Joint Practical (2)
Edric couldn't care less about the score for this practical. He had just one desire drawing him into it: Emil. Emil and Chris. It was all about the pair radiating that peculiar vibe.
'He definitely said he was going on a date with that guy last time...'
Edric stole a glance back at Emil as they navigated the dungeon's depths together. In this practical—exploring the dungeon in teams of four—their lineup was Sierra up front, then Edric, Emil, and Chris bringing up the rear.
Turning slightly, he spotted Emil pressed right up against Chris.
"……."
His fiancée. Chris clung tightly to Emil's back, her face etched with unease. Someone like Sierra, not close to her, might miss it. But Edric, who'd known her since before Revel Academy, saw it plain as day. The face that usually brimmed with pluck was absent. Shoulders quivering ever so slightly. And that hand furtively clutching Emil's hem.
"Tch…."
Edric hated the sight. Why? Because she was his fiancée? No—this engagement was one they'd mutually agreed to annul after graduation anyway. He'd been the first to propose it: Let's each pursue who we want, just keep it discreet.
That was why Edric himself had his eyes on the silver-haired beauty leading the pack: Sierra.
But.
'This pisses me off...'
Not long ago—probably that day Chris had shown up at his dorm out of the blue—something had shifted in how Edric saw her. He felt drawn to her in a way that made him wonder why he'd never noticed before.
And now.
That Chris harbored feelings for Emil. Realizing it ignited a jealousy Edric could barely contain.
'It's fine.... She's my fiancée, after all...'
Late to the realization and already regretting it, Edric steeled himself. Chris was his fiancée, no matter what. Even if they'd vowed to end it. Socially speaking, she was his. He was convinced he still had a shot.
'Today, I seize it.'
A dungeon made the perfect stage. Women naturally gravitated toward superior men. He had no idea what Chris saw in that bookish nerd, but.
'Show her his pathetic side, and she'll question her own heart.'
In this joint practical, Emil would make a fool of himself. Then Edric would swoop in to protect the shaken Chris and claim her heart. Classic. But nothing more effective.
But.
"Enemy ahead!"
"Got it━!"
Whoosh!
Slaaash!
Emil charged the suddenly appearing kobold and cleaved its waist in one fluid motion.
"……."
"Heh, Emil's got some moves? Hehe, that morning training paid off."
"…Like I keep saying, your stamina and strength are the weak links?"
"Ufufu, battles aren't won on brute force. It's skill!"
"…And I'm better at that too?"
"We'll see!"
Emil dispatched the foe and bantered leisurely with Sierra.
'Fast...'
Emil's movements exceeded expectations. Back during that sparring bet with Chris, he hadn't been this quick.
'This much growth in such a short time...?'
Edric gripped his sword hilt, knuckles whitening at the unforeseen prowess.
"How was it?"
"Uh, y-yeah... Good. That move."
"Haha, all thanks to my master's lessons."
"Nngh... Y-yeah..."
And Chris's reaction grated even more. Blushing shyly at Emil's display, inching closer to him. Her usual bold demeanor vanished, replaced by girlish behavior reserved just for him. Infuriating.
'That ends soon.... Emil...'
But it was fine. That level was still within his plan's margins.
"This way."
"Huh? Side path?"
Sierra, leading, tilted her head at Edric's suggestion. He nodded.
"From here, it looks like the smoothest route."
"Hmm... But the gem we need is closer straight ahead?"
"Quick return matters, but keeping everyone safe scores points too. See? Side path's just as fast."
"If that's the case..."
Sierra nodded at his explanation. Emil and Chris trailed without protest.
'Smooth sailing.'
Edric smirked into the shadows at his compliant teammates.
And then.
"Who... who is it?"
The very monster Edric had hoped for made its presence known with a whispering voice.
"This is... a Whisper…!"
"Eek…!"
Sierra reacted swiftly to the Whisper's emergence, while a faint scream escaped from Chris at the rear.
"Cha, cha... found... found it? Found you? Found you.... Me, me...."
"Everyone, stay alert on all sides! Emil!"
"……."
"Count on you again…!"
"Yeah."
Edric pulled the group toward him and called out to Emil. Seeing him nod, he flashed a sinister grin.
"Kiyaaaaaaa━…!!"
The Whisper vanished in a blaze when my sword—coated in holy water—sliced through it, writhing like it was on fire.
"Whoa... How'd you take it down? What was that?"
"Holy water. Figured we might need it, so I came prepared."
"As expected of the top student... Always one step ahead."
I tossed the holy water vial aside impassively at Sierra's praise.
Preparation, huh. It wasn't like I'd thought, 'This might happen.'
...Meeting the Whisper was part of my plan from the start.
'Edric luring us right to it was the surprise.'
Figuring out how to steer the group toward the Whisper had been the puzzle. Edric had solved it for me without realizing.
And that oh-so-helpful Edric was now.
"U, ugh, hngg...! Nn...!"
Hiiiisss...
"Aigoo..."
"Hmm..."
"……."
Collapsed before us, face ashen, staring into nothing. A massive puddle had just spread between his legs.
'No way you were thinking the same as me... Edric.'
I'd clocked his intent the moment he asked me to handle the Whisper.
A Whisper: rare mental-attack monster in female ghost form. It popped up occasionally in academy dungeon runs. But in this one—with the finals eval—it was guaranteed.
Edric must've gotten the dungeon layout beforehand and herded us here.
"What... do we do? Carry him...?"
Sierra peered down at the piss-soaked Edric with undisguised revulsion.
"N-no... Let's just watch for now."
Chris, wearing the same look you'd give a pile of filth, replied.
'Without the counter, that'd be me.'
Edric's scheme was solid. Show Chris me crumbling under mental assault, tank my image.
Too bad.
This was my sixth go at this joint practical. I knew the Whisper's weakness cold.
It targets the first person to glimpse its face for the mental hit. Counter's simple: When it manifests, look at the feet.
That's why Edric dumped it on me.
'Attacker sees the face first.'
But as I struck, Edric—thinking it'd worked—glimpsed it himself. He became the target.
"……."
"Y-you okay? Hurt anywhere...?"
Moments later, shaking off the mental haze, Edric opened his eyes to us staring. Sierra mustered a calm tone to comfort him. Me and Chris shot him dirty looks amid the awkward silence.
"……."
Shame flushing his face, he bowed his head. Shoulders trembling, he staggered up.
We followed wordlessly.
That silence probably stung worse than any taunt.
Afterward, we pressed on with the mute Edric, hunting the recovery gem. Luckily, it was right near the side path, as he'd claimed.
"Got it! Back to base, and we're done?"
After a few scraps, we'd secured the objective. Sierra beamed, cradling the gleaming red gem.
Chris and I mirrored her relieved smile.
Edric alone stayed silent, eyes averted.
'Feels pretty damn satisfying.'
Staring at the back of his head, a cool relief washed over me. Not as cathartic as pounding Malcolm senseless, but.
He pissed himself. In front of the two women he wanted.
'Yeah, call it even for now, Edric.'
This loop, he hadn't done squat to me yet. This humiliation squares it.
But since I'd planned the Whisper too, I doubt he'll stay quiet going forward.
'He did try to kill me once.'
If he pulls something after I wrap up Chris's arc.
Then I'll settle the rest.
"Let's head back quick!"
Gem in hand, we turned toward the exit to wrap the practical. We'd beaten other teams to the objective—high score locked. Sierra's steps bounced with anticipation.
'Right on cue.'
And now.
Time for my real target.
Rumble rumble rumble...!
"Wh-what...? What's that?"
The telltale precursor of it echoed through the dungeon.
"What? Earthquake?"
"Kyaa…!"
"……."
The sudden tremors drew confusion from Sierra, a yelp from Chris, and a stiff glare at the ceiling from Edric.
And then.
"Uwaaaaaah━!!"
A massive scream barreled toward us.