Sword, Magic and Academic Society

"What are you going to collect today?"

While riding in a shared carriage with nothing but a wooden sword and writing materials, I asked Riyad-senpai. Aside from us, there were two more well-equipped people in the carriage, they seemed to be explorers.

"Well, I haven't decided on anything, but I plan to gather materials for healing salves and supplements for stamina or mana recovery. Along with investigating their distribution and growth pattern… You may have already heard of it, but some unsettling rumors are going around. There's suddenly a shortage of such low-demand materials."

I guess senpai was referring to the approaching war that Godorfun was talking about. I really wasn't sure if such vital information should be shared with students, but I guess such news traveled quickly among the more well-informed individuals.

"The harvest spot is just a bit away from the Royal Capital and is a relatively safe place, but monsters can still appear there. Do you have any experience fighting monsters?"

"No, I don't."

I answered straight. Back when I was at home, before my awakening, I had pestered my second brother Beck to take me on a local monster pruning expedition but that was more of spectating from a safe distance. So I basically had no real-life experience fighting monsters.

Seeing me tighten my grip on the wooden sword in my hand, Riyad-senpai chuckled.

"You don't have to be worried about it. There won't be any monster that may pose a challenge to you, the top scorer in the Royal Academy's practical exam. Just remember to run away if you see the situation turning south and you'll be safe."

Hearing that, my grip on the wooden sword loosened.

◆◆◆

The forest we arrived at was the base of Girtess Mountain, east of the Royal Capital.

We alighted from the shared carriage at the village situated within the royal territories, right on the fringes of the forest that served as the Royal Capital's water source. From there, without setting foot in the village, we ventured directly into the forest.

"Since you're a newcomer here, I'll try to explain all the materials needed for medicines that can be collected from this forest."

After saying that, Riyad-senpai pulled out a single piece of grass growing along the forest path.

"This is Yug grass, a magic herb whose stems are used in healing salves. This is the most common material for healing salves you can find in the mountainous forests throughout the kingdom. To make medicine with it, you boil the stems down to concentrate their properties, then apply the liquid to the affected area. In emergencies, you can also crush it and apply it directly, and it should have some effect."

"This mushroom with the black and white rhombus pattern is called dramandake. It's a magical mushroom with mana stored in it. The general way to use it is to dry it, crush it into powder, dissolve it in water, and then consume it. It serves as a stamina recovery supplement.

It's also delicious on its own and can be used as food, but be careful about eating them outside though since a fully opened cap induces sleep."

"This orange-flowered magical plant is the Hinabushi Flower. It blooms around this time until the end of spring. Its distribution is mostly in the central to the northern parts of the kingdom, so this might be your first time seeing them in their blooming season, coming from the southeastern Dragoon region. The petals are steeped to create round pills, which are used to aid in mana recovery. But, as you might already know, relying too much on such aids hampers the natural growth of your body's inherent strength. So, please refrain from using them during your regular training."

In this rhythm, Riyad-senpai continued to introduce a lot of materials.

Furthermore, he also didn't shy away from answering my frequent questions when I asked about the materials that weren't in this forest, the compounding combinations to increase the medicinal effect or the vice-versa, which place was easier to harvest from, the best way to preserve herbs, and so on.

I guess this might be general knowledge that I could easily look up, but still, I was thankful to him for teaching me all this without holding back. The feeling of turning knowledge, previously confined in the mind after reading books, into a practical, living experience was truly priceless.

I guess this was like the saying 'To learn and to review what you've learned is a pleasure.' That was a great saying by Confucius. But I was more glad to see the look of joy on senpai's face as he shared his knowledge while enjoying collecting materials.

Senpai was completely relishing the moment. His infectious delightful mood had reflexively pulled me to feel the same.

◆◆◆

"Do you find it that amusing?"

Throughout the afternoon of continuous gathering, without even stopping for lunch, Riyad-senpai enthusiastically answered my countless questions which I diligently took notes of. Seeing that, Riyad-senpai asked me with a strange expression.

"It's interesting, just hearing words like magic grass or magic mushrooms gets me excited."

Riyad-senpai laughed out after hearing my response.

"Ahahaha. I think you're the only Royal Academy student who would say that… You really are a strange guy. Are you planning to become a botanist?"

"You can call me 'Allen'. I haven't yet decided what I want to do in the future but it does sound interesting at the very least."

I had come to respect Riyad-senpai after spending all this time with him.

"If you find it that interesting, how about we spend the night here at the makeshift camp in this forest? Either way, tomorrow is a holiday. Although I must clarify, it's a bit far-fetched to call it camping as it's just a run-down shack. It's not a place where nobles attending the Royal Academy would rest without preparation."

"Really?! I'd love to!"

I instantly agreed to senpai's invitation. He chuckled and suggested, "Since that's the case, we need to secure some food."

◆◆◆

"There's a small stream up ahead. We can secure water, and, if we're lucky, some fish as well."

After saying that, senpai cut through the thickets and after a short walk, he raised his hand to signal a halt.

"...There's a monster."

Senpai conveyed with a barely audible voice. I peered through the thickets very carefully, trying not to make a sound, and indeed, I could see a single rabbit drinking water. A 20cm long pale bluish horn was growing on its head.

"...It's a water-attributed horned rabbit. They are usually timid, but the fact that this one is an attribute holder means it might be a belligerent one. It seems to be alone and I believe we can handle it, but... What do you say?"

"...I'll leave it to senpai's judgment."

Personally, I was inclined to try out my strength, but beside me was someone who specialized in dealing with monsters. It would be best to leave the decision to him.

"Well, since it's a rare chance, let's have high-grade horned rabbit meat BBQ. I'll corner it so how about you give the final blow? Water magic isn't that impressive, but be careful about its horn charge attack. It'll fatally wound you if you get hit."

Senpai said with a serious expression.

"Alright then, I'll flank around from the cliff behind."

"There? It seems to be the horned rabbit's hunting ground…"

"It isn't. But I remember reading about them in my favorite book, Canardia's Monster Encyclopedia. It said they use their strong hind legs to escape upwards when threatened."

"You're quite knowledgeable. I guess my worries were for nothing. Give me a signal when you're ready."

Carefully, I circled around to the top of the slightly sloping cliff about 5 meters high. Once I confirmed my position, I signaled senpai.

Confirming my signal, senpai, wielding a machete-like blade somewhat between a machete and a knife, emerged from the bushes into the stream creating a loud sound. The horned rabbit immediately turned its horn in the direction of the sound, spraying water from its horn like a firefighter extinguishing a fire, and then swiftly turned around and fled toward me on the cliff.

I instantly activated my body-strengthening magic and jumped down the cliff while swinging my wooden sword to smash the horned rabbit's horn, its magic organ, in the passing.

Having its horn, its weak point, shattered, the horned rabbit couldn't climb the cliff and tumbled down.

I held my wooden sword at eye level and stared at the fallen prey for a moment.

◆◆◆

"Splendid."

As senpai approached, I released my stance confirming the demise of the horned rabbit and heaved a sigh. It seemed like Senpai managed to dodge the water magic of the horned rabbit.

"Is this really your first time fighting monsters? You finished it quite easily."

"It wasn't that easy for me actually. I was trying to take it down more easily but I ended up gripping my wooden sword with all my strength which caused my aim to shift. I'm sorry for wasting the material."

I said while looking at the horn that had been broken precisely in the middle. If the base was broken, the mana stone inside would be damaged, making the material worthless.

"Ahaha! Don't be so down. Our goal was to secure food to begin with, and that was a perfect performance. When I heard it was your first battle, I was prepared for the target to escape... Or even if you managed to stop it, the blow might land on the center of its body, causing it to act violently as its internal organ ruptured, and then we'd have to eat smelly meat... I had you take the role with these thoughts. But I'm really grateful you took it down by striking at its vital spot when you dropped from the hill. I don't think I would have done it so neatly if I was the one in charge of finishing it off."

"We will have a feast tonight thanks to you," senpai delightfully said and began to draw out the blood of the horned rabbit in the stream.

"Aren't we going to look for fish?"

After draining the blood, there probably wouldn't be any fish left in the stream for a while.

"No. This is already too big for two people and we don't have the luxury of bringing back so much meat today so I would like to finish it all without wasting anything.

If we don't process it immediately, it'll start to smell, and if we move from the stream to dismantle it, there is the danger of other wild animals or monsters being attracted by the smell."

Senpai cut into the rabbit's abdomen with the machete-like knife he had, disposing of the unnecessary internal organs and cleaning the inside.

To be honest, it was quite grotesque to watch but I didn't avert my eyes and continued to record the process in my mind.

After senpai was done processing it, he handed the prey to me. Carrying the heavy horned rabbit, I walked toward the makeshift camp with him.

Editor Note - A cabin in the middle of the woods with a senpai? If the MC was a girl, I'd be worried right about now. 😅