Backlash

Time passed, and the day of the joint mission arrived.

The students of Constel gathered in the field.

This annual joint mission was originally a training exercise for first-year students.

The freshmen, who had just entered Constel, formed temporary teams and experienced a small-scale version of a pro mission with the advice and help of their seniors.

Therefore, Frondier, a second-year student, had to guide the freshman he would meet in his team well.

Of course, Frondier wasn't too worried about this. He had a lot of experience fighting monsters outside the inner wall, and he could teach them tracking, trap disarming, and other skills without any shortcomings by combining the theories, workshops, and analyses he had learned at Constel.

Yes.

The problem wasn't with Frondier.

“There’s nothing to learn from someone who got stronger through cowardly means!”

“…….”

The freshman who was teamed up with Frondier pointed at his face as soon as she saw him.

Her name was Roxy Taylor. She was the mage who had been on the same team as Pielott and Dier during the skill test.

“There was a time when I respected you! But to think that it was actually through Mana Injection... I'm disappointed, Frondier!”

Roxy shouted boldly with clear eyes and a voice to match. Of course, since the team training hadn't started yet, everyone around them heard her voice and looked over.

Frondier thought.

Dier, while fighting him, thought the rumors about Frondier getting Mana Injections were nonsense, but Roxy, on the other hand, was convinced that the Mana Injections were real after seeing him directly.

People's opinions can be so different even when they see the same thing.

‘There’s no point in trying to convince her here.’

There was no way she would be persuaded, and he couldn't do anything about the people around them whispering after hearing Roxy's words.

Frondier shrugged and said,

“You don’t have to learn from me. There’s a third-year senior on the team, so you can learn from them. I won’t get involved.”

“I, I wasn’t going to ask you to anyway.”

Roxy lowered her hand slightly and replied.

It seemed she was embarrassed by the attention from the people around them. Roxy herself probably didn't know.

Everyone was pretending not to care, but they were paying close attention to Frondier's presence.

So, if Roxy said something like that in a slightly loud voice, naturally, all eyes would be on them.

“So, who is the third-year senior on our team?”

“I don’t know. The lottery is over, so we should be able to find them soon.”

The team formation method was the same as last year. People who drew the same alphabet from the lottery were on the same team. Frondier drew ‘A’ from the lottery.

Frondier had a bad feeling from the moment he drew ‘A.’

Of course, the alphabet itself had no meaning, but somehow, he immediately thought of who the most suitable third-year for the alphabet A was.

“Hello.”

And that person approached the two of them, fluttering the lottery ticket.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ellen Evans.”

“…….”

Frondier looked at Ellen with cold eyes. As always, Ellen had transparent and emotionless eyes.

“S, Student Council President!”

Roxy's eyes sparkled as if she were moved. Ellen, as if used to that reaction, smiled slightly at Roxy.

“Yes. Temporarily, though. Nice to meet you.”

“I, I! I respect you, Student Council President! It’s an honor to be on the same team!”

“Respect? I’m not even a mage.”

Ellen was a swordsman. A swordsman who boasted exceptional swordsmanship.

But Roxy shook her head as if that were absurd.

“No! It’s not as a mage that I respect you, but your spirit of improvement and attitude, Senior Ellen! To reach that level with pure swordsmanship alone... It’s a mindset that I always keep in my heart to motivate myself and make up my mind...!”

Roxy's words started to become jumbled as she became overwhelmed with emotion.

“Thank you. It’s an honor to be a motivation for a child like you.”

“Oh, no, no! I, I’m truly honored...!”

Ellen patted Roxy's head. While Roxy looked up at Ellen with sparkling eyes, Ellen shifted her gaze to Frondier.

“It’s been a while, Frondier.”

“It’s been a while, Senior Ellen.”

“How was the winter barrier?”

“It was cold. How was your pro internship?”

“Tiring.”

Ha, the two of them looked at each other with similar expressions and smiled weakly. It was a look of shared hardship.

Beep!

At that moment, a whistle blew, and the teacher on the podium began to speak.

“Then, let’s start the joint mission now. The important thing in this mission is─”

The teacher repeated almost the same words that Frondier had heard last year. In the meantime, Ellen said,

“The rumors about you haven’t been good lately, Frondier.”

“The rumors about me are always bad.”

“That’s true.”

Ellen didn’t say anything more after that.

Frondier's nonchalant answer. Hearing that was enough.

Tug, at that moment, Roxy pulled on Frondier's sleeve.

“Don’t act close to the President.”

“…….”

What a troublesome girl.

“And there’s one thing that’s different from last year.”

At that moment, the teacher said something a little different.

“The stage for last year’s joint mission was the forest. Within it, all the teams moved individually. So, there were some minor accidents in places where the teachers’ eyes couldn’t reach. Of course, pro missions always involve injuries, and sometimes you have to risk your life. However, it’s dangerous to have unexpected variables in training right now.”

Hearing those words, Frondier thought of Edwin. During the joint mission back then, a monster had attacked Edwin when he was momentarily distracted.

Of course, Frondier and Quinie had helped and resolved the situation safely, but such incidents must not have been limited to Frondier's team.

“Therefore, after accepting the strong opinion of the Student Council President, we changed the field through a meeting.”

Along with the teacher's words, a large Wizard view rose above the podium. Soon, the screen turned on.

“This time, the field is an urban area.”

The screen showed tall and large buildings densely packed together. Of course, there were no people. The scenery was similar to that of the final exam, but the buildings were much more concentrated.

‘I always think this, but.’

There was something Frondier had realized ever since he came to this world.

The ‘fields’ of Constel were the most ‘game-like’ among the settings of this game, Etius.

Despite their enormous scale and freely changing terrain and environment, no one knew the principles or structure of the fields. They didn’t even know who was in charge of them or who designed them.

Surely someone among the teachers or staff of Constel was doing it, but creating a new map every time that could accommodate almost all the grades of Constel was questionable even for a Zodiac Osprey.

“Becoming a pro means not only exterminating monsters but also saving people. If you become pros and work on ‘accident response,’ the places you will see the most are urban areas with many citizens. The way you grasp and memorize the map of a city is different from that of nature. You will be able to understand this well through this experience.”

After hearing that explanation, Frondier asked Ellen,

“Did that really change because you strongly appealed for it, Senior?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Ellen answered calmly.

Frondier was a little bothered by her still emotionless eyes.

* * *

Even though the field had changed from a forest to an urban area, the mission was the same.

Track down monsters and exterminate them as quickly as possible. However, this was only for freshman education, so the record wasn’t important.

Of course, it would be annoying if the monster they were tracking was caught by another team, but they could just track another monster.

Moreover, unlike the forest, the urban area had a clear view, so they could see the other teams well. Even though there were buildings, if they were heading in the same direction, it was inevitable that the teams would encounter each other.

However.

“……There are too many.”

“I know.”

Frondier and Ellen muttered casually as they walked.

Roxy tilted her head.

“What, what are there too many of?”

“Other teams. There are so many around.”

At those words, Roxy glanced left and right. Of course, a few teams came into view.

Of course, a few teams came into view. But it wasn't as if there were that many.

“They’re hiding. Inside buildings, behind pillars, on rooftops, or at a very far distance.”

“I, Is that true? President?”

At Frondier's explanation, Roxy looked at Ellen and asked again. Her determination not to believe a word Frondier said was evident.

“Yes. They’re all following us while pretending not to. The reason, of course, is,”

“Me.”

Frondier said in a voice mixed with a sigh.

Everyone wanted to see what kind of skills Frondier would show. Or rather, they wanted to monitor him.

‘It’s better this way. I learned from Dier for this anyway.’

From the beginning, Frondier intended to show that he had nothing to do with Mana Injections.

That’s why he tried to fight without Mana, and he learned from Dier how to hide his Mana for that purpose.

“──Hmm.”

While walking for a while, Frondier drew his shortsword.

“Wh, What is it?”

“A monster, it’s nearby.”

“Huh?”

Roxy looked around again. There was no monster, not even a cat. Well, it was natural that there were no cats, but.

More importantly, the other teams weren't tense at all, yet Frondier was the only one talking about monsters.

“Ar, Aren’t you mistaken about something? I don’t see any monsters…….”

“It’s good at hiding its presence. It seems to be careful not to leave footprints, and besides, traces are even less noticeable in urban areas than in forests.”

Footprints, traces?

Roxy frowned even more at Frondier's words.

She had never seen anything like that before. Ellen wasn’t saying anything either. And the other teams were still chatting instead of being in combat mode.

“When did you find footprints?”

“Hmm. About 10 minutes ago.”

Roxy opened her mouth in disbelief.

“Then you should have told me sooner!”

“You wouldn’t have believed me if I had said anything.”

……That was true.

She would have dismissed it as nonsense if she had heard it then.

“……Frondier. To be honest, I don’t know either. Is there really a monster nearby?”

Ellen said. Like the other teams, she couldn’t sense the presence of a monster.

Seeing that, Frondier nodded as if convinced.

“I see. I think I know what this monster's intention is, what its model is.”

“……Model?”

When Ellen asked back, Frondier nodded.

“Senior, do you remember the monster incident outside the wall last year?”

“……The one where eleven third-year students died?”

One monster that had fallen behind and become isolated from the group of monsters outside the wall. It had used obstacles and darkness to hide its appearance and secretly killed students.

Even though Quinie, who had received information from Frondier, had prepared in advance, that many people had died.

“This monster is that one. To be precise, it’s a degraded version of that one.”

There was no way the same monster would appear in a simple joint mission.

Leaving aside the feasibility of it being realized within the field, it was a monster that had even taken the lives of third-year students back then.

It must have weaker stamina, strength, and speed than that one. In other words, it was simply less dangerous.

“But.”

Frondier glanced around. The still relaxed atmosphere, the strange sight of him alone feeling the presence of the monster and raising his tension.

“Its concealment ability is exactly the same.”

* * *

Exactly 5 minutes later.

Puk!

Frondier plunged his shortsword into the monster's chest.

The creature, which had been waiting for an opportunity in the darkness created by the ceiling and walls inside the building, lost its escape route due to the walls and ceiling and was instantly killed by Frondier's surprise attack.

Krrrk…….

The monster died with barely a whimper.

When Frondier pulled out his shortsword and moved the monster aside, its large, furry body was the first thing that caught the eye.

Sharp teeth and claws, a long snout, and sharp eyes. It looked like a wolf. Except it stood on two legs.

“As I thought, it’s this one.”

“……Amazing, uh.”

Roxy muttered to herself without realizing it and then suddenly covered her mouth. She also knew about the Constel incident last year.

The news of a walking wolf killing Constel students had been buzzing around for a while.

The students of Constel were important figures who would be responsible for the country's security and public order in the future, so their deaths meant anxiety for the citizens.

Frondier had recognized that wolf in advance, faster than anyone else, and killed it. And he did it without even using Mana.

“Roxy.”

“Y, Yes.”

When Frondier called her, Roxy answered immediately. Her attitude had completely changed after seeing Frondier fight the monster without using Mana.

“What do you think the other students will think of this?”

“Uh…… Huh?”

“Do you think they still believe I got Mana Injections?”

At those words, Roxy was momentarily confused, but then she understood. So that's why he killed the monster without using Mana.

Frondier's current method was the most orthodox way to dispel rumors. Realizing that, Roxy thought for a moment.

Of course, Roxy herself began to doubt the truth of the rumors after seeing Frondier's movements just now. That was true. However.

“……W, Well?”

Would that really work on all the students who saw this scene? If so, she wasn't sure. Rumors weren't really about the truth.

She had heard that dispelling a rumor was dozens of times harder than starting one.

So, simply thinking, wouldn't he have to show the students something like that dozens of times……?

“It’s okay, Frondier.”

At that moment, Ellen said.

“I know. That you didn’t get Mana Injections.”

Frondier smiled bitterly at Ellen's words.

“I'm glad that at least you know, Senior.”

“I’m the Student Council President. If I think the students are in danger, I’ll step in, and I’ll shout out loud that you’re not like that. It’s okay.”

Those were very reassuring words. It was also quite an active encouragement, unlike Ellen.

“……Th, Then is the joint mission over?”

Roxy asked.

“Well, yeah. We caught one monster, so the mission is complete. I hope we’re first.”

“We probably are. This monster, I think its original intention was to see how we would react when attacked first. It probably didn’t expect us to find and kill it first.”

Indeed, this monster was cautious, so it took much longer to decide on its timing.

Until then, the field was actually quite peaceful, but only Frondier had taken the initiative and dealt with the monster.

“Wow, then we’re first!”

“That’s right. Not that it means much.”

“Of course it does! With a record this fast, the teachers will definitely─”

As Roxy was genuinely rejoicing.

Thump-

Frondier and Ellen frowned at the sudden surge of intense Mana.

‘This feeling, it’s familiar.’

It was similar to Jacob's Mana manifestation that he had seen at the Terst Department Store with Selena a while ago.

But the problem wasn’t just one place. Similar rises in Mana were felt from all directions in this field.

Could it be, all the monsters in the field……!

Ellen shouted.

“Roxy! Get out of the building quickly!”

“Y, Yes?”

“It’s dangerous here. You need to go somewhere with a clear view! Go and join the other teams!”

“J, Join them? What about the mission?”

“This is an emergency! You don’t need to worry about that anymore!”

“Ah, yes!”

Roxy ran out of the building, listening to Ellen's words.

The situation was so urgent that Roxy couldn’t make a proper judgment.

Why Ellen had sent her out alone.

Why the two of them were staying inside the building.

“……Ha.”

Frondier glanced at Roxy as she left and let out a hollow laugh.

And he looked at Ellen. Ellen was also looking at Frondier quietly.

Frondier tried saying it as a test.

“Let’s go help too? The other teams.”

It was an obvious thing to say. Roxy alone wouldn't be enough. Ellen and Frondier, who were skilled, needed to actively step in to inform the other teams of the situation and respond.

“…….”

However, Ellen remained silent.

Frondier closed his eyes. Fatigue washed over him, then gradually subsided with his long exhale.

And when Frondier opened his eyes, his gaze was shadowed like a cold, empty cave.

“Senior.”

“Don’t worry too much, Frondier.”

Ellen's lips parted, and

Kwaaaaaaaa-!

A fierce Mana surged from Ellen.

“Frondier got Mana Injections without side effects or symptoms? That can’t be true. I know better than anyone.”

Ellen, Constel's top swordsman.

As if in backlash, Ellen, who originally had very little Mana.

From that Ellen, Mana soared like a storm.

“Because it’s me.”