NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26
26. The Selected Team
“It’s over, it’s over!”
I returned to the 1st floor lobby with a clear mind.
Now, all that’s left is to wait for the results.
Nervousness, anxiety, anticipation, and excitement.
It was a unique feeling of unease until the results were announced, with my heart pounding.
“Ah, Haruto. Good work today.”
“Good work~”
Lilith and Alice ran up to me.
“Did you two wait for me the whole time?”
A smile naturally spread across my face.
Just seeing their faces made all the tension disappear.
“Lilith was curious about Haruto.”
Lilith smiled brightly.
“Curious, isn’t that almost like a confession!?”
Beside me, Alice seemed flustered.
“Lilith-chan is bold~”
No, a confession, isn’t that jumping to conclusions?
“Ah, th-that’s not what I meant. I was curious about the results of the assessment.”
For some reason, Lilith was blushing.
“I think it’s okay not to be embarrassed. I heard that it’s becoming more acceptable for women to confess actively these days~”
Alice smiled happily.
“S-so, what about you, onee-chan? Didn’t you and Haruto have a moment together the other day, getting closer…?”
For some reason, Lilith gave Alice a sharp look.
“W-what are you implying!? I-I, I mean, it’s not like that… ahahaha…”
Now it was Alice’s turn to blush.
Why are they both so flustered since earlier?
“Hehe, isn’t onee-chan honest and cute?”
“S-so, that’s not it at all~”
The two of them giggled and were just adorable.
Watching them was so soothing.
“Unfortunately, the announcement of the assessment results has been postponed.”
With a calm tone, a blue-haired beauty wearing knight armor appeared—it was Luca.
“Postponed?”
“Oh, you are…”
Beside me, Lilith gasped.
“Don’t tell me, a Rank S…?”
“Ice Blade Luca…! N-nice to meet you…”
Lilith and Alice looked nervous.
“I’m not good with formalities, so let’s talk normally. And you can call me Luca or Abasta, whichever you like.”
Luca said curtly.
“Are these people Haruto’s friends?”
“Yeah, they came with me.”
I introduced Lilith and the others to Luca.
“When did you all become friends?”
Lilith gave me a sharp look.
“Luca-san… I mean, Luca.”
“I wouldn’t say we became friends. We just fought in a mock battle.”
“I respect all strong individuals. That’s all.”
Brushing her short blue hair with her right hand, Luca said expressionlessly.
“Strong individuals… so, Luca acknowledges Haruto, right?”
Alice smiled happily.
“As I said before, I’m not good with formalities.”
Luca narrowed her purple eyes and looked at her.
“Sorry. This is just how I normally speak~”
“Is that so? Well, it’s fine as it is.”
Though I didn’t quite understand her criteria, Luca seemed satisfied.
“But you’re not good with formalities, right? Um, can I call you Luca-chan with some familiarity?”
“Luca-chan…”
Luca muttered, her cheeks slightly reddening.
“That’s fine… it’s nice.”
Looking closely, her lips were slightly loosened.
It’s hard to tell since she usually has no expression, but it seems like she’s happy.
“So, about the postponement of the assessment results?”
While enjoying their interaction, I brought the topic back.
“A powerful demon has appeared. The guild here is in combat readiness to subdue it. There’s no spare capacity for assessments.”
“A powerful demon…?”
“A demon that appeared in Egil city destroyed the city and is heading towards the capital, destroying neighboring cities one after another.”
Luca said emotionlessly.
“The threat assessment of the opponent is estimated to be Rank S. Most adventurers in each city’s guild have been killed, as well as the townspeople.”
“M-most have been killed…”
I gulped.
“At this rate, the capital will also get destroyed.”
“—But isn’t this a huge deal? You’re talking about it as if it’s someone else’s problem!”
“I am concerned, though.”
“No, your expression is the same.”
“Oh, the angle of your eyebrows is slightly different, Luca-chan.”
“Alice, you’re sharp.”
“Hehe, not really~”
At Luca’s words, Alice blushed.
A heartwarming scene of two beautiful girls—no, wait!
“Anyway, it’s a serious situation. Will Luca be mobilized?”
“Rank S me, and Dractio have been requested to mobilize. Additional personnel for interception will gather here soon—”
“Let me… go too.”
A sudden voice came from behind.
When I turned around, there was a beautiful girl with long purple hair in a dancer costume.
Standing, but leaning against the wall with a painful expression.
Moreover, her costume was torn in places, and blood was seeping from exposed skin.
“Sarome…!?”
“I had a rough time… over there…”
Sarome’s face was pale.
And she was dragging her right leg.
“Isn’t it broken!? Let me cast healing magic.”
Alice hurried over in a fluster.
“[El Heal]”
A faint green light overflowed from her hand, and Sarome’s complexion returned quickly.
“…Thank you. I feel better now.”
Soon after, Sarome sighed.
“Did you get attacked by demons in Agire City? I remember you took a D-Eater subjugation request from that guild.”
Lilith asked worriedly.
“Yeah. I managed to survive somehow, but the town completely got wiped out. It was terrible.”
Sarome sighed.
—After reporting the demon subjugation in Egil city, Sarome stayed there.
And a few hours ago, the town was annihilated by the sudden appearance of the demon, Gairas Vlirm.
Sarome was the only one who barely escaped the attack.
“Fortunately, the regular carriage between Agire and the nearby town passed by. I hitched a ride and made it to the capital… ugh.”
Perhaps still feeling pain, Sarome grimaced while explaining.
“And it’s gotten serious.”
A burly male magician arrived.
It was Dalton-san, the examiner who fought me in the first mock battle.
“Luca, you know you’ve been summoned by the guild, right? This time it’s not an ordinary opponent. It’s better to take as many assistants as possible.”
“I’ll leave it to Dalton then. If there are other Rank A adventurers who can move, call them too.”
“Then, I’ll go too.”
Sarome immediately raised her hand.
“You have the qualifications as an assistant because you’re Rank A, right?”
“Um, I—”
“This time, the demon is provisionally evaluated as Rank S. Only Rank S adventurers and Rank A assistants can handle it. Haruto isn’t even an adventurer yet. Doesn’t have the qualifications to participate in the operation.”
As I was about to volunteer if I could be of help, Luca stopped me.
“Huh? But I helped Sarome in the battle with the demon…”
“Awwawawawawawa”
I was about to say that I participated in the battle with the D Eater—when suddenly, Sarome hugged me.
Her soft body pressed against mine, making my heart race.
Especially the ample swell pressing against my chest was filled with softness and freshness—.
Just being pressed against me made me flustered.
This is bad. Blood is rushing to my lower body—.
Ah, no, no, now is not the time for that.
But it feels good—.
“What happened before with Haruto-kun is a secret.”
“Huh?”
“When we fought the dragon, I said I was ‘dragged into it,’ and it seemed to have passed as an excuse, but in the case of the D-Eater, I requested it. It’s important if the guild finds out.”
“…Was that a violation of the rules?”
“It’s actually pretty bad to request someone who’s not even an adventurer… But because Alice and Lilith told me about the battle with the dragon, I thought Haruto-kun would be okay in terms of combat power. But, as a rule, no.”
Sticking out her tongue, Sarome said.
“My position will also be compromised, so please. I’ll do whatever you say. Okay?”
“A-anythin’?”
I felt a sweet breath against me, and my spine tingled.
I inadvertently looked at her ample chest.
Sarome’s eyes sparkled.
“Ah, did you think of something dirty? Hey, did you?”
“I-I didn’t think of anything dirty!”
I did.
—Anyway, the members to intercept Gyrasvrim, the demon, were Luca, Sarome, Dalton, and several other Rank A adventurers.
They were planning to meet Dractio, a Rank S adventurer, at the interception point.
“This is the select team. Each of you will play a role in intercepting the demon.”
Luca looked around at the members.
“Of course.”
“Everyone, stay focused.”
Sarome, Dalton-san, and the other adventurers all nodded.
And then, Luca’s team set off.
As I watched them leave, I couldn’t suppress the turmoil in my chest.
I have a bad feeling.
Should I go with them after all?
But Luca and the others are strong.
And in battles against demons, they should have much more experience than me.
In other words, they’re seasoned veterans.
All I can do is trust and wait—.