Chapter 44
The practical training week had officially begun.
“Please follow the instructions of your assigned teachers and the student council members.”
I looked around at the supervising teachers, their overwhelming aura radiating power.
“It’s reassuring to have Teacher Kalus, the former Commander, with us!”
Of course, no one’s aura could match Kalus’s.
He was the strongest person here, hands down.
He might resemble a chatty, unemployed neighborhood uncle most of the time, but his skills were undeniable.
Perhaps that’s why everyone was so relaxed.
Typically, the first practical training session was a tense affair, with teachers instilling fear and emphasizing the dangers.
But today, the atmosphere was almost festive, like we were going on a picnic.
“And we even have Student Council President Dustin!”
“And the legendary…”
“Wow…”
Kalus, Dustin, and me, the supposed powerhouse.
Haha, what a misconception.
Well, Dustin is the protagonist, and he’s strong.
I trust him to cover for me.
“Where’s Roa?”
“Miss Aroa is not a combat personnel, so it was decided that she wouldn’t participate in the practical training.”
Hey, if anyone should be exempted, it’s me! The first-year!
“We can’t bring escorts to the training grounds.”
I understand the reasoning, but…
It’s still a bit unfair.
Maybe I should have insisted on being exempted.
“Alright, let’s depart. Remember, do not leave the designated training area under any circumstances.”
Well, it’s too late to back out now.
I follow Dustin out of the gate, my expression resigned.
“This reminds me of the time we hunted goblins outside the Elliot territory.”
“Yeah…”
I don’t really want to remember that.
It was the incident that led to my first encounter with Celia, and those rumors about me defeating a goblin chieftain spread even to the capital.
“I want to show you how much stronger I’ve become since then.”
You don’t have to. I already know.
He’s the commander of an entire Imperial Knights detachment.
He must have defeated countless monsters far more powerful than goblins.
“But it’s best if nothing happens, of course.”
He’s right.
A safe and uneventful training session is the ideal outcome.
But first practical training sessions are rarely uneventful.
That’s why the student council only participates in the second-year students’ first practical training session.
To prevent accidents caused by excited idiots and to ensure everyone’s safe return if something does happen.
“It’s a bit chilly in the forest…”
“Yeah, I’m getting goosebumps.”
“Scaredy-cats. There’s nothing here.”
Right, it’s always those types who cause trouble.
I scan the surroundings, keeping an eye on them.
This forest feels different from the one beyond the Elliot estate walls.
“From here on, monsters frequently appear.”
“Most of the monsters that reach this point are goblins, so there’s no need to be too nervous.”
“But remember, monsters are different from the controlled holograms you’ve been training with.”
The teachers list the precautions, while the students buzz with excitement.
There are quite a few who seem nervous, but they’re all academy material after all.
“Your task is to collect monster byproducts after defeating goblins.”
“Those who collect more byproducts will receive bonus points.”
So it’s a test disguised as practical training.
“Alright! Time to show off my skills!”
“I’ll take them all down, those goblins!”
“You have five hours. You must stay within the designated area during that time. If anything happens, immediately seek help from the nearest teacher or student council member.”
“Remember, this is different from your previous training sessions. Your lives are at stake. Never forget that.”
The teachers’ stern warnings fall on deaf ears.
The students are too excited to listen.
The teachers sigh, knowing it’s futile, and signal the start of the training.
“So what do we do?”
“Just stand here and wait unless something happens.”
It was peaceful for a while.
I didn’t have to hunt monsters myself.
And the second-years were quite skilled, swiftly dispatching any goblins that appeared.
“Hey, that’s mine!”
“Get out of the way, you bastards!”
But peace is easily shattered.
Especially in a monster-infested zone like this.
***
“Ugh, isn’t this boring?”
“I know, right? Barely any goblins are appearing. How are we supposed to get good grades like this?”
The students grumbled, looking at the student council members and teachers stationed along the perimeter of the training area.
Despite being called practical training, it was essentially a test.
There were too many students and not enough monsters.
This only fueled the competition among the students, who fought over every kill.
“Damn, it’s like the goblins have gone extinct~”
“They’re not stupid. They wouldn’t show up after all these training sessions.”
A boy, who had been quietly dissecting a dead goblin, looked up, his bored expression replaced with mischief.
“Hey, want to go on an adventure?”
“An adventure? What kind of adventure?”
“The task is to hunt goblins, right? What do you think will happen if we hunt something stronger?”
“We’ll… get top marks?”
The students around him gulped.
“Top marks. Don’t you want them?”
Capturing even a single ogre-level monster would guarantee them top marks.
Even if they had to work together to take it down, they would still receive bonus points.
And the boy who had suggested this was incredibly confident in his abilities.
“But isn’t it dangerous to leave the training area?”
“If you’re scared, stay behind.”
“No, I’m not scared. I’m just worried we’ll get in trouble.”
“Yeah, that’s called being scared~”
The boy smirked and shrugged, watching his friends shove each other playfully.
“And besides, who cares? We have those amazing student council members and teachers with us. They’ll save us if anything happens, right?”
“That’s true… We even have the former Commander.”
“This might actually be worth a shot…”
“Right, guys. This is a gamble we can only take now.”
They had a safety net.
And there was no guarantee they would even encounter ogre-level monsters outside the designated area.
It was a gamble.
‘But the fact that there’s no downside is the real appeal.’
The boy’s eyes glinted with excitement.
“So… shall we give it a go?”
“Damn… I’ll probably piss myself if I see an ogre.”
“Then stay behind.”
“Who said I was staying behind?”
The group chuckled, glancing at the teachers and student council members, and then stealthily moved towards the restricted area.
Unlike the goblin-infested zone, this area was densely packed with tall trees, casting long, ominous shadows.
It was a true forest.
“Damn… this place is creepy.”
“But there’s nothing here.”
“Are you kidding? Monsters wouldn’t dare show up with so many people nearby.”
It was a reasonable assumption, considering the overwhelming aura of the academy teachers.
“Let’s go further in.”
They continued deeper into the forest, laughing and chatting like they were on a picnic.
And then…
“Grooooowl…”
They encountered a group of monsters, their guttural growls echoing through the trees.
“H-holy shit… are those… ogres?”
“Fuck, there’s a whole pack of them…!”
Fighting a single ogre was one thing.
But taking down a pack was practically impossible for them.
“Hey, don’t panic, don’t panic. Who’s behind us? Don’t worry, let’s fight!”
The overconfident boy, instead of running away, made the worst possible decision and drew his sword.
“You idiot, we need to run…!”
“Why run?! Don’t you want top marks?! Everyone, prepare for battle!”
They had been training together in practical classes.
They weren’t top students, but they were skilled enough to believe they had a chance, clinging to that naive hope as they prepared for battle.
“You draw their attention. We’ll attack from behind.”
The boy, their usual leader, calmly issued instructions.
He was quite capable.
But his lack of experience against real monsters was his greatest weakness.
“Groooowl!”
Their inexperience in group combat was another major disadvantage.
“Agh, fuck…!”
One of the boys, acting as the tank, was sent flying, while the mage, who had been casting fireballs from afar, was struck by an ogre’s fist and sent rolling across the ground.
“W-wait… it’s okay… I’m here…!”
Whoosh!
He fought bravely, refusing to run.
He swung his sword with elegant precision, and one of the ogres collapsed.
‘I-I did it…!’
But that was his limit.
“Groooowl!”
For every ogre he defeated, two more attacked. For every two he took down, four more charged at him.
“Agh…!”
One of the mages, knocked unconscious by an ogre, was ripped apart before their eyes. They had made the worst possible decision in a monster-infested zone.
“Y-you idiot…! Why did you scream… ugh…”
Thud! Crack!
The tank, who had been rolling on the ground, was also torn apart by the ogres.
Blood splattered everywhere, making them want to vomit.
“Ugh…! H-help me! Help me, fuck…!”
The once-confident boy abandoned his friends and ran for his life.
‘Just a little further… just a little further, and I’ll reach the teachers and student council members…!’
He wanted to live.
He had made a mistake, and his friends had paid the price, but he had to survive.
He ran and ran, tears and vomit streaming down his face.
“Ugh… h-help… help me…”
An ogre grabbed his leg, and he felt excruciating pain as it was ripped from his body.
He thought he was going to die, but then…
“I’ll deal with the consequences later.”
The Student Council President, his savior, appeared.
“But the fact that there’s no downside is the real appeal”
The downside is dead🙄