Boy And Dire Bird

It was nearly the fourth day since the basic-course students had entered the forest. Several hours had passed since they fled from the enemy… They now kept themselves hidden in the forest, remaining alert to their surroundings while treating the members of Rudel’s class, the lower-year class they had rescued from the Dire Bird, and their escorts.

Among them, Rudel was looking up at the sky while checking his equipment. …Something about him struck Izumi as strange. He wasn’t acting like his usual self… He almost seemed excited… as though he were itching for a fight.

Nearby, the escorts from Rudel’s class were treating the escorts and students who could no longer move… but because they didn’t know what had caused it, they were unable to fully heal them.

“It’s not poison, and it’s not hypnosis… What in the world could have been done to leave them like this?”

Even the skilled escorts tilted their heads as they examined those who had lost control of their bodies. Amid all this, the immobilized leader of the escorts gave them instructions. Yet even the escorts receiving those orders felt that something about him was strange.

“Forget about us. Take everyone who’s still able to move and get the Princess out of this forest as quickly as possible… Staying here any longer is far too dangerous.”

(Was this guy always this passionate when he talked? I wish he wouldn’t make such a fuss and rile everyone up when we need to stay quiet…)

That was what they wanted to do… but with the Dire Bird flying overhead searching for them, whether they could actually escape was another matter. They also needed to report what they had learned about the Dire Bird, or the situation could become even worse.

When the Princess had been attacked, they had already sent someone outside the forest… to report the incident to the academy staff. But they hadn’t told them about the Dire Bird’s abilities! In that situation, the rescuers could simply end up needing rescue themselves… and the number of victims would only increase. And this forest was currently packed with academy students… Everything about the situation was as bad as it could possibly be.

“We managed to save that little White Cat girl’s class… but it’s only a matter of time before the casualties start piling up.”

Mii’s class was also hiding quietly here. Among them, Rudel could see the elven girl… Milia.

“This is the worst.”

The escorts who could still move considered the best possible course of action. Even if they succeeded in saving the Princess, they themselves would be condemned afterward, and there was also a real chance they would lose their lives. …That muttered remark had come from those thoughts.

“Use a decoy? …Will that really save everyone?”

One of the escorts stepped forward to explain the plan to Rudel. He said that Rudel and the Princess would be accompanied by several escorts who were still capable of moving and taken out of the forest.

“…We will save her. No matter what.”

The escorts’ expressions were unusually grim—or rather, tense. Convinced that they were hiding something, Rudel questioned them.

“Does that mean everyone will survive?”

At those words, every person keeping quiet nearby turned their eyes toward them. The escorts lowered their heads, and from their reactions, the students realized that not everyone was going to make it. Some of them even began to sob.

“We’ll escort you out of the forest with those of us who can move quickly. We also need to get this information out as soon as possible. It’s already the middle of the night, so I believe there’s less chance of the enemy finding us.”

The escort began to feel pathetic as lie after lie left his mouth. If the monster could see at night, they would be found immediately, and traveling through the forest after dark would be extremely difficult… Even so, there was one reason they had to hurry: Fina was a princess of this kingdom.

“Please don’t worry about me… Let’s find a way for everyone to survive.”

(You’re telling me to abandon my precious kitty! Impossible! Absolutely impossible! And abandoning my classmates would just be horrible as a human being, wouldn’t it? You can say there’s no choice because I’m royalty… but you don’t really believe that yourselves! You’re just afraid of how you’ll be punished afterward, aren’t you?)

“All right… I’ll be the decoy.”

“What!?”

The escort reacted in shock, and both Izumi and Fina did the same. Rudel seemed so unlike his usual self that Izumi’s vague sense of unease became a certainty.

“Rudel, what are you saying!?”

(Ah… Master really is an idiot. He’s good at studying, but he’s not actually smart… Even though he’s an absolute genius when it comes to petting fluffy things…)

In the midst of that gloomy atmosphere, Rudel’s outrageous declaration completely changed the mood.

“Were you even listening to what I just said!? Besides, you’re one of the highest-priority people we’re supposed to protect! Use someone like that as a decoy? Don’t be ridiculous! We’ll select the decoys from among the escorts… I apologize to the other students, but they’ll have no choice but to escape on their own…”

Indeed, the plan was to use even the fleeing students to ensure that the Princess alone was saved. Even if the escorts were taken down, it would be enough if the monster’s attention shifted toward the students desperately trying to escape… That was the kind of plan they had devised.

Just then, another class arrived, guided there by the escorts. Among them were students whose lives the escorts had to protect at all costs… Luecke and Unias of the Three Dukes.

The noble students, unable to understand what was happening, raised their voices and shouted, “Explain yourselves!” Everyone present hurried to cover their mouths or explain the situation in hushed voices… but they still couldn’t comprehend it. Or rather, they refused to believe it.

There was no way a monster that dangerous could possibly be lurking in a forest the academy regularly used for events… That was their argument.

“Quiet! If you make any more noise, the enemy will find us… The Princess is here as well, so please follow our instructions.”

The leader of the escorts desperately explained in a low voice, going so far as to mention the Princess. At that, even the children of noble houses had little choice but to fall silent… Amid the situation, Luecke and Unias responded.

“If a monster like that truly exists, then this is far too dangerous… This is serious enough to warrant calling in the Knight Order.”

While Luecke remained calm, Unias reacted aggressively.

“What’s with that cowardly attitude? This is our chance to make a name for ourselves… And if we protect the Princess, it’ll make for one hell of a heroic tale.”

He muttered that while gripping the hilt of the greatsword strapped across his back… and Rudel cut in.

“Then the three of us can serve as decoys. Fortunately, both of you are more than strong enough. Unias can take the front line, and Luecke can stay in the rear, I suppose? I can fight wherever…”

“Wait just a minute, Arses! Why am I suddenly being dragged into this ridiculous decoy plan too!?”

Though Luecke kept his voice low, irritation crept into it and his volume gradually rose. Rudel answered as though the matter were perfectly obvious.

“It’s only natural for nobles to protect royalty. You’re always talking about duty and responsibility, so are you going to run away now?”

“…There are professionals here. Why should amateurs like us have to do anything…?”

“If we want to make absolutely certain the Princess escapes, I don’t want to reduce the number of escorts accompanying her. Besides…”

Everyone around them grew uneasy at Rudel’s forceful persuasion. Acting without considering his own position was practically Rudel’s specialty, but… this was going much too far.

Then yet another class appeared… Aleist’s class. They looked utterly exhausted, and aside from Aleist himself, none of them seemed likely to be useful… Everyone present couldn’t help seeing them as dead weight.

“I heard what was going on while we were coming here… Looks like my chance to shine has finally arrived!”

Aleist, the only one who still looked energetic, declared this confidently while staring at the Princess. …However, his clothing and equipment were in tatters, leaving Fina less than convinced.

“You’re from House Hardy, correct? I’ve heard quite a lot about you…”

(Ah, right, him! That ridiculously strong, handsome upperclassman who, for some reason, never gets a girlfriend. …I won’t criticize someone else’s preferences, but what’s so great about men being with men? Obviously you’d choose something fluffy instead!)

Fina had completely misunderstood Aleist. Unaware of that, Aleist was thinking something entirely different.

(No way! Even White Cat Mii is here! Those two were friends who crossed the boundaries of social status, weren’t they? If I show off here, then the two of them might… Bring it on! I don’t care what kind of monster it is!)

Amid an atmosphere that was strangely lacking in tension, Rudel alone seriously checked his equipment and gave instructions to his classmates. Then he looked up at the sky…

“In that case, Aleist can join us, and the four of us will act as decoys… Everyone else should head out of the forest together. Izumi, guide the students other than the Princess.”

Even then, Izumi tried to stop Rudel.

“Give it up already! There’s no reason you have to do something like this, Rudel!”

Rudel still refused to yield the decoy role, and just as one of the escorts finally lost his temper and moved to confront him—

“GYAKYAAAAAA!!!”

The Dire Bird descended with an eerie cry… While everyone present froze in terror, Rudel, sword equipped on his right arm and magical power gathered in his left hand, charged forward at full speed!

Unable to react to his speed, the Dire Bird was slashed by Rudel and then blasted away by his magic… Yet it immediately rose again and thrashed its body in a frenzy of rage. …Its attention had now fixed entirely on Rudel.

“GO!!! …And you three I invited to be decoys, decide right now whether you’re staying or running… I’m not sure I can kill it by myself.”

“What!? You’re actually planning to kill it!? That monster?”

Luecke stared at him in shock. Aleist, meanwhile, was dumbfounded. Everyone who had begun moving in response to Rudel’s shout either carried away those who couldn’t walk or fled blindly in panic… Even so, every one of the Dire Bird’s countless eyes remained fixed on Rudel.

“I’ll stay too.”

Izumi tried to join the decoy group, but Rudel refused.

“Then our class would be in trouble. With your ability to see in the dark, Izumi, they’ll have a better chance of escaping if anything happens… Now go!”

“Damn it! You’d better come back alive, Rudel!”

Izumi lent her shoulder to a student who couldn’t move and began running. Even to the very end, she remained worried about Rudel. Among the four left behind, Unias readied his greatsword and laughed loudly.

“Now this… this is damn good, Rudel! You’re the best… I’ll give you credit for having the guts to challenge a monster like this! Luecke! Aleist! If you’re running, you’d better do it now!”

“D-Don’t be ridiculous! There’s no way I’d be frightened by a monster of this level! Just watch me blow it away with my magic… Rudel, you watch too! I’ll show you what I’m truly capable of…”

Luecke immediately began preparing the magic he was so proud of. Naturally, no one paid attention to the rest of his long-winded speech because the battle had already begun. Aleist, however…

“W-Why are the Three Dukes fighting together like they’re friends…? You guys are ‘supposed to hate each other,’ aren’t you? So why are you all working together…?”

He was still muttering to himself and had yet to even prepare for battle.