Shortly after, while the Joint Combat Training was still underway, sparks started to soar through the sky.
The students playing around the Student Center were all surprised as they looked at the Training Hall. Nobody thought that such a large-scale fire would break out so suddenly.
Although it wasn't a fire in the first place.
The flame of Takan, a high-ranking fire spirit, was a cursed flame that burned only the opponent targeted by the Elementalist who summoned him.
But that didn't mean it wasn't hot. The heat could definitely be felt spreading through the grounds. With this high temperature from a distance, the students in the audience probably felt like they were thrown into the desert.
"Was it already time for that?"
I went back towards the Training Hall with my hands in my pockets.
This was the climax scene of the Joint Combat Practice event for the first and second years.
If this was the original story, we would all be sitting in the audience at the Training Hall, watching it together.
This was the duel between 'The Golden Daughter Lortelle' and 'Spirit Sorcerer Janica Faylover.'
To gauge the skills of the second-year's star student, Lortelle cast intermediate ice magic at the risk of getting herself disqualified. The spell blew off the ceiling of the Training Hall.
I caught a glimpse of her sitting on its flaming head. She grabbed onto the spirit's hard scales and swung her wand around, just in case she lost balance and fell off. It was quite a sight to see her smiling so cheerfully in such a situation.
Never forgetting to smile, she truly was like the main character in a fairy tale.
I sat on a bench nearby and leaned back. I was exhausted. I didn't really want to enter the Nail Hall, currently burning with heat.
The appearance of the giant flaming lizard roaring against the backdrop of the setting sun was certainly quite surreal.
Even though some things happened differently from the original, I was sure Taylor and Ayla were watching this same scene.
Keep your eyes peeled, Taylor.
Because one of the numerous trials approaching you, the Act 1 Final Boss is "JANICA FAYLOVER."
2nd-year students gathered near her.
"WOOH!! Congrats, Janica!!!"
"Janica's the only one from our year who won against the new students!"
"She's got a great personality, and she's great at spirit sorcery. What are you even bad at?!"
"Hm! Thanks...!"
"Patient passing by! Move aside, please!"
"How do you get your spirit sorcery to be so..."
"Seriously, congrats, Janica."
"Janica's the pride of us sophomores!"
But Janica wasn't listening to them; her eyes were on the patient—her condition.
Her expression darkened.
Unlike in the original, Lucy defeated Taylor, and it all ended with the main character of the Joint Combat Training being Janica Faylover, who became the protector of the pride of the past enrolled students.
Janica already had a lot of friends, but this incident will make things even more frantic for her.
Well, it might just be for the better.
I won't be seeing her at the camp anymore.
When I get entangled with the main characters, my head starts spinning.
It had already been two weeks since the Joint Combat Training.
Without the main character, I can go all-in on my studies and survival without worry.
'I have a fishing net, so the food problem's somewhat solved...'
[Name: Ed Rothstaylor]
Gender: Male
Age: 17
School Year: 2nd
Species: Human
Achievements: None
Vitality: 6
Intelligence: 5
Dexterity: 9
Willpower: 8
Luck: 6
Combat Skills Details ≫
Magic Skills Details ≫
Life Skills Details ≫
Alchemy Skills Details ≫
Is it because my stamina stats are increasing? I feel like my body's getting better.
It's still too early to get lazy...
"Uhm..."
"Ed... do you like being naked...?!"
Then I saw her standing behind me, covering her eyes, her face tomato-red.
Ah, I was so embarrassed when she saw me like this when I was returning from fishing.
"W-What the hell are you talking about after suddenly showing up here? I JUST CAME FROM FISHING!"
"What's so great about this place that you keep coming back?"
I asked her.
"It's like a top-secret base. So I feel like an adventurer, and that's exciting!"
"Also, I wanna talk to you a little more... and... I need some advice too, I guess?"
She said while sitting near the campfire.
'Out of all the many people out there, why does it have to be me?' But that would have been too cruel of a question to throw right at her face.
No matter how necessary it was to keep my distance, treating others too rudely would just make my personality complete trash.
But on the other hand, it was also true that there was nothing good about being too friendly.
"...Advice?!"
I asked while putting my clothes back on.
"You left early at that time, so you might not have seen it, but in the Joint Combat Training last month, I... hurt someone, you see."
Didn't her opponent... use an intermediate-level spell?
Intermediate-level magic wasn't allowed, though...
Well, that wouldn't be important for the good-hearted Janica.
"I keep trying to forget it, but maybe I did overdo it..."
"I can't get rid of the thought that I overreacted."
"I see..."
"Should I apologize to her? Though my friends will stop me, saying she did wrong first."
"Then do that, if you think you're right."
The lovely and bubbly 2nd-year student, Janica, was a treasure to everyone, precious in every way.
So if she ever felt guilty or self-critical, everyone would come forward to encourage her and take her side.
But Janica knew.
That it's nice when someone has your back no matter what, but that doesn't erase the wrongs that were done.
That's probably why she came to me.
"As expected of you, Ed. You never... take my side unconditionally."
"I can't help it if that offends you."
"Hm? No, no! You're misunderstanding!"
She said while waving both her hands to indicate he was wrong.
"I don't feel offended at all."
'That wasn't the type of guy he was last year.'
Janica may be the bubbly, smiley girl, but she was just as observant as the next person.
'Even when he asked for money during hard times, he didn't show the desperation that people usually have in such a predicament.'
This boy was indirectly telling her not to come close.
But those sides of Ed—
"In fact, I find it reassuring. I wish everyone in the world... was like you, Ed."
Stayed with me as a strange comfort.