I was raring to go as we arrived at the school’s arena.
Just a little though. I was a little excited.
I was going to use my power to spread Athena’s name.
I had felt like that ever since I made that my goal.
I hadn’t had a goal before.
Which was why even though I had learned to control my powers, I hadn’t seen any reason to reveal them without anything I actually wanted to achieve.
But, it was different now. I had decided to get just a little serious, if it was for the sake of Athena.
“Yuno-san… please don’t do anything irresponsible,” Kami-sama said, looking at me worriedly.
…Cuuuuteee.
“I’ll be fine! With the skill I received from you, I’m invincible!” I said, and my classmates nearby snorted at me and began whispering amongst themselves.
Well, that was to be expected though. From their perspective it probably looked like I was trying to act tough in front of a beauty.
In fact, Athena had become a topic of conversation as ‘the beautiful goddess Athena’ amongst students even from other classes.
Meanwhile, Mr. Soleil was giving out instructions with a sleepy-looking face.
“Riight, you all ready? Class is about to begin, but like I explained earlier, you’ll be doing mock fights. As such, since unexpected accidents might occur, I’ve prepared this set of non-lethal weapons over here. People who plan on using one, please take one before we begin. Also, only beginner-level magic will be allowed. That’s all. Any questions?”
“““……”””
“You lot sure you don’t have any questions?”
Now that I think of it.
“Sir, how are the mock battles going to work?”
“Good question. Wanna know?”
“Eh? Uhh, yes?”
I heard people going ‘tch’ in the background.
Huh, it seemed like I was becoming the annoying smart guy of the class.
…Wait no, I just got back from being suspended.
“You’re free to fight anyone you want. We’ll be doing a series of as many one-versus-one fights as time permits. If there’s ever anyone that wants to have a go next, feel free to step forward. Otherwise, I’ll choose someone. Got it?”
We all nodded, some going to choose weapons and some waiting for the teacher to say we could begin.
I went over to Mr. Soleil to ask for a spear.
“You sure you want a spear? I thought your family was famous for its swordsmanship.”
“I’d like a spear, please. On account of how the skill I received from making a contract with Athena is ‘Spear Arts’,” I said, just to make sure.
So that it wouldn’t be strange when I, with my abysmal physical score on the entrance exam, suddenly became strong.
“Okay. Do what you want.”
The spear he gave me was basically just a straight, barkless stick.
I threw it from one hand to the other, then spun it around to get a feel for it.
Hmm. Durability is most definitely not its strong point.
I decided I should be a little careful with it.
“You seem rather enthusiastic today,” Alice said with a slightly prickly voice, having appeared next to me.
“Do I? Well, it’s my first mock fight ever. I’m kinda nervous.”
“Oh really… You look like you’re trying to impress a certain someone to me,” she said with narrowed eyes, giving me a meaningful look.
That’s a childhood friend for you. She saw right through me.
“I guess. Staying like I was before would be rather rude to her after making a contract and receiving a skill, don’t you think?”
“Riight. I see. Well, I’m also rather interested in seeing just how much you can do now. Everyone else is too, although they try not to let it show.”
Currently, I was the only one in the class who had made a contract with a god. Apparently less than half of all people made a contract with a god while still in school, so they must have been interested in how much I’d grown and using that as reference.
“Oh no, I’m soo scareed… let’s have a good match, if we get paired together.”
“I won’t hold back, you know.”
To be honest, I hadn’t thought about what to do if I had to go up against Alice. I didn’t know whether it would be better if I lost or won against the top student of the class.
But, there was one thing I was able to say for sure. If I fought someone other than Alice, I was going to win completely.
“Let’s start then. Who wants to go first?”
The mock fights had finally begun.
I was planning on watching a few matches to determine what level of strength would be considered overwhelming, but…
“Yuno… wanna have a go?” Maro said, stepping forward, waiting for me to do the same.
I had no choice, really.
I followed Maro down the stone steps to the middle of the arena.
“You actually took the challenge. You have guts, I’ll give you that,” he said, his eyes glinting.
“I mean, you literally called me here, so yes? You might have forgotten, but I’m the third son of the Astorio family.”
“Right, now that you mention it, you are, aren’t you. However, while your family might be known for its splendorous achievements, my family have received multiple medals of honour from the king. We’ll never lose to your family, especially in terms of magic.”
Maro took up a fighting stance.
Showing off, I held my spear up in the air and spun it, then brought it to a stop in an instant, pointing it at Maro.
I had decided…
“Hmph, you think you can win against me with tricks like that?”
As planned, I had managed to provoke him.
“Maro, I haven’t told you yet, but I received the skill ‘Spear Arts’ when I made the contract with her. So making light of my so-called tricks won’t end well for you.”
I said to him, slightly louder than I would normally speak.
So that our classmates could hear as well.
“Hmph, an incompetent who made a contract with another incompetent is no match for me!”
He’s still calling us that…?
I made up my mind. I would carve the taste of defeat into that flabby body of his.
“Are the both of you ready?”
We nodded simultaneously.
“Then, begin!”
Maro was the first one to move.
“Dieeeeee! Wind Magic! Wind Cutter!”
I moved right as Maro used his magic.
I charged at him, my spear pointing straight at him.
“What are you doing! Dodge it!” Alice screamed, but I knew what I was doing.
The victory I was going for was one that looked spectacular. So, I headed straight towards the blade of high-pressure air coming straight towards me.
“Hup!”
Holding the spear in both hands, I kept running forwards, batting away the incoming blades of wind as if I was rowing a boat.
“W-what the! Wind Cutter! Wind C–”
And then I was right in front of him, ramming the handle of my spear into his stomach.
“Shi-…”
He staggered backwards for a few steps before falling onto his knees, then collapsing completely, stirring up dust from the ground.
As I watched that all unfold, I noticed that I was excited.
…See, I can do it if I put my mind to it.
It was the first time I had used my power deliberately.
I was also scared. If I just remembered this feeling of omnipotence, I could-
“Yuno-saaan! That was amazing!”
Kami-sama was waving happily to me from amongst my classmates.
Ah… that’s right. It’s okay. Kami-sama is with me.
If she stayed by my side, I wouldn’t go down the wrong path.
“Kami-samaaaa! The skill you gave me is amazing!”
My other thoughts faded away, immediately showing how capable she was.
As for my classmates, they were staring at me with wide-open eyes as if they couldn’t believe what they had just seen.
Good grief, I’ll have to give them a taste of reality who knows how many more times at this rate.
“I-I’m next!” one of Maro’s goons said, standing up, wooden sword in hand.
Perfect. He has a connection to Maro.
I spun my spear while stepping left and right, catching it in my right hand and beckoning with the left one.
Was I getting carried away? No, this much should be perfect.
Right?
It was the first step in Athena’s and my rebirth, after all.
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