Food Chain (1)
"Everyone worked hard on the midterms. The finals won't be as complicated or tricky, so don't worry too much."
Luna's casual remark instantly stirred up noise on both sides, but Marlboro's arrival quieted things down. He offered some words of encouragement for their efforts, then glanced briefly our way. His gaze was clearly fixed on me and Grace.
Something unsavory had gone down at the academy, so the professors must have felt the ripple effects too. This was where choices diverged. They could address it head-on or stick to their duties. But considering Grace's backing, there was only one option.
"There were all sorts of incidents during the midterms, but that was our failing as professors. You won't suffer any real penalties from them, so rest easy."
He touched on it ever so lightly, steering focus back to studies. That was probably the best the professors could do. Even with Delphoi's punishment settled, the fallout would linger. They had to play it careful.
Give it a week, and it'll fade.
Midterms were done, and finals were a ways off. No intense practicals in between—just theory and training to fill the time. Wednesdays with Gloria and Chronos for sessions, weekends for personal rest, and maybe the occasional forest run for profit. At least until finals, things were clear.
"Normally we'd hand out feedback sheets, but given the circumstances, we're skipping them. Also..."
Marlboro's explanation dragged on. It covered finals details. Most scores would come then, and they'd ensure no midterm-style disasters. He hammered home that absurd conditions like attack restrictions were off the table. That meant they'd sorted my issue too.
"I can't reveal the finals content, but I guarantee it'll be far more fair and transparent than before. Rest assured."
Good enough to relax. Even in unprecedented chaos, these were veteran professors. They could balance things despite one game-breaker like me.
The midterms felt rigged by Delphoi's influence. Maybe the finals format changed too?
I barely remembered, but finals involved teams too—on a massive scale. As I pondered their balancing act, a phrase I couldn't ignore hit my ears.
"Before we start class, one more announcement. It ties into upcoming practicals, so pay attention. This concerns the Chaos Forest."
"Huh?"
The Chaos Forest, of all things. I snapped to attention mid-daydream. Marlboro noted my interest and explained.
"Some of you visit the Chaos Forest often—for hunting, herb gathering, whatever. With a custom compass, you can push deep inside. Everyone knows this."
Thanks to that, I'd met Ellie and Luna, escaped that godforsaken woods, and even brokered a bloody truce with Porori. I'd figured that was the end of my forest days. Sure, occasional money runs, but no more living there.
"But effective today, solo entries are banned. Even the outskirts—unless you're in a group of three or more."
"What the hell? Why the forest all of a sudden?"
"I've been gathering herbs every weekend..."
Unforeseen Chaos Forest lockdown. Did Soul World even have this event? The forest was dangerous, but never controlled.
The academy wouldn't decide this lightly—something was up. Anticipating the unrest, Marlboro calmly laid out reasons one by one.
"Simple reason for the lockdown. A massive upheaval hit the Chaos Forest recently. It's driving deep-dwelling monsters and beasts toward the outskirts."
"..."
Inner beasts fleeing outward. Not something to brush off. Ecosystems balance near-perfectly. This screamed total collapse.
As I mulled that, Marlboro eyed me oddly and continued.
"Such shifts happen for two reasons. Natural disasters wrecking the forest—like fire signs—but none of that. Leaves one cause."
I'd guessed it. The direct trigger for wild imbalance.
"The top predator in the food chain vanishes. Like the proverb: no tiger, fox becomes king. Right now, the Chaos Forest is a war for the new apex spot."
When a ruling predator dips for some reason. Gone predator = Chaos Forest in shambles.
Food chains are intricate. Remove the top, and the suppressed surge, clashing until the weak get pushed out.
"The forest's rich mana draws every manner of monster and beast until a new apex emerges. Some get shoved to the outskirts in the chaos."
"Wait, is this 'cause Sivar's gone?"
"Kinda... looks like it?"
Kara's question got a hesitant reply from Luna. She hadn't seen this coming either. And it wasn't just me—Porori, another top predator, was gone too.
Porori lived on acorns but shredded territory invaders on sight. Preemptive strikes, leaving fainted prey for others. I'd gotten lucky.
This is gonna twist hard.
Two apex gone—not just regulating locals but ignoring outsiders. Chaos Forest's Warring States era. Weak prey die off.
"Outskirts used to have starving wolves or slimes—weak stuff. Lately, goblins and orcs show up too."
"Goblins and orcs?"
"That's no different from the depths!"
Goblin and orc sightings stirred fresh chaos. Weakest monsters individually, sure—but never alone. Always three-plus. One leg-grab spells doom. I'd nearly died that way.
Worse: monsters that eat them for breakfast. Delay, and real predators emerge.
"So the academy's mobilizing professors and students to fix it. Forest's close—better contain before it worsens."
"We fighting directly?"
A student raised a hand quietly. Half-excited, half-worried. Monster hunts usually started year two; year three targeted people. First-years honed theory and basics.
But this threatened the whole academy.
"Depending. Professors will guard thoroughly, so no worries. Our goal's not extermination—scouting and recon."
Academy housed future national pillars. One loss = massive hit. First-years do light work; upperclassmen handle real hunts, he explained.
"Reckless heroics? Fine. We'll cover mishaps. But severed limbs or lives? Irreparable. Bear that in mind."
"..."
Don't die playing tough—listen up. Hot-blooded age; professors had to warn extra.
Made sense.
"Some need no guiding. Anyone soloed large monsters like ogres—multiple times?"
I raised my hand silently. Kara, at the edge, did too. Just us two. Groups maybe, but solo multiples? Only us.
"As expected. You'll protect students this practical. Got it?"
"..."
"Hate it? Roam free. But reports get very detailed."
"Ugh."
Balance patch via freedom-with-strings. Better than attack limits. We didn't need protecting anyway. My fault partly—I'll step up. Plus Grace's guard duty.
"Practicals weekly until outskirts stabilize. Questions?"
"Herbs or hunted beasts—how're they handled?"
"Fuel non-combat research. Fair rewards, no sweat."
Then hustle for Ellie. Ask her needs later. Chat Porori too—he roams, knows the score. Might've culled numbers preemptively. Outskirts only? Easy.
"Safety first—I've said it. Outskirts beasts aren't your textbook monsters. Lost the turf war, but cunning lingers."
Key point. Top students differ by school prestige. Chaos Forest was elite turf. Losers there? No slacking.
Why build a school here, anyway?
Rumor: founding hero. Wonder what they thought. Good training spot, probably. At least monsters rarely spilled out. Porori-types stayed in—needed special compass anyway.
"Teams your choice. Tell protectors. Eight total: professors, TAs, and you two who raised hands."
TAs as 'protectors' too. Our class ~30; teams of 3-4. Grace auto-in; recruit rest.
"Yeonju, join us?"
"Sure."
Correction: Lee Yeonju auto too. Hamburger-and-cola set. One more needed.
This practical? Balance irrelevant—recon focus. Report observations, ace it. Bad for me.
"Non-visitors enter tomorrow afternoon. Weekends? We'll distribute survey notes—review them."
Marlboro passed thick stack forward. It circulated from the front. I got mine, scanned.
Curious contents.
Nothing too heavy.
No solo-killers for students. Team-viable only. Pure safety.
[A squirrel the size of a large dog was spotted. The squirrel fled immediately upon encountering the survey team.]
"..."
Super helpful recon. And Porori, ditching Ellie for what? See him post-class. Long time no Ellie too—midterms kept us apart, plus my grounding. She'd worry.
I skimmed, folded neatly. Nothing urgent sans Porori.
Classes done, I arranged to meet Ellie.
"Oh, you guys heading in too? Me too."
"?"
What? Marlboro never mentioned.
"Prof recommended me. Just protection—no funny business."
She'd do something dumb. Classic Ellie. Soul World death-flag queen. New worry.
"Porori?"
"Porori? You mean Ratatosk?"
"Yeah."
"Mating season—stuck in the forest awhile."
"..."
Useless bastard. Try biting me, see what happens.