Hunting Practicum (1)
Saturday morning. I woke to sunlight streaming through the window. Judging by the sun's high position, it was already noon.
"Slept a long time, huh."
"Yes, you slept quite late, Young Master. All the way till noon. You must have been exhausted from last night's work."
"Huh?"
As I stretched, a familiar voice came from beside me.
"Why are you here?"
Elraim sat quietly in a chair by the bed. She was my guard, but she respected my privacy and never entered my room uninvited. Sure, it was probably because she didn't want to run into me, but she never just barged in.
"I came to check on your condition, Young Master."
"I see."
She sounded like she was making excuses. She couldn't hide the faint longing in her voice at all. Remembering yesterday, I decided to let it slide.
"Did the cleanup go well?"
"Yes. They cooperated quite kindly once I mentioned the family name."
"Figured as much."
The Arden family was the Tiran Empire's sole founding contributor. On top of that, the first emperor and the first family head were the closest of friends. That made the Arden family's influence in the empire immense—nearly on par with the imperial family itself. Sure, the royals had granted us plenty of authority and privileges, but even without those, our power was formidable.
"It should all be wrapped up in a couple more days."
"No need to report to me. With Bellum dead, Cantia is finished anyway."
All I needed from them was Bellum's corpse. The rest was useless. With just Bellum, Cantia could be rebuilt anytime.
"If that's your will, Young Master, then so be it."
Elraim bowed deeply. That's when I noticed the large sack beside her—the pile of gold coins I'd told her to bring yesterday.
"You brought it."
"Yes, since you asked me to."
"Hm..."
I stared at Elraim steadily.
"Is something wrong?"
She looked puzzled as she asked. I answered honestly.
"You seem... different somehow."
How to put it? Her tone and vibe had softened. Gentler than yesterday. Not her usual sharp edge.
"Did something happen yesterday?"
And her mana... it felt different from yesterday too.
Oh, no way.
A uneasy thought crossed my mind. As if confirming it, Elraim said,
"I had a small... enlightenment."
"Nice. Expert Upper now?"
"Yes."
It was five months faster than in the novel, but I congratulated her anyway.
"I'm glad I could share this with you first, Young Master."
Her words left my mind blank. I couldn't break the mood.
"Thanks for telling me."
She smiled softly at my response.
"You've really gone back to your old self. This suits you best, Young Master."
"I don't feel any different..."
"Doesn't matter if you don't realize it. It's nice to see anyway."
Seemed like my physical reactions to her were showing through.
"More importantly, Young Master."
"Yeah, what is it?"
"About what I mentioned yesterday..."
"Bringing me to the family?"
"Yes. I reported the dawn incident to the family this morning, and it's been canceled."
"Good."
"...It was my doing, but this isn't something to brush off lightly."
My calm reaction seemed to irk her a bit.
"Hey, it worked out fine, didn't it?"
"I'm sorry. I acted rashly..."
"Nah, my fault too. Should've reined you in sooner."
If I'd known it'd turn out like this, I'd have just fucked her ages ago. That would've solved everything quicker and simpler.
"Enough gloomy talk. I'm fine."
"But..."
Her voice dripped with guilt, so I murmured softly,
"Nuna. I'm okay, really."
"Eek..."
Elraim blushed again. Her reaction never got old.
"Anyway, aren't you hungry? We've got money now—wanna grab food in the capital?"
"I'm fine, but... may I ask what the money's for?"
"What, you think I'll blow it on something weird?"
"It's no small sum."
Fair concern. Ten million gold wasn't pocket change. I wasn't planning to blow it all anyway—that'd be a disaster.
"I'll tell you later."
"Understood."
"You're taking that awfully well."
"I know better than to pry after what happened last time."
I grinned teasingly.
"Shall we go then, Nuna?"
"...Yes, Young Master. Let's."
Elraim stood stiffly from the chair, avoiding my gaze and staring straight ahead. I followed her out of the room, then the dorm. She kept her head forward the whole way. Then she paused.
"Young Master."
"Yeah?"
Her soft voice brimmed with embarrassment.
"If it's alright with you..."
She hesitated, her neck flushing red.
"When it's just us... could you keep calling me that, like now...?"
Her squeezed-out words were so quiet, barely audible by the end. If I weren't close, I wouldn't have heard. Her new side was adorable. The novel didn't show much of side characters like her anyway. Maybe this was just for me.
I replied brighter than ever.
"Sure. But how long you gonna stare ahead?"
Elraim finally turned. Her face was tomato-red. She couldn't hold back and covered it with both hands.
"Don't do that—lower your hands."
I held out mine, as if to say put it here instead.
"Nuna, I'm hungry."
Prodded like that, she reluctantly lowered her hands and gently placed hers on mine. Calluses everywhere, scars of a knight's glory, but I didn't mind.
"Take good care of me today, Nuna."
"You too, Kyle..."
We walked side by side. And I thought,
This—getting close to someone I like, not just through talk—ain't half bad.
Really, not bad at all.
One month later. Enough time to adapt to any place's vibe and routine. Around now, the academy runs special classes. Joint practicum for first- and second-years. They pair up across years. Content varies by department, but Magic and Knight departments head out hunting. Combat-focused, after all. Just like the entrance exam, the two departments team up: one first-year mage, one second-year knight.
Third-years sit it out. As the seniors, they're graduation class now, prepping hard for the real world in a few months.
Hunting Field. That's what they call today's practicum site. Outside the academy, teeming with monsters—goblins, orcs, kobolds mostly. Deeper in, trolls or ogres. But it's a controlled training ground: population managed, strictly supervised, weakening magic over the whole field. Safe enough.
"Crowded..."
About 2,400 people. Spread over ten entrances, that's still 240 per spot. Way too many. Blame Tianis Academy's sheer size—bigger than most cities.
"Kyle~!"
A bright, lively voice rang out. Rana came running from afar.
"Hey!"
She beamed happily upon reaching me.
"You got assigned here too?"
"Yup! Lucky me, same spot as you."
Hunting Field Sector 1 entrance. Where I was waiting. Rana was slotted here as planned.
"You okay, though?"
"Told you, I'm fine. Don't worry."
Rana's tone was full of concern. Saturday dawn bullshit, lunch with Elraim, then work—nearly killed me. Sunday, my face was a corpse; everyone I met fretted. Even Ruina Lindel told me to rest. I holed up in the dorm that day.
"Still hurting? Try this."
"What's that?"
"Ginseng. Grandpa says it's great for low energy."
Ratral Heytald was nobility and a high-circle mage. His family had herbs galore. Ginseng in fantasy? Akacheonma was penned by a Korean, after all. The continent's east had that oriental vibe.
"Tell him thanks."
I popped the ginseng in my mouth. Bitter as hell, but for health's sake, I powered through.
"Ugh, so bitter..."
"Here, cola."
"Thanks."
I chugged her drink. Bitterness lingered.
"Couldn't stomach it myself. You handle it well."
"Not our generation's taste. I'm forcing it down."
We could eat monster meat too, but tastes run to salty, sweet, spicy kicks. If my body's condition allowed, I'd skip it. Absolutely.
"Bring more next time?"
"Pass."
I politely declined. Too brutal otherwise. She knew ginseng's punch and dropped it.
Meanwhile, someone approached. The protagonist, Evan, naturally.
"Hyungnim! Hey!"
Sigh, as loud as Rana.
"Hey, I'm good too..."
"Senior Rana, hi! How've you been?"
"Good! Great to see you too, Evan!"
The two greeted warmly. But I caught subtle glances passing—stuff I couldn't decipher. What do they even talk about?
"You here solo?"
"Nah, teamed with Cloi. Veil's in Sector 6."
As planned. Protagonist episodes didn't veer off.
"Saw the princess earlier, right?"
"Yeah."
"Me too."
Second-years moved first and scoped it out ages ago. Princess at the center of that group over there. She and Rana were academy heartthrobs. This area's quiet around Rana 'cause of me. After a month, rumors about me had spread wild among freshmen. Still shunning me while gossip flies. Fine by me—keeps newbies away. Except these guys.
"Senior, hi~"
Another familiar face. Acting like last time never happened, bold as brass.
"Hey."
I replied curtly. Spotting Rana, she lit up and clung on.
"Rana-unnie, hi!"
"Cloi, you too!"
Top magic students bonded them. But I couldn't leave Rana like that. Hearing a call, I separated them.
"They're calling. You and Evan."
Named Evan and Rana. Meaning they were teaming up.
"Huh? With the vice-top?"
"Yup."
"Kyle, this isn't like you."
"Fairness means balancing skills."
Uneven teams screw participation. They rank by grades and match accordingly. But glitches happen.
And the line then?
"Can't be helped. Luck's a skill too."
Founding emperor's classic. Irresponsible? His exploits proved it. Unless rigged, folks accepted it.
"Go on. They're calling again."
"Got it. See ya later."
"Hyungnim, see you in the field!"
They left. Cloi smirked beside me.
"You're such a tease, Senior."
"No idea what you mean."
"Had to ruin your cozy time with Unnie?"
"Shut it..."
"Oh, they called your name."
She pointed ahead, cutting me off. Sure enough, my name drifted from the end. I ignored her and walked. Didn't hear it, but I knew my partner: extra with extra. Dien, the extra. This episode let me move solo.
"Why're you following, though..."
"'Cause I'm your teammate, Senior?"
"What the..."
Arriving, the professor's voice boomed.
"Kyle Arden, Cloi. Here. Booth 17."
"Pardon?"
"You two are teamed. Stand there."
My mind went blank.
"Let's make today fun, Senior?"
She grinned, grabbed my arm, and dragged me off.