My name was Sil. I was an instructor at the Galgard Noble Academy.
A major incident occurred today. It all started this morning when we received word that a dangerous Magic Beast had been spotted in the North Forest. The area was declared strictly off-limits until further notice.
I acknowledged the order without any complaints. After relaying the message to Gol and Bron, I made sure all the students were informed as well. Since I always accompanied them whenever they went out to hunt or fish, I figured there was no chance they would wander into the north by mistake.
The trouble started just after noon. A report reached me that a group of students had apparently headed into the North Forest anyway.
The informant was an adventurer based in the Royal Capital. Apparently, Uncle Galf had made a request when he last visited the capital: he had asked the local adventurers to notify the school if they saw any students about to do something reckless.
Thanks for that, Uncle Galf. Although, wouldn't it have been better to ask them to stop the kids instead of just telling us about it after the fact? Also, while I appreciated the tip, I wondered if the man had just sneaked into the academy to deliver it. The sentries were currently scouring the grounds for an intruder with terrifying intensity. Next time, please just talk to a sentry and have them call for me.
I planned to apologize alongside the adventurer later, but first, I had to contact the Academy Director. He quickly confirmed that five students had hired a group of adventurers and set off for the North Forest. Their goal, apparently, was to slay the dangerous Magic Beast and make names for themselves.
The sentries had the northern road blocked, but they couldn't do much if the students headed toward the Royal Capital first and then doubled back toward the forest from there. Fortunately, none of those five were in our classes. That was one weight off my mind.
"We aren't fools who would go out of our way to step on a dragon's tail," one of our students said.
(Translation: We aren't so suicidal that we'd ignore your instructions, Teacher.)
Hahaha. I assumed they meant "teachers" in the general sense, right? Not us specifically? I didn't think we were that intimidating. Besides, dragons don't get angry just because someone steps on their tail. I accidentally stepped on Uncle Draim’s tail once when he was in his Dragon Form, and he just laughed it off.
I asked Irene if those five were strong, mostly out of curiosity. If they were capable, the danger was at least lower.
"Those five? They're weaker than me," she replied. "I could take all five of them at once."
That was a problem. A huge one. Irene was significantly weaker than I was. If they were even weaker than her, what were they thinking going somewhere so dangerous? I mean, I get wanting to make a name for yourself, but they should have at least waited until they could beat Irene!
I panicked and reported the news to Uncle Gratz, who happened to be nearby. He immediately mobilized a unit and moved out toward the forest. I felt a bit better leaving it to him.
Then I reported to the Academy Director. I told him how weak the students were and that Uncle Gratz was already on his way. As it turned out, the Director was already ahead of the game. He had grasped the situation before my report even arrived and was in the middle of organizing an Academy Rescue Squad made up of instructors. He had also requested aid from the Royal Capital. Even if we hadn't spoken to Uncle Gratz, things were already moving. He really was on top of things.
He was impressive, but there was just one problem: why were we put in charge of the rescue squad?
"This is the arrangement deemed most suitable," the Director told us, dropping his formal noble-speak. "I will hear your complaints later. Now, move out."
He had originally intended to go himself, but his staff had talked him out of it, which made it even harder for me to say no.
Gol, Bron, and I had to decide who would lead. Wait, me? Why me? Aren't we drawing lots? Fine, fine... I guess we didn't have time for that. I accepted the position, and we hurried toward the forest.
When we reached the perimeter of the North Forest, we found several large tents already pitched. It was Uncle Gratz’s camp.
"You’re late," he grunted, before giving us a report on the current status.
The five students had already been attacked by a Magic Beast, but they weren't wiped out yet. There were no fatalities so far, either. They were sticking together and were currently fleeing through the woods. This information had been brought in by the elite adventurers who had been commissioned to clear the forest.
"So there are adventurers in there too," I noted.
"A dangerous Magic Beast appeared in the North Forest. It's only natural that skilled adventurers would be hired."
According to him, the adventurers the students had hired were second-rate compared to the pros. He said their chances of winning were nonexistent.
"Was it impossible for the adventurers who gave the report to help them?"
"They had just finished being attacked by a different Magic Beast themselves," Uncle Gratz replied. "Don't go asking for the impossible."
Uncle Gratz had organized several ten-man units to keep a wide watch over the southern edge of the forest.
"What about the insertion?" I asked.
"I've sent four units made of men capable of forest combat to the last known location. The rest stay here. They can't fight in the woods."
"Really?"
"Unfortunately, yes. I've sent word to the capital, so reinforcements are coming. I’m placing my hopes on that, but... the real problem is the Magic Beasts."
"?"
"The original report said the danger was a War Bear, but it seems there are Lovers Beasts in there too."
A Lovers Beast? I had never heard of them.
"They're four-legged beasts about five meters long," Uncle Gratz explained. "Their backs are covered in thick, hard fur. They're resistant to poison and highly aggressive. It's said that a War Bear takes thirty soldiers to bring down, but a single Lovers Beast? That takes a hundred."
"So they're more than three times stronger than a War Bear?"
"Umu. On top of that, Lovers Beasts always act in groups of two or more."
"Wait, two or more? You mean like... a mated pair?"
"Exactly. Though sometimes there are more."
"More? You mean like... a male and multiple females?"
"They have cubs sometimes," Uncle Gratz corrected.
"Ah, right. Of course." My mind had gone somewhere weird for a second. My apologies.
"Anyway, because of the Lovers Beast threat, only you three are allowed to enter. Everyone else stays back."
"Wait, what?"
"Even army soldiers don't want to tangle with a War Bear or a Lovers Beast in a forest. If ordinary academy instructors could handle them, we wouldn't be in this mess."
He explained that culling monsters and Magic Beasts in the forest was usually left to adventurers.
"Soldiers can't utilize the group tactics they specialize in when they're stuck between trees."
I stared at him for a moment.
"What is it?" he asked.
"No, I just thought you weren't acting like your usual self, Uncle."
When he first headed north, I had expected him to be the first one to charge into the trees. I didn't expect him to be standing here, coordinating units and managing information at the camp.
"I'm doing everything in my power to perform the tasks I'm actually capable of. That's all. It's the same for you, isn't it?"
"I understand, but... that means you're telling us to go in, right?"
"It's fine. I'll tell you one thing to put your minds at ease."
"What's that?"
"You boys used to catch rabbits back at the village, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, even a whole pack of Lovers Beasts is still weaker than one of those rabbits."
If that was the case, why was everyone panicking? I mean, a hundred soldiers? Are the soldiers of the Demon Kingdom really that weak? Thinking about it made me worry about the entire country's national defense. No, no. Focus. I needed to stop overthinking things and get into the forest to save those students.