Camping with the Demon (3)
The students scattered. Each group ventured into the forest to find a spot for their tents.
"Isn't this spot good?"
It was flat and spacious. Group 3 claimed the first prime location—an open clearing with just the right amount of tree shade and even ground. It looked perfect.
But one student muttered, "Isn't this the place the teacher mentioned earlier?"
"What'd she say?"
"...Can't remember."
"It'll be fine."
Group 3 spread out their tent.
Group 4, meanwhile, was already fracturing amid debates over their site.
"I like that side better."
"It's sloped there."
"How about here? It's flat."
"But the ground's kinda mushy."
"Should we level it first?"
"I dunno, I'm starving—can't think straight."
"Then let's hurry up and pitch it so we can eat!"
Voices rose higher. Hunger made tempers short, and with no lunch in their bellies, patience was in short supply.
Pitching the tents wasn't smooth either. Most students had never done it before.
"Where does this pole go?"
"No instructions?"
"Dunno? Maybe inside there?"
"Obviously it fits here, right?"
Snap.
"...It broke."
"Hey!!!!!!"
Similar chaos unfolded in Group 2.
"Hyein, hold this."
"Okay."
Hyein gripped the pole. Another group member pulled the fabric taut from the opposite side.
"Now, drive the stakes in like this..."
Collapse.
The tent crumpled limply.
"..."
"Wrong stake positions, I think."
"That's what we did last time."
Hyein stared blankly at the fallen tent.
"Let's start over from the beginning."
She said it quietly. The group sighed but unfolded the tent again.
Group 1. Isol rummaged through the tent bag and found the manual.
"Lay down the ground sheet, cross the poles in an X, then hang the inner tent."
"This the sheet?"
Jinho picked up the waterproof tarp. The poles crossed, the inner tent went up, stakes hammered in one by one.
Thunk.Thunk.Thunk.
The tent took shape, clumsy but decent enough.
"Not bad? Feels kinda legit."
"Haa, whatever. I'm starving..."
Harin flopped onto a nearby boulder.
"Survival kit has chocolate and pound cake. Want some...?"
"...That's real emergency rations."
Harin sighed heavily. For someone who swung a massive axe like it was nothing, low calories hit hard.
"So, what do we need right now? Fire and water?"
Isol asked, hands on hips.
Jinho crouched in the clearing in front of the tent, log in hand.
"Anyone fetch water? I'll try starting the fire."
"Can't you just tell Ruby?"
"Might start a forest fire..."
"Nyaong."
"Let's try first. If it fails, then ask her. Scared she'll burn everything."
"I'll get the water."
Seha grabbed the canteen and stood.
"Remember the source? It's a hike."
Isol asked.
"Kinda. Big rock on the way."
Seha filled the empty pot from the bottled water.
"Huh? Why? Filling that too?"
"No, wait... Ariella. Got a sec?"
"Yes?"
"Cut the top like a funnel, poke holes here."
Ariella blinked at the sudden call but summoned her spirit sword and modified the bottle as asked.
Seha soaked pound cake in water and mashed it into balls.
Jinho nodded knowingly. "Fish trap, huh?"
"Yeah... Can't starve till tomorrow. Figured we'd make fish stew at least."
"Ooh... Where'd you learn that?"
Seha recalled Dahong watching survival docs when bored. She'd eyed the expert making tools from scraps to catch food, intrigued. Something about the weak's struggles being entertaining. Anyway, she'd picked it up then.
Having converted all bottles to traps, Seha headed down the forest path with canteen and traps in tow.
Hope there are lots of fish.
A short walk revealed the big rock from scouting. If memory served, the source was just ahead.
Sure enough, water sounds soon followed.
Trickle-trickle.
A small stream wove between rocks.
Found it.
Seha stepped on a rock and climbed upstream.
But then.
"Hm?"
Presences at the source. Group 2. Two filling canteens, three standing guard.
Seha waved cheerfully. "Hey, guys!"
A Group 2 boy turned—the one from the mall who'd thanked Seha for recommendations. His eyes twitched, face falling into dismay. Not happy to see him, but regretful.
Seha approached with an innocent smile. "You guys here for water too?"
"..."
The students looked bitter but blocked his path.
"...Sorry, Yoo Seha."
"Huh?"
"Can't let you past."
"...What?"
Another girl stepped forward. "We secured this source. Want water or fish? Hand over a flag."
"..."
Seha finally got it. Group 2 looked apologetic but hands rested on gear. In the corner, Hyein met his eyes, then averted hers awkwardly.
Guess this is what Baek-sensei aimed for.
Seha raised his hands with a smile. "Ah, can't be helped then. Too bad, but I don't have a flag on me right now."
"Yeah... Sorry. Don't take it bad."
"Nah, it's fine. That's the training for ya."
Seha turned back, source right there.
Seha returned, traps unchanged. Harin tilted her head.
"Why'd you come back empty?"
Seha explained.
"What? They occupied the source?"
Harin scowled.
"Eh, smart—grab the key spot, charge tolls. Solid strategy."
Jinho defended Group 2.
But the issue was no water now. They'd poured initial bottles into the pot, but rationing wouldn't last. Day one maybe, day two? Gone.
"We all go, we can take it. No group beats us in a straight fight."
Harin cracked her knuckles.
Isol opposed. "Last resort. While we fight them off, noise draws 3 or 4. They join or hit us tired."
"Make alliances?"
"If we act threatening."
Isol stated firmly. True—Group 1 was Class A's strongest, thus most watched.
Silence fell.
Then.
"Let's wait."
Seha said. All eyes turned.
"...Wait?"
Harin asked.
"Yeah. Just a bit."
Seha crouched, drawing a wavy line— the stream. A circle beside: '2'.
"Group 2 monopolized it? But everyone's thirsty."
"..."
"3 and 4 will come too. Same clash."
Seha added X's near the source.
"No need for us—fights'll break out."
Isol narrowed her eyes. "Strike during the chaos?"
"Yeah. While they clash, we grab water, set traps. Too busy to notice us."
"And then?"
"Post-fight, losers or winners exhausted. Ally with the last group..."
Riiiip. He drew a line, splitting into two.
"2 vs 1 vs 1."
"..."
"We stay out: full stamina, more intel. Advantage ours."
Jinho whistled. "Nice."
Isol nodded slowly. "Not bad."
Harin glanced aside—at Dahong leaning against a tree.
"Wait, do we even need this?"
"...?"
"That summon joins? Flags done. She'd want BBQ too."
All looked at Dahong. True—if she moved, no occupation or alliances mattered.
Jinho nodded. "Fair point. Dahong moves, forget flags or water—could just steal meat."
Seha stayed quiet, then spoke.
"Not using Dahong."
"...?"
Harin tilted her head. Isol blinked.
"Seha?"
"This is training."
Seha's tone was firm. "Rely on her, we gain nothing. We'd kick away our growth chance."
Harin eyed him, started to argue, but shut her mouth at his expression. No joking mood.
Isol, Jinho, Ariella silent.
Seha to Dahong. "Dahong."
Dahong, legs crossed, gaze elsewhere, turned slowly.
"Don't join this training."
"..."
Her red eyes met his.
"Do what you want."
She snapped her head away.
Seha bowed. "Thanks."
"But grill seasoned ribs after. Or else."
"Haha, I'll try."
Seha smiled.
"Alright, let's keep planning."
Meanwhile, at the source. Group 2 leader Choi Wonhyuk stood by the water, eyeing downstream.
"Block the flow."
"...Block it?"
"Yeah. They'll have to negotiate. All of them."
Hyein hesitated. "Other groups won't sit idle."
Wonhyuk stabbed his greatsword into the ground.
"Not dragging it out. All or nothing—before dinner."
"Lure them in."
"Right. But not blindly."
"Then?"
"High ground boosts odds. Block flow, prep for fight—we can handle multiples."
Group members exchanged looks. Reckless, but logical.
Source sat high topographically. Defending down vs attacking up? Worlds apart.
Blocking drew everyone here—but they'd check each other.
3 and 4 climbing together? Perfect trust? Or eyeing backs?
"They clash first. We hit the weakened."
Wonhyuk said.
"Not 1v3—three 1v1s."
"..."
Expressions shifted.
"Good. Let's do it."
"Yeah, skip a meal's fine. All-in better."
Wonhyuk nodded, scanned around.
"Block before sunset, tidy terrain too."
Group 2 rose.