episode_0326

After borrowing Ethan’s clothes, it took about ten minutes for Lily to start drying herself in front of the campfire.

As she smelled the smoke rising to the sky and the scent of grilled fish spreading around, a sudden thought crossed her mind.

“I feel like I’m forgetting something important….”

Housing secured, food secured, and now clothes…drying them again to secure them once more.

While pondering what she might have forgotten, a familiar monster’s howl suddenly echoed from the forest on the opposite side of the river, a sound she had heard yesterday as well.

“Kerruk!”

“Kkrrrk, keeek!”

Ah, right.

She had forgotten about drying her wet clothes. Starting a fire in the forest was particularly effective in attracting the attention of wild monsters.

Given that this forest was called the ‘Hobgoblin Forest,’ it was only natural that constant battles were unavoidable. The smoke from the campfire and the smell of cooked food were especially effective in luring monsters.

“Well, it shouldn’t be a big problem.”

It wasn’t a named monster that appeared, just a few goblins and a couple of hobgoblins. With only a little bit of magic left and feeling a bit tired, it was a level she could handle on her own.

Moreover, there was a Sword Expert, a third-year student from the Swordsmanship Department, here. By my standards, he was a much more reliable Sword Expert than a hero, making him a dependable combatant.

“Lily is resting. I’ll take care of this.”

“No. I will fight as well.”

“…In that outfit?”

“Why are you even asking the obvious?”

She wasn’t going to miss out on this valuable experience event just because she was a bit underdressed.

Besides, since entering this forest, every moment was a potential time for battle. And their current state wasn’t problematic for combat.

Putting on Ethan’s uniform jacket properly, buttoning it up, and…

*Squish.*

“….”

*Squawk!*

“Ugh, damn it.”

Giving up on the buttons, she decided to fight in this outfit, taking out two daggers from the clothes hanging on the drying rack and wielding them in both hands.

While she was doing this, the monsters were approaching her and Ethan, so there was no time to waste on such things.

“I’ll take care of the monsters below goblin level. Ethan, please deal with the two hobgoblin individuals.”

“…Alright, Lily.”

Following my suggestion, Ethan adjusted his stance and held a sword in each hand.

And so, the second day of exploring natural sciences came to an end.

***

It had been two full days since I secured food using Mana Blast.

Ethan and I had reached the fourth day of our survival…I mean, exploration of natural sciences class.

Although it was essentially no different from being stranded, on the afternoon of the fourth day.

We were once again engaged in collecting ‘hunting evidence’ after the almost routine goblin hunt.

“…Some students must have already graduated early by now.”

There were two main ways to complete the exploration of natural sciences class at Luminor Academy.

One was the ‘early graduation’ method, where students hunted monsters in the ‘Hobgoblin Forest’ and submitted their evidence to the professor, and the other was the ‘survival graduation’ method, where students had to survive for five days and six nights under harsh conditions to graduate.

By the way, there was no difference in grades based on the method of completion. It was simply pass or fail, making up the entirety of the class evaluation.

After experiencing a life-threatening situation at least once, being rescued by the green-haired professor, or attempting to escape the forest without permission due to a desire to give up, or engaging in any other prohibited activities (sexual acts, arson, violence between students), except for those, enduring for 5 days and 6 nights will not have any impact on grades.

And now, after spending approximately 70 hours in this forest, what is our progress so far?

-Whoosh!

“Lilith, I’ve taken care of all the ones over here.”

“I’ve finished them all as well, Master Edan. Thank you for your hard work.”

We had already collected enough points to qualify for an ‘early completion.’ Even when combining the efforts of both Edan and myself, there would still be plenty left over.

“Because our combination is just too good from the start.”

Edan, a sword expert, and myself, a survival specialist. When the two of us joined forces, hunting in this forest became a piece of cake.

Just keeping the campfire lit was enough to attract a constant stream of monsters from the forest.

“With this, our natural science exploration class is over, Lilith.”

“…Yes, I see.”

In other words, the official class schedule ends here.

Now, all we have to do is gather the monster materials we’ve collected and submit them to the green-haired professor at the forest entrance, and then we can leave the forest without having to endure any more hardships for the remaining two days.

Of course, hardship is a relative concept, and to me, who had already become accustomed to forest life, it didn’t feel as difficult. In fact, I already had a better idea in mind than just submitting these monster materials and leaving the forest.

During the remaining two days, I planned to hunt to the last day in this favorable environment, maximizing my experience points, and simply pass the natural science exploration course with a ‘survival completion.’

“Of course, it’s a good story for me, but it might not be the same for Edan.”

Due to his professional status, Edan had the freedom to go wherever he wanted to gain experience points. He wasn’t as thirsty for monster hunting experience points as I was, and he didn’t need to level up quickly from the start.

“Are you okay, Lilith?”

“…Oh, yes. Did you call me, Master Edan?”

“Why are you acting like that all of a sudden? It’s as if you have something on your mind.”

“…It’s nothing. Since we have met all the conditions for early completion, let’s submit the materials and complete the natural science exploration course early, Master Edan.”

“Hmm.”

Edan fixed his gaze on me as if he didn’t like my reaction, and then he sighed lightly, as if he had figured something out, he cautiously asked me a question.

“Lilith, do you not feel like completing the course early?”

“I’m not sure what you mean, Master Edan.”

“Just from the way you say you want to complete the course early, I don’t sense any enjoyment in your expression. Is there something you still want to do in the forest?”

“I don’t really have… ”

“You’re lying again. Lilith, your lies are always so obvious.”

“… ”

“Will you just tell me the truth now, or do I have to ‘force’ you to be honest even in a place like this?”

…This arrogant guy.

Now he’s even openly saying things like that, showing off his confidence after winning a few times at night recently.

He should understand that I only go along with him when he beats Harold and gives him the reward.

“…”

However, if Edan truly decides to attack me, I have no means of resistance.

For now, I had to give up and discuss the reasons why I didn’t want to leave the forest.

“To be honest, I still don’t really want to leave the forest.”

“Why?”

“Well, this place allows me to engage in ‘real combat training’ that I can’t easily do on a regular basis. Even if I spar with students from the swordsmanship department at the academy or duel with the master or young master at Blackwood Manor, I always have to return to limited movements due to hesitating to use lethal force.

But here, I can freely use lethal force against the monsters, and on the contrary, it’s an opportunity to learn defensive skills from monsters who only use lethal force, so I want to stay a little longer and focus on training.”

“…I see. So you didn’t like the idea of graduating early and leaving the forest?”

“And, also…”

“Yes?”

“…The chance to be alone with Edan Master, it doesn’t come often.”

“…”

“…”

Edan’s face gradually reddened as he listened to my cautious confession.

Seeing the fiery sensation rising on his face as he spoke, I was probably blushing a lot too.

But well, I just spoke honestly when asked to. In fact, the second reason played a big role in why I wanted to stay in the forest.

Even if Edan and I were using a large room in the academy dormitory and Isabelle had her own space in the adjacent small room, it wasn’t a place where Edan and I could be completely alone.

There might be ways to be alone in other exploration classes, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to have a stable shelter that I had set up now.

“If that’s the reason, then there’s nothing we can do.”

“…Okay.”

“Alright, then. Since the class ends in two days, let’s stay until then and leave together.”

“Are you sure about this, Edan Master?”

“If Lillis wants it, I’m fine with it. …And I’m fine anywhere as long as I’m with Lillis.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Edan Master.”

Until the end of the Natural Studies exploration class, two days remained.

Edan and I dramatically agreed to fill the remaining 50 hours and return together.