Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer
Vol. 5 - Ch. 226 - Familiar Acquaintances

Unexpectedly, the impact of the tackle from a student called Seiya was far stronger. The force was enough to easily knock down an average student, and it was clear from this single hit that he had already awakened to a high-ranking calling.

However it was far from enough to flinch the current Tenji.

"Ugh?! What the heck!"

Far from being rolling over, the second year Seiya Ori let out a gasp of surprise to see black-uniform Tenji still running alongside him, unperturbed.

Swiftly inferring Tenji was no pushover, Seiya got himself ready to escape, opening the distance in one breath.

Once again, the two were now running parallel, racing for the supplies.

Amidst that, Tenji suddenly looked at his junior.

"Err, Seiya-kun...right? What's your surname?"

"Y-Yes.....Ori."

Tenji wasn't bemused and calmly asked Seiya Ori. Having barely any chance to contact his juniors, he was always curious about them. Given that he had been around professional ever since he got his calling, he never got enough time to get into the circle of his peers or of the same generation.

Maybe, he might look like someone blessed with extraordinary luck with his surroundings from the viewpoint of other students.

But Kaido, from the guild that had looked after Tenji, found it a faintly sorrowful sight.

While having connection to the top of the society, Tenji barely had connection with his peers, which would surely bitter his situation someday. Hence, before leaving for the event, Kaido had advised him "I think you should try to strike a conversation if you find someone you want to talk to. Given your situation, you may never get much chance to have connection with your peers."

"So Ori-kun huh. How many points do you have?"

Seiya was apprehensive of the follow-up attack or something, but instead that black uniform Senior only asked some trivial question. While internally muttering at the trivial conversation, he recalled Tenji's unusual core strength and meekly replied.

"42 Points. Also...I'm sorry. Are you mad?"

"Mad? Why would I? We're competing against each other so that's natural."

"............"

Seiya was astonished.

For better or for worse, successful explorers often had the attitude of 'mighty one,' interested in following only their choice, and a narcissistic personality dyed in egoism. Having gone through training with many professional or talented seniors, Seiya's worldview about the society was rather fixed in this way.

However, the Senior next to him was in contrast. He genuinely felt he wished he had known about such a person being his senior earlier.

"Ah, so I guess...everyone has around that much at this point huh. Considering yours with that strength, the average of the rest of contestants should be around this."

"P-Perhaps."

"In that case, maybe this is the chance for us to take a lead here."

"......What do you mean?"

"I have been a fan of Ukai-san for as long as I can remember. So I have a little bit of idea about his thought process, so I believe there are chances to get a good chunk of points from that supply. If anything, they might even turn to be the deciding factor for a spot in the main tournament."

Taken aback by the reasoning, Ori stared at the face of Tenji.

Tenji also looked back at him, seemingly seeking what his opinion was.

"I-Indeed...Renji Ukai is the type of person to set up such events, so it does make sense. No, it was completely a lack of foresight from me."

"Sure enough, you do think so, right?"

"Y-Yes!"

"Great, then what do you say we also gear up? Can you increase your pace, Ori-kun?"

Ori's pupil turned dot-sized, like a pigeon shot with a peashooter.

Tenji, who inferred the answer from his expression, returned a clear smile, seemingly saying 'it's alright.'

"I-I am sorry, but I'm already at my limit."

"You don't have to apologise. You're still a second year student. I believe you should be able to reach Kokugou's level by the next grade advancement. Good luck...oh wait, though I guess it might be better as nothing when coming from no name like me."

"N-No! I'm grateful for your words! I am really sorry too!"

"Ahaha, then let's meet again after the preliminary. I had been mostly abroad for good while so I hardly have any Junior to talk to."

"I would love to!"

"Thanks, let's give our best, eh? I am going to chase Kokugo-kun, see ya!"

After saying his greeting, Tenji then channelled even more power in his body, increasing his physical abilities by a notch. But it was still 20% of his maximum output.

In a span of mere few seconds, Tenji's figure had completely disappeared from Ori's view.

It was utterly important to pull tight all the muscles, like a taut wire, in order to make the best of the enhanced physical ability blessing offered by their calling. Enough professionals could utilise it at constant 100% of course.

However the frontrunners of top guilds often refrain from that.

The reason was simple; it was clearly hard. This was also why students capable of doing that could be counted in two hands.

"Holy, why did I never hear we have such a monstrous third-year?"

However, sure that Tenji was one of those handful of students, Ori was astonished.

The clash earlier had only showed his physical abilities, while it was still impossible to know how fast Tenji could go. But Ori was now clear Tenji was far above him.

"He did say he had been abroad for a while huh? Amazing."

†　†　†

Leaving behind Ori, Kokugou soon appeared into the view of Tenji.

Astonished at the foot step sound, Kokugo glanced at Tenji, clicked his tongue and once again pushed forward.

"What about Seiya, Amagi!?"

"Oh, you remember me, Kokugo-kun?"

"Hah, I was sure you had transferred school after seeing your trivial talent!"

"You really haven't changed a bit, eh?"

"So what?!"

"Ah, nothing. My bad."

With their conversation ending, a brief silence followed between them for a while.

Despite their speed, neither of them were out of breath, just running at a fixed rhythm.

As if to say this was still far from their limit, they covered the variable foothold, certainly not a pleasant one, of the verdant forest with ease.

The scene would have been enough of a shock for a normal person. For this was an impeccable level for an student,

Kokugo wasn't entirely disinterested in Tenji.

He wanted to know what he had been doing so far, why he suddenly was nowhere to be seen in the school, how he was participating in the final preliminary while not seen nowhere in the district qualifier? And how he, Tenji Amagi, was suddenly at the same footing as him when he had led a prime life as student, being one of the consistent three top three in his academic year since enrollment?

Why, why and why---there were many questions, but for now, it was either way matter.

There was only one reality in front of him; Tenji, who wasn't even comparable to a speck of dust on his feet, was now suddenly running in parallel with him.

"I'm going to win. Don't think I will hold back just because I know you?"

"It's obvious. Though the spot for the main tournament is mine."

With a slight surprise, Kokugo stared at Tenji. He remembered Tenji was always meek and mostly introverted, never had he shown such affirmative words.

"......Sounds like you've at least learned the way of words huh. Anyway, did you notice we might have have plenty of point awaiting?"

"Obviously. By the way, are you already in a guild?"

"Argh......don't utter any words about that!"

"Oh, so no huh."

Tenji got an idea why Kokugo was so desperately pushing himself for the final preliminary.

He was the typical 'never judge a book by its appearance' type of guy, often mistaken as someone with a crude personality and no-barred on his speech ever since enrollment. Though of course, it was far from the truth. So perhaps the guilds might have shown reluctance in scouting him.

But, his strength was unmistakable.

"Kokugo-kun, I'm going to speed up. As I said, I'm also aiming to win."

"Hah?!"

However the parallel rhythm also comes to an end with Tenji's words.

The dynamic of the competition shifted: Tenji ran calmly, slightly ahead, while Kokugo, despite his breath growing ragged, pushed himself to his limits, increasing his speed desperately.

"Bold words!! As if I will let you beat me!!"

It wasn't easy, but Kokugo didn't give up chasing after Tenji. He would never let himself lose, and never be left behind.

Perhaps he might be having an ugly expression right now, and that was probably being broadcasted too via the camera somewhere. However if anything's going to injure his pride, then it would be if he loses against former dreg Tenji.

He was the eternal 2nd ranker, while Rui hogged the stop spot. It wasn't his vain pride, but his desperation for the last three years. chasing after her.

"I'm going to be the professional I look up tooooo!!"

Kokugo ran as fast as his legs could lead him to. Even as his face scrunched up in an unsightly appearance, being so close to his dream, he chased after Tenji's back.

He ran, ran and ran---but he lost.

When he reached the location of supply, that former incompetent Tenji Amagi was already there.

In the aftermath, having pushed himself to the limit and the encroaching frustration, he walked up to Tenji and crumpled right there, and while panting wildly, he looked at his face.

"Huff-Huff-Huff......damn shit......"

"It's almost my first win over you, you know, but……it's a pity it's going to stop at almost. It seemed like I lost too, not noticing the existence of the 6th person."

"Haaa?!"

Kokugo swiftly looked up and spotted a young woman beside the supply.

Holding a spear in her hand, she was already in the middle of pressing her finger against the fingerprint device hidden in the supply. Judging from the open supply, she'd arrived here much earlier than them.

It was as if she had known the supply would drop here.

"Ugh......what in tarnation? Who the hell is she?"

"I know, right? I really didn't expect someone to already be here."

The reality gave them a surprise so grand that for once, Tenji and Kokuyo were on the same page.

While Kokugo was astonished at her elusive footwork, Tenji's surprise stemmed from the woman's familiar face.

<40 points conferred to Karen Tachibana.>

A cold, mechanical voice announced the point acquisition.

Reacting at the same time, Koro-chan's telepathic communication reached Tenji.

<It's her, 3rd Lord~.>

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