Episode 22
— — —
The next morning.
All the children gathered at the "Temple of the Forest."
This mansion was built inside a massive, "real forest," and we called the entire woodland surrounding the estate the "Temple of the Forest."
I looked at the children, who were huddled together like little chicks.
'Hmm, the forest smells nice. And the kids are so cute.'
Just as I was smiling to myself and looking around, my eyes met Sislein’s.
"Oh? Sis! You have new earrings!"
Sislein seemed awkward, fidgeting with his ears as he replied.
"Ah... the teacher said it’s a 'Mana Suppressor'."
"Wow!"
'Man, I’m jealous.'
What must it feel like to have mana so powerful that it needs to be suppressed?
An extra like me would never know in a million years, though.
Just then, an arrogant voice drifted over.
"Ugh, tests are so tedious. I’ll just end up as 'Special Level 1' again anyway!"
"I bet! Our Heinri is truly amazing~"
As I answered with a bright smile, Heinri blushed innocently, despite being the one who bragged.
"Tch, obviously. That’s why I’m going to protect you for the rest of your life, Nuna."
"Aha, how reassuring!"
Heinri cleared his throat into his fist, his face turning even redder.
"You’d prefer a strong husband over a weak one, right? You know, when we get married later, I’ll be a wonderful..."
"Annette! Annette! Look at this! Do you see this?"
"Hm? What is it, Shasha?"
"…Nuna, when we get married—"
I couldn't hear the rest of what Heinri said because I was distracted by Shasha, who had hopped over like a rabbit.
"Ta-da! It’s a bunny bell!"
"Heh, that bunny bell is really cute, Shasha."
"Yeah! I’m going to run around hard just like a bunny!"
"Wow! That’s amazing, Shasha!"
"…Who exactly am I talking to?"
As Heinri muttered to himself, looking sheepish, Sislein, who had been watching from the side, shook his head.
Shasha clenched her fists and declared.
"This time, I’m definitely going to reach Level 4!"
A goal to raise her level by one! That’s a very reasonable goal, Shasha.
As for my own reasonable goal...
I scratched my cheek, feeling a bit embarrassed, and smiled with my brows lowered.
"I’d be happy just maintaining Level 5 for now!"
I was only at this level because I was a model student who got extra points for "academics" and "conduct."
Most Unawakened usually stayed at Level 9, the very bottom.
Actually, there was no need to even measure the level.
Sigh, it gets sadder the more I talk about it.
'Even if it’s a meager talent, holding onto Level 5 is a decent defense.'
Just as I was having these gloomy thoughts, Teacher Rose, who was always in charge of the "Level Test," appeared.
With her signature radiant, rose-colored smile, she clapped her hands and said.
"Alright! As announced, we will now proceed with the 'Level Test.' Everyone has their necklaces, right?"
"Yes!"
Julian answered the loudest. His sky-blue eyes were sparkling.
"As those who have participated in the test before know, let me explain again: those necklaces are for your 'safety.' If you are in danger, please call for me through the necklace from wherever you are."
Teacher Rose said brightly, holding one hand high.
"Then I’ll come to save you!"
'Heh, I’ll be perfectly safe.'
Not only do I have the necklace, but if things go south, I can just summon Julius with the Pluto Ring.
Lulu. This test is basically "lying down and eating pudding."
While I was smiling contentedly, Teacher Rose continued.
"Your level is measured by how many 'monsters' you catch! Ah! But don't worry! The monsters are very cute, and they won't hurt you unless they have to."
"Yes~!"
"However!"
Teacher Rose frowned, raising her index finger to emphasize.
"Each of you is assigned a zone appropriate for your level, so be careful not to stray from it. It’s dangerous if you accidentally wander into a high-level area! Also, those wearing 'suppressors' must never, ever take them off. Understood?"
So the rules were simple.
1. Catch lots of monsters (low-level monsters won't attack the children, though high-level ones might be different).
2. Stay within your assigned zone.
3. Do not remove the suppressor.
'Hmm. The rules are the same as last time.'
The children huddled together, their eyes shining.
Each of them looked full of determination.
"Alright then, good luck. Begin!"
*Whistle—*
Along with the sound of Teacher Rose’s whistle, light erupted from the children’s necklaces. At the same time, *whoosh!* A blinding light swallowed them up.
* * *
"Wow, I’m in the same zone as Annette again! I’m so happy!"
"That’s true, Shasha."
Teleported to the low-level zone, I looked around with Shasha.
The refreshing scent of the forest was nice, and the spring flowers blooming in clusters were pretty. It was quite a peaceful atmosphere here.
"Let’s do our best, Annette!"
"Yeah!"
I nodded vigorously. In my hand, I held a childish, magical-girl-style wand.
It was the only weapon given to the Unawakened.
'Sigh, it’s cute, but it’s humiliating.'
It was just as I was crying on the inside that I heard a strange sound at my feet.
—*Kyu-ung?*
Hm? What was that sound? A terrifying monster must have appeared!
I hurriedly looked down at my feet, and as expected, it was there.
The appearance of the "first monster"—a slime.
...Though it was a bit too pathetic to be called terrifying.
The soft, pudding-like creature bounced toward me. And then it cried.
"Kyu."
'...Ah, now I feel bad about defeating it!'
I hesitated for a moment because the monster I had to defeat was so pathetic. But to maintain Level 5, I had to catch it.
Having made up my mind, I gathered my courage and swung the wand.
"Yah!"
As soon as the slime was hit by the wand, it bounced away, letting out a "Kyu-ung!" sound as it flew far into the distance.
"I did it!"
"Me too, I want to catch a monster too!"
Stimulated by my success, Shasha ran deeper into the forest. I quickly followed after her.
How long had we been running?
We finally encountered a monster shaped like a small mole on a dirt path.
"Ki-hi-hi."
...The mole was laughing in a creepy way.
Sniffing with its tiny black eyes and long nose, the mole was confronting Shasha.
Shasha wore a serious expression, as if she had met a formidable monster, and chanted a summoning spell.
"Pelesto!"
*Pop!* Something was summoned.
'...The chick she summoned during class last time!'
—*Pii? Pii-yak!*
A yellow chick the size of a baby’s fist appeared and tilted its head.
In every way, it looked too small to fight and win against a mole. Sure enough, the mole twitched its long nose and sneered.
"Ki-ki-ki!"
"..."
Shasha’s pink, cotton-candy-like pigtails drooped down.
Her face was full of disappointment.
"...I guess my skills aren't enough to handle a mole monster yet."
"No, cheer up! You can do it! Shasha!"
I cheered for the little one.
It was then that Shasha’s eyes cleared up at my encouragement. Looking at me, she nodded heroically and shouted.
"Pelesto!"
—*Pii, pii-yak?*
One more chick appeared.
"Pelesto!"
—*Pii, pii-yak, pii-yak, pii-yak.*
"Pelesto!"
—*Pii-ik, pii-yak! Pii-yak! Pii-yak! Pii-yak!*
As an enormous army of chicks was formed, the sneering mole twitched its nose in surprise.
Shasha pointed her index finger heroically and shouted.
"Warriors, attack!"
Soon, the yellow chick warriors flapped their wings and launched a "Peck! Peck-peck, peck-peck!" attack.
"Kiyaaaak!"
The mole scrambled away in a panic, then *poof*, turned into smoke and disappeared.
Shasha’s face filled with joy.
"Wow, we did it!"
"Wow, that’s really amazing. Well done, Shasha!"
It was just as we were hugging each other, overjoyed, that my necklace suddenly floated into the air and began to emit a red light.
'A red light?'
I’d never seen it glow like this before.
"A, Annette?! ...Annette!!!"
With Shasha’s shocked face as the last thing I saw, the red light swallowed me in an instant.
"…!"
* * *
"Ouch!"
*Thump*, I landed on my bottom in an unfamiliar space.
I looked around quickly, feeling flustered.
In front of me, a majestic waterfall was pouring down violently, and the trees were so dense and lush they blocked out the sky.
It was a place that smelled of the cold, raw scent of grass typical of a deep forest.
'Where am I?'
One thing was for sure: this wasn't the entrance to the forest. The trees were too thick.
"...Shasha?"
I called her name cautiously, but only the sound of the wind answered. It was clear there was no one else around.
'Is the necklace malfunctioning?'
I stared at the necklace, deep in thought.
Should I call Teacher Rose now?
Under normal circumstances, I would have taken the safe route, but I was wearing the Pluto Ring.
If things got bad, I could just call Julius.
'No need to call Teacher Rose and get a coward’s penalty for nothing.'
If I called her and it turned out this was still a low-level zone, I probably wouldn't even be able to maintain Level 5 this time.
I calmly stood up and brushed the dirt off my clothes.
"Alright."
In that case, I should make a reasonable choice, right?
First, I tore off the hem of my pants and tied it to a tree to mark my path.
Then, I started moving forward.
With the necklace in my left hand and my weapon in my right, I was fully prepared to rub the ring if necessary.
But suddenly, I became curious about one thing.
'...I wonder what Sis and Heinri are doing right now?'
* * * Heinri was running through the deep forest. This map, designed exclusively for Special Level 1, was a minefield with every step, and every moment was a brush with death.
*Hiss—!*
Just then, white snakes as large as anacondas lunged at the boy, their maws gaping wide.
While still running, Heinri glanced to the side and chanted a short incantation.
"Decarto."
*Crackle.* Dark red sparks erupted from the boy’s hand, instantly taking the form of a sword.
Dodging the incoming onslaught, Heinri cleanly sliced the snakes' heads off in a horizontal arc.
*Hiss! Hiss!*
Several more snakes attempted to coil around Heinri’s body, but they were likewise shredded by his blade, falling away like scattered autumn leaves.
"Hey, hey, you’re coming at me without mercy. And yet, you can’t even graze my clothes..."
Heinri swept back his silver hair, let out a smirk, and kicked the monster's carcass.
His beautiful, arrogant violet eyes were filled with confidence.
"It’s driving me crazy. I’m so strong that I can’t even lose if I wanted to. Seriously."
It was just as his lips curled upward that thick, thorny vines suddenly erupted from the ground, wrapping around Heinri’s ankles and dragging him down. *Rrrrip!*
"......!!!"
A trap.
The ground collapsed with a rumble, and Heinri barely managed to hold on, bracing himself against the earth with one hand as if hanging from a cliff.
"Ugh."
He tried to shake off the vines, but he could no longer feel the flow of mana from his core.
It was as if something were blocking the flow of a stream.
'Is this a monster with magic-resistance properties?'
"......Damn it!"
Cold sweat trickled down his back. A glance at the ground below revealed that the collapsed pit looked quite deep.
The wind blowing up from below whipped Heinri’s silver hair into a frenzy.
'If I fall from here, I’m going to be seriously hurt.'
Or dead.
Even in that moment, the thorny vines were struggling to drag Heinri further down.
"Damn it! Hell! Why is a plant like this here!"
Even as Heinri gritted his teeth and held on, his grip strength was fading.
Just as his trembling hands reached their limit.
'I'm falling!'
That was when a hand suddenly thrust out in front of Heinri.
"......!"
Because the person was backlit by a ray of light piercing through the dense forest, their face was difficult to see.
It was only when he narrowed his violet eyes that the face became clear through the glare.
Jet-black hair like a moonless night, and red eyes with a beast-like glint.
This feeling, somehow familiar yet irritatingly unpleasant, was...
It was a boy Heinri knew all too well.
"Grab it."
Sislein shook the hand he had extended.
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