First Evaluation in the Eoduk Forest (2)

Slash!

The barg shattered. I'd moved along the red line, and right after, I dropped to one knee.

"Urghhh…."

"You okay, Yufir?"

"Y-yeah."

Bina rushed over to support me, but I forced a smile and stood on my own. I'd killed three without using the red line, and had to support Edmon and Bina for the other four, so I'd stared straight at the red lines.

"Hoo… Guess this means I'm finally getting the hang of it."

Real-time eye reinforcement with reduced mana consumption was paying off.

"Area's cleared."

Edmon wiped the blood from his sword and sheathed it. Behind him, barg corpses were piled high.

"We should camp here."

Pop!

"Fire goes here." Bina stacked firewood and dry leaves, then held her hand over it. Blue particles gathered, glowing red.

Snap! She flicked her fingers, and flames erupted.

"Bina, you know magic?!"

"A little? Not enough to call me a full mage or anything."

"Well… Most academy grads can handle basics."

Edmon sat by the fire as if it were natural.

"Edmon, what's the plan for tomorrow? Oh, today… we never spotted the Al Miraz after all."

I hadn't expected it to be easy, but I never thought we'd go a full first day without seeing one.

"No choice but to push deeper. But from here on, even my recon buddies haven't scouted."

"Isn't that… dangerous?"

Edmon pondered Bina's question.

"Barg aside, expect boars too."

"The wild boar monster, right?"

"Yeah. Just dodge the straight charges… but one hit shatters bones, so stay sharp."

Still, untouched areas meant higher odds for Al Miraz, Edmon said, asking our thoughts. Bina and I exchanged glances and decided quickly. Wandering nearby after coming this far would be pointless.

"Let's go."

"W-we're going…?!"

"Got it."

And so our first camp passed uneventfully.

Edmon's judgment was spot on.

"Herd it this way!"

The sun at its peak. We'd finally spotted the elusive Al Miraz.

Papapapak!

Rabbit monster, Al Miraz. Pure white like a painting, with horns. Bigger than normal rabbits, speed unreal.

"Whoa, it's insanely fast?!"

We scattered to herd it. Chasing from behind was futile.

Papapapak!

"Yufir! Coming your way!"

Edmon lured it toward Bina and me as much as possible. We had to run ahead and intercept.

Then Al Miraz zigzagged straight at me.

"Just a bit closer…!"

I drew my dagger, glaring at the approaching beast. The moment it entered range, I'd slash the red line mercilessly.

Make it count here!

Rumble….

The ground shook.

"Huh?"

Rumble rumble rumble!

Vibrations intensified, noise closing in. A tree crashed beside me. A shadow-hidden silhouette emerged, revealing its form.

"Kueeeek!"

Boar monster, board. But its size was beyond imagination. I knew it was big, but this? Towering, charging wildly.

"Yufir!"

Edmon and Bina yelled. Yeah, the board was barreling right at me.

"Aaa… screw it!"

I stared at the board's red line. Let instinct take over.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Smashing trees and rocks, it charged. As it reached me, I kicked off the ground, leaping high. Eyes wide, fixated on its massive vital point.

Red line—no, more like a dot.

I mounted the board, stabbing the dagger into the red dot near its neck.

Squelch! Twisted deep.

No matter how huge or tough-skinned, vitals exist. The feral gleam faded from its eyes.

"D-did I… definitely kill it?!"

But the charge didn't stop. This hulking corpse racing on, oblivious to death?

"U, uwaaaaa?!"

I clung dagger-first to the board. Edmon and Bina receded fast as I screamed.

"Yu, Yufi…!"

"I'm fi—urgh, not fine!"

Finally found the Al Miraz. Lose it now, who knows when next?

"I-I'll be back soooon—AAAAAAGH!"

My scream echoed through the forest.

Edmon and Bina hurried as fast as they could. Al Miraz was top priority now.

"Is Yufir… okay?"

Bina kept glancing back. Edmon slowed to match her pace.

"She'll be fine."

"How do you know?"

"Remember the crow on us?"

"Oh, yeah. It watched our camp ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from above."

The crows scattered pre-evaluation. Instructors surely monitored via them.

"When Yufir got caught in the board, I sent ours her way."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Instructors probably prioritized her danger over us."

"Phew… good if they're watching."

Bina sighed in relief. At least no worst-case.

"And Yufir's no pushover… no need to worry too much."

Bina giggled at Edmon's unexpected words, punching his back.

"Ack…."

"Yeah, you're right."

She nodded, but couldn't help it. Yufir triggered her protective instincts.

She's just too cute.

Inevitable, really.

Screeeee!

A wind-cutting whoosh. Thud! The leading Al Miraz tumbled.

Edmon and Bina halted, drawing swords. Edmon eyed the arrow's path and the beast alternately.

Some skill.

Al Miraz moved irregularly at top speed. Nailing its head?

Monster hunter.

They tensed. A man emerged from bushes, camouflaged with leaves and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠branches.

"Ha, why so guarded."

Crossbow in hand, sword at waist, he strolled out casually.

"Anyone'd think we eat people."

"We?"

Edmon scanned; comrades appeared from everywhere.

"Edmon! Behind too…."

No escape.

"Hmm~ Nabbed a rabbit, hooked extras."

"Halt."

Edmon gripped his sword tighter, loosening his tie. Slowly drew up mana.

"Haha, playing city suit? Still baby-faced. Green kids…."

The hunter—Bran?—stopped. A blue ring encircled Edmon's blade.

"Knight?"

"Back off."

"One ring. 1st ring realm."

Others hesitated at the aura ring.

"Bran! You sure? That kid's an aura user!"

"Ring… shit, a brat?!"

"We outnumber 'em, right?"

Bran sighed deeply.

"Damn gutless punks."

Bang! He fired the crossbow at Edmon.

Clang! Edmon deflected with his sword. Clean, superb reflexes.

Bran's lip twitched.

"Not bad."

Tossed the crossbow, drew his sword.

"Young knight, confident?"

Bran drew mana. Zzzt. A yellow ring formed on his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blade.

"That trick ain't yours alone."

Edmon bit his lip. If only he alone wielded aura, odds favored. But a peer meant he'd have to hold this one solo.

"Bina."

"Yeah…."

"Survive."

"You too. Win."

Clang! Clear steel rang through the forest.

"Urp."

I've always skipped amusement parks. Nothing to ride!

Carousel's my limit. No way I'd handle loops, flips, drops. Not even for a knife to the throat… okay, maybe then.

"Ughheeeek."

Gut emptied, I surveyed. Deep in now. Dense trees blocked most sun.

Prod prod.

Poked the nearby board corpse.

"Won't… move, right?"

It stopped only after cliff-smashing. How does a dead thing run? Terrifying.

"Gotta head back…."

Hooo.

Alone in Eoduk Forest. Sun setting, gloom thickening.

"Ahahaha."

Fucked.

Backtrack here? Unknown horrors ahead? How far did I go? Can I return quick? Edmon and Bina probably caught Al Miraz, now rescuing me? Yeah, definitely.

"They have to!"

Prod. Prod.

"Ugh…."

Tears welled. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠This world was too harsh. Fear everywhere. Edwin would call this child's play, just the start. Damn, I've never finished a single horror game.

Leveled up. Straight to enhancing.

Sniff. Wiped my nose.

Even now, pulling Epic lifted my spirits a bit.

Can't expand mana pool, huh….

Musing, I crept through the forest. Scary, but standing still felt worse.

"If I could do… everything I want… it'd be nice… ughh! Sky-high… earth-deep… so many… dreams…."

Butchered a song to soothe terror.

Crunch!

"GYAAAAH?!"

Sudden noise—screamed, tripped. Shaking, looked up at the tree.

"Wh-what…?"

A crow, ink-black.

"C-crow!"

Arms up, I hopped in place.

"Heeey~!"

Gesturing wildly, it tilted its head, then landed.

Suddenly not alone—relief washed over. I squatted before it.

"Um… anyone listening?"

Silent. No speech function?

What to call the watcher beyond?

Staring intently.

"Mr. Crow."

"?"

Tilted head. Unclear reaction.

"C-can you lead me to my friends…?"

Whispering, scanning around.

"I'm so scared, lost the path… someone guide me, please…."

Crow still.

"Pleease…!"

Pleading, hands clasped. It turned sharply.

"Gasp, nooo?!"

Heart broke. Monster roar—clutched head, trembling, last resort.

"Th-that… know Edwin Urbanite?"

Crow whipped back. Memory: formal agent summoned it. Leverage connections?

"If you guide me… I'll put in a good word with Team Leader Edwin… we're super close! Really! This dagger's from him!"

Crow eyed dagger and me, tilting.

"Caw…."

Weird sigh? Flapped wings.

Sighed? Felt like it got the point.

"CAAAW!"

It flew off slowly.

"Ooh! L-let's go!"

Steps lightened.