"We'll head out first to secure the campsite and prevent anyone from the other classes from getting there ahead of us. We'll leave things here to you."
Katsuragi Kohei, bringing along a few of the boys with better stamina, traveled light and moved into swift action.
The campsite base point was tentatively set as the cave they had spotted from the cruise ship, and the remaining few boys went ahead to first secure the cornfield and other usable supplies they had glimpsed earlier.
"We'll catch up as soon as the girls over here have rested enough." Fuyuji Mikage, still seated on the ground, waved toward them. "See you in a bit."
"Right." Katsuragi nodded, and leading the few boys, he sprinted with great, bounding strides into the depths of the forest, vanishing amidst the sea of trees in no ti at all.
Katsuragi-san, you really don't need to be in such a hurry.
Fuyuji silently swiveled his body around and gazed out toward the sandy beach. Because those two classes were practically the Sleeping Dragon and the Fledgling Phoenix.
"For this exam, everyone follows my orders! Otherwise, I'll burn through all three hundred supply points right now!"
"Ryuen, you bastard! Haven't you screwed us over enough already?! Our class's points are almost completely wiped out because of you! Are you genuinely a spy sent by so other class?!"
"Think whatever you want. Bottom line—for this special exam, follow my orders! I will lead you to victory!"
"Ryuen-kun, please, do us a favor I beg you—stop bringing disaster upon our class. You said the exact sa thing the last two tis, and as a result, our class's points got docked all the way down to eighty-three points, and we had to pay out a huge sum of money!"
"I don't care. How you see it is your problem. You've got twenty minutes to consider. If you don't listen, I'm spending all the points!"
"..."
Ryuen-boy, do you realize how much you resemble a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum because he can't get candy right now? After those two rounds of public social death, have you just completely and utterly discarded any sense of sha?
Whether this was an act or the genuine article, this kid was truly beyond saving.
Fuyuji shook his head, and shifting his rear a few tis, he scooted closer to Shiraishi Asuka, who was seated in the corner, and pressed near her rosy ear.
"Where did you put Nobato?"
Among the four of them, only Shiraishi-mama was truly reliable. Originally, Yamamura Miki had been pretty good too—well-behaved and sensible—but lately, she seed to have been led astray by the excessively energetic Morishita Ai, actually starting to team up with her to prank and sche against him.
"While the cruise ship was docking, it couldn't wait and flew off on its own." Shiraishi hugged her knees, her head naturally and lightly coming to rest against Fuyuji's shoulder. Her voice carried a smile. "The little fellow seed incredibly interested in the colorful native birds on the island."
"What a shaless lecher of a pigeon!" Fuyuji pursed his lips and delivered a self-righteous, stern condemnation. "A creature that forgets its master at the sight of beauty."
He had just been thinking of having it circle the island once and locate all the usable supplies, but never expected that the mont it landed on the island, it would actually go off looking for its Mikasa. This wasn't Wild Pigeon at all.
"Mm... isn't that very much like its master?"
The small head leaning against his shoulder restlessly nuzzled against it, seeking a more comfortable angle, and the soft, trailing strands of hair brushed against his neck, faint and elusive, making his neck itch.
"Not at all!" A flush of heat rose on Fuyuji's face as he reflexively denied it.
"Mm... indeed, not quite alike." Her slender, delicate fingers pinched her chin, and Shiraishi thought for a mont, then her eyes curved into crescent moons. "Its master has the heart of a lecher, but not the courage~"
Before the words had fully settled, a small hand groped its way over and grasped Fuyuji's palm, which was braced against the ground, even provocatively tickling the center of his palm.
"Who says I don't have the courage? Just wait until I've gone dark. Then you'll know how formidable I am." Roughly kneading and squeezing Shiraishi's soft, tender little hand, Fuyuji spoke with a fierce, bluffing face.
"Once you've gone dark... what would you make do?" Shiraishi's words inexplicably carried a note of eager anticipation.
"Uh... well, that..."
Stamring and hemming and hawing for quite a while without producing any coherent answer, Fuyuji probed tentatively toward Shiraishi. "Make you give a lap pillow?"
"Alright!"
So fast! You agreed far too readily!!
Belatedly, Fuyuji shifted his gaze sidelong toward Shiraishi, who was leaning her head against his shoulder. The loose athletic uniform draped over her still couldn't conceal her gentle, water-like aura, both legs drawn together and slanted to one side on the ground—those elegant, smooth lines suddenly giving one the powerful urge to bury one's face right into them.
Had I fallen into a trap? An illusion technique that makes it absolutely impossible to escape?
Shiraishi shed her gentle tone from just monts ago and asked with urgent impatience. "When? Right now is also fine."
"..."
As I thought. I've fallen right into the trap. Shiraishi-mama's tier is far too high.
"In a couple of days. Let's handle the exam matters first." Fuyuji gave two dry coughs and put on an expression of righteous, noble determination. "In a couple of days, I'll embrace my dark side."
"It's a promise, okay." Shiraishi's voice grew increasingly soft and tender, even carrying a trace of alluring seduction that seeped straight into Fuyuji's bones. "If you don't co... even if it's you... I will get angry. Mm... only a little bit angry at you. No, just a tiny, tiny bit..."
Liar...
A chill rose up from Fuyuji's back. This was the unique bloodline suppression that mother-type girls held over boys. It was definitely not just a tiny bit...
"Soon, soon. In a few days, I'll have gone dark, and then I'll unveil the shadowy other side of ." Fuyuji hurriedly responded.
"No. You won't change..."
The head leaning against Fuyuji's shoulder finally lifted, and those water-gentle eyes gazed intently at him, her tender voice carrying an unquestionable certainty. "Right now, at this very mont, this is the real you. I'm absolutely certain of it..."
Fuyuji's body paused, and he silently shifted his gaze away. Beyond the golden sandy beach, the ocean waves endlessly advanced and retreated, cyclically lapping against the shore.
The warm little hand silently tightened its grip on Fuyuji's palm, enough that one could feel the faint perspiration seeping from within. Those lake-like, placid eyes lowered.
...
After resting for a while, the girls' stamina had mostly recovered, and while Class C and Class D were still endlessly arguing, the main Class A force advanced grandly and with surging montum toward the selected cave.
The branches of the vast groves of lofty trees intertwined with one another, blocking the extending rays of the sun layer upon layer. Dappled sunlight fell upon the dirt ground, giving one the feeling of a springti outing, strolling through the forest.
First to take the stage was Fuyuji, serving as the vanguard warrior and part-ti scout.
Behold as his eyes sharpened with focus, his psychic power quietly emanating outward and taking in every single thing within a ten-ter radius into full panoramic view. Within this range, his detection skill could remain activated for an extended period.
Ding!
No danger detected. No valuable items discovered. Action points reduced by one.
Fuyuji let out a contemptuous sneer. "So that's how it is. Sensing my overwhelming, powerful presence, they're too terrified to show themselves, are they?"
The nurous Class A students: "..."
Why does this guy have so many theatrics?
"However, do you think you can confuse us with this?" Fuyuji pushed up his nonexistent glasses. "Far too naive. Everything you have is utterly aningless before these eyes."
He pointed with one hand toward the front-right and turned his head toward the Class A students. "Iku zo! There's a man-made footpath over there. We'll take that route!"
Hm?
A question mark slowly materialized above the heads of the Class A students. How on earth did he know there was a path over there?
"Fuyuji Mikage, the consequences of deceiving Morishita-sama are very severe." Morishita, following behind, reached out and poked Fuyuji's lower back.
"Just follow ."
Fuyuji shoved both hands into his pockets and walked coolly in the direction he had indicated, and though he appeared unreliable, he still held considerable authority and credibility within Class A. The group of Class A students, half-doubting and half-believing, followed in his footsteps.
After walking about thirty ters, a narrow dirt path greeted the eyes of the crowd—roughly a few dozen centiters in width. It wasn't large, but there was no chaotic, overgrown grass or weeds underfoot. The boys carrying the tents could save a bit of energy, and the girls didn't have to worry about a snake or so critter suddenly appearing beneath their feet as they walked.
It actually existed?
"How did that guy discover this little path?" Kamuro Masumi folded her arms and muttered.
This little path was covered and concealed by dense, thick vegetation. From that position just now, it should have been impossible to spot.
"Perhaps he did so advance research on this front, you never know."
Next to take the stage was Shiraishi, serving as the healer and the absolute core of the party. Shiraishi-mama, in an exceptionally good mood, paid absolutely no mind to these details. Instead, she quickened her pace and walked up beside Fuyuji, earnestly cheering him on.
"Keep it up, Fuyuji-kun!"
The nurous Class A students stared in disbelief toward the very front. How was it that even Shiraishi-san was...
"Ho~"
Fuyuji let out a sinister, bewitching grin, raising a hand to cover his own eyes. "Subarashii. Power is beginning to surge forth."
Ding!
Congratulations! Fuyuji Mikage has received the chanting buff from the angelic Healer Shiraishi Asuka! His level has risen!
Morishita stared fixedly at Fuyuji, now walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Shiraishi, and slowly, she made her way beside Yamamura.
"Yamamura Miki, has that guy secretly gone off behind our backs and sought out so kind of mystical Eastern sorcery?"
"Eh?" Yamamura, who had been blending into the crowd the whole ti, raised her head in bewildernt. "Probably not? We've all been together, haven't we?"
"He definitely has." Morishita spoke with absolute conviction. "I've seen him, these past few days, constantly reading so book that's all in Chinese. Sothing called 'Grave Robbers' Chronicles.' He brought it back from the library. He's been all sneaky and secretive about it and won't let see."
"Th-there shouldn't be any tombs here, right?" Yamamura stamred.
"That's not exactly certain."
"There really are?"
"There are!" Morishita declared with unwavering certainty.
...
"Everyone on the deserted island—how are you all doing?"
"..."
Faced with the forest's continued utter lack of response, Fuyuji let out a cold snort. "Still refusing to co out, are you? How dull. Let us move!"
"..."
The crowd of Class A students stared blankly at the retreating back of Fuyuji, who was advancing alone. Had that guy gotten more and more excited since entering the forest?
Although the Great Demon King was too terrified of Fuyuji's power to dare show himself, as the adventure deepened, his fortuitous encounters gradually began to increase in number.
Ding!
Congratulations! He has discovered the deserted island's mightiest novice equipnt—a perfectly straight wooden stick!
Under Morishita's envious, admiring gaze, Fuyuji picked up the mightiest weapon obtainable only by the legendary Hero.
"Was it you who was summoning since just now?" Fuyuji walked as he brandished the wooden stick in his hand, murmuring in a low voice. "So that's it. You thirst for combat, do you? Tatakae! Itsumo tatakae! I know a pigeon nad Wild Pigeon. You two would probably get along pretty well. But he's currently been captured and taken away by Marley. When he returns, I'll introduce you."
With a single swing of his stick, it tore through the air with a sharp whoosh and knocked down a nearby branch.
Fuyuji Mikage has defeated one Level 1 Tree Branch Monster! His level has risen!
Congratulations! He has obtained an item: one serving of edible berries.
After walking another stretch, Fuyuji halted his steps and looked toward a cluster of plants growing beside the small path—over a ter tall, resembling immature rice paddies.
"This is..." Shiraishi looked at the waist-high, half-a-person-tall patch of grass before them with mild surprise. "Vetiver grass?"
Ding! Congratulations! He has discovered the deserted island's legendary-grade item—Vetiver Grass!
"Shiraishi-san knows this one too? This kind of plant should be quite rare in Tokyo."
Vetiver grass, also known as khus-khus grass, prefers growing in warm, humid tropical and subtropical climates. Its essential oil is hailed in the world of aromatherapy as the "essential oil of tranquility," allegedly possessing calming and sedative properties, improving sleep quality, strengthening the immune system, repelling mosquitoes and insects, and nurous other beneficial effects.
The plant itself can also emit a unique, distinctive fragrance. It was practically a plant tailor-made for the Class A group preparing to take up residence in the cave.
"Because I had a bit of interest in this kind of thing before. I studied it just a little. They should mostly be distributed across Southeast Asia, right?" Shiraishi lightly and casually glossed over the question.
"I recall the natives in Java use them to thatch their roofs. If it's appearing here, the school must have specifically cultivated it."
Taking out a ballpoint pen and a piece of paper, Fuyuji marked the approximate location on the map. He planned to bring people back later to harvest and secure this legendary-grade plant.
Very quickly, Fuyuji's Class A adventurer party set off once more.
Along the journey, they crossed the Great Gobi Desert of a Thousand Leagues—a tiny stretch of open ground without shade—and forded the Surging, Ceaseless River—a one-ter-wide creek. They vanquished the Demon Dragon nesting in the Abyssal Chasm—a lizard that suddenly darted out—and harvested kava pepper, ginger, natural hemostatic and anti-inflammatory herbs, and a whole series of precious items. Finally, they reached their destination—the Illusory Paradise, far removed from the dusty mortal world.
Main Quest: Arrive at the Cave Campsite — Successfully Completed!
Hearing sounds from outside, Katsuragi walked out of the cave, and glancing at the wristband issued by the school, he asked with astonishnt. "You all arrived this quickly? I only just got here about ten-so minutes ago myself."
"..."
One had to realize, Katsuragi had not only set out earlier than them, but he was also traveling in a group of two, able to move much faster. Yet the result was...
The entire group of Class A students turned their strange, bewildered gazes toward Fuyuji, who was currently circling around Yamamura together with Morishita.
The final act: Morishita Ai, part-ti thief and part-ti assassin. She always struck at the very last mont after a quest was completed, rcilessly snatching away every last treasure the adventurer had acquired.
"Please let play with it!"
"No. After I give it to you, there's a one hundred percent chance I'll never get my bonded weapon back. Also, can you be a little more polite when you say 'please' from now on? Anyone who didn't know better would think you were here to rob !"
"Cheapskate Fuyuji Mikage! Give it to , now!"
"Absolutely not! This is the 'Proof of a Hero'!"
...
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50 [Power Stones] = Bonus Chapter!
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