Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Field Training that Decides the Winner (4)
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A few days after returning from the western forest with Darling, I busily made the rounds of the general stores in Pharenchia city.
The items I needed to buy were essentials for the students heading out on field training. Things like glowstones for spending the night in the forest or compasses necessary for dungeon exploration.
"Cut the rope into 7-meter lengths, and give me canteens enchanted with disposable purification magic. For potions, five low-grade and two mid-grade per backpack should do, and throw in a bottle of holy water too."
"Do you need preserved rations as well?"
"Nah, that's fine. Just toss in some bread or whatever; it'll last a few days."
The shopkeeper eyed me up and down before asking,
"Are you an adventurer?"
"I used to do something similar."
"Ah, that explains your sharp eye. But from where I stand, I see a few pieces of wasteful gear..."
"It's fine. Whip up fifty more sets just like this."
These were gear for greenhorn noble mages who weren't proper adventurers anyway. They could handle basic elemental magic no problem, so no need for flint starters, and pro-grade exploration tools would just go to waste.
Better to prioritize safety with extra monster repellents or potions, even if it jacked up the unit price. A little extra cost wouldn't be an issue.
Just like selling popcorn during the magic duel exhibition, I planned to sell survival kits this time for the field training.
Hunting down a dungeon in the forest and conquering it would take at least two or three days, so plenty of students would feel the need for these kits.
"Take thirty sets first, and we'll pack the rest into backpacks as they finish up in the workshop and send them over. Oh, what was the address again?"
"Pharenchia Academy Canteen."
"Got it."
After hitting a few more shops, I'd secured about enough for half the first-years overall. Plenty would prep their own gear too, no doubt.
Figuring that was plenty, I was heading back to the canteen when I passed right by Lushopard, one of the more famous jewelry shops even in the commercial district.
It was a high-end luxury boutique renowned as the capital's best for tech that coated gems with magic stone powder to make artifacts, plus their aesthetic designs.
The high-grade accessories under heavy security inside were out of the question. But basing it on the cheapest ones, maybe I could snag a piece or two?
Adella's germanium bracelet that she wore everywhere was nagging at me. She hadn't tossed the thing I'd given her, but what if she turned into some pseudoscience nut over it?
"Welcome. How may I assist you?"
"Looking to buy a ring."
"A gift for a lover?"
"Yeah. Show me a couple in different designs."
The clerk presented a pair: one with a blue gem, the other purple. Each embedded with low-grade artifacts. Functionally useless.
The designs were pretty, but to my eye, they all looked much the same. Liv might like one too.
I'd never seen her wear accessories, but it'd be unfair if only Adella got one.
"I'll take both."
"Yes, which would you like fitted as the men's size?"
"No, both women's."
"...?"
Luckily, I'd scrimped a bit buying survival kits, so the price worked out.
"...Trash."
I ignored the clerk's sharp glare and headed for the academy.
Passing through the main gate, I spotted Mark, worn out from failing to sneak away last night and pulling guard duty besides. He sat on a tiny chair like a gatekeeper uncle, staring blankly at the sky in the blazing sun.
"Hey, you good?"
"...Fuck grand dukes or whatever. Someday I'll turn this shit upside down."
"Why? What now?"
"Pay cut. Fuck."
Lehel? That's new. Scraping her remaining gambling funds for soul-betting wagers or what?
But last time I'd checked in, she hadn't seemed that grave.
"Why'd they dock you?"
"Listen up, Louis. Yesterday in the dungeon, I picked up this super cute doll, right? Reminded me of my daughter, so I grabbed it for her. Then today, the chairman sees me bragging to the guys, snatches it, and stomps it to pieces! Ground it to dust! Then she cuts my pay and says never bring crap like that into the academy again! Does that even make sense!?"
He jabbed a finger at his boot.
"Fuckin' obliterated it! Look, turned to powder..."
"Snap out of it, moron. How's a doll turning to powder from a stomp?"
Thwack!
"Ow! You just hit me? Taking the chairman's side!? Hah, should've known ever since you bolted to the canteen dodging the guillotine. Never figured you two were that tight..."
"Shut it and look close."
I picked up the chunk from the debris that best retained its shape. A grotesque head with a jagged break like a snapped-off horn on a Gundam figurine.
"You said you picked up a doll?"
Way too familiar. Fuck.
"Ca, Canteen Owner?"
"..."
"You look unwell, Canteen Owner. What are you pondering so deeply?"
Demon God statue. Truth be told, right after seeing Mareil's memo, I'd clocked its identity on the spot.
The reason was simple. Statues worshiping the Demon God were prime tools for black magic mediation, and I'd encountered one before.
These idols gathered demonic energy, transforming dungeon and forest monsters into magic beasts.
The massive monster wave that once engulfed Pharenchia in the past. A Demon God statue had been found then too.
I'd lost it and swept the monsters clean.
And then—
"Canteen Owner!"
"Yes?"
Darling was right in front of me. Along with dozens of blue crystal orbs.
"Lost in thought with me right here—you truly lack decorum and manners."
"..."
"Do you know? How many pound on Pharenchia's four gates just for a chance at a private dinner with me, even ten minutes?"
Despite Darling's scolding, my gaze stayed fixed on the orbs.
Through the communication magic set up in the cabin, I could see soldiers combing the dungeon and forest, clearing zones. Like a spec-ops feed.
"Wh, why, even yesterday I got dozens of marriage proposals! I may not have wide connections outside the trading company, but my popularity's pierced the heavens and reached the salons of Thessalon!"
If the Demon God statue was just debris left from the past monster wave, no need to overreact.
But Mark had mistaken it for a doll and pocketed it.
Unless it was stress hallucinations from overwork, some magic was involved.
That made it different from past remnants. Meaning, a hazard lurked in the first-years' training site.
"Can, Canteen Ow... Are you listening? Stay quiet like that, and you might fret when I snatch some random guy for a wedding. You could regret wasting this golden time..."
Ah, annoying.
"Argh! The crown of my head! Don't press there! It hurts! I'm shrinking!!"
"Get down."
"Arghhh—!"
I yanked Darling, who was writhing on the sofa, back up and pulled her close.
"Cut the nonsense and stay put. Anyway, all the second-years have arrived, right?"
"Y, yes."
"I can stick around here until my group's training starts?"
"Huh?"
Darling pinched my arm as if surprised, asking again.
"For real? Canteen Owner, seriously? You'll stay longer?"
"Yeah."
This monitoring room for real-time training eval was the best spot for quick response if shit hit the fan.
"W, well, no helping it. Normally I'd charge, but since you came all this way at my request, I'll extend it specially."
She feigned nonchalance, but her swinging legs betrayed her delight.
"That happy about it?"
"Wh-who said I was!? Just... you shot down all my invitations before. Not a word."
Well. I'd agreed this time because Darling had helped me out back when Bill got hurt and I was mentally fried.
I barely remembered it, but stiffing her in the same spot now would be wrong. She was prickly then and now alike.
"Viscountess keeps eyeing my canteen, that's why."
"Hm... Lately, I've been thinking differently. Ever heard of joint ownership?"
While trading banal chatter with Darling, I kept eyes on the soldiers beyond the orbs.
Unlike the goddess statue last time, this manifestation was a doll. And Pharenchia could trace logistics flows.
This was my chance to secure the Demon God statue and snag its tail.
A few days later, the first-years passed through the academy's main gate as dusk fell, heading for the western forest.
The students, led by professors, gripped their oversized backpacks with trembling steps.
First real combat for most. Tension was natural, save for a few.
"Pass the maps back one by one. It's the forest map. Note that while safety personnel are deployed for this field training, there are no personal protective spells like in the magic duel exhibition, so be careful."
Erzebet, Adella, and Kal formed one group, clustering together. En route, the professor's briefing continued.
"The final goal of this training is retrieving the markers inside the dungeon. Each marker is held by another student acting as guardian—you'll have to fight and claim it from them."
About forty groups, but at most ten dungeons. This training, which doubled as finals, unfolded in cutthroat competition.
"Evaluation breaks into three main parts: survival skills to last in the forest, crisis response ability, and combat prowess befitting a mage. If you've paid attention in Basic Magic Theory, you know what I mean."
"Yes!"
Real combat always had variables in magic use. Professor Roilen's closing remarks on intuitive, immediate spellcasting via emotions—drawing from one of the three primal sources, the Tree of Sephirot—not constructing domains of sky or earth, tied into that.
Upon reaching the western forest, the sight of soldiers manning a camp eased the students' nerves.
But realizing the black heart of the woods beyond the great trees was their destination ahead, they swallowed dryly.
"Ten minutes from now, at 7 p.m. sharp, the start signal. Discuss with your teammates how to spend the night."
Erzebet immediately gathered Kal and Adella. Her head was already packed with every plan to survive this forest.
"Finding a dungeon on day one will be tough. No way one's near the camp, and survival eval is a big chunk anyway."
Kal nodded too. His homeland Bachran was the wilder southern jungles, far rougher than Pharenchia.
"Let's set up sleeping spots first. Head the direction marked on the map for an hour, and we'll hit a stream. Use Your Highness's familiar to scout, then pitch camp in a good concealed spot."
"Canteens have purification magic, so that'll work. No time to forage food, so bread it is."
Starting at sunset was meant to wear them down from day one.
The yawning chairman—Lehel—off in the distance irked me for no reason.
—Alright, everyone ready? Over here!
At Professor Roilen's call, students looked up one by one. Right up to the end, Kal and Erzebet traded thoughts on acing the training.
And at last, the moment arrived. Chilly night air pierced the lungs, beast howls from the pitch dark burrowing into eardrums.
Numerous first-years gripped their wands, wary of rival groups beside them, poised to scatter into the forest at the signal.
"Adella, I trust you."
Right before departure, Erzebet turned to Adella with a resolute expression. A bit unreliable maybe, but she'd been the year rep in the magic duel exhibition—a proper mage.
The 'can't cast a single spell' label from semester start had long faded. Rumors even swirled she'd smashed up the canteen and left the second-year top in critical.
So she had to have some hidden trump card.
Ruler of the North Sea, one of the five grand dukes with unique magic paths. Erzebet's eyes brimmed with deep trust that the Roshiar name wasn't empty hype.
"You know what to do first when the signal sounds?"
"Yes."
And Adella replied to her with a serious look.
"I'm hungry."
Staring resolutely at the sinking sun on the western horizon, she pulled bread from the backpack Louis had packed.
"Eat first."