episode_0015

“Sigh…”

Finally, the next day arrived.

The 3rd training ground within the academy.

Unlike the other training grounds, this one was themed around a forest. It was often used for monster hunting training… Why did it have to be here?

To me, the 3rd training ground was truly the worst place.

Simply put, I, with lower stamina compared to other students, had to train on hills that consumed more stamina than flat ground.

It was like being told to do nothing at all.

Simply put, a natural enemy.

Like a mouse unable to defeat a snake.

A line that could never be reached by prey.

That was the absolute law of nature. Well, I’ll just do enough for today.

While the instructors and senior students were absent.

All the students were chatting with their friends sitting next to them.

“Hey, honestly, I think I can take them all down, don’t you think?”

“Stop talking nonsense. You can’t even look at their faces, can you?”

“Hey! I’m a tier above in this training ground. Probably can’t beat me either, right?”

I also… know how to speak…

Step by step.

As I stared enviously at them, the seniors who followed the instructors came forward in front of us.

After assessing the atmosphere for a moment, the instructor raised his voice in front of the seniors.

“Before we begin, I will briefly explain the rules as there may be some students who are not familiar.”

At the instructor’s words, all the students who were fooling around straightened their legs and knelt down.

“The rule is simple! It is to snatch the badge of the senior behind me and eliminate them.”

Simple?

No one could agree with that statement.

Even the students who boasted that they could win. Even the students who were trembling with fear from the beginning.

Everyone already knew.

The truly unreasonable demand hidden within this seemingly simple rule.

We are a different species from them.

That became even more apparent when they stood in front of us.

The instructor, who couldn’t help but know this, raised his voice even louder.

“Do not be afraid of the strong determined by others’ evaluations!! You are predators! Predators do not fear the prey trembling in fear!!”

The instructor drew his sword from his waist.

“Today, you will be the pursuers, and the seniors will be training to escape. You are wolves! Form a pack and trample them. You are predators today!!!”

“Ahh!!!”

Moved by the instructor’s speech, all the students drew their weapons and raised them high into the sky with a shout.

‘It’s good that morale is boosted, but…’

The problem is that the seniors are strong… No, that’s not it.

It’s probably better to come up with a plan for over there rather than here, where I’ll probably be alone.

Sara, Lina, and Cecilia at the end of my gaze. Why are they nervously gathering together?

‘Of course, it’s the ones who have a connection with me.’

With an uneasy heart, I listened to the instructor’s voice again.

“Then you are the prey! Do not let the predators catch you!!”

In response to his voice, the seniors also shouted with the same level of determination as us.

And quickly, the seniors ran towards the 3rd training ground. Yeah, playing the role of prey, but…

***

Ten minutes after the seniors departed, the students also set off.

At first, there was a sense of unity among them, but a few students who understood the essence of this game of tag formed another group and quietly left.

Probably, all the students will leave this place in a short time.

Before that, I naturally distanced myself from them and wandered around this place alone.

I don’t know how big this training ground is, but one thing I can say for sure.

It’s tough.

Riding a mountain is indeed tough.

Breathless, sweat flowing like water.

“30 minutes… Huh, has it been about that long?”

I entered here at 7 o’clock.

The current time is… 7:05.

‘Oh, damn…’

I leaned against a tree next to me.

It’s not like I’ll lose points for doing nothing.

Just do your best when the opportunity arises.

“I met Sara in a similar atmosphere last time.”

It’s not a very old memory, but it’s my first memory of making a friend.

A good memory that I can’t forget even if I want to…

But in a way.

“Doesn’t Sara look more like a troublemaker than me?”

Oh, I shouldn’t say that. Drunk…!

Thud!

“Uh…?”

When I came to my senses, I saw a sword stuck in a tree.

And there was Sara smiling in front of it.

“Say it again.”

“Just wait a little longer…”

“It’s a better opportunity now. Cecilia just allowed it.”

“Well, that’s fortunate. I want to kill this guy right now.”

As Sara pulled out the sword stuck in the tree, she leaned in towards me.

“So, am I a troublemaker? What did you just say?”

“Ah… Oh! Look, there’s Ad.”

“No way already!”

“Yeah, you’re lying.”

I threw Sara’s sword with the sword I had around my waist and ran away.

“Stop!!”

Sara, who was frustrated, was running towards me with great momentum.

And behind her, I could see Cecilia and Lena.

As time goes by, it’s becoming more and more disadvantageous for me.

So, for now, I’ll go to where the group of survivors was.

He’ll definitely be there.

He had a dissatisfied expression when I first saw him.

He’s probably disregarding any rules and acting like a predator.

It’s a battle of patience with me now.

Feeling the exhaustion in my legs is an experience I’ve always had.

I can endure and keep running for as long as I need to.

I’m confident in my mental strength.

But this is too persistent!!

It would be nice if we could end this peacefully.

The expressions of the people running towards me without stopping were gentle.

As if they were used to this kind of thing.

I felt a sense of loss towards the people running towards me with the opposite expression.

And now, it was impossible to run away.

“Sigh… I can’t give up here.”

Now, all I can do is cause as much chaos as possible here. So that he can definitely come to me.

I stopped my running legs.

And grabbed the sword around my waist.

“A troublemaker with no stamina managed to run this far.”

“…”

“Hurry up and take it out of your bag. There’s no one watching today, so it’s okay.”

“You talk a lot.”

“What?”

“Why are the villains making such long speeches?”

“Am I afraid I’ll fall for that provocation like last time?”

Why.

Sara, who easily succumbed to provocations every time, is surprisingly calm today.

No. But where are the others?

“Lena, now!”

Huh?

Thud!

Lena, who was hiding behind me, swung her sword at me.

I blocked the attack coming down quickly with my arm, but my posture was thrown off.

“I have something I want to ask you.”

She still had a gentle expression.

At that moment, I saw a black object under her gaze.

As soon as I lifted my foot from there, hands sprang out from the black object.

And in the leap, I saw Cecilia with black hair.

She quickly touched the ground with her blade and prepared for combat.

A fake to buy time for Cecilia. Well, even if you just look at it, the speed of magic charging is incredible.

Our breathing is in sync.

Sara…

It seemed like she couldn’t resist the provocation earlier and held back for a moment.

Lena ran towards me again.

And Cecilia, who had hidden her figure again.

Sara is over there…!

Crash!!

“Seriously, isn’t that too fast!”

And both of them are strong!!

Crackle!

The sound of metal grinding started. If I make a mistake, the sword will kill me before I do.

I tried to run away again, but the back was blocked by an ice barrier.

“Die, you troublemaker!” / “Just give me a moment!”

A rock elemental magic was seen in the hands of Sara and Lena on the opposite side. It’s clearly a threatening attack.

But.

It’s still not enough.

In this wide area, that level of magic is far from enough. I need someone who can cause a riot with stronger magic!

Boom!

I took a deep breath.

“I didn’t plan on using it today.”

With a tremendous explosion, Lina and Sara were thrown backwards.

“S-Sara?”

Surprised, Lina looked around, while Sara seemed to be searching for something familiar.

“Get used to it. We do this all the time.”

The melting ice wall.

And through the steam created by the intense heat, the figure of Logz appeared.

“Having three people attack at once seems a bit much.”

“I told you not to underestimate us. If you had used it from the beginning, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Blocking Lina and Sara’s attacks consumed too much mana. I never thought I would use this much to block the two.

But I’m still safe for now.

Of course, revealing this sword in front of Lina is high risk.

But it’s better than getting caught.

Before Lina could regain her composure, I need to find Cecilia quickly.

Her destructive magic is needed right now.

I release the tension in my body and focus all my senses.

I need to find her in this short time.

I calm my urgent heart and exhale.

An alert appeared on my status screen.

[Skill) Life Detection]

“I found her.”

There’s some distance, but I can get there quickly.

Without hesitation, I ran towards the tree where Cecilia was.

Sara and Lina instinctively ran towards me, but…

I’m closer!

I reached the tree in front of me and saw Cecilia with her blonde hair.

“What’s going on?”

I regained my composure and swung my sword at her.

And then.

“Ahh!”

A tremendous light emanated from Cecilia’s hand.

Boom!

The immense power was incomparable to the magic I used. Is this light magic?

I managed to block it with the rock magic I obtained from Sara, but not completely.

The mana consumption was more than I expected.

“But this should be enough for what I received.”

I’m not a skilled magician.

The mana used by a magician is of a different level.

It’s even at the level of a sage’s attack. Blocking it all with Sara’s magic is impossible.

Fortunately, the shield provided by the academy prevented serious injury.

But the stamina consumption was undeniable.

“When will Sara and Lina attack again…!”

Thud!

As expected, Lina and Sara attacked me.

But their demeanor changed.

Sara, who seemed a bit chubby, was now genuinely trying to kill me. It was like the first time I met her in the garden.

On the other hand, Lina, who had a look of apology, now had an unimaginable killing intent.

Why are they angry?

The answer to that question was revealed by their words.

“How dare you touch Cecilia…” / “What are you doing right now?”

“Huh?”

This crazy…

I dodged her attack and jumped back quickly.

Surely, attacking Cecilia during training is a common thing!

“Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah.”

I was unfairly treated! Sara helped Cecilia up, ignoring me.

I’m not someone to be angry with… or am I?

The three of them assumed their positions again. It seemed like a different pattern, but…

Shouldn’t they stop now that they’ve done this much?

Is their obsession with me too much?

Lina and Sara ran towards me again. I readied myself once more.

Thud!

At that moment, a large man appeared in front of me and blocked their attacks.

And he swung a greatsword at them, shouting, “They’re my prey! Don’t touch them!!”

“…”

Sorry, but you’re in the way.

Sara and Lina looked at the man in confusion.

“What are you looking at? I’ve told you before…!”

“He’s already gone! You stupid oaf!!”

In Sara’s angry voice, the man turned around desperately, but there was no one there.

“…That idiot!!!!!!”

⌜ Pishikja 4 eliminated ⌟