Chapter 50

The day of the long-awaited on-site monster training had finally arrived. Batts, who had been approached during the second year, readily agreed to work as a team. Although he was initially stiff, he had now become friends with Ein and could converse casually. Batts was the only one who could call Ein by his first name, even in limited settings like within the school.

"Hey, Ain."

"Hm?"

"It's so dark here. Something might come out, you know."

"Unless you're completely defenseless, you won't get seriously injured. Still, don't lose your focus."

Leonard and Roland chimed in, pointing out the flaws in Batts' words. They were already in a dark forest where it wouldn't be strange for monsters to appear.

"You won't get seriously hurt unless you're completely defenseless. But don't let your guard down."

Dil, who had already graduated but was allowed to participate as Ein's bodyguard, was the last to give a warning. It was decided that Dil, rather than Chris, would be sufficient for this task.

"Dil-senpai, but we're a team of four, right?"

"Yeah, I'm just here as a bodyguard. I won't interfere unless it gets really dangerous."

One member of Ein's team had fled. On the day of the event, a boy from the second group declared his non-participation and didn't show up at the White Rose station. The punishment was a demotion of the group, and it was not uncommon for students to back out due to fear.

"It's fine, Roland. With this team, there's nothing to be afraid of in this area."

Batts' attitude was very reassuring in such situations. But he was right; the monsters in this area were not something that would catch Ein's team off guard.

"Let's start gathering some burnable materials. It'll be hard once it gets dark."

"Leonard's right. We can use the rabbits we hunted on the way for food, and we should also look for drinking water."

"Yeah, as long as it's not too dirty, it's fine. I can clean it with the magic tool I made."

"Roland, bringing magic tools is prohibited, isn't it?"

Ein thought the same thing, but Dil pointed it out first.

"Don't worry, Dil-senpai. I'll just use the magic stones from the monsters we've hunted to make a small water purifier."

"Ah, if that's the case, it's fine."

Roland's technical skills had improved year by year. He was now capable of creating simple magic tools on-site, making him an excellent resource.

"I'll set up the barrier, Your Highness. It's the only skill I can use here."

Leonard, a humanities student, possessed the rare skill of creating barriers. While not a high-level barrier, it was still useful for avoiding the monsters in this area.

Ein and Batts took the lead as the main front-line fighters. Ein's team was composed of individuals who excelled in specific areas.

As it got darker, they decided to set up camp for the night. The on-site monster training lasted three full days. Over two nights and three days, they would traverse forests and mountains to reach their destination. Even if they were lucky enough not to encounter any monsters, it would still be a physically and mentally demanding journey.

They split into pairs to gather what they needed. The forest provided everything they needed, and they quickly collected the materials.

They started a fire and began preparing their meal.

"Hey, look at this. I found something good."

"What is it? It looks purple and kind of gross."

Batts and Roland had been paired up for the gathering. When Batts returned, he seemed to have made a discovery, which he showed to Ein and Leonard.

"It doesn't look good, but it's a fruit, Your Highness. The taste is surprisingly good, but Batts, there are also poisonous ones that look similar... Do you know which is which?"

"I don't. I thought Leonard might know, so I brought it."

"I don't know how to tell either."

"Dil, do you know?"

"Yes, I do. But I can't give you advice on this..."

Dil knew but found it difficult to help. However, Ein remembered something.

"Batts, can I see it for a moment?"

"Sure, but be careful, it might be poisonous."

"I know. ...Hmm, it's surprisingly soft."

Ein subtly activated absorption and toxin decomposition. Since there was no noticeable change, he concluded it was safe to eat.

"It's fine, it's not poisonous."

"Ein, you know how to tell?"

"Just a lucky guess. Since Batts did a good job, let's enjoy it."

Fortunately, they had an additional item for their dinner. Meals in the forest were simple, and some teams might not have any food at all. Considering this, they were fortunate.

They sat on logs, taking a break. It got dark quickly, and they realized they could have set up camp earlier. Ein decided to make this a lesson for the next day.

"While we're here, it feels like a little trip."

"True. I don't mind this kind of thing."

A cool breeze blew through the forest, and the rustling of the trees created a soothing sound. The fire's flames flickered in the wind, creating a unique atmosphere. The smell of roasting rabbit meat made their mouths water. Sitting around the fire, they felt a sense of calm.

After a long day of walking, they were exhausted. Leonard, who was from a noble family, had recently been engaged.

"Leonard, is it true you're engaged?"

"What? Why are you asking that suddenly, Batts?"

"What? I didn't know! What's going on, Leonard?"

"Roland too!"

The attention turned to Batts' statement. It was not unusual for someone of Leonard's status to be engaged at his age, but the source of Batts' information was unknown.

"Leonard, I didn't know either..."

"Your Highness, please don't look so sad!"

"Oh, Leonard made Ein cry."

"I thought we were friends, Leonard. That's harsh."

"Alright, alright! I'll tell you! Your Highness, please listen!"

"Okay, what's the story? Who is she?"

Ein turned to Leonard with a carefree expression.

"You got me."

As the conversation became lively, Roland started dividing the cooked meat.

"Let's eat while we listen to Leonard's story. Here you go."

"You're considerate, thanks Roland!"

"Sure, I'll eat."

"Come on, Leonard, cheer up. We still have a lot to do."

"Hey, Dil-senpai, here you go too."

Roland handed the food to Dil as well.

"No, I'm fine. I have my own rations."

"Dil, it's a waste if you don't eat. We don't have the luxury of making jerky, so please eat."

"Alright, I'll eat it."

Dil took the food from Roland.

"Then, I'll give you something too."

Dil took out a bag of tea leaves from his pocket.

"Isn't that cheating?"

"Leonard is right, but this is a yearly tradition. Other teams bring their own. You're the only ones who didn't, so I'm sure they'll forgive you. The Royal Kingsland Academy has few events, so a little enjoyment is allowed. It's an unspoken rule."

Dil started preparing tea in the dishes they brought.

"So, we were the only ones who strictly followed the rules?"

"Batts, there's no need to be ashamed... right?"

"Roland is right. But... well, a little enjoyment won't hurt. I'll take you up on your offer, Batts."

The unexpected tea made the meal even better. A little mischief was a student's privilege. As they enjoyed their meal, the conversation turned to Leonard's story. However, they eventually went to bed early to prepare for the next day.

* * *

"The fog is really bad."

"Yeah. Don't get too far from me and Ain."

"I understand. I'm sorry for slowing you down."

"I should have trained more..."

On the second day, they were walking between mountains after leaving the forest. The fog seemed to be getting thicker due to the special climate.

"Batts, any landmarks?"

"This fog makes it impossible. I'm stepping hard to leave footprints, but it's just a comfort."

"Should we stop and wait for the fog to clear?"

"Roland, the fog probably won't clear in this area, right, Batts?"

"That's right. We drew a troublesome course. Our luck with the draw is terrible."

The paths for the six teams were all different, determined by a lottery. The difficulty levels varied, and sometimes a bad draw would occur.

"We have no choice but to keep going. Thinking about going straight won't help much, but we can try not to turn. We mustn't get separated."

Batts led the way, followed by Ein. Leonard and Roland came next, with Dil at the rear as the bodyguard.

"Is the distance to our goal difficult?"

"It's hard to say. It depends on how we get through this fog."

Leonard was worried about whether they could cover the distance to their goal. The unexpected fog had thrown off their plans.

"Hey, Roland, can you make a magic tool to clear the fog?"

"What are you talking about, Your Highness?"

"You're right. That's impossible."

"I can, but I don't have the materials."

"Really?"

"It's not that hard to make. I'll show you a similar one next time."

Roland was truly a genius. His casual offer to make something if he had the materials made him seem radiant.

"Dil, Roland is really...? Dil?"

"What is it, Ein?"

"Dil, answer me!"

Ein called out to Dil, who didn't respond. He raised his voice, but still no answer.

"Hey, Ein! Stop!"

"Why? Dil is missing!"

"Lower your voice. We've been noticed... No, it's too late. They've noticed us! Stay between me and Ain! Don't get separated!"

"What? What's happening!?"

"Roland, calm down. Come over here!"

Leonard pulled Roland between Ein and Batts. Soon, a scraping sound began to echo around them.

"Hey, we weren't told this would happen! Hey, Ain!"

"What is it?"

"Raven butterflies! They lay eggs on people and paralyze them. They don't usually appear here! Be careful!"

Ein tightened his focus. Losing Dil was concerning, but they were the ones being attacked now.

"Ugh! What was that!?"

"If it's a big black butterfly, that's the enemy! Let us know if one gets close!"

"Let us know... Hey, Batts!"

"What?"

"Recommend we retreat."

"That's impossible! We don't know what's going on!"

"Hey, Batts! We have to run! There are too many!"

"Too many... What are you talking about!?"

A swarm of dozens of raven butterflies was approaching from one direction.

"Batts! We have to run!"

"Right! Come on, both of you! Try to keep up!"

They could have handled a few, but the swarm of dozens was overwhelming. Despite the danger, they started running to get away.

* * *

They didn't know how long they had been running, but it must have been at least a few minutes. Exhausted, they finally reached a small cave and took shelter.

"Finally. We lost them... Ein! Shouting like that in such a place is suicidal!"

"Sorry. It was a mistake. I got emotional and shouted. I'm sorry."

"Batts, you don't have to be so harsh..."

"It's fine, Leonard. It was clearly my mistake, but... Where did Dil go?"

In the thick fog, Dil had gotten separated from the group. This was a major concern. Dil was strong, but if he encountered a swarm like the one they just faced, anything could happen.

"Ha... ha..."

"Are you okay, Roland?"

"Ah, sorry, Leonard. I'm just tired... Phew..."

"Anyway, this situation is strange."

Batts, now calmer, explained the situation to everyone.

"Those monsters don't usually appear here. They're found in areas with cunning monsters like the Black Fawns. It's out of place here."

"So, it's an abnormal situation?"

"Exactly. I see two options: wait for rescue or keep going. Waiting for rescue isn't practical with so many of them. We'll probably be found eventually."

"I'm worried about Dil-senpai..."

"I know. But there's nothing we can do right now... Your Highness, are Chris and the others secretly guarding us?"

"No. Chris has been guarding my mother in Magna since yesterday. I don't think Chris is here."

If Chris had been secretly following, Leonard would have considered relying on him. Given the abnormal situation and the emergency of losing Dil, it was a difficult decision.

"Then, we have no choice but to keep going... Without a guarantee of rescue, doing nothing is a bad strategy."

"I agree with Batts. We'll just attract more danger by staying still."

"Your Highness, if you agree, I have no objections."

"Same here. I can't fight, but I'll do my best to support you."

The group reached a consensus. Moving was dangerous, but staying put with so many raven butterflies nearby was even more dangerous. They decided to act, not knowing if it was the right choice.

* * *

They continued walking for a few more hours. The thick fog still enveloped them, blocking their path. They had a general sense of direction from the sun, so they weren't going back.

The scraping sound of the raven butterflies echoed multiple times, and they stopped to be cautious each time. They hadn't been discovered, but the butterflies were always nearby.

They found a small stream and decided to rest and drink water. After walking for a long time, Ein and Batts were also exhausted.

"Roland, you're in charge of carrying water."

"Got it. Everyone, drink up while you can."

"Leonard, no need to set up a barrier."

"Why not, Batts?"

"Cunning monsters might notice the barrier and attack once it's down."

Leonard, who was about to set up a barrier, stopped at Batts' advice. Cunning monsters could detect barriers and attack once they were down. Raven butterflies were among these cunning monsters, so setting up a barrier was not a good idea.

"You really know a lot, Batts. Is it because of your father?"

"Yeah. My father always fights monsters in dangerous areas, so he's taught me a lot."

Batts, pleased by Ein's question, explained. Batts' father worked in a dangerous area, teaching him many strategies and what to avoid. In situations like this, Batts was very reliable.

They took a short break and listened to Batts' stories. The raven butterflies' weakness was fire, and secondly, sunlight. They were fine in fog but would disintegrate in direct sunlight.

However, they were in thick fog, and no one could use fire magic. Exploiting their weakness seemed difficult.

"How are we going to rest tonight, Batts? Leonard and Roland are reaching their limits without breaks."

"We'll take turns keeping watch. We'll leave early, just before sunrise, to try to get through the fog while the sun is rising."

"Understood. We need to find a place to rest."

"Got it. I have enough water. We can go anytime."

With Roland's words, they ended their break and resumed their journey toward their goal. The break had somewhat restored their energy, and they all vowed to return safely. They continued walking, determined to make it through.