That scene was one I had witnessed countless times in my first life as well.

“P-please, stop────”

Only to see someone mercilessly trampled.

“Hey, hey, this is just the beginning, isn’t it? You’ve got to try harder than that!”

“Yeah, seriously. We’re going out of our way to help you train, you know.”

A certain student was being kicked around by a group of noble classmates.

Unfortunately, such occurrences were a daily routine at the academy. In my first life, I had led similar atrocities myself, always ending with the same individual interfering, me lashing out, challenging him to a fight, and getting thoroughly beaten.

────Indeed, it’s sickening.

Looking back now, my first-life self was utterly deranged. To think I had once taken such joy in this vile behavior… It’s only now that I finally understand his feelings.

Even if it was a past life, I’ve undeniably done the same kind of thing. This means that, in a twisted way, I’m no different from these bastards bullying my friend right now. And yet…

“Haa...”

“Cl-Cla────!?”

I suppressed the seething rage bubbling up from the depths of my stomach. Freesia, standing beside me, seemed startled by my reaction, but I ignored her and approached the commotion.

“Don’t cry just yet, not when this is only getting started!”

“────!!”

The closer I got, the more irritating the noise grew. Among it, words I could not ignore were spoken.

“It’s just getting good────”

At last, the leader of the noble group raised an actual sword, not a training blade, high above his head. Unable to stand by any longer, I closed the distance in an instant and grabbed his arm.

“Hey, that’s enough.”

“Huh? And who the hell are you?”

The leader glared at me, clearly annoyed at my interruption. Unfazed, I continued speaking.

“Care to explain, in painstaking detail, why you’re doing this to someone I hold dear?”

“Stay out of this, outsider. You’re saying this piece of trash is your friend? Hah! That’s not even funny as a joke────beat it.”

But he shoved my hand aside, outright rejecting me. His attitude only made my mind calmer.

“It’s no joke. It’s the truth. Weiss is my roommate and a genuinely good friend.”

Perhaps I’m the only one who sees it that way, but just for this moment, that’s the reality I’ll assert. It’s the best way to help him now.

“Oh, a friend, huh? How touching! Rushing in to save your buddy in their moment of peril────so, you want to take his beating in his place?”

“!! Cl-Claym, you don’t have to────”

“Shut it, trash! So, what’s it gonna be? If you’re his friend, surely you can handle that much, right?”

The leader sneered, and his cronies grinned cruelly, clearly enjoying themselves. Their nonsense didn’t bother me. If it would save Weiss, I didn’t mind stepping in. But there was one thing I had to clarify first────

“I don’t mind, but────do you really think you lot can take me down?”

I wasn’t trying to provoke them. I was genuinely curious.

From the looks of it, these guys didn’t even measure up to Gaian, a third-rate bunch at best. Even if they were hot-headed, I didn’t see myself losing to anyone who couldn’t gauge their opponent’s strength.

“Wow…”

So, Freesia, could you not sigh in exasperation like that from behind me? Predictably, my words were taken as a taunt. The nobles’ faces flushed red with anger.

“You little───don’t push your luck────”

“W-wait a second!”

“...What now?”

Just as the leader raised his fist, one of his cronies stepped in to stop him. He seemed to recognize me.

────I’ve got a bad feeling about this...

“T-this guy’s in the Special Advancement class! It’s ‘Beheader ’ Claym Bradley!”

“Beheader ────you mean the guy who took down Gaian, the top entrant, in a single blow during the entrance exam?”

“Yeah, that ‘Beheader ’! During duels, he relentlessly goes for the neck and fights to kill like some kind of demon!!”

“…”

The fear in their voices made me feel awkward. I didn’t expect the duel with Gaian to have spread through the academy so quickly. Rumors travel fast, and it’s terrifying. But more than that────

“‘Beheader ’? What the hell kind of nickname is that...”

Sure, my fighting style during that duel might’ve been neck-focused, but there wasn’t any deeper meaning to it. It was just the most effective tactic. Still, this nickname? Unacceptable.

────And honestly, it’s not even funny. A man executed by beheading in his first life now being called the “Beheader ” in his second life?

It’s a bad joke.

I wanted to protest, but they backed off the moment they realized they were outmatched.

“You’re a cheat, commoner! How are you even friends with someone like him!?”

“Damn it! Remember this!!”

“...”

Ah, the classic minion behavior. Their speed in retreating was almost impressive. And with that, the bullies scurried out of the training grounds.

“Well, that takes care of that. You alright, Weiss?”

“Y-yeah… Sorry for the trouble, Claym…”

“We’re roommates. Don’t worry about it. Let’s head back to the room.”

“B-but Claym, didn’t you come here for something────”

“Forget about it. Let’s go.”

I slung the shoulders of the barely-standing hero over mine and turned on my heel.

“That’s it for today’s training.”

I informed Freesia and the others, who had followed us this far. They must have seen enough to hold their tongues.

Back in our room, I treated Weiss’s injuries as I listened to him explain what had led to all this.

As expected, it was an utterly ridiculous reason, leaving me more exasperated than angry. At the same time, it reminded me too much of my first-life self, which only soured my mood further.

“Today, I was lucky you were there, but…”

“Well, odds are high they’ll retaliate when I’m not around.”

“Y-yeah…”

The thought was all too easy to imagine. The bullies would surely come after Weiss again. Despite not being at fault, Weiss looked deeply apologetic.

────Well, it can’t be helped.

I understood how he felt. I never imagined in my first life that he had endured such blatant bullying. This made me curious about what had sparked his immense growth as a hero, but────

“No, no.”

I forcibly redirected my thoughts. As much as I’d like to help him,

“I can’t always be around to protect you…”

“I-I can’t ask you to go that far…!!”

Our classes were different, and the distance between them was considerable. It wasn’t feasible. That left only one option────

“In that case, Weiss, you’ll just have to become stronger than them.”

Self-defense was the only solution. It might sound harsh, but it was the most realistic. Based on my memories of Hero Weiss, I knew he had the potential to accomplish that easily.

“…Huh?”

However, the young hero in question didn’t seem to grasp my point. Once the meaning of my words sank in, he shook his head vigorously.

“No, no, no! There’s no way I could ever beat someone like Bain and his gang────”

“Don’t give up before you try. Besides, I never said you had to get stronger alone, did I?”

“Huh?”

“I’m confident that with just a week of training, you could easily take down this Bain guy. You’ve got the potential for it.”

“R-really?”

“Of course. But I won’t force you. Ultimately, it’s your choice, Weiss. However, if you want to take care of their bullying yourself, I’ll support you every step of the way.”

“W-why are you willing to go so far…?”

He looked genuinely puzzled. We’d only known each other for three days. Though we’d gotten along well, he couldn’t understand why I’d be so committed to helping him.

His question was reasonable. But to me, he didn’t feel like a stranger. Whether it was the memories of my first life, our countless confrontations, or a mix of other emotions, the bottom line was────

“Because you’re my friend. Isn’t it natural to want to help your friends when they’re in trouble? Or am I wrong?”

I knew it wasn’t like me to say something so cheesy. But I wanted to help. I didn’t want any more regrets.

“N-not at all! That makes me really happy! Can I ask for your help?”

If he had said “We’re not friends” here, it would’ve been a serious cringe-worthy moment for me. Thankfully, my feelings got through.

“Alright, training starts tomorrow morning.”

“Yeah!!”

With my Grand Uncle’s training regimen, anyone could achieve results in a week. For someone like Weiss, overflowing with potential, the effects would be remarkable.

────Assuming he could endure it, of course.

And so, something unimaginable in my first life began—a training arc to strengthen the Hero.