At a campsite in the dark wilderness, the sound of people chatting could still be heard. Right now the class D students who participated in the battle against the behemoths were resting. Most of them are currently being treated for the wounds they received after fighting. Marlo whose wound had healed was currently sitting in front of a tent. From inside came out a female student.

“What is their current condition?” Marlo asked the female student. She was one of the students in class D who was skilled in healing magic. Her name is Sheila and the tent where she came out was a place of treatment for injured students. 

“Their condition has stabilized after being given healing magic and potions. But they still haven’t regained consciousness. Maybe because the loss of blood can’t be replaced by magic. Only high-level potions can quickly heal them. As for students who suffer from fractures, they are now conscious but still can’t move.” Sheila explained in detail the state of the students who were injured.

“Okay. Please try to heal as soon as possible. Because tomorrow morning we will move from here.” Marlo took a deep breath after hearing the report.

“What!? We’re going to get out of here soon!? But what about the other students who are injured!? Wouldn’t that be dangerous for them on the way?” Sheila was shocked by their sudden departure.

“On the contrary, if we stay here too long it will be dangerous for us. You know that, right?” Marlo didn’t explain further because he was sure the girl in front of him would understand.

“Ah, I see. I’ll try with the others to heal them as soon as possible. At least they can walk well by tomorrow morning.” Sheila understood after hearing what Marlo said. Then she returned to the tent to help accelerate the healing of the students.

Even though Marlo looked like a selfish and arrogant person, but that didn’t cloud his senses. He knew that their fight would lure many magical beasts to their place. Right now they weren’t in a state that would allow them to fight high-level magical beasts, especially if it was a horde of magical beasts. The most important thing right now was the healing of the injured students.

Marlo got up from his seat and walked over to the fire. There was Ziel, Rhea, and Dalvin sitting. Dalvin’s wound which wasn’t serious had also been healed with magic.

“Good job Rhea, thanks to your attacks we were able to win against the behemoths.” Marlo smiled and sat right next to Rhea. Marlo is a handsome boy, with brown hair and fairly tall stature. Besides his attractive appearance, he is also the best student in class D. Because of that, many female students idolize him.

“Ah, it’s not just me. It was Ken who helped give me directions when I attacked and certainly all the class D students who participated in the fight.” Rhea smiled wryly and shifted her seat a bit away from Marlo. Rhea was displeased with his overly intimate attitude. Because she hadn’t known him for long and the color of the aura she saw from him was rather bad. But she couldn’t tell him that because he was the leader of class D.

“Yeah, thanks to you too.” Marlo smiled at Ziel and Dalvin. But his smile and thanks weren’t sincere. He was not happy that rhea mentioned another boy in front of him. He had a crush on her not long after classes at the academy started. From then on he started chasing her. But she didn’t respond to his feelings, Rhea considered him the same as other classmates. It pissed him off a little. Rhea has a cute and beautiful appearance even though she is not on the same level as the Princesses or Kalya, she is one of the girls that students in class D dream of. Not only her appearance but also her kind and cheerful nature makes her liked by many students. 

“No need to thank me. We’re doing it because it’s a test from the academy.” Dalvin smiled back at him. He didn’t know Marlo’s true feelings but he understood that his smile was fake.

“You’re welcome.” Ziel only answered briefly.

“Okay, I will rest first. Please continue your activities.” Marlo couldn’t stand being there too long. He clicked his tongue and immediately went back to his tent.

“I’m sorry for his attitude. It’s all possible because of me.” Rhea knows how Marlo feels for her, so she feels responsible for his treatment of Ziel and Dalvin.

“Ah, I see. You don’t have to think about it. Right, Ken?” Dalvin looked at Ziel who was sipping his hot tea as if he didn’t care about their conversation. He just nodded slightly in response to Dalvin’s question. Rhea smiled bitterly at their different responses.

***

It had been four days since the class D students had fought the behemoths. Right now all the academy students were constantly moving from one place to another. They were allowed anywhere within the Alba Mountain Range area as long as it was in the outer and central regions. The academy strictly forbade them to enter the inner region because it was filled with high-level magical beasts or above.

Currently, class S is in the middle region. On the way, they met a lot of low and mid-level magical beasts. Even met high-level magical a few times. But because their class is filled with strong students. They could finish it off without as much effort as Class D. Right now their location was in the central region of the Alba Mountain Range. They were not far from the inner region.

“We will set up camp here.” Prince Fritz who acted as the leader of the class S gave orders to the other students. The male students started setting up tents for their resting place. Some of the female students rested but some helped the male students set up their tents. The task for the female students is to prepare food and drinks for the other students. Even if it was a Princess, they had to follow those rules. This applies to Princess Iris and Clara who are always together. Even though she was avoided by the other students, she still had to do her job.

Not long after their work was finished, all the tents were up, the bonfire had been lit because the sky was getting dark and their food was all ready. Princess Iris is chatting with Clara in front of their tent.

“Iris, I think you should rest. Your face looks pale.” Clara is worried to see the state of Princess Iris. For some reason, after entering the Alba Mountain Range her condition became worst.

“I’m fine, Clara.” She smiled at her concern. She was grateful that Clara became her first friend at the academy.

“Is that so? But you still have to rest because tomorrow we will enter that strange forest.” Clara still forced her to rest even though she refused.

They would enter an area of ​​forest that looked darker than any other area they had seen. The entrance to the forest was very dark if they didn’t use magic to light their way. They didn’t know what danger awaited them there if they entered it at night, so they decided to enter it in the morning.

Their destination was the boundary between the central and inner regions of the Alba Mountain Range. They could find many mid and even high-level magical beasts there. And the most important thing is the additional task that suddenly appears in their ID book. Look for the rainbow crystal that only grows there. The points are even equal to the beast stones of high-level magical beasts.

“All right… But you should also rest. Don’t you know that your face looks tired too?” Princess Iris took a small mirror from her pocket and showed Clara’s face.

“Ahaha…yeah I’ll rest. But, how is Ken’s condition right now? Is he okay in this wilderness?” Clara talks about Ziel with a worried face every day. Because lately, she was alone with Princess Iris due to being avoided by the other students, she felt lonely.

“I’m sure he’s fine. You don’t have to worry.” Princess Iris tried to calm her down. She always said the same thing when Clara started talking about Ziel. Although that didn’t take away her worries.

“I hope so.” She smiled wryly but her face still showed concern.

***

When Princess Iris and Clara were chatting in their tent. The other Princesses as usual were gathering in front of the bonfire. They do the task of monitoring the students. They will take turns with other students when their shift is over

“Aishia, Freya, you better sleep. I’ll be on guard here.” Prince Fritz came to them from his tent.

“I’m not tired yet. Maybe soon.” Princess Freya doesn’t like having her brother take her place on guard duty.

“I will accompany Freya.” Princess Aishia has started talking to Princess Freya after a few days together in the wilderness. Because Princess Freya kept talking to her, she felt bad if she had to keep ignoring her.

“Okay…” Prince Fritz who was about to respond to them suddenly turned towards the trees. He heard a rustling sound from there.

“Who is there!?” He shouted and drew his sword. Princess Freya and Princess Aishia also stood up from their seats and prepared to attack.

“Calm down, Prince Fritz. We are from class A. I am the representative of class A, my name is Biron Oliander.” He came out from behind the tree holding up both hands. The person who spoke was a boy with short black hair with slightly dark skin. Behind him, dozens of students also came out.

“What’s the proof that you’re an academy student?” Prince Fritz still doesn’t believe him. He didn’t lower his sword at all.

“Here’s the proof… You guys also threw yours.” Biron and the other students threw down their ID books.

“Freya, Aishia, please check.” Prince Fritz didn’t lower his guard. He asked the two Princesses behind him to confirm its authenticity.

They checked all the ID books then looked at each other and nodded simultaneously.

“This is real, brother.” Princess Freya gave her confirmation to Prince Fritz.

“Then what did you guys do before? You don’t show yourself right away but hide behind a tree.” Prince Fritz still couldn’t believe them.

“Ah, actually we want to ask for protection or should we say cooperation. Because we are being chased by some monsters.” Biron smiled awkwardly. He was embarrassed to admit that they asked for the protection of another class.

“From what monster?” Prince Fritz became suspicious of their intention to come there.

“From…” Biron’s words were cut off.

Roooooaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrr

“There he is, Armored Gorilla!” Biron pointed behind them.. There were dozens of giant gorillas wearing armor.