Hunt (1)
The next morning.
A new notice had been posted on the bulletin board in the corridor in front of the dormitories.
Participants: Libiel Kirchheis (2nd year), Kirian Kirchheis (1st year), Mihaden Kirchheis (1st year), Lorang Hoyd (1st year)
Hunting Location: Eternal Forest Sector 1
Target: Beginner-level kobolds
Duration: 3 hours after noon
Supervising Professor: Schud Rapens
I skimmed the content and returned to my room.
Since it started after noon, I figured I'd do some mana training in the meantime.
Closing my eyes, I sent mana circulating through my body, warming my channels and meridians with a distant, hazy sensation.
A smile tugged at my lips unbidden.
Then the interrupter showed up.
"Kirian, you hear about that? Lumil joined the Absolutism faction. She's doing pretty well, apparently. For a first-year, I mean."
"……."
"And there's this fourth-year disciple who's Uncle Garnas's second daughter. 'Phenol,' her name is. I call her 'that damn bitch' myself…… Anyway, she's on a hot streak too. They're saying she's a top contender for next chief trainee?"
"……."
"Hey, you listening to me? Hey! Are you even listening?!"
So damn noisy.
It hadn't changed a bit from our days at Kirchheis Castle.
Unable to endure Libiel's interruptions, I sighed and opened my eyes.
Training method Origin of All Things is growing your Mana Heart.
Current stage: Stage 3, 78.3%.
Time remaining until Stage 4: 1 year, 30 days, 11 hours, 38 minutes.
It was the result of training my mana whenever I had a spare moment.
I still hadn't broken through Stage 3.
And once I reached Stage 4, the required time would more than double.
Procuring elixirs was one thing, but I needed to secure as much training time as possible.
But with interruptions like this…….
Should I just ship her straight back to Absolutism?
Consider Libiel's position as well. If she's deemed insufficient, she'll have to return to Absolutism, and her standing will be irreparably ruined. Of course, she'll have to repay every bit of the scholarship she received.
Who doesn't know that?
I shook my head and unfolded my legs from the lotus position.
As I massaged my stiff muscles, the impatient Libiel started chattering again.
"I caught a glimpse earlier—Mihaden took Lorang to the dean and borrowed a 'Welcome Regenerator.' Guess they're gonna do mock battles with monsters! Hey, isn't that too much? They're our cousins! Leaving us out and practicing just with Lorang?!"
It was to be expected.
Mihaden was desperate to beat me, and Lorang needed a reliable frontliner.
Of course they'd team up.
"So we gotta do something too! Let's go train! Right now!"
"Please shut up……."
Obviously, I didn't need training.
Hunting beginner-level monsters was something I could do without magic anytime.
Once my body grew a bit more, I could do it barehanded.
What bothers me more is Professor Rapens's past.
The incident from twenty years ago. Nightmares.
Because of that, Schud Rapens had become an extremely rigid professor.
What had happened?
For a mage who'd honed both magic and mind over long years of training to still suffer nightmares and scream every dawn—it had to be no ordinary matter.
Feels like choosing this hunting practice is connected to that too.
In any case, the Eternal Forest was a place I knew well.
Kobolds or whatever else—I was confident.
So my victory in this practice was practically a given.
What gave me a headache was this little brat.
"……Fine, I'll go by myself then. At least scout the terrain. No monsters out right now anyway, so it should be fine."
Libiel, rolling her anxious eyes, grabbed her outer coat.
Since I was just shrugging and not engaging, she was saying she'd go alone.
The alarmed Hierniorn fluttered up in a panic.
Tiberian! Surely thou wilt not let that little one venture out alone? As thou knowest, the Eternal Forest is inherently perilous!
I know, I know.
I clicked my tongue and stood up.
Five hundred years ago, the Allmaster had used extreme methods to train his disciples.
He'd demonized parts of this forest to continuously spawn monsters for real combat training.
The deeper in, the stronger the monsters.
And this practice was in Sector 1, right at the forest's entrance.
A place where powerful control magic manages monster types and numbers.
You could spawn exactly as many as needed, with defensive spells everywhere—no real danger.
But that was only for properly prepared combatants.
She's far from ready. And only fourteen.
If she didn't get lost wandering alone, it'd be a miracle.
In the end, I had no choice but to indulge her whining.
I trudged ahead.
"Quit messing around and let's hit the library. It's all in the books."
"Oh, literature research? Not a bad idea!"
Relieved, Libiel hummed a tune as she followed.
Then she suddenly overtook me and held something out.
A small vial with a golden shield emblem.
"It's 'Dragon Scale Potion' from my maternal family. Boosts skin toughness instantly. You know? Use it when you need it."
Oho, a strengthening agent from the Goldsmith family! 'Twill be of great aid.
"……."
I took it, but it felt weird somehow.
Was she testing me right now?
The Eternal Forest gaped its black maw.
The scenery was no different from five hundred years ago.
And at the entrance stood Schud Rapens, not smiling for once.
Such eyes I've ne'er seen before. I thought him ever-smiling.
Yeah.
His expression was so blank he looked like a tree eager to merge into the forest.
Moments later, the professor tossed out casually,
"It's pretty vast."
"Pardon……?"
"Sector 1, the practice area. Magic sets the boundaries, but you won't reach the end. Still, best not to stray too far."
His calm gaze swept over us in turn, and he explained the rules in detail.
"For the next three hours, you'll hunt beginner-level kobolds. The number of magic crystals they drop will be your score."
"……."
"Oh, and just to be clear—no tricks like submitting crystals you already had. That's double deduction. Keep that in mind."
Glancing aside, I saw a whirlwind of emotions on the kids' faces.
Yearning for victory in Mihaden's eyes.
Anxiety on Lorang's face.
Libiel beside me chewed her lip tensely.
Hierniorn chuckled at the sight.
They be but children still. Go easy on them.
No mercy in competition.
I focused on Professor Rapens's voice.
But he emphasized one part unusually.
"Attacking others during the practice is strictly forbidden. This isn't the Tomb of Books and Swords, nor a battlefield. If you're caught fighting……."
His already stern face sharpened.
The professor spoke with unprecedented firmness.
"As your homeroom professor, I'll impose the maximum penalty. Likely expulsion from the faction. Remember that too."
A strong warning.
I'd never planned that anyway, but the emphasis hinted at something.
Related to that incident twenty years ago?
Still just a hunch, but plausible.
He also ruled that if any issue arose during practice, everything halts immediately, and we follow his orders. Same context.
Finishing the explanation, Professor Rapens looked at me.
"Any questions?"
As if saying speak up if you object.
I shook my head; the others did too.
"Good. Start when the signal drops."
I saw Mihaden and Lorang take light deep breaths, picking a direction.
Libiel beside me slowly raised her mana, pre-visualizing spells.
I did nothing, just endured the professor's gaze.
Professor Rapens, eyes narrowed on me, flicked his finger and parted his lips.
"Begin."
Flash!
A red flare burst from the professor's fingertip, streaking across the forest.
The signal to Sector 1's control magic.
At that, Mihaden and Lorang bolted—like a footrace into the woods.
No fixed goal in hunting practice, yet picking a direction meant—
Find a kobold cluster first, then chase and pick them off one by one.
Divide and conquer.
A classic from five hundred years ago, standard against groups.
The ones who'd opposed my idea had prepared diligently.
Right choice for their level.
But I disagreed.
I didn't move right away—instead, I waited in place first.
Which earned me a puzzled look.
"Why aren't you moving, Kirian?"
"No need to rush. Seems like it'd be a loss."
"A loss? A loss?"
Not grasping it immediately, Professor Rapens tilted his head.
Then, realizing, he furrowed his brow.
"Luring them in, perhaps?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, I see……."
The professor's eyes darkened.
A faint smile on his lips.
He nodded and passed me.
"Intriguing. Good luck, Kirian."
"……."
Professor Rapens vanished into the forest.
Libiel poked my arm.
"Luring them? What're you talking about?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Lure the prey to me."
Cast Lure the moment I step in, drawing monsters to me.
Then bombard with attack magic for mass kills.
Beginner kobolds in Sector 1 were fine with moderate attacks.
"That's why rushing is a loss. Need enough monsters spawned from the demonized zones for Lure to maximize effect."
"……You know Lure too?"
"Yeah."
"What? You've never shown it?"
"You've never asked."
"……."
Actually, a simple spell I'd skimmed from a grimoire last night.
Won't work on high-grade monsters.
But plenty good enough here.
I had other methods too.
Easier than those two who'd just dashed off.
So Libiel's next choice was spot-on.
"Can I stick with you and hunt?"
"Well……."
"I'll give you another Dragon Scale Potion! The one from yesterday!"
"Hmmm……."
"Aish! You're blowing through my scholarship! Don't be so stingy!"