Once again, a not-so-short time has passed.
Throughout that time, Rudell and Leje’s daily lives didn’t change much.
Every morning, they went to school together, shared meals, studied together, and returned home together.
A normal but enjoyable everyday life.
However, that daily routine was now facing a new phase.
“Haaaah!!”
In the forest where only the sounds of the wind rustling through the leaves and birds chirping could be heard, Leje’s battle cry burst forth.
“Ugh…!!”
At the same time, Kurt also raised his axe to block her attack.
As Leje’s sword and Kurt’s double-handed axe collided, a massive shockwave was created, and within a few short seconds, the two exchanged dozens of attacks.
[Incredible, incredible…]
Watching the scene, Silphier spoke in a tense voice.
[Compared to those two, I…]
“You just need to do what you can; those two can’t create effective potions or mechanical devices.”
Everyone has their own areas of expertise.
If Kurt and Leje were specialized in combat, Silphier had talent in support and development.
In fact, thanks to her help, they had overcome a significant crisis before.
After all, her battlefield was not here; it was the laboratory.
[Th-thank you for saying that…]
It seemed that her emotions had intensified, as steam began to puff out between her suit.
“…”
Come to think of it, I need to talk to her about her suit sometime…
Getting her to take off the suit is related to her trauma.
Recalling the incident where the protagonist helped her overcome her trauma in the original story, Rudell let out a low groan.
At that moment.
“Urrraaaah!!”
“Kuh!?”
With Leje’s battle cry, a loud bang echoed throughout the forest.
At the same time, Kurt dropped his axe from his hands…
[Is that flying toward us…?]
“It seems so.”
Rudell flatly responded, watching the spinning axe as he stomped his feet on the ground.
His shadow surged up from the ground, blocking the way in front of Rudell and Silphier, and once again, a metallic noise echoed as Kurt’s axe bounced off.
“Are both of you okay!?”
“Yes! We’re fine!!”
Responding to Leje’s shout from afar, Rudell retracted the curtain of shadows and yelled back.
‘I’m really glad I put those two together.’
Since they had been paired up, their skills had been improving at an extraordinary rate.
Both had exceptional talent and similar temperaments regarding combat, making them great mentors for each other.
“I think we might need to focus a bit more on strength training.”
“Hmm… how about honing skills instead? Like this.”
There’s no need to worry about those two any longer.
What Rudell needed to do was assist them in overcoming future challenges and trials.
“Is the feedback going well?”
“Of course.”
“She’s definitely strong. This has been a great learning experience.”
As Rudell approached the two, asking, they nodded their heads.
It meant they were serious about getting stronger.
“With the way things are going, the final exam should be a piece of cake!”
“You’re pretty confident.”
Seeing Leje puff her cheeks, Rudell let out a low chuckle.
Certainly, with Leje and Kurt’s current skills, they could easily rank first and second even if they were separated.
Though since the final exam was conducted as a team, it was mostly a meaningless assumption.
“By the way, I never imagined the second-semester exam would be a team survival test.”
The exams at Philsberg Academy were held differently from the original world—there were a total of two each year.
Two exams consisting of the first-semester midterms and the second-semester finals.
And unlike the first semester, which focused on theoretical assessments, the second semester’s exam was practical.
The content revolved around wild survival survival.
Students were set loose on a vast area designated as an exam site and tasked with carrying out given missions.
During this process, there were no restrictions, and it was even possible to raid other teams to earn points.
It was truly a fitting exam for a survival theme.
“Well, with our skills, securing first place should be a sure thing.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
Rudell chuckled lightly at Leje’s overconfident declaration.
It was only logical that there were powerful opponents beyond these participants in this story’s world.
Hidden strong individuals existed in other classes and grades.
And Rudell knew at least three of them.
Each of them might not match Leje’s level but were at least on par with Kurt.
Among them, one might even rival Rudell in terms of magical prowess.
“What? Are you saying you lack confidence right now?”
“That’s not it; this is a team survival situation. Teamwork is much more critical than individual strength or abilities.”
Even if they gathered the strongest people, if they acted separately, it would hardly differ from moving alone.
On the contrary, if weak individuals united, they could still exert more strength than themselves through teamwork.
In war, even if knights and mages could win battles, they couldn’t secure victory in a war.
If that were possible, why would anyone invest in raising soldiers and creating an army?
The power of a group ultimately lies in such dynamics.
“Hmm…”
Of course, given her exceptional abilities, it was natural that she wouldn’t relate to such an idea.
After sharing a gentle smile with her, Rudell turned to Kurt and Leje.
“Alright, let’s wrap up today’s training here. Let’s eat.”
*
The sky was cloaked in deep darkness…
A campfire was crackling in the forest.
“Is this enough?”
“No, what on earth…”
Rudell looked astonished at Kurt, who returned with several deer and wild boars.
[I-I brought edible herbs and mushrooms.]
“Oh, thanks.”
Silphier, who had gone into the forest with Leje, returned with a bounty of edible herbs and mushrooms.
Using his memories and knowledge from his previous life, Rudell started cooking after roughly dissecting the meat…
“I always wonder, where did you learn that?”
“Did you forget that our territory once relied on hunting to survive?”
Rudell answered somewhat evasively to Leje’s puzzled inquiry.
While that was happening, the cooking was complete.
The menu consisted of a stew with herbs and mushrooms, and venison.
Skewered grilled wild boar and mushrooms.
One could say it was quite a luxurious menu for food made in the wild.
“Alright, everyone eat up. I wonder if the seasoning is alright.”
Serving the stew in wooden bowls, Rudell said that.
“Thank you for the meal!”
“Enjoy it.”
[Okay, I’ll eat well…]
Watching the group start their meal with well-wishes, Rudell wore an anxious expression.
While Kurt was of the Nord tribe accustomed to the wild, he worried if Leje and Silphier, being nobles, might show discomfort.
But…
“It’s de-delicious!!”
“It’s tasty.”
[Really, it’s amazing…!!]
Seeing the three respond positively brought relief to Rudell.
By the way, Silphier, how on earth do you eat while wearing that suit?
Thoughts of curiosity crossed Rudell’s mind as he also began to eat.
As mealtime passed…
“Watch closely. In the wild, erasing your scent is paramount. Beasts and monsters have an incredible sense of smell. If you don’t want to be ambushed while sleeping, erasing traces is a must.”
“Oho…”
[Th-that’s right…]
Kurt also utilized his knowledge to teach them how to survive in the wild, and Leje and Silphier nodded with interest.
For them, being nobles, it might seem trivial, but they listened intently to every word he said.
They might have thought it was unnecessary, but surely it would come in handy someday.
Seeing the two attentively listen to Kurt, Rudell smiled with satisfaction.
A little later, as a short moment of free time arrived…
Kurt climbed a nearby tree to keep watch while Silphier fiddled with the mechanical devices she brought.
And Rudell and Leje sat by the campfire, staring into it, a practice called fire gazing.
“Yawn…”
Leje leaned her body against Rudell’s shoulder, seemingly relaxed by the campfire.
“Are you sleepy?”
“Yeah… I’m a bit sleepy.”
In response to her words, Rudell took out his pocket watch from his pocket.
It was past eleven at night.
Given it was a time she would typically have been asleep, it was entirely understandable for her to feel drowsy.
“How about going to sleep first?”
“No way. I want to stay like this just a little longer.”
Seeing her firmly reject, Rudell let out a low groan.
Regardless, Leje kept her eyes closed, showing no sign of breaking away from Rudell’s shoulder.
After a while…
“Zzz…”
“Leje?”
Seeing the fast-asleep Leje, Rudell chuckled softly.
Honestly, why is she being stubborn when she could easily fall asleep?
With that thought, Rudell carefully stood up and lifted her in his arms.
[Y-You don’t have to worry about keeping watch… I’ve set up plenty of surveillance golems…]
“Thanks.”
So those were the surveillance golems she was fiddling with earlier.
Bowing his head toward Silphier, Rudell gently laid Leje down on the blanket he had set out and covered her with a blanket.
“Well then, I guess it’s my turn to sleep too.”
With a busy day ahead, Rudell stretched out and settled down next to Leje.
“Good night, Leje.”
Whether she heard him or not, he said that and slowly closed his eyes.
Thus, the night deepened.
