### Episode 60: Field Trip (2)
The destination for the Academy’s first-year field trip was decided to be Dionia Island.
Dionia Island is a massive uninhabited island owned by the Academy. Known for its beautiful natural landscapes, it is not too far from the mainland and lacks dangerous wildlife, making it a location that has been developed as both a resort and a practice site from early on.
Ordinarily, it serves as a modest revenue source as a leisure spot for the public, but during field trip season, it transforms into a paradise exclusively for the students.
Just a short distance inward from the peripheral resort facilities toward the island’s center lies a dense forest. The island isn’t extraordinarily large, and its year-round warm climate makes it an ideal practical training site for students to enhance their skills.
For this field trip, three out of the five days are dedicated to survival-style practical training.
The typical survival-style training often seen in academy settings is similar, but this “survival” training isn’t about enduring extreme environments or killing each other. Instead, it’s more like a mildly exhausting survival game for the mind and body.
At the time, the caution against Black Mages wasn’t very high, so the trip was organized without robust countermeasures against them.
The students embarked on the field trip in comfort, only to be suddenly attacked by Black Mages.
It was akin to going to a paintball survival game only to find yourself thrust into a real battlefield with live ammunition.
Naturally, the Academy, which was not adequately prepared, could do nothing but helplessly withstand the invasion. The Principal hastily arrives to repel the Black Mages, thus wrapping up the episode.
Although professors reacted quickly, ensuring there were no student fatalities, numerous students suffered injuries of varying degrees, leading many to drop out of the Academy following this incident.
In the original storyline, there was Cecilia, who blossomed in talent and managed to fend off the Black Mages, but the Cecilia in this timeline has been relegated to a healer role, rendering her combat capabilities negligible.
Even if the Black Mages invaded as they did in the original storyline during the current field trip, I doubt I could stop them alone.
I might step forward and face them, but with the thought that it would be easier with the help of a stronger ally, I decided to take a girl named Tia with me during the practical exercises.
Though going with Cecilia would ensure no injury concerns, unfortunately, the Department of Medicine students were designated to remain near the dorms with the professors in case of any injuries.
Even so, it’s more comforting for me to leave her in the hands of the professors rather than to struggle to protect her while fighting Black Mages in the forest.
The Dionia Island, reached by boat from the nearby port after around a three-hour journey, came into sight.
As we approached the island, the clarity of the sea, resembling emerald in color and revealing the sandy bottom, indicated how well-preserved the island was.
The Academy had secured exclusive use for the students, so no ordinary people were visible except for the occasional caretakers of the resort facilities scattered about.
Without time to recover from seasickness, the group was quickly moved to the practical exercise location.
“I will now explain the procedures for the field trip practical exercise!”
In broad strokes, the exercise rules were as follows:
– The testing period will last three days from the start.
– Students are restricted to designated areas, and the primary goal is to survive until the last day.
– Surviving alone is sufficient, but extra points are awarded for finding special treasures or forcibly eliminating other students.
– Rewards will be distributed hierarchically based on the highest scores, with changes to dormitory quality included.
“Additionally, the bracelets provided can protect you from a certain level of damage. If you receive damage beyond what the bracelet can handle during combat, you will automatically be teleported back here, so you do not need to worry.”
A common trope in academy settings: anything you’re told not to worry about is bound to happen.
In this case, the Black Mages might invade wielding ancient relics, disabling these bracelets and increasing confusion.
By that time, underperforming students will likely be eliminated from combat, moving safely away, which, from my perspective, would allow for a more effective group of combatants to take the lead.
“Are you leaving…?”
Just before the exercise began, Cecilia approached me for a final check-up.
“Yes, once I leave, I’ll be gone for three days.”
“In that case, I probably should have entered the Combat or Magic Department instead of Medicine.”
Her lips pouted in discontent, clearly upset that I was leaving her behind. While incredibly cute, I refrained from teasing her due to the numerous onlookers.
“I wouldn’t allow any harm to come to Lady Ria.”
“I’m always troubling you…”
Despite her feigned frustration, Cecilia smiled as she secretly tucked an emergency medical kit into my arms.
“Please come back safely.”
Her eyes, seemingly concerned not just about the exercise among students, were tinged with worry, a faint hint of anger, and a touch of melancholy that pierced deeper than usual.
Her gaze, as if she already knew what I would be doing next, lingered long in my mind as I headed into the field exercise.
“Though I am quite displeased with having to stay close by another woman for an entire day… since it’s for the wellbeing of others, this one time, I will overlook it.”
Watching Ria randomly transported via professor magic was an uncomfortable sight for Cecilia.
She was already aware that Ria had teamed up with Tia but, recognizing that Ria didn’t have romantic feelings for Tia, she tacitly gave her blessing to their partnership.
“That Tia girl… there’s something familiar about her…”
Although the woman seemed unsettling in some way, Cecilia brushed it off, concentrating instead on what needed to be done.
“Yes, it appears the infiltration was successful, Mr. Krato.”
“Indeed, in 24 hours, we expect a large-scale battle. You need to focus on rescuing the students and eliminating the rest of the intruders as planned.”
“That’s as far as our responsibilities go. After that… it’s up to the Young Master.”
“…Déjà vu?”
Practice, teleportation, forest… ugh, my head…
Ignoring the unsettling environment around me, I quickly made my way to the location where Tia and I had prearranged to meet.
A lone massive baobab tree, located in the center of the island, serves as a landmark and is within the practical exercise site. I designated this spot as the rendezvous point.
Without delay, I hurried toward the tree.
On my way, I encountered and eliminated a few other students, finally arriving shortly thereafter.
Since the exercise had just begun, most students hadn’t started moving yet. Those I had taken down were relatively weak, making them easy defeats.
Soon enough, from the opposite side, a dusty Tia arrived gasping for breath.
“You’re late.”
“Shut up. What are we doing now?”
“How much mana did you use on the way?”
“Um, about 20%?”
“Not bad. Conserve your mana from now on. Avoid using magic today.”
Surprisingly, Tia didn’t protest, recognizing that resisting my orders here would only hurt her.
“So, what’s the plan? You must have something up your sleeve if you’re not using magic.”
“Of course.”
We’re going to focus on an important task.
Which is resting comfortably until tomorrow.
*
Upon hearing Rab’s plan to avoid fighting and conserve strength until tomorrow, Estia couldn’t help but feel perplexed. But, deciding to observe him quietly to uncover his secret, she complied.
Rab began setting up the tent from a camping set he had taken from another student as he arrived on the island.
This camping set is one of the useful hidden items scattered across the exercise area, prized by students who wish to avoid roughing it.
However, Estia began to grow suspicious as she watched Rab expertly set up the tent.
Certainly, someone of Rab’s noble upbringing should have never done such manual work, and yet his actions of finding a suitable spot, tidying it up, and setting the tent were so practiced and fluid.
As if he had spent years in the lowest military ranks performing such tasks.
“Hey, Rab.”
“Yes?”
“Have you ever… camped out before?”
“…Am I really that poor looking?”
“No, that’s not what I mean! Your family is wealthy, so it doesn’t fit. But the way you found a spot, set the tent so fast, it seems like you’re well-versed in outdoor life.”
“Ah…”
Being caught off guard, Rab’s eyes revealed a moment of panic. Unable to reveal the source of his knowledge, he vaguely mentioned learning it from books, trying to deflect.
Though still skeptical, Estia decided to let it slide and turned away.
Rab and Estia enjoyed a light meal of the included instant food from the camping set.
Estia, pondering whether this was indeed what a proper survival exercise should look like, was snapped back to reality by Rab’s next words.
“Well, let’s rest together then.”
“What… did you just say?”
“I said: let’s sleep together.”
“…Why?”
“Well, we only have one sleeping bag.”
And thus, Estia, for the first time in her life, shared a bed with a man.
This auspicious first time happened during the first day of survival training at the field trip.
