Chapter Five: The Forest of Madness I

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to an error I made in the post, Chapter Four: Motley Crew II never appeared on the NU homepage. If you don’t know who Aise and Shitori are, go read that chapter first. Otherwise, you’ll be very confused.

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The Squire applicants had gathered at the foot of a mountain just beyond the royal capital’s western gate. It was early morning, and after being forcibly woken up, everyone still looked half asleep. During the journey, some of the participants – having drunk too much last night – had vomited up the entire contents of their stomachs.

Beyond, the Gray Forest spread across Shuou’s field of vision. He felt dissatisfied, somehow. Despite having left the forest to see the world, the hand of fate had conspired to bring him back here.

“You don’t look the least bit tense,” said the blonde student.

Upon joining them, these were the first words out of the young noblewoman’s mouth. She must have been referring to Shuou. He hadn’t slept well, and yesterday’s fatigue was still evident on his face. Though he felt like responding to her blatantly condescending gaze, Shuou convinced himself to leave her be.

Gathering around an exam proctor, the students of Gemstone Academy began receiving some kind of briefing. From his position, Shuou couldn’t hear the discussion, but the students all listened with tense expressions.

Once the proctor had finished his explanation, all of the students were handed brown backpacks. After receiving their luggage, the students returned to their squadrons. Even those in Shuou’s squadron came back, their heavy bags appearing to weigh them down.

“You… lot, hurry up and take… this,” said the blonde student.

She pushed the heaviest looking bag onto Shuou, its weight surprising him. The backpack swelled to capacity with something hard, and due to its heft, Shuou worried about the bottom tearing out.

“This is heavy,” he said. “What’s in it?”

“It’s food, according to the proctor,” replied the blonde student. “He told us not to open the bag until the test begins. Same goes for this one.”

She handed the other bag she was shouldering to Kumokari.

“This one doesn’t seem nearly as heavy,” said Kumokari. “Want to trade, Shuou?”

“Please.”

Since Kumokari possessed superior size and strength, Shuou accepted his offer without reservation. He exchanged the heavier bag with the one Kumokari had received. Though it didn’t go easily, Kumokari still had strength to spare even while shouldering the heavier bag. Those bulging muscles weren’t just for show, it seemed.

“Take mine, too,” said the blue-haired student, tossing the last bag to Kumokari.

At first, Kumokari tried handing the second bag to Jiro, but after comparing the two, he pulled his hand back. Making someone as small as Jiro carry such as large backpack would be cruel, he must have thought.

Shuou would carry one bag and Kumokari two, they decided in the end.

“Also, we’re not allowed to bring in any food except for these provisions,” said the blonde student. “If you have any, take it out now. You go first.”

She pointed at Shuou.

“I don’t have any,” he said.

Until last night, he’d been carrying enough portable rations to last several days. However, he’d heard beforehand that they couldn’t bring food into the exam. Thus, he’d left his supplies with the people at the inn.

“You’re not lying, are you?” asked the blonde student. “In a little while, the proctor’s going to inspect everyone’s belongings. Don’t embarrass me then.”

Next, she looked at Kumokari.

“I’m not carrying anything either,” he said. “If you don’t believe me, why not try feeling around my entire body?”

“Q-quiet. I’d do nothing so foul. Moving on. What about you, frog? Are you carrying anything?”

When asked, Jiro’s eyes darted around anxiously. “…Jiro has a fish bone. Is that bad… ish?”

From his pocket, he produced an entire fish bone.

“Is that from yesterday?” Kumokari asked exasperatedly.

Looking away, Jiro nodded once. “Still some meat left, so put it in my mouth and brought it here.”

Apparently, he’d done this during last night’s commotion. Shuou had to admire his gluttony.

“Even bones are against the rules,” said the blonde student. “Throw it away over there. God, this is looking bleaker by the second.”

“Still has flavor,” Jiro muttered, reluctantly going to throw the bone away.

Just like the student had said, several proctors came around checking each squadrons’ belongings. The proctors were thorough, performing detailed inspections of their pockets, the insides of their trousers, and even the three backpacks handed out earlier. One of the Squire applicants had a cookie fragment in his pocket, earning him a stern warning from the proctor performing the inspection.

Once preparations were more or less finished, the squadrons readied themselves for an immediate departure. Shuou readied himself as well, thinking everyone would begin the exam at once. However, on each Alabaster Road, squadrons would leave one a time, a pause occurring between each departure. Shuou’s squadron would start during the second round of departures.

Nine Alabaster Roads were visible across their exam site: the Abyssal Forest. Among them, the northernmost path appeared wide and in good condition. The proctors would travel using this well-maintained, innermost path. Likewise, it would be used to return home after the test. Based on the portions Should could see, the eight remaining paths appeared to be in equally bad shape.

During their free time before the next round of departures, Shuou’s squadron exchanged brief introductions. The blonde, overbearing girl was named Warrant Bright Candidate Aise Mordred. She bore a pale green Miracrystal on the back of her hand.

She was about average height for a woman, neither tall nor short. Yet thanks to her small face and long, toned legs, she was attractive enough that calling her overall figure exceptional wouldn’t be an understatement. Though she wasn’t very busty, she didn’t look at all masculine. In fact, she gave off the air of a sophisticated, urban woman. Her refined features and stern expression served to emphasize this impression.

She was also the leader of their squadron.

The blue-haired student – shrouded in a listless aura – was named Warrant Crystalier Candidate Shitori Aurel, she told them off-handedly. Shuou couldn’t tell if her ever sleepy eyes were taking in a dream or reality.

Her absentminded personality didn’t match her full bust or supple figure ripe with feminine glamour. Yet thanks to these features, there was no shortage of men sneaking glances at her. Though the average woman in the city would rejoice over being popular with the opposite sex, she gave off no such impression.

She bore a pale blue Miracrystal on the back of her hand. In all likelihood, this Sunstone controlled water.

Though Aise and Shitori were about the same height, they gave off entirely different impressions. Aise was a blade. If touched, she would cut you. Shitori was indistinct, like moonlight on a cloudy day reflected upon water.

Aise’s straight, blonde hair reached her shoulders. Shitori’s blue hair – wavy and buoyant – reached her waist. Bewildered, Shuou wondered if one’s hair type could express their character.

Both of them wore light blue, high-class uniforms. This was the dress of noble children attending the military academy. As one might expect, even an amateur could discern its excellent quality.

On their upper bodies, both men and women wore a blue jacket over a white shirt. On their lower bodies, the boys wore navy blue trousers, while girls wore skirts of the same color. Below, the girls also donned thick tights. For shoes, they wore black boots that reached just below the knee.

“Are you going to take the test in that outfit?” Shuou asked without thinking.

Durable and of higher quality than a commoner’s best attire, Gemstone Academy’s uniform was suited to traversing the Abyss. He needn’t have worried about its strength. However, the uniform was too beautiful to wear while doing so. Dirtying it would be a shame.

“Of course,” said Aise, brushing aside Shuou’s comment. “This test might not matter to you, but it’s our graduation exam.”

The time came for their squadron to depart.

At the starting point, eight groups had lined up horizontally. Shuou’s squadron had been appointed to the fourth Alabaster Road from the proctors’ innermost path. On the same road, the squadron with the former mercenary who’d spilled alcohol on Shuou’s head had left before them. The boys who’d picked a fight with Aise also belonged to that team.

A proctor drew his sword, raised it skyward, and swung it down. That was the signal for them to begin.

At once, the horizontally lined up squadrons starting running down their respective paths. As if being pulled, Shuou’s team jogged behind Aise, who’d taken off at brisk pace. The ancient, out-of-use road had appeared somewhat wide from the entrance, but when actually stepping foot inside, the road continued to narrow the deeper they went.

Soon after entering the ancient road, Shuou stopped everyone.

”Wait.”

“If you’ve forgotten something, it’s too late now,” said Aise.

Annoyed, she glared at Shuou. She’d been attempting to run into the depths with the same momentum she’d displayed at the start.

“We haven’t checked the contents of our bags,” said Shuou. “I’d like to do so before we truly head into the depths.”

“You can do that when we take a break farther into the—”

Without waiting for Aise’s response, Shuou lowered the backpack he’d been carrying, checking its contents. Kumokari also lowered his two bags onto the ground. Ignoring Aise, who was yelling at them to do as instructed, they opened them up.

Shuou’s backpack contained a leather pouch filled with water. Due to heavy rainfall in the forest, puddles formed all over the place. He wouldn’t need to worry about replenishing their drinking supply. Other preserved foods had been packed into the bag as well: bread, dried meat, dehydrated bean dishes, and small jars of honey-soaked fruit.

One of Kumokari’s backpacks contained outdoor bedding and other sundries: collapsible tents, sleeping bags, ropes, lamps, and fire-building tools. In Shuou’s estimation, this was decent enough equipment for camping.

Even so, the first backpack Shuou had been given still posed a problem. It was so heavy, he worried about the bottom falling out. Inside, he found a hefty, sturdy looking bag. Sticking his hand into it, he felt the crispness of fine grains rubbing together.

“Rice…?” he asked.

“Quite a lot, too,” said Kumokari. “With this much, five people could eat for a month without issue.”

Scooping up the rice in one hand, Kumokari let it cascade dryly back into the bag.

”Of course,” said Aise. “The purpose of this test is to reach the target location on foot, not to starve the participants to death.”

Rice was nutritious and filled one’s stomach. If left uncooked, it wouldn’t spoil quickly. As a staple during travel, it was almost a luxury. Nevertheless, Shuou felt dissatisfied.

“How long will it take to reach our destination?” he asked.

Aise’s brow furrowed at his question. “The exam period lasts a month from today, but each year, the fastest squadrons reach the destination in two weeks. After three weeks, even the slowest squadrons will have reached the designated location, from what I’ve heard.”

The fastest squadrons would arrive at the destination in two weeks, while the slowest would take three. In either case, this was too much rice.

To eat rice properly, one needed to cook it over a fire. Yet the Moonstones of this ancient road had weakened in effect, and the path was barely wide enough to allow one wagon to pass through. On either side, the Gray Forest pressed in on them, and as they traveled farther inward, the road might narrow even more. If they used fire under these circumstances, its scent could lure Rabidaemons to them.

Unlike creatures of the Havens, Rabidaemons didn’t fear fire. In fact, scents foreign to the forest alerted them to the presence of humans, compelling them to attack. As such, those who traveled the Abyss for work burned wood that produced less of an odor or devised other methods to use fire. Of course, the participants of this exam had been given no special tools of that nature.

“Let’s leave this rice behind,” said Shuou.

When he’d finished speaking, everyone looked at him in astonishment.

“What are saying!?” Aise yelled hysterically, pointing to the bag of rice. “Ever since this test began, you’ve been acting like a hotshot, trying to take control of the squadron, but I’m the one in charge here. This food is valuable. I won’t allow you to selfishly leave it behind!”

“Rice needs to be cooked,” said Shuou. “If we carelessly start a fire in the forest, we’ll attract Rabidaemons. Knowing that, there’s no need to trouble ourselves carrying such a heavy load.”

“Fire attracts Rabidaemons? I’ve studied the Abyss a fair amount, and I’ve never been taught not to start fires on the Alabaster Road.”

“That’s true when the road is in good condition, and you’ve made the proper preparations beforehand. From here on out, we’ll be traveling an ancient path fallen into disrepair. It’s best to assume that common sense won’t apply here.”

Aise shrunk back a little. For the first time, Shuou noticed a hint of hesitation in her.

“B-but…” she trailed off.

“Don’t forget that I’m also a participant in this test,” said Shuou. “Since this is a life-or-death situation, I won’t offer any opinions that would lead to us failing. If you really want to take this bag, go ahead. I’m leaving it here.”

Aise glared at the bag of rice with a complicated expression, falling silent as if mulling something over. If she didn’t trust him, that would be the end of it. Shuou had no confidence in overcoming this test with someone who made the wrong decision here.

Raising his hand, Kumokari addressed Shuou. ”Hey, hold on a minute.”

“What’s up?”

“I have heard that it’s dangerous for amateurs to start fires in the Abyss, but if we leave the rice here, will we be able to reach the end with the leftover food?”

If they rationed their preserved foods moderately, this amount of meat, beans, sweet fruit, and dehydrated hard bread would last one week at the most. If they significantly cut down on food, they could work out a plan for two weeks, but in that case, their stamina would become a cause for concern.

“Without the rice, we can still last about a week,” said Shuou. “But no matter how hard we try, we’ll probably run out in two weeks.”

“Probably?” asked Kumokari. “You sound like it’s none of your concern. If we run out of food before leaving the forest, we’ll all starve to death.”

Aise’s expression turned even grimmer.

Which was better? Running out of provisions partway through the exam or being attacked by Rabidaemons while carrying an abundance of food? If those managing this test had deliberately prepared these two options, they were a malicious bunch indeed.

“If we have to worry about Rabidaemons attacking each time we eat, I’d rather escape the forest before our meager food supply runs out,” said Shuou. “According to you, there are squadrons who finish this exam in two weeks. If so, lets ration our food as much as possible and aim to leave within that amount of time.”

“…Alright,” said Aise. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I’ll accept your proposal. Still, if it looks like we won’t clear the forest before the food runs out, I’ll have you cut down on your rations.”

Shuou nodded. If he could earn her agreement with that promise alone, it would be a small price to pay. Still looking unconvinced, Aise averted her gaze from him. Kumokari smiled and nodded. Though Jiro remained silent, he didn’t appear unsatisfied. As if nothing had happened, Shitori turned her sleepy gaze towards the distance.

The squadron continued pushing their way through the narrow road of the Gray Forest. Despite having departed in the morning, it was already nearing sundown.

In addition to being narrow, the Alabaster Road was also damaged in places, weeds growing through the crevices. All in all, an unreliable way to travel. The unchanging, colorless landscape stretched on interminably, inspiring the uneasy feeling of walking through a graveyard. The ashen trees, standing like a procession of the dead, intensified this eerie atmosphere.

The air fell silent.

As the sound of insects and small animals faded away, the forest stilled. In the distance, Shuou could hear the earth rumbling at regular intervals. The sound grew louder and louder.

Aise, who’d taken the lead, stopped dead in her tracks. “What’s that sound…?”

Donning nervous expressions, the entire squadron crouched in place.

A heavy bass rumbled across the ground, fanning their unease. From the right side of the forest, the enormous, black leg of an insect stretched out in front of them. This distorted foot thundered each time its sharpened point lowered onto the ground. One leg, two legs appeared before Shuou’s team, revealing the creature’s form.

A Spider Prince.

Resembling an arachnid, the Spider Prince was a massive, insectoid Rabidaemon. However, its body stood level with a large, two-story house. Fine hair grew atop its hard outer skin, sporting black and yellow stripes. When hunting, Spider Princes produced sticky threads to trap their prey before devouring them. Within the Gray Forest’s food chain, this Rabidaemon stood at the top.

Though Shuou thought the Spider Prince had appeared to target them, something about it seemed off. Despite his squadron being right in front of it, the Spider Prince walked with an easy gait, as if it were merely crossing this path. Yes, the creature had noticed them, but it showed no interest in them.

As the Spider Prince continued at a leisurely pace, Shuou took a closer look at its mouth, finding a scrap of human clothing caught there.

It had already eaten.

In all likelihood, one of the exam participants had been the victim. Already full, the Spider Prince wasn’t seeking any more nourishment. If so, they could simply wait for the creature to pass by.

“Nobody move,” said Shuou.

He spoke in a whisper, but he was already too late.

‘”Aaaaahhhhh!”

Shouting, Aise charged towards the Rabidaemon. In her hand, she gripped a shining, green sword of Crynetic Energy. Without thinking through the situation at all, she’d gone on a rampage.

”Wait!”

Shuou shouted for her to stop, but Aise continued onward, using her Crynetic sword to slash one of the Spider Prince’s legs with all her might. As it made contact, Aise’s sword was rebounded by the creature’s hard outer skin. In the end, she merely shaved off a small amount of body hair, leaving not a single scratch on the Spider Prince’s leg.

The creature came to a halt.

Running over to Aise, who’d fallen on her backside, Shuou embraced her from behind, pulling her backwards little by little. Her Crynetic sword had already disappeared. Aise’s thin body stiffened as Shuou held her, and from her trembling frame, he could hear her teeth chattering.

After shifting its head to examine its surroundings, the Spider Prince began moving slowly again. Soon enough, the enormous Rabidaemon had disappeared from sight, its thunderous footsteps fading into the distance as well.

The air around them returned to normal.

Into the Alabaster Road where it had passed, the Spider Prince had drilled holes in the shape of its foot. Having already risen, Kumokari and Jiro were examining these footprints. Conversely, Shitori had crouched onto the ground, her face pale, and inside Shuou’s arms, Aise trembled like an abandoned puppy. Apparently, this encounter with a Rabidaemon had surpassed anything the girls could have imagined.

After their brush with the Spider Prince, Aise fell silent, as if her soul had left her body. Due to her influence, the squadron’s progress slowed to a crawl. Since it was growing dark, everyone decided to prepare their beds.

The tents were made of durable, windproof fabric. Once inside, they would stave off the cold reasonably well. Shuou’s team set up the two tents to face each other on the middle of the narrow pathway.

Using logs fallen to the side of the road as chairs, they were finally able to take a breather. Shuou chose a small jar of honey-soaked fruit as his first meal of the day, expecting the sweetness to calm his spirit. Little by little, everyone ate the same amount, the first day’s scant dinner coming to an end.

Rinsing the jar dry, Shuou poured water into it. He then picked up an old piece of the Alabaster Road, using a rock lying on the ground to break it into fine pieces.

”What are you doing?” Kumokari asked, peering at Shuou’s hand.

“I’m securing us the smallest amount of light possible,” he said. “The Alabaster Road is made from processed Moonstone. If I break the Moonstone into small pieces and soak it in water, it should regain some of its luminescence.”

Breaking the fragment of Alabaster Road into pebbles, Shuou inserted them into the small jar of water. Submerged in liquid, the Moonstones emitted a faint, white light. Though not warm like flames, the glow did illuminate the darkness. To a small degree, this light would also serve to repel Rabidaemons.

Shuou placed his improvised lamp between the two tents, the Moonstones dimly illuminating his companions. Jiro was still munching on his honey-soaked fruit, rolling it around his mouth. Shitori hugged her knees as she sat, while Aise stared blankly at the ground, not moving at all.

“How long are you going to stay like that?” Shuou asked Aise.

The girl before their departure and the one now were completely different people. Looking down with vacant eyes, she hadn’t spoken a single word since their encounter with the Spider Prince.

Finally, she spoke as if wringing out the words. ”…Leave me alone.”

“That won’t do,” said Shuou. “We need to discuss a few things, including our plans for tomorrow.”

“Discuss a few things?”

“Everyone’s weapons and belongings, for instance. In particular, I’d like to know what you nobles can do with Crynetic Energy.”

“………”

Aise didn’t reply. Staring at her palms, she appeared to be mulling something over.

“W-well then,” said Kumokari, speaking in an unnaturally cheerful voice. “I’ll start us off.”

“You use a heavy axe as a weapon, right?” asked Shuou.

Kumokari took out his hefty, double-edged axe. Since leaving the inn this morning, he’d been carrying this large weapon. Shuou couldn’t help but notice.

“An old braggart from my village claims to have haunted Rabidaemons in his youth using this axe,” said Kumokari. “For some reason, when I announced my plans to work for the military, he said to take it with me. Anyway, you can probably tell that I’m quite strong, so I can wield it reasonably well.”

“Jiro has this… ish.”

From inside the tent, Jiro took out a dagger and a small, round shield, showing them to everyone. About half the size of a regular sword, the dagger had a short blade. Made from dark brown wood, the round shield was partially reinforced with iron.

”What about you?” Shuou asked Aise. “Earlier, you used Crynetic Energy that looked like a sword.”

“Oh… you mean this?”

Aise raised her left hand into the air, a shining, green sword of Crynetic Energy appearing in her grip. The Crynetic weapon was about the same length as an adult longsword. Wind vibrated around the blade, producing a high-pitched reverberation.

”That’s…” Shuou trailed off.

“It’s a wind blade,” replied Aise. “I’m best at shaping Crynetic Energy into this form.”

“I thought Crynetic Energy was released from the hands. It can be used this way too, I see.”

Shuou remembered the three Brights from the other day. Despite using different kinds of Crynetic Energy, each of them had launched their attacks.

Like a normal sword, Aise could use the wind blade she’d created to slash her opponents. Compared to Crynetic Energy one launched, this seemed like a wasteful method of using one’s power. However, if the wind blade didn’t have the weight of an iron sword, that alone would provide an advantage in battle.

“To some extent, all Brights can shape Crynetic Energy into their desired form,” said Aise. “Still, everyone has strengths and weaknesses. I have a wind aligned Miracrystal, but even among Brights with the same power, some excel at throwing, while others excel at tricks like raising swirling dust clouds to disturb their opponents. Just like some commoners are skilled with a bow, others are skilled with a sword.”

“Basically, you’re saying that other Brights can use Crynetic swords?” asked Shuou.

“Anyone can construct the same thing, but shaping Crynetic Energy is different from sustaining it. For those who launch projectiles, the process of shaping, accumulating, and then firing their energy is quick. On the other hand, to continue holding something like a Crynetic sword, the wielder has to keep sustaining a fixed amount of energy. It’s a little tricky. With a similar type of feeling…”

Aise flung her Crynetic sword into the air, extinguishing it. She then thrust her hands forward, constructing a wall of wind – large and wide – in front of her.

“…I can do this, too.”

“Incredible,” said Kumokari, clapping lightly. “It’s like a shield.”

Though she’d been speaking dispassionately, Aise’s dark expression brightened, as if Kumokari’s praise had improved her mood.

“Y-you think so?” she asked. “It’s called a Forticrystal. Any Bright can use this power, but I’m rather proud of how long I can maintain it.”

“Any Bright, you say?” Shuou asked, looking at Shitori, who was crouching with her face between her knees. “So the blue-haired girl over there can do the same thing?”

“Shitori’s a Crystalier,” said Aise. “She’s not suited to making Forticrystals, which require rapid construction.”

“Then Brights and Crystaliers must have very different roles. I thought they were just military ranks.”

Shuou knew of Brights and Crystaliers as military ranks, but he hadn’t been aware of the clear distinction between the two.

”Brights and Crystaliers are completely different,” said Aise. “To wield a sword and fight on the frontlines, Brights must be able to quickly shape Crynetic Energy. On the other hand, to launch powerful and wide ranged attacks, Crystaliers have to carefully refine and accumulate their energy. Since these aptitudes are innate, you can’t choose which one to become. Those with the qualities of a Crystalier are rare, and—”

As Aise tried to continue her verbose explanation, Shitori’s sullen voice cut her off.

“God, you’re annoying.” Looking up, Shitori shot Aise a sidelong glance. “You were acting so self-important this morning, but now you’re amiably chatting away. It’s grossing me out.”

“I didn’t mean…” Aise’s tone grew weaker and weaker. “I just thought it was a necessary explanation for the remainder of the test.”

”So you – the arrogant top student – decided to explain the difference between Brights and Crystaliers to a bunch of commoners?  You always looked down on the lowborn as useless. As a different species even.”

“T-that’s…”

“Did you think that if you kept prattling on, it would erase what happened earlier? I know you were scared. Just admit it.”

In response to Shitori’s provocation, Aise stood. “I wasn’t scared! I… I landed a blow on that Rabidaemon. And since you just sat there doing nothing, you have no right to criticize me!”

Her angry voice echoed across the silent forest.

“Let’s leave it at that,” said Shuou.

After he’d spoken, the two girls glared at each for a little while, finally averting their gazes and sitting down.

“I’m going to bed,” said Shitori. “Give me my sleeping bag.”

Shuou took a sleeping bag out of the backpack and handed it to Shitori. Holding the sleeping bag under her arms, she went into the girls’ tent.

“…I’m going to bed, too,” said Aise.

Saying nothing else, she went into the same tent.

“My goodness,” Kumokari said to Jiro, his expression fatigued. “I’m going to rest, too. What about you?”

“Tricky… ish.”

“Oh, do speak clearly.”

Jiro patted himself on the shoulder. “Tired… ish.”

Shuou looked at the tent in which Aise and Shitori were sleeping. Shitori’s words had been harsh, but Aise did appear to have lost sight of herself. Her eyes – so filled with confidence this morning – were hollow, her line of sight unfocused. If their encounter with the large Rabidaemon had shattered her confidence, she must have lived a very sheltered life.

From the tent behind him, Shuou could hear Kumokari snoring. No one, not even the noble girls, had thought to keep watch. Thus, Shuou inserted crushed Moonstones into the small jar. If he didn’t keep adding more throughout the night, their glow would soon weaken.

During this season, the cold grew severe, even in the Abyssal flatlands. Perhaps due to unease, Shuou didn’t feel tired. Or maybe it was due to the familiar atmosphere of the forest. To warm himself up, he lowered his cloak over his eyes.

And just like that, he waited for dawn to arrive.

Original text: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4006r/7/

Chapter Four: Motley Crew II

After confirming that there were no more questions, the director left the stage. At some point, the girl known as Orthoclase had also disappeared from the hall.

The door to the building slammed open on either side. From outside, an avalanche of men and women in their late teens – dressed in light blue uniforms – descended into the building.

The man who’d referred Shuou to this job had told him about Gemstone Academy: a military school attended by the children of nobles. At this academy, the students learned how to behave as members of the ruling class. They received training in academia, horse-riding, swordsmanship, and how to use Crynetic Energy.

Their vibrant, multicolored Miracrystals were dazzling to the eye.

I see, Shuou thought as he observed them.

The students’ vivid Miracrystals were as beautiful as jewels, worthy of being crowned Gemstones. Calling out their lot numbers, the young nobles searched for those they’d be taking the exam with, forming groups.

Over the din, a woman could be heard shouting the number of Shuou’s team. “Seventeen! Does anyone have card number seventeen?”

“We’re over here!”

Raising his hand, Kumokari shouted back at her. His deep voice carried well, echoing even louder than the noisy hall. Relying on his signal, two girls finally appeared before them. An attractive, blonde-haired student stiffened upon seeing Kumokari. Watching her stand stock still, eyes wide open, Shuou bemusedly wondered if he’d looked like her a little while ago.

“Y-you guys can’t be…” she trailed off.

All at once, the three of them thrust their number seventeen cards in front of her. Seeing this, the female student hung her head, her face going pale.

“This… This is too much!” she complained loudly.

The other student – a characteristic girl with wavy, blue hair similar to her uniform – looked away listlessly, showing no interest in them.

“Pipe down, Aise,” she said in an easygoing voice, her tone as dry as sand.

“What!? You don’t have any reservations about this group, Shitori?”

The girl named Shitori looked over Shuou’s team with drowsy eyes. “Not really. What’s the big deal?”

“I see three big deals! A huge gay guy! A frog! And this morose fellow who’s hiding his face! What’s with this circus troupe?”

The blonde student named Aise pointed to each member of Shuou’s team, giving her honest impressions. Though he could understand her feelings, being called “morose” by a girl he’d just met was rather unpleasant.

”Now, now, there’s no use crying over spilled milk,” said Kumokari. “Let’s pull ourselves together, and—”

When Kumokari tried to pacify the student, she replied coldly, her rage filled eyes sharpening. ”Quiet. Don’t address me so casually, commoner.”

“…Yes, yes, understood.”

When responding to Kumokari, she’d adopted an arrogant manner of speaking. From the outset, she’d disdained them, refusing to look or think any harder because of their lowborn status. Apparently, those three Brights and this arrogant woman were of the same variety.

Conversely, the other student had maintained a disinterested attitude since the very beginning. Compared to her domineering friend, Shuou much preferred her.

Two boys stepped out of the crowd, approaching the blonde girl. “Hey, Aise,” said one of them, his voice containing a tinge of mockery. “Looks like you drew the short straw.”

In sudden contrast to her agitated shouting, Aise’s voice and expression hardened. “What do you want?”

The two male students sneered. “Oh, I just wanted to see what sort of commoners our top student – the Countess Mordred – had drawn. What a laughable bunch. And you’re already at a disadvantage being teamed up with Shitori.”

“Is that all you wanted to say?”

“Hmph. Look at the guys we drew. They’re all former mercenaries who earn livings escorting merchant caravans across the Abyss. If not for the rules, I wouldn’t mind trading one of them for a loser on your squad.”

Behind the male students, Shuou spotted a group of men with numerous scars on their faces and bodies peering in his direction.

”I see,” said the blonde student. “Since you guys are all talk, they’ll serve as the perfect babysitters for you.”

“What did you say to me…?”

“I’m going to pass this test on my own merit. I’ll use my unmotivated partner and these strange commoners to the best of my ability.”

“Whatever. I’ll remember what you said. And I’ll make you regret it.”

Once they’d finished speaking, the male students promptly returned to their original location.

“So dumb,” said the other female student, twining her light blue, wavy hair around one finger. “Hey Aise, we’ve shown our faces. Can we leave now? I want to head back to the dorm and get some rest.”

”…Fine. I have no business left here either. You lot, go to bed early to prep for the exam. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be working you to death.”

The blonde student spoke to them off-handedly, not even meeting their eyes.

“She willfully prattled on, made a big fuss, and then issued a declaration,” said Kumokari.

“Jiro didn’t like them… ish. Arrogant. Really annoying.”

“Aha. That’s the first good thing you’ve said. I agree.”

Shuou glanced sideways at Kumokari and Jiro, both laughing as if this were someone else’s problem. On the other hand, he was starting to have regrets, wondering if he’d chosen the wrong job.

Leaving the barracks, Shuou’s team of three began heading towards the designated inn. Looking back, he discovered two armed Squires who’d been tailing them for quite some time. In all likelihood, this was to prevent them from abandoning the test and running away. Being wary of partway abandonment was fine, but if they were going this far, the military must have truly struggled to gather participants for this exam.

Since they’d been given a simple map, Shuou’s team didn’t lose their way, but the inn was still a fair distance from the barracks. Dead leaves danced in the wind, carrying with it frigid air. Moreover, looking at the dark clouds in the overcast sky further deepened Shuou’s melancholy.

“Hey, is this road safe?” asked Kumokari.

Following the map, Shuou had entered the backstreets to use a shortcut. They walked through the complex, unpopulated alleyways, so different from the main roads. Having no familiarity with the area, Kumokari looked around anxiously.

“It’s safe,” said Shuou. “We’ll save a lot of time going this way.”

“Really? Well, okay then. We still have plenty of time to spare, so there’s no need to hurry.”

“We’ll avoid crowds this way, too.”

Shuou found walking through crowds tiresome. For some reason, he tended to attract gazes from pedestrians: always an unpleasant experience. With Kumokari and Jiro following him, he didn’t want to travel down high traffic roads, where everyone would whisper to each other about them.

Turning left and right down the narrow roads of back alleys, they arrived in an open lot. Countless gravestones formed organized lines across the vast square, the pale landscape of winter further emphasizing the air of desolation hanging over the area.

After walking along the outside of the cemetery for some time, they came across a group of people gathered in front of a stone altar. As Shuou’s team started to walk past the group, they noticed a few men exiting an inner building, carrying a coffin to the front of the altar.

“That’s…” Shuou trailed off.

“Looks like a funeral,” replied Kumokari.

A funeral.

As Shuou stopped to examine the situation, an elderly man left the group, walking towards them. “Were you three acquaintances of the deceased?” he asked.

“No, we weren’t,” said Shuou.

“I see. Well, this must be the hand of fate as well. If you’d like, please stand witness to his Return of Soul.”

“But as outsiders, we couldn’t possibly…”

“The old man who passed away was an amiable fellow. The more people who sent him off, the happier he’d be.”

From beside him, Kumokari elbowed Shuou. “How about it? I don’t mind. And like I said, we’re okay on time.”

“What about you, Jiro?” asked Shuou.

“Jiro’s never been to a human funeral. So kind of wants to see one… ish.

“Alright,” said Shuou. “We’ll join you, then.”

Standing at the back of crowd gathered for the funeral, Shuou’s team watched over the ceremony. Except for them, everyone had solemnly donned their black mourning attire. Wearing normal clothes, Shuou worried that his team stood out, but since they were watching from very back, no one seemed to mind.

From the open coffin, the corpse of elderly man appeared, his face deeply lined. With a shout, the men who’d carried the coffin lifted the body of the deceased, placing him atop the altar on a polished pedestal of black stone.

The old man – his body bereft of blood – appeared to be looking towards the heavens. Despite knowing nothing of this old man, Shuou realized that many people must have loved him. The sorrowful cries emanating from the crowd proved this.

A young man stepped forward, placing the corpse’s right hand over his chest and his left hand on the pedestal. The black stone pedestal protruded so that only one’s left hand could rest atop it. Afterwards, the essence of the Return of Souls was explained, and bereaved family members read their final words to the old man.

The ritual of breaking a deceased person’s Miracrystal and restoring it to the heavens was called the Return of Souls. To all lifeforms that possessed one, Miracrystals weren’t mere stones. Deep within their centers, each Miracrystal contained a nucleus called a Life Core. After the shattering of a Life Core, the owner’s body would crumble like dry sand, scattering like ashes. The particles created by the body’s decomposition at this time were called Stardust.

A Miracrystal’s core was directly connected to the owner’s life. When crushed, one’s being would transform into Stardust, returning to the heavens. Such was the natural law of the world.

The final words of farewell came to an end. Holding a ceremonial, pointed hammer, the young man who’d placed the departed’s hand upon the pedestal stepped up to the altar. After situating the point atop the departed’s Miracrystal, the young man raised the hammer overhead.

Holding it aloft, he then swung the hammer downwards.

As the end of the hammer bit into the back of the departed’s hand, the hard sound of his Miracrystal breaking shook the air. In the blink of an eye, the corpse – it’s Life Core shattered – disintegrated into luminescent particles of Stardust, swirling into the heavens. Mixed among the Stardust that shone bright white, sparkling grains of red and yellow also appeared from time to time.

Dazzlingly beautiful, Shuou forgot to breathe as witnessed this scene. Among the many lifeforms in existence, humans emitted the most splendid Stardust, it was said. Love and joy, hatred and sorrow. Through the intermingling and warring of their many contradictory emotions, human beings came into existence. If ever repeating oppositions and a refusal to accept one another polished the light of life, the beauty of human beings would be beyond question.

A long time ago, Shuou had read about the Return of Souls and the glow of human Stardust in a book. However, to fully describe what he’d seen in words or writing would be difficult. In this world, there were many things one needed to experience with their own eyes and body to understand, he strongly believed.

As if melting into the clouds, the Stardust swirling towards the heavens finally disappeared. Despite having been there until this moment, the old man’s corpse had vanished, as if it had never existed in the first place. Lying ephemerally atop the black stone pedestal, only the shattered Miracrystal provided evidence of his life.

***

“That was a lovely funeral,” said Kumokari.

Leaving the cemetery, the party had headed towards the designated inn, arriving in no time at all. The inn was quite large and comfortable, sporting a beautiful interior. According to the proprietress, the military had rented out this inn for today and tomorrow.

On the first floor, there was an open space to enjoy food and drinks, while the actual sleeping quarters were on the second and third floors. Shuou’s team had been given three rooms at the back of the second floor. Currently, they were sitting around a table on the first floor, enjoying the food and drinks they’d ordered.

“What did you think, Jiro?” asked Kumokari.

“Very illuminating… ish,” Jiro replied while relishing his fish cooked in butter.

“Hmm, this frog is more diligent than he looks.”

Shuou thought so as well. Despite being a little strange, this white Demiphibian had acquired a language entirely different from his own. That alone showed him to be quite the hard worker.

Outside, the sky had grown completely dark. Overflowing with exam participants drunk on liquor and victuals, merry laughter filled the first floor of the inn. If possible, Shuou should have discussed the food with Kumokari and Jiro, returning to his room to rest. However, the atmosphere changed dramatically when the former mercenaries from the briefing arrived at their table.

“Hey, pervert!” one of them shouted. “I’m talkin’ to you, ya queer! The way you talk’s been grossin’ me out. It’s spoilin’ the booze!”

The mercenary who’d come to quarrel had glazed eyes. Shuou didn’t know how long the man had been drinking, but he appeared quite intoxicated already. Not responding to the man’s provocation, Kumokari continued drinking at his own leisure.

“Ignore him,” Kumokari whispered so that only Shuou and Jiro could hear him. “If we don’t engage, he’ll leave eventually.”

“Hey, you listenin’ to me? You’re a man, but you’re wearin’ fuckin’ makeup! It’s disgusting!”

“How disgusting,” someone had once said to Shuou. “Get away from here. Shoo, shoo.”

Triggered by the mercenary’s remarks, he recalled words spoken to him in the past.

“What’s with this kid? Don’t show your face around here. It’ll spoil the food.”

“What an eerie child. He must have been abandoned because of his face.”

“How pitiful. If not for his face, someone might have taken him in.”

“Scram! You’re making me lose customers!”

Shuou remembered the gazes of adults looking at him: the ugly orphan. Disgust, pity, contempt, and ridicule. Eyes containing those shades of emotion had looked down upon him.

Stop! Don’t look at me with those eyes!

“You must be havin’ a hard time, boy,” the former mercenary sneered. “Stuck with this frog and a pervert reeking of makeup. Bwahahaha!”

Without thinking, Shuou touched his eyepatch. Underneath, he had a hideously inflamed face.

“…Are you having fun?” he asked.

The former mercenary frowned. “What was that?”

“Wait, Shuou!” cried Kumokari, trying to stop him.

It was pointless. With so many negative emotions circulating inside his mind, Shuou couldn’t restrain himself.

“Are people who look different from others really that funny to you!?” he yelled.

Shuou realized he was shouting. As the surrounding noise quieted, a tense atmosphere began hanging over them.

The man’s vile sneer turned into a grim expression. “Yeah, it’s pretty funny. That’s why I laughed. And I don’t need a young brat like you telling me off.”

Walking over to his seat, the man poured the drink he’d been holding over Shuou’s head. The liquid, which reeked of alcohol, drenched Shuou’s hair, traveling down his face and onto his clothes. Flinging his chair backwards, Shuou stood, hitting the table with all his might.

“…You wanna go?” asked the former mercenary.

The two stared each other down. However, the arrival of several intruders caused the tense atmosphere to subside.

“What are you lot doing!?”

Having heard the commotion, a group of Squires surged towards them.

“Shit,” muttered the former mercenary.

Seeing the Squires, his group disappeared into the back of the establishment.

“Let’s head upstairs, too,” said Kumokari.

Leaving their food on the table, Shuou’s team withdrew to the second floor. The intervening Squires had seen their faces, but no one stopped them for questioning. From the Squires’ perspective, whatever happened after the commotion had settled down was none of their business.

Arriving on the second floor, the trio entered the closest room, which belonged to Kumokari.

“Goodness, you’re soaked,” he said.

Once Shuou had stepped inside, Kumokari wiped his head with a towel. Due to having alcohol spilled over him, an unpleasant, bittersweet smell emanated from his hair.

“That’s enough,” said Shuou. “I can do it myself.”

He tried to take the towel, but Kumokari wouldn’t concede. “No, no, let me handle this. Since you got angry on our behalf, this is the least I can do.”

You’re wrong.

Shuou gritted his back teeth. He’d been angry on his own behalf, not his comrades’. After reliving those unpleasant memories, he’d simply vented his frustrations on an outsider.

“Hey, why don’t you take that thing off your face?” said Kumokari. “It’s wet, t—”

Kumokari reached towards Shuou’s face. In response, Shuou used all his strength to sweep the large man’s hand away.

“Huh…?”

Following the dry sound of one hand slapping another, an awkward air flowed into the room.

“…Sorry,” said Shuou. “I’ll handle the rest on my own.”

Shuou flew out of the room, ignoring the voices trying to detain him.  Entering his own room, he sank into bed, his hair and clothes still wet. Body as heavy as a lump of iron, he didn’t want to move a single finger. He didn’t want to think about anything. Even after walking through the Abyssal Forest for an entire day, he’d never felt so exhausted.

Just like that, sleep swallowed him whole. Thus, his second night after arriving in Murakumo came to an end.

***

Woken up early the next morning, the exam participants exited the city’s west gate, forced to descend the mountain and walk to the meeting point. The fresh morning air provided no benefit to their sleep-deprived, staggering bodies.

Their starting point appeared to be where the mountains changed into flatlands. In front of the Abyssal Forest sprawling before him, Shuou could see a number of Alabaster Roads.

“Shuou, look over there,” said Kumokari.

Looking in the direction Kumokari had drawn his attention to, he found a squadron of the former mercenaries from yesterday. Noticing Shuou’s team, they glared back menacingly. Because their assigned positions were close to one another, Shuou wondered if his team would have to travel down the same Alabaster Road as them.

Quietly enough to go unheard, Shuou sighed. He could sense trouble looming on the horizon.

Original text: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4006r/6/