After forming parties, the cadets were given thirty minutes to prepare.
While the exact details of the class weren't disclosed, Professor Lucas's advice—"You'll be stuck in the mountains for a while"—was enough to prompt every group to gather outdoor equipment in a rush.
In reality, the necessary gear amounted to nothing more than comfortable clothes, sturdy shoes, and a water bottle.
Once ready, the cadets headed to the outdoor training grounds adjacent to the academy.
Despite being labeled a "training ground," it was essentially an entire mountain converted for use. From the outside, it looked like little more than a modest hill behind the school.
"Today's class is about Demonic Beast Tracking," Professor Lucas announced, pointing toward the mountain.
"There are three demonic beasts currently roaming the training ground. Your task is to track the traces they leave behind—and capture them somewhere in the mountains."
"D-Demonic beasts?" Albert asked, voice trembling.
Demonic beasts. A term for animals or plants twisted by demonic energy. Alongside demons themselves, they were counted among humanity's most dangerous foes.
Their abilities varied wildly, but most were strong enough to tear through a few adults with ease.
"Scared?" the professor asked, eyebrow raised.
"N-no! Not at all!" Albert insisted, even as his stiff expression betrayed his nerves.
The other cadets didn't look much better. In their first and second years, they had observed demonic beasts from a safe distance. But this was their first time actively tracking one.
"I can see your legs shaking. Don't lie." Professor Lucas clicked his tongue and lightly smacked Albert on the head.
"Ow!"
"I'll say it again. This class is about tracking demonic beasts. Not hunting, but tracking."
With arms crossed, he continued, "The beasts you're to capture have had their movements restricted by magical tools. They can only run away."
"Oh…""Phew, I thought we were going to die."
Relief spread through the group.
"Well, this is just your first class," Lucas added, his tone turning sharp. "There'll be no mercy from midterms onward, so start preparing now."
"Ugh…"
The cadets' expressions darkened again.
"In any case, the party that tracks and captures the beasts will earn bonus points. Do your best."
"Yes, sir!"
Bonus points were nothing to scoff at. Every grade contributed to their final rankings, which directly impacted their post-graduation assignments. Even one extra point could make the difference between obscurity and elite placement.
"Now then, get ready to depar—"
"Professor! I have a question!"
"Go ahead."
"What's the time limit?"
"Oh, right. I forgot to mention." Lucas grinned. "There isn't one."
"…?"
Confusion spread.
"This class continues until all three beasts are captured—whether that takes hours or days."
"D-days?!"
"What about our other classes…?"
"Absence from other lessons will be excused. This counts as practical combat training."
"…"
Lucas's mischievous smile left no room for argument. The cadets' faces turned pale.
"Alright, parties will depart at five-minute intervals!" he declared with a laugh.
And so began the cadets' first outdoor training session of their third year.
*
"Demonic beast tracking, huh."
At first, I didn't remember much when we were told to form parties.
But as we stood waiting to depart, my past-life memories returned.
We'd barely captured all three beasts on the third day. And my party? We didn't even see their shadows.
I remembered wandering the mountains, starving and lost for days.
"It's almost our turn."
"Oh… yeah."
I stood up at Iris's voice.
"Ugh… Do we really have to team up with him, Saintess?" Camilla scowled.
"It's a party class. Of course we have to stay together."
"Well, that's true, but…"
Camilla shot me a glare filled with open dislike.
"Why'd you even suggest partnering with this brute?"
Good question.
Why had she asked me to join her party?
This was the same person who slapped me and cursed me out not long ago. We hadn't spoken since. No tension had been resolved between us.
"Who knows?" Iris said with a teasing smile. "It's a secret."
"Ugh."
"Anyway, if we don't start moving soon, the professor will scold us."
"Sigh… Fine."
Camilla sighed, then turned to me sharply.
"I heard you've been hiding your strength."
"Well… I had my reasons."
Not that I'd hidden anything—I had simply regressed. But even if I told the truth, who would believe me?
"Whatever your reasons, don't think I'll lose again."
She gripped her sword, eyes blazing.
Suppressing a laugh, I nodded.
I didn't plan to lose control like last time, but a thought crossed my mind: If she went all out… could I still beat her?
Honestly, I had the upper hand last time because she was caught off guard. She hadn't even activated her stigma.
If we fought again, with her serious?
I wasn't sure.
I now had a way to cultivate mana, but only a week had passed. Camilla had been growing stronger with consistent training since she was a child.
While I was confident in my skills, that only took me so far.
I didn't even know how strong I was now.
There were three major growth periods in my past life: First, during my time as a mercenary. Second, when I learned from comrades like Yuren, Berald, and Sophia. And third…
When I searched the continent for the Primordial Flame.
That last stretch was lonely, and I had no one to compare myself to. I didn't know how powerful I truly became.
But one thing was certain.
I wouldn't go down easily.
Camilla Vedice might be promising—a candidate for the Holy Kingdom's sword squad—but right now, she was just a cadet with no real combat experience.
"What are you hesitating for?"
"Ah, sorry."
"Hmph. This might be training, but don't slack off. If you're on my team, treat it like a real battle."
She walked ahead with pride in every step.
"Where should we begin tracking?"
Iris looked around, puzzled.
How were we supposed to find a beast hiding in this vast forest?
"Heh. No need to worry, Saintess!" Camilla puffed out her chest. "I scored top marks in last year's tracking class. Just trust me!"
"Oh, right. You bragged about that back then."
"Th-that was… ahem. Please forget about that."
"Why~ It was cute."
"L-let's move before the other teams get ahead."
Camilla hurried ahead, cheeks red.
The tracking began under her lead.
To be fair, her skills were legitimate. "Judging by the snapped branches and footprints, it went this way."
She followed the trail with focused precision.
But after an hour…
"Huh…? What?" Camilla muttered.
The trail had vanished.
"Ugh…"
She stomped the ground, clearly frustrated.
"It's okay. It's your first time tracking a demonic beast, right?" Iris said gently.
"B-but…"
"It's fine."
She turned to me. "Looks like we'll have to start from the beginning."
"No, we don't," I said.
"…We don't?"
"The trail didn't disappear. You just missed it."
I pointed to a black hair stuck ten meters up a nearby tree.
"Ah…!"
"There's no scratch on the bark, but that hair up high? It's a climber."
I brushed aside the leaves under the tree.
As I expected—beast dung.
Creatures are most vulnerable when defecating. It likely climbed for safety.
"This is fresh."
I picked up a bit and placed it in my mouth.
"Gasp!"
Two shocked voices behind me.
I spat it out. "Dry texture. Bitter, foul. It's a carnivorous feline-type mutant."
The bloody taste meant it wasn't in peak condition—probably weakened by Professor Lucas's magical restrictions.
"It probably hasn't gone far."
"…"
I stood. Camilla took a step back.
"…Did you just eat that…?" she asked, voice trembling.
"Dung's the best way to gauge a beast's condition. It's in the tracking manuals."
"That may be true, but…"
Most people just looked at it. Even real heroes rarely tasted it.
But tasting it was more accurate.
"It might not matter now, but if this were real combat? That kind of intel could save your life."
"…Weren't you the one who said to treat this like a real battle?"
"…"
Camilla fell silent, fists trembling.
She was probably mortified.
After telling the Saintess to trust her, she'd lost the trail, then been completely outshone by the guy who humiliated her just a week ago.
"D-damn it…"
With tears brimming, she grabbed my collar.
"I-I can do it too!"
"…Huh?"
"I can eat dung too!"
"…"
…Okay.
"I mean, what's so great about eating dung?! It's not like that makes you special!"
"Right, because that's totally normal," I muttered.
"I can do it too if I want!"
"Yeah, yeah. I believe you."
"Hmph! So you want me to eat that filthy stuff? Is that it?!"
"Excuse me?"
"You bastard…!"
"No."