Ch.60Return (2)

“Elin, good job.”

As Derin approached with half-open eyes, still not fully awake, Elin sat up.

“Yes, good work.”

“Yeah, yeah. Go get some sleep quickly.”

Derin covered her mouth with one hand as she yawned.

Leaving her behind, Elin returned to where her bedding was.

In truth, when she had offered to stand watch, Crow had tried to dissuade her.

– Elin, I understand what you’re thinking. But you don’t need to go that far. This is something Derin and I should be doing anyway.

Since they had come here for the Academy’s evaluation, it made sense that the professor and the escort adventurer should be the ones standing watch.

She understood that, of course, but…

‘I wanted to be helpful.’

Having just two people stand watch meant they would lack sleep, so she wanted to lighten their burden as much as possible.

After her persistent insistence, she was finally allowed to take a shift.

But Crow didn’t look pleased when he gave permission.

She hoped she hadn’t earned his displeasure…

With these thoughts, Elin blankly stared at Crow’s face as he slept beside her.

‘He’s handsome.’

Though his skin looked dry and his lips were chapped from recent overexertion, it didn’t diminish his handsome features.

When she touched his lips with her finger, they felt rough, almost like tree bark.

Come to think of it, she had heard from Derin before that she had kissed him on the cheek.

She thought about trying it herself, but hesitated, not wanting to wake him when he was sleeping so exhaustedly.

Just as she was about to give up and turn away from him…

Suddenly, Crow’s arm wrapped around her and pulled her close.

Startled, Elin held her breath with a gasp.

Her face flushed hot and her heart pounded so hard she thought her head might explode.

Experiencing his embrace for the first time, Elin felt both happy and embarrassed. She shyly buried her face against his chest and quietly closed her eyes.

Surrounded by his strong scent, she thought she would surely have sweeter dreams than usual.

* * * * *

As the morning sun rose, her eyes, which felt as if they were glued shut, finally opened.

Tired. Exhausted.

While these thoughts dominated her mind, a subtle woody scent wafted to her.

A familiar smell…

‘The Great Forest.’

Yes, it was definitely the smell she always noticed when resting in the Great Forest.

Of course, she had eventually grown accustomed to it and stopped noticing, but after spending a day outside, she began to sense it again.

And the source of that smell was…

‘Why is she here?’

Elin was sleeping soundly in my arms.

Judging by her upturned lips, she seemed to be having a pleasant dream.

I grabbed her shoulders and gently shook her.

“Elin, wake up.”

“Mmm… is it morning already…?”

She burrowed deeper into my chest as if reluctant to get up. The sight made me smile, but I couldn’t let it continue.

After all, I was a professor, and the evaluation was still ongoing.

“Elin, get up. Or should I leave without you?”

“No, you can’t do that…”

Elin rubbed her eyes and got up, while I quickly packed up our bedding and put everything into my Magic Pouch.

Then I stretched widely, filling my lungs with the fresh morning forest air to chase away the sleep.

“Crow, did you sleep well?”

Derin, who had taken the last watch, asked with a smile, and I nodded in affirmation.

“Everyone, move quickly!”

Lael barked orders from the morning.

She seemed quite displeased with the students who were still sluggish from fatigue.

But with just one shout from her, the students’ movements quickened, and soon they were ready to depart.

“Let’s go.”

With Lael’s command, the party formed ranks and set off, while we followed behind, dragging our tired bodies.

How long had we been walking?

Before we were fully awake, monsters appeared and battle broke out. The tension seemed to instantly drive away everyone’s sleepiness, their eyes now shining with alertness.

Graawr—!

Simultaneously, two Kobolds appeared on our side.

“I’ll take the one on the left.”

“Then I’ll handle the one on the right.”

Elin and Derin each took responsibility for one monster and began to face them.

But calling it a “face-off” was generous.

Looking at the situation, it was nothing short of a one-sided slaughter.

Elin, holding her massive horn bow, pulled an arrow from the quiver on her thigh.

She nocked the arrow to the bowstring and drew it back, causing the bow limbs to flex slightly under the strong tension.

When she released, the arrow flew with a whoosh—!

It struck the Kobold directly in the head.

The arrow, imbued with mana, sent the Kobold to the afterlife in one shot.

Now only one remained—the one Derin was handling.

The remaining Kobold had no time to care about its fallen comrade.

It was facing Derin, who was effortlessly deflecting all its attacks with her dagger.

Grwaaaah—!

The enraged Kobold let out a bizarre howl.

It swung its wooden club quickly toward Derin, who dodged to the left and sliced its neck with her dagger.

As the head separated from the body, a fountain of red blood spurted upward, scattering like raindrops.

The C-rank monster Kobold was a being that couldn’t even provoke tension in these women.

If you’re wondering what I was doing during this time…

Evaluation—I was closely observing the students as they fought.

‘They’ve improved.’

The students had begun to move fluidly even without instructions.

When a vanguard took damage, those using Black Magic in the middle ranks would step in to take over the vanguard role.

Of course, in an actual party, there would be dedicated warriors, but…

If those warriors were injured and couldn’t serve as shields at the front…

Instead of panicking, being able to respond appropriately dramatically increases survival chances.

Slash—!

A sharp sword severed a Kobold’s neck.

After defeating the C-rank Kobold monsters, the student party treated their injuries and continued forward.

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After repeating the cycle of camping and fighting for about a week, we finally caught sight of the Royal Capital in the distance.

We passed over a high hill path and entered the tall undergrowth where we had our first battle.

When we had first traveled this path, everyone had been in a picnic mood.

They had chatted carelessly as if their lives weren’t precious, and their formation had fallen apart as soon as it was formed.

But now it was different.

They moved their eyes more than their mouths, staying alert for battles that could break out at any moment, and their formation remained solid as an iron fortress.

Just then, a fierce wind blew, making the grass sway like waves.

“Battle positions!!”

Lael’s urgent voice rang out over the sound of the wind.

The monster that appeared from the undergrowth was a Great Wolf.

Perhaps as a reminder of the lesson they had learned at the beginning, their expressions were more serious than usual.

The wolf charged forward nimbly, pushing off the ground.

But Frit, who was at the vanguard, drew his sword, dodged lightly, and instead inflicted a deep wound on the monster’s thigh.

Frit had always been skilled with weapons, so his performance wasn’t surprising.

But Flan’s boldness that followed was truly astonishing.

The Great Wolf didn’t give up and immediately changed direction to charge at Flan.

Its sharp claws rushed toward Flan’s neck, and just before they could tear into her skin…

Flan twisted her body and thrust her sword into the beast’s side.

The sword tore through the skin and passed between the ribs, penetrating deeply.

When she pulled it out, blood gushed forth, and the Great Wolf staggered before meeting its end.

They had definitely grown—that was certain.

Everyone seemed to feel this truth personally, as smiles finally appeared on their faces.

With that as our final battle, we passed through the gates of the Royal Capital, and the second semester evaluation came to an end.

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After safely arriving at the Academy, I gathered the students in one place.

“Everyone, good work. Although the adventure lasted longer than originally planned, the day after the evaluation is designated as a rest day. So, you don’t need to come to the Academy tomorrow. That’s all, you’re dismissed.”

The students let out sighs of relief as if on cue and headed toward the dormitory.

After they had all disappeared…

“What are you going to do?”

I asked Elin, who was standing blankly beside me.

“I’m thinking of finding an inn nearby.”

“Really? How about going with Derin?”

Since Derin was also staying at an inn rather than buying a house, it would be more comfortable to have someone familiar nearby.

Having lived in the Great Forest, Elin would need some time to adapt.

Elin looked away from me and turned to Derin.

“Derin, would that be okay?”

“Sure, anytime. But it’s pretty expensive, you know?”

“I’ve saved all my money without spending any, so I’ll be fine.”

As their conversation seemed to be wrapping up…

“I should head back now. Elin, ask Derin about where I live later.”

I couldn’t stay here any longer; I needed to go home.

“Okay. See you next time!”

Elin bowed her head in greeting.

“Bye, Crow.”

With Derin waving at me, I turned and began walking toward the workshop.