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The first-year students gathered on the plain.

With his back to the forest, the professor used magic to speak loudly enough for those behind him to hear.

“From now on, I will explain the group formation before we begin the practical training.”

To prevent a concentration of strong individuals in one place, the groups were randomly assigned by the professors. Students from Class A and Class B were separated, with the remaining spots filled by students from Class D and Class E to form four-member groups.

While the monsters in the forest could easily be defeated by students from Class A and Class B alone, the professors’ arrangement was a precaution just in case.

Among her group…

“Hi, Riche! We’re in the same group! Nice to meet you!”

“…”

She found herself grouped with two male students from Class E and Arthur, who she had despised just until this morning.

She hadn’t suspected anything, but thinking about it now, it felt oddly coincidental how much Arthur had been involved with her lately.

He had even been coming to find her on purpose.

‘Am I being too sensitive…?’

Yes. After all, this was just a collaboration for the practical training.

Once the training was over, she could ignore him like usual. She just had to endure this time.

As all the students gathered in their groups, the professor explained today’s practical training.

“Today’s training is actual combat against the monsters in the forest. Unlike the previous student duels, these creatures will try to kill you. You’ll learn things that the duels never revealed.”

“The professors will be waiting here on the plain, just in case. We will use magical power to detect any danger in the forest and provide immediate assistance, but magic isn’t omnipotent. Always be aware that anything can happen in actual combat, so don’t be overconfident.”

“The monsters you hunt will be reflected in the next ranking changes. Your scores will be based on the grade and quantity of the monsters you defeat, and fighting among students is prohibited, so it’s best to avoid conflicts. Anyone caught fighting another student will face expulsion.”

Expulsion.

That thunderous word from the professor instantly caused a stir.

“I will only accept questions now.”

The professor’s explanation was so clear that questions seemed unnecessary. If it weren’t for that last sentence…

Someone had to take the plunge, even for hard-to-ask questions. A hand was cautiously raised.

“Yes, you there. What’s your question?”

“Um… Is it really expulsion for fighting between students?”

“Yes. It is a matter permitted by the Dean.”

The Dean.

A great mage known by anyone, even those not part of the Academy.

He was the dean and chairman of Jeminal Academy. If Lucia Marygold sanctioned it, the teachers couldn’t casually express dissent.

That meant this was not something a mere student could overturn.

There must be good reason for such expulsion, and it would be appropriate to accept that.

“Professor! Still, I think expulsion is too harsh! I believe that battling among ourselves can improve our judgment and skills!”

Unintentionally, someone blurting that out turned out to be Arthur, who happened to be in the same group as Riche.

“Hmm. And who are you?”

“I’m Arthur from Class D!”

It was the perfect act to catch the eyes of the nobles, to behave in a manner even the vainest noble wouldn’t do. The first reason was that they were curious about what was happening while remaining passive, and the second was that they knew they couldn’t interrupt the professor.

“Okay, Arthur. You said expulsion is too harsh.”

“Yes! That’s right!”

“Then let me ask you this: In a life-or-death battle with a monster, would you forgive someone who attacked you from behind?”

“Y-yes, huh…?”

“Are you suggesting we train to deal with betrayals from allies in front of a common enemy?”

Focusing on the monster before them, it was already outrageous to think about turning against allies at such a moment. Fighting among comrades in the presence of a common enemy was obviously suicidal.

Even though you shouldn’t do what you’re told not to do, Arthur’s response was a foolish act that only demonstrated his stupidity.

In the end, unable to refute the professor’s logic, Arthur shrank back.

“…Hah.”

Riche sighed at the realization that her group member was a clueless fool.

*

-Fwoosh!

Riche’s fire magic melted the upper body of the Shift Chameleon.

Even in the midst of the densely wooded forest, she accurately targeted only the monster with her precise magical power control.

She didn’t feel any significant change due to her constant training, but still, Riche felt pleasantly stronger than before.

“Oh! You really are amazing, Riche!”

If only that guy wasn’t behind her.

Stalking behind her were two male students from Class E, chopping off tails from the monsters they defeated together with their group member.

This made things easier for Riche, but since this practical would affect the rankings, it would be better if they went off to hunt their own monsters. Instead, they continued to follow her around.

Especially Arthur. For some bizarre reason, he had been trailing her since the beginning.

Every time she defeated a monster, his loud and boisterous praise was both obnoxious and felt like an annoying taunt, making her feel quite disgruntled.

Yet, if she said something, he would probably take it as a form of attention and rejoice, so she remained silent.

An hour passed since the hunting began.

It was at that moment she felt something wrong in the forest.

The monsters, which had previously appeared at least once every five minutes, were now becoming increasingly rare, and now it felt as if they had completely vanished.

Given the size of the forest, one could be unlucky, but not encountering any monsters felt quite strange.

“We need to go back…!”

Having sensed something amiss, Riche hurriedly attempted to give the retreat command.

But it was already too late.

Her two group members were lying unconscious.

Only she and Arthur stood.

“You’re quite perceptive, aren’t you?”

That chilling voice.

Something like a dark, murky fog enveloped the ground, and a creepy feeling of being watched revived Riche’s senses.

Eventually, the darkness coalesced into a human figure.

The man with jet-black pupils and violet skin was clear evidence that what stood before them was a Demon.

Above all, the curse on Riche’s body began to react to that unpleasant magical presence.

“A Demon…!”

Humanity’s public enemy.

While monsters felt like natural disasters, demons were the true villains.

They were sadistic, enjoying slaughter and mocking humans as a hobby.

Unlike the monsters which attacked humans without reason, demons acted with a sense of malice and thrill, making them not to be placed on the same level.

“Finally, you show your face! You cowardly demon!”

While she was nervously assessing the situation, Arthur suddenly stepped forward, who had been quiet until now.

“Hmm… Is it you?”

“Yes, it is!”

Their exchange felt as if they were familiar with each other.

Although it was a puzzling interaction, Riche didn’t have the time to ponder at that moment.

“Arthur! We need to retreat now!”

“Take my sword!!”

“That idiot…!”

The magical power emanating from the demon was unpleasant but still weaker than her own.

To be honest, Riche felt she could win this battle on her own.

However, knowing the risks of the demon, she couldn’t afford to underestimate her opponent.

That was why she had hesitated, yet that foolish guy suddenly dove in, swinging his sword.

Immediately, something extraordinary happened with his sword.

A burst of white light gathered around, forming a blade-like shape that encased his sword.

‘Light attribute…?’

A rare attribute that was said to very seldom appear.

He wielded it.

Suddenly, as Arthur swung his sword, the demon scattered the darkness and evaded to the side. In retaliation, it launched a punch, but Arthur managed to block the attack by raising his sword.

Seeing even Arthur, who was considerably weaker, able to respond, Riche began to think that this fight was manageable.

Therefore, she decided to support Arthur by shooting a flame spear with her maximum magical control at the demon.

But.

It’s useless.

The magic that clearly struck the demon did not seem to cause any damage at all.

“Magic does not work on me.”

If that statement were true, then how was the demon dodging Arthur’s attacks?

Accelerated thoughts from combat quickly provided answers to Riche.

Divine and dazzling magical light represented a fatal weakness for demons.

Magic may not work on them, but physical force from a sword could not be blocked.

There was no method for Riche left at her disposal.

Not only could she not use light attribute magic, but she also did not know how to wield a sword.

If she tried to help with her feeble skills, she would only be a hindrance.

In the end, the strongest among the students present, Riche, could do nothing but helplessly watch.

‘I feel so powerless…’

Hadn’t she been praised lately as the top of her class?

While she had become stronger to slay the demon, she realized she was still weak.

She was still a frog in a well.

“Ugh…”

She gritted her teeth.

There was no time for foolish emotional thoughts.

She had to buy time until the professor arrived.

When did she start accepting the injustice of demons?

If it’s impossible, why not make it possible?

From then on, Riche focused on what she could do.

Whenever the demon attacked, she cast magic on the ground to destabilize its balance, and created a wall of fire to block its line of sight, even if only a little bit.

She began to feel the tide shifting in her favor.

But that thought was short-lived.

“What a lively bunch…!”

Suddenly, the demon’s arm was shrouded in black mist, which then morphed into the shape of gauntlets.

“Riche! Phase 2 has begun!”

Phase…?

She didn’t understand what that meant, but it definitely felt like the demon had become stronger.

The collision of the light and dark embers created a beautiful display.

Its speed and power became visibly elevated compared to before.

Methods like obstructing line of sight or blocking paths no longer worked.

Even Arthur, who had been holding his ground, was now visibly exhausted.

Eventually.

“Ugh! Argh!!”

Arthur allowed a punch to his abdomen and was sent flying into a tree.

‘Ah… It’s over now.’

Arthur’s defeat, the only one capable of inflicting damage on the demon, signaled the end of the battle.

At the moment when Riche was about to give up everything…

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“…Cough!”

Something that flew from the forest struck the demon in the side.

 

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