Chapter 20

The tall trees block the sunlight, and a damp, dim air hangs around.

In the largest forest of the Naglas Kingdom, the Kossus Forest, humans are nothing but mere outsiders.

If they are allowed to exist at all, it is only as 'prey' for predators.

"Damn it! Why did this happen?!"

Having hidden from the forest monsters for three days, their frustration had risen to an uncontrollable level.

"Calm down. There will be no good outcome from losing your cool."

"Hmph!"

Rebuked by the older woman, the silver-haired boy slammed his anger into the wall.

The three young boys and girls sitting around shrank back in fear.

While the boy's outburst might not shake the cave made by nature, it seemed to take a toll on their exhausted minds and bodies.

This is the Kossus Forest.

And they are in one of the natural caves scattered throughout the forest.

In the darkness where sunlight does not reach, the lantern's flame creates shadows for each person.

There are seven people sitting in the cave: five teenagers, an adult woman, and an elderly female merchant.

"Mr. Hansrick, I think it's inappropriate to treat your savior like this."

A girl with pink hair tied up reprimanded the silver-haired boy.

In contrast to the visible fear of the other young boys and girls, she maintained a calm demeanor throughout the situation.

"Shut up, Solt! Are you trying to lecture me!?"

"That's not my intention..."

"Stop it, you're the noisy one! Don't take out your anxiety on things and people! It's just shameful!"

Seeing the boy about to continue his tirade, the elderly female merchant interjected.

She looked to be around fifty, youthful and full of energy, but the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and mouth were inevitable. Her navy hair was tied into a small ponytail at the nape of her neck.

"You! Do you dare to be disrespectful, knowing I am Hansrick, the second son of the Remscheid family!?"

"Then go out on your own. I have no obligation or responsibility to help you."

The sharp gaze of the woman, unexpected for a merchant, made Hansrick flinch. He cursed and reluctantly sat down.

The pink-haired girl approached the elderly merchant, who was watching the scene with a cold gaze.

The girl sat down in front of the merchant and bowed deeply.

"I apologize. My companion was rude. If we are expelled from here, we will have no way to protect ourselves. Please forgive us."

"You, Solt, right? I have no intention of expelling you. If the others behave, I won't expel them either. Just remember that we have no obligation to help you."

"Yes, I will remember that."

Solt bowed again and returned to where her companions were.

In the small cave, the conversation with the merchant was heard by the others. There was no need for Solt to repeat it, and the other three, besides Hansrick, shared her thoughts.

All five of them are students at the Mariulles Academy in the capital of the Naglas Kingdom.

They belong to the top grade, scheduled to graduate this year, and are recognized for their exceptional abilities, promising a bright future.

Hansrick, the leader, is the second son of the prestigious Remscheid family and the top student in his grade. He excels in both academics and martial arts, and is highly respected by his peers, often referred to as the pride of the Remscheid family.

Solt, a nun affiliated with the church, is an unusual figure allowed to attend Mariulles Academy. At the young age of fifteen, she has mastered healing techniques and is expected to earn the title of Saint in the future.

The other three are also among the top students in the academy, with their post-graduation success highly anticipated.

The three boys and two girls are both good rivals and good companions.

Being outstanding among their peers, they had no equals to match them.

Naturally, they often acted together and formed a party for small-scale group battles, becoming the top team of Mariulles Academy.

There was no one in the academy who could match them.

They won all the trials within the academy, demonstrating overwhelming strength.

Amid the praise for their abilities, the young boys and girls became overconfident.

With graduation half a year away, Hansrick and his companions planned a long-term expedition during their final break.

The academy does not prohibit student expeditions; rather, it encourages practical experience.

However, for safety reasons, recommended expedition sites are determined based on the students' abilities.

Safe locations near the capital, where rescue can be easily dispatched, are chosen, and places with monsters are excluded.

Expeditions to non-recommended sites are not prohibited, but students are required to hire capable mercenaries as guards.

The Kossus Forest is one such place.

The recommended expedition sites are designed for regular students.

For them, these places would not provide the training they needed.

They needed a more challenging location, one where they could go without guards and rely solely on their own strength. Following Hansrick's suggestion, they entered the forest without hiring guards.

Only Solt argued for hiring guards.

But she was ultimately overruled by the other four, who said, "If we struggle, we can return to the city and hire guards."

As a result, they misjudged their own abilities and found themselves in a dire situation.

The map they obtained in the city of Tria had some blank sections but clearly marked safe routes.

For a full day after entering the forest, Hansrick and his companions encountered no beasts and continued their journey.

They should have been suspicious at this point.

If they had understood the dangers of the Kossus Forest, a notorious lair of monsters, they would have realized something was wrong.

But, caught up in their excitement, they ventured deeper into the forest without experiencing its true terror.

They realized their mistake on the third day, the second day after entering the forest.

With a four-day schedule, they should have started their return by then. However, they had encountered only small herbivores since entering the forest.

This was not the training they needed. It was more like a mere trip.

If they were to start over, they needed to experience a battle to set a direction for the future.

After discussing, they decided to continue deeper into the forest, despite the delay.

By then, their initial caution had waned, and their attention to their surroundings had become lax.

No one noticed the absence of bird sounds or small herbivores.

Hansrick, leading the way, was the first to spot something.

"Hey, look at that..."

A black mass was visible in the direction Hansrick pointed.

"That's a Dual-Sword Beast, I think."

One of his companions shared some knowledge they had heard.

"There's only one. It's perfect for a test."

Hansrick, with a smile brimming with confidence, said,

"I'll take the front. I need your support."

"Got it."

"Okay."

With the responses from his companions, Hansrick signaled the attack.

"Alright, now! Surround it!"

Hansrick, determined to strike first, thrust his broadsword at the Dual-Sword Beast.

However, his strike was blocked by the beast's hard outer shell, leaving no mark.

"Damn! It's tough!"

The Dual-Sword Beast, startled by the sudden attack, immediately identified Hansrick as an enemy and bared its two fangs, the source of its name, in a threatening manner.

"Flank it and target the joints in its shell!"

Hansrick, having failed the surprise attack, quickly retreated and gave instructions to his axe-wielding and sword-wielding companions.

Solt and another girl kept their distance, ready to provide support.

"Take this!"

The axe-wielder attacked from the side, but his axe was blocked by the hard shell.

"It's hard and slippery!"

As the axe-wielder said, the Dual-Sword Beast's shell was not only hard but also smooth, deflecting the blade.

Even if they tried to crush it with force, a slight misalignment in the angle would reduce the impact.

Hansrick and the other swordsman attacked in quick succession, but their strikes were deflected by the shell, leaving no damage.

"The wind that the white lady plays—Wind Slash!"

The girl, who had been waiting with Solt, cast a wind spell.

The wind blade, slicing through the air, successfully cut off one of the Dual-Sword Beast's legs, but it did not damage the shell.

The Dual-Sword Beast's hard shell was not an impossible target for magic.

However, the 'Wind Slash' spell, designed for cutting, was not well-suited to the beast.

If it had been a 'Fireball' or 'Ice Block' spell, it would have been more effective, and even a 'Rock' spell might have caused more damage.

If the girl's magic attribute had been something other than wind, the outcome might have been different.

"It's... strong..."

Hansrick's face showed signs of anxiety.

"Hans! What do we do!?"

The axe-wielder, seeing no effective attacks, asked for a decision.

The Dual-Sword Beast was indeed tough. Their attacks were deflected by its shell, and even the magic attacks, their last hope, were not decisive.

However, its movements were not particularly fast.

If they ran at full speed, the beast could not catch them.

Fortunately, there was only one beast, and they did not have to worry about being surrounded.

But...

"We can take a single Dual-Sword Beast! It's not invincible! It's lost a leg and must be exhausted!"

Hansrick did not choose to retreat.

The other members understood his feelings.

They had come to this dangerous forest, ignoring the academy's recommendations and without hiring guards. Retreating after just one battle would be a blow to their pride.

Especially since they were facing a single Dual-Sword Beast, considered relatively low-risk in the Kossus Forest.

If they admitted they could not handle a single non-monster, their reputation as the academy's stars would be ruined.

This thought clouded their judgment and cost them their last chance to retreat.

In the next moment, a massive object leaped from the bushes behind the Dual-Sword Beast.

The object attacked the beast, quickly crushing its black shell with its powerful jaws.

"Wha..."

Hansrick and his companions froze, as if paralyzed.

From the depths of the bushes, the body of the creature emerged.

It was a giant, light purple snake.

Its body was as thick as a human's torso, and its head was larger than the Dual-Sword Beast.

The length of its body, hidden in the bushes, was impossible to estimate.

The snake, despite its size, held the Dual-Sword Beast firmly with its fangs.

The beast's body was crushed with a disturbing sound, and Hansrick and his companions shuddered.

Their rational minds screamed to run, but their bodies were frozen with fear.

After swallowing the black mass that was the Dual-Sword Beast, the giant snake turned its hostility towards Hansrick and his companions.

"Shaaa!"

Hansrick and his companions, who had been unable to defeat the Dual-Sword Beast, stood no chance against the giant snake that had easily devoured it.

Their only option was to run, but their feet were rooted to the ground in the presence of the overwhelming predator.

"R, run—"

"Kishaaa!"

The axe-wielder's strained words triggered the giant snake's attack on Hansrick and his companions.

The snake's fangs lunged at the axe-wielder, who was the first target.

Unable to move, the axe-wielder was about to be impaled when a large shield stood in the way, intercepting the attack.