Misora understood what Riko and Lekti wanted to say.
They were training desperately to seize this rare opportunity, while others kept saying it was impossible, that they were reaching too far, and that they were only being accommodated out of pity. Anyone would have felt angry in their place.
But...
"Although... although it does feel a little unpleasant, our grades really are terrible. For such an amazing senior to come and serve as our instructor really is hard to believe."
Lekti stammered as she spoke. Essentially, she meant that although the others' words were unpleasant, they were also describing the truth of their current situation. There was nothing they could do about it.
As for Riko...
"What foolish things are those vulgar mortals saying? If I, a goddess, were to take every single one of them to heart, I would only end up becoming vulgar myself."
Riko held this opinion without the slightest shame, seemingly treating the words of others with utter disdain.
Rather, the very existence of the E601 Squad had always been controversial. They had long been mocked as an F-rank squad, looked down upon, and ridiculed as a matter of course.
This situation had merely made things worse. If they pursued every single slight, the E601 Squad would have been exhausted to death long ago.
"Once I achieve a perfect victory in the ranking battle and display the extraordinary strength and beauty of a goddess, those foolish mortals will naturally realize how lacking their judgment was."
Riko seemed more concerned with the glory of the future than the rumors of the present. She ran a hand through her long black hair and remained as confident as ever.
"I really admire how you can maintain that attitude in a situation like this."
Misora was more than a little