"Ha, so perfect." Leona sneered as an irritated heart at the notion of the faes, "If you're that scared of the Mines, you can just tremble in your tent all you want."
"You…!"
Hearing this, Lotus recalled Ren having told her how Sebek spoke out of turn and inappropriately before Leona just a few days ago making Malleus and Lilia very crossed and was made to prepare a proper apology to Leona on another date, which explained the glum state he was in on that day. Curious, Lotus questioned Silver curiously, "I heard from a student that Sebek has caused trouble for Malleus and Leona the other day. I thought he'd be a teensy bit quiet after that, but it looks otherwise."
"Ah, knowing Sebek, he will definitely apologize. He knows he's wrong too. Just give him time." Silver responded in exasperation, "Who told you about that?"
"Just a passing student." Lotus replied before watching the drama continue.
"Hey, Sebek. Putting aside your equipment… is it okay to not wear sportswear?" Jack from his trek club spoke up curiously, "I'd say the same to Ruggie-senpai, Leona-senpai and Floyd-senpai, honestly, you're standing out…"
"Huh? Got any problems? I'll wear whatever I want." Floyd glared at him threateningly while still being rather aloof.
"Ah, no, it's not a problem per se." Jack noted hesitantly, "Just, the Camp's pamphlet said to wear "something easy to move in" so I was just concerned."
"It didn't specify to wear "sportswear", for me, this is "something easy to move in"." Leona clarified without hesitation.
"Hmph, I interpreted it the same." Sebek huffed with a sneer, "Vargas-sensei didn't point us out, that's the biggest proof that we're not wrong!"
"I thought you'd show up with clothes like us." Ruggie looked to them hesitantly and concerned, "We're going to live in the Mines for 3 days you know? Those clothes are too thin and inefficient."
"Maybe you're right… I didn't think that far through." Epel hesitated nervously.
"I see." Silver nodded, "They didn't specify us to wear "sportswear", good thinking, Sebek."
"Hmph, you just don't give enough attention." He grumbled in response.
"What about you, Lotus?" Riddle looked to her hesitantly, "You're bad with the cold, right?"
Seeing his concern, Lotus nodded reassuringly to him, "I brought my stuff. Trust me."
"All right." Riddle nodded hesitantly, "Then, let us know right away if you feel too cold."
Silver nodded, "It would be bad if you suddenly collapsed where no one is around."
Since her collapse during the preparation for the VDC, the horse-riding club had learned and feared of her weakness towards the cold. They never expected that the smart and out-going Lotus would be so weak in the cold. However, not many in the new admitted club members and other clubs knew of it. Riddle got them to easily keep it a secret amongst many. As for Sebek and Silver, it was known between their group on her condition, yet they only remember it when they hear about the cold temperatures. Otherwise, they don't really pay it much attention.
"I see all of you have gathered!" Vargas entered the room with a wide smile, "Okay, are you ready to go to Dwarf Mine?"
"Eh," Deuce froze in place, "Did he just say Dwarf Mine…!?"
"For real!?" Ace cried out in horror.
"Yeah! Let's go!" Lotus cried out with a bright and excited smile on her face.
"No, wait-!" Ace began.
"O' Mirror of Darkness! Lead us to Dwarf Mine!" Vargas chanted with a wide and impatient smile.
It didn't take long for them to get pushed into the mirror as it opened a portal for all of them.
.....
Upon arriving before the familiar looking small cottage and near an open field under the light, the group looked around curiously as Ace muttered nervously and hesitantly,"So the Mine the Headmaster said was this place..."
"I didn't think I'd be back here again…" Deuce grumbled with a slight shudder and defeat.
"What, Crab-chan? You've been in this Mine before?" Floyd glanced over to them with great interest and curiousity.
In response, Deuce nodded, "Yes, we've been here with Yuu, Lotus and Grim… just once before."
"Hmm, why would you come to this deserted place of all places." Floyd questioned in confusion, "Maybe you'll get along with Jade? He likes Mines. When I said I'll be going to a camp… He keeps complaining like "Isn't "Love The Mines Club" a sports club?""
Lotus laughed after hearing that, "If it is, then he shouldn't have participated putting up a stall during the cultural festival."
"Right?!" Floyd pouted, "Why don't you invite him to hike sometimes?"
"No, that's a bit… I'll pass on that… hahaha…" Ace laughed awkwardly and nervously, "…and I think Deuce can't do it too."
Suddenly, a thought came to him as Ace sputtered a laugh, "Pfft, listen well, Floyd-senpai~ When we first came here, he was so damn scared!"
Hearing this, Deuce scowled angrily, "I was not. Yuu and Grim were more scared than me back then!"
"Was it really that scary?" Lotus pondered aloud in confusion, "We saw this really big creature that wouldn't stop chasing us. We had a good game of tag for a while. Deuce and Ace had trouble keeping up at that time too! Haha!"
"It's all just you!" The two scolded her in unison.
Deuce sighed, "You can only start thinking about it being funny after having gone through it. Grim and Yuu was scared senselessly too being chased around."
"Well, you're not wrong? Just thinking about Grim being scared makes me want to laugh…." Ace sneered.
"He~~~y!"
"Huh?" Ace paused in confusion and looked around, "I feel like I heard a familiar voice?"
Deuce pointed over to the distance where the cottage is and said, "That person coming over here, is that…."
"What took you so long, how long do you want me to wait!" Grim scowled at them angrily.
"GRIM!?" The two Heartslabyul students cried out in disblief in unison.
"I waited for quite a while too!" Yuu sighed in dismay over Grim's behaviour and turned to them with a bright smile, "Good morning!"
"With Yuu too!" Ace shouted in disbelief.
"What are you two doing here?" Deuce pondered curiously.
"You mean, you didn't tell them, Yuu?" Lotus looked to Yuu in confusion, "Didn't you told me that you're going to come with us for documentation?"
In order to make sure that everyone does their job properly and on time, Crowley sought out Yuu and Grim to document everyone's process and accomplishments. After telling Lotus about it, she assumed that they would tell Ace and Deuce about it as well, but it looks like she didn't know them well enough to have imagined that that would be the case.
"Of course we're here for documentation!" Grim confirmed bluntly.
"Documentation?" The two looked to the guy and cat curiously.
"I asked them to." Crowley came out after hearing the commotion, "Their job is to take photos of your activities here with the Ghost Camera."
"This genius cameraman, Grim and his assistant, Yuu, is here for the job." Grim patted his furry chest proudly, "I'm not letting your failures go uncaptured!"
"Damn it…" Ace cursed irritatingly, "Watch your mouth!"
"Also, while in this camp…" Crowley continued, "Vargas-sensei also asked the Ghosts in Dwarf Mine to assist you!"
It was then that three ghosts appeared before them with one of them speaking up with a big smile on his face, "Let's work together~~~"
"Thank you very much, Headmaster!" Vargas smiled wide.
"Oh my, this is nothing~ since I'm very kind." Crowley responded with a bright and confident smile clearly thrilled to be thanked.
"I feel like I've met them before…" Grim muttered in confusion.
Lotus snickered as she could recognize the three who gave Grim and the others a scare previously on their previous encounter, but she decided not to tell as it would be no fun at all.
"Okay, now that the members have all gathered…" Vargas continued his announcement, "With this I'll commence the start of "Vargas Camp". But before I give you tasks to complete, you all need to do something first, and that is… Building tents!"
"Really? We start from there? So annoying…" Ace grumbled in disappointment, "Well, let's just use magic to finish it in a poof, without further ado…"
"DON'T SPOIL YOURSELF!!!!" Vargas warned them firmly, "I'll be collecting your Magical Pen and Smartphones now. You have to complete your task by only your muscles and knowledge."
"I can see why." Lotus nodded with a frown, "Using magic doesn't always mean that things will be sturdy upon creation all the time. Then, there's the fact that there are scenarios where someone won't have magic when left in the wilderness. Hm... That's it, then. I think building a tent might not be as difficult a challenge when compared to gathering food and mining for magic stones."
"Will we be mining for stones too?" Riddle looked to her in disbelief.
"If this is surivival, can a magician survive entirely without magic? You forgot that the headmaster and Professor Vargas chose this mine and specifically a mine for a reason." Lotus pointed out with a frown, "Compared to a phone in such a remote place, a magic stone can do much more than a phone can in this situation."
So that's why!
The others in their dorm looked to one another hesitantly. Though they were impressed and glad that Lotus has such foresight to guess everything for them, they knew that mining for a stone may be the most difficult part yet. Can they do it?
"But, if it comes to that." Riddle hesitated.
"Leave the mining to me, Riddle." Lotus responded, "I can't guarantee that we would be lucky enough to come across a thumb-sized stone with the current condition of the mine, but I can at least teach the others how to sense for the stones. As long as they are willing, I will teach. If not, there's nothing I can do."
"We're willing!" One of the Juniors behind them rushed forward eagerly.
"Yeah." Another freshman nodded, "If we don't have a magic stone, we won't be able to safely cast magic. And if Professor Vargas required us to mine one out at a specific size, we will get nowhere."
"Our club is also on the line..." The younger freshman lamented.
"Do we really have to?" Sebek bemoaned seeing everyone follow Lotus so diligently.
"There's your answer." Riddle turned to her and smiled, "Since we're here, let's do our best, then! No slacking off!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Did you hear that, Jack? We can't use our phones, that's inconvenient…" Lotus could hear Deuce say to Jack nervously.
"No," Jack shook his head as he scowled, "Having our Magical Pen away is more troublesome. It's the same as restricting magic."
"Eh?" Deuce paused in bewilderment before it dawned on him, "…ah, right, blot!"