Hunting Practice (3)
Anyone who crossed paths with me tended to be met with an air of awkward silence. And sure enough, it nearly happened again this time—but Cloi blocked it.
“Your Highness. What brings you here?”
“I heard the commotion and came to check. There was a loud noise, and the monsters were all heading this way, so I worried some other team might be in danger.”
The fourth princess answered her question right away.
“But did you handle this, Cloi?”
“No~ Senpai took care of almost all of it. I just helped out.”
She's spouting nonsense. I couldn't exactly shut her mouth, though.
“You...”
The princess's gaze turned toward me. It wasn't a welcoming look.
“You weren't just watching from afar?”
“Come on~ Would I lie? He was running around earlier fixing my mistake, you know? Though he did scold me for it.”
“Pardon? Scolded...? Cloi, you didn't let him do anything weird, did you? Even with Kyle Arden's recent changes, it's best to stay cautious.”
The princess asked in a concerned tone.
She hasn't completely dropped her suspicions.
Ever since the first day of sparring class—and thanks to my diligent participation—her cold, bug-eyed stares had mostly faded. I still didn't enjoy her watching me every day, but it was better than before. Even so, given my past actions, she hadn't let go of her doubts entirely.
“No need to worry. Senpai and I are pretty close. Right, senpai?”
“Let go. I've told you not to cling.”
I peeled her off me.
“Hmm...”
Ariel eyed us with intrigued curiosity.
“Well, at least you're safe. That's a relief.”
“Hehe, all thanks to senpai.”
“Kyle Arden, you did well too. Leading your juniors properly.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I gave a suitable reply to her praise.
“More importantly...”
Ariel said, inspecting the monster corpses.
“Clean kills. You did this?”
“Yeah, senpai did! Some went down in one hit, right?”
She's hyping me up way too much from the side.
“Looks like your efforts haven't been in vain.”
We shared a lot of classes, so she often ran into me—and she'd watched my training closely. Her proud gaze wasn't unfounded.
“We've confirmed it, so we'll be on our way.”
“Aw, Your Highness, where are you going?”
Cloi grabbed Ariel as she tried to leave.
“Your Highness, join us!”
“This practical emphasizes teamwork, so teaming up with others is allowed, but...”
Princess Ariel glanced my way. She was gauging my reaction.
The leader in a practical team was always a second-year. The team's movements were entirely up to the leader's judgment. Without my approval, no joining up.
“Senpai, it's okay, right? Pretty please?”
“...You won't listen anyway.”
“What? I totally respect senpai!”
More blatant lies.
“Hah... Do whatever.”
I had no choice but to say it. Even if I refused, she'd find a way to tag along with the princess.
“Your Highness, take good care of us today~?”
“Of course, Cloi.”
“Dien too?”
“Uh, y-yeah, let's do our best...”
Not a single ally on my side here. I was starting to miss someone.
“Now that we've got a group, shall we head deeper? What do you think?”
“Sure.”
The two protagonists. Plus me. Unless the zone boss showed up, we could handle most situations. And that extra Dien wasn't half bad either.
“Then let's go!”
“Cloi, stay quiet in the forest.”
As we ventured deeper, more varied monsters started appearing.
“Two orcs on the left.”
“Got it.”
I charged at the rushing orcs and slashed low across their legs. Slash! Their tough thighs split open, blood spraying. Unable to support their weight, their upper bodies toppled. I thrust forward. Whoosh! Two piercing stabs cut through the air straight into their skulls. Holes in their heads. The orcs dropped dead on the spot.
“Nice work.”
“Eyes front.”
That's when a red bear swung its forepaw at the princess. I kicked off the ground, closing the distance in an instant. Stab! I pierced its attacking paw, halting the blow. A gap opened. Princess Ariel unleashed her swordsmanship. Not flashy, but fast and efficient—her blade carved through the red bear's body. She finished by severing its throat, dyeing its red fur in blood. The red bear was dead.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Short words exchanged. No time for chit-chat in this situation.
Massive wolves, orc-sized, swarmed from all sides. The princess's side too.
“Cloi, support.”
“Got it~”
As she replied, mana pooled under the wolves' feet. A magic circle appeared, and spells activated above them. Perfect positioning. Zap...! Electricity crackled, making them convulse. Paralysis magic exploiting electrical properties. Low power, but enough to bind their movements. Crunch. My sword split a head. Brains and blood ran down the blade. But there was more than one. I turned to the remaining two, still bound.
That's when—
“W-Watch out...!”
A stammering warning rang out. Boom—!! A fireball hit a wolf's head dead-on. The explosion set its fur and flesh ablaze. Immobilized, it let out a pitiful yelp. I quickly killed the last one and cleaved the head of the howling beast.
“Whew...”
I exhaled, scanning the surroundings. The princess's side had just finished up too.
“Good work.”
“Th-Th-Thank you...!”
I praised him. His timing on the spell was spot-on, and he'd controlled it to avoid friendly fire. Plus double-casting to cover the princess. Far from Cloi's top-rank level, but solid enough not to get looked down on anywhere.
“Senpai, senpai. What about me?”
I ignored her interruption. But she wouldn't let it slide.
“Hey, senpai. How'd I do?”
“...You did well.”
No choice but to give her what she wanted. She'd keep pestering otherwise.
“Everyone did great. Dien, Cloi—both of you. And you too...”
Princess Ariel gave measured praise, then looked around. Monster corpses littered the area. All our doing.
“With more people, fighting's definitely easier.”
“Someone's got your back.”
Just two additions, but the difference was huge. If teamwork synced, we could output two or three times the power—like now. Especially with two mages: their firepower and front-line support spells made it smoother.
“Yeah. Two teams cleared this, but one more and we could've gone for the zone boss.”
“If they weren't dead weight.”
Anyone short of me or the princess would just drag us down. Better with these four. A sharp glare came from the side. The princess. She looked mildly annoyed.
“No plans to fix that attitude?”
“Not sure what you mean.”
“You know exactly. The wastrel I knew was sharper on social cues than anyone.”
As if she didn't. Kyle's one saving grace was his quick wits. That's how he survived as a wastrel so long. Princess Ariel continued calmly.
“I know you've changed lately. Compared to before... you've improved a lot. Running from that far-off dorm every morning for class—something the old you never would've done.”
“......”
“But that tone's the issue. Looking down on others. That's why your reputation lingers. You only mind your manners around me or the professors.”
That's on purpose... Of course, she had no way of knowing.
“True forgiveness starts with treating others sincerely. Actions alone won't cut it.”
Her advice kept coming. All spot-on. I just had no intention of following it.
“I know change isn't easy. You've lived that way nearly your whole life. But keep at it like you have been. You'll... surely manage.”
“I'll keep it in mind.”
“Someday, I hope only good things are said about you.”
I thought the talk with the princess was over...
“What's wrong with senpai? That tone's got its own charm, don't you think?”
“Cloi. Eavesdropping isn't nice.”
“Aw, you said it right in front of us~ How could we not hear?”
“...You're right. My fault.”
The princess conceded immediately.
“Still, be careful next time.”
“Yes~!”
After that, we spent a while cleaning up. A few bodies were fine to leave, but we'd killed plenty. Leaving them would hinder other teams. About halfway done...
Familiar figures appeared in the distance.
“Kyle!”
“Hyungnim, there you are!”
Rana and Evan. All protagonists assembled. They rode toward us on the back of Rana's summon, Nokui. The deer Ren was large enough for both. Upon arrival, they dismounted—Ren courteously bending its legs for its master.
“Only an hour in, Kyle!”
“Hyungnim, aren't you too far out?”
“Please be quiet for once.”
Of all protagonist duos, these two were the noisiest. Both so energetic.
“It's fine, Silpi's helping.”
A wind-wrapped spirit appeared above Rana's head. Silpi, the wind spirit.
“Alright... that works.”
Fair enough. Her summons hated seeing her hurt, so they always gave their all for her sake.
“Oh, Your Highness! Hi, Cloi! And... hi, Dien!”
“Didn't expect everyone gathered like this.”
The three excluding me greeted them warmly. Extra Dien blushed at Rana saying his name. Same as with Cloi—girls just did it for him.
“What brings you two here?”
“Followed hyungnim. We landed pretty far, took a while to catch up.”
“Yeah, way too spread out.”
The princess took the lead in talking.
“Why Kyle Arden...?”
“Wanted to hunt with hyungnim. Heard teaming up's allowed.”
“Me too, just!”
Princess Ariel gave me an odd look. She knew our ties somewhat, but their enthusiasm stood out.
“You were hunting just now?”
“Yeah, wrapped up twenty minutes ago.”
“Uh... too soon to move again?”
“Why?”
“Well, with six of us, why not go for the zone boss? They said there's a prize if we get it.”
“Right!”
The princess gauged our fatigue. Seeing us fine, she nodded.
“Clear this spot, rest a bit, and we can head out. Care to help?”
“Of course.”
“We'll finish quick.”
With those two joining, cleanup was fast. Especially Rana's earth spirit.
“Then let's move!”
“Zone boss is deeper in.”
The princess and Evan took point. And by my side...
“Kyle, hunting go okay?”
“Rana-unnie. Earlier, senpai was~”
...Rana and Cloi clung on. The extra Dien trailed behind.
Why's he staring like that...?
Envious eyes fixed right on us.
“Haa...”