We stared into each other's eyes.
Her white eyes blazed while my purple eyes calmly gazed back.
Tightening my grip on the katana, I bent slightly, ready for the confrontation.
But to my surprise, she didn't attack and quietly walked away.
"What's up with her?" I mumbled to myself, watching her departing figure.
Before I could ponder it properly, the sound of a rhythmic hamr hitting the ground echoed, making shift my focus.
...No, not just the ground.
Lifting my head, I observed the trees around .
Two Drath were rushing toward from within the dense jungle, their elongated claws gripping tightly onto the bark of the trees, propelling them forward.
My gaze followed them, trying to determine their path.
I quickly found it—a large boulder just a few ters away.
'Willis.'
Dada!
My legs petrified, crumbled, getting replaced by the legs of an angel.
Three quick steps later, I stood just below the boulder.
Gripping my katana tightly, I jumped onto the boulder as a Drath leaped toward .
Cladding my hands with mana, I swung my katana, aiming at its gaping petal-like mouth.
My blade hissed through the air, leaving a silvery line—the Drath's head split into two halves.
Another one lunged at from the side, its claws aiming to pierce my head.
Twisting my body, I ducked, letting it pass over while I extended my hand to touch its leg, engraving a purple marking.
The hamring sound grew louder as three more Drath surrounded .
"Huff..."
I drew in a deep breath before slowly releasing it, stretching my hand toward the marked Drath.
I raised my hand, and so did the Drath's body, hovering in mid-air. With a flick, I hurled its body at an incoming Drath.
They collided, rolling on the ground before hitting hard on a tree.
Jumping down from the boulder, I stretched my body while they regrouped in front of .
"Four, huh?"
I mumbled, tilting my head slightly.
Standing on all fours, they gripped the ground tightly with their elongated limbs, screaming at , their petal-like faces opening wide.
Kicking off the ground, they rushed toward without hesitation—one prowling close while the others flanked my position.
Increasing my mana intake, my hand shot out, grabbing a Drath around its throat, squeezing hard enough to choke it but not kill it instantly.
It tried to let out an alard cry, its sharp claws slashing toward my face.
I squeezed tighter, retracting my hand, snapping its neck while ripping its flesh.
Turning back, I glanced at the boulder, finding three Drath glaring at without moving.
'...So they see as a threat,' I wondered, observing them.
...They have enough intelligence, well this can make things easier for .
Two of them leaped together right over .
...Making things easy.
"Muspelh."
I whispered, waving my hand, sending a crescent wave of fla toward them.
They tensed as the flas engulfed their bodies without giving them the chance to retreat.
I thrust my hand forward, releasing another violent wave of fla.
They screeched, howling in pain as they burned alive, vanishing in a flash.
With them gone, I turned to the last Drath, which slowly backed away, lowering its body in submission.
'Should I use the fourth ring on it?' I mused, stepping forward.
SWISH!!!
But my step halted as an arrow flew past , lodging itself precisely into the middle of the Drath's mouth.
Its body went limp before falling off the boulder.
Turning around i looked at the one who shot the arrow.
She wore the sa academic uniform clinging to her body, her black hair falling freely down her back, with a quiver strapped to it and a bow in her hand.
Her face was ordinary, her brown eyes looking at .
Mama!
'Willis, if you co out now, I swear I'm throwing you in an orphanage.'
B-but mama!
'She's not your mama; not every girl with big boobs is your mother!'
I'm not talking to you!
'Thank you. Now go to sleep.'
Ignoring Willis's grumbling, I looked at her and mumbled, "Nella."
She smiled, "Glad I found soone from my class."
I tilted my head, asking, "We're in the sa class?"
"Yes," she nodded, walking toward , "you just don't rember, I sit right behind you."
"I'm pretty sure I rember everyone in my class," I replied, squinting my eyes, "and I don't rember you being my classmate."
'What's she doing?' I wondered, staring at her.
...Does she think I'm stupid or what?
"You have the mory of a goldfish," she rebuked, walking past . "How can you not rember your classmate?"
"...."
I rubbed my temples in frustration as she plucked her arrow from the dead body.
"We should find others as well," she comnted like it was the most natural thing.
'...Did she forget that we're in different classes?' I wondered, looking at her doubtfully.
"What?" she asked.
"Go find them yourself," I replied, deciding to ignore her. "I'll et you where the queen is."
"Wait, are you going alone?" she asked, blocking my way.
"Mind your own business," I grumbled, walking past her.
"You can't do that—"
"Don't tell what to do."
"Hey, listen, you fucking idiot," she snarled, blocking again. "You'll get yourself killed if you go there alone."
I stared down at her, confused.
...Why is she doing this?
'Don't tell ...'
The only reason she'd approach flashed in my mind, and I couldn't help but feel bitter.
...Selfish.
"I'm not going alone," I replied, sighing. "...You're coming with ."
"Wait, am I?" she asked, confused, but I ignored her and walked on.
...Does she not care about the exams or what?
"By the way, did you see Princess Arianell?" I asked, glancing back at her. "She just walked in the direction you ca from."
"I saw her," she lied, with a straight face and without a spec of hesitation. "She ignored . Maybe she's looking for soone from her class."
"Yeah, don't be like her," I comnted, cutting through the webbing with my katana to see better.
"What do you an?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Don't be a bitch like her," I replied with a small smile.
"How can you say that?" she frowned, glaring. "She's our princess."
"Doesn't change the fact that she's a selfish bitch," I shrugged.
She forced a smile, still glaring, "...Is she now?"
I nodded vigorously, scanning the path ahead.
The surrounding jungle was dense, a wall of twisted white limbs and roots plunging several feet out of the ground, coiling around each other, their decaying forms.
The trees seed to breathe, their trunks pulsing gently every once in a while.
Then the sll hit . The stench of rotting, putrefying at.
"Any reason you approached ?" I asked, observing the surroundings. "And if you're about to ask out, let tell you—even princess Arianell doesn't stand a chance, let alone yo—"
My words cut off as I felt two firm hands shove , making step forward, trying to keep my balance, but to no avail.
I slipped and fell on my ass.
"I'm sorry," her mocking voice echoed, "my hand slipped."
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to calm myself as I slowly got back on my feet.
"It's fine," I replied, smiling, brushing the dirt from my back.
...I should throw her in front of a group of Drath next ti.
...That'll make us even.
"Azariah," I heard soone call my na, making turn around.
"Chubby?" I mumbled, seeing him approach.
He smiled as he walked toward , "At last, I found soone."
"Yeah, I'm happy to see you," I replied, already thinking of ways to use him.
He turned to look at Nella, asking, "Who's she?"
"Apparently our classmate," I replied, glancing at her.
"...I see," he replied, doubtfully. "I don't rember see—"
"Are you coming with us?" Nella interjected sharply, smiling.
"Where?"
"To the queen's den," she replied, and Chubby's face turned pale.
He turned toward for confirmation, and I nodded.
His face paled even more. "A-alone?"
"No," Nella said, smiling, "all three of us."
"M-maybe I s-should look for the others," he stamred, turning away.
"Wait, don't go!" Nella yelled as he walked off. "We need a at shie— I an, we need a defender like you!"
...And now Chubby was practically running away.
I shook my head and turned to walk.
"Tch, he could've been useful," she comnted, clicking her tongue.
"You're an asshole."
"I don't care."
...Yeah, it's been so long I forgot how she used to behave.
"Anyway, why did you approach ?" I asked, returning to the previous topic.
She drew in a deep breath and mumbled, "Let's say hypothetically—"
"Hypothetically~"
"Shut up," she grumbled before continuing, "... Just tell what you'd do."
"...Okay," I replied, shrugging.
Walking beside , she whispered, "...What would you do if your mother was absolutely evil and wanted to kill you?"
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