Chapter 78.3 - The First Year at the Academy - Second Semester Field Exercise 1 (3)
A few days later, we're off to a late field exercise.
Our destination is the southern forest.
It was the furthest point from the Selene area, and we finally reached it after passing through the breadbasket and grazing land. And because we were far from the center of the empire, the demons were a little stronger.
As in the previous season, the adventurers led by Haleist of [Serps] and the other two groups were ousted by a more skilled party in exploration. I was relieved that [Everlasting Crop] was not there. I don't like it when those guys are around because they are so unpredictable.
And the senior student who was my assistant was a 4th-year student named Thalias Mortif Olmsted, the 3rd son of the Count.
He seemed to have a cold personality even though he was a big man, and we hardly had any conversation with him except for the initial greeting.
Reese seemed worried because the most important assistant was this, but I was glad he was so unruffled. The son of a count is a pain in the ass.
On the first day, we arrived at the campsite smoothly, and under Decindo's direction, we began preparations for the campsite.
Here, the chain of command came into play immediately.
At Lambert's command, the group leaders gathered to discuss which group would pitch their tents where.
Since the night watch was to be conducted in the surrounding area, this was, in effect, a decision on the position of the watch. Lambert suggested that he would take the most dangerous area to the south, but was rebuffed by Reese, who said that a contingency commander should not be on the front line. As a result, Reese's team would be on the front line. Sickle and Goldie can fight reasonably well, and Reese can use elementary magic. Also, it's my fault.
"Where are you going to use this?"
"Oh, over here."
Reese took the support pole in his hand, and Sickle hurriedly took it away.
The two cronies seemed out of sorts as Reese took the initiative to help set up the tent.
I know how bad the first one was.
No, from this world's point of view, Reese is crazy. She may be tiny, but she's a baron's daughter.
Incidentally, the person in charge of supplies for Reese's team is Sickle.
Reese also said, "Shouldn't I, who is in the rear, be in charge of the supplies?" But I rejected the idea, saying that there was too much to be done as both team's leader and in charge of supplies. Sickles said he was in charge last term, so I left him in charge. I won't do it. It's too much trouble.
After setting up, I went to the center of the campsite and refilled the water bags with [Pure Water].
At the group leaders' meeting, they decided that those who could use water magic would take turns replenishing the bags. Thanks to this, we succeeded in decreasing the water's amount in everyone's luggage.
It was Lambert who proposed at the meeting, but it seems that it was Elliott who advised him to do so.
The former Lambert's group and the first group had not experienced the weight of water since Elphimia and I were there, and they could not think that far ahead. Elliott's group must have had a hard time.
After a while, Decindo called for the group leader and the students of magic studies.
When the students arrived, they found Decindo and Helena, the magic instructor, waiting for them.
As usual, her entire body exuded a lack of motivation.
She was a talented woman who could manipulate many kinds of magic, especially fire magic, but she lacked any enthusiasm for her work.
After confirming that everyone had gathered, Decindo gave his orders.
"Each group, patrols the perimeter, searching for and eliminating monsters and hostile animals. Adventurers and senior students are circling the perimeter. Do not go outside the perimeter."
"Those who can use offensive magic should attack with magic at least once per battle. Those who can't use it, use the available magic as you see fit."
Helena took over Decindo's words roughly.
With this, they dismissed the group, but only the students of magical studies returned to their tents.
The group leaders spontaneously gathered at Lambert's and began discussing what to do about the patrol.
That was a very good trend. It would be even better if Lambert were given full authority as it was.
I stayed behind and listened to the discussion at a distance.
As a result of the discussion, they decide that the group on the perimeter would patrol, while the group closer to the center would support and communicate with the others due to their low strength.
Although this was a slight deviation from the instructor's instructions, it was still a part of the patrol.
I was sure there would be no problem, as I could see no signs of negativity from Decindo, who had been listening to us.
We got ready and headed out on patrol.
The order of the line was me, Sickle, Reese, and Goldie.
Compared to the previous year, when it was chaotic, this time the groups were patrolling at regular intervals. This way, we would not be isolated, and there was little danger of a raid on the center if we missed something.
I strolled through the autumn forest, listening to the birds chirping with easy steps.
I had been to many of the surrounding forests and meadows as an adventurer, so I had some idea of the area's characteristics.
Besides, most monsters and animals kept their distance from the students, sensing their presence. Only a very confident or intuitive monster would attack without looking at them. By the way, the latter's representative is a goblin, but it has decreased sharply in the previous term and the subjugation corps.
Instead – there's Bornis.
Not as many as the last time, but I could sense signs of them dotted around.
While patrolling around, I knocked them off the big tree, dragged out the beetles lurking in the bushes, and decapitated them. When I suddenly noticed, the group members were pulling back. When my eyes met, Reese turned away.
"So you had that kind of hobby. I'll report it to Doris-sama."
"I don't like the sound of that. These guys are vermin ravaging the grain fields."
"Is that so?"
Reeses confirms with Sickle, but there is no way they would know about it.
It's a terrible misunderstanding when I'm working for them without regard to money. Who would want to mess with a big, stupid bug?
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