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Chapter 37 – part 3

「…Join them? How? We’re in the lowest class and if we join them, we’ll be expelled from the academy.」

「In two weeks… there will be something like that right?」

「…like that?」

「The march training in the Lost Forest.」

「…?」

「We’ll hijack the entire march and rendezvous with Cordelia and the others.」

「…Do you think the instructors will allow that?」

「Well, just wait and see. I have a plan.」

ーーTwo weeks later, during the march training in the Forest of Lost.

This time, we aren’t restrained by Golgotha shackles. That’s because this time we’ll be marching deep into the forest, away from the main road, so there’s a risk to our lives.

Everyone was informed of this in advance, and this march training has actually resulted in the deaths of two people in the past ten years.

That’s why everyone was desperate to learn about the dangers in the forest.
For example, identifying the claw marks that indicate the territory of monsters or analyzing the distance difference between us and them based on the type and dryness of their droppings.

Students like us, who are in the lowest-ranked class usually end up becoming adventurers, but even then, it’s always some crappy, roundabout kind of job.
And this kind of knowledge is directly useful in those jobs.

It’s a program that’s unexpectedly kind to the students… that’s what I thought before asking Lilith, who was walking beside me.

「Lilith? Do you sense it?」

「…Yeah.」

Lilith responded with some reluctance as she nodded.

「About 15 minutes, I’d say.」

「…Fifteen minutes?」

「Our instructor has many Ranger-type skills.」

「…Did the instructor mention that?」

「You can tell just by watching. Anyway, the instructor will notice soon enough.」

「…If that happens, it’s inevitable that he’ll panic.」

「Yeah, I suppose so. There’s a massive amount of ogres throughout the Lost Forest. 200 Ogre Generals and 2000 ogres… It’s a situation that can’t be handled by just a small detachment of knights.」

「…What do you plan to do then?」

「And their target is most likely the scholarship class that’s marching here… no, their target is Cordelia’s head.」

「…So, what’s your plan?」

After some thought, I threw the mountaineering backpack I was carrying on the spot.

The fortress where Cordelia and the others are staying is about 4 kilometers to the east. On the other hand, the center of the ogre swarm is about 2 kilometers to the west.

「I’ll make a quick run for it.」

While pointing westwards with my chin, I told Lilith.

「Cordelia Allston is in the opposite direction. If you’re going to help, it’s normal to go east to her. Why west?」

I immediately replied:

「I’ll push the Ogre Generals from behind.」

Lilith froze for a moment and then smiled.

「…Sorry. I don’t understand.」

With a tilt of my head, I said:

「The total number of Ogre Generals is about 200, right? And there are 2000 ogres?」

「…All I can understand is that there is over a thousand of them all together, but…」

「But?」

「…If Lute says so, Then it is one hundred percent true.」

With absolute trust, Lilith nodded seriously.

「And… that’s it…. they’re just a large group of small fries.」

「…Ogres are still dangerous creatures to ordinary people. Ogre Generals are also formidable monsters even for veteran adventurers… it’s not just the size of a small knight order, it’s a matter that would require a lord-class figure to reach out in all directions and respond to it at a national level… this is such a case.」

I spoke up, interrupting Lilith’s words.

「Well, in short…」

「…Hm?」

「In short, I can handle it alone, right?」

Lilith immediately nodded and then said with annoyance.

「…It’s annoying that you actually can handle it alone.」

「Then…」

「…Then?」

「I’ll push them from behind.」

「As I said I don’t understand the meaning behind that.」

「So you don’t get it…」

I shrugged.

「We’re marching right now, right?」

「…Yes.」

「We’re not supposed to just wander off on our own, right? But I have to go help Cordelia, right? So…」

「…So?」

「In that case, the instructors should just run away on their own volition. Currently, in the Forest of Lost, the strongest force should be Cordelia Allston.」

Then Lilith clapped her hands.

「…I see. Show the fleeing ogre swarm to the instructors because of Lute’s appearance. When the instructors see that, they’ll run to Cordelia Allston’s location.」

「Yeah, exactly.」

I agreed.

「The problem is the direction in which the ogres will flee. If they come across us directly, it’ll be complicated to find a way around to reach Cordelia’s group. So, in order to guide their direction, I’ll push them out in a good way.」

「…It’s exasperating… You really do crazy things.」

With that said, I began stretching right there.

「I’m off. I’ll leave Saegusa to you.」

I glanced back at Saegusa, who seemed to be nearly crushed by the weight of the backpack.

「…Koharu will stay here, and I’ll head to the fortress. That little creature… she should be around A-rank level.」

「That’s true, but she has some trauma…」

「If their asses are on fire, they won’t care about that… Lute is really soft-hearted when it comes to beautiful girls.」

My heart skipped a beat.
Lilith directed her cold and aggressive gaze at me, as if an ice sword had pierced my heart.

「If necessary, she will awaken, I suppose. But why are you going ahead to the fortress alone?」

「There’s a possibility that the ogres driven by you will launch a desperate assault on the fortress with their full strength.」

「Until I handle them all… it’ll be over in no time. Cordelia, an A-rank, should easily hold her own.」

「…That’s not the point… I’m saying that I’ll go to help. You’ve become too strong and don’t understand the circumstances of us common folks. Ogre Generals, 200 of them, are a significant threat even to A-rank adventurers if they have to deal with them alone.」

「Is that so? They’re just Ogre Generals, right?」

「At my level and Cordelia Allston’s level… they can be quite troublesome when their numbers add up. But if we both work together, we can handle them easily. With me providing support from behind and Cordelia Allston leading the charge in the vanguard, there’s no way we’ll be defeated.」

「…Then, it will be fine if Lute follows up after us. When we are the furthest apart, the distance will be a six-kilometer straight. It will be possible to use simple Senjutsu. In that case, Lute should be able to stay here, protect Koharu and everyone, while also pushing the ogres into a corner. 」

Ah, I see.
Lilith is suggesting that I use that.

「…Then, at the fortress.」

「Yeah, we’ll meet up later.」

Tattattatta.

Lilith swiftly ran eastward along the forest path.

「Hey, student Lilith!」

With an angry shout from the instructor, Lilith’s sigh could be heard, and she jumped up.