Hunting Practice (4)
The Fourth Princess, Ariel Tianis, kept finding her attention drawn to the group behind her.
"Kyle, aren't you hungry? I packed sandwiches—want one?"
"Ah! Me too, sis!"
It was no wonder, with all the chatter coming from back there. The vibe made it feel like they were just out for a stroll. At least around those three.
"Today's chicken sandwiches. How are they? Tasty?"
"Tasty."
"So tasty, sis!"
"Hehe."
They were sharing their packed lunch amiably. It looked so natural. Staring at them like this, she almost wondered if they were really out here for hunting practice or just on a picnic.
"Evan and Your Highness want some too?"
Then she turned to Ariel and her junior, offering them some. Ariel smiled and held out her hand.
"Thank you."
"Thanks for the meal!"
Ariel didn't refuse. They'd been moving nonstop, and it was nearly lunchtime—she was a bit hungry. They'd been given emergency rations, but a sandwich was better for calorie intake.
She even shared one with Dien, who was trailing behind, before returning to her spot. And then she resumed chatting with Kyle Arden, sticking right by his side.
"Thirsty? I've got cola, orange juice, and milk."
"What, you hauling around a whole store?"
"You like them all, so I brought everything."
"Milk for me~!"
"...Just give him the cola."
"Here!"
Princess Ariel watched the scene unfold with a peculiar expression. It reminded her of something.
A mother bird and her baby bird?
Yeah, that fit perfectly. Rana fed him, and he took it. Spot on.
A little surprising...
Ariel had already heard that the two hung out together often. There were even eyewitness accounts of them going out recently. But she'd never seen them sticking this close before. Especially not Rana walking so intimately by his side—it was a bit of a shock to the princess.
The Rana Heytald that Ariel knew wasn't the type to cling to just anyone.
Her ability to judge personalities by scent. Few even in the imperial family knew about it, herself included. That's why Ariel knew how much Rana had suffered growing up. She even knew academy life was tough for her.
Rana was popular, with crowds always swarming her, bombarding her with all sorts of scents. No way academy life was easy. Ariel herself had struggled before mastering control over her own ability. How much harder must it have been for Rana, born with it?
That's why there were all those stories about Rana. She'd vanish right after lectures. She never spoke to or even approached students she disliked. Or she'd challenge overly clingy ones to duels and get them expelled.
Other students didn't know the details, but Ariel understood exactly why Rana went that far. It showed she hated wicked people. And that, in turn, was proof that Kyle Arden—the academy's villain—had changed his ways. Otherwise, her behavior made no sense.
And...
The pink aura swirling around Rana. Ariel knew what that emotion meant. The academy was full of it—you saw it everywhere if you looked.
"They make a good pair, right?"
A voice snapped Ariel out of her thoughts.
"Ah, Evan..."
It was her junior, Evan Felix. Remembering the earlier incident, Ariel threw up a mana barrier.
"Whoa, what's that technique?"
"I'll tell you later. But what do you mean 'good pair'?"
"Just what I said. Senior Rana and Kyle hyung. Not a bad combo, huh?"
"......"
Honestly, they didn't look bad together. Both good-looking, with Rana chattering endlessly and him responding curtly—it evoked a couple. They suited each other, sure. But that didn't mean Ariel approved. Rana was too precious to lose.
"Hyung's denser than he looks. Anyone can see Senior Rana likes him—it's obvious. I gave him some advice; hope it works."
"I can't agree. Kyle Arden's always been sharp as a tack. That's his strength."
"Huh? Really?"
Evan practically floated a question mark over his head.
"Then... is he just acting?"
"That's a strength too, but no, not acting. He might find it annoying, but he doesn't hate it."
"What about Cloi?"
Ariel glanced at Cloi on the other side.
"Senior, senior."
"What."
"Pay some attention to me too~!"
No, it was obvious from her tone.
"Cloi's the opposite of Rana—she's hated."
"Ha... Poor Cloi. She's trying so hard."
"Yeah. Takes guts to act like that..."
What charm did that guy hold to make them flock like this? Ariel could only wonder.
"By the way, Evan. Since when do you call him 'hyung'?"
"Not long. About... two weeks?"
"Mind if I ask why?"
"He hates being called 'senior' by guys."
Ariel was a bit exasperated by his attitude of deciding titles on a whim.
"Why 'hyung' specifically? He's got nothing respectable about him."
There was no need for formal address, and "hyung" was friendly enough. Plus, without respect, keeping it up would've been tough.
"Ah, Your Highness fought hyung, right?"
"Less a fight, more making him pay for his crimes."
"Yeah, he said he was in the wrong."
Evan pondered for a moment. Ariel found even that intriguing, like the girls did.
Evan had clearly sensed something others missed. Finished thinking, he leaned close to Ariel.
"This was my little secret, but since it's you, I'll tell. Keep it secret, okay?"
"My lips are sealed—spill."
Evan whispered right by her ear, voice as low as possible.
"You know the story Veil and I are still hiding?"
"The opponent you fought?"
"Yeah."
The top student Veil Arden and runner-up Evan still hadn't revealed who they'd fought. The fastest way was asking them directly, but they never budged. Why bring it up now?
Before she could voice it, Evan answered.
"Truth is... it was Kyle hyung."
"What?!"
Princess Ariel jumped in shock.
"Ehehe, keep it down. What if others hear?"
"S-Sorry. That guy was Kyle Arden?"
"Yup."
Her jaw dropped at his firm confirmation.
"No way..."
"It's true. You should've seen how shocked I was when hyung turned out to be the underachiever."
It sounded absurd. But he showed no sign of lying. Her mind-reading only confirmed his words' accuracy.
But...
If true, he'd hidden his strength all this time. But his personality made that impossible—he loved showing off. She still remembered last summer, when he'd swung around his new magic sword like crazy. He'd caused a scene at the training grounds and gotten wrecked by a senior. Then he showed up with another one later to brag. That's when she realized: he craved superiority, flaunting how he was better than others.
"Evan. You're sure?"
"Yes, I swear on the six gods—absolute fact."
Invoking the gods meant it was ironclad truth.
"Ha..."
Princess Ariel sighed deeply. She had no idea how to process this. Her views were flipping upside down, twisting her perception at the root.
With a heavy heart, she looked toward the source. He was beckoning them over. As she dropped the mana barrier, his voice came through.
"We've reached the domain edge."
Kyle Arden's voice.
"Yes, looks like it."
Ariel Tianis replied.
Every hunting field has a boss monster ruling each zone—the so-called owner or boss. Bigger than regular monsters, far stronger. They resist weakening spells, retaining 80% of their full power. Tough for solo students; needed at least five mid-tier teams.
But we could handle it. Just three teams, but top-tier. The grade's strongest gathered. Minus one, anyway.
Catching these during practice earned rewards.
Dunno what, but it'll be good.
In the story, Evan fails the boss hunt. Or rather, the practice ends because of me attacking students. Can't continue after that. Evan gets his sword next year's practice. Rewards vary yearly; this year's skipped, next year he gets the sword.
"Professors say Zone 1's boss is a golem."
Professors leak info yearly since students always challenge them. Safety measures or not, unknown monsters could injure badly.
Our zone: golem. A massive one, size of four orcs combined.
"Golem cores are in each arm, leg, head, and heart. To fully disable, destroy in order: legs, arms, head, heart."
That was the strategy. Seemed too detailed, but even then, infirmary was packed.
"They don't reveal attack patterns though. We'll figure it out in combat. Probably huge body slams or limb swings."
Our golem favored physical over magic. Ariel's guess spot-on.
"Evan and I take front. Okay with you, Evan?"
"Of course!"
Evan shouted confidently.
"Cloi and Dien, rear—pepper with strong spells."
"Y-Yes! Your Highness...!"
"Got it~"
Then to Rana.
"Rana, mid—harass boss, block escapes. You're our strongest firepower, but gotta give juniors a shot."
"Sure, fine."
Last, me. Ariel said,
"You... support me and Evan."
"Got it."
I accepted readily. Despite the ad-hoc team, she'd assigned fitting roles. Support suited me fine.
Formation set. Now just fight the golem.
"Everyone, do your best."
With Princess Ariel's encouragement, we advanced.
Thud! Thud!
Right away, we encountered Zone 1's boss golem.