Chapter 21
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Episode 5 - Hunting Festival [1]
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It was Monday morning, and I was on my way to Classroom B-1.
The Quest Window had appeared this morning, marking the start of Chapter One, Part One.
Here's a brief summary of what the Quest Window said:
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■| Chapter 1, Part 1: Hunting Festival.
Category: Main Story.
Difficulty: ★★★★
Description: The Beast Hunting Festival, which the Holy Academy announces every year to provide cadets with more opportunities to earn points and advance in rank, is open to all. However, the Golden Forest feels strange this time.
∆ Time Limit: 3 days.
∆ Reward: Coordinates of an Ancient Spirit's body.
∆ Failure: Death of most first-year cadets.
∆ Status: In progress.
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When I checked the Mission Window, the reward was strange.
'In the game, this wasn't the reward.'
But after reading the reward, I decided to dismiss those suspicious thoughts.
Obtaining the body of an Ancient Spirit, a spirit ranked below the level of a Spirit King.
The bodies of spirits, especially those of higher rank, have truly incredible uses.
But no matter how much I think about it, I still don't know what to do with the body of an Ancient Spirit.
Although it's a shame that it isn't the body of a Spirit King, that would actually be quite suspicious.
An Ancient Spirit alone is already so valuable that it is difficult to even see one once in a lifetime.
'For centuries, an Ancient Spirit has never appeared; nowadays, they are considered a legend.'
As the creator, Ancient Spirits were indeed possible to obtain, but that was after chapter four.
Which would be near the end of the first year and the beginning of the second year.
Anyway, I suspect the reward is different because I am Adel.
When players selected Adel, the surprise they experienced was the enormous changes they would go through.
So, naturally, I thought about that, and that is why I realized the reward is different because of Adel.
'Since I'm not the one in charge of creating the missions, I didn't know what kind of missions Adel would acquire.'
In any case, this is better for me.
If I complete the first part of chapter one, I will obtain the location of an Ancient Spirit's body.
'Although it would be great if it were alive; that way, I'd have an assistant to help me with everyday things.'
In any case, I finally arrived at classroom B-1 and naturally sat down in my seat.
And, just like last week, Rinna also sat beside me.
"Ugh… I'm still tired… I want to sleep a little longer."
"..."
"What were you doing over the weekend?"
At my question, Rinna answered half-asleep while leaning back.
"Ah, uh, I was outside the academy helping sick people who can't afford treatment."
In the game, when the player was close to Rinna, you could learn more about her daily life.
Every weekend, she would leave the academy to help the people most in need.
It was a common trait in a character with the title of Saint; additionally, there were also side missions.
Although most players chose not to accompany Rinna, since the rewards for those side missions were simply the affection of the Empire's citizens.
'But for me, it's much more ideal, since every time I go out, someone could recognize me as a Dark attribute user and refuse to help me.'
So, naturally, I need to at least solidify my status as a good person by helping others.
"I can go with you this weekend if you want."
Rinna opened her eyes slightly and smiled.
"Ha, huh, thank you for helping me, Adel. I'll reward you for your efforts in helping me."
"There's no need. Looking at how exhausted you are, it's only natural for someone to worry about your mental state."
Besides, just by looking at her, it was obvious that she needed to sleep.
Anyway, Rinna only looked at me briefly before hiding her face between her arms, and after a few seconds...
"... Zzz."
"...."
She fell asleep.
I let out a faint sigh. A few minutes later, the magic professor entered the classroom.
The cadets who had been chatting among themselves stopped and focused their attention on Professor Ashly.
Walking to the center of the podium, Professor Ashly stopped and looked at all the cadets present.
"I have an announcement to make, though I suppose many of you already know about it; even so, some of you probably don't."
I looked at Rinna and, after thinking for a few seconds, decided not to wake her and let her rest peacefully.
'I'll tell her later.'
Then I focused on Professor Ashly.
"Throughout the entire week, the Wild Beast Hunting Festival will be held with the objective of earning points and grades."
The Hunting Festival was an event in the game where experience was accumulated to level up characters.
Of course, it was also the only one in chapter one, but at the same time, it was an experience-focused event.
'The more I think about it, why don't levels appear in the Status Window?'
Like any other game, the leveling system exists in Holy Land, but from the very first day, I noticed that the level tab was missing.
That only means one thing.
'I can't become stronger by killing monsters.'
A player's advantage lay in the leveling system; you could reach or even surpass the game's main characters much faster.
'But I don't have that advantage. Of course, having the Status Window alone is already enough.'
With it, I can see my progress. Anyway, Professor Ashly continued.
"So, throughout the entire week, you'll be able to go to the Golden Forest to hunt wild beasts, but be careful; for the weaker ones, most wild beasts are Class 3, and who knows, there might even be a Class 4 beast."
The murmurs among the cadets, especially the commoners who were unaware of the Hunting Festival, were loud.
Listening to Professor Ashly's words, there actually were Class 4 wild beasts, but there were only five in total and, moreover…
'Lumina is the one in charge of those five wild beasts, so the weaker students in the class will only run into Class 3 beasts or lower.'
While I was thinking, one of the commoner cadets raised a hand and asked,
"Professor Ashly, could you explain the Hunting Festival in detail? I only understood that it's for earning points, but that's all."
Professor Ashly nodded and explained,
"Yes, it's true that it's mainly for earning points, but it's also a competition between the three classrooms. It also applies to the second- and third-year students; you can even compete against them."
Some cadets widened their eyes.
Most cadets have two or three different thoughts regarding upperclassmen cadets.
They fear them because they might intimidate them, or simply because they are very strong.
They respect them for being their seniors, or because they want to earn their favor and receive their help.
Or even surpass them and prove that they are not weak, but equally as strong as them—or stronger.
"Compete against upperclassmen, is that possible?"
Professor Ashly smiled.
"Yes, but of course, competitions against them take place in the depths of the Golden Forest, where Class 4 beasts are almost common."
By the way, the Golden Forest is divided into three regions.
The Surface, the Central Region, and the Depths.
In the
'Anyone can go into the Depths, but they must be aware of the dangers.'
But that didn't matter to me. Chapter One takes place on the Surface, not in the Central Region or the Depths.
"Oh, and by the way, you'll be able to see the number of points once the Hunting Festival ends, so lastly."
Professor Ashly smiled.
"In this Hunting Festival, the first-year representative will be chosen, if you place first during the festival, of course."
At her final words, the cadets shouted.
The first-year representative, for nobles, was a great prestige and honor; for commoners, it guaranteed better grades, with greater chances of advancing to the second year and being respected even among nobles.
After the announcement, Professor Ashly began the magic class.
Meanwhile, I was lost in my thoughts.
'First-year representative, huh… if I clear Chapter One, I'll most likely be chosen as the representative.'
Naturally, Chapter One is about hunting wild beasts in order to clear it. Furthermore, because of the story, the player is forced to place first in the Hunting Festival.
'All the more reason. Clearing Chapter One practically guarantees me the position of first-year representative, unless I indirectly hand my achievements over to someone else.'
But who am I?
Someone who never wastes opportunities.
And someone greedy when it comes to rewards.
I don't care about being the first-year representative, and if it improves my public image, then fine by me.
'The attack on the cadets during the Festival is in three days.'
The context goes something like this.
During the Hunting Festival, the first-year cadets will face Class 1 to Class 3 wild beasts, while the protagonist will face the five Class 4 beasts.
However, because of the villains' actions, a demonic beast is teleported in and attacks the cadets.
This demonic beast is Class 5 and, in the worst-case scenario, Class 6.
'The player's objective isn't to defeat the demonic beast, but to hold out long enough for Professor Ashly to arrive.'
Each classroom has a professor in charge, who is responsible for every activity related to that classroom.
And the person in charge of Classroom B-1 is Professor Ashly.
If the demonic beast cannot be contained, the main mission will be considered a failure.
In that case, the players return to some save point.
'But that doesn't exist in reality.'
If we're lucky, the demonic beast might be Class 5; if Lumina and I push ourselves, we could hold it back for quite a while.
But if it's Class 6…
'I can't guarantee the success of the main mission.'
And it will probably fail.
Then the balance of the story will tilt even further toward a bad ending.
'But my goal is the true ending.'
An ending that still hadn't been programmed into the game.
But one that had already been planned as the definitive ending for Holy Land's DLC, the conclusion of Lumina's story.
'That's where she can finally find the answers to her questions.'
Only that way will I know whether I can return to Earth.
By accessing the Stellar Project.