Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Camping in the Forbidden Forest
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1
"This practical exam is simple. From now on, you all must spend three days and two nights in the Forbidden Forest."
The students stirred at the mention of the Forbidden Forest.
But Ken Schultz ignored it and doggedly pressed on with what he had to say.
"The only supplies provided are a single signal flare for requesting assistance from the academy. Additionally, using the signal flare—except in cases of life-threatening danger or unavoidable disasters—will count as forfeiting the exam."
Assistants who looked like teaching aides handed out simple signal flares to us.
They were single-shot flares shaped like bright red pistols, just like the ones you see in movies.
Fired into the sky, they'd be visible anywhere in the Forbidden Forest.
I took mine and tucked it safely inside my robe.
I didn't want to use it if possible... but you never know with life.
"On the third day, a portal key will appear at a random location. Secure the portal key, and you'll return here, passing the exam. Fail to grab it by the end of the third day, and you'll fail. Once the exam begins, everyone will be scattered to random locations via spatial transfer."
Start at a random spot, find the portal key that appears who-knows-where on the third day, and you're done.
It seemed like a test where luck played a huge role from start to finish.
And in truth, luck was a major factor.
"Survive in the wild for three days however you can. Cooperate, compete, go solo—I don't care. Just stay alive against the monsters and gain some real combat experience."
That was Ken Schultz's sole aim.
Grinding us down in the wilderness.
Designing the test so luck mattered most was all to force us to focus on survival.
Telling us the randomly appearing portal key on day three decides everything meant to concentrate on surviving through day two.
"You knew all along...! You sneaky bastard!"
Ethan kept slapping my backpack, calling it sneaky over and over.
Anyone could tell my backpack looked prepared for this.
I didn't deny it.
"If we meet up later, I'll share some food."
If we meet, that is.
I gave him a friendly smile, and Ken Schultz took a deep breath before shouting.
"Good luck, then!"
At his words, the magic circle pre-drawn on the auditorium floor lit up.
My vision flooded with intense light, and the practical exam finally began.
2
"Urgh... Phew, not a bad starting point."
The surroundings were incredibly dim.
The trees filling my view were more than twice the width of my torso.
They were enormously tall too, with dense branches and leaves completely blocking the sun.
Hard to believe it was morning.
It could've passed for dusk.
The wind rustled the leaves with a whisper.
I paused to listen to the eerie sound.
The humidity made the damp earth smell rise up.
The ground squelched under my shoe soles.
Moss grew thick on trees and rocks, and tree roots tangled like nets—easy to trip if you weren't careful.
"The Forbidden Forest is creepy no matter when you see it."
The Forbidden Forest lay north of Esset, and its name meant exactly what it said: entry forbidden.
Countless people had gotten lost inside and never returned.
Gigantic spiders, carnivorous plants, and all sorts of monsters lurked within, so one wrong turn could mean death.
The kingdom had tried purging the monsters... but with an area several times that of Esterro Academy, they kept failing.
They'd barely explored 10% of it... that said it all.
During these practicals, various safeguards kept deaths rare.
Lost? The academy retrieves you. Badly injured by a monster? They swoop in to save you.
And humans being humans, drawn to the forbidden, rumors swirled of hidden treasures at the forest's heart.
Explorations proved otherwise—nothing there.
Just dangerous enough to ban entry, then myths attached later.
Anyway, head for a sunny spot first.
Losing track of time is dangerous.
Nothing much to do until the portal key on day three, but miss the day because you lost time sense, and you're screwed.
Plus, for camping, a sunny clearing's best.
Pitch the tent, read the books I brought.
Plenty of food, so fancy dinner tonight.
The practical?
I'll stay low-key, avoid failing, and call it good. Who cares?
To me, this practical's just camping.
"Hmm~"
I hummed cheerfully.
Dodging roots lightly for a bit.
Purple liquid dripped at my feet, corroding the root.
Sizzle...
White smoke rose from the corroded root.
I reflexively looked up.
A man-sized purple spider clung to a tree right above me.
Eight red eyes stared blankly down.
Whoa.
Poison Spiders are a problem because they drop like this.
Pass underneath without thinking, and it pounces.
One bad bite, and you're paralyzed, webbed up like a mummy.
I backed away slowly, carefully drawing Deathwise.
It caught the faint sound of the blade leaving its sheath—the Poison Spider flailed its eight legs and shot web at me.
"Tch!"
Teleport right into a fight? Annoying.
I ducked behind a nearby tree.
Sizzle—after the web, it spat venom too, judging by the sound.
-Yawn... Just a spider. Good ears, though...
"Its vision sucks instead. Adapted to dark forests, gave up eyesight."
I parted the bushes with yawning Deathwise.
Found a small stone, chucked it opposite me.
Skreee!
At the stone's thud, the Poison Spider unleashed webs at empty bushes.
I slipped out from the tree.
Closed the distance in a flash, swung Deathwise with full force.
Slash!
Deathwise severed the Poison Spider's jaws.
Guts spilling, it plummeted.
Legs twitching belly-up—clearly rigor mortis.
Know the strategy, and it's no big deal.
But thick venom coated the magic sword.
I wiped it on some bushes, and the blade glowed.
-Treat this body better...! Can't you clean it more reverently...!!
"How do you reverently wipe venom? If there was water, maybe."
-You packed tons in the backpack!
"That's drinking water."
I wiped off enough venom.
Campsites need low-visibility, low-monster spots.
Sunless woods are Poison Spider turf—avoid.
Probably more around.
So I hurried toward sunnier ground.
3
"Phew, done...!"
I straightened up and set down the mallet.
Wiping sweat from my brow with my sleeve, a fine tent stood proudly before me.
Took real effort finding this spot.
Good camping needs picky conditions.
First, plenty of sun.
Ideally, spaced trees so stars show at night.
Flat ground, few roots; not too muddy for stable stakes.
Outside monster territories too.
Each ordinary, but all together? Tricky.
Heading in blind? No dice. But I memorized prime Forbidden Forest camping spots and views, so pinpointing was easy.
Harder relying on just a compass to navigate.
Game had a minimap... not here.
Anyway, suffered finding the path, pitching the tent—time for tasty food.
My stomach growled right on cue.
"Plenty of rations, so what to eat?"
I emptied the lightweight backpack inside the tent.
Water first, then meats, spices, oil, even frozen stock.
Icebox for fresh stuff too.
Backpack nearly burst.
Sorted ingredients, laid 'em all out.
Food after mountains, they say. Here to play? Eat best.
Kid days, stream trips: whole chicken stew, chilled watermelon dessert; cool evenings, grilled meat on charcoal, pineapple bites.
"Gotta eat hearty."
Menu decided.
Packed leftovers neatly in the icebox.
Grabbed cookware and folding table, headed out.
Clear skies.
No rain worries, so set up the table carefree.
Placed the mana-stone portable stove on it.
Click-click, flames roared.
Pot on top, filled with water.
Generous salt, boil, then spaghetti in.
Leave it.
7-8 minutes for perfect al dente.
Meanwhile, oil in another pot, sauté minced garlic.
Fragrance rising, add chopped onion till translucent, dump in tomato sauce and tomatoes.
Mash tomatoes with spatula, add pre-ordered student cafeteria meatballs.
Know how good meatballs half-submerged in red sauce taste? No explanation needed.
Grated cheese on top too.
"About ready now."
Drain spaghetti, toss into sauce.
Splash pasta water to emulsify, adjust thickness.
When noodles and sauce melded well, killed the flame.
Unfolded a chair before the table.
Pulled the pot right up—no plate needed.
Fork-split a meatball, rolled with noodles, big bite.
"Whew..."
Fresh off the fire, hot.
But tangy tomato brightness and juicy meatball harmony shone through.
Acidity cut the richness perfectly.
Subtle garlic note, just right.
"Eating outdoors hits different."
Wind-shaken leaves rustled pleasantly.
Sunny Forbidden Forest? Spectacular.
Rare to see trees thicker than people tower to the sky.
Nature's grandeur as side dish? Can't taste bad.
Ah, too good.
Wish I could eat peaceful meals like this forever.
Lifelong peace? Dream come true.
"Kyaaaah!!"
...
Every time I wish for peace, something happens.
"My luck's like that..."
Looks like no peace today either.