Sword, Magic and Academic Society

With an uncomfortable feeling brewing inside us, we waited for Godorfun-sensei‘s revelation with bated breath.

A moment later, Sensei revealed the details of Class A's task.

"Now I will announce the 1st scenario for Class A.

Scene - A report has reached us about the fall of our border post at the hands of some mysterious forces that have appeared near the border of the Kukora Metropolis Federation, located at the Roderia Mountain Summit of the Darre Mountain Range in the northeast.

You need to transport 800 kg of backup supplies, placed in the warehouse tent behind you on the right side, and make it to the border post within 48 hours.

At the same time, another squad must inform the No. 6 battalion of the northwest division stationed at Impala, territory of Viscount Achilies, of the same. After making a call for support, meet with the main force within 48 hours. Everything that's required for the mission is in the tent behind you on the right side.

The leader is Leo Zaitsinger. That is all."

The disclosure of our absurd task dumbfounded not only the students of Class A, but even the students of the other classes who had been preparing to depart.

The teachers had expressionless faces, but their eyes betray a sliver of sympathy within them.

"Ridiculous...... impossible!

Surely you know just how far it is from here to Impala! There are two baronies to cross through, and the one way route is at least 250 km!

Even with a sleepless journey, the one way route is going to take a day and a half for me alone, plus another 120 km of mountain trail to the border post of the Darre Mountain Range. Does the teacher mean we have to cross all that in half a day?

And for the record, this season, which is after the fifth month, is currently experiencing an increase in monster attacks. It's not a damn hiking route anymore!"

The voice of reason came from pink-haired twin tail girl Stella.

As a native of the Achilies territory, she should be aware of her territory's ups and downs like the back of her hand.

This smelly old fart...... he definitely put it to stop me from following the main squad.

Following my missions as a member of the knight order along with my training tasks, I was a bit trained regarding such steep marches after all.

My absence in the main squad would surely push them to brave the task with no guidance, meaning it was another difficulty spike for them.

Shit… my youth, the late night love talk...

As I watched my bridge of dreams crumble in front of me with glazed eyes, Leo turned to me with his you-know-we-know serious gaze.

"......Are you up, Allen?"

I exhaled the longest sigh of my life and...... nodded.

"......Haaaaaa~...... It'll already be rough on you, but I would like to borrow Stella. I think you’ll still be able to get there earlier even without her. We’re short on time so let's depart right away."

Once I confirmed my strategy, Leo immediately made his decision.

"Stella! You’re with Allen as the messenger squad! This is the only way we have, so get everything ready since time is of the essence."

Hearing Leo's command, Stella, still harboring her stern expression, replied.

"Sure, I’m a native of this place but… I believe Allen can do it faster alone, no? If I may be blunt, it's totally impossible for me to follow you at your pace with that much distance. Plus, I might just even drag you down with me and fail this task."

I, however, shook my head.

"Every task appears monumental until you actually carry it out to the end..... are the words of Schord. You said it earlier, it would be impossible if we did it the normal way. On the way back, we’ll have to opt for the shortcut through the mountain trails. I’ll be the scout and handle the targets while you, who's from the Achilies family and one of Darre's defenders, will guide the way.

An aimlessly wandering at first would be fatal for us, and it’ll cost us time. But, while it's not your territory, you should be familiar with it like it's your backyard, right?...... As far as I can tell, this is the only way we can barely make it.

Frankly, it's going to take all of our sleeping time and even rest would be rare. We have to prioritize speed, so please prepare a cloak that can withstand wind and rain, and just the bare minimum equipment needed for fighting in the mountains.

I have the essential tools like a fire-starting magic tool and rock salt."

Stella nodded as I briefed her and rushed into the warehouse tent to get a cloak.

Meanwhile, Fey approached me with a concerned expression.

"If only it had been near the Dragoon territory, then it would have been just me and you with me as your guide...... alas. But at least, given it's the super late-bloomer you, I know it's gonna be a casual trip without any ripples, no matter how feverish the invitation is. Still, it doesn't make me any less jealous of Stella.

Also… be careful of injuries.”

Ugh, it's really unsettling when she sounds so… sane.

“... You're awfully meek these days.”

I looked at her with a doubtful gaze.

“Fufu. Don't take me for a fool, alright? You clearly aren't used to girls, yet no matter how I try to make an advance, you still don't seem to take an interest in me. So I changed my strategy.

Or mayyyybe, do you miss my old self?”

She chuckled as she brazenly made fun of me.

“No, thanks. And it's just like you, to twist my simple words. I'm just honest to a fault, Fey.”

“Pfft. Remember it, I'm Feyrune Von Dragoon. Whatever I want, I’ll grandly tackle it head on.”

She said with her feline-like eyes sparkling.

“......Hey, your expression is going back to that crazy girl.”

When I pointed it out, she swiftly returned to her meek attitude.

“I believe in you and I'll be waiting for you, so… come back quickly, alright?”

Though she said so, I was speechless for other reasons.

“......Come back quickly because you’ll be waiting for me, you say? Oh heavens, please take a glance at Godorfun-sensei's (Smelly Old Fart's) face. He's definitely enjoying our troubles. If I'm not wrong, both the main squad and the messenger squad are going to face the same order of difficulty. Plus Stella will be with me.

I fear it’ll be us who’ll be waiting for you. I just hope, which I truly do fear, that you don't fumble big time. Stella and I would have to clean up your mess in that case. Well, not that I'm hoping for much honestly, so do your best~.”

As I taunted them with my remarks, they responded with sharp eyes.

Kukuku. I expected them to take this as an affront to their pride. Though I do need them to work their ass out for my hot spring enjoyment.

A few moments later, Stella and I were just about ready to depart when Coco approached us while pointing at a place that I had no clue about on the map.

“According to the Canardia records, there's probably a huge marshland in this area. So we, the main squad, may most likely take this route. I fear that the turning point for us that would decide our overall points, would be based on the decision we make after arriving……. in this location.”

He spoke in a concise tone, making himself clear in a few words.

His explanation was precise to what my approach was. Plus, he also considered what would be my decision later on and sorted it out in this short timeframe.

Phew, he was truly a monster in his forte.

——Three minutes after the revelation of Class A’s 1st scenario, Stella and I swiftly left the grassland, outrunning everyone else.

◆

After Allen and Stella left.

“Alright… We should also make our preparations now. We can't have Allen-san really overtake us, with what he has said so far. What's our plan?”

Following Jeu's question, Leo closed his eyes and crossed his arms. After contemplating in silence for some 10 odd seconds, he suddenly put forth his plan.

“First, the centerpiece of this assignment is the 800 kg supplies that we ought to transport. That's the heart of the matter.

At least 16 members out of the 18 in our main squad have to carry 50 kg of the weight and reach the target destination within 48 hours. But neither me nor anyone else here has any experience in crossing the mountain trail that’s as long as 120 km.

No wait, the teacher said to ‘take back the border post within 48 hours’....... We’ll have to reach our target at least a few hours before the deadline to accomplish that. We also have to carry the supplies for the sub-task along with the backup supplies.

……It's not really a task that I can muscle through alone. We’ll have to tackle it together, otherwise……”

Leo paused there, gritting his teeth, as he looked at the faces of his classmates.

“He'll definitely mock us to our faces.”

At the implication of Leo's words, the rest of the Class A members recalled the jeering expression of Allen, as if he was pitying them.

Leo then turned to Coco, who nodded assertively.

“...Me and Char of the Geography Club have selected the optimal route. Let's set our departure time in 15 minutes. Every minute counts for us.”

Following the determined voice of Coco, who rarely took the spotlight in such scenarios, Kate nodded and took over the conversation.

“I’ll make sure of the equipment we’ll require for our expedition at the very least and the distribution pattern for the backup supplies.

We unfortunately don't have the leeway to carry camping tools after including the other luggage, so we can only stride forward with mantles.

Let's aim to clear it quickly and hope we can take a rest at the border post. Al, Sophie, I presume you're the only ones who have experience in walking through the mountains aside from Coco, right? We’ll need your opinions as well. Leo, you’ll be giving the final order.”

The ever optimistic Al nodded, and strongly asserted.

“I'm enough for the water so leave it out of the equation! I’ll make him eat those words!”

And soon after, with gobsmacked expressions, the students of the other classes watched Class A leave the grassland with big strides, carrying nary a camping item nor sleeping bags.

◆

“Despite how sudden that ‘scenario’ was handed to them, they spent no more than 20 minutes before departing……

For all that it matters, despite their lavish lifestyle, the leader Leo Zatsinger of the Duke House, along with the two prodigies from the Marquis Houses didn’t even bat an eye in leaving behind their camping tools as the whole class departed.

Frankly, the ‘scenario' for Class A is just too over the top. I doubt even third years would be able to achieve that, but rather than being none the wiser, they should have known that as well.

But I must say, their attitude to strive for the best is admirable. If I may, what sort of tactic did Sir use to make them stand on their own feet in just half a year?”

When Rias, the class teacher of Class E, asked, Godorfun responded with a chuckle.

“Fuhahaha! The truth is that I’ve done nothing special, what you're seeing is the fruits of their labor. Though of course, I won't accept the howls of a loser saying ‘But we did our best’.”

As Godorfun preached, stroking his beard while putting on an enigmatic smile, the surrounding teachers gulped.

“However… Every task appears monumental until you actually carry it out to the end, huh? It's truly a sublime saying, full of nuances. It truly reflects the arduous path Master Schord continued to challenge no matter the time.

Ah, but enough with words, I also need to make haste. This drill is going to be interesting! Fuhahaha!”

‘……But this was supposed to be an outdoor class, not a military drill.’ The teachers present felt compelled to blurt those words out, however they swallowed them back in the end.

T/N - Oh heavens, I never thought I would be seeing a girl that actually learns the way and knows where to stop being annoying in novels.

E/N - I agree with the T/N. Fey's come a long way from her “I found a neat toy” attitude she had at first.