Chapter 51 – Field Training

Ṛ​ėɑԁ ｏո Кαṫ​Ṛｅɑɗɩｎɡ​Ḉαғҽ

Editor’s Note

Edited

I sat blankly in a chair, feeling the breeze against my face.

The wind blowing from the nearby forest carried a refreshing scent.

As that ticklish breeze caressed my cheeks, I couldn’t help but recall Philia’s scent from this morning.

That naturally reminded me of her sensual figure and warm body temperature when I lay beside her.

And it didn’t end there.

As the sudden proposal flashed through my mind, my face grew hot.

Scenes that would make hearts flutter even when viewed through a monitor were even more intense when seen with my own eyes, so my racing heart was unavoidable.

Since she was originally a character I hesitated to approach, my lack of information played a role too.

Suddenly suggesting we go to the forest.

Even bulldozers weren’t this forceful.

If I had known this, couldn’t I have quickly seen the ending and gotten results?

To think the person who appeared most strict was actually the easiest to win over.

But even if I had known, it’s questionable whether it would have been possible, so I didn’t particularly feel regret.

As I absentmindedly enjoyed the breeze while ruminating over last night, I reached out and touched my forehead. This was the spot suspected to be the cause of Philia’s strange behavior.

Running my fingers over it, I felt nothing unusual besides my own skin, but there was a refreshing energy present.

Soon, an amused voice echoed in my head.

– That’s a sensitive spot… so aggressive….

What nonsense is this, really.

It seemed highly likely that Philia’s feelings—or rather, desires—toward me were because of El, who had left something strange on my forehead.

The meticulous student council president’s only weakness was spirits, but I had never handled spirits in the game.

From what I’d heard, it seemed to be all about talent, which explained why I couldn’t see it in the game, but…

While I thought El must be extraordinary and useful, being a presence that seemed difficult to explain even with such talent, I felt a bit…

No, not just a bit, a lot.

“Regrettable” was the perfect word for this spirit.

It seemed like she was doing it on purpose, but I lacked information to gauge her true intentions.

I hadn’t even seen a spirit before, let alone a spirit queen? Do they have their own country?

…It didn’t seem so.

Judging by how she responded when I touched my forehead, though she was called a queen, she didn’t appear to be the kind of queen I imagined.

A true ruler wouldn’t be so idle.

Anyway.

There was much I wanted to ask since she likely knew many things, but that “price” was somewhat bothersome.

I understood that if I used energy like Undine does, I would end up like a mummy.

In that case, it couldn’t have been a more merciful condition.

I don’t know if she demands such a price from everyone, but it was resolved with a… kiss, after all.

Perhaps it was valued highly because it was my “first.”

…But if she knew that, it would be rather frightening.

Thinking about the price, I recalled El embracing me tightly and giving me a literally passionate kiss.

El’s hands, which clung to me, were gentle, and her skin felt soft like a human’s while still maintaining that refreshing quality. Despite saying strange things, her face was sculpted beautifully, and her kiss, unlike her cool body, was extremely… passionate.

As I recalled the peculiar gelatinous sensation of her tongue, my face, which had calmed down, heated up again.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Then another reason why I couldn’t ask questions right now made itself heard.

It was Evelyn, with her cotton candy-sweet hair.

Looking at her flat chest made me feel at ease, and I could feel the heat draining from my flushed face.

That comforting presence that seemed to claim harmlessness.

Honestly, I thought I was sitting here forcibly, but what else could be the role of a health committee member?

“Teacher? You seem to be having some inappropriate thoughts.”

“No, I’m not?”

“Mmm hmm.”

Evelyn looked at me with a disapproving face, but though she still seemed unimpressed, she couldn’t argue after my denial and buried her face back in the book she was reading.

You should have done that from the start. You’re enjoying an easy time here thanks to me.

When I turned my gaze to the side, I could see Charlotte, as usual, sleeping with her face on the makeshift desk.

She was also here as a temporary health committee member.

We had come out for so-called field training, but apart from changing locations to the outdoors, nothing much was different.

If I were a student in the game, I’d be listening to stories about monsters right now.

Though in reality, few would go through actual field experience.

Honestly, while it was called training, it was closer to camping.

From the beginning, even in the game, there was no health teacher, and students managed just fine, so it was natural that I had nothing to do, though this wasn’t entirely comfortable either.

This was my first time experiencing this event, but isn’t that what affection events were like?

Based on the suspension bridge effect, they were prepared to make your heart pound when seen directly.

Wouldn’t they build affection for each other even without my intervention?

If only I could just think about that.

But I didn’t know how the absence of a “player” would affect things.

Originally, events changed according to selected choices, so with no “player” to make those choices, maybe nothing would happen.

If so, there’s nothing to be done, but the worst-case scenario would be all those events happening at once.

That was also impossible to know.

There was a huge difference between viewing from the omniscient perspective of a game screen and seeing things directly with the naked eye.

If all those events happened simultaneously?

Even then, there wasn’t much I could do.

I only had one body right now.

It was completely different from clicking with a finger.

I suppose the instructors and professors who came along would handle things.

They’re not scarecrows after all.

So there’s nothing to do right now. Especially if no injured person suddenly appears.

There were things that concerned me, but they would have to wait until nightfall.

Come to think of it, I wonder what Aileen is doing.

As a student, she’s probably dealing with monsters right now.

Recalling her excited expression, I yawned, and tears welled up in my eyes.

“Haaam….”

Looking at the forest beyond, its lush greenery made me feel good.

It was like a feast for the eyes. Brilliant nature not seen in modern times.

Yes, such things make this bearable.

And as I expected, nothing happened until evening.

Until evening.

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The “field training” meant spending an ambiguous two nights and three days outside. As this was an academy, it was natural in its own way.

Because of this, even meals had to be prepared by designated groups, but this wasn’t much of a problem.

Or so I thought.

“We can’t always succeed at hunting, right? So I think it’s better to eat this today.”

“That’s just an excuse for the incompetent. Iris Teacher? Let’s eat this meat.”

As evening mealtime approached and I was contemplating what to do with Charlotte and Evelyn, unexpected visitors came to our location.

One was Philia, who had roughly devoured me last night.

The other was Michelle, who somehow looked drained of energy.

Michelle arrived first.

Carrying a large deer she had caught somewhere, she began butchering it, suggesting we eat together.

“Thanks to you, Teacher Iris, it’s convenient to use water.”

“Is that so.”

As she skillfully butchered the deer, she asked if I could provide running water, and I summoned Undine without much thought.

Initially, Charlotte and Evelyn were disgusted when blood spurted from the deer’s body, but soon they were drooling as they watched it being cut into familiar shapes.

Meanwhile, seeing Evelyn come to her senses and collect deer blood in a flask reminded me that she was quite a character herself.

Eventually, as fire rose from Charlotte’s magical tool and the sound of cooking meat grew louder.

With rustling sounds, Philia appeared.

She put down fruits and such while saying what I mentioned above, and while I was wondering if she had a point, Michelle suddenly growled.

The atmosphere turned strange somehow.

The two glared at each other with hostile eyes before turning their gaze to me.

Their eyes urged me to choose.

After a moment’s thought, I cautiously opened my mouth.

“Um… can’t we just eat together?”

I’m hungry.

At my words, the two seemed to realize something and nodded with slightly reddened faces.

“…If they were going to do this, why did they make such a fuss?”

Evelyn muttered beside me, looking at me incredulously.

No, why are you looking at me?

I didn’t know the reason, but the relationship between the two didn’t seem good at all.

It was a bit troublesome, but inwardly I was salivating.

…Not because the meat smelled delicious.

In the world of Yuri, there’s a relationship called “hostile attraction” that connoisseurs enjoy.

A relationship steeped in love-hate where they snarl at each other but can’t stay apart, growling at the suggestion they might get along.

“What’s wrong with those girls?” you might think, but it’s a relationship so flavorful you could cook a meal with it.

In that sense, the two made a good picture.

Fruit and meat.

Nature and hunter.

Oil and water.

The relationship between these two seemingly immiscible people would be very… sweet.

If I brought them together, wouldn’t Philia forget about me and find a new love?

No matter how I looked at it, it was all benefit.

“…Nothing good happens when you make that face.”

I heard Evelyn’s muttering but ignored it.

Natural scenery is nice, but for me.

This was the best.

Editor’s Note

I wonder if during the transfer to this world she got dumber or if she was always this dumb. The questions of our time.