The day of the Monster Hunting Festival finally arrived.
The weather was perfect for a hunt, the sky a vast, cloudless blue. The venue for the event was a sprawling expanse of land to the east of the Royal Capital known as the Subnock Plain, infamous for being one of the most active monster-spawning regions in the Kingdom.
Though the plains were under the direct jurisdiction of the Royal Family and located relatively close to the capital, several past attempts to cultivate them into farmland had ended in disaster. The primary obstacle was the "Subnock," a powerful monster that claimed the heart of the plains as its territory. It had annihilated every development team sent its way.
Since the Subnock generally posed no threat as long as its territory wasn't breached, the government had eventually chosen to leave it alone, focusing instead on culling the monster populations that drifted toward the fringes of the plain.
"Now listen closely," a teacher called out to the students gathered at the entrance. "The festival will take place strictly within the designated zones provided in your maps. Do not, under any circumstances, wander too deep into the plains."
Roughly two hundred students were lined up for the briefing. Most hailed from the Magic and Knight Departments, though a small contingent from the Priest Department was also present. Since participation was voluntary, there were few first-years among the crowd; the majority were third-years, likely hoping to secure better job offers by distinguishing themselves before graduation.
Several of the Kingdom’s most influential figures had arrived as guests. Inside a massive pavilion erected a short distance from the students, the Court Mage Captain and the Knight Commander—the very leaders of National Defense—were reportedly in attendance. For a student, catching the eye of such men could change their life overnight.
While the King or the Crown Prince sometimes attended the festival, both were absent this year. Since the Second Prince, Andrew, was participating, the risk of having two heirs in the same potentially dangerous location was deemed too great for the stability of the crown.
"If you step too far into the depths of the plain, you will enter the habitat of the Subnock and its kin," the teacher warned. "Do not act recklessly. If you find yourself in danger, fire the rescue signal distributed to everyone. The rescue staff will head to your location immediately. Every year, this festival claims lives or leaves participants with grave injuries. Do not let your guard down."
Once the briefing concluded, the Monster Hunting Festival officially began. The participants split into groups of three to five and headed out into the tall grass.
"Well then... shall we get to work as well?"
Andrew, the Student Council President, clapped his hands to draw the attention of his team. Rest and the rest of the Student Council were gathered in an administration tent set apart from the participants.
"Officers, to your posts as the support staff. Executive Committee, coordinate with the faculty and take your positions for rescue operations. Even if this is a voluntary event where students accept their own risks, I want you to do your absolute best to ensure no one dies!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Alright, get to it. I wish you all the best of luck!"
Following Andrew’s command, Rest and the others sprang into action. Rest looked back at Viola and Primula, raising a hand to them.
"I'll see you two later."
"Yeah! Good luck, Rest!" Viola called out.
"Please don't push yourself," Primula added, her voice laced with concern. "No matter what."
"I'll be fine. I'll come back safely, so don't worry. I'm off."
Viola and Primula were assigned to logistics as Officers, while Rest, as a member of the Executive Committee, was joining the rescue staff. Since the rescue teams operated in five-man squads, he naturally had teammates to join.
"Alright, first-years, over here," a senior member of the Executive Committee barked.
He was a second-year from the Knight Department. Though he had a somewhat lean build, he was tall and held himself with a sharp intensity. His features were handsome enough, but the permanent scowl in his eyes ruined the effect.
"I’ll be taking command of Team E. I’m Jack Yugroot, second-year Knight Department."
Jack was the third-ranked student in his year and a renowned master of the spear. Despite his youth, his induction into the Royal Guard was already considered a foregone conclusion.
His squad consisted of four first-years: Rest from the Magic Department, Danila and another student from the Knight Department, and a student from the Priest Department.
"Let me make one thing clear," Yugroot said, his voice hard. "On the field, my word is law. I don't want to hear the word 'no.' Is that understood?"
"Yes, I understand," Rest replied.
"Tch..."
While Rest nodded politely, Danila’s face was a mask of irritation. Rest wished his rival would at least try to be more cordial to a senior from his own department.
"If you have a problem, stay here," Yugroot snapped, eyeing Danila. "In the Knight Order, a superior's orders are everything. I'm the captain of this team, and I have no intention of dragging along a soldier who won't follow my lead."
"...I'll follow. I'm not complaining," Danila muttered, raising his hands in a half-hearted gesture of surrender.
"If there are no more complaints, we're departing. We're responsible for the area near the entrance of the plains. It's low-risk, but don't get complacent. There are no certainties on a battlefield."
Despite being part of the elite Executive Committee, Rest and the others were still first-years, so they had been assigned a relatively safe sector.
"Move out!"
At Yugroot's command, the team entered the plains. Even as rescue staff, they weren't exempt from the local wildlife; monsters would attack anyone who set foot in their territory. Fighting off the beasts that crossed their path, Rest and his team pushed forward into their assigned zone.