Boy And Retreating Before The Enemy

Once the forest event began, Rudel and the others hurried toward the first checkpoint. There was little idle chatter among the class as they advanced through the forest toward the destination they had set for themselves. Izumi took the lead, with Rudel walking a short distance behind her. Among the class, only Izumi and Rudel were really capable of handling an emergency.

Taking that into account, Rudel had left the lead to Izumi while giving instructions to the entire group from just behind her.

A major reason for this was that Izumi was poor at magic. It was not that she could not use it, but she inevitably relied on the swordsmanship she excelled at. Rudel, on the other hand, had no obvious weaknesses. Skilled in both swordsmanship and magic, he was a versatile type who could perform effectively from any position.

“As expected, the noble classes are falling behind… At this rate, our real competition will be the commoner classes, but…”

While keeping watch on their surroundings, Rudel checked the other classes as they gradually diverged onto different routes. However, there was one noble class advancing through the forest at almost the same pace as Rudel’s group.

“The princess’s class is impressive.”

Even while leading the way, Izumi glanced toward the princess’s class as it gradually moved farther away. Among them, she could also make out Chlust following near the rear. He had made his followers carry his baggage while he himself held nothing but his weapon. He was also keeping a somewhat awkward distance from the rest of the class.

“Is Chlust part of their combat force? If they’ve entrusted the rear to him, he must be fairly capable.”

Rudel watched his younger brother with admiration. But almost immediately, his gaze shifted back across the entire class. …Apparently, he had already lost interest. From Izumi’s perspective, Chlust looked less like a rear guard and more like dead weight merely trailing behind the princess’s class.

In reality, the class was deliberately keeping a certain distance from Chlust, and they had assigned someone other than him to serve as the actual rear combatant.

“Rudel really is… careless about anything he isn’t interested in. Though I suppose that’s very much like him…”

Izumi sighed. Then she turned her gaze forward again and continued deeper and deeper into the forest.

Just like the previous year, Aleist’s class charged straight ahead… or rather, they could not. That was because the academy had added a new warning based on what had happened the year before.

‘Do not recklessly destroy the forest.’

That rule had been added specifically because of Aleist’s actions the previous year. Aleist himself had only learned of it when the precautions were reviewed immediately before departure… Printed notices had been distributed beforehand, but he had neglected to read them.

“What are we supposed to do, Aleist?! At this rate, we’re guaranteed to finish last!”

“Just use your magic already!”

“Idiot! The escorts are watching us… Do you want us to get caught and disqualified?”

Leading his increasingly panicked class, Aleist used low-level magic against monsters and trees as they made their way through the forest… It became an extremely difficult journey. His classmates quickly began acting however they pleased, and some even hid whenever combat broke out, forcing everyone to waste even more time searching for them…

Their situation was now the same as Rudel’s had been the previous year, if not worse.

“Enough already, all of you! You’re leaving everything to me… Has a single one of you actually joined a fight since we started? No, you haven’t! I’m the only one doing any fighting!!!”

Aleist finally reached the limits of his patience. His class began arguing right there on the spot. That brought them to a complete stop and caused their ranking to fall even further.

“Your Highness, are you all right?”

It was the third day since the students of the academy’s basic curriculum had entered the forest. The fastest classes were nearing the point where they could soon reach the finish. The princess’s class was among those faster groups.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

(Fine? Like hell I’m fine!!! Do you have any idea how many fluffy creatures you people have slaughtered over these three days?! You’re showing off just because I’m here… even though normally you wouldn’t bother with half of them! And Chlust too! That bastard… he cut down the Killer Rabbit that came toward me! I could’ve endured a few charges! I would’ve endured them and then cuddled it!!!)

“Princess, surely you haven’t forgotten the accomplishments of this Chlust? I, Chlust, who rushed to your aid in your hour of danger, will continue protecting you from here on!”

After Chlust defeated a Killer Rabbit that had slipped through the guards, he used that achievement to argue back whenever they objected to him approaching the princess, and he had consequently managed to stay close to her like this. In truth, however, the one who had deliberately slipped through the guards had been the princess herself…

“Thank you, Chlust… I find that very reassuring.”

(Huh? You’ve done nothing but follow behind me this whole time. And besides… you’re creepy!)

Fina responded to Chlust with her usual expressionless face… But at that very moment, the black bird of ill omen with white markings was circling overhead, preparing to descend after choosing the princess’s class as its prey.

Rudel’s class continued toward the finish line, showing some fatigue but squeezing out the last of their strength. At this rate, a high-ranking finish was assured! First place was even possible. …But then—

“H-help us!!!”

“Someone!!!”

A group of younger noble students appeared from directly beside the route Rudel’s class was following. The fact that noble students were this close to the finish on the third day meant… they had to be classmates of the princess. But if even one classmate went missing or became separated, the entire class was supposed to be disqualified.

“Why are you here? Each class should have its own separate finish line.”

Izumi approached and questioned the younger students.

“Th-the princess! The princess was attacked by a black bird!”

“A huge bird monster appeared… The guards came out too, but all we could do was run…”

The moment Rudel heard those words, his expression became serious.

“Which direction… Which way are the princess and the others?!”

“Th-that way!”

Startled by Rudel’s shout, the younger student pointed back down the path they had come from with a trembling finger…

“…Everyone, listen to me.”

Rudel gathered all his classmates together and began speaking.

“Gyagyagyaaaaaah!!!”

The sinister bird, black with white markings, sent the guards who had appeared to protect the princess flying. With the beating of its wings and its four legs, it scattered them one after another… Those guards had been highly skilled fighters specifically assigned to protect the princess. And yet—

“You damn monster! My body hasn’t been moving properly since earlier!”

“It’s doing something to us! Anyone will do—get the princess out of here!!!”

“If only my body would move properly… I’d kill this fake bird!”

Fina watched the scene while being shielded by the guards who were also her classmates.

(Ah… even I have to admit there’s no way I’m cuddling that black bird.)

She had escaped into denial. The reason was that her own body was no longer moving properly. Her legs had no strength… and her arms felt as though they did not belong to her. At that moment, every student who had failed to escape began preparing themselves for death.

All the red eyes covering the black bird’s body focused on the princess at once. Their sheer number was grotesque, and even the fluff-loving princess trembled from the bottom of her heart beneath their gaze. Then a white blur leaped in front of her.

The one who placed herself between the princess and the sinister bird was Mii of the White Cat Tribe.

“W-what are you doing, Mii?! Get back!”

The princess panicked, though her expression still did not change. Mii answered her,

“I-I’m scared, but I’ll do my best! I’ll fight for the princess who called me her friend! …H-huh? I can’t put any strength into my body?”

Mii had charged forward bravely, but the sinister bird’s cry drove her to her knees as well… As the creature approached, everyone sensed that both the White Cat Tribe girl and the princess were about to die.

Then once again, someone appeared and placed himself between Mii and the sinister bird. But this time, the newcomer attacked at full power from the very start.

“GO FLYINGGGGG!!!”

The instant he burst out of the forest, he unleashed intermediate wind magic at point-blank range. It was a finishing spell charged with as much mana as he could possibly pour into it… a trump card Basil had taught Rudel after he declared that if he intended to become a Dragoon, he wanted a finishing move of his own.

The two wind spells fired from his hands displayed destructive power far beyond what anyone would expect from intermediate magic. Everyone present stared dumbfounded as the sinister bird was blasted away.

“M-Master!”

(Master is seriously so damn cool!!!)

“Th-that nobleman from before?”

Fina and Mii were the first to speak, but—

“…Now! Run!”

“Huh?”

“Meow?”

At those words, Rudel’s classmates immediately hoisted the fallen students and guards onto their shoulders and fled. Rudel himself scooped up the princess and Mii and sprinted away at full speed.

“Why are we running? Surely that attack defeated it?”

To the princess’s question, Rudel replied,

“It was still moving, and its eyes weren’t dead. It’ll be chasing us again any second!”

“Then use that spell again…”

The princess and Mii were each tucked under one of his arms… and Rudel answered Mii’s question with a completely serious expression.

“That was my finishing move! Basil and I came up with it together—a ridiculously powerful finishing move designed without any consideration whatsoever for mana consumption or practical battlefield use!”

“A-and that means?”

“I’m already out of mana, so I can’t use it again. Even if I did, I’d be unable to move afterward, so we’d lose!”

(Master… you’re useless!!!)