Chapter 10


    Shadow Forest.


    A tall and deep forest located west of the Academy.


    Here, all sorts of rumors never ceased.


    Children missing in the forest were all said to have been eaten by animals. They imed to have witnessed giant monsters roaming. Someone saw them burying corpses.


    Most of these incidents and idents were recorded in the Campus News section of the game.


    Reading it carefully, you start to wonder.


    If these incidents never stop, will people keep going in and getting hurt or disappearing?


    Of course, those who enter when idents happen might be foolish, but the truth is, isnt there something hidden in the Shadow Forest?


    Actually, such rumors were circting.


    Theres a Ginseng in the forest that grows explosively just by eating.


    Theres a magic sword left by a certain hero.


    If you clean the moss-covered statues and offer prayers, theyll bestow blessings!


    Its all just rumors, but people couldnt help but hope.


    Thats how deep and mysterious the Shadow Forest was.


    A giant footprint.


    Danya, who had swallowed her saliva, mumbled.


    It seems quite big.


    Is it a bear or a lion?


    No, its too thin for those types.


    Hmm.


    Ian, who had been examining the tracks for a moment, got up from his seat. Then, as if uninterested, he turned away.


    As I thought.


    Seems like hes not interested in this kind of stuff either.


    Danya sighed inwardly.


    The Catsnesia n. In their ns sanctuary, everyone had their own interests, and they peacefully coexisted. They discovered flowers they had never seen before on the cliffs of the mountains, captured strange animals in the hignds, and found clear ponds that reached all the way to the bottom. And so on.


    Of course, among them, Danya, who had been practicing magic, was somewhat of an outlier, but she didnt dislike those things. After all, they sharedmon interests.


    But there arent people like that here.


    Ew, the dirt is so gross.


    Dont animals transmit parasites if you touch them?


    Flowers? Can they be used as magic ingredients?


    On the outside, Danya is in and cold.


    No matter how hard I tried to talk to him, I got that kind of response, so at some point, I closed my heart.


    Still, she had hoped that maybe she could have some kind of conversation with Ian, who seemed to understand her a bit


    I want to go home.


    Suddenly, she missed her hometown.


    Just as Danya was feeling down.


    Come over here, Danya.


    Ian called out to her.


    Why?


    In a somewhat colder tone, Ian continued.


    There are tracks here that look like they belong to some kind of animal.


    Hmm Tracks? You found them?


    Why are you so surprised? Am I not capable of that?


    I didnt think you were interested in this kind of thing Not that Im saying Im interested in you. No! I didnt mean youre not capable or anything!


    ?


    She either liked Ian or she didnt.


    Danya, trying to make sense of it all, started analyzing hastily.


    It seems quite, quiterge, like some kind of animal That tree has pretty significant damage.


    Do you have any rough guesses?


    A few, but Im not sure.


    Nodding with a raised head, Danya replied.


    It might not be an animal; it could be a monster.


    As they went deeper, they could feel a dark and eerie energy, more suitable for demons than the usual forest.


    Meanwhile, Ian had found new tracks.


    Here it is again. Looks like w marks.


    Is he secretly talented at tracking?


    Danya suddenly became curious about Ians past.


    Although I had to immediately shake my head. But she had to admit it.


    Hmm. These arent w marks, though. Still, it was a sharp guess.


    Thanks for the praise. You sound like a teacher.


    Hmm! I think these are teeth marks.


    Teeth?


    Danya nodded and crossed her arms.


    Thats the hint. Try to guess what kind of animal it is, Ian.


    Danya raises her head firmly in triumph.


    Ian couldnt help but smile faintly, almostughing at the triviality of it all. Of course, he quickly hid his expression, but still.


    Danya, as you mentioned initially, its not bears or lions, right?


    Um.


    They wouldnt leave suchrge tracks like these.


    In reality, Ian was somewhat familiar with thispared to usual people. He had acquired some knowledge during his time in the military.


    It seems the time to use what I learned back then hase.


    His feelings wereplex.


    Anyway, an animal with tworge teeth? What could that be?


    Ah.


    One animal came to mind, but it wouldnt be this huge, right?


    In that moment


    Fwoosh! Bang!


    With an explosion, a bright light like fireworks burst through the dense trees.


    Ian and Danya locked eyes.


    !


    Emergency Rescue Magic!


    A small artifact the professor had distributed before the practical exercise.


    When you pulled it like a firework, it activated protection magic along with a signal re indicating your position.


    Of course, using it during the exercise meant receiving the lowest grade. It was up to the students to decide.


    That advice hade with it.


    It was clear that the Mezai students, who were somewhat fixated on grades, had used it, indicating that something significant was going on.


    Fwoosh! Bang!


    !


    !


    At the sound of another explosion, Ian nervously spoke.


    This seems dangerous.


    Can you sense the magic?


    I feel strong magic nearby, but not in that direction. Its more like underground, perhaps.


    As Ian concentrated on sensing magic


    Rescue magic was activated once again.


    Danyas expression darkened.


    Itsing this way, Ian. Lets get out of here.


    Its toote.


    What are you talking about?!


    As Ian focused on sensing magic


    He opened his eyes.


    Its already there.


    He pointed with his hand.


    Mwooo!


    A massive rabbit stood there.


    A rabbit that seemed to be at least 3 meters tall.


    Danya mumbled absentmindedly.


    Is that a rabbit?


    Look at its head.


    Ian pointed to the rabbits head, where a small blue mushroom was growing.


    I can sense magicing from there.


    The mushroom Professor Rowen was talking about that was it.


    Indeed, it teaches us not to pick up just anything.


    Mwooo!


    Oh, it even responds.


    Danya snapped at Ian, who spoke nonchntly.


    You idiot! We should be prepared to run!


    No matter how much of a rabbit the opponent was, at this size, it would be dangerous if it attacked. Moreover, perhaps due to the mushroom on its head, it seemed to have quite an aggressive demeanor. It kept eyeing them.


    Isnt it already toote? If we could escape, the others would have already done so. Look at those thigh muscles.


    Ians powers of observation were definitely reasonable.


    He took a step forward and adjusted his posture.


    What are you nning to do?


    Anyway, if we cant escape, isnt it better to at least try to hit it once?


    Its dangerous.


    Look closely. Can you see something like blood on its fur?


    Youre right.


    Danya sighed deeply as she examined the rabbit closely.


    Then Ill attack first.


    Whats the logic behind that?


    Youre the lowest-scoring student in our ss.


    Ian was on the verge of snapping, but he could see a hint of concern in Danyas eyes.


    He nodded and observed Danya as they approached each other, their eyes meeting.


    Mwooo!


    As they locked eyes, they drew closer to each other.


    Danyas magic gathered around her body.


    Is it a grass attribute?


    A natural aura emanating from her magic.


    Like the Earth element, its quite rare.


    Im looking forward to this.


    It was the first time he saw someone elses magic.


    What kind of magic would she use?


    Swish


    The magic gathered in Danyas hand took the form of a bow.


    Oh.


    Ian couldnt help but admire it. Danyas posture, holding an intangible magical bow, seemed quite convincing.


    Tae-ae-ae-yang!


    The green magical arrow that left her hand hit the rabbit right in the center of its forehead.


    Did it work?!


    No, it didnt.


    If you say such things, itll be like raising a g.


    Mwooo!


    Look at that.


    The rabbits momentum became even fiercer.


    It seems this rabbit is immune to magic!


    There was a reason why the grades-obsessed Mezai students had used this. Maybe because she had exhausted her mana, Danya staggered.


    Leave me and run.


    What a line straight out of a boys manga.


    Ian couldnt help but chuckle.


    Who would run away?


    Ian had already decided to consider Danya arade. To oppose the unknown non-v*rgin heroine, he needed apanion.


    Shes useful in many ways.


    Besides, he had to prepare for the disciplinarymittee. Having someone on his side could make a significant difference.


    Stop raising gs and stay behind.


    But! You!


    What about me?


    Youre Ian ckangers. The lowest scorer in our ss and you dont even knowbat magic.


    This cat, seriously.


    There was no way she was going to cheer him on.


    Thanks for your concern.


    Its not just concern?! Youre a magician too. How do you n to deal with a magic-immune opponent?


    There are various ways.


    Oh, really!


    If youre so worried, support me from behind when something happens, use an artifact.


    Saying that, he shifted his focus to the opponent.


    The rabbit also approached Ian.


    A giant rabbit immune to magic.


    Well, thats even better.


    Ian smirked.


    Mwooo!


    The rabbit stared at Ian, adjusting its posture.


    One step, two steps.


    The distance between them was getting shorter.


    And when the rabbits thigh muscles tensed.


    Ian quickly chanted two spells.


    <Extraction>, <Transformation>.


    Certainly not the most romantic of spellcasting, but


    Shhhhrack!


    In an instant, Ians arms and shoulders were covered in metal.


    !!!!


    Danya, who had been watching, was wide-eyed.


    What kind of magic was that? Was it even magic?


    The question was soon answered.


    Kwaahhh!


    A dull thud resounded from the rabbit, covered in fluffy fur.


    The typical damage output mechanism of the Earth element.


    It was magic (physical) damage.


    That was easy?


    Ian was slightly taken aback.


    The rabbit was now in a dazed state after a single punch.


    The power of the makeshift Metal Man (Temporary name) was more potent than he had expected.


    Injecting magic into an element and enhancing it makes it simple yet powerful.


    By using Extraction and Transformation to ovey an element onto his arms and reinforce the oveid element rather than his own body, he had found a way to bypass the advanced magic spell Physical Enhancement.


    The result?


    The rabbit, which had seemed to be regaining its senses, began to copse.


    Kwoooong!


    The problem was


    Huh?


    The huge rabbit fell down and the ground where Ian was standing copsed.


    Ian!


    Danya reached out, but it was already toote.


    He fell straight into a small sinkhole-like space.


    Sssssshh!


    Was it arge underground cave?


    Even as he fell, he could feel the rough texture of the earth all over his body. At the end of the fall, there was undoubtedly a hard floor.


    I need to absorb the impact.


    Ian quickly extracted the surrounding elements.


    However, trying to absorb all the shock like this would be difficult. Ian began to transform it into a thin honeb-like structure around his body.


    Falling for a while


    Kwoong!


    With a loud thud, he hit the floor.


    Ugh Uh, Im okay?


    There was quite a bit of physical force from the fall, so there was a dull impact. It felt like being kicked while wrapped in a nket?


    Check the honeb structures performance.


    Ian stood up as he released the magic enveloping his body.


    It was a fairlyrge cave.


    The peculiar thing was that it was made of packed soil, not rocks.


    Most importantly, strong magic could be felt in the vicinity.


    Is this the source of the magic I felt in the forest?


    If the magic was this overwhelming, it could be quite intimidating. However, Ian felt morefortable than ever. It was as if he were inside the womb of the primordial mother.


    While looking around, Ian realized the reason.


    !


    A corner of the cave.


    There was a small statue of a goddess made of y.


    Gaia.


    Goddess of Earth. Gaia.


    The reason he recognized her face was simple.


    The beings corresponding to the gods of each element were quite important in the game as well.


    And only now did Ian understand the true nature of this ce. It was the most lucrative gacha element in Fanta X Aca.


    A blessing hase!


    The opportunity to acquire power had been granted.


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