Episode 10. First Class (2)
After the party is formed, the given preparation time is 30 minutes.
Although the exact content of the class was not disclosed, the candidates, following the professor’s advice that “we will be stuck in the mountains for a while,” each party packed the necessary equipment for outdoor activities.
Well, the only necessary equipment was comfortable clothing, shoes, and a water bottle.
After quickly completing their preparations, the candidates headed to the outdoor training center right next to the school grounds.
It was said to be a training ground, but it was actually made by remodeling an entire mountain, so from the outside it looked like nothing more than the mountain behind the school.
“Today’s class topic is ‘Tracking the Devil’.”
Professor Lucas continued, pointing to the mountain.
“We have released three demons into the training grounds. Your mission is to track the traces they left behind and capture the demons that are somewhere in the mountains.”
“Ma, Masuyo?”
Albert asked back in a terrified voice.
Demon.
It refers to plants and animals that have been mutated by the power of the demon god, and can currently be called the most threatening ‘enemy’ to humanity along with Mine.
Its strength and abilities vary greatly from individual to individual, but it is basically powerful enough to easily tear apart several people and kill them.
“Why, are you scared?”
“Oh, no! It’s not scary!”
Albert’s expression as he spoke was tense and rigid.
The expressions on the faces of the other candidates were not much different.
I had the opportunity to observe demons from afar during my first and second year classes, but this was my first time personally tracking and hunting a demon that had been released into the wild.
“I’m not scared. I can clearly see your legs shaking.”
Professor Lucas clicked his tongue and lightly patted Albert’s stiff head.
Aaak!
Albert screams and clutches his head.
“Let me say this again, today’s lesson is about ‘tracking’ demons. Not hunting, but tracking.”
Professor Lucas continued speaking with his arms crossed.
“The beasts that are being captured are restricted from any actions other than movement by their magical tools. In other words, they can only run away.”
“ah.”
“Whew. I’m… again.”
Only then did the shadows disappear from the candidates’ expressions, accompanied by a soft exclamation.
“Well, this is the first class so that’s it. The midterm exams are going to be tough so prepare yourself from now on.”
“Ugh.”
The candidates’ expressions darkened again at the professor’s subsequent words.
“Anyway. The party that tracks down and captures the beast released in the mountains will receive bonus points, so let’s try to find it.”
“yes!”
Candidates answering the professor’s words vigorously.
Since I knew that my treatment after graduation would vary greatly depending on my overall evaluation ranking during my time as a candidate, I had no choice but to focus on every extra point.
“Then let’s go out right away… .”
“Professor! I have a question!”
“Tell me.”
“What time is the time limit?”
“Oh, right. I forgot to mention that. The time limit is…”
The corners of Professor Lucas’ mouth went up.
“does not exist.”
“… … ?”
The candidates’ eyes widened as they listened to the professor’s words.
“Whether it takes hours or days to capture the released demons, classes will continue until all three are captured.”
“So, how many days?”
“Um… Professor. Then what about other classes… .”
“As for actual combat training, there is a legitimate reason for absence, so everyone, don’t worry and just come to class.”
“… … .”
The candidates looked at Professor Lucas, who was smiling wickedly as if telling them not to even think about escaping, and their faces turned red.
“Okay, then we’ll start off in party units at 5-minute intervals!”
Hahahahaha!
The first outdoor class of the third year began with Professor Lucas’ hearty laughter.
* * *
‘It’s a demon tracking class.’
When I first heard about throwing a party, my memory was vague.
Now some of my memories from my past life are starting to come back to me.
‘I’m sure I managed to capture all three demons on the third day.’
Of course, the party he was in didn’t even find a shadow of the demon, let alone capture it.
I remember having a hard time, having wandered through the mountains for three days, almost starving, until all the demons were captured.
“It’s almost our turn.”
“Oh, yeah.”
I woke up at Iris’ call.
“Uh… Your Majesty. Do I really have to hang out with that guy?”
“It’s a party class. Of course we have to go together.”
“Well, that’s true, but.”
Camilla glared at me with an expression that said she was not at all pleased.
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“Why did you suggest a party to such a scoundrel in the first place?”
I was wondering that too.
‘Why did you ask me to join your party?’
Wasn’t he the one who slapped me and cursed at me until recently?
Since we never met or talked to each other again after that, the animosity that had built up could never have gone away.
“Um… well?”
Iris turned to look at me with an unknown smile on her face.
“It’s a secret.”
“Ugh.”
“By the way, if I don’t leave quickly, I’ll get in trouble with the professor?”
“Ha. Yes, I understand.”
Camilla sighed helplessly and turned to me.
“I heard you’ve been hiding your powers all this time?”
“Well… I have some circumstances.”
In fact, I wasn’t hiding my power, but since the rumor had spread like that, there was no reason to deny it.
Even if I say I’ve regressed, no one will believe me.
“I don’t know what the circumstances are, but I don’t think I’ll be easily fooled like last time, so you’d better not think of anything unnecessary.”
Camilla glared at me fiercely, clutching the hilt of her sword at her waist.
I nodded, swallowing a snicker.
I didn’t intend to act rashly and lose control of my emotions like last time, but questions naturally arose in my mind.
‘Can I beat Camilla who is giving her all right now?’
To be honest, the reason I was able to subdue Camilla with one hand before was largely because she let her guard down.
At that time, she hadn’t even used the stigmata.
If I were to face her again, she would give it her all.
‘I don’t know.’
Even though there is a way to accumulate magical power unlike in my previous life, it has only been a week.
There was no comparison with her, who had been growing steadily through breathing techniques since childhood.
Of course, if you look at pure technique alone, you could be proud that she had reached a level that no one could dare surpass, but that was only when looking at technique alone.
‘To be honest, I’m not sure where I stand right now.’
There were three periods in my past life when I grew greatly.
The first was while living the life of a low-level mercenary.
The second is while being taught by my colleagues, including Yuren, Berald, and Sophia.
And the last one.
‘Wandering the continent alone in search of the primordial fire.’
At that time, I had no object of comparison, so it was difficult for me to check to what extent I had reached my level.
But there’s one thing we can be sure of.
‘It won’t be easy.’
Even though Camilla Bedice was a talented person with a bright future, worthy of being nominated as a candidate for the ‘Sword of the Holy Nation’.
Because right now, I was just a rookie candidate who had never had a proper real-life experience.
“What are you dawdling about?”
“Oh, sorry.”
“Huh. Don’t think about doing it half-heartedly just because it’s class. Since you’re a member of the same party as me, think of it as real combat and move forward.”
Camilla walks away with a powerful stride, laughing.
“By the way, where should I start tracking?”
Iris looked around with a blank expression.
They say it’s tracking down a demon, but how can you find a demon hiding somewhere in this vast mountain?
“Hehehe. In that case, you don’t have to worry, Saintess!”
Camilla puffed out her chest with confidence.
“I did pretty well in the tracking class I took last year. Just trust me and follow me.”
“Oh, that’s right. You came to me back then and bragged about getting first place.”
“That, that time… Ahem. Please forget about it.”
“Why~ It was cute.”
“Come on, let’s go quickly. If we keep going like this, we’ll lose the player to another party.”
Camilla blushed slightly and hurried her steps as if she was running away.
* * *
The pursuit of the demons began under Camilla’s command.
Indeed, it seemed that her claim to have been first in the tracking class was not a lie, as her tracking skills were quite excellent.
“The direction the branch broke and… judging by the footprints, it must have moved this way.”
Camilla looked around carefully and followed the traces of the demon’s hand.
I think we moved like that for about an hour.
“Huh…? Huh?”
Camilla looks puzzled at the sudden disappearance of traces.
“eww….”
Camilla turned to look at Iris, who was following her, and stamped her feet.
“You don’t have to make that face. This is Camilla’s first time tracking down the devil herself, right?”
“Ha, but!”
“I told you it’s okay.”
Iris comforts Camilla with a kind smile.
She turned to me and continued speaking.
“I guess I’ll have to start over again.”
“No, there’s no need to do that.”
I shook my head and stepped forward.
“…There’s no need for that? What do you mean?”
“It’s not that the traces have disappeared, we just can’t find them.”
“what?”
I pointed to the thin black hairs on the tree bark near where the trail broke.
It was a trace that could not be found unless you tilted your head upwards for a long time, as it was stuck in a place that was 10 meters high.
“ah…!”
“There were no scratch marks on the tree, but the hair was found high up. Basically, this guy is good at climbing trees.”
Why did he suddenly climb up a tree when he was just walking along the ground?
I swept aside the fallen leaves that had piled up under the tree.
also.
There was feces, presumably made by a demon, rolling around.
‘Because the most vulnerable time is when excreting, whether you’re a human or a demon.’
Perhaps he climbed up the tree for safety.
“It hasn’t been that long since I bought it.”
I picked up a bit of the feces rolling around on the floor and put it in my mouth.
Eek!
From behind, two women’s voices were heard in shock.
Phew.
He continued speaking, spitting out the feces he had put in his mouth.
“It has little moisture and has a strong odor and bitter taste. It is likely a feline carnivore that has mutated into a demon.”
Considering that he’s good at burning wood, it’s almost certain.
“I can taste a little bit of blood, so I don’t think your health is very good.”
This is probably because of the magic tool that Professor Lucas mentioned.
“Considering their movement patterns and health, they probably wouldn’t have been able to climb trees to travel very far.”
“… … .”
Camilla hesitates and steps back as I stand up.
“why?”
“You, you just now… the devil’s feces…”
“Because there’s nothing that can check the condition of a demon as reliably as excrement. Isn’t this something that’s in the tracking technique textbook?”
Even if they are demons, they are ultimately living creatures that eat, sleep, and excrete.
“I know that, but….”
Usually, they just look at it with their eyes and stop there, and even the most active heroes don’t put it in their mouths.
Only a low-level mercenary who just needs to earn a living day by day would do something like that.
“This is much more accurate than just seeing it with your eyes.”
“Well, I guess there’s no need to eat it.”
“It doesn’t really matter now because it’s training, but what if it were a real fight? What if that guy could hide and attack you at any time?”
At that time, knowing the condition of the demon in advance could determine one’s life.
“that….”
“I think it was you, not me, who suggested we do this as if it were a real fight instead of training.”
“… … .”
Camilla swallows and lowers her head, as if she has nothing to say in return.
I could see his clenched fist trembling.
It looked like he was about to burst into tears at any moment.
‘but.’
He shouted in front of the saint, who could be called his master, telling her to trust him and follow him, but then lost track of her along the way.
He was completely defeated in both logic and skill by the candidate who had humiliated him a week ago.
As she has strong pride, it must have taken a big mental toll on her.
“See… .”
Camilla, who was chewing her lips, approached with tearful eyes.
Kuung!
He stomped his feet roughly and grabbed me by the collar.
“I, I can do it too!”
“huh?”
What are you doing?
“I can eat shit too!”
“… … .”
no.
Well, I know what you mean by that.
Does it sound a bit strange when you hear it like this?
“Why are you so upset about eating some shit?”
“What kind of life would it be if you could brag about eating shit?”
“Me too? If I put my mind to it, I can eat it!”
“Okay, okay. Got it.”
Okay, I get it, just calm down.
“Huh! What do you know? T-That’s what you’re saying, right? You want me to put that… that dirty thing in my mouth right in front of you?!”
“yes?”
What the hell is he talking about now?
“This… this bad guy…!”
“no.”
Stop it, please.
Suddenly the genre seems strange.
