Fatigue is something that you accumulated before you know it, even if you are feeling fine, it can suddenly come to attack you.
In this case, it was the hot shower and a soft futon.
The fatigue from the battle against Icarus combined with the fatigue from the anxiety of whether I was able to capture the place or not that accumulated up until that point.
Well, there's no way I am not getting tired because of that.
Nee-san is on the bed but I pay her no mind and enter it. I'm too sleepy, I don't want to keep wandering around the room. Taking half of the pillow space from Nee-san, I immediately close my eyes.
She is warm and soft. Looks like she is having a dream, maybe she is seeing something good in there. Because of the warmth from the futon and the person beside me, I fell asleep immediately.
Well, that's good and all but the problem is the time now.
It's not early in the morning. The sun is high in the sky, it looks like it's brunch time already.
I was actually going to get up much earlier. Today I planned to go to the academy and say [What are you slacking off for!] to Orange head while giving him a cold stare.
Apparently, Nanami judged that she should let me sleep today and prepared to get scolded by me.
I know it from Ludi's message but it seems like she was worried since I look tired so she let me sleep in on purpose. I can't find a reason to get mad at her.
I have an early lunch with Nanami and Claris-san then messaged Ludi that I am heading to the academy. After that, I left home while Claris-san seeing me off.
The score should probably be posted up when I arrive at the academy.
I wonder what is my standing in the academy right now? Maybe they already forgot about me since I didn't go there for a while. However, as long as I am with Ludi then they will remember me immediately. Especially for the LLL.
No matter how this will turn out, they will probably see me as an enemy anyway. But I don't know whether this matter will make their attitude softer or harder than before. I can say for sure that no matter what happens, I will not mind. But.
I stare at Nanami who is walking next to me.
If any harm comes to her then it's an all-out war. No, I think Ludi would be enraged before me if that happened. Well, it wouldn't be weird if there's already Nanami's Fanclub though, she's cute after all. I think there's not one yet though.
I was surprised to see Ludi waiting for me at the school gate.
When she spotted me, she corrected her posture and waved her hand at me like an ojou-sama.
"That always seems strange to me, I still can't get used to it."
Said Nanami. Seriously, I couldn't agree more.
Apparently, the score was posted on the magic bulletin board a little before lunchtime. It seems everyone went to take a look together after their meal but Ludi came here alone after she read my message.
Well, let's go have a look together. We group up and head to the scoreboard.
————
I walk side by side with Ludi while Nanami is walking diagonally behind me.
There's no way that we didn't stand out. But the gazes that I received aren't the usual stabbing jealousy gazes. It wasn't gazes filled with envy either.
It was like they are looking at something unknown with awe and fear.
Each and everyone that we passed by was staring at me. Normally, their gazes would be attracted to Ludi. It seems like they finally recognized me as someone that they should keep an eye on.
I turn to look at my side, why is Ludi looked so happy? She muttered [What a great feeling.] with a small voice that I who is immediately next to her almost couldn't hear.
Nanami looked the same as usual but she seems to be somewhat happy.
I thought that it was because everyone is looking at me like that but seems like that's not the case.
"Oh, it's Kousuke!"
It was Orange head who called out to me.
"I thought that it was unfair of you to skip the test alone like that but you did something amazing eh!? Why won't you invite me dude."
Not only Orange, my classmates both boys and girls shower me with praises. They talked to me as usual, some say that I skipped too many classes, some asked me to help them get to the 40th floor too.
After they left, Ludi told me that they were dumbfounded at first.
"You see, Iori was talking with all the classmates for you, you know."
Honestly, I thought that the only people who wouldn't look at me with prejudice would be the people closed to the Hanamura family. But that's not true.
"I see. Understood, I will definitely thank him."
However, I have a question. Was Iori close to the mob girls? Iori is basically a late-bloomer. He's always quick when it comes to the heroines though.
"Hey Ludi, you actually did something too right?"
If she hasn't then the girls wouldn't casually talk to me like that.
Her silent is enough as the answer.
"I see, thank you Ludi."
"......Un."
When I arrived at the magic bulletin board, there was a crowd of people there. There were a hustle and bustle around but the silence spread as soon as the people spotted me. It was like a ripple that formed when you throw a stone into a pond.
While I breathe in a few times, I was surrounded by silence.
Everyone's gazes are pointing toward me. We ignore them and move to a place where we can see the displayed score. The people in front open a path for me. It was like Moses parting the red sea.
While I walk, I heard a whisper.
[[Is he a monster?]]
On the bulletin board are the first, second and third place's scores. The first place of the first year is of course.
"I'm first as expected."
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■ First Year Ranking
First place Takioto Kousuke
Academic exam 0 points
Practical exam 0 points
Total score 0 points
Captured floor 40th (Solo)
Second place Gabriella Evangelista
Academic exam 96 points
Practical exam 84 points
Total score 180 points
Captured floor –
Third place Ludivine Marie-Ange de La Trèfle
Academic exam 84 points
Practical exam 92 points
Total score 176 points
Captured floor –
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This is somewhat interesting. Despite the fact that the top-ranking people scored very high on the test, I only got Zero points. If you look at the total score then the top scorers are overwhelmingly higher than the norm. However, I am still standing on top.
Beside me, the other top scorers I know are Ludi and Iori. It seems like Iori worked hard and got the 5th place. Isn't that great for a first-run protagonist.
When I was about to head back someone called out to me.
"Kousuke-kun!"
The person that made his way to me through the crowd was Iori. It seems like he also came to look at the score.
"Congratulations on taking first place! You are really amazing, Kousuke-kun."
I was healed by Iori's smile. Come to think of it, I have been in his care too. But before I give him my thanks...
"Iori, let's move out of here first."
I don't want those awe-inspiring gazes on me.
I walk with Iori while Ludi walks with Nanami.
"You did a lot for me, Thank you."
"But I want you to explain yourself first. I was worried since you didn't come to the test you know! At first, I thought that you were sick too."
It was important to explain it to Iori too. It's bad that he has to worry about me.
"But I was really surprised you know. You really got the first place even though you rarely ever come to the academy after all."
I laugh without thinking. Certainly, it's not something that would normally happen.
"That's why I told you right? That I will take the first place."
"Right."
"And you did great too alright, you even got fifth place. If I take the test normally then I would never get that kind of score you know."
I won't fail but......you see......I would surely get some bizarre score that would make me hesitate to say it out loud.
"Unnn, but you know, I have been thinking."
"About what?"
"That you are amazing Kousuke-kun, despite people around you always look down on you, you never give up and keep getting stronger. But, I want to surpass you, Kousuke-kun."
He looks at me with a serious expression.
My body is trembling.
Want to surpass me huh. Yeah, if it's you then depending on the situation you can surpass me. But.
"I see. But I don't intend to give up you know."
I said so and laugh.
Surpass me if you can. I will keep running, so far ahead that you can't keep up. Until I become the strongest.
"Yeah, that's what I want."
We laugh together. Then it was at that time...
"Ah, Onii-cha–an."
I heard that voice, both I and Iori jumped in surprise.
"Eh, Eeeeeeeeh! Wh, why are you here!?"
Mine and Iori's reactions are different. Iori was surprised because he doesn't know why the owner of that voice is here, I was just surprised that the voice that I heard was the voice that I have been in debt to countless times before.
"Un, you know that my grade has always been excellent right? Since I also have magical aptitude I transferred here?"
She cutely sticks her tongue out and tilted her head to the side. What a sly girl.
Now then. She has finally come. I knew that she would eventually show up.
"Eh, are you in the middle of a talk.?"
She turns her head towards us and bowed.
"I'm sorry!"
"Ah, I don't mind. Raise your head. Nice to meet you. I am Iori's classmate and his friend, Takioto Kousuke. She is Ludivine, and this is..."
"Kousuke Goshujin-sama's supreme beauty loyal maid, please call me Nanami."
There is a lot that I can retort but well, whatever. Ah, her face cramped for a second there.
She stares at Ludi and confusingly apologizes to her for suddenly appearing out of nowhere. Well, can't be helped. Nanami's joke is usually too confusing to understand anyway.
"Ah, I am sorry. I haven't given my name yet."
She does a small bow and looks up toward me with upturned eyes. Her neck inclines to the side while she put her bangs on her ears. Then when she looks at me from below she let out a smile.
Yup, as I thought, she's sly. But her slyness is very like her. On the contrary, I am starting to worry about her now.
Well, if I plan to involve myself with Iori from now on then I would be involved with her too.
One of the heroines that appeared on the game package of Magical★Explorer, the heroine with strength rival that of Ludi and Iori's sister in law.
"I have recently transferred into this academy. I am Hijiri Iori's little sister in law, my name is Hijiri Yuika! Please take care of me!"