Chapter 145 (2/2)

I think no one should die.

I will be protecting them.

That’s what I swore to myself.

That’s the responsibility of those who possess power.

Then…

[You’re really a small fry.]

The one who interrupted was—- Kirihara Takuto.

[Ki- Kirihara……]

Doesn’t Kirihara have any hint of awareness with his surroundings?

Yasu looks a little upset.

[Yasu… Do you know that story about the vessel?]

Kirihara’s line of sight went from me towards Yasu.

His eyes look like he’s looking at our reactions.

It’s as if he’s trying to conjecture something.

[My father’s friends often come to parties in our home every weekend… There was an amazing person among the guests who made a fortune from cryptocurrencies and that man told me about the story about this vessel.]

Why in the world is he suddenly telling us this story?

I don’t see how this story is connected with what’s happening at all.

[It is said that there’s a vessel within every human and you would know that each vessel was appropriate based on their success. However, without the King Vessel, every success was just a pretense and would only end up as just momentarily success.]

Kirihara brushed the hair hanging on his forehead towards the back of his head.

[This story… Do you understand? Well, what I’m saying is that a person who only succeeded with luck wouldn’t make this small fry stink disappear even if you rose higher from what you used to be.]

Kirihara sighs.

[These small fries who wouldn’t be able to catch this success beyond their stature with their shabby vessels, it’s like looking at the displeasing sight of someone living with an overflowing, yet cracked vessel… However, only the person himself doesn’t notice his own displeasing behaviour. When the person himself only intends to join the upper ranking’s stage, the strong people with large vessels would only look at misapprehensive small fry…… Just like when business people would gather for the zaitech party, there would sometimes be small-fries-like-that mixed in.]

(T/N: Zaitech: an investment in financial markets by a company to supplement its main income)

Ngghh…

Yasu grit his teeth.

[What are you…… trying to say?]

[It’s just that you make a really small fry-like, Yasu. It speaks for itself… It would only mean that our vessels were so far different from each other.]

In that moment, Kirihara skillfully turned with his katana in hand.

Then, he pointed his sword on the tip of Yasu’s nose.

[……Unngghhh.]

Yasu took a step back.

[There’s a classmate at the end of my blade… there’s no way you can be anything but a misapprehensive small fry. It’s about time that you should know your status in the hierarchy, Yasu.]

Is it because he’s nervous?

Yasu’s forehead and cheeks look sweaty.

As if pressing him for answers, Kirihara continues.

[Your action of forgetting your superficial character and shouting in front of Sogou were evidence for your small fry emotions. The reason you couldn’t protect them is also because you’re really a small fry.]

Thereupon…

[Pfft! Pfuha—!]

Suddenly, Oyamada Shougo who was standing behind Kirihara burst into laughter.

[You went towards here only for your stock prices to stop and drop, really funny! I thought you’re going to let this misapprehensive small fry mob move around for a while longer~! I wanted to put you in your place only to be stopped by Takuto! Also, what is it again? You thought you’d look cool when you change your character but~… Yasu-senpai, hehehe, your ugliness is really standing out! Pfuhh!]

Kirihara looks astounded as he sighed.

[Shougo… Don’t degrade your rank to match him just to hit him with some small fry-like jabs.]

[Yeah, yeah. I’ll be careful. Uweehhh, You really have a severe assessment towards stuff, Takuto.]

Once again, Kirihara skillfully turned his katana.

[You better be aware of your place, Yasu.]

The sound of the blade rang out as he sheathed his blade into its scabbard.

[Even if you get more power than your vessel could hold… if you’re holding a small fry of a vessel, you have no choice but to unconsciously expose your unsightliness. Even tremendous power would look shabby when placed beside my King Vessel.]

With his looking down on the ground, Yasu trembled.

He’s strongly gripping down on his fist.

His breathing also became rough.

“Fuu… Fuu…” his shoulders move along with his breathing.

However, it seems like Kirihara didn’t care whatever state Yasu is in.

Arranging his bangs in between his fingertips, he continued.

[Well, I would sympathize with you for being misapprehensive since you did indeed get judged as an A-Rank howev—-]

[Stop talking nonsense, Kirihara.]

Yasu raised his face and directly looked at him.

And his facial expression distorted so much that I couldn’t even describe it.

[<Laevateinn>]

Black flames curled around behind Yasu.

I reflexively retreated away.

As if they’re overpowering everyone around, the vortex of black flames burned brightly behind Yasu’s back.

Oyamada looked at it with displeased eyes.

[Huh? What the heck is this Yasu going to do? I mean… You suddenly want to lash out your temper towards us? How obnoxious… Seriously, you’re really obnoxious…]

On the other hand, Kirihara didn’t even quiver.

Without even drawing his katana, he retained his silence without showing any emotions on his face.

Yasu began stepping forward.

He brought his face close to Kirihara’s face.

It’s as if he’s challenging him.

[What’s with you picking a fight saying I’m misapprehensive, Kirihara? Are you that vexed that I stole your prey earlier? Haaahh? And is that why you’re picking a fight with me?]

Kirihara looks down.

[——You’re already an unredeemable level of a small fry huh, Yasu Tomohiro.]

[Fuuu… You’re also the same b*stard. The same misapprehensive b*stard that got misapprehensive just because you got an S-Rank. A b*stard like you also need to be aware of it yourself, Kirihara Takuto…]

Yasu’s finger pointed to the side.

(……Eh? Me?)

For some reason, Yasu pointed towards me.

[Even though she’s an S-Rank, she weren’t even able to acquire any inherent skills at all… despite the fact that all other S-Ranks have already acquired their inherent skills. See, isn’t Ayaka’s existence itself proof of that? On the other hand, even though she’s just a B-Rank, Asagi’s inherent skill surpasses Oyamada’s mediocre inherent skill. Do you understand what I want to say?]

Kirihara didn’t answer.

He was impassively glancing towards me.

Yasu’s lips unsightly distorted into some sort of smile as all of his teeth were peeking out.

[In other words, the Heroes’ ranks doesn’t really matter that much at all. So, the only reason for thinking you’re superior just because you’re an S-Rank… was nothing but the thoughts of a misapprehensive small fry! Just a moment ago, you b*stard was so full of openings that it looks like you’re telling me to kill that monster, you know? Kuhihi! Who the heck is more appropriate for this King Vessel—]

Fwwwuuuuussshhh

As if he’s finishing his verdict, Yasu stepped closer to Kirihara again.

[I’ll make it clear to you someday, misapprehensive b*stard.]

With a ruthless look on his face, Oyamada stepped forward.

[Takuto, you should seriously let me crush this guy with my <Bullet>.  It doesn’t matter even if it’s because of a spur in the moment. As expected, even the kind me would feel cold for this.]

Yasu turns away.

[Feel cold for all I care.]

Saying that as he turned away, he began walking away from here.

[You b*stard—]

[Stop, Shougo.]

Kirihara stops Oyamada who was about to lunge towards him.

[Hahhh!? What the heck is it now!? It can’t be, don’t tell me that you became afraid of him!?]

[……………….Huh?]

[Ah—– no, that’s… my bad…]

Whack!

[Uuuuu…]

Kirihara nudged Oyamada’s abdomen.

[If you were to bite on his cheap provocation, you would end up stooping down on that small fry’s level. The weak dogs were often the ones who bark the loudest. However—-]

Kirihara glanced towards me.

[I might have to admit that there’s indeed someone dragging down the S-Ranks… If someone is unsuitable for being an S-Rank, this may affect everyone’s morale. It would be really bad if you keep on irresponsibly dragging everyone’s feet, Sogou.]

“I’m sorry.”

“I also intend to do all that I could.”

How should I answer?

I don’t know.

(However… It certainly is a fact that I’m still lacking in power…)

I look down at the corpses of my two classmates.

Thunder began resounding in the gloomy looming clouds in the skies.

Seeing that I stayed silent, Kirihara passed by me.

Oyamada followed him.

It seems that Kirihara isn’t interested in me anymore.

Though, I could still hear him grumbling to himself.

[Even so… If another misapprehensive b*stard like Yasu were to appear—]

Kirihara vigorously combed back his hair.

[Why don’t I just show these thickheaded idiots the King Vessel Kirihara in a way that they could easily understand?]