Chapter 439. Shinomiya Shinomiya My Shinomiya.jpg
「If the Student Council members from earlier were a violent storm, then the joint assault of Ryuen, Koenji, and Horikita Manabu could be described as a descending meteor.」
「Elite combat techniques designed solely for killing and destruction unfolded through their strikes. Although they remained within the realm of normal humans—far from being able to touch the powerhouses of Emilia's world—each of them could be considered at the level of a top-tier military operative.」
「While Ryuen's moves were rougher compared to Koenji and Manabu, his strength was immense; his wide-sweeping style possessed a distinct, overbearing majesty.」
「Against an ordinary high schooler, or even an ordinary adult, the three of them would be a "dimensional strike" of absolute suppression.」
「However, the moment a full-throttle Ayanokouji Kiyotaka made his move, Ryuen's heart sank. He knew immediately: defeat was inevitable!」
「If those three were elite soldiers, then Ayanokouji's impeccably trained strength, speed, impact resistance, combat experience, and all-encompassing strategic calculation made him a nightmare that even a "Soldier King" would regret facing!」
「The four fought intensely for several minutes. But finally, as even the strongest, Horikita Manabu, had his glasses shattered and collapsed unsteadily, Ayanokouji's status as the indisputable strongest was cemented.」
「The rest of the students were as silent as cicadas in winter. Although they could have worn Ayanokouji down if they swarmed him all at once—after all, he was still a normal human, albeit at the peak of every human metric—their spirit had been terrified out of them.」
「They could only watch helplessly as Ayanokouji walked forward at a steady pace, seemingly at random picking out certain individuals and ruthlessly beating them into critical condition. The victims didn't dare offer even a hint of resistance.」
「After finishing, Ayanokouji glanced toward the building to his rear-left. The Principal, who had been watching through binoculars, was so frightened he immediately drew the curtains, not daring to peek again.」
「His expression never changed from beginning to end. With an ever-indifferent face, Ayanokouji turned and began to leave the field after taking down the dozens of people he had selected.」
「"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka!... Why are you doing this?" A teeth-gritting Horikita Suzune called out to him. "Are you just showing off?"」
「"Showing off?"」
「Ayanokouji stopped and thought for two seconds. A hint of an expectant curve finally touched his indifferent face. "I originally wanted to say it was because you all made me unpleasant. But, if you want to call it showing off, that works too."」
「"I originally possessed no emotions to speak of. Yet, your insults toward Hikigaya Hachiman caused me displeasure, which was actually quite unexpected. I thought I only wanted to find him for a showdown so he could bring me more emotion; that it was a matter between him and me."」
「"And yet, I actually became displeased because you insulted him... For his sake, I have done something so inefficient. I suppose this can be seen as me conveying to you all just how important Hikigaya Hachiman is to me."」
「"Acting irrationally and inefficiently... the influence of emotions on me is truly negative. And yet, I have no desire to expel them. This answer is something I'll likely have to ask him in person—Hikigaya Hachiman."」
「The dozens of people lying bleeding on the ground felt their guts turn green with regret. These boys and girls never imagined the reason they were beaten by Ayanokouji was that they had previously insulted Hikigaya Hachiman out of jealousy.」
「Horikita Suzune stared blankly at the departing Ayanokouji.」
「He walked out of the school. Under the brilliant sunlight, the sign at the school gate was strikingly eye-catching:」
「Advanced Nurturing High School.」
"Ah? ...AH!?"
The hulking third-year student stared blankly at the screen, watching the Ayanokouji of the future depart coolly after winning a one-on-ten fight. Then, he lowered his head, looking vacantly at the Ayanokouji standing before him, who wore a faint, slight smile.
Thud.
...Almost as an instinctive reflex, the third-year dropped to his knees on the spot. Ayanokouji never spared him a single glance, treating him as nothing more than an ant.
Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses to hide the regret in his eyes. Horikita Suzune, however, made no attempt to hide her feelings; she grit her teeth so hard they nearly broke, staring at Ayanokouji with bloodshot eyes as if looking at the murderer of her brother.
Ryuen, Sakayanagi Arisu, and others couldn't help but look on with sighs and gazes filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.
The camera was fixed on Ayanokouji. It was clear he was the protagonist this time... already the strongest, soon to cross over to another world and gain countless benefits, Ayanokouji
was destined to become even more powerful. For Ryuen and Suzune, having the gap between them and Ayanokouji widen was an unbearable, ultimate humiliation.
...As for the dozens of people who had previously spoken ill of Hikigaya Hachiman, they all followed the lead of that cowardly third-year and fell to their knees in a panic after the initial shock. They dared to run away from trouble, but they didn't dare run away from a Ayanokouji Kiyotaka who was likely about to become a top-tier powerhouse after crossing over.
The students at Advanced Nurturing High School were shocked by Ayanokouji's one-on-ten feat, but the vast majority of people around the world were already shaken to the core the moment Horikita Manabu waved his hand.
Kousaka Kyousuke was stunned on the spot, exchanging bewildered looks with his sister Kirino. "What... what the hell is this?"
Those dozen or so Student Council members under Manabu—they were high schoolers? With that discipline, that attitude, and that combat power? If someone told Kyousuke they were currently serving in the military, he'd believe it!
What kind of high school produces such terrifying students? Which one!?
Even Hikigaya Hachiman's strength was only widely recognized by the public after he crossed over and displayed his brilliant schemes at the Roswaal mansion. But at Advanced Nurturing High School, setting aside Ayanokouji, even a casual glance at the other students made it obvious they were not to be trifled with.
Without an explanation, Kyousuke would have thought this was a gang war, not a school gathering.
It wasn't just Kyousuke; Masamune Izumi, Houtarou Oreki, and others were equally confused. Only those like Yuiga Nariyuki and Fuutarou Uesugi—the top students in their respective schools—remembered something.
"Oh... it's that school. No wonder."
In the Shirogane household, Shirogane Miyuki understood. He explained to his confused sister: "When I was entering high school, that school sent me an invitation. They claimed a 100% employment rate, but after researching some data, I turned it down."
"If it's as good as they say, why did you give it up? I'm not supporting it, just curious," Shirogane Kei asked.
"Because the data I found suggested it's a brutal mini-society. It doesn't feel like a high school at all; it feels like a private military camp. It's so isolated that it's completely abnormal."
Miyuki let out a deep sigh. "Looking at it now, my guess was right. If I had entered that school back then, I'd definitely be finished."
It was clear that in there, martial prowess was vital. Miyuki knew he wouldn't necessarily win a one-on-one fight even against that initial "cannon fodder" third-year.
"Besides, if I had gone there, I never would have met Shinomiya."
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