Journal from Another World

真勇者の功績・共同戦闘

“Instructor, this stuff is elementary. We know this already.” The haughty voice came from a blond aristocrat seating in front, he had an arrogant sneer on his face. “I know! Why don’t we have a little excursion and show off some of our skills defeating lowly monsters.”

‘Now there was an idea.’ I thought to myself almost agreeing on the spot, but I needed to keep my cool here and wait for the instructor to affirm the idea.

“Now wait just a minute, don’t you think that you’re jumping to danger too fast here.” The second voice came from the side somewhere near the window. When I veered towards where the voice originated, the least person I had expected to contradict the idea popped up. Right it was redhead, since we had the same strong STATs it was only expected that we would be in the same curriculum much to my dismay.

Now, how should I interject here?

The class was instantly divided into three: the ones who are gung-ho with the idea lead by the blond aristocrat, the ones who are against it led by redhead and lastly the I-don’t-care-whatever-you-choose-as-long-as-you-hurry-up-and-decide group led by some students seating at the back of the classroom.

This elite classroom, also known as the ‘A Class’ is composed of 18 students and for whatever good reason is evenly split into 9 males and 9 females.

Currently the odds where at the gung-ho group with 10 Students for pro Excursion (5 Males and 5 Females) leaving behind the against-excursion group with 4 students (1 Male and 3 Females) the remaining 2 males and 1 female were the wait-and-see group.

Me, I kind of like the idea of the excursion but I could not voice my opinion just yet, I am waiting for the right moment. While I was being silent, the argument had started to get heated and started throwing below the belt remarks.

“I knew it. This hero business is just a faux to ease the kingdom with the upcoming Demonic Wars.!”

“Eldren, what you’re saying is blasphemy. Do you want to get burned at the stake?”

“Amanda it is because childish dreams like yours that has sullied the order of knights and being called weaker than those pesky Hunters. Well what would you expect you are nothing more but commoner girl…” there it is the moment I have been waiting for.

“I think you should leave it at that.” I said in a flat yet intimidating tone. “Redhead, I understand that the excursion is dangerous, but I can’t let this guy run his mouth like we are some kind of fakes.”

I immediately made my point before anyone could say anything. Blonde was smiling at me for getting work up with his provocations, I guess I was being childish too, but if I get to the desired results his face will splash on mud soon enough.

And so with the coercion from the whole class our instructor finally consented to the excursion. The stage is set in the forest south of Crystal City, the Forest of Fae. Since most of the students in the A Class were aristocrats with slightly higher peerage, they were readily able to call for carriages to transport all students from school to the forest.

The headmaster was against it at first, but after a mysterious magical call he readily changed his mind and authorized the excursion for first year students outside the city gates.

When we arrive at the edge of the forest, blonde gave us the specifics of the excursion or we might as well say the test of strength:

1. We are to divide ourselves into 3, True hero Team with me as head and 5 others, the hero team led by Redhead with 5 others, and Blonde’s team together with five of his cliques.
2. We are to hunt anything in the Forest of Fae until sundown.
3. The group that catches the most or perhaps hunts the strongest monster inside the forest wins
4. Group automatically fails when some members retire from the hunt
5. Automatically fails when they do not report back by sundown

“Okay everyone, I know that it is easy to be hotheaded with the situation, but make sure to stay on the safe side and call for help the moment you feel danger. Am I clear!” the instructor said some rather instructor-like words to make sure we understand and adhere her words as she continued: “This is an order from your superior, I hope you at least understand what these words mean?”

And as soon as we have prepared our equipment and other necessities we then proceeded to enter the Forest of Fae with our groups.

‘I will make sure to win big time, and show that blonde and redhead that I am no push over.’

Since we already have the ground rules implemented, we finally entered the Forest of Fae. I am with 5 others, truthfully, I was expecting a solo run on the forest as I watch the look on everyone’s faces when I get a whole large haul. But it can’t be help, our instructor Katrina Felix may be laid back but she is definitely a strong knight and scary to boot.

One time, blonde tried to talk himself of doing a solo run and…

“Let’s see, if you can best me then I will allow you to go solo.” Her eyes and over all face turned murderous not the slightest mood she had shown us the first day where she just slumped on her desk and told us to do self-study. We would later learn that she is a Master Knight who has great sword skills, however her attitude in the battlefield is so extreme the higher ups decided to have her teach in school to learn prudence.

And so, we decided to take on the excursion with parties with my teammates: 4 females and 1 male. Since we are already behind I decided it was time to enter the forest, but…

“Excuse me?” a voice stopped me from behind. “Wouldn’t it be better if we introduce ourselves and know some of our skills first before entering?”

The girl was the so called commoner, who had fought against blonde’s idea in the pro–and–against excursion factions. Personally, I wanted to enter the forest fast, but I could not just push her away since my integrity is at stake.

“Yes, but of course, you’re right.” I composed myself. “Although you probably already know this but I am the summoned True Hero, Galford Granfall. My skills lie with the one-handed sword arts and shield arts. I will take on the rule of the vanguard.” I made a simple introduction and soon afterwards the others followed suit.

“I am Amanda Freaks, born as commoner and passed the Young Knight’s Exams this year, my proficiency is geared to dual-weilding swords, since I was in an orphanage supervised by priestesses, I have small knowledge with healing magic. My ultimate goal is to become a Paladin. I will be in everyone’s care.” She had a beautiful innocent face with blue free flowing hair.

I see a Paladin is it? That might not be a bad class change to go too, I should try to learn healing magic. Well, on to the next.

“Sonia Feldspar, merchant’s daughter. Proficient with the bow, I can also use a short sword although not as high as with my bow arms.” a curt introduction from a short chamomile haired girl.

“Shiela Mars, proficiency geared towards short sword and short shield arts.” the quite response of the wavy haired teen.

“Spencer Argo, A knight’s son and a great sword arts wielder.” Said the boy with muscles befitting the great sword he was carrying at his back.

“Clarisa Malveel, battle axe arts wielder, my three sizes are 86-58-87.” The girl with red flocks beaming with energy introduced herself with information which both me and great sword wielder gulped and looked her way. She indeed has curvaceous body anyone would covet… but since the other girls were boring holes, I instantly changed the topic.

“Since we are now introduced and our proficiency known, I think we should move along and start hunting for monsters.”

‘phew what a dangerous girl…’

**********

Everything was going well for the hunt -in fact it was going too well. Our team encountered monsters and were routed easily by our two superior attackers in the form of Amanda and Clarisse.

Amanda’s dual wielding arts made mincemeat out of the monsters and Clarisse’s battle axe mushed them on the ground.

For the most part of this strategy, as a tank I should be drawing all agro from the potential enemies but as battle frenzies these two had decided to slice and smash their way through any obstacle before I can even get to shine.

‘Che… that girl, she was so against this excursion but looks like she is the one enjoying this the most…”

I must get the spotlight back on track. The hero of this story is me, you know…. and as if to answer my wishes...

“We got to get out of here!!!” out of breath and frantic, two girls run towards us.

“Ina… Fatima…” Amanda approached them hysterically. “You look so out of breathe, where are the boys?”

“…Horde of… Monsters …coming this way”

Did she just say horde of monsters… hell yeah! To the spotlight I go!

“We must hurry and give them a hand.” that place needs me to save the day.

“Galford, we should not jump into hasty actions.” che… Amanda stopped me again. “We must first notify Ms. Katrina of the situation and have her command us what to do.”

“While we do that the others could be dead.” my voice was louder than before. We are wasting precious time here, while we are arguing it could be over before I could get to where the action is.

“How about using this?” Clarisse casually pops out her magic flares and launched them in the air.

Minutes later Ms. Katrina was standing by our side.

“Now who needs saving.” In her usual flat tone, but suddenly changed her demeanor. “Tell me what happened!”

The girls, Fatima and Ina, recounted how their group entered deeper in the forest and that the number of Goblins had instantly raised.

After skimming through the options, Ms. Katrina had decided to locate the other groups and gave instructions to meet at edge of the forest we first entered.

Wanting to come with her I opened my mouth but she disappeared before any voice could even reach her.

Reluctantly we had decided to follow her directives and exited the forest. Once there, we had waited for half a bell and reunited with the others who were given the same directives as us.

“In this time of crises what would be the first action you should take?” our instructor who for some reason just appeared out of nowhere ask a question also from out of nowhere.

After considering the question some more three different answers overlapped each other:

“Eliminate the horde here and now.”

“Get away from the Forest as soon as possible!!”

“Prioritize the safety of the civilians who are outside the castle gates.

The instructor had asked us what action to take during this kind of situation and obviously I had answered the most logical action to take and that is to proceed in eliminating the threat the soonest possible time.

This was an event meant for the true hero to rise into fame and as the hero, this was my ticket to that very pedestal. Finally voicing my thoughts, two other voices overlapped with mine.

The other voices came from none other than the blondie coward and redhead weakling. Blondie took the brunt force of this attack and probably all arrogance he had at the beginning was too, so he just wants to get out of the forest the soonest possible. As for redhead, he was probably distancing from the storm of the battle.

The instructor who had finally known our plan of actions finally nods in affirmation.

‘Eldren is correct staying in this forest is most dangerous.” The instructor looks at Eldren in the eyes affirming his answer, then she proceeds to face me.

“Galford is also right in fact he has the most logical plan of action as a knight to eliminate the threat.” for an instant I felt proud after she had said those words but I soon felt gloomy that those previous praise were really just precursor to her last words.

“But you should not forget that as knights, we are entrusted with the safety of the public and therefore I commend Li Jei for prioritizing the safety of the civilians.” damn… I lost to redhead.

“But…” I need to defend my stand.

“So, as the leader of this excursion...” she was not about to let me speak, damn her. “Let us divided the group into two, the first group will prioritize securing the safety of the civilians, the second group will act as decoy and avert the attention of the horde towards us.”

And so we were divided into two and groups led by me and redhead, the instructor will remain in the forest and reduce the numbers coming out of the forest.

10 members of the class will ensure the safety of the civilians with redhead in lead while I and 7 others will ensure that the monster horde will focus on us. Okay, I can still save some face by making sure to have all monsters focus on me.

“All of you cooperate and make sure to eliminate all monsters that gather around me.” Not allowing anyone to make any other suggestions, I immediately increased my agro by using provocation skill and led the monsters around me. “Let’s get this party started!”

******

The battle started and the monster horde started to gather around me, but with my shield’s high defense none of the horde’s attacks reach me least put a scar on me.

While I was enjoying the battle on my side, I noticed another battlefield started slightly away from us. He was wielding a large farmer’s scythe, judging from the corpses that lay beside him, I am guessing that he has been fighting for quite some time. I was too far away so I could not see his STATS but I am guessing he was definitely strong.

But I should have just started, the spotlight will go to my direction soon. For now, I should increase my provocation so that the monsters aiming for him goes to me. “Let’s do this!”

And so, with my properly laid out plans the monsters finally noticed me as stronger threat than the farmer and started to take their mettle with me, only to get sliced by my sword or bashed by my shield

After a few more hours in battle and the knights and regular soldiers inside the gates had finally been mobilized, our instructor who had blood all over uniform also got out of the forest and joined the fray.

When it was finally over the knights were all praise for the exploit of the entire class saying that we have a bright future ahead of us. I wanted to confirm on that farmer’s STATS but I could not find him so I had to give up for now. I will definitely take out all those who hinder me in my rise to becoming a hero.

Well for now the battle outside the Forest of Fae finally ended with a hefty reward awaiting me.