"No. No more pop rocks for you, Anne. You already ate too much." ［Yuna］
"Bba! Bbabba! Gga! Gguu... Pappa!" ［Antoinette］
"No is no. We'll bring you more next time, so no more this time, okay?" ［Yuna］
The intelligible mumbles of a baby and the soft scolding of a big sister. A silver-haired elf hid away the ever so colorful pop rocks from the Little Angel as she reached out for more. She had eaten quite a few and it was time to stop.
The Little Angel tried to ask for more whilst throwing a little tantrum, but the moment she was given a toy to play with, she immediately calmed down, flailing her little arms left and right as she made noise with the rattles.
Thankfully, she wasn't a stubborn child and was quite obedient. Though, when her own Mother tried to take her away from Yuna, she flapped her little arms in protest, not wanting to be separated from her and the Little Princess by her side.
"Geez, Anne... You're really hurting Mommy's feelings, you know?" ［Vanessa］
"Hahaha. That's because you always bury your face in her cheeks when you carry her. Babies need room to breathe, right, Anne?" ［Ranzel］
"Pappa! Pap! Pappa... Pa! Bba!" ［Antoinette］
"That's right, Daddy's here... Now let's drink water, alright? We need to wash down all the sugar you've been eating all morning." ［Ranzel］
Gently said the doting Father as he took out a baby bottle filled with distilled water and nutrients made from their garden herbs. It was a little sweet and filled with a handful of minerals and vitamins needed for babies to grow.
It has been about half an hour since the Hunting Competition started and so far, everything has been going smoothly. The diligent Cadets have been hunting a fair amount of good prey, some working in teams and some working solo.
The classes have already discussed how they will be dividing their work, and though some decided to form various teams, some had also decided that it was better for them to move individually and gather together once the hunt was over.
The ones who formed groups were mostly lower years and lower classes. There are a lot of strong people in opposing years and classes so rather than strive to win the Individual Competition, they decided to focus on the Class Competition.
It was a test of the Cadets' critical and logical thinking, decision making, knowledge, and cooperative capabilities. The better the Class moves and coordinates, the higher the chances of winning are. As for how they are able to keep watch of the Cadets...
"Hm? Isn't that His Highness on the left screen?"
"Oh! It's my daughter! Look, she finally found a prey!"
"The lower classes... They have better cooperation than I thought..."
"Hey, do you know who that young man leading Class 1-D is?"
... It was all thanks to Grey. He once again used his abilities, and combined with illusion and summoning magic, stationed various summons in different parts of the forest, then relaying the info to the screens he made with illusion magic.
The Cadets don't know they are being monitored either. This is to test what their true character really is and how well they approach the dangers of the wilderness. Qualities which investors are highly searching for.
If there was one flaw, it was that there was no sound present along the screens. It was not that Grey couldn't do it. Rather, it would be too noisy with dozens of screens floating in the air. Another thing was that he just couldn't be bothered.
"These things you call surveillance screens, was it... These really are impressive... I wonder if Your Highness can teach this to our people for the sake of the upcoming events of the Royal Capital?" ［Anderson］
"I would love to, but I don't think other people can do this. You'll need dozens of people proficient in illusion magic and maybe magic tools worth millions." ［Grey］
"I figured... Still, it was good to know that." ［Anderson］
"Yeah. You can ask me anytime, Your Honor." ［Grey］
Said Grey as he shifted his eyes back to the screens. Soon enough, Yuna also joined him, standing by her side and watching everything unfold, her eyes swimming left and right as she observed how the Cadets performed.
Yuna was especially particular of Class 4-A, trying to see if the rascals really learned something from her lectures. And gladly, they did. They may be hunting separately, but they still communicate, learning markings in the trees and ground.
"Who do you think will win, Grey?" ［Yuna］
"I'm still not sure. Though, I have my eyes on a couple people..." ［Grey］
"Then, let's bet! Loser has to cook and clean for a whole week." ［Yuna］
"Really, you love these games too much... And make that 2 weeks. I'll make sure you regret challenging me to a bet, Young Lady." ［Grey］
"Hehe! Remember your words, okay? Just see how I'll win!" ［Yuna］
Declared the young lady as she proudly puffed her chest, a confident smile blooming on her face as she told Grey who she was betting on. In response, Grey also told her his guess, looking calm and confident at the same time.
The deal was sealed and the Hunting Competition continued to run. All sorts of color played out in the screens, smoke, dust, leaves, and branches flying in the air as magic was launched here and there, chaos anywhere and everywhere.
Some chased after their prey, some fended for themselves, some created lures and traps, some engaged in a battle of brute strength, and some sniped from a safe and far distance, arrows flying in the air. Needless to say, everyone was busy.
...
RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE CRACK
The bushes moved and the leaves rustled. Heavy footsteps were adrift in the air as various people marched towards their destination, their voices ringing in the air and their eyes keeping watch over their surroundings.
Everyone was vigilant, holding their trusty blades, bows, and shields by their sides and moving along accordingly as the situation demanded it. One man took charge and the others followed, several people moving as one singular entity.
One listened with their sensitive ears, listening to the slightest rustle. One scouted with their sharp eyes, jumping from branch to branch. One tracked the targets by scent, sniffing for a trace. And the others kept their guards up just in case.
"...!! 3 o'clock! 230 meters! I saw something move!"
"You heard her! Everyone, spread out! Encircle the target and move carefully!"
"Ah, wait! It seems like there are 2 of them!"
"Alright! Prepare for battle! Ready your weapons!"
The moment they spotted a target, they all turned alert, raising their spears and unsheathing their swords, moving about as quietly as they could and breathing in regular intervals to calm themselves.
They approached their targets slowly but surely, spreading out until they completely surrounded the moving bush. It seems like they have yet to notice their presence, the leader of the Cadets masking themselves with his ability.
RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE POP
"Now! Shoot!"
The very moment the horned rabbit popped its head to watch over their surroundings, a loud show came rocking its long ears. It was startled and started to run, however, before it could even do so, an arrow already came flying towards it.
FWOOOOSSSHHH GASHAK WOBBLE WOBBLE FLOP
It was already too late, the arrow piercing the poor horned rabbit's neck like a skewer. By the moment it realized, it was already dead, wobbling a little while before flopping towards the ground with a soft thud. Its life has ended.
Its companion was immediately alarmed by its fellow horned rabbit's death, running as soon as it could with all its might. It ran straight towards the bushes away from where the arrow came from, however, such was its biggest mistake.
Lying wait in the bushes was another person, a massive shield in its hand and his eyes burning with a terrifying passion. The rabbit was able to stop its hops and make a quick turn, then leaping towards the left, but it was already too late.
"Sorry for this, little rabbit."
Just as it leaped, another person suddenly appeared before it. This time, it was a girl with a pair of daggers in her hands. Now that the horned rabbit has jumped, it is now in its vulnerable state. The assassin didn't miss her chance.
Before the rabbit could land and run away, she brandished her daggers towards its defenseless neck, stabbing it cleanly and blasting it a couple meters away. It soon hit the ground in a bloody state, squirming for a while before its movements stopped,
With that the hunt was over and everyone could finally breathe calmly. They soon took the rabbit by the ear and drained its blood with a small dismantling knife. After all, a hunter also knows how to treat its prey.
"With this, how many have we got?"
"This is the 6th. We have 5 horned rabbits, and a Vine Snake in total."
"6... That's still a low number... Let's hunt for more."
There was no time to dawdle. After putting their prey inside the improvised sack they made, the Cadets then continued their hunt, searching for everything that moved and listening for everything that rustled, hunting far and wide.
With a good combination and synergy in their hands, they were able to find prey every so often, hunting them down as quickly as they could and then draining their blood soon after, using that time to rest their minds and body.
There weren't just Vine Snakes and Horned Rabbits they hunted. There were also forest wolves, spade lizards, dire spiders, and a handful more. They are only G-rank and H-rank beasts, some are even just animals, but it's the number that matters.
Of course, no matter how much they hunt, there is no need to worry about the forest. Such beasts and animals reproduce fast and also live in the nearby forests which are outside of the hunting area's borders.
"I didn't know Spade Lizards could be found near the Royal Capital..."
"Are they rare? They're really weak though."
"No, it's just... They usually live near rocky mountains. I've never seen one in forests."
"Hmm... Maybe it's a different kind of spade lizard."
Moreover, to add more variety into the mix, Grey and Yuna brought along various other beasts which are considered infestations in their various quests into the forest, adding things from H-rank Spade Lizards all the way to B-rank Rumblebacks.
They made such a decision to let the Cadets experience a simulation of unexpected situations one could encounter in the wild. It was also a measure to see how well they respond to such circumstances, and test their capabilities.
Of course, Grey and Yuna already kept track of the beasts they brought. After the Hunting Competition, they will be eliminating them one by one. After all, they can't just be introducing potentially invasive species willy-nilly. That would be terrible.
"Alright. That should be enough rest... Found anything yet?"
"I'm not too sure. But there's something moving at 10 o'clock."
"Alright. It's decided then. We'll be heading thatー"
FWOOOSSSHHHH CHUCK
The young man couldn't even finish his words, when suddenly, an arrow came flying towards him and cutting him off. It didn't hit him, but it wounded him in the cheeks, a few drops of blood painting the forest floor red.
They were correct that something was moving up ahead, however, it wasn't a beast nor an animal. It was a monster, and one sharp and ferocious enough to be able to snipe them from hundreds of meters away without much difficulty,
After all, it wasn't just foreign beasts which Grey and Yuna brought in the forest, but also a number of monsters which could pose a great challenge to the Cadets. A foe worth no points and must be avoided as much as possible.
"Why... Why is a Centaur Leader here?!"
The leader of the group screamed as the figure of the Centaur Leader cleared up before him. It was staring right at them, glaring at them viciously and pulling the bowstring all the while, ready to fire yet another shot at a moment's notice.
The Cadets were still 1st years and were still G-rank, while their sudden enemy was standing at E-rank. No matter how one tries to view it from different angles, there was no way they could defeat a monster with such a large power difference.
"Run! Everyone, run! Drop the bags and preys! Drop everything heavy!"
"But what about the points?! We'll be disqualified!"
"Who cares about that now?! Our lives are more important!"
All they could do was run, throwing away everything which could potentially slow them down. It was no time to think about the points. Their own survival was more important than a mere competition, everyone scurrying away as soon as possible.
They all scattered away as soon as they ran, ensuring that their rates of survival were as high as possible. It didn't take long before the Centaur Leader started to move, raising its bow towards the enemies and firing a rain of arrows towards them.
Thankfully, everyone was already quite far away. While some of the arrows did graze them, they only received minor wounds at worst and were still able to run away to safety, sending out warnings to their teammates and classmates.
All such scenes occurred before the screen and everyone who watched was left astonished. They didn't expect the sudden appearance of a Centaur Leader, but at the same time, they were relieved that the Cadets managed to run away safely.
"You Highnesses, isn't it too harsh to place so many monsters without warning the Cadets? i know you already made precautions, butー" ［Albert］
"Don't worry, Sir Albert. Everything is going just as planned, and monsters in the real wilderness don't give warnings either. Just consider this training." ［Grey］
"Training, you say... Well, I guess that's true... Though, it would be wonderful if no one develops any traumas from such surprises. Especially the 1st years." ［Albert］
"Fufufu! It's fine～! They are much tougher than you think, Sir Albert." ［Yuna］
"Yeah. And don't they say experience is the best teacher? I'm sure they will learn their lessons after a few tries... And maybe a few wounds..." ［Grey］
Said Grey and Yuna, leaving Albert completely speechless. He already heard rumors about how insane they are when they trained their Cadets before, but they surpassed his expectations. They were even more vicious than demons.
As for the purpose of the monsters, they are there to remind the students that there wasn't always a need to fight. They should know to never let their guard down, to sacrifice mere items for what's really important, and to learn when to back down.
Actually, though the monsters may seem scary, they actually only have a certain radius where Grey and Yuna commanded them they can only attack. Once the Cadets run out of the said area, they won't pursue them any longer.
"Are they regrouping already?" ［Yuna］
"It seems so... They sure act fast." ［Grey］
"Ah! They missed the healing herb! Such a shame!" ［Yuna］
"Relax, Yuna. Not everyone can recognize herbs instantly like you." ［Grey］
Of course, even if the Cadets do fall prey to the beasts and monsters, they already made some safety precautions. They have cleared all the wild monsters they didn't summon and have the whole hunting ground cleared up.
Also, once a Cadet has reached a certain threshold of damage, a barrier will protect them from further harm and they will be teleported to the starting point with the help of Polaris' law magic. They will then be healed up soon after.
As for the loot and prey they dropped, they will also be teleported to the safe area with them to be scored later on. They may be harsh and strict, but they are not ones who will put others in grave danger. They may be demons, but they are not that evil.
And it means exactly like that. They didn't just put hazard after hazard, they also placed a handful of useful herbs and items throughout the Hunting Grounds. Though, whether they recognize and put them to use was entirely up to them.
"Oh? Isn't that George? Is he climbing a tree again?" ［Yuna］
"He's probably scouting ahead and getting a good vantage point." ［Grey］
"He hasn't hunted a single one yet though... Does he have a plan?" ［Yuna］
There were a handful of people which stood out radiantly amongst the rest, but the most peculiar of them all was George. He has been wandering throughout the forest for the whole duration of the Hunting Competition, his sword still sheathed.
Rather than hunting, he has been scouting the area and familiarizing himself with the surroundings. In fact, he was the one who had spotted the most of Grey and Yuna's useful items, taking some of them with him.
"George von Beldon... If I remember correctly. Wasn't he the one who caused you trouble as an instructor, Your Highness?" ［Edward］
"That's right. Though, he's already changed a lot now. I suggest you keep an eye on him, General. Grey says he's someone interesting," ［Yuna］
"Oh... Is that so... I'm looking forward to it..." ［Edward］
"Something interesting, huh... Fufufu! That sounds exciting!" ［Vanessa］
A single statement from Yuna and many eyes immediately lingered towards one of the screens, the General and high officers of the surrounding paying attention to a single Cadet and keeping Grey's words in the back of their heads.
Well, it wasn't just George. There were also a handful of interesting students that everyone kept an eye on. Not just the strong and powerful ones, but also those which commands with great certainty and authority.
The scenes continued to play and eyes continued to swim left and right. All sorts of wonders played before everyone's eyes as chatter floated adrift in the air. It was all noisy and lively, trivial chit-chat filling the air with life.
...
"Hmm... A Centaur, huh..." ［George］
His eyes peered afar, mumbles drifting in the air as he looked over towards the ever so distant horizon, his hands holding on to the trunk of the tree and his foot planted firming on the branches, stable and balanced as can be.
Before him was a massive figure, equipped with a body made of muscles harder than steel and a wondrous longbow by its hands. It stood in silence as it stared back at him, ready to fire its shots at the slightest mistake the former could make.
"Judging from its size, is it a Commander... No, the longbow is too detailed and grand for a mere Commander. it is most likely a Warchief." ［George］
The quiet ramblings continued and his guess was correct. Before him was a B-rank Centaur Warchief, a Helm of True Sight crowning its head and a magnificent longbow by its sight. A monster which could shoot kilometers over.
Yet strangely enough, such a monster only stared at him with empty eyes. Despite being able to eliminate with a single blow, it only remained on standing, not moving an inch and not drawing its longbow either.
There was a time where it fired an arrow, but rather than him, the Centaur Warchief shot a beast which got a little too close towards it, blowing it away in a single shot and leaving a sizable crater behind, blood splattered all over the place.
"I see... So it is a summoned monster,.." ［George］
It didn't take too long before George reached a conclusion, heaving a lengthy sigh as he relaxed. Had his conclusion been wrong, he would have already been blown away like the poor beast from before, a large wound on his body at best.
It may sound way off out there at first, but knowing Grey and Yuna's participation in Hunting Competition and their ability to summon monsters without a hitch, he figured they were just summoned monsters who are following a command.
"A B-rank Centaur Warchief, and a firing range of about 300ー No, 350 meters. I should take note of that just in case." ［George］
George could finally heave a sigh. After jotting down some mental notes, he then slowly made his descent down the tree and back to the forest floor once again, a couple soft thuds resounding in the air as he landed.
If there was one thing he learned as an adventurer, it was that knowing about your surroundings and your enemy was extremely important. As long as you have such information in your hand, life will be dozens of times easier.
"White Valley Rose... Silver Petunia... Kalkia Grass... Black Reeds..." ［George］
It wasn't just the surroundings and the enemy either. George also knew of the various helpful plants he could gather in the forest. They don't do much on their own, but it is used correctly at the perfect timing, they are lifesavers.
"Alright... That should be enough for now..." ［George］
Unlike others, George's plan this time is not to just hunt the best beast he could find. He is planning to take things slow and take note of which beasts he could hunt to get the best results, deciding to rush things and keep a calm head over his shoulders.
The young man continued to walk down the forest, his eyes swimming left and right as he searched for any useful items, all the while taking notes of potential prey and threats that might determine the result of the Competition.
And while he was doing so, a beautiful sight caught his eyes, making him come down to a halt. It was a beautiful flower of blue and white, swaying softly by the wind as the birds chirped. A smile soon bloomed on his face.
"Chance of plans... Let's catch the biggest fish!" ［George］
CHAPTER 496 END