Summer vacation had begun in earnest.
The dorms were nearly deserted now. Evi had headed back to his family home, leaving me all alone in our room. The other members of our circle had also started leaving one after another the day after our baseball match.
I was also planning to return to my own family home eventually, but my trip was scheduled for only a few days near the end of the break. I should have been free until then, but I had already filled this summer vacation with various plans.
Today, I was set to go bug catching in Kafka Forest with Clarice, a promise we had made quite a while ago. That was why I was currently in the middle of getting ready.
The time was 4:30 AM.
Our meeting was set for 6:00 AM at the forest entrance. I had woken up early to make sure my preparations were flawless. I pulled on my camouflage fatigues and performed a thorough series of stretches.
Bug catching, huh... The memory of doing this often with Master in the jungle rose to the surface. Since Clarice wanted to do the same, her ambition was truly admirable.
"Alright..."
Once everything was ready, I hoisted a large backpack onto my shoulders and set off for Kafka Forest.
"Ray! Good morning! Wait... huh?"
"Oh, Clarice. Good morning! You're early, considering it's still ten minutes before our meeting time."
"No, that part's fine, but..."
"Is something the matter? You're dressed rather lightly, though. Will you be alright?"
Indeed, Clarice was dressed far too casually for the task at hand.
She wore a plain white shirt, short pants, and sandals. To accommodate her straw hat, her twin-tails were tied lower than usual today. Her silky hair fluttered slightly in the faint breeze. She looked quite different than usual, and I found it very charming.
She had a bug cage slung over her shoulder and held a sturdy-looking butterfly net in her right hand. She carried a small rucksack on her back, and I could see two water bottles tucked into the side pockets.
I was surprised by her lack of equipment, but perhaps she had her own reasons.
As I was wondering about this, Clarice raised her voice.
"No, no, no! We're going bug catching, right?! That's the plan!"
"Indeed it is."
"Then what's with the look?! You look like you're heading out on a full-blown survival mission!"
"What?! Is bug catching not a part of survival training?"
"No! It's just regular bug catching!"
"I-Impossible... Master taught me that bug catching was a core part of survival. We used to compete to see who could secure the most insects..."
"By the way, what exactly do you mean by 'insects'?"
"The Huge Bee, Huge Ant, Huge Butterfly, and so on."
"Huge-types are classified as monsters! That's monster hunting! That's a job for a hunter!"
"Master told me that size was irrelevant. 'Gahaha!' she'd say... Was she wrong?"
"Ah. I think I finally understand why you turned out the way you did..."
After that, I listened as Clarice explained her idea of bug catching, which was actually quite simple. Apparently, you just caught insects with a net and put them in a cage. I had mistakenly assumed we would be engaging in life-or-death combat with insect-type monsters.
Talking with Clarice was always educational.
Today, let us engage in this "bug catching" in its true sense!
"So, what are you going to do with all that gear?"
"I'll bring it just in case. I thought we might need to camp out since we were bug catching. I prepared quite a lot."
"C-Camping...?! Just what kind of scale are you imagining?!"
"For now, let's do the bug catching you described. I am but a novice in this field; I would like you to teach me the ropes."
"I-I guess I have no choice! Fine, let's go!"
"That is what I desire!"
And so, the two of us entered Kafka Forest together.
"Phew... it's hot."
"It is summer, after all."
"But this heat is the best part of bug catching!"
"I see. That's good to know."
"Ah! Look, a stag beetle!"
Clarice trotted toward a nearby tree, then slowed her pace to a crawl as she crept forward. Then, with a swift motion, she brought the net down. Even to a complete amateur like me, it was clear her movements were those of an expert.
It seemed Clarice was a true professional in this field.
"I did it! It's a saw-toothed stag beetle!"
"Oh... it has quite a fine form."
"Right? It's so cool... Now then."
Clarice placed the stag beetle into her cage, which was already lined with soft soil. She then set her sights on a beetle on the adjacent tree, but she didn't reach for it.
"I researched this before, but the beetles in this forest are quite troublesome."
"How so?"
"Actually, there was a large-scale war between the beetles and the stag beetles here in this forest."
"No way... You can tell just by looking, Clarice?"
"Yes. I can tell by the scars on the individuals, the damage to the trees, and because I saw it with my own eyes during my preliminary investigation."
Clarice began to speak eloquently. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses; while Clarice seemed to struggle with basic schoolwork at the academy, she spoke with total confidence when it came to her area of expertise. I listened intently, eager to learn something new.
"I see. And the winner was?"
"It was the beetles. The onslaught of the Hercules beetle was particularly incredible. Even when a Palawan giant stag beetle and a Giraffa stag beetle teamed up against it, the Hercules won alone. With its supple, long, black-shining horn, it was an overwhelming victory. The beetle faction won without even needing the Caucasus beetle they had in reserve. Since then, the beetles have been the dominant force in this forest. That's why the stag beetles are so easy to catch, but..."
"So this is true bug catching. Preliminary research is vital."
"Exactly. Especially in Kafka Forest, perhaps due to sorcerous factors, the insects move very nimbly and have great physical strength. The bees, grasshoppers, and butterflies are all amazing compared to normal specimens."
"Incredible. You're like an insect expert."
I intended to praise her, but Clarice remained humble and continued her explanation with a serious expression. Her eyes were focused and intense. This was the first time I had seen her like this, and I found myself slightly overwhelmed by her passion.
"An expert? Real experts would laugh at me. Now, let's head deeper in."
"Is that beetle alright to leave?"
"Yes. It doesn't count for anything unless I capture the Hercules that rules this forest. To tell you the truth, my goal for today is that Hercules."
"But isn't that a boss-level existence? Can we secure it by the end of the day?"
"Actually, I took that into account and told my parents I'm staying at a friend's house today. So your camping gear won't go to waste, Ray. I'm sure this will be a long battle..."
"What! Then, purely by chance, my efforts were not in vain."
"Exactly. Now, let's go!"
"Yeah!"
I followed behind Clarice as we proceeded further into the depths of Kafka Forest.
"Haa... haa... haa..."
"Clarice."
"What is it...?"
"Let's take a short break."
"I suppose you're right."
Since our last stop, Clarice and I had pushed much deeper into the forest. Her commentary on the insects we encountered along the way was fascinating; her knowledge was truly deep and admirable.
We encountered monsters as well, but I processed them quickly. Today, I was carrying a survival knife and had my Physical Reinforcement via Inside Codes active at all times. Since I had originally come here intending to do some serious survival, my preparations were thorough.
However, Clarice's stamina was reaching its limit, and she looked a bit pained, so we decided to rest.
"Phew... I'm exhausted."
"Yeah. We walked a long way."
We sat side by side in the shade of a tree, wiping away sweat with towels and hydrating.
I realized again that Clarice had a natural aptitude for survival. Even among sorcerers, many would have complained long ago, yet she remained silent and kept moving forward. Perhaps it was her passion for insects that drove her.
Furthermore, while I had always thought her physical abilities were high, her potential was actually quite significant. Even compared to Amelia, who had undergone Ainsworth-style Boot Camp, Clarice's base physical performance was nearly on par. She had clearly put in a great deal of effort behind the scenes.
"Clarice."
"Hmm? What's up?"
"Lick this."
"What's this?"
"Salt. In the summer, you lose a lot of salt through sweat. It's good to replenish it."
"...Thanks."
When I handed her the salt I had packed, Clarice gave it a quick lick. Then, I decided to speak to her about the topic on my mind.
"At any rate, Clarice, you have real talent. It seems you've put in a lot of hard work."
"Eh? What are you talking about?"
"About being a hunter. You want to become one, don't you?"
"Well, yeah, but..."
"Aren't you going to take the exam? Through Master's connections, it's possible for you to take the hunter exam."
"Do you really think I can become a hunter?"
Clarice looked up at me with insecure eyes. Her pupils seemed to waver slightly. Of course, I told her exactly what I thought.
"I do. I'm saying this as a Gold Rank hunter. There's no mistake."
"...Really!?"
"Yeah. Your basic physical performance is excellent. You've clearly worked hard."
"I've been doing... muscle training and running... in secret."
"For how long?"
"Maybe for over five years now."
"Incredible... That level of consistency is something to be admired. Alright, the next exam should be after the New Year. Let's have you take the Bronze Rank hunter exam then. Don't worry. I'll support you. Though the problem for you, Clarice, will be the written exam."
"I'm sorry for being an idiot...!!"
She glared at me, but in Clarice's case, it was likely just a matter of her study methods. I didn't think she was fundamentally unintelligent; it was just a matter of focus.
"No, it's surely just a problem with how you study. You were cramming all night for the school tests, weren't you? You shouldn't do that. That might work for the academy, but it won't pass the written part of the hunter exam."
"Ugh..."
"And... well, I'll save this for the very end."
"Huh? Whatever, I guess..."
"Then, shall we go?"
"Yeah!"
Clarice and I stood up and continued through the scorching heat of Kafka Forest.
In that moment, a cool gust of wind blew past. It felt wonderful against our flushed skin. Clarice's beautiful golden hair fluttered in the breeze. When I caught a glimpse of her, she looked as though she wanted to say something.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke.
"Um, hey."
"What is it?"
"Thanks for... coming with me today. And, well, I was happy that you remembered the thing about me wanting to be a hunter..."
"I'd like to say 'you're welcome,' but I'd be happy to accompany you for something like this anytime."
"B-But don't get the wrong idea!! I'm just grateful, that's all! I mean... well... just don't get the wrong idea!!"
She said the usual lines, her face turning bright red. But I had long since understood that Clarice simply couldn't be honest with her feelings. Even so, it made me happy that she put it into words.
The wrong idea? Oh, I'll get it, alright. I'll "misunderstand" and think that Clarice is having fun being with me. But I'm sure Clarice feels the same way. Just spending time with a friend makes us feel so fulfilled. I truly felt glad that I had come here today.
"Hahaha. I suppose so."
"What are you laughing at?! Jeez!"
"It's nothing. I just thought that you were your usual self, Clarice."
As I spoke, I began to jog lightly. I ran ahead with a light step, as if the weight of the backpack on my shoulders didn't bother me at all.
"Let's go, Clarice!"
"Grrr! Wait for me!! Don't go ahead of me!"
"Hahaha!"
"I told you, don't laugh!"
Laughing together, we continued our hunt for the ruler of the forest.