The Hero Creation Classroom of a Reincarnated Ordinary Person: After Reaching My Limit As An Adventurer, I Reluctantly Opened A Classroom In The Countryside To Earn Money For The Future, And My Student Became The Strongest - Episode 84

After that, I told the students that classes would be paused for a while.

Agart not only kept his promise to provide financial support but also sent troops here and secretly contacted Ryuga, the King of Seiran.

With preparations complete, we were now traveling through Seiran Country by magical carriage.

The group consisted of me, Eve, Mu, and Sana.

I asked Sana about Ohisashi, but she knew nothing about it.

So at first, when I said we were going to the Kujakumiya family’s place, I planned to leave her behind.

But she looked me straight in the eyes and shook her head clearly.

“Please let me come along. I have to see for myself what is really happening.”

Despite looking worried, her gaze was firm and honest.

“…Sana, is your chest feeling okay?”

Mu, who had been watching the scenery outside with interest, asked Sana, who was sitting beside her.

“Yes, I haven’t felt any pain recently.”

“…It really was that thing’s doing.”

Mu muttered bitterly.

Her usual tired eyes were replaced by clear anger, her reddish-orange eyes blazing with rage.

She must be furious that Sana was taken over.

The magical carriage rolled forward into the town.

We had apparently arrived at Navara, the meeting place, as the town’s scenery appeared through the window.

Though it had been a while since I last visited Seiran, I still noticed many traditional Japanese-style buildings.

(…Maybe this is a country built long ago by other reincarnators besides me.)

The names here had a distinctly Japanese feel—Sana’s surname Kujakumiya, King Kongo of Seiran, and others all sounded like names you might hear in Japan.

Eventually, the magical carriage slowed and came to a stop.

I was the first to step down, followed by Eve and the others.

As I listened to the sounds behind me, I saw a man walking toward us from the front.

He wore a cloak covering his whole body and a hood. Underneath, I could see glasses and an intelligent face.

Though I was a bit wary because of the hood, he met my gaze and bowed deeply.

He then approached and spoke.

“You must be Endy, yes?”

“…Yeah.”

I kept my hand on my sword sheath.

I could feel Eve’s alertness beside me—ready to fight if needed.

“I’ve been expecting you. I am Tsukasa Kannagara, a war general.”

“Tsukasa… a war general? One of the quasi-heroes…”

That name sounded familiar.

He was one of the quasi-heroes belonging to Seiran Country, a war general under King Kongo.

I hadn’t expected someone so important to come meet us, so I was taken aback.

“This place is too conspicuous. Follow me this way.”

“…Alright.”

I followed Tsukasa.

Just from his movements, I could tell he was very skilled.

He carried a spear on his back.

Tsukasa led us to a quiet alley.

Two people were waiting there, and as soon as they saw Tsukasa, they bowed their heads.

They were apparently his subordinates.

“This place should be fine. Once again, I am Tsukasa. It’s an honor to meet you, Endi.”

“Ah, yeah… Endy Skyglass.”

Being shown such respect by someone of a quasi-hero’s rank made me feel a little awkward.

“How much has His Majesty Agart told you?”

“Not much. Just that I’m supposed to meet the envoy from the Seiran King here… I didn’t expect that to be the quasi-hero, though…”

Tsukasa smiled gently, speaking honestly.

“His Majesty instructed me to be polite and respectful.”

“I-I see…”

I silently asked the distant king in my mind what Agart had told him, but there was no reply.

Tsukasa’s expression turned serious.

“To get straight to the point, His Majesty has ordered me to support you, Endy-sama. I will personally guide you to the Kujakumiya family’s main residence. …By the way, what do you plan to do after that?”

“As for me, I just want to talk with the head of the Kujakumiya family. That’s all.”

“I understand… Then let’s go together. As His Majesty’s representative, there are things I must also convey to the Kujakumiya family.”

……

From Tsukasa’s words and the way he looked at me, I could sense there was more going on beneath the surface.

Through Agart, I knew King Ryuga also found the Kujakumiya family suspicious.

Maybe Tsukasa and his group had picked up on something too.

As proof, Tsukasa kept glancing at Sana ever since we left.

After thinking it over, I looked back at Eve and Mu, and we all nodded to each other.

Finally, I faced Sana.

“Sana, one last confirmation. You’re coming with us, right?”

“Yes… I need to know. Who is this Ohisashi-sama? Why… why did I… need to know?”

“Alright, I understand.”

“Why was my body taken by Ohisashi-sama? I have to find out.”

I thought I heard Sana’s soul speak those words.

“Lead the way to the Kujakumiya residence.”

At my words, Tsukasa, who had been watching Sana closely, nodded clearly.

◆◆◆

Following Tsukasa’s magical carriage, we traveled from Navara to the city of Hayato.

This was the land ruled by the Kujakumiya family.

After getting off the carriage, Tsukasa led us to a grand Japanese-style mansion surrounded by high walls.

“Excuse me! I am Tsukasa Kannagara, representative of King Ryuga of Seiran! By appointed time, I request an audience with Renya Kujakumiya, head of the Kujakumiya family!”

At Tsukasa’s shout, the gate slowly opened.

Behind it stood the mansion’s servants, all bowing deeply.

We followed Tsukasa inside.

The order was me first, then Sana, Eve, and Mu.

I kept an eye on our surroundings, occasionally glancing back.

Sana seemed nervous but also relieved to finally be at the main residence she had wanted to visit.

Tsukasa walked straight ahead without passing any servants along the way.

At the end of a long hallway, we reached a grand sliding door.

From the feel of it, the head of the Kujakumiya family must be beyond those doors.

At that moment, the doors opened from the inside.

Tsukasa entered without hesitation, and we followed.

The servants who opened the doors knelt and bowed deeply.

I noticed one of them was Takeru, who had visited my classroom with Sana before, but I averted my gaze.

He wasn’t the person I needed to focus on.

At the far end of the room, in a richly decorated sitting room, sat a man with white-streaked hair and his eyes closed.

From his dignified presence, I knew this had to be—

“F-Father…”

Sana answered my unspoken question.

This man was Renya Kujakumiya.

I thought he looked older than I expected for Sana’s father.

“…Tsukasa-sama, and…”

She slowly opened her eyes. There was something unsettling lurking deep within her gaze.

“Who is that?”
“This is Endy Skyglass-sama.”
“…Skyglass. I see, the one from that classroom…”

Seeing Renya’s defeated attitude, I took a step forward. Tsukasa moved slightly to the side, giving me space.

“I have something to ask you. What exactly is this ‘Ohisashi’?”

I didn’t like beating around the bush, so I asked directly. Renya closed his eyes for a moment before answering calmly.

“…Ohisashi-sama is a god.”
“What?”
“He is the being who grants wealth, fortune, and luck to our Kujakumiya family… That is who Ohisashi-sama is.”
“And what do you have to do to receive that? Surely it’s not just given for free. Tell me everything.”

My voice came out lower than I expected, almost angry. Renya kept his eyes shut as he continued.

“Every five years, we offer a sacrifice to Ohisashi-sama. We take a daughter to a hidden shrine on Mount Kisaki and present her.”
“So… Sana is…”
“Yes… This year is the time. Sana is the chosen sacrifice.”
“You bastard…”

Anger welled up inside me at how shamelessly he said it. But before I could explode, Sana’s tearful voice rang out.

“So… does that mean… I’ve lived just to die?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Hey!!”
“Sensei!!”

I was about to strike him, but Sana shouted loudly. When I turned, she was looking straight at me, tears held back but eyes clear.

“I… I want to hear it… my father’s words… Please… tell me…”

I clenched my fists tightly, pain flashing through my hands. It was the only way to stop myself.

“That… that is my mission…”
“Yes, it is. To serve the Kujakumiya family—that is your duty.”
“Then… why was I entrusted to your classroom? Why?”
“Because Ohisashi-sama wishes it.”

Those words made the heat I’d been desperately holding inside vanish as if it was never there.

“Ohisashi-sama does not desire the innocent. In the past, innocent sacrifices were offered, but at some point, that changed. Now, the innocent is allowed to experience the world, to feel a will to live, a desire not to die. Since that command, all offerings have been made that way.”

…

Instead, a painful coldness took over my body.

I couldn’t understand what he meant.

He lets them feel they don’t want to die… and then kills them?

“By doing so, their souls become more beautiful. They grant us greater blessings.”

I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“You bastard!!”

I shouted with all my might and grabbed Renya by the collar, lifting him up.

I would never forgive him.

My body, my heart, my soul screamed: never forgive this man.

“Our Kujakumiya family has prospered this way for generations. But Ohisashi-sama is gone now. The shrine on Mount Kisaki where we offered sacrifices was destroyed by adventurers, and Ohisashi-sama died. If Sana is here, it means she couldn’t become the vessel either.”

“What the hell are you saying?”

“Ohisashi-sama grants his power to the daughter who becomes the sacrifice. The power matures inside her, and by merging with her, Ohisashi-sama increases his own strength. There was once a legend that Ohisashi-sama could fully enter the daughter’s body—I thought maybe that was possible… but it ended in failure.”

…

I was speechless. I had no idea what this guy was even talking about.

I understood the words he said, but not the mindset that let him say such things so calmly.

Can a person really become this ugly inside?

“Sacrifice, my ass! What do you mean, ‘Ohisashi-sama’?!”

I gripped his collar tighter.

“Sana was doing everything she could, fighting tooth and nail just to be recognized by you!”

The words spilled out without stopping.

“She worked so hard to get here, to be worthy of Kujakumiya!”

I know there are all kinds of parents in this world.

My own were garbage, and maybe Mu’s parents were just as bad.

But no toxic parent I’ve ever met comes close to this guy.

“She just wanted to be accepted! And yet you—YOU!”

He said nothing.

Because I know how hard Sana tried. Because I know what she hoped for.

“Because I was chosen, I must carry myself accordingly, worthy of that choice. But more than anything, I want Father to accept me.”

Renya’s words burned in me. I couldn’t forgive him.

“How dare you, the father himself, trample on your daughter’s simple wish to be loved by you? And then use that for your own gain?!”

I screamed with all my heart.

“Ku-ku-ku-ku…”

“…Huh?”

The only thing I heard was laughter—ugly laughter right in front of me.

“What’s so funny?”

“If she were really my daughter, maybe you’d have a point.”

He said nothing more.

Ah. So that’s it.

That’s why he looked older than I expected and why he didn’t look anything like her.

Ah, I see. So… that’s it.

“She’s not my daughter. She was sold off by her real parents—a sacrifice no one knows, just some pawn. You say she’ll become worthy of the Kujakumiya name? Laughable. There’s no way that’ll happen! She wants to be accepted by her father? That father left her behind with nothing but her name, Sana! Just for a measly sum of money—ugh!?”

I couldn’t hold back anymore.

On impulse, I punched Renya’s face with all my strength. One hit after another.

Just as I raised my fist for one more—

“!!”

“Sana!!”

I heard Sana run off and Eve scream.

I turned quickly and saw Sana leaving the room. Something shining dropped onto the floor.

“Eve, I’m leaving this to you!”

“Y-Yes!”

I let go of that bastard and chased after Sana.

There was no way I was going to leave her alone in this situation.