Volume 5
Chapter 13
"Hey Nozomu! Where are we heading?!"
"To the west side
of the training area for now! The vegetation there is thick, so it's easy to
hide!"
Under Nozomu's
instructions, Mars and the others ran at full speed to avoid getting caught in
combat with other parties right after the training began. According to Nozomu,
the area around the training zone had some small hills, but it was mostly
covered in forest, so wide-area surveillance from high places wasn't very
effective. To the east of the training area ran a road leading to Arcazam, but
there were no other distinctive geographical features.
Initially, there was a
suggestion to set up a base on a small hill. While it was true that there were
no trees from the forest to the hilltop, making it easy to spot approaching
enemies, at the same time, there were no trees to hide behind, which would
easily lead to a head-on confrontation with attackers. Even with Mars, who was
among the top students in their year, if they were continuously attacked,
Nozomu and the others, with their lower fundamental strength, would lose.
Therefore, Nozomu rejected the idea of intercepting on the hill and chose to go
into hiding in the forest. For now, they were running towards the heavily
wooded western side, but...
"Huff, huff...
N-Nozomu-kun! Behind us, behind us!!"
"They're chasing
us!!"
Hamuria and Cami,
running at the very back, cried out. Looking closely, they could see human figures
running from beyond the trees. Other teams had found Nozomu and the others
fleeing and were giving chase.
"I know! Just
run!"
Nozomu urged them to
keep running. Hamuria, next to Cami, seemed to have the least stamina and was
already panting heavily and painfully.
"Hey, Nozomu!
Shouldn't we fight them?!"
"No! The other
teams haven't scattered yet! If we stop to fight here and run into another
party, we'll be the first ones to be eliminated!!"
What Nozomu feared
most was being attacked by two parties simultaneously. To other parties,
Nozomu's team, with their low fighting power, probably looked like an easy
target to earn points safely. Nozomu's team, with their low fundamental
strength, was an easy prey to reliably earn points early on, and was certainly
one of the parties to be targeted. Stopping in this situation, where they were
likely being targeted by multiple parties, was a foolish move, which was why
Nozomu decided to first gain distance and then prepare for an ambush.
"Whoa! They're
shooting!"
"We're still far
enough away, it's fine! For now, just focus on running!!"
From behind, various
magic projectiles, such as fireballs, wind bullets, and pure magic bullets,
rained down one after another. Tommy cried out as a magic bullet grazed his
side, but Nozomu calmly measured the distance to their pursuers while
continuously urging them to keep running. In reality, although a considerable
number of spells were being unleashed from behind, they were still far away and
obstructed by the thick trees, preventing them from hitting Nozomu and his
team.
Originally, Solminati
Academy students had a lot of mock battles in training grounds, and not much
combat experience in places with many obstacles, such as forests. Of course, it
wasn't that they hadn't learned about indoor or forest combat, and many
students had experience fighting in forests on guild requests. However, being
excited and flustered right after the start of the Special Comprehensive
Practical Training, they had forgotten to utilize that experience.
"Damn it! Wait
up!!"
The party chasing them
from behind roared in frustration and continued to pursue them, firing spells
again. But as expected, the spells were blocked by the thick trees and did not reach
Nozomu and the others. Moreover, by casting spells, they had stopped, causing
the distance between them and Nozomu's group to widen. The party chasing Nozomu
and the others frantically tried to catch up, but it was already too late;
Nozomu and his team had disappeared, hidden by the dense trees.
***
"...Phew. We lost
them."
"Huff, huff,
huff... Is that so? Good."
Nozomu finally stopped
running after confirming that there was no longer any sign of pursuit. The
other members also breathed a sigh of relief, clearly relieved that they had
shaken off their pursuers. Hamuria even collapsed to the ground. After taking a
sip from his canteen and catching his breath, Nozomu pulled out a wooden spool
with thread wrapped around it from his pouch.
"...Nozomu. What
are you doing?"
"First, I'll set
up a surveillance net. In the meantime, maybe you can check everyone's skills?
Mars, I'm counting on you for the check."
Nozomu began his work,
answering Mars's question offhandedly. He tied one end of the thread to a tree,
then entered the forest, stretching the thread in a circle around their party.
Eventually, after making several loops and finishing stretching the thread, Nozomu
returned to the members, tied the other end of the thread to the spool, and
fixed the spool by leaning it against a tree. If anyone entered and tripped the
thread, the fixed spool would fall over and alert them to the intruder. It was
the simplest alarm system. While Nozomu was setting up the surveillance net,
Mars inquired about Jin and the others' skills. By the time Mars finished
talking, Nozomu had also finished setting up the surveillance net.
"Alright, let's
set up a base then. Though all we can really do is set up traps around the
area."
"Hey, Nozomu. Is
that all you mean by setting up traps? While it's good to solidify our
defenses, I think it might be too passive..."
Mars voiced his
concern about Nozomu's words. Indeed, while other parties were completing tasks
and earning points through combat one after another, retreating wouldn't
improve their situation. In fact, considering that other parties would
progressively take all the available tasks, it would be better to take action
sooner.
"I know. I've
thought about that too. Just listen first."
Everyone focused their
attention on Nozomu at his words. Nozomu's plan was as follows: First, they
would split their party into two. One team would complete tasks. The other team
would defend the base. The team to complete tasks would be Mars, Tommy, and
Cami. The base defense team would be Nozomu, Jin, Deck, and Hamuria.
The task-completing
team needed striking power against opponents and mobility. Therefore, Nozomu
chose Mars, the party's greatest fighting force, Cami, an agile dagger user,
and Tommy, a swordsman. For base defense, which required defensive power,
Nozomu, who had become the party leader, Jin, who had command ability, Deck,
who used a spear, a weapon with a wide reach, and Hamuria, the Mage, were
chosen. Nozomu's strategy was for the task-completing team to prioritize
exploration-based tasks to earn points, and during that time, the defense team
would protect their base.
"Hey, isn't it
better if we all act together? I think it would be safer..."
It was Hamuria, the
Mage, who timidly asked Nozomu about his plan. Her opinion was that it would be
safer for everyone to act together, but Nozomu shook his head, denying her
suggestion.
"No. In fact,
it's worse if we're all together. We don't have many effective defensive
measures against wide-area magical attacks. If we get ambushed while moving
through the forest and are forced into a defensive position, there's a
possibility of being wiped out instantly."
Among Nozomu's party,
only Mars, with his abundant Ki, and Hamuria, the Mage, had effective defensive
methods against magical attacks. While other members could use some magic,
considering that their opponents were likely not only from the same Tenth Tier
but also higher-ranked students, there was a high probability of being
overwhelmed by the enemy's magic, even if they could defend themselves.
"That's why I
limited the task-completing team to exploration-based tasks. There's less
chance of encountering other parties with those than with escort tasks."
In escort tasks,
teachers played the role of the escort target, but as an escort target, one
couldn't expect the target to defend themselves. On the contrary, they might
deliberately slow down their movement or act as a hindrance under the guise of
accidental trouble. To protect such an escort target, the party would need to
commit all its fighting power to that task, which would ultimately reduce the
efficiency of earning points, and in the worst case, increase the possibility
of being wiped out for the reasons mentioned earlier.
However, with
exploration-based tasks, they just needed to bring the designated items back to
headquarters. The chance of being ambushed wasn't zero. But by reducing the
number of people and gathering fast-moving members, the chances of encountering
others should be considerably lower, and they would be much nimbler and thus
have a greater chance of escaping. Also, with Mars's breakthrough power, he
should be able to break through any situation if something unexpected happens.
"But will it be
okay? The task team has Mars-kun, so that's good, but isn't the defense team
lacking in combat power?"
Jin voiced his
concern. He seemed worried that their base would be overrun while the task team
was completing objectives.
"We don't
necessarily have to defend this base to the end. In this training, we first
have to think about survival, and if it comes down to it, we'll abandon the
base. In that case, I'll notify you with this."
Nozomu pulled out two
stones. They were transparent like crystals and symmetrically shaped.
"These are Twin
Stones of Misfortune. When given a strong impact, they glow red, and if one
glows, the other one also glows. I'll send a signal with this stone when we
abandon the base. I originally bought these to communicate with Mars if we got
separated during this exam."
Nozomu handed one of
the Twin Stones of Misfortune he held to Mars.
"...I see, so
this is how we'll know each other's status."
"Yeah. The
rendezvous point is north from here, or northeast on the map, where there's a
big tree and a large rock next to it. Also, if we can't rendezvous an hour
after it glows, assume I've been defeated. And if I get defeated, if there are
any survivors on my team, Jin will take command, and after you rendezvous, Mars
will take command."
He gave instructions
even for the scenario where he was defeated. This was to prevent the party from
falling into disarray and being wiped out if the leader was defeated first.
Mars toyed with the Twin Stone of Misfortune in his palm, then stared intently
at Nozomu.
"....Mars, is
there something bothering you?"
"...No, it's
fine. I'll take this for now."
Mars's expression
flickered with something unsaid for a moment, but he quickly put the Twin Stone
of Misfortune he was holding into his pocket as if nothing had happened. Nozomu
tilted his head at Mars's strange behavior, but since there seemed to be no
dissatisfaction with the strategy itself, he decided to set aside Mars's matter
for now.
"Then I'm off.
Nozomu, I'm counting on you here."
"Alright, be
careful."
Mars nodded at
Nozomu's words and disappeared deeper into the forest with Tommy and Cami.
Nozomu watched Mars and the others leave, then stood up and began to act.
***
"...Ugh."
"Guah..."
"Ngh..."
In the southern part
of the training area, the sunlight, gradually moving towards the south, was
blocked by the thick trees, making the forest dim even in broad daylight. In
that dim forest, several groans echoed. On the ground lay about ten students,
and it looked like a battlefield. The only saving grace was that no one was
dead; they were either unconscious or too much in pain to move. However, all
the pendants of the fallen students were glowing red, indicating their
disqualification from today's training. Looking closely, they seemed to be
students from the Third Tier and Fourth Tier.
"Huff, huff,
huff."
Amidst this, the sole
surviving male student stood, sword drawn, confronting someone. The figure was
hidden in the shadows of the trees, but judging by the silhouette, it appeared
to be a woman. She was likely the one who had defeated them. Anyone could tell
that she was no ordinary opponent, seeing as she had defeated about ten
students from the Third and Fourth Tiers.
"Kuh,
Haaaaaah!!"
Facing the suddenly
appearing powerful foe, the male student, who had hastily formed a party with
Fourth Tier students and had all his comrades defeated, perhaps in desperation,
charged at the shadow with his sword. He must have thought he had no other
option. Releasing Ki from his entire body, he charged at the enemy before him
with all his might.
As the male student
charged, the shadow also moved. The shadow swung her arm through the air. The
moment a sound of air exploding echoed, a sharp pain shot through the male
student's arm.
"Ugh!"
The male student
groaned. The intense pain in his arm made him stop, and his charge was halted
before he could even reach half the distance to the shadow.
"Kuh!!"
Still, the male
student tried to regain his balance somehow. However, the shadow continuously
swung its arm, and each time, an explosive sound echoed through the forest.
"Ga! Guu!!
Uwaaaah!!!"
Each time an explosion
sounded, the male student's groans echoed, and lacerations were carved into his
body. His consciousness went blank from the intense pain running through his
body, and finally, his legs gave out, causing him to collapse to the ground.
Immediately after, his pendant glowed red. The damage he had sustained had
exceeded the regulated amount.
"U-Ugh..."
"...Sorry~. Are
you alright~~?"
A drawn-out but
concerned voice spoke to the male student lying on the ground and groaning. The
shadow he had been confronting emerged from the shadows of the trees. Long,
wavy brown hair. Droopy eyes and a relaxed voice. The true identity of the
shadow was Anri Var, the homeroom teacher of the Tenth Tier.
She had an apologetic
expression as she treated the students she had just defeated. Perhaps thanks to
her treatment, the expressions of the students who had been groaning in pain
gradually softened. However, the wounds she had inflicted still pained them, as
groans of agony still escaped their lips.
"...Everyone~.
I'm sorry for causing you pain~~."
"N-No... This
is... part of the class, after all..."
Instructor Anri apologized
to the students in a depressed voice. The male student who had just been
defeated somehow managed to answer Instructor Anri's words, but the other
students, perhaps not fully recovered yet, could not respond to her.
"I really wanted
to take everyone back to headquarters~. ...But, I'm sorry~~."
"N-No. Please
don't worry about us... It-It's fine... Please continue your role..."
The male student
responded to Anri's apology in a strained voice. Anri's role was that of a
Special Target. In other words, her role was to act as a powerful enemy,
attacking students while moderately stirring up the training area to prevent
the training from becoming stagnant. Instructor Anri's eyes welled up with
tears at his words. Nodding once heavily at his words, she stood up and
disappeared into the forest. Still, it was typical of her to look back
worriedly many times, perhaps she was still concerned about them. The direction
Anri was heading to was northwest, which, coincidentally, was the direction
Nozomu had set up his base.
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