"Heeey, you lot, get to your seats! I'm going to explain tomorrow's schedule. ...Wait, why are students from other classes here? Today is only your first day. Shouldn't you be busy making friends in your own classrooms?"
"!!"
"A-Are you...?! The Valhalla¹ Hero who single-handedly rescued his comrades during last year's Coastal Midway Operation²?! The one who served as the rearguard in the retreat after the Wasteland Decisive Battle three months ago, driving away every last demon by himself?! Aren't you Great General Todo Seiya-sama?!"
"O-Oh. You certainly know your stuff. Student number six, Sakaki Reo, was it? Midway aside, the details of that retreat were supposed to be unofficial..."
Crap. He's so famous among the players that I completely forgot his exploits aren't common knowledge in this world yet.
Todo Seiya. He was the Supreme Commander of the Military. In terms of "Demons Slain," he holds the undisputed number one spot in this world. A Great General who charged through countless battlefields, feared as the "Grim Reaper" by the demons and hailed as a "Hero" by humanity.
However, he was wounded while saving a woman during that retreat in the wasteland. Because the wound was some kind of curse, he lost the use of his dominant arm. While he told the woman he saved not to worry about it, she couldn't stop blaming herself.
That woman is actually enrolled here at Valhalla this year. To stay near her, he chose to become a teacher now that he could no longer stand on the front lines. It's incredible enough that he was on the battlefield at the age of fourteen... but that woman is none other than Liesha Edelheit, the girl known even at her young age as the "Sword Saint³."
This story wasn't covered in the main plot; it was lore you could only find if you pursued the sub-character routes.
"E-Err, well, you see... My hobby is... g-gathering information!"
"....."
Was that a bit too much of a stretch for an excuse? But just as the classroom fell into an awkward silence, a roar of laughter rang out.
"Heh... Hahahaha! No, well done, Sakaki. To possess information that shouldn't be known-that is a power stronger than any weapon. It's no exaggeration to say that war begins with intelligence. A time will surely come when that power of yours is needed. Keep at it."
I was floored. I never expected to be praised. I felt like the way everyone around me looked at me changed just a little bit.
"That aside-you lot, get back to your own rooms. Even if you're Saionji's 'little lady,' I don't give anyone special treatment in this school, understood?"
"Fufu, yes. I am well aware of that, Seiya-oji-sama. No, I suppose I should call you 'Sensei.' Well then, I'll be heading back to my class now. Let's go, Rekka-kun. Reo-san, I'll see you again soon," Saionji Momiji said.
"Right! Reo, catch you later! ssu!" Todoroki Rekka shouted.
"Ah, wait up, Rekka! We're in the class next door, so we can walk together! Don't leave me behind! See you later, Reo!" Doumeki Misuzu called out.
"What a rowdy bunch. Later, Reo," Hyouga Mikiya added.
With that, the four of them headed back to their classroom. The room grew quiet, but Todo-sensei's eyes remained fixed firmly on me.
"Ahem. Right then. You've already heard the school basics from the lecturers, but I, Todo Seiya, will be the homeroom teacher for this class. Well, since it seems we have an expert on me here, I'll skip the self-introduction!"
The class erupted in laughter.
No, seriously, I'm sorry. Being used as a comedy bit by a Hero like you is either too great an honor or just plain embarrassing.
"Listen well. Even at this very moment, the demons are invading to conquer this continent. The National Defense Force is holding them back, but the truth is we're being pushed further every year. Valhalla was established specifically as a countermeasure."
It was true. The number of warriors decreased every year. Death was the most common cause, but many others were simply rendered unable to fight.
"Demons are fundamentally stronger than humans. Their bodies are sturdier, and their magic capacity is higher. Because of that, standard military tactics rely on a two-to-one numerical advantage. However! This school's purpose is to produce individuals capable of winning one-against-many. And of course, those who can support them."
The militaries of this world don't use heavy firearms. They fight using "Magic Tools⁴" and "Artifacts⁵." The power of science has zero effect on demons. For example, a rifle-bullets can only damage humans. Using them would actually give the demons an advantage.
Conversely, demons cannot handle Magic Tools. Their own mana interferes with the items, making them impossible to use. Because these tools won't become the enemy's strength even if they are stolen, the development of Magic Tools and Artifacts is booming. It's often called Alchemy, and many people who can't fight on the front lines contribute this way instead.
"Demons are the enemy of all mankind. If you show them a soft face, they will tear out your throat. I trust you all entered Valhalla to protect your comrades and humanity. ...Alright, enough with the preamble. As for tomorrow, we will be conducting Ability Measurement⁶."
There it is. The first big event after the entrance ceremony: Ability Measurement. We'll be measured in three categories: Strength, Speed, and Magic. These aren't shown as raw numbers, but rather as general Rank tiers. The main cast usually looks something like this:
Todoroki Rekka (Protagonist)
Strength: S | Speed: A | Magic: A
Saionji Momiji (Heroine)
Strength: C | Speed: A | Magic: EX (Unmeasurable)
Hyoga Mikiya (Rival)
Strength: A | Speed: S | Magic: A
Doumeki Misuzu (Childhood Friend)
Strength: C | Speed: B | Magic: S
And then there's me. I've never been measured, but it'll probably be:
Sakaki Reo
Strength: F | Speed: F | Magic: Unknown (Unmeasurable/Fail)
Talk about bottom-tier stats. But hey, I'm a mob. These ranks also represent growth rates. As you level up, your stats increase according to these ranks, so you really start to feel the gap widening over time.
By the way, that Sword Saint girl, the sub-character, looks like this:
Liesha Edelheit (Sword Saint)
Strength: S | Speed: S | Magic: A
It's at a level where you have to wonder, "Why are you stronger than the main party?" But it makes sense-depending on the route, this girl becomes a boss. And she stays this strong. It's not one of those things where she gets weaker when she joins you; she's a monster whether she's an ally or an enemy.
To be honest, during the Saionji route? She was so insanely strong I'm pretty sure she was tougher than the final Demon King. It was like trying to beat Zoma from Dragon Quest without using the Sphere of Light.
She'd use the equivalent of Oomph every single turn. She was so broken that players sent waves of complaints to the devs, but the "Devil's Work" was never patched. Most people go for the main heroine on their first run, right? Isn't it a total trap to have a boss like that show up?
Well, putting that aside.
"We'll be forming squads based on these measurement results. Of course, we'll look at your specific skills too, not just raw stats, so don't worry. Now, moving on..."
As I listened to Todo-sensei, I thought about tomorrow. I'm sure once the results come out, everyone will go back to looking at me like the nobody I am. When that happens, I'll go back to being a mob and "stanning" everyone from the sidelines. I'll cherish today as a once-in-a-lifetime memory.
The entrance ceremony day ended at noon, so we were dismissed after the teacher's closing remarks. I hurriedly stuffed my new textbooks into my bag and stood up. Our class seemed to be the earliest, as the other rooms were still silent.
Quietly, without making a sound, I walked toward the shoe lockers. I passed Class B, then as I was passing Class A...
"Yo! Reo! We're almost done here, so wait for me at the lockers! Let's head home together!"
"!!"
"Hey, Todoroki. I'm the one who decides when class is over, remember?" the teacher in Class A chided.
"Whoops, sorry Sensei! But look, I'm making my buddy wait, so can you wrap it up quick?!" Rekka replied.
"You... honestly. Fine, fine. I'll make this fast, so just hold on a bit longer."
Cough!
Being called out by the protagonist... I could die happy. No, wait, that's not right! How can he just do that? Should I just say "as expected of the protagonist"? Ms. Saionji, who was sitting by the window, gave me a wry smile and waved.
I can't escape anymore.
I could hear my heart pounding in my chest. I feel like I've put my heart through a lifetime of work in just one day. After changing into my outdoor shoes, I stood near the exit and waited. Some of my classmates who were leaving earlier called out, "See you tomorrow, Sakaki-kun!"
How is this happening? My own classmates actually remember who I am.
"Hey, do you have a minute?"
"Eh?"
When I turned around, standing there before my eyes was the Sword Saint-Liesha Edelheit."
Summary:
Reo inadvertently reveals his secret knowledge of Todo Seiya's past military heroics, earning him unexpected respect from the General and his classmates. He spends the lecture learning about the school's mission to combat demons using Magic Tools since modern weapons are ineffective. The chapter ends with Reo being cornered by the legendary 'Sword Saint' Liesha Edelheit.
Trivia:
- Todo Seiya's injury is actually a curse from a demon.
- Modern science/technology does not harm demons; only magic/artifacts work.
- Liesha Edelheit was the person Todo saved at the cost of his arm.
- Liesha is a 'sub-character' route character, not a main heroine in the standard path.
- Reo's magic stat is 'Unknown' rather than just a low letter grade
Character Insight:
Reo is struggling to maintain his 'mob' status as his fanboy knowledge keeps forcing him into the spotlight. Todo Seiya shows a surprisingly flexible side by praising Reo's intelligence-gathering skills.
Behind the Scenes:
The author explicitly changed Liesha's last name from 'Valentine' to 'Edelheit' mid-publication, as noted in the source text's footer.
TL Notes:
1 ↩ Valhalla: The prestigious academy where the story takes place, serving as a training ground for anti-demon warriors.
2 ↩ Coastal Midway Operation: A major military engagement in the setting's history, likely a nod to the Battle of Midway.
3 ↩ Sword Saint: A legendary title (Kensei) given to the world's most proficient sword users.
4 ↩ Magic Tools: Items imbued with mana used by humans to fight demons.
5 ↩ Artifacts: Ancient or rare items of high power that utilize magical energy.
6 ↩ Ability Measurement: A standardized test to determine a student's strength, speed, and magic aptitude.
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.
• Liesha Edelheit - A student in Class E. Known as the 'Sword Saint' and the strongest sub-character. A young girl with S-rank strength and speed. She was saved by Todo Seiya in the past and blamed herself for his injury. She approaches Reo at the end of the chapter.
• Saionji Momiji - Refined polite 'little lady' with long green hair and model figure—'Brave Fantasy' main heroine, Saionji Group heir, 'Princess of West Middle' in Class A. Big Four member at Valhalla academy, EX-rank magic capacity, Demon King soul tether, rich enough for a private doc on speed dial.
• Todoroki Rekka - Red-haired 'Brave Fantasy' true protag—hot-blooded, friendly Class A golden boy with sky-high phys/magic stats, 'Child Prodigy of East Middle.' Big Four member, body reinforcement magic ace, calls Reo 'buddy,' zero chill on personal space, popular frank dude with bottomless optimism.
• Doumeki Misuzu - Blonde twin-tail main heroine and childhood friend of the game's protag, reppin' the 'Big Four' crew in Class B—classic LN childhood bestie with that iconic twintail bounce, ready for some feel-good romcom hijinks.
• Hyouga Mikiya - The protagonist's rival known as the 'Ice King of Kitachu.' He has the ability to manipulate ice with extreme precision. Member of the 'Big Four'. A student in Class B. He can use 'Light Ice' magic. He has a prickly exterior but acknowledges the strength of others.