A month had passed since the students from Piqmentia Grand Academy started their study activities. Right now all the students are gathering in the front yard of the academy to depart for the Alba Mountain Range. They weren’t there for a vacation, but the survival test. The students will be grouped according to their class. They will be released in the Alba Mountain range for 7 days. Meanwhile, the homeroom teacher will watch over them from afar and assist when students are really in danger.

At this time the principal and the teachers stood on the podium and looked at the students in front of them.

“My great students… Today we will be going on an expedition to the Alba Mountain range. This is one of the exams of the academy. This is not training, but hands-on practice by risking your lives. What you will do there is survive for 7 days and hunt magical beasts. You will compete in the hunt. The more magical beasts you kill, the higher your score.. The level of magical beasts also affects your score.” Merlick explained to the students.

“For a more detailed explanation, your homeroom teacher will explain. We will leave immediately. Since the distance is quite far, you will use a Magic Train to save travel time.” When Merlick said the Magical Train, students immediately became noisy. Some students are surprised because they already know it, and some are confused because they don’t know anything.

The Magic Train was an ancient magic tool equal to a legend rank artifact. The magic train was found in the ruins in an inactive state. Thanks to the help of the Cirlus Kingdom, the Magic Train was finally able to reactivate. The Magic Train consists of 9 carriages, each carriage can accommodate more than 100 people. The first carriage is a train engine powered by magic stone, and the 8 carriages behind it are used to carry passengers. The Magic Train floats in the air and is capable of moving at high speed. In other words, this Magical Train is the same as the modern train in Ziel’s previous world, only different in fuel and shape.

Kwooooooong…

When you hear a voice echoing from the sky. The students turned their heads and looked at it. They were shocked to see, in the sky flew a long train that resembled a snake. The Magic Train went straight without a hitch and slowly landed on the front yard of the academy.

The Magic Train looked longer and larger when viewed up close. It reaches hundreds of meters in length. The material used also looks unusual. Although it didn’t look as luxurious as a noble’s carriage, the Magic Train in front of them looked even more majestic. The door of the Magic Train opened and someone came out of it.

“Hahaha… I will join the expedition this time and will act as supervisor.” The person who came out from there was King Leonida, and behind him was a blue-haired middle-aged man wearing glasses.

“Dad? What are you doing here?” Princess Rinne asked the man who looked similar to her. He was the King of the Cirlus Kingdom, Raghnall Cirlus.

“I am here as the operator of this Magic Train, as well as checking its performance. This is the first time this Magic Train has been used. Of course, I have to check by myself if any parts need to be repaired or improved.” King Raghnall smiled broadly looking excited and enthusiastic.

“Ooh, then I can help you if needed.” Princess Rinne nodded slightly. But king Raghnall shook his head.

“No need, I’ve brought someone else. So you just have to focus on your exams.” King Raghnall did not want to disturb his daughter in the survival test. Because if you lose focus there, then your life will be at stake.

“Okay.” Princess Rinne looked a bit disappointed.

“All students get into the Train! Your classes are listed on the outside of the carriage.” Merlick woke the students who were blown away by the splendor of the Magic Train. They began to enter the carriage according to their class. The front carriage is the engine. A next carriage is a place for homeroom teachers, supervisors, and principals. Behind it are carriages for class S and so on until the last carriage belongs to class F.

Ziel who got into carriage D chose to sit by the window. The other class D students also followed him and fought over the seats they liked.

“Excuse me, may I sit here?” A pink-haired girl with an oval face that looks cute is standing in front of Ziel. She looks a little shorter than princess Freya. Because Ziel never pays attention to people in his class other than his roommate, james. He didn’t know the girl’s name.

“Of course.” Ziel nodded slightly and looked back out the window. The girl then sat beside him and looked awkward. Ziel just ignored her behavior.

When all the students and teachers have gone inside. The Train suddenly shook, a floating sensation was felt throughout the carriage. The Train gradually began to move forward. When Ziel saw the scene outside, the Train was already flying through the sky at a speed far exceeding that of a wyvern. The students started to make noise and scream at the scenery outside the window.

“Hmm… That…” The pink-haired girl spoke nervously.

“Hmm…?” Ziel looked at her.

“My name is Rhea Flannery. I’m also a class D student. Nice to meet you.” She introduced herself politely and bowed her head to him.

“My name is Ken Nijisaki. You don’t need to be so polite. It’s nice to meet you too.” Ziel finds it strange with her polite way of speaking.

“Hmm… I often see you with Princess Iris and the noble girl who is always with her.” She keeps on looking for topics as if she doesn’t want to break the conversation with him.

“Her name is Miss Clara. And she is my master. I am her servant.” Ziel answered it honestly.

“Ooh, it’s only right that you are often with them. hmm…” Rhea was confused about whether to say it or not.

“What is it?” Ziel asked Rhea who looked like she wanted to say something.

“Ah, sorry. Nothing.” She took a book from her bag and pretended to read it.

Ziel ignored her and looked back at the scenery outside the window. But Rhea secretly glanced at her from behind the book she was reading.

“If there’s something you want to say, then just say it.” He spoke nonchalantly without looking at her.

“Hmm… Aren’t you afraid of getting too close to Princess Iris?” She hesitated to ask Ziel for fear that he would be offended. But she ventured to ask.

“Why should I be afraid?” Ziel suddenly felt something strange with her words.

“Didn’t you hear the rumors? And don’t you feel anything when you’re around her?” Rhea gave him question after question.

“Rumors about what? And what do you mean feel something? Have you ever felt it when you were around her?” Ziel pretends not to know anything.

“I never felt it! But I saw her mana… Hmmm!” Rhea looked slip her tongue and immediately covered her mouth with both hands.

“Hee… Did you see it? You have good eyes then.” Ziel who previously only looked out the window turned his head and saw Rhea who looked panicked.

“Hmm… I beg you to keep it a secret. I can see the aura or mana of a person. I see the mana that comes out of Princess Iris looks very evil and sometimes forms a figure I’m sure it’s a girl. That’s why I warn you!” She was suddenly able to speak fluently.

“Didn’t I just know you? Why did you kindly warn me?” Ziel was confused as to why the girl suddenly wanted to sit next to him and warn him about Princess Iris.

“Eh… Besides being able to see aura or mana directly, I can also tell if a person is good or bad, dangerous or not. But strangely I can’t see anything from you. But what I can feel is you’re not evil. ” She smiled sweetly at Ziel.

“You may misjudge people.” He shook his head and looked back at the scenery outside the window.

***

In the class S carriage, the princesses sat close to each other except for Princess Iris. She sat in the back seat and around her were many empty seats that other students didn’t want to fill. The students were afraid to sit close to her. She seemed to be in isolation in that carriage. Right now there was only Clara sitting beside her.

“Is it okay to continue like this?” Princess Aishia asked while turning to where Princess Iris was sitting.

“What do you mean?” Princess Reina who was sitting behind her didn’t know what Princess Aishia was talking about.

“Aren’t we going to have a survival test out there? And we’re going to be grouped according to our class. If the two of them, Princess Iris to be precise, stay away from like that, wouldn’t our group cooperation fall apart?” Princess Aishia pitied seeing the other students away from princess Iris. But she couldn’t do anything because she also felt the pressure of getting too close to her. So she slightly understood what the students were afraid of.

“I think what they are doing is natural. And all of that is beyond our control. Can’t it improve the performance of the magic tool that she is wearing Princess Rinne?” She asked Princess Rinne who looked sleepy next to her.

“Hmm… I’ve tried it, but it’s unlikely to be finished anytime soon. I’ve also asked my father to speak to Uncle Jonathan about this. My father said King Jonathan will come personally to the academy after our exams are over.” After saying that Princess Rinne fell back asleep.

“Freya? What’s wrong with you? Why have you been silent all this time?” Princess Aishia saw her seatmate who had been looking out the window.

“It’s okay, I’m just bored. Eh, look over there! Isn’t that a monster horde!?” Princess Freya stood up from her chair and pointed in the direction where many black dots appeared.

***

Currently, the teachers and principals are relaxing in the second carriage while enjoying their journey on the Magic Train. The seats in the carriage were slightly different from the seats in the student carriages. In the teacher’s carriage, 4 seats will face each other and not back to back. Even though they can fly in the sky using their power, but using a train to fly is something new for them.

“Miss Kalya, how does this Magic Train taste?” King Leonida sitting in front of Kalya smiling from time to time spreads his charm on her. Next to him was the Principal of the academy, Merlick. While sitting next to Kalya is Beatrix. The other teacher sat on the chair behind them.

“Hmm… Not bad.” Kalya just nodded slightly in response.

“Then you should also try with the one owned by the Aurelia Kingdom. Even though it’s the same type, but the indoor and outdoor decorations of the carriages are better than this. Of course, convenience is better than this. King Raghnall’s assistant himself helped carry out the maintenance.” King Leonida boasted a little to get Kalya’s attention. While the person he was talking to just closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.

Beatrix next to kalya couldn’t help but laugh in her heart while King Leonida who saw it was displeased. Just as he was about to speak again suddenly the Magic Train shook violently.

“Attention! We are attacked by monsters!” The Magic Train operator shouted from the magic loudspeaker.

Hundreds of monsters flying in the sky were seen approaching them.