Ch.39Group Projects Are Best When You Just Go With the Flow

The Gray Forest is one of the hidden landscapes managed by the Empire.

It’s a place of legend where one of Carlos the Great’s Twelve Knights supposedly defeated a stone wyvern that had trampled countless villages and finally buried it underground. The vast, rugged terrain was a mixture of green and gray, with countless strange rock formations jutting up between enormous trees.

The numerous caves that once served as hiding places for dwarves had now, with all the dwarves disposed of, been transformed into mere training grounds for the Academy.

I stood at the entrance of the forest, gazing at the magnificent landscape that filled my vision.

Between the massive trees that grew so densely that not a single ray of sunlight could penetrate, I could see enormous rocky hills. Holes that appeared to be cave entrances dotted the gray hillsides, with small creatures scurrying in and out.

A mass of crows rose from between the trees, cawing as they filled the sky, while the sounds of insects chirping echoed throughout the forest. It was terrain optimized for stealth, ambush, and escape.

So they’ve released kobolds and trolls in here.

Those who are unlucky or lack vigilance might actually die.

Before entering the forest, we took time for brief introductions among team members. Everyone needed to know what each person could do, at least for minimal coordination.

“I’ll start first. I’m Haschal Aishan-Gioro. I use a longsword, dagger, and bow. I don’t particularly plan to try hard, so don’t rely on me. I’ll help with trolls, though.”

The atmosphere grew a bit cold at my blatant statement about not putting in effort.

I had no intention of taking it back. If I were to fight properly, these people would essentially be getting a free ride. That wouldn’t actually help them.

It might be comfortable and nice for them now, but thinking ahead, they needed to increase their own combat experience.

“…I’m Millia. I use three swords and a small shield. Nice to meet you.”

Millia, who had been looking at me with displeasure, sighed and continued her introduction.

Perhaps because this was outdoor field training, she was wearing her own armor rather than the Academy uniform. Though it was just leather coat with protective gear attached.

“I’m Hans. Shield and axe, and I brought some torches in case we encounter trolls.”

He was the one whose fingers and ribs had gone flying because of me.

His treatment must have gone well, as his fingers were now properly reattached.

The shield that had been shattered back then was now reinforced with steel, and his axe had a dagger-like spike added to the opposite side of the blade. He wore a crude breastplate over quilted armor and carried a large backpack on his back.

Torches, he said. Seems like a thorough type.

Perhaps the memory of being defeated by me remained a painful one, as he refused to look in my direction.

“I-I’m Lena! I’m an apprentice battle priest serving Saulite. Healing is my specialty, so leave recovery to me!”

The pink-haired girl pounded her chest with an exaggerated attitude, seemingly trying to lighten the mood. She wore an orange priest’s robe and had Saulite’s holy symbol hanging around her neck.

It’s not that healing is her specialty, but rather healing is her only specialty.

A healing one-trick priest character.

Someone with virtually no attack power, but whose healing blessing would eventually grow to surpass even that of saints.

She had brought only a single dagger as a weapon. I suppose it makes sense since she wouldn’t be able to properly use a blunt weapon or sword anyway.

Still, from my perspective, since potions had no effect on me, having a healing mage in the party was quite welcome.

After our brief introductions, we gathered the small amount of supplies provided by the Academy and headed into the forest. The items from the Academy consisted only of five days’ worth of combat rations, a leather sleeping bag, and a small lantern.

The fact that they gave us food… does that mean there’s nothing edible in that forest?

—-

Inside the forest, it was as dark as early evening just before sunset.

Rustling sounds came from all around, and numerous insects flew about.

I suppose I should be thankful that the air was at least somewhat fresh.

Hans, with his sturdy shield, took the lead, while Millia and Lena lined up behind him.

As for me, I was walking leisurely at the very back.

Everyone seemed tense, holding weapons in one hand and nervously looking around, gulping.

Beads of cold sweat had formed on their foreheads.

They don’t need to be so nervous.

I said I wouldn’t help, but I planned to at least warn them when monsters approached.

“So, we’ve entered the forest. What do we do now?”

“…Instead of walking aimlessly, let’s first set a goal and then move.”

Millia answered my question and looked toward Hans and Lena.

After thinking for a moment, Hans spoke.

“First… water and a place to sleep. A small cave would be best.”

“Wouldn’t there be monsters in caves?”

Lena asked, seeming a bit anxious.

“If we choose a cave that’s not too large, there won’t be trolls at least, so the two of us, Miss Millia and I, should be able to handle whatever’s there.”

“Just trust your big sister and this mister.”

Millia smiled and comforted Lena.

Mister, huh? That’s harsh.

You guys probably have at most a 4-year age difference. Though Hans does look prematurely aged.

Look at Hans’s expression; he’s suddenly become quite gloomy.

“You mentioned water. Then we should probably go that way.”

I pointed in the direction where I detected the damp smell and faint sound of a stream.

I said I wouldn’t help much, but this much should be fine.

Without proper scouting abilities, it would take these people all day to find a water source in the forest.

Rather than enduring that hassle, it’s much easier to just do some basic scouting for them.

Neither Hans nor Millia seemed to have any objections, as they quietly changed direction to where I had indicated.

“What if other teams have already claimed it…?”

Lena quietly asked me, seeming a bit worried.

Other teams?

“Does it really matter?”

“W-well. People who came to get good grades might try to drive us away. It would be hard to fight monsters if we’re thirsty.”

“Against me?”

Lena closed her mouth.

Right. If someone could look at me and still dare to tell us to get lost, they’d either have a very small brain or an extremely large liver. One of the two.

—-

On our way to the stream, we encountered a presence completely different from humans.

Footsteps too small to be human. Wheezing breaths. The stench of beasts and wet soil.

This must be the presence of kobolds. Seems like about ten of them.

They’re clustered together, so it’s hard to tell exactly.

“Stop for a moment. Monsters are coming from ahead. They’re small, about ten in number.”

“Kobolds! Miss Millia, to my side!”

“Got it.”

Hans and Millia, hearing my warning, raised their weapons and stepped forward.

Forming a triangle, Lena gripped her dagger tightly behind them.

Not long after, small monsters emerged, pushing through the undergrowth.

Child-sized. Hunched and skinny yellowish-green bodies.

Their elongated arms nearly reached their calves, and their hands and feet were disproportionately large compared to their limbs.

Above their pointed jaws and drooling mouths protruded long noses, and their drooping ears hung down to their shoulders.

Their bulging frog-like eyes rolled around constantly.

They held crude, makeshift weapons in their hands.

These were spear-like objects made of split stones or scrap metal pieces tied to wooden sticks.

After seeing trolls and ogres, these creatures looked truly pathetic.

Hans raised his shield directly in front, while Millia lowered her stance and pointed her sword at the kobolds.

As for Lena, well, she was sticking close to my side.

Eight kobolds charged all at once, making guttural noises.

—-

True to their size, they weren’t particularly dangerous enemies.

Their movements were fairly quick, but ultimately only at the level of wild animals.

“Haap!”

One kobold was deflected as if crumpled by Hans’s swinging shield, and with his following axe strike, another’s upper body split open, spraying a fountain of blood.

A kobold aiming for an opening thrust its spear, tearing a long gash in Hans’s quilted armor.

Hans, wincing slightly as the spear tip grazed his leg, brought his shield down on that kobold.

With a sound like crushing an apple, the kobold’s skull was dented as deep as the shield’s thickness.

The kobold, its eyeballs popping out, died spewing blood and bodily fluids from every orifice in its face.

“Yaaah!”

As Millia thrust her sword, avoiding a kobold’s spear, the skewered kobold writhed.

The crude spears they swung only managed to tear her leather coat slightly.

Seemingly confident it was nothing serious, Millia moved lightly with a smile.

She dodged the kobolds’ attacks, sometimes deflecting them with her buckler, and stabbed at exposed kobolds.

With each flash of her sword, kobolds with growing numbers of holes in their bodies sprayed bright red streams through those holes.

In an instant, five kobolds scattered their fleeting lives like mayflies.

Hans and Millia rushed toward the remaining three.

…These guys seem to have completely forgotten what I said.

I said there were ten.

“Kyaaaak!”

Two kobolds that had been hiding in the undergrowth on either side of Lena jumped out and thrust their spears.

“Eek!”

Startled, Lena’s shoulders jerked.

“Oh no!”

“Lena!”

Only then noticing the ambush, Hans and Millia looked urgently toward Lena.

“Idiots.”

I reached out to grab one kobold’s head and kicked the other one hard.

– Pung!

The kobold exploded.

Blood and fragments of internal organs burst out, creating a messy fireworks display.

As the kobold held in my left hand tried to struggle, I gently caressed its skull.

The kobold, its head now compressed like a tomato, trembled briefly before going limp.

I casually threw it toward the undergrowth.

“Are you okay?”

I looked toward Lena while lightly dusting off my hands.

“Y-yes! I’m completely fine! Thank you!”

A tear had formed in the corner of Lena’s eye as she nodded hastily.

Was she so startled that she nearly cried from a mere kobold ambush?

With such timidity, I wonder when she’ll ever become useful.

Millia, who had finished off the remaining three, comforted Lena.

Hans was cutting off and collecting the kobolds’ thumbs one by one.

Through the tear in his quilted armor, a shallow cut could be seen on his calf, bleeding slightly, presumably from earlier.

Thanks to Millia, Lena had calmed down and cast a healing blessing on Hans. Soon after, the wound healed without a trace.

Though the torn armor wasn’t fixed.