"Eh? Ehhh?!"
"Senior... Rin?!"
"Are you serious?"
"That kind of... that kind of other world that sounds so dangerous..."
"And you have to leave this place..."
Nono Mozunono, who had been shrinking back as a background character, widened her eyes upon hearing this, looking as if she had seen the sun rise from the west, her face full of disbelief.
She was still deathly gripping the baton that Shirakawa had returned, her knuckles turning white from the excessive force.
To her, Onigawara Rin was not just a senior, but someone she looked up to in the way of the sword.
How could that Rin, who always wore a mask and was strict but more upright than anyone, suddenly abandon everything in the academy?
"I've thought it through, Nono."
Onigawara Rin didn't look back, but her voice was exceptionally firm.
Her back was held straight, as if she were straightening her spine for her entire lifetime in this moment.
"I've... made up my mind to make a change."
With that,
Onigawara Rin stepped forward and stood firmly by Heimdall's side, shoulder to shoulder with Inaba Tsukiyo.
Thus,
among the five swords, three had already stood by Heimdall's side.
The originally balanced situation tilted instantly.
Pressure.
A tangible pressure instantly poured onto the remaining two people.
Kikakujuo Mary, and Hanazake Warabi, who still had her head buried in the bear's belly.
The air in the gymnasium seemed to become thick.
All eyes—whether it was Heimdall's calm, abyss-like gaze or the scrutinizing looks of the three who had already decided—felt like needles pricking them.
"..."
Kikakujuo Mary clutched the thick dictionary in her arms tightly.
Her nails dug deep into the book's cover.
To go?
Or to stay?
This should have been a serious question of life and death.
Reason told her that staying in this academy with a luxurious life and her status as a young lady was the most correct choice.
After all, who would want to risk their life against monsters that sounded both disgusting and dangerous?
But.
At this moment.
In Kikakujuo Mary's mind, her rational analysis was instead completely drowned out by another, even stronger emotion.
—And that was the fact that Onigawara Rin was going!
The same Onigawara Rin she usually mocked for wearing a tacky mask and being as conventional as an old fogey.
The person who, in her eyes, was always indecisive.
This time, she had actually chosen that path full of thorns without any hesitation.
And what about herself?
Shrinking back here like a quail?
To be outdone like this.
If she backed down now, she would be losing to Onigawara Rin.
That feeling was ten thousand times more unbearable than being told to die!
"Argh! Seriously!"
At this thought, Kikakujuo Mary irritably ruffled her blonde hair, which she usually maintained meticulously and never allowed to be even slightly messy.
Then.
*Thud!*
That thick dictionary she treated like a treasure and carried everywhere was slammed hard onto the floor by her.
"I'll go!"
"Who's afraid of whom!"
"I've had enough of being stuck here every day anyway!"
"Since even a coward like Rin dares to go, what's there for this lady to be afraid of!"
Having said that,
as if to prove her determination, she didn't even go to pick up the dictionary, but strode over to Heimdall's other side.
She even deliberately bumped Onigawara Rin's shoulder and let out a cold snort.
Thus,
four were in place.
Now,
everyone's gaze finally fell on the figure still sitting on the ground, head buried in the Black Bear's thick belly.
Hanazake Warabi.
This girl, as petite as a primary schooler, was currently acting like an ostrich, trying to use the Black Bear to shut out reality.
Muffled mutterings could still be heard from her.
"Mmm, mmm..."
"Should I go? Should I really go?"
"It sounds so scary... I'll die, right? I'll definitely die, right?"
"But..."
Hanazake Warabi couldn't help but quietly lift her head from the thick bear fur, revealing a pair of timid, large eyes.
She cautiously scanned the four people already standing by Heimdall.
Kirukiru Amou looked down from above.
Kikakujuo Mary had her chin tilted up.
Even Tamaba Satori...
...was currently looking at her with a smile, head tilted, as if saying, "Oh my, it seems Warabi is the one being left behind~"
If no one else was going,
as long as there was even one person to stay with her, she would definitely be the first to raise her hand in favor of staying.
But now,
everyone else was going.
Was she to be the only one left?
*Hiss!*
With that thought, Hanazake Warabi suddenly jumped up from the ground, stomped her foot hard, and then, as if to bolster her courage, looked at the still dumbfounded Black Bear.
"Since everyone is going..."
"Don't even think about running away!"
Saying that,
Hanazake Warabi grabbed the thick chain around the Black Bear's neck.
"You're coming with me too!"
"If we die, we die together!"
"Oww?!"
At these words, the Black Bear immediately let out a cry of disbelief.
It stared with its black bean eyes at its owner, who was usually unreliable but at least seemed to care for animals.
The bear's face was filled with the despair of 'Are you sick?' and 'Please spare this bear!'
It only came to watch the show!
Why did it have to be dragged along as cannon fodder too!
"Waaah!!!"
However,
Even though the Black Bear dug its four paws into the ground, leaving deep scratches, and let out miserable cries,
In the end,
It was helplessly dragged before Heimdall.
At this point,
the five swords of the world, along with the Empress Kirukiru Amou,
Were all assembled.
...However,
Looking at their death-defying expressions, as if they were about to be executed the next second,
Heimdall couldn't help but shake his head, feeling a wave of helplessness.
"Alright."
"Put those expressions away."
"Why is everyone putting on such faces?"
"Although I said that world has no retreat,"
"I didn't say I'm throwing you over immediately to feed the monsters."
"There's no need to make it seem like a final parting."
"Besides, I am not some unreasonable evil god."
"Since you have already made up your minds and entrusted your lives to my hands,"
"Then,"
"I will naturally leave you some time."
"To deal with the lingering attachments in this world."
"Whether it's saying goodbye to friends, packing luggage, or eating one last thing you want to eat."
"Anything you want to bring or can't let go of, hurry up and settle it."
"Then, come with me with a light heart."
"Don't be late."
As soon as these words were spoken, the somewhat tragic atmosphere instantly collapsed.
The women, whose nerves had been tense, immediately deflated like punctured balls and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Phew..."
Hanazake Warabi plopped down onto the ground, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead without any regard for her image.
"That scared me... I thought we were going to die right away..."
Kikakujuo Mary also swayed slightly, quickly picking up the dictionary from the ground and hugging it close.
Even Onigawara Rin, who had truly made up her mind, slightly retracted the determination in her eyes, revealing a hint of complexity.
After all,
If one were to truly leave, who could really be without any lingering attachments?
...Thus,
For the next few hours, Aichi Coexistence Private Academy fell into an uproar.
After all,
The news spread quickly.
Or rather,
These few individuals were already the focus of the Academy.
The moment they made their decision,
The girls who had always followed behind them quickly learned everything.
Inside the girls' dormitory,
A group of people waited with varied expressions.
"Rin..."
Nono Mozunono stood at the very front, tightly clutching the white sap that Heimdall had already returned.
Watching Onigawara Rin walk out of the room,
Nono Mozunono, who had always stuck to Onigawara Rin like a shadow, became anxious, her eyes turning red, tears welling up.
"Are you... really going to leave?"
"In the future... who will teach me swordsmanship? Who will patrol with me?"
"Without Rin... I can't do it alone!"
Onigawara Rin stopped walking, looking at the junior who had always depended on her.
She couldn't help but sigh, reaching out to pat Nono Mozunono's head, her expression complicated.
"Noine."
"You are no longer a child."
"You are also a swordsman of the Jikishin Kage-ryū."
"A swordsman cannot hide behind others forever."
"Since you have become a candidate for the next of the five swords, you must learn to stand up on your own."
"My sword has found a new direction."
"And you,"
"Must also find your own path."
"The future of the Academy is entrusted to you."
"This is a trial, and also an opportunity."
On the other side,
Usukurebara Chōka had wrapped herself into a cocoon with her long whip, attempting to stop Kikakujuo Mary from packing her luggage.
"Miss Marie! You can't abandon me!"
"Without your elegant guidance, my whip technique... my whip technique will become as weak and powerless as noodles!"
"Shut up! Chōka!"
Kikakujuo Mary yelled impatiently while stuffing various skincare products and strange Western sword maintenance oils into a box.
"I am going to conquer another world! I am not going on vacation!"
"Besides, if I don't leave, you will forever just be a follower!"
"Straighten your chest! Don't disgrace my name!"
As for Hanazake Warabi, she was surrounded by a group of people.
They were her subordinates—the Three Beasts.
Higashitsune Tsunemi held an iron fan, looking worried.
Tanihara Kinu had a pencil clipped behind her ear, unconsciously tapping her dual police batons.
Saruwatari Nikko pushed up her goggles, tightly gripping the adjustable wrench in her hand.
"Big Sister..."
"Are you really not taking us?"
"We are the Three Beasts! We swore to follow Big Sister forever!"
"Idiots!"
"That place is very dangerous!"
Hanazake Warabi corrected them, then pointed to the Black Bear behind her—Fierce Person—who was licking the fur of a fluffy little bear.
"Moreover, not only am I going."
"Fierce Person is going too!"
"And Fierce Person's child, this newborn little fellow, is also coming along!"
"If Fierce Person and I leave, someone has to stay here to look after the house, right?"
"What if those boys in the Academy rebel?"
"You all watch over things properly!"
"Wait for me..."
"Wait until I become a great hero, I will definitely come back to see you."