Sunday evening.
After dinner, the students gathered in small groups of threes and fives to chat or relax in their rooms. So model students were diligently preparing for tomorrow's lectures.
Ulan was one of them.
"......that's all for the announcent," said a silver-haired girl sitting next to him.
Dilia had finished her lengthy explanation. After taking a sip of cocoa with chunks of ice, she turned back to Ulan.
Do you understand up to this point?
"Um, yes, I understand," Ulan nodded.
Then he reviewed the explanations he had heard so far. Specifically, the upcoming "Practical Hunt" scheduled for tomorrow.
Monday, second week of April.
In other words, tomorrow at 6 p.m.
The practical exam for the Practical Hunt class taught by Professor Stella would comnce. The location was the forest beyond the academy's north gate, where monsters of 2-star or lower road freely.
The students will be paired up in teams of two to hunt them down.
But it's not just about hunting.
The goal of the course was to create good hunters; and that's why the exam evaluates not only their hunting skills, but also their cooperation with their teammates and even their survival.
Perhaps for this reason, the duration of the hunting exam was notably longer than other exams.
A total of 72 hours.
Up to a maximum of three days, students had to survive in the forest, hunting monsters. They were provided with a backpack containing essential items for survival and two types of weapons. Everything else needed had to be obtained directly from the forest.
'And the final grades would be based on.......'
how long they lasted in the forest and how many monsters they killed.
That's all Dilia told him.
As Ulan recalled all the details, Dilia suddenly widened her eyes, as if rembering sothing, "Oh, right." It seed she had forgotten.
"There are rewards, depending on the results."
"What kind of rewards?"
"The first-place team gets exempted from the written exam."
Ulan's eyes sparkled.
It was obvious. To soone like him, who would faint after reading just a few pages, the written exam was a terrifying ordeal, almost on par with the Trial of a Warrior.
But to be exempt?
"I guess I'll just have to go for first place."
"Yeah. We, the two of us, can do it," Dilia smiled weakly.
Afterwards, a mont of silence settled between them. Once the main conversation had ended, there was nothing left to say.
Yet, even in silence, there was a mont.
"You know, Ulan."
"Hmm?"
"What do we do now?"
It felt sowhat regrettable to part ways like this. So she coyly asked him a question. If he had so free ti, why not suggest going for a walk together? That's what she thought but Ulan's response ca back.
"I'm going to the library."
"The library?"
"I have a book to return."
And one more thing he had a reason to go to the library.
In about ten minutes, at 8 p.m., he had promised to et Noah in the reading room.
She said she had sothing important to tell .
Her face was uncharacteristically serious. Just as he was recalling Noah's expression from earlier in the cafeteria, Dilia replied, "Sure, I'll go too."
She didn't really have a reason to go to the library. Still, she wanted to be with Ulan more, so she offered to accompany him. Ulan, anwhile, nodded in agreent.
"Sure."
"Yeah."
A faint smile spread across her face and they headed straight for the library.
* * * * *
anwhile, at that mont...
Noah was already in the reading room.
She had nothing better to do, and there were so things she wanted to organize.
Squeak!
She opened her notebook and began to write notes quickly. It was a summary of the major events that would take place during the midterm exam period.
How much ti had passed?
"Okay, that's it."
After she had finished organizing everything, Noah looked satisfied.
There were two major events that would take place during the first sester midterm, and the one that Noah was most interested in is Professor Dirac's outburst.
The ti would be the last Thursday in April.
and the location was Zone Two of the Fountain of Magic.
Professor Dirac cos there for a practical exam, and after giving his students a challenging task, he abruptly and mysteriously leaves.
To enter Zone Three.
A secret job to do.
and a short ti later, Professor Dirac returns to Zone Two as if nothing had happened.
But not for long, as his scheduled exam ti cos to an end, his body disintegrates in a sudden power surge.
And he imdiately turns into a monster.
An event boss that kills indiscriminately, and a 7-star demonic beast. That's the general outline of the event.
If successful in subduing him, substantial rewards and a special key with a unique power would be obtained.
It was this key that Noah was after.
Of course, the difficulty is considerable.
The opponent was a 7-star demonic beast.
In fact, it had one of the lowest success rates in the original ga. Many gars gave up on the reward. However, Noah couldn't afford to do that, as she hadn't obtained proper rewards so far. So, she was determined to obtain this one way or another.
So this ti, .......
She decided to be honest with Ulan and ask for his cooperation.
Because Ulan's strength was essential for a safe subjugation. Also, making hasty plans like last ti and failing to get the reward would be problematic.
Noah made a firm resolution.
While she was contemplating this...
Ding! Dong!
the bell chid from the clock tower, signaling 8 p.m.
Noah imdiately rembered the appointnt she had with Ulan.
There was only one reason to take him aside; she had sothing important to tell him.
A Practical Hunt exam was scheduled for tomorrow.
This exam, in which Ulan will participate, will be the second major event of the midterms.
Imdiately following the thought, Noah's face visibly hardened.
......The Abyss Worshipper Incident.
The Abyss Worshippers are literally beings who worship the Abyss; their purpose is to open the gates of the Abyss and summon abyssal beings, and eventually beco apostles granted grace by the abyss.
A troubleso opponents at first.
Abyss worshippers were mostly mages; many of them were crazed mages who dabbled in forbidden magic, making them formidable opponents when encountered early on.
The problem was that these abyss worshippers, and on top of that, tomorrow night, will pass through the northern forest; not alone, but in a group.
Soon after recalling this much...
Noah opened her notebook. It was to review the flow and outline of this incident once again.
The incident started around 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
Suddenly, an anomaly occurs in the forest.
The forest suddenly turned into a maze, hallucinations were seen, and other strange phenona. This is caused by abyss worshippers who discover the presence of students.
'Their purpose is to kidnap students.
To prepare offerings for the Abyss.
However, the reason for choosing students as sacrifices was never revealed even in the original work.
Regardless, a battle ensues.
All five agents of the Special Operations Unit assigned to the escort have perished, and sixteen students are kidnapped.
'Actually, up to this point.......
It's not a particularly significant event. There were no appropriate rewards, and, to be blunt, the deaths of the Special Operations agents and the kidnapped students had no substantial impact on the main scenario.
But the real issue lies elsewhere.
The Abyss Worshipper incident marked a death juncture for a certain nad character, soone Noah is well acquainted with.
...... The Witch of the Stars.
It was none other than Dilia Arpen.
In this event, she was endowed with the 'probability of death.' Of course, it was not an absolute death; rather, it was a probabilistic occurrence during the battle.
'But if, by any chance, here...'
What if Dilia dies?
The situation would beco extrely precarious.
With one of the seven heroes becoming vacant, the hero party would be recreated as if it had always been 'six mbers' from the beginning.
Even if all seven heroes combine their strength, a battle as six will be challenging. This implies a sharp increase in difficulty.
'So she must absolutely not die.'
The best thing to do was not to not participate in the exam at all, which ant she won't run into the Abyss Worshippers and she won't be near death.
Although tragedy would strike when all the students except Dilia would be killed or kidnapped, it was still better than losing her.
'But.......'
This option was not viable.
From the start, Dilia wouldn't follow her words. Moreover, there was a reason not to use this thod this ti.
A person whose very existence was a variable.
Ulan.
That's why I asked to et.
To give him so information about this incident, and perhaps to give him sothing that would help him.
She had just finished organizing her thoughts
thud! thud!
when she suddenly heard heavy footsteps.
She knew who it was without looking. Noah grinned and stood up, "Welco, Ulan. I've been waiting for you......."
In the mont she was about to greet with a smile, Noah soon closed his mouth.
It couldn't be helped.
Because the girl at Ulan's side, glaring fiercely at him, was none other than Dilia Arpen.
"U, Ulan?"
"......?"
"Why is Dilia here......?"
"She had sothing to take care of. Don't worry about it."
No, how could she not care when Dilia was glaring at her like that?
As Noah made an awkward expression
"What else is there to say?"
Ulan asked, wondering why he'd been called.
Yes, the important thing was not this. Noah, regaining her composure, let out a short cough.
So ti after that.
She opened his mouth with a serious face, "I saw an ominous future."
"......!"
"The night tomorrow, in the forest beyond the Academy's north gate, sothing terrible will happen."
Faced with Ulan's stony stern expression
Noah conveyed the foreboding.
The story of the Abyss Worshippers. And the tis and purposes of their attack.
As the rather lengthy story ca to an end, a sudden chuckle echoed, "All of it, just strange tales."
It was Dilia who burst out laughing.
She looked at Noah as if to say it's all absurd. As if to suggest she should stop with the nonsense.
"You expect us to believe that?"
"......."
Noah, on the other hand, was nonchalant.
It was a reaction she'd been expecting from the mont Ulan had shown up with Dilia. So, she calmly replied in a composed tone, "Then I'll prove it."
"Prove what?"
"On the day of the exam, five agents from the Special Operations Unit will be sent as escorts to ensure the safety of the students."
With Noah's unexpected words, Dilia narrowed her eyes. She realized her intention to foretell sothing that would be imdiately verifiable tomorrow, to lend credence to the story she had just told.
"The Special Operations agents include two wind-elent mages, while the others specialize in earth, fire, and light elents."
But that wasn't all.
Noah had foreseen other details.
For example, that the exemption from the written exam would be increased from first to third place, and that it would rain late tomorrow night.
And the mont she heard all this, Dilia abruptly turned her head, "Not worth listening to." Such absurd nonsense.Wasn't it even true in the first place?
Dismissing Noah's words as lies, Dilia completely lost interest. On the other hand, Noah didn't give up and persistently continued his speech, "Next, please accept this."
"What's this?"
"It's an amulet that tells you where the other person is. Of course, it won't be effective if they're too far away, but still, it's better than nothing."
A pair of amulets; these were specially made amulets in case the Abyss Worshippers turned the forest into a maze.
"Give one to Dilia."
"......No need, I don't need one," Dilia glanced at Noah dismissively. anwhile, she didn't respond. As if Dilia's opinion didn't matter.
"And this one is for Ulan."
A small pouch made of cloth.
It looked like there was sothing inside.
"If you ever find yourself in a predicant, open it, because there will be answers in it."
"I see. Thanks."
Unlike Dilia, whose disbelief was palpable, Ulan ekly accepted Noah's advice.
So ti later, when all was said and done, Noah looked a little relieved, "That's all I have to say."
All the asures that could be taken have been done. Now all that remained was to trust Ulan and Dilia, and wait for their safe return.
"Take care, Ulan."
"I will."
eting Noah's worried gaze, Ulan nodded silently.
And so, Sunday night descended.
* * * * *
The next afternoon
it was the day of the Practical Hunt exam.
Was it the fact that they would soon be leaving the academy and living in the forest for 72 hours? The students gathered at the north gate had a strange mixture of nervousness and anticipation on their faces.
And Dilia was no exception.
For 72 hours.......
She could be with Ulan.
This thought kept her awake all night.
Sohow, she couldn't sleep because of the fluttering feeling in her chest. At the mont when she, forgetting the exam, has an excited expression.
"Dilia."
She heard a low, gravelly voice.
It was Ulan's voice. Dilia turned, flushed, to greet him, but at that mont, Ulan held out sothing in front of her.
"Take this."
"Huh? This is......."
An amulet with a blue pattern on it.
It was the sa amulet Noah had handed her yesterday in the library. Dilia frowned when she recognized it, but Ulan spoke again, "She said you just have to keep it on you."
"Do you ......really believe what she said yesterday?"
"I do," Ulan nodded without hesitation.
Noah might not be completely trustworthy, but her prophecies were as trustworthy as they co. Noah's prophecies had never been wrong before.
Perhaps because of Ulan's prompt response? Dilia looked uncomfortable. She looked back and forth between Ulan and the amulet with a frown on her face when
"Alright, everyone's here."
a cheerful voice tapped her ear.
It was Stella, the professor in charge. Arriving with the backpacks for the students, she took the podium as each item was handed out.
"Now, before we begin the exam, I'll inform you of so changes." As if she had sothing to say, Stella continued, "First of all, regarding the 'rewards' I ntioned last ti, I've gotten a lot of feedback that first place was practically a given, so I decided to give benefits up to the 3rd place."
"Wow, really?!"
"Well, I guess it's worth it for third place, right?"
"Right. Honestly, if it's only for 1st place, it wouldn't an much, but this changes things."
Students showed positive reactions.
anwhile, at that mont, Dilia's eyes widened like a startled rabbit. Because just yesterday, she had heard a similar story.
It was still too early to be surprised.
"Next, I'd like to introduce you to the people who will be protecting you for the next 72 hours. Co over here!"
Stella waved her hand and a mont later, five n and won in pure white coats revealed themselves. And the students who saw them widened their eyes.
"Those, those uniforms are......!"
"The Special Operations Unit of the Magic Departnt?!"
"Yes, that's right, we were originally going to enlist the help of the guards, but they told us that the task force was available, so they ca to help us."
Stella replied with a smile.
As the five agents introduced themselves, Ulan muttered in a blunt tone.
"All just like Noah said."
"......."
Dilia clamped her mouth shut.
Until just 10 minutes ago, she had dismissed and laughed off these words as nonsense. But now, all the words that were laughed off had turned into prophecies. Her eyes were a mixture of surprise and bewildernt. With a shaky gaze, she clutched the amulet in her hand and tucked it away.
After a while, after the distribution of items was finished, Stella stepped down from the podium.
"That's all for now! I'll tell you about the exam as we travel to our destination."
Stella headed straight to the front of the group.
Monts later, the students left the academy under the protection of the agents of the Special Operations Unit
to the location of the hunt
toward the northern forest.
(End of Chapter. . . . . . . .Thanks for Reading. . . . . . . . . )
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