"Yeah, yeah... Incredible. This is even more than I asked for," the senior said, looking over the hoard. "And... I even mixed in some materials with high subjugation difficulty¹, but you gathered just as much of those as the common ones. It seems you're the real deal."
At the senior's words, Rekka and Liesha-san lightly clapped their hands. It seemed we had earned their approval. In the game, you usually had to take it slow, completing dozens of requests to grind out enough affinity.
"Hm? Wait... Looking closely at that medal on your chest... that's the mark of the Royal Guard²! And that sword... the favorite blade of Great General Todo Seiya-sensei, the Amenonohabari³!" The senior leaned in, eyes wide. "I'd heard rumors that he took a first-year student known as the Sword Saint⁴ as his disciple... but to think it was you!"
Rekka and Liesha-san exchanged a look and gave a wry smile.
Ah, I love this feeling. Seeing those two get the recognition they deserve feels amazing. Even though it had nothing to do with me, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. They were my faves, after all. No doubt about it.
"And while this hasn't been made public yet... you're this year's King⁵, aren't you, Sakaki Reo-kun?"
"!!"
"Hehe. I might not have much combat power, but I have enough connections to be running the show as vice-lead in my second year," the senior said with a laugh.
They were definitely no ordinary student. In fact, this senior's alchemy level far exceeded that of the actual Alchemy Club⁶ leader. Once the third-years retired to join the military, this senior would undoubtedly take over the club.
"Sakaki-kun. I'll accept your proposal. Whenever you bring the materials, I'll craft whatever you need."
"!!"
Caught up in the moment, I high-fived Liesha-san. I'm never washing this hand again. Well, that wasn't practical, but the sentiment was there.
"Now, about the materials you gathered... would you mind if I bought the surplus with points⁷? I don't have a massive hoard of points on me, so I can only offer the standard market rate. Sorry about that..."
"Rekka, Liesha-san, is that okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, do whatever you want, Reo," Rekka replied.
"Yes, whatever you think is best, Sakaki-kun," Liesha-san added.
"Thank you. Actually, senior, please just take them as a gift."
"Eh!?"
"We just gathered the extra on a whim anyway," I said.
"N-no, wait! This is a huge amount! This is a ton of points!"
"We can always earn more points. Besides, I know the items the Alchemy Club crafts are used by the military... for the sake of the country. Please, make good use of them."
"!! ...Thank you. Sakaki-kun, Todoroki-kun, Liesha-san. Since you've helped the department like this, I'll consider you honorary members. I'll craft anything for you without a commission fee, so just let me know."
"!!"
This was a lucky break. This senior was the ace of the Alchemy Club. To have someone like that offer such a deal was incredible.
"Hehe, that's our Reo for you!" Rekka cheered.
"Yes, Sakaki-kun truly is something else," Liesha-san agreed.
"Eh?" I blinked.
"Eh?" they both replied.
Seeing us staring blankly at each other, the senior burst into laughter.
"Ahaha! You guys are hilarious. I'm going to start on the alchemy now, so I'll need the room... but you're welcome here anytime. Stop by whenever you like."
"We will!" we shouted in unison.
And so, we managed to secure the best possible outcome for our relationship with the club. Now, the only question was what to do with the rest of the afternoon.
"Hey, Reo, Liesha-san. If you don't have plans, why don't you tag along with me for a bit?" Rekka asked.
"I'm down," I said.
"My schedule just cleared up since I was following Sakaki-kun around anyway. I don't mind, Todoroki-kun," Liesha-san said.
"Alright! Follow me!"
Rekka led the way, and after walking for a short while, we arrived at the arena.
"Strong! Too strong! It's an overwhelming victory for the Hyouga, Saionji, and Doumeki team!!" the announcer's voice boomed over the speakers.
"WOOOOOOOOAH!!" the crowd roared.
"That's ten consecutive wins! The prize points cap out here. What will you do?"
"Hmph... Continuing would be pointless. The result is already obvious." One of the boys on the stage stepped forward. "Wait. Are we allowed to challenge a specific team?"
"Well, as long as the other team agrees... but after seeing your performance, I doubt anyone would step up."
"Oh, I think they will. Right, Rekka?"
"!!"
"Heheh, Mikiya! Challenge accepted!" Rekka stepped forward, grinning. "My team will be me, Reo, and Liesha-san!"
"Whaaaaaaaaat!?" I screamed.
"I don't recall agreeing to this, Todoroki-kun," Liesha-san muttered.
"Well... Rekka-kun, Reo-san, and Liesha-san as opponents? This... this looks like it's going to be fun," Mikiya said, his eyes gleaming.
"Aaargh! Rekka!" a girl on the stage shouted. "I wondered where you'd run off to! What were you doing with Reo and Liesha-san!? Get up here! I'm gonna wreck you!"
Pffft! Wait a minute. This was an all-star lineup. If I weren't involved, this would be the match of a lifetime! How did it come to this?
"Sorry, Reo, Liesha-san. I didn't think he'd call us out like that," Rekka whispered. "But a man's gotta defend his honor when Mikiya calls him out!"
"Ugh... fine," I groaned.
"Phew. Well, it's a good chance to see what the Royal Guards are really capable of," Liesha-san said, bracing herself.
"Hold onto your seats! The opposing team has accepted!" the announcer yelled. "The next match: Team Hyouga, Saionji, and Doumeki versus Team Todoroki, Liesha, and Sakaki!"
"YEAAAAAH!!"
Ugh, if only I weren't in the way, I could have just watched this incredible match from the stands! But since I'm on Rekka's team, I can't let them down. I have to give it my all.
Mikiya, Saionji-san, Misuzu-san... bring it on!
Summary:
Reo and his companions successfully deliver rare materials to the Alchemy Club vice-leader, securing a favorable crafting deal. Afterward, Rekka leads the group to the arena, where they are unexpectedly challenged to a public duel by a rival team. Reo finds himself forced into a high-stakes 'All-Star' battle alongside the game's protagonists.
Trivia:
- The Alchemy Club vice-leader is significantly more skilled than the club president.
- Reo's status as 'King' is not yet public knowledge.
- Reo donated the extra materials for free to help the national military.
- The sword Amenonohabari is a recognized legendary weapon associated with a Great General.
- The arena battle team Hyouga, Saionji, and Doumeki had already won ten matches in a row
Character Insight:
Reo continues to struggle with his 'mob' identity, feeling like he's intruding on the protagonists' glory even when he's the one who secured their new alliance through diplomatic material donation.
Behind the Scenes:
The 'King' title in this setting likely refers to the top-ranked student in a specific year or category, a common trope in school-based light novels to establish power hierarchies.
TL Notes:
1 ↩ Subjugation difficulty: A ranking system for how dangerous it is to hunt a monster or gather a specific material.
2 ↩ Royal Guard: An elite group of students or knights serving directly under the crown or the hero party.
3 ↩ Amenonohabari: A legendary sword from Japanese mythology, here used as the personal weapon of the hero's party.
4 ↩ Sword Saint: A prestigious title awarded to the most exceptionally skilled swordsmen.
5 ↩ King: A school-specific rank denoting the top student of the year.
6 ↩ Alchemy Club: A student organization dedicated to the magical science of transmuting materials and crafting items.
7 ↩ Points: The internal currency of the academy used for rewards, purchases, and rankings.
Notes:
• Todo Seiya - Great General and former Supreme Commander of the Military. Currently the homeroom teacher for Reo's class. Known as the 'Grim Reaper' by demons. Has a scarred/cursed dominant arm. He started his career at age 14.
• Reo - Reincarnated HS dude who grinded 'Brave Fantasy' 100+ times, now a bland mob in the game world—black hair, Class E #6 by the back door, F-rank stats but plot meta-knowledge + magic flow reading to sideline-support heroes. Lil' bro to Saki & Taku, survives as background bro.