Chương 180: The fall

Hajime gave a large sigh as he followed his class through the Orcus labyrinth, as two intense stares bore into him. The first was the main healer of the group, the source of most of his troubles, Kaori. After they received their statuses they started their training, once more revealing Hajime's lack of combat capabilities. Then after two weeks they left to get real combat experience in the Orcus Labyrinth, staying in the town Horlad the night before. He had been extremely surprised that as he was able to actually relax for the first time in two weeks, someone arrived at his door that turned out to be none other than Kaori herself, in snow white neglige.

Contrary to what Hajime's teenage mind thought, she was only there to talk and ended up begging him not to enter the labyrinth. Hajime just thought it was a case of her thinking he was too weak like the rest of the class, but it turned out that wasn't the case. She told him she had a nightmare that he was disappearing into darkness, and no matter what she did she couldn't help him. Realizing she was there because she was genuinely concerned about him, Hajime swallowed his pride and asked her to protect him. Even though she was a noncombat like him, as a healer she was much more valuable than him and would be able to do it. What he didn't expect was that she would try to follow him like a lost puppy, ready to leap to his aid whenever he might get hurt.

The second, was a gaze like someone was trying to kill him with their looks. He didn't know who it was or why they were looking at him with so much hostility, but he wished they would just confront him about it instead. Hajime couldn't help but wonder if this was related to what had been happening the last two weeks. With next to no growth he started studying everything he could about that world to be of use that way, but that hadn't been enough in the eyes of his class. Hiyama and his thugs would habitually drag him away for "practice" so they could use their new skills and magic to beat him up. The rest of the class just ignored it, feeling nothing but scorn for the useless Hajime.

The only two exceptions were Kaori and her friend Shizuku. Kaori was livid people would treat Hajime this way, while Shizuku was simply disgusted with this kind of attitude towards a fellow classmate. Though Kouki was also one that would stop the bullying, he usually blamed Hajime's lack of combat capabilities, and stated that he needed to practice more if he wanted them to stop. The bundle of justice that was Kouki did not believe in the evils of people, and assumed Hajime was the reason they acted that way.

Wishing that whoever looked at him in such a way would stop, he continued through the labyrinth. Soon they entered a room on the twentieth floor where the walls came alive and took the forms of giant gorilla-like creatures before attacking them. The commander of the Knights Meld shouted out,

"They're Rockmounts, they have high levels of strength so watch out for their attacks!" As he gave the warning three people shot forward, they were the swordswoman Shizuku, the monk Ryutarou who was Kouki's best friend, and Kouki himself who bore the job of hero. The three engaged a Rockmount, while Kaori and the rest of the support group stayed back and the other was taken by the remaining classmates. One of the Rockmounts noticed Kaori's group however and aimed an attack at them. Meld intercepted it, but Kouki noticed the attempt at them and grew angry.

"To attack girls, how dare you!" Was all he cried out, as the holy sword the kingdom gave started glowing. Meld tried to stop him, but the hardheaded Kouki didn't pay attention and unleashed an attack that killed both Rockmounts and destroyed one of the rooms walls. Kouki was feeling good about himself, he defeated the monster that tried to hurt his childhood friend. That was what he was thinking until he was suddenly hit on the head by Meld.

"Idiot, do you want to cause a cave in?! I know how you feel but you have to think in these situations!" Kouki hung his head slightly, as the support group approached. Kaori had a strained smile on her face, and said,

"It's ok Kouki, just think a bit more ne- what's that?!" Kaori's sight was drawn to where the wall came down, and the large gem sparkling there. Her eyes were almost as shiny as the gems, as everyone turned to look at it and the rest of the girls got similar looks in their eyes. Suddenly a voice said,

"I'll get it for you!" And the speaker, Hiyama, strode towards the gem while ignoring Meld's warnings about traps. He wanted to get the gem to impress Kaori, something that would put him in a good mood for the first time after the last two weeks. On the day they got their statuses there was a sudden pain in his crotch that was almost like an attack, and he was swiftly rushed to a healer. What he was told however was possibly the most horrific thing he ever heard, he was crippled as a man. This devastated him, as once he managed to eventually get Kaori how was he supposed to enjoy himself? He took out his anger the only way he knew how, on the useless piece of trash Hajime.

This didn't go over well though, as when Kaori found out she started to get angry at him, Hiyama's anger only grew worse after what he saw the night before. That was why he saw this as a golden opportunity, to impress Kaori by getting the large gem she seemed to want. The moment he touched it however it lit up, along with a magic circle that covered the entire floor of the room.

"GET OUT, IT'S A TRAP!" Meld shouted as he tried to herd the kids out, but it was too late and they were enveloped in a flash of bright light.

***

When the light faded Hajime looked around and paled at what he saw, along with the rest of his class. They were on a long stone bridge that spanned over what seemed like an endless abyss, at either end of the bridge where staircases going up, presumably back to where they were.

"Up the stairs, quickly!" Meld shouted to the stunned students, but was too late as magic circle shined on both ends of the bridge. On one side was a single large magic circle, while on the other there were several small magic circles. From the small ones appeared skeleton soldiers, but there was seemingly no end to the amount that would spawn. The single monster on the other side however was a large triceratops-like monster but there were flames around its horns.

"A behemoth..." Meld whispered, turning deathly pale at what he saw. The farthest anyone had ever gotten in the Orcus labyrinth was the sixty fifth floor, and it was this specific monster that ended the expedition. Meld prepared for the fight while barking orders, he then glanced at Kouki. If they couldn't save everyone then he should at least ensure that no matter what the "hero" Kouki escaped, that was what he was told by the king and priest before leaving, to ensure the safety of the "hero" no matter what. However no matter what he said Kouki didn't listen to him and stood side by side even though he told him to flee through the skeleton soldiers, the arrogance with adolescence burning in his eyes, he saw the behemoth as a challenge! Meld was about to yell at him for his continued idiocy, when the last person either of them expected appeared in front of them and grabbed Kouki by his shirt.

"What are you doing here? You have to help the class escape!" Kouki looked at Hajime in surprise, before saying,

"I should say that to you, this isn't the place for you!" He along with the rest of those present were very surprised by what came out of Hajime's mouth next,

"This isn't the time for that, everyone's panicking and they need their leader!" They were shocked by the force in Hajime's voice, as he always acted passive until now. Kouki then looked behind him, and saw the struggles of his classmates, as they were attacked by the skeleton soldiers while panicking.

"I understand." Was all Kouki said, before preparing his largest attack to clear the skeleton soldiers out of the way for his class. Shizuku and Ryutarou tried to hold off the behemoth, while Hajime told Meld a plan he had. Though it took some convincing, Meld finally agreed. He then said,

"I will definitely save you!" To Hajime, as he was put in the most danger with this plan, before shouting,

"Shizuku, Ryutarou get back, I'm going to attack it!" The two cleared out as Meld released his own attack. It wasn't as impressive as one Kouki would use, but it was enough to to get the behemoths attention. It reared up on its hind legs as it prepared to charge, not noticing Hajime getting right in front of it and shouting while placing his hands on the ground,

"Transmute!" Right as the behemoths front legs touched back down, effectively trapping them in the rock.

"Transmute!" Hajime kept saying, desperately trying to hold the monster in place for even a second longer. His plan was that while he held the behemoth back, his class would get clear of the skeleton soldiers and use their various magics to stall the monsters long enough for him to rejoin them. Meld had achieved his objective and got the students in the clear, before ordering the vanguards to hold the skeleton soldiers and the magic users to assist Hajime. None could believe that it was that useless Hajime that held the powerful monster in check, but they all started preparing their spells to help him; all except one, who saw this as a perfect chance to be rid of him once and for all.

"HAJIME, RUN!!!" Meld shouted out once the spells were ready, prompting Hajime to release his magic and flee for his life. A torrent of spells flew over his head, stalling the behemoth so that he could flee. It was this moment that he noticed a fireball act weirdly, and change course directly for him.

'It was intentional.' Was all Hajime thought, as he avoided the fireball. Though it didn't hit him, the damage was done. Hajime was stalled long enough for the behemoth to ram the stone bridge, and this time it finally broke. As the stone disappeared from under the monster, Hajime was desperately trying to get a handhold. He managed to grab onto the ledge and pull himself up slightly, seeing the horrified looks of his classmates and dead center was Kaori, who was being held back by both Shizuku and Kouki. Hajime's handhold finally also gave way, and the last thing Hajime heard as he fell into darkness was,

"HAAAAJIIIIMEEEEEE!!!!!!!!"

None noticed that there was someone hiding while watching the entire thing.