……
……
Awkward air was flowing.
The rats showed me around and I was aiming for the deepest part of the ruins...
I went out into a big room on the way.
There was an Axe figure there.
I haven't exchanged words since I exchanged a very simple greeting with "hey".
Cell never put things on the table before, he normally talked to me...
Axe has a clumsy spot.
There are still some things I think are awkward.
But that's the same for me, and I don't know what to say.
Nevertheless, you can't keep doing this the whole time.
"Uh... what is Axe doing here?
"Yeah? Uh... I'm the examiner. A role in determining the power of a student like Rayne, or a disability... well, like that."
"I see."
Finally, a guy named Gatekeeper?
It's a classic, but I guess it's a development that we can't go back without defeating Axe.
"Uh... nothing, you don't have to take me down to move on."
Like you read my thoughts, Axe says that.
"The exams that will take place here are two choices. Do you want to fight me and take the shortest course... or do you want to avoid me and take the long way? One thing at a time."
"I see."
"For the shortest course, one minute from here to the goal point. That's about an hour for a far-flung course. If you can afford the time...... hey? Why are you setting up weapons?
"Do you have to defeat Axe to advance the shortest course?
"I don't even get lost, do you mean? Oh, shit."
Reminds me of the other incident.
This is how Axe and I were confronted...
I never regretted the choice I made then.
So I can still make the same choice.
I pulled out Kamui.
But... Axe doesn't try to pull out a knife.
"Axe?"
"Uh... I don't know"
Axe says it sounds ill-defined.
"... why don't we do it another way?
"Huh?"
"My role is to ascertain the strength of the students. I would normally fight... well, Rayne wouldn't have to, would he? And I don't know... even if it's an exam, I don't want to do it again with you."
"It's..."
"I'll tell you what, I don't regret the choice I made then. I still think it was the right thing to do. But... he's the same as Rain, isn't he?
"Right. I have no regrets."
"Then we were right about each other... so let's wrap up the story. Come on, I don't like to fight with Rayne... well, I'm not comfortable. We're friends who threw a party, albeit temporarily...... oh and ugh!
Me and Axe put our heads on it.
"Anyway! I don't want to cross blades with you again. That's it!"
"Ha..."
I don't know, it looks like Axe.
Clumsy, but straight...
I was happy that nothing had changed.
"I agree. I don't want to fight Axe again."
"I'm glad you said that."
"Well, I can see the consequences of the battle."
"Hey here! What does that mean!?
"'Cause you were my winner last time. It hasn't been that long since, and it's just gonna turn out the same now, right?
"Don't tell me, you bastard. I mean, I didn't lose to Rain then. I lost to your people. Can you fight the strongest species properly against them? If Rayne was alone, I'd have won."
"How about that?
Laughing invincibly at each other.
Of course, this word is not meant to be.
I don't know, it feels like we're playing with words...
It's like insisting that little kids are more amazing at me.
Clumsy man communication, I hope he sees it as.
"But how can you not fight? Axe must be the examiner, right?
"As I said earlier, I already know what Rain is capable of. You don't have to try. You pass."
"Then would you honestly let me through here?
"There's no way you can. Though I know the power, I can't let it pass for free. We have to do the exam."
"That doesn't work."
"That's the way it is."
Does it sound like Axe when it comes to Axe?
I'm serious about my job.
As for non-work......
Keep that as a no comment.
"But what do you do when it's other than fight? You want to compare wisdom?
"Is Rayne going to kill me?
Why would we talk about that?
You want to tell me that if I do a wisdom comparison, my head will be short because of the wisdom fever?
"Let's settle for him."
Axe moved in front of the appropriate steps and elbowed.
"Arm wrestling."
"I can gauge the power with this... well, as a man to man game, doesn't that sound good?
"That's easy to understand."
I laugh when I stick around.
Then... move in front of the ax, elbow as well, and grab your hand.
"... I'm sorry"
"It's not about Axe apologizing, is it? You said you didn't do anything wrong."
"It doesn't change that feeling. I don't... Still, there are a lot of things that I think I can't honestly support the path my people have chosen."
"Oh well."
Looks like it conveys Axe's feelings...
I felt the various obsessions I had in my chest unravel.
"Thanks"
"Yeah?"
"... I'd be happy to have my people say that."
"Rain, you..."
In response to the word buddy, Axe widened his eyes.
Then, laugh small.
"Are you sure you want to count me as your buddy?
"Isn't that nice?
"Doubt system."
"Fine, then."
Though we were to break up like that...
But I might have a chance to take the same path again.
If that's not zero, it just showed.
That's why I call Axe my buddy.
Probably convinces everyone, too.
"Damn...... really, Rayne is a straight guy. It's so dazzling to watch."
"Really?
"Have you been unconscious? Sounds more like Rayne."
"I feel like I'm being fooled there anyway..."
"Don't be obstinate. Don't be obstinate. I'm praising you."
"For once, isn't that an extra word?
A lot of words come out for what has been wrong.
Fun and comfortable.
I'd like to be doing this for a while now...
Exactly, that's not how it works.
I have time for the exam, and it's time to move on.
Warm up your friends later.
"Then..."
"Start!
Using that word as a signal, me and Axe put our strength into our arms.
――――――――――
"Nyah... restless"
Canad was twitching and walking around the hall.
Tania sits in the right place and stands still.
Sora and Luna were chasing each other because they had a fight.
Seeing those two, Nina was in a panic with Aww, and Tina looked like she saw something smiling.
"Guys, you're calm... aren't you worried about Rain?
"Of course I'm worried."
Tania answered.
"But at the same time, I trust you. Rayne would definitely get here in time. It passes properly. So it's okay."
"Nyah... Tania is strong, isn't she? I don't think so..."
"You don't trust me about Rain?
"I am, aren't I? I do... but the feeling of worrying doesn't go away either..."
"Well, isn't that okay with Canade?
"Really?
"Which doesn't mean it's right... I think we should think about Rain the way we think about it each way"
Tania's an adult.
"Canade is a child."
While we were talking about that, other adventurer parties began to show themselves.
I show my face from aisles everywhere and one passer after another is decided.
And the last time I saw your face...
"Nyah, Rain!!!
"Guys!"
Without realizing he had scored a goal, Rayne was delighted to reunite with his people.
That's the same for the Canades...
"Oh, boy."
Seeing Raines smiling and rejoicing at the reunion, Cell was going to spill a little grin.