The guy stirring up the hype was named Sen Daluo.
Even his name gave off a “final boss” vibe.
Broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, he was the type who could hold his own in a fight without even needing a spirit beast.
“Let’s go. I smell smoke. We walk against the wind.”
In just half a day, the students had already formed a team with Sen Daluo at the lead, united in their animosity toward me.
They kept a close eye on me, Cluru, and Xinyue, afraid that we might somehow ruin their chance of encountering a legendary spirit beast.
Off to the side, Ishida remained silent.
He’d truly turned himself into a transparent bystander, refusing to involve himself in any of the students’ decisions.
“The ash looks fresher! We’re close!”
After inspecting the burnt remains, Sen Daluo declared triumphantly.
“Hey! Don’t you all think this is strange?” Class rep Xinyue was growing more uneasy. “Forest fires are hard to put out. Usually, when a fire starts, it burns through the whole area… But this one didn’t spread at all. It’s like… like…”
“It was deliberately set and deliberately put out!”
“Class rep, don’t stir up panic.” Sen Daluo folded his arms proudly, towering over her like a colossus, exuding an oppressive presence.
“I get that you’re upset. I took your command, rejected your judgment… but please understand, I’m doing this for the sake of the whole class. Isn’t that right, everyone?”
A thunderous chorus of agreement erupted, scattering a flock of starlings into the sky.
“…And they’re still shouting that loud. If this were an isekai, this bunch of morons wouldn’t even survive the dungeon opening.”
I sneered internally.
Fine, if you’re so determined not to listen, then go all the way down that path and see what the Bi Fang has in store for you.
The stench of blood in the air was growing stronger.
At first, I only suspected it was a trap. But now… I was certain.
This was 100% a trap. And not just a minor one.
It was deadly.
“Xinyue-jie, Little Lulu—make sure to wear your night gear and cover your faces.”
To avoid disgusting scenes like myself getting assaulted by male bandits or my friends being harassed, I recommended all the good-looking students— male or female— take precautions in advance.
Of course, the ones too greedy to listen deserved whatever trouble came their way.
“Faster! We’re almost there!”
Sen Daluo was sprinting ahead, full of anticipation like a rat racing toward a mousetrap, or a cockroach diving headfirst into a glue trap.
Ahead lay the source of the last thick plume of smoke.
If nothing went wrong, Bi Fang would definitely be nearby—or so he thought.
The rest of the students soon followed him to the scorched site.
“Look over there!”
Sen Daluo pointed excitedly at the mountain.
In the center of the mountain face was a large gaping hole!
The area around the hole was clearly scorched by fire.
The cave was wide and deep—no matter how you looked at it, it screamed mystery.
Might as well have had a sign that read: “I’m the Bi Fang’s lair~ Come on in~”
“Let’s go! Everyone in!”
Oh, of course. Can’t have the bandits missing their chance to wipe you all out at once, can we?
“Teenagers can be naïve, but they don’t have to be brain-dead,” I finally snapped. “That cave is pitch-black—you can’t see a thing. All of you rushing in at once? That’s textbook ambush bait.”
“Let’s go! Ignore her — she just likes raining on parades.”
“She’s only mad because we’re about to get the Bi Fang.”
“Look, she’s mad! She’s mad~”
“…”
Speechless.
You win. I’m triggered.
I was genuinely, thoroughly triggered.
Even my tail was starting to steam.
“Well then, be my guests.” I stopped at the mouth of the cave, smiling sweetly as I gave a courteous bow. “Legendary spirit beasts only show themselves to those fated to meet them. It seems fate has nothing to do with me and the Bi Fang. So, I won’t fight you for it. Please—go on in.”
“Seriously?” Sen Daluo’s eyes lit up with joy.
He was dumb, but not completely.
At least he knew that among our class, I, Xinyue, and Cluru were the top three in combat ability.
If the Bi Fang really was inside, there’d only be one.
Out of thirty-plus students, only one person would get to form a bond.
And odds were, it’d be one of us three.
He was terrified we’d beat him to it.
“Of course~ We’ll wait right here and won’t take a single step inside,” I said, still smiling. “How about this— no matter what happens inside— strange noises, screams, cries for help, wails of despair, or even joyful laughter… I won’t go in. No matter what.”
“Perfect! That’s perfect!” Sen Daluo said hurriedly. “It’s a deal! You all stay here and wait for us to come back!”
“Sure~ A deal’s a deal~”
“Just don’t go back on your word.”
Sen Daluo strode into the cave with his head held high.
The rest of the class followed right behind him.
Ishida didn’t enter right away. He stood at the entrance, frowning at me.
“You’re really going to just let them walk into danger like that?”
“Of course,” I replied, surprised. “Look at them—acting like they’ve been brainwashed by a cult. I’m supposed to jump in and get myself killed for them?”
“They’re still your classmates.”
“Classmates, sure. But not friends. Especially not the kind who throw out lines like ‘She’s mad! She’s mad~’ Yeah, they’re just classmates to me. Nothing more.”
After a brief pause, I continued:
“Xinyue-jie is the only friend I have in this class.”
—Only one friend?
Clulu’s tentacles crept further up my arm, nearly reaching the elbow.
She shook my hand in protest. “What about me? What about me?”
“Go play somewhere else, kid.” I curled my lip and couldn’t be bothered to answer.
“…I’m really happy you think of me as a friend, but… are we seriously just going to watch them jump into a fire pit?” Xinyue sighed. “I mean, I get it—the temptation of a legendary spirit beast is just too strong. Not many people can keep their heads straight in this situation…”
“If they can’t keep their heads straight, then let them pay the price. If you’ve never been beaten down by reality, you’ll never grow up. What, you think I’m Brother Jie or something? Saving everyone, and even patiently helping them wait for their destined partner?”
“You talk a lot of shit for someone your age,” Ishida said, bull-eyed and staring. “Why the hell did the Qilin choose you as its Master?”
“You’d have to ask the Qilin,” I shrugged. “To be honest, I’d rather raise a dog.”
Qilin: “Woof! Woof!”
Baize: “Woof woof woof~!”
Ishida: “……”
Huh?
Murderous intent.
Someone’s coming…
I kept my face neutral. “Gotta go, Teacher Ishida. I’ve got a presentation to prepare. Even little fairy girls need to defend their thesis. I’m out.”
“…Don’t be so crude. You’re a girl—act a little more ladylike!” Ishida said helplessly.
“No, no, no, nononono~” I raised a finger and shook my head. “Unless it’s for social reasons, to make others like me more, I see no need to act ladylike to please anyone.
“I’m not trying to socialize. I don’t want to attract a mate. So ‘ladylike’ doesn’t matter to me. What matters more is that I don’t expect others to take care of me— I’ll take on the same workload as any male, and protect others too. I don’t need to be protected.
“In other words, I don’t need to act ladylike because I’m a top… mmph?!”
Before I could finish, a tentacle tightly wrapped around my mouth.
“You talk too damn much.” Clulu’s face was blank. “Teacher Ishida, I’ll handle her etiquette lessons. It’s my failure to discipline her properly. I apologize.”
“??? Clulu, what the hell are you doing—mmph?! Let… let go of me… I said let—mmphhh—”
No matter how much I struggled, my mouth was completely sealed, bound tightly across my cheeks by Clulu’s slick, strong tentacles.
I tilted backward, forced to collapse into Clulu’s arms.
I looked up at her serious expression.
Shit.
This crazy woman… she’s serious!
“Watch out!”
Just then—
Just as Clulu’s attention was locked on me, and I couldn’t move—
A puff of pink smoke blasted toward us.
Ishida only had time to drag Xinyue out of the way.
Clulu and I were completely covered in it.
“Clulu?! Mmphh (Let me go)!”
I wasn’t feeling much—yet.
But Clulu had gone completely still after inhaling the smoke.
She didn’t move. At all.
And with my mouth sealed, I couldn’t say anything clearly.
“Give it up,” a voice said. “It’s just a sleeping agent… but until it wears off, you won’t be able to wake her.”
A group of half-naked, scarred men emerged from the woods.
“Mm-mmph—(What did you do to her?)” I looked furious on the outside, but quietly I was channeling spiritual energy to check Clulu’s body.
I wasn’t worried about her safety. There wasn’t a poison in this world I couldn’t deal with.
…Yeah. As they said, it really was just a sleep agent. Nothing else.
Wait a minute—sleep agent?
“Relax, little one,” one of the men grinned. “She’s just asleep. Or to be precise… half-asleep, in a state where she can’t tell dream from reality.”
“Under the effect of that hypnotic dust, she’ll dream about the last thing she wanted to do. And then—have a real nice dream…”
Half-asleep… can’t tell dream from reality… has a “nice” dream…
Oh shit……
We’re screwed.