Chapter 21 (2/2): Entering the Forest for the First Time

When Qiu Meng took it, she was initially worried she wouldn’t be able to lift it, but the blade was surprisingly light.

“Huh?”

She looked down at the magic stone.

‘This is that person’s weapon from before…!’

‘And it’s a Wind Magic Stone… no wonder that archmage who was about to assassinate Dad could swing it so fast.’

Dante patted her shoulder.

“This sword is lighter than normal swords, so it suits you now. And… be careful.”

Qiu Meng gripped the hilt tightly.

“Thank you, Dad!”

“Mm.”

Dante looked at her, his tone softening.

“Don’t overdo it. If you really encounter danger, survive first.”

Qiu Meng nodded seriously.

“Mm!”

She returned to her room, placed the sword by the bed, and organized her sleeve crossbow, admission letter, and the things she needed to bring tomorrow.

Then, she lay down on the bed.

She had only meant to close her eyes and rest for a bit.

But the bed at Dream Travel Inn was just too comfortable.

The soft bedding, the quiet night after the rain, the satisfaction of being full, and the fatigue accumulated during the day all dragged her into sleep.

When Qiu Meng opened her eyes again, it was already morning.

She stared at the ceiling, her consciousness slowly returning.

“Mm…”

She yawned.

Time to get up.

She reached out to touch the magic clock beside her.

There was still half an hour until the assembly time.

“Mm… it’s still early.”

She lay back down in relief.

‘Just a little more sleep… that’s not too much.’

After a while, she opened her eyes again.

Fifteen minutes left.

“Time to get up…”

She sat up, looked at the magic clock, and wore a relieved expression.

Then she lay back down again.

After another moment.

Ten minutes left.

“It’s okay… I can still sleep…”

Qiu Meng closed her eyes again.

Finally, when the magic clock showed only five minutes left, she abruptly sat up.

She was stunned for a moment.

“No! I’m going to be late!”

Qiu Meng’s scalp tingled, and she bounced straight out of bed.

She quickly finished organizing everything she needed to and rushed out of the room.

She happened to run into Shalin, who was carrying breakfast and about to knock.

“Xiao Meng, aren’t you going to eat?”

“I’m going to be late, I can’t eat!”

Qiu Meng sprinted all the way, charging out of the Dream Travel Inn.

***

At the same time, on the Magic Academy square.

The Physics Department freshmen had already assembled.

The elderly teacher was standing at the front, explaining the safety precautions for the wilderness survival training.

“First, everyone, regarding the survival training, the first point to note is to confirm there is no danger in the surroundings before setting up camp.”

“The second point is not to drink unpurified stream water.”

“Then… the third point is not to eat unrecognizable wild fruits.”

“And the last point is that nighttime actions must involve at least two people.”

Alisia stood among the crowd, draped in a deep blue cloak, still carrying that heavy greatsword on her back.

She listened to the teacher’s words, but her gaze kept sweeping toward the square entrance.

Qiu Meng hadn’t arrived yet.

‘…Hey, hey, hey.’

She sighed inwardly.

‘Late on the first day?’

Just as the teacher was about to announce departure, hurried footsteps came from afar.

‘Faster, faster!’

Qiu Meng, with her hair a bit disheveled, rushed into the square, panting heavily.

The last two minutes.

She made it.

“Just in time…”

She ran over to Alisia, hands on her knees, her entire body nearly drenched in sweat.

“Huff… huff…”

Alisia looked at her and was silent for a moment.

Then, she took out a spare cloak similar in color to her own from her bag and handed it to Qiu Meng.

“Here, take this.”

Qiu Meng was taken aback.

“Uh?”

“For wilderness survival, having a cloak is quite good,” Alisia said.

“It can block the wind and also help hide yourself a bit.”

Her gaze then fell on the new sword at Qiu Meng’s waist.

“Looks like you found a good weapon.”

Qiu Meng nodded.

“Mm.”

She put on the cloak.

The cloak fabric was a bit thick, and the inside had a faint sea salt smell.

“Strange…”

Alisia noticed her expression and asked:

“Is it okay?”

“It’s okay.”

Qiu Meng tugged at the edge of the cloak.

It felt a bit strange to wear, but it did make her feel more at ease.

Alisia didn’t press further and instead began observing the other students.

The few particularly conspicuous freshmen from yesterday’s classroom had all changed into outfits suitable for field operations today.

The green-haired, bespectacled pharmacist girl had changed into a more practical pharmacist outfit, with small containers resembling syringes hanging at her waist, and a bowler hat on her head.

In her hand, she held a weapon shaped like a longsword, but with a transparent tube embedded in the middle, containing a red liquid. Several buttons were arranged on the hilt, clearly capable of injecting the potion into the blade or releasing it externally.

Qiu Meng glanced at it and only thought that weapon looked dangerous.

Alisia frowned slightly.

“Fancy weapons are usually not very practical…”

Then she looked to the other side, where the student carrying a flute was draped in a cloak, dressed more like a bard. There seemed to be something hidden under his clothes, but the cloak covered it tightly, making it impossible to see.

Alisia made a simple mental note of these people.

Just as she was about to check her luggage, an abnormal scent suddenly drifted from the side.

The smell of a sickroom.

It wasn’t the ordinary herbal scent, nor the disinfection smell of an infirmary.

Instead, it was more like the smell of decay buried in a sealed bottle for a long time seeping out.

Alisia’s body stiffened slightly.

‘…!?’

She turned to look.

That green-haired pharmacist girl was standing not far away, with a gentle smile on her face.

“Are you short on people over here?”

Qiu Meng also turned to look at her.

But Qiu Meng seemed to smell nothing, only looking puzzled.

Alisia instinctively took half a step back.

‘What has this person been up to before…?’

She suppressed her discomfort and spoke:

“Ah. We only have two people here.”

She looked at Qiu Meng.

“Right now it’s just me and her, so we are indeed short on people.”

Qiu Meng muttered quietly:

“But I think two people is about enough…”

Alisia didn’t respond immediately, instead continuing to look at the pharmacist girl.

“Judging by your outfit, you must be a pharmacist?”

“Mm.”

The pharmacist girl nodded.

“If you don’t mind, let me join.”

Her voice was very soft.

“I’m not very good at fighting… I only use a little bit of potion power.”

Alisia noticed that her eyes seemed to be glowing faintly.

The light was not obvious, but it made people a bit uncomfortable.

Alisia didn’t meet her gaze for long.

“Mm, I don’t mind.”

She extended her hand.

“I’m counting on you. By the way, what’s your name?”

The pharmacist girl gently took her hand.

“Seraphina Cadera.”

Alisia’s heart stirred.

Starts with Seraphina?

This name format sounded somewhat familiar.

Her gaze then fell on the other’s right shoulder.

There hung a red cross badge.

Below the badge were olive branch patterns and an inscription indicating medical personnel.

“Just call me Cadera.”

The pharmacist girl said with a smile.

Alisia withdrew her hand.

“Got it. I’m Alisia Ishmel.”

Qiu Meng also said:

“Qiu Meng.”

“Then, please take care of us from now on, Cadera.”

Cadera nodded.

At the same time, the portal in the center of the square slowly expanded.

The teacher raised his hand, and then a blue light screen spread out.

“Everyone, prepare to depart.”

The students, grouped in teams, stepped into the portal one after another.

Qiu Meng, Alisia, and Cadera also stepped forward.

As the teleportation light enveloped them, Alisia’s thoughts still lingered on that badge.

‘A member of the Holy Council… but why are there olive branches and a medical emblem below the badge?’

That is to say, the other was likely not an ordinary member of the Holy Council, but a medical student sent by the Temple System.

‘Medical personnel, and a name starting with Seraphina.’

‘And that smell from the morgue…’

Alisia let out a soft sigh in the teleportation light.

“I have a feeling I’m going to get tangled up in a lot of strange things…”

The next second, the academy square disappeared.

In its place was a strange forest, damp, dark, with a low, howling wind.

Then, the teacher’s voice echoed throughout the entire forest, saying:

“Wilderness survival training begins.”