episode_0225

As we went out to listen to the explanation for our first field trip of the second semester of first year, we chatted.

“Did you know? They’re assigning groups randomly!” “Really?”

Unfortunately, it was impossible to go on the field trip with friends this time, unlike last time.

When assigning groups for the field trip, students are initially sorted based on previous evaluations and their skills.

For this, they held several small tests before the field trip. It was supposedly to gauge the students’ skill levels.

However, it was said that if only highly skilled students were grouped together, there would be a significant skill gap, and they wouldn’t be able to properly learn teamwork.

The professors also said that in reality, you can’t always team up with people you get along with.

To solve this, the academy formed groups by appropriately mixing students with lower and higher skills in a second round of assignments.

This was a measure to balance things out.

Therefore, the field trip was said to be evaluated based on the process rather than the outcome.

They would mainly observe how we responded to unexpected situations and demonstrated teamwork.

“It’s group work, after all!”

There were roughly 4 to 5 members per group. One or two more than Polaris.

“There’s no chance of forming a team with friends.”

Most of the first-years are likely less capable than us Violets. We’ll have to be mindful of others, so I should refrain from self-destruction.

My friends have adapted to my tactics, but I have no idea how to explain this to the other kids.

“Let’s sneak into the faculty office! We’ll change the team assignments!”

One of the Violets suggested the idea, but opposing opinions immediately poured out.

“Is there really a need to go that far?”

The Violets ultimately decided to appropriately hide their abilities.

“Intermediate magic and above are forbidden. They’re too difficult for a first-year to use!”

“Fusion Ray forbidden!”

“Be subtle with your inventory use too.”

“Don’t create too many clones either!”

As we listed the regulations one by one, there were quite a few things we shouldn’t do. One of the Violets asked,

“Then what’s left for us?”

I answered myself.

“Friendship, longswords, rifles!”

The three essential elements that support the Violets are always together.

“Alright, let’s check the roster now!”

We turned on our smartphones and clicked on the Aegis Academy’s dedicated application. After a few clicks, the results appeared.

“Let’s see. Who could be there…”

If we were unlucky, we’d have to form a team with people we’d never met before. The white screen signaling a long loading process was brief, and then the roster appeared.

I checked my name. An familiar name appeared below it.

“Wow! It’s Levi!”

When we saw our friend, who had inherited the great meme of the Violet Legion, our faces lit up.

“It’s good, since we’re short on ammo too!”

The problem was the other three temporary teammates.

“Alex?”

“Wait, this guy. He’s that Holy Grail seeker!”

I remember him. The foolish boy who dreamed of romance with Adela Senior!

“The first time we saved him was in the Pastera Snowfield, the second was on the first day of school, and this is the third.”

Somehow, I see familiar faces.

“Well, at least we won’t have to worry about being dragged down by unskilled kids!”

Levi is a fierce talent who inherited our Violet total war spirit.

As a subordinate, he’d be enough to handle those naive kids.

“And the leader is us!”

“We are the leaders!”

Until now, we’d left all important plans to Irene, but this time it was our turn.

“Let’s give it a try!”

After entering the classroom and listening to the explanation, we gathered with our group members and started talking.

“Oh, hello. Violet…”

As I waved to Levi and sat down, the gazes of the other kids focused on me.

“Oh, you’re that transfer student from back then, aren’t you? Violet, right?”

“I saw your duel with Professor Masus last time. It was awesome!”

Fortunately, perhaps thanks to that duel, their initial reactions were quite positive.

“Haha, thanks.”

This wasn’t the first time I’d received reactions about the duel. Many kids always looked at me curiously and asked questions.

The group consisted of me, Levi, two boys, and one unfamiliar girl.

Somehow, the faces of the others seemed familiar.

The boy with a mischievous expression spoke first.

“Ah, apologies for the late introduction. I’m Alex. Those two are my friends.”

Only then did I remember. They were the friends I had rescued in the snowfield.

“That kid over there is Yuri.”

“Hey, nice to meet you.”

The lighthearted boy grinned and waved his hand.

“And that’s Lucy.”

“Uh, hi.”

The girl, who had been staring intently at her phone, lifted her head and replied curtly.

“I see. Has everyone read the guide? I’m Violet! I was chosen as the group leader!”

As the self-introduction finished, Alex made a puzzled expression.

“Group leader? Wasn’t that something we decide by talking it over?”

“That’s right, but I just decided to take the role.”

There were two reasons: I wanted to try it, and I couldn’t completely trust these guys.

Because they were reckless people who jumped into a high-difficulty dungeon to find the Holy Grail.

“Our group needs strong leadership!”

In that case, I have no choice but to use Violet’s principle of supreme leadership.

I had to make sure they clearly understood my position.

The one called Lucy argued with a displeased expression.

“What? Hey, without even consulting others, you just…”

The moment I was about to retort, Levi interjected.

“Hey, is there anyone here stronger than Violet? Violet is strong!”

“The qualification for group leader isn’t just about being strong…”

“Vi-Violet is good at m-magic too! Didn’t you see her solve Professor Sharia’s problems?”

At those words, Lucy could no longer retort. Levi, who had shut up the opponent, gave a strange smile and glanced at me sideways. It was a look that said, ‘I did well, didn’t I?’

I responded with a subtle wink. Levi chuckled and seemed delighted.

As expected, our ace sniper!

I thought he was only good with a crossbow, but his fact-sniping is also excellent.

“Alright, then I’m the group leader. Understood?”

“…Understood.”

Shortly after, once the field trip explanation was over, we immediately began our group meeting.

“Alright, all you have to do is follow my instructions well. Understood?”

“That’s right. Let’s all do our best together!”

While Levi responded, the other three simply listened obediently.

Of course, there were some who raised objections intermittently.

“But if we schedule it like this…”

Each time, Levi quickly intervened and de-escalated the situation.

“Ah, no. Violet is right. O-Our group leader is never wrong!”

Inside, I felt a deep satisfaction.

“Levi is truly a good friend!”

**

A week later, after various minor schedules, the field trip began.

The place we arrived at by bus was the Asterados Hills. It was a dungeon with a low monster density and very low-level inhabiting monsters for its area.

According to the professor’s explanation during class, it was supposedly safe enough for even non-awakened individuals to visit.

“Everyone, check your equipment. Entry will begin in order in 30 minutes. Those who need to use the restroom, go now!”

The area in front of the dungeon was swarming with academy students. It seemed not only our academy students but also students from other academies had come, as people who looked like professors or instructors were shouting loudly everywhere.

Not only that, there were also people who looked like senior students. Behind them were academy staff and large boxes.

We didn’t forget to attach the various safety and rescue equipment, emergency communicators, and black boxes provided by the academy.

It was unclear whether it had always been this way or if it was due to the terror incident in the Vittorio Dungeon, but the academy seemed to be paying special attention to safety issues.

“Is it because of Adela Unnie?”

Considering that even the successor of a former noble family was involved, they would naturally have to further strengthen their vigilance.

In front, students who appeared to be seniors called out to the group leaders.

“Alright, group leaders from each team, come forward one by one and pick up the Mech Hound assigned to your group!”

I waited in line, and when it was my turn, I stepped forward.

“I’ll explain once more. To operate it, first press this button… and never press that button! It’s the reset button. Understood?”

“Yes.”

The nameless senior opened a box. A sleek, grayish object sprang out from inside the dark box.

It was a quadrupedal robot with a machine gun mounted on its back. Its height reached my waist.

“Woof!”

The robot barked and cried like a dog.

“Wow, how fascinating!”

The true identity of the Mech Hounds distributed to each group was robot hunting dogs.

Their purpose was for guiding and escorting academy students.

“Is it even right to call this a robot?”

“Well, strictly speaking, it’s not a robot, but!”

When I brought the robot dog back to our group, Levi’s eyes gleamed with interest.

“So fa-fascinating…”

The robot dog lifted its head and responded with a bark! The rubber tail attached to its mechanical body wagged gently.

“It’s cute!”

The other group members who were watching also approached it curiously and touched it.

Not only us, but students around us were all, without exception, playfully interacting with the robot dog out of curiosity and amusement.

A murmuring sound from behind pierced my ears.

“Cute, my foot. They just took a dog’s head and put it in there. Honestly, it’s disgusting.”

“Hey, do you really have to say that in front of everyone? Don’t you often get told you lack tact?”

“It’s true, though. They call it a robot, but it’s a cyborg with a dog’s brain implanted…”

As soon as I heard the students whispering, it dawned on me.

“Oh, that’s right.”

The Mech Hound’s central processing unit uses a living dog’s brain.

“This one is like a Stregonix too.”

“Wait, Stregonix?”

I felt a sense of déjà vu.

I examined the Mech Hound’s body. What belatedly caught my eye was the purplish phoenix mark embedded in the robot.

“Ugh, ugh!”

“Agh! It’s Lumenexa!”

Oh, this is crazy. The robot dog’s origin was the Lumenexa Foundation.

A chilling sensation instantly struck our entire bodies.

“Whose older brother was the Secretary-General of the Lumenexa Foundation again?”

“That chairman bastard, Laplaxcia!”

Regardless of performance, the fact that they made it was somehow terrifying.

Feeling uneasy, I asked the robot dog,

“Are you a person, or not?”

The Mech Hound responded,

“Woof woof!”

Although I tried to converse with it several times, this robot only barked and acted like a dog.

Even if it really did have a human brain, there was no way to open it up and check.

“You never know.”

Soon, when it was our group’s turn, we entered the gate as instructed.

As soon as we passed through the gate, a vast landscape greeted us: a foamy sky, green grasslands, shrubs, and rolling hills.

Before undertaking the task, I declared to my group members,

“Alright, listen up, everyone. I want to come in first place.”

The three group members, excluding Levi, asked,

“Why? I heard this doesn’t count much towards our grades…”

“Because it’s fun, isn’t it?”

I placed both hands on my hips and declared,

“From now on, we’re starting total war. Just follow my orders. Understood?”

Levi, standing next to me, muttered with a surprised expression.

“Total war?”

“Don’t you like it?”

“N-No, it’s not that. It’s… it sounds incredibly cool… my heart is pounding…”

As expected, only Levi understands my heart.

Out of admiration, I patted Levi’s back.

“Then let’s go. Let’s quickly kill all the monsters and arrive in first place!”

“Okay!”

We began our rapid advance.

“Nothing bad will happen, right?”

“Don’t worry about that. I have Ruzilin’s Cheolkwon on standby near the gate entrance!”

Soon, a storm of blood swept over the green hills.

-Boom boom boom!

“Ahahaha! Look at those trash lying scattered!”

-Slice!

“Into two pieces! Into three pieces!”

Preliminary reconnaissance by clones, long-range ballista bombardments linked with radio Violets.

Charge and encirclement annihilation.

“Screech! Get down, it’s gonna blow!”

And explosion!

After sweeping away the practice monster herd released by the professors, we looked at our group members standing dumbfounded.

“Uh… uhhh…”

“I-Is this skill…”

“What are you doing! Hurry up and come!”

We advanced relentlessly.

“Haha! Let’s kill them all!”

**

At the same time, Irene, who was leading her group members with thorough preparation and planning, flinched involuntarily at the sound of explosions coming from afar.

A heavy, intense roar tearing through the air.

It was a familiar noise.

‘There are so many eyes watching, surely she’s not self-destructing, is she?’

“Leader, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Nothing at all…”

In a distant location, Daphne, who was climbing a hill with her group members, also scanned between the hills with an uneasy gaze.

“You heard it too, right?”

“Yes, I think so.”

Daphne quietly nodded at Kalia’s question.

The explosive noise used by her friend had long since become too familiar.

“Ugh, that punk… she’s probably doing that again, even in a safe dungeon like this. Like, ‘Aagh~ Die!~’”

“Ahhh…”

The two friends merely sighed.

The other group members simply watched, wondering why those two were acting that way.