Singularity (Rimuru x Arifureta)

Chapter 6 | Chance Meeting or Destiny?

In a corner of the Heiligh Palace was a salon opened for the exclusive use of the summoned heroes... and former heroes.

They each had their servants and personal rooms. If they needed something, they can simply call on for them.

Nevertheless, they hadn't been summoned here to stay in some salon and lounge around. The students staying here were the kids traumatized for life during the first expedition in the Orcus Labyrinth.

They had come face-to-face with death just a few months ago after all. When one of their own fell into the gaping depths of darkness, swallowed by the abyss that represented one of humans' most primal emotions.

—A fantasy adventure with swords and magic. They had had that kind of lighthearted idea about what they were in for, but harsh reality had crushed those hopes and dreams rather quickly. On the battlefield, people died. It was obvious when stated, but the incident in the labyrinth had carved that fact into their souls.

(people die when they are killed. lol)

At first, they'd happily honed their skills and talents looking forward to annihilating waves of evil monsters. But now, there wasn't even an iota of that attitude and expectations left in the veritable glum expressions of the students.

Naturally, the Heiligh Kingdom and the Holy Church weren't happy about this. They tried to convince and at some point force the hopeless kids to go back up and fight, train as if their life depended on it. The entire reason they were summoned was to fight the demons for humanity in the first place.

But, the students' teacher (who looked no older than some 10-year-old) protested. The higher ups couldn't EXACTLY go against her, as she possessed a valuable job called Farmer, which had a natural ability to revolutionize this world's agricultural structure and standard. She used herself as a bargaining chip for her students. It was then that the higher ups left them alone... for now.

When she heard about the boy who'd failed to make it back alive, she'd been visibly shaken. But when she saw how much worse it had affected the students, she quickly pulled herself together. It was only at this point that she got the respect she deserved... and wanted. You see, because of her appearance and tendency to run around doing everything she can for her students—although most of those efforts resulted in absolutely nothing—some if not most had seen her as a child to be protected than an adult to be respected. She even got the nickname of "Aichan-sensei."

"Hey, did you hear? Amanogawa's party made it all the way to the seventieth floor."

"Seriously? Weren't they just setting foot in the sixty-sixth floor a few days ago?"

"I guess that's just how good the hero's party is. He's on a completely different level from average kids like us." The male student who said that, Atsushi Tamai, shrugged his shoulders, an odd expression on his face. He was jealous of them. He was jealous of Kouki and the others, who continued challenging the unknown even after their near brush with death. At the same time, however, he was embarrassed at how pathetic he was, and at the fact that he averted his eyes from the truth. But every time he thought back to that day, he started trembling in fear.

Kouki, naturally, was the hero and the leader of the Hero Party. He was blessed with the Hero Class, but was kind of a dumbass if you see him on an objective's point of view. He was still wet behind the ears, barely out of his diapers and yet people here are expecting that kinda idiot to lead people in war. Both Kouki and them higher ups are the dumbest people you'll see in a lifetime.

"Yeah. You'd have to be as amazing as Kaori-chan or Shizuku-chan to keep up with that guy."

"I know, right? Shizuku's so cool, isn't she? I'm totally falling for her."