into the temple with Sharon in the lead.

I had taught them to some extent what would await them instead, or rather, things they should do there.

During the preparation period, there were times when I had no choice but to reluctantly give incomprehensible explanations.　

The three of them tilted their heads, wondering if something was wrong with me, and even cussed me out.

But they still believed me in the end, so they were really good girls.

If it was me, I would have just ignored it and skipped school.

[“It’s Haruto.”]　

[“It’s really Haruto.”]

As I stood there in a daze, the spirits went back and forth until they reached the distance where they could touch my face.　

It was plain harassment.

“Annoying. Just go away.”　

I let out a look of disgust that I tried not to show in front of students.　

It was revealed a bit earlier, though.

No matter how many times I looked in the mirror, I still didn’t like this disgusting face typical of a scum hero.

[“This is the place where one fights for beauty.”]　

[“This is the place to gain true strength.”]

[“This is the place where the races that have been formally given the holy light of God live.”]

The spirits began to say their piece on their own.　

As usual, they didn’t bother to listen to me.

[“Therefore, you should go away.”]　

“I won’t. I’ll camp here until the three come out.”

[“Me and I are telling you to go away.”]

They had too little emotional control.　

Rather, their emotions were already jammed.

[“From me and I’s perspective, Aias’ words are correct.”]

I was shocked to suddenly hear the name of an acquaintance.　

“Are you guys close to him?”　

[“Aias told us that even if you were to play the role of hero forever, it wouldn’t solve the problem you wanted to solve.”]

Spirits flew around me.　

That was when I finally noticed that in addition to contempt, there were hints of pity in their eyes.

　

[“Your life is a fairy tale of the unchosen.”]　

[“You are a device that is destined to decay.”]

[“Me and I hate you.”]

[“Me and I don’t want you to see you meet your end.”]

Every word thrown at me dug into a soft place deep within my heart.　

Aah, come to think of it, they did say something like this last time as well.

[“Me and I won’t approve of the way you live.”]　

“……I know.”

As I said that, I laid out the equipment I had brought and set up camp.　

　

　◇

　

Erin’s group of three entered with their weapons already deployed in hand.

The carcasses of beasts were scattered around as they progressed.

As soon as they collapsed, they became transparent and disappeared without bloodstains. 

“I’m sure they existed, but they disappeared once killed…?”　

“I guess it means they were only for training purposes♡ It seems they are constructed with something other than magic power♡”

　

They felt a sticky atmosphere as soon as they stepped inside the temple as it became a clearly separate dimension.

As they moved through the vast hallway, beasts appeared every few steps.

“Sharon-chan, what do you want to do?”　

“……I want you two to back me up.”

“Okay, leave it to us!”

“Just entrust your back to us♡”

　

This time was a training that Sharon strongly requested.

Sharon was placed as the main axis, swinging her spear and firing cannonballs at close range. Erin and Kuyumi were watching over the whole thing.

[“Magic power is a spillover that humanity clings to.”]　

[“Me and I are a race that has officially received the holy light of god.”]

[“Me and I will weave the sacred light with our breath, flowing it through the sky and filling the earth.”]

The voices of spirits danced near the ceiling.　

It seemed they were not an existence made of magic power, but high purity mysticism itself.

They are harder to cut compared to ordinary monsters.　

I could kill them in no time since their movement is simple, but their specs as a lifeform is very high…

The samurai and assassin coldly observed and theorized.　

Since the place was known as the Temple of Trials, there was no doubt the monsters earlier were its form of greetings.

If that was the case, it meant the enemy’s strength would also increase from here on──

　

“……It’s coming.”

It happened at the same time as Sharon muttered.　

A shadow spread out as if blocking the path of the three from proceeding, taking a strange shape as it slowly crawled up from behind the ground.

“Isn’t this-!”　

“It’s what sensei mentioned before♡”

　

It was a huge body walking on two legs.

It was a pitch black golem the size of a building.

[“I don’t have low level worries like whether you might die. There’s a problem of whether you might catch weird curses, but I have a plan to deal with that. What I’m worried about is whether you girls earn enough EXP to level up… I mean, whether you girls truly learn something from the experience.”]　

Haruto’s words ran through the minds of the three at the same time.　

[“Sometimes, troublesome enemies will appear, and the key goal is defeating them efficiently. That’s why, let’s start training for the sake of preparing for the upcoming trial.”]　

After saying that, Haruto imposed new training on them.　

At first, they thought it was ridiculous, but now, it was ingrained in them.

“Let’s go, Erin, Kuyumi.”　

After hearing Sharon’s call, the two changed their formation.　

They quickly ran past the golem’s feet and got behind it.

They moved into a triangle formation, with the golem at the center.

Then, the moment the golem’s eyes lit up-　

Erin’s group opened their lips and made weird sounds in unison.

　

“““One two! One Two!”””　

　

Bullets of mysticism were fired from the golem’s entire body.　

In response, three of them picked up a rhythm and began swinging their weapons in unison.

The bullet barrage of mysticism that flew according to the rhythm was blown away with a flash of steel.　

They didn’t flinch from the omni-directional attacks that left no way of escape, and instead responded as if they had known about it beforehand.

They pushed forward, crushing the barrage.

　

“““One two! One two!”””　

After breaking through all the attacks while maintaining their rhythm, the distance became zero.　

A sword flashed and sliced through the golem. Daggers shattered its joints.

The tip of the assault spear thrust forward and completely destroyed the golem’s core.

The gigantic enemy collapsed with a noise and disappeared.　

Three of them looked at each other and nodded, confirming that they were able to deal with the situation without missing a beat.

　

[“What you need to acquire is a sense of rhythm! After all, if we go by training efficiency, the battle in the temple will become a rhythm game where you deflect the bullets while closing the distance!”]　

[“What are you talking about, teach’?”]

[“Don’t say random things and explain properly.”]

[“Eh… This is the pulse rhythm when he is telling the truth…”]

　

I’m glad I believed in sensei’s nonsense── such was the thought of the three from the bottom of their hearts.

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