Chapter 86 – Field Training to Decide the Winner (4)

A few days after visiting the western forest with Darling. I diligently visited the general store in downtown Parencia.
What you need to buy are the items needed for students going on field training. It was a glowstone for spending the night in the forest or a compass for exploring dungeons.

“Cut the rope in 7-meter increments, and give me a canteen with a disposable purification spell. “I think 5 low-level and 2 medium-level potions per backpack will do, and please bring a bottle of purified water as well.”
“Do you need appetizers?”
“That’s enough. “If you just put some bread in it, it will last for a few days.”

The store owner looked my outfit up and down and asked.

“Are you going on an adventure?”
“I used to do something similar.”
“No wonder. So you have a good sense of vision. However, I see some wasted equipment…”
“Are you okay. Please guess 50 more in this configuration.”

In any case, this is equipment to be used by fledgling noble wizards, not properly skilled adventurers. It’s just basic elemental magic, so you don’t need flint, and even if you put in expert exploration tools, you won’t be able to use them.
Rather, even if the unit price goes up, it would have been better to add at least one bottle of monster repellent or potion to ensure safety. Even if the price is a bit expensive, it won’t be a big problem.

Just like I sold popcorn during the Magic Battle, I planned to make and sell survival kits during this field training.
Since it will take at least 2-3 days to find a dungeon in the forest and clear it, many students will feel the need for a kit.

“First, take only 30 items and send the rest as soon as the backpack is completed in the workshop. Oh, where did you say the address was?”
“Parenzia Academy canteen.”
“All right.”

After that, I went to a few more places and guessed about half of the total number of first graders. There will be quite a few people that I will personally prepare for.
As I was about to go back to the store, thinking that this would be enough, I passed by ‘Rus Chopard’, a jewelry store that is quite famous even in the commercial district right next to it.
It was an expensive luxury store recognized as the best in the city for its technology and aesthetic design that coated gemstones with stone powder to create artifacts.
High-grade accessories are stored under strict security inside, so it is difficult to even think about it. Still, if you take the cheapest one as a standard, wouldn’t you be able to buy at least one?

I was particularly interested in the germanium bracelet that Adela was wearing. It seemed like he wasn’t throwing away what I had given him, but I kept getting worried about what would happen if he ended up becoming a believer in pseudo-science.

“Welcome, how may I help you?”
“I’m thinking of buying some rings.”
“Is this a gift for your lover?”
“Yes, please show me two with slightly different designs.”

The employee showed me a pair of rings with blue and purple gemstones. A low-level artifact with 〈 Barrier 〉 and 〈 Wind Blade 〉, respectively. Functionally it is useless.

The design is pretty, but to my eyes it was all there. Wouldn’t it be nice if you gave one to Liv?
I don’t remember seeing her wearing any of her accessories, but she would be disappointed if she only received Adela.

“Please give me both.”
“Yes, which one would you like for men?”
“No, both are for women.”
“?”

Fortunately, although it was a little close to purchasing a survival kit, we were able to match the price.

“… Trash.”

I left the harsh stares of the staff behind me and headed to the academy.
As I passed through the main gate, I found Mark, who was exhausted from having to stand guard after failing to escape last night. He was sitting on a small chair like a janitor, looking at the sky in the scorching sun.

“Hey, are you okay?”
“… There’s no need for the Archduke or anything like that anymore. “I will definitely turn it over someday.”
“Why? “What happened again?”
“My salary was cut. “Fuck.”

Lehel? It’s no big deal. Are you using your remaining gambling funds to bet on your soul?
But the last time I visited, he didn’t seem that serious.

“Why was it shaved off?”
“Listen, Louis. I found a really cute doll in the dungeon yesterday? I happened to think of my daughter so I took it to give it to her. But today, when the chairman saw me bragging to my colleagues, he took it away and trampled it! Very well! And they cut my salary and told me not to let anything like this go to the academy again! “Does this make sense!?”

Then he pointed with his finger at his feet.

“Fuck you, you just gave me a harpoon! Look at this, it’s very powdery…”
“Come to your senses, idiot. “How can a doll turn into dust if you step on it?”

Puck!

“Oh my! Are you hitting me now? Are you siding with the chairman!? Huh, indeed. I should have known from the moment I ran to the snack bar to avoid that human guillotine, but I never thought we would be like that…”
“Shut up and look at this closely.”

I picked up the piece of stone that Mark pointed out that still maintained its original shape. An unpleasant-looking head with bizarre cuts, like a Gundam figure with broken horns.

“You picked up a doll?”

It’s so fucking familiar. Fuck.

***

“Huh, canteen owner?”
“…”
“You look in a bad mood, canteen owner. “What are you thinking so deeply about?”

The demon statue. In fact, as soon as I saw Mareil’s memo, I immediately recognized its identity.
The reason was simple. This is because the statue that serves the demon god is the most representative tool among the mediums of black magic, and at the same time, it has been seen once before.
The god statue that collects magical energy transforms monsters living in dungeons and forests into magical beasts.
A huge monster wave that engulfed Parencia in the past. At that time too, a demonic statue was discovered.
When I saw that, my eyes widened and I wiped out the monsters.
And–

“Store owner!”
“Yes?”

There is Darling in front of you. And dozens of blue crystal balls.

“You really lack formality and courtesy to think of something else even when you are right in front of me.”
“…”
“You know what? “How many people knock on the Four Gates of Parenzia for a chance to have a meal alone with you for just ten minutes?”

Despite Darling’s scolding, my eyes turned to the crystal ball.
Through the communication magic installed in the cabin, soldiers were seen combing through the dungeon and forest to clear the area. It’s like sending out a special forces operation.

“Well, even yesterday I received dozens of letters asking for a wedding! Even though he doesn’t have much of a background other than his duties at the top, his popularity has spread through the sky and even reached the social circles of Thessalon!”

If the demon statue is simply a by-product left in the dungeon after a past monster wave, there is no need to react so sensitively.
But Mark thought it was a doll and picked it up.
Unless I was seeing something wrong due to stress from excessive work load, there was some kind of magic.
If so, it is different from the remnants of the past. In other words, it was determined that there were risk factors in the first-year students’ practice field.

“Mae, majeomju…” … Are you listening? If you keep quiet like that, you’ll be worried about when you’ll catch a man you don’t know and get married. Maybe you will bitterly regret wasting this golden time…”

Ah, it’s noisy.

“Aaaaah! Top of your head! Don’t press down on the top of your head! It hurts! It’s getting smaller!!”
“Go down.”
“Gaaaaagh—!”

I pulled Darling up again, who was twisting on the sofa, and pulled him closer.

“Don’t be stupid and just stay still. “I understand that all second-year students have arrived, is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Can I stay here until practice?”
“Huh?”

Darling pulled my arm in surprise and asked again.

“Are you serious? Store owner, is that really true? “Is there more?”
“That’s right.”

This room, where monitoring was conducted for accurate evaluation of practice, was the best place to respond quickly when something happened.

“Ha, I can’t do that. “Originally, I would have received money, but since I came this far at your request, I will give you a special extension.”

Although he pretended to be calm, he seemed quite happy waving his legs.

“Is it that good?”
“Who said it was good!? Just… Didn’t you reject all my offers before? “Without a single word.”

Well. In this case, I only responded willingly because Darling helped me when Bill was sick and I was mentally stressed at the same time.
I don’t remember what happened at the time, but it wouldn’t be right to react differently in the same situation. It was the same as before and now that she was uncomfortable.

“Isn’t it because the Viscount keeps targeting my stall?”
“Hmm… Lately, I’ve been thinking a little differently. Do you know the term joint name?”

While continuing a casual conversation with Darling, I watched the movements of the soldiers beyond the crystal ball.
Unlike the last goddess statue, this mimicry is a doll. Additionally, Parencia can investigate the flow of logistics.
If I secured the demon statue this time, I planned to use it to catch the tail.

***

A few days later, the first graders passed through the academy’s main gate and headed toward the western forest in the evening as the sun began to set.
The students, who moved under the guidance of their professors, walked with a bit of trembling and clutched the large backpacks slung over their shoulders.
My first real experience. Except for some students, it was natural to be nervous.

“Now, turn the pages back one at a time. A map of the forest. Please note that although security guards will be deployed for this field training, there is no protective magic to protect individuals like in the magic competition, so please be careful.”

Erzsebet, Adela, and Karl were in the same group and gathered together. While moving, the professor’s explanation continued.

“The final goal of this exercise is to retrieve the tokens within the dungeon. “Each token is held by another student who takes on the role of guardian, and you must fight them to obtain it.”

About forty groups were formed, but the number of dungeons was ten at most. In other words, this practice, which was replaced by a final evaluation, was conducted amidst fierce competition.

“Evaluation is largely done in three parts. These are the survival skills to survive in the forest, the ability to respond in crisis situations, and the combat skills that a wizard should have. “If you’ve properly taken a basic magic arts class, you’ll know what I’m talking about, right?”
“””Yes!”””

There are always many variables when using magic in practice. It was in the same context that Professor Roylen spoke at the end about the Tree of Sephiroth, one of the three original texts, which is an intuitive and instantaneous way to cast magic that does not create a realm in heaven or earth but is expressed through emotions.

Upon arriving at the western forest, the students seemed relieved to see a significant number of soldiers setting up camp.
However, when they realized that the middle of the black forest beyond the big trees was where they had to go, they swallowed their saliva.

“I will sound the departure signal in ten minutes, at 7 o’clock sharp. “Discuss with each member of your team how to spend the night.”

Erzsebet immediately summoned Karl and Adela. She already had all the plans in her head to survive in this forest.

“It will be difficult to find the dungeon on the first day. “There is no way there is a dungeon in an area close to the camp, and above all else, survival evaluation is a major factor.”

Karl also nodded his head. His hometown, Bahran, was a southern jungle that was much more wild than Farencia.

“First, let’s prepare a bed. You will reach the stream in just an hour’s walk in the direction shown on the map. “You can use the princess’s familiar to scout the surrounding area and set up camp in a good location for cover.”
“I also have a canteen with purification magic, so I could use that. “I won’t have time to get ingredients, so I’ll just fill myself with bread.”

The reason I started practice now as the sunset is setting is probably to relieve some of my energy from the first day.
The director yawning in the distance——Lehel became annoyed for no reason.

— Okay, if you’re all ready, come this way!

The students raised their heads one by one at Roylen’s shout. Until the end, Karl and Erzsebet discussed how to pass this practical training.
And finally the time has come. The chilly night air pierced my lungs, and the howling of an animal coming from the black darkness penetrated my eardrums.
Numerous first-year students each took out their magic weapons, wary of the other groups next to them. They were preparing to disperse into the forest immediately with a signal.

“Adela, I believe you.”

Just before leaving, Erzsebet looked back at Adela with a solemn expression. Although she was somewhat unreliable, she was also a wizard who represented her grade during the Magic Competition.
Unlike at the beginning of the semester, the label of not being able to use magic properly has long since been dropped. There was a rumor going around in her hometown that she had destroyed her cafeteria and left her second year senior in a state of death.

If so, there must be a hidden secret.
Ruler of the North Sea, one of the five great dukes with unique magic. There was deep trust in Erzsebet’s eyes, as she hoped that the name of the magic master, Roshoar, was not a lie.

“When you hear the starting signal, you know what to do first, right?”
“Yes.”

And Adela also responded to her with her serious expression.

“I’m hungry.”

Looking resolutely at the western horizon where the sun was setting, she took out bread from her backpack that Lewis had packed for her.

“Let’s eat rice first.”