Mistress Of The Evil Forest

Case 38: Joint practical class – Prelude.

In the world of [Astra Magical Academy], you need to defeat other creatures in order to level up. No amount of training or learning combat theories can rival an overwhelmingly high level and stats.

So here's a question, how do students in the academy level up?

Hunting monsters, of course.

In fact, most of the combat theory courses are completed in the first year of staying in the academy. From the second year onward, students will mostly be trained in real combat with monsters or sometimes humans. That is probably why I didn't see many second-, third-, and fourth-year students on the academy grounds.

Either way, it has just turned November, and the academy is now having the freshman experience their first real combat. We are going to a hunting field outside the capital.

All classes from D to B are on their respective bus, while class A has a separate luxury SUV.

The SUV is quite spacious, by the way, they have enough space to put four rows of seats surrounding a table, and each row has three seats. Because we will be staying at the field for two days, the students are allowed to bring their attendants, so here I am, sandwiching Chloe together with Nydia.

On my left side is Luxia with her two paladin bodyguards, while Sierra is on the right side, again, with two imperial knights as bodyguards. The opposite of me is of course the two guys of class A, the other one sitting between them is Aaron's maid, I think.

'''' ... ''''

...Well, this is awkward.

Sierra and Ryuji are sleeping, and it seems like nobody else has anything to say. I want to eat those snacks on the table, but even I, as shameless as I am, think it would be too much...

As if noticing my dilemma, Chloe reaches out and picks a bag of potato chips for herself. She opens it, takes a piece, then nudges my arm as if telling me to eat.

What a goddess...!

So we both begin to eat from the bag casually. Everyone is looking at us strangely, but what are they going to do? Wait, these are even better than the ones they sell at the cafeteria!

''Hey, Aurora.''

Suddenly, Luxia speaks to me with her usual grin.

''How may I help you?'' I take another chip and reply.

''What do you like usually?'' Luxia props up her chin.

''This?'' I hold the potato chip in front of her.

nom—!

''Mghm... It's pretty good, I suppose~''

...Eh? Who told you to eat my chip?!

''You...''

Hearing a grumble from hell itself, I turn around to see Chloe glaring at Luxia with a pair of soulless eyes, murderous intent oozing out of her body.

The whole atmosphere cools down rapidly, I can even hear Nydia and the maid of Aaron gulp nervously.

Chloe soon turns her head to me slowly, neck creaking like a broken doll. She then repeatedly nudges her hand holding the potato chips bag at me as if telling me to do the same for her.

''...Yes, yes.''

As soon as Chloe bites into the chip that I hold up for her, light quickly returns to her pupils, and her expression becomes bright again.

''Pfft- Nyahahahah...!''

Stop laughing, you caused this.

And it's been a while since I've seen Chloe's yandere mode. She has the talent to scare people, really.

After roughly two hours of driving, we arrived at the hunting field. 

It is a vast plain surrounded by a dome-type barrier. Here, there are allegedly tons of goblin and orc camps scattered across the place, the general level range for them is around ten to thirty—suitable for freshmen.

The barrier is to prevent the monsters from running away, and every now and then, people will go in and clear out most of the monsters to avoid overpopulating the plain as these guys have a very fast reproduction rate. The ones spared will then make more children, and repeat.

An EXP farm, as Chloe would say. Though it's not very effective for people above level thirty.

The students and the professors in charge, the latter led by Claudia, step out of their vehicles.

''Woah... This is beautiful.'' Nydia mutters.

I agree. I wish my forest had a tenth of this beauty.

clap—! clap—!

''Attention!''

Claudia's dominant voice spread through the crowd, silencing every talk or whisper.

''From now on, you will be able to freely hunt in this area as long as you have the protective bracelet on. Just remember to not exert yourself, and do not, I repeat, DO NOT kill anything other than goblins and orcs unless you absolutely have to. We need to maintain the ecosystem here.''

Understandable, the monsters need something to feed on as well—both formally and metaphorically.

''You can go immediately if you are ready.''

With that, Claudia turns away, and the students begin to disperse.

Well, I don't have any reason to follow them inside. I'll have to wait in the living quarters for the signal.

*****

After nodding at each other once, Aurora and Chloe part ways. Aurora heads to the living quarters together with the servants, while Chloe heads straight into the hunting area with the students and their bodyguards.

To ensure that students without personal bodyguards could hunt safely, the Academy also prepared some staff members for surveillance, in addition to the protective barrier, which has a tracking feature and can be used to temporarily stun enemies.

The majority of the freshmen go in right away, excited to have their first real battle.

Chloe advances in while scanning around, looking for a certain blonde head. Unlike the last time, she doesn't know the exact conditions for the demon to appear. In the game, it could either appear right on the afternoon of day one or the morning of day two.

She decides that she will first look for the protagonist and follow her. After all, the demon always spawned on her in the game.

''Oh.''

After a bit, she finally sees Claire in the distance, accompanied by three other students—one guy and two girls. 

'I guess it's about time she forms a party.'

No matter, Chloe is determined to protect Claire either way. This demon can't be underestimated.

So Chloe walks up to them and speaks up. ''Claire.''

''Lady Luminous...! Good day to you!''

Claire turns around and greets politely, the other three also do the same after panicking for a moment.

''I want to accompany you, is that alright?'' Chloe says. ''I want to see your progress, it doesn't matter if you go with your friends as well.''

This is also true. Claire has reached level 23 after defeating Jalk, and it seems like she has bought a few more skills as well.

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Name: Claire  

Race: Human             Title: Apostle of Light

Level: 23

HP: 63/63                    MP: 76/76

STR: 3.5                     INT: 6.7

AGI: 3.4                    STA: 3.5

Skill: [Light Magic Lv.4], [Inspect Lv.3],
[Swordsmanship Lv.2], [Concentration Lv.2],
[Language Lv.1], [Acceleration Lv.1],
[Fixed Hit Lv.1], [Wind Magic Lv.1].

State: Normal.

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'Hm, smart.'

[Fixed Hit: Enable the user to accurately deliver their strikes. Cost: 5 MP per strike, CD: 5 seconds] [Legendary]

Chloe is very satisfied with Claire's skill choices. [Fixed Hit] is suitable for someone like Claire, who will have to fight enemies with overwhelmingly higher speed in the future, while the wind element is flexible and can aid her well in various situations.

For reference, in the game, the protagonist had the option to choose a secondary element according to their liking, anything except dark.

''Ah, gladly!'' Claire accepts the request right away.

The lady in front of her has helped her so much, she needs to strive for an even better version of herself—Claire thinks.

''Hey~ Can I follow along?''

Suddenly, a pink head pops out behind Chloe.

''The Saintess...!'' Claire exclaims, she has only ever heard of her.

''Saintess.'' Chloe nods slightly at Luxia with a normal expression, in her head: 'Not again...'.

So the six of them form a party and begin to hunt monsters, just like everybody else.

In the sky, beyond the clouds, an ominous rift opens slowly and silently, following the group.