I keep flipping the meat, letting it char on the stone slab, my mouth watering at the enticing smell of grilled meat and spices. Once it's done, I use a clean, sharpened stick to lift the pieces off the slab, setting them aside on another stone to cool.
In the meantime, I cut open some coconuts and hollow them out. I flatten the bottoms so they sit stably and fill each with a portion of meat. Grabbing some more leaves, I create makeshift spoons and place one in each coconut. There you have it - a feast served on the barest of necessities, but a feast nonetheless.
"All right, everyone! Get over here! Oliver, please drag Biana!" I call out, my voice echoing through the area. Some turn to look at me, while others just nod and make their way over. I turn to Isadora, who's already by my side, and hand her one of the coconuts. Her eyes clearly show how hungry she is.
"Thanks for helping me with the hunt," I say, keeping my voice low. She doesn't respond, merely takes the coconut and starts eating. Now that I think about it, wouldn't it be better if I split up with the group? So far I've been in charge however that's because Aira and Liam believe I'm managing things properly. To pass this test we need to go to two separate locations, having them head up the mountain would be more efficient. I only need Isadora and Biana when I head to the ruins.
Soon, everyone gathers around, watching as I hand out the coconuts. As I hand Arin his meal, he looks at it with a mixture of awe and surprise. "Damn, this looks great. Did you work at a restaurant before?" He asks, a hint of admiration in his voice.
Rai chimes in, a teasing grin on his face. "It would be strange if he didn't."
Suddenly, Aira turns to me, her brows furrowed in concern. "Hey, why have you been rushing through everything today?"
"All right, everyone, listen," I start, putting down the last coconut on a flat rock. They all look at me, curiosity etched on their faces. "Professor Thaddeus said there are two ways of passing this test. We either survive for three weeks or we find the way out." I get up and point to a small mountain, not too far from our campsite. "Just like you all, I fucking hate this test. I'm sure you've all been thinking of ways to get out of here, but before we decide, we should look over the Island." I'll send them over with the excuse to look over the Island, I'm sure if I let them be things will turn out like the original story.
"So, are we starting to move today?" Flora asks, her voice filled with apprehension.
"I understand we're heading up there, but we can't carry that many coconuts. What are we going to drink?" Kaida adds, looking genuinely concerned.
I can't help but smirk at her question. "Don't worry, Isadora and I found a river," I assure them, recalling the clear, cool water we had found earlier.
I let them finish their food, enjoying the satisfied expressions on their faces. Unlike Class A, Class B should already be running within the forest, and since they now have Sara they should have it easier.
"Let's get rid of the Boex today or it might cause unnecessary problems. Once we get rid of it, we can make some better weapons, and we can also camp out near the river," I say, pushing back the wave of fatigue that's starting to hit me. Another fight within the same day, I swear I'm going to go insane.
"Let's go! I can finally hunt something!" Rai exclaims, his enthusiasm not at all diminished by the hefty meal he just had.
"Do we really need to hunt it? Isn't it rather weak compared to other monsters we might encounter?" Liam interjects, his question earning nods of agreement from the rest. Godamit Liam, this guy really thinks it wouldn't be a threat?
I sigh, realizing I need to explain it to them. "You're not wrong. However, the problem is that if we encounter it during a fight with a separate beast, it will attack those that release the most mana," I say, pointing at Liam, Flora, Kaida, and Isabella. After dealing with the Boex I'll make an excuse to split up with the group.
I wait for everyone to finish eating, enjoying the slight rest we're having. As they talk and laugh amongst themselves. Yo System, show me the map.
There, slightly hidden by the dense jungle, I see the location of the Boex. It hasn't moved much, thankfully. The system's design is quite impractical, the monsters' locations disappear if they move too much, which can be frustrating in situations like these. Seriously who designs a map like this?
Once everyone's finished eating, I get up and dust off my hands. "All right, everyone. Let's get moving." My gaze lingers on Biana, who's still comfortably nestled on the ground. "Come on, V~ Let me sleep a bit more~" she drawls out, her eyes half-closed.
Sighing, I walk over to her, her laziness testing my patience. I flick her forehead, snapping her out of her drowsy state. "We're moving, Biana. Stop being lazy and get up."
Her response is a petulant whine. "How about I stay here and you all run around and play?"
I roll my eyes, clicking my tongue in disapproval. "Tsk. If you don't start moving, I will make your life a living hell." Leaning closer, I drop my voice to a whisper, knowing full well how much she values her sleep, hehehe~ "I'll wake you up every time you fall asleep in class. I'll make sure to steal all your pillows, not just one but every single one that you have. I'll make sure you can never sleep outside your dorm ever again."
The horror that flashes across her face is almost comical, her eyes widening in disbelief. In a shaky voice, she sputters out, "You...you monster...I get it, I'll go with you all."
Oliver, who's been watching our exchange with a curious eye, pipes up. "What did you tell her to scare her so much?"
Feigning innocence, I shrug and say, "I just said I'd help her with her addiction." Chuckling at the scandalized look on Biana's face, I gesture for everyone to gather their stuff. It's time for us to start moving. With any luck, we'll be able to deal with the Boex before sunset.
It took us nearly two hours to reach the river with everyone in tow. While Isadora and I moved at a brisk pace earlier, the larger group inevitably slowed us down. Once we arrived, I opened the system map again, confirming the Boex's location.
I look over the group, evaluating their conditions. Most seem to be holding up well, not overly fatigued. The only exceptions are Isabella and Oliver, who are sweating noticeably more than the others. It's probably due to their sedentary lifestyles. My eyes then land on Isadora, who's carrying Biana like a sack of potatoes over her shoulder. I can't help but roll my eyes at the sight. Goddammit, can this damn thing do anything other than sleep!?
"All right, all of you listen," I start, capturing their attention. "From here on out, don't release any mana or aura. The Boex is nearby, and although we could probably fight it head-on, it would be best if we don't attract other beasts."
Arin, curiously asks, "Hey, how are we going to deal with it?"
I sigh, pausing for a moment to think. Sure, I could formulate a detailed plan to handle the Boex, but I need to confirm how well they fight together.
"It will depend on where we fight it," I say, dividing the group with my gaze. "Isadora, Biana, and I will go this way." I point towards a hill where I can get a good view of the Boex. "You guys can head that way." I point straight towards the beast, knowing well they can handle it.
Kaida, confused asks. "Didn't you split the team rather unevenly?"
I sigh, responding casually, "The purpose of this is to look for the Boex. Obviously, if Isadora and I find it, we'll back out and regroup with you guys. Since we already know this area, it will be easier for us if we're by ourselves. As for Biana..." I glance over at her limp form on Isadora's shoulder. "We'll carry her with us so she doesn't slow you all down. If you all manage to find the Boex since you have the bigger group, you can either hunt it or regroup."
With a collective nod, albeit somewhat reluctantly, they accept my plan.
"Alright, since you believe this is the best choice, I won't push it, however, be careful," Aira advises, her expression serious.
Flora adds, "That's right, I'm sure you both can handle yourselves but don't attempt to fight it."
I shoot her a smirk. "Yes, yes we get it, we're not stupid enough to fight it." I stretch a little, then say, "We should start moving, I want to make sure we kill it before the afternoon."
Waving at them, Isadora and I start walking away. I glance over at her. "Alright, just follow me." She nods, her face grim, and we both start running. The ground beneath us becomes a blur as we race through the jungle, the heat and humidity making me sweat.
Finally, we arrive at our destination, a hill overlooking the forest. Breathing heavily, I take a moment to gather myself and scan the area. Spotting the Boex below, I point at it. "There it is."
Isadora squints, following my gaze. Spotting the creature, her face lights up with realization. But then, she sees the group approaching it. Her body tenses, and she looks ready to jump into action.
Before she can, I grab her by the shoulder. "Wait, wait, wait, we need to stay up here."
She looks at me, clearly confused. I sigh.
"Look, they should be fine by themselves. We should watch and see how it plays out," I try to explain. Isadora looks doubtful but nods, settling down on the hill. I watch as she drops Biana on the ground a bit too forcefully, causing her to moan in pain. I shake my head, chuckling to myself. Hahaha, Biana deserved that, it seems that even Isadora can't handle her without getting pissed.
In the silence that follows, I find myself wrestling with my conscience. Turning to Isadora, I ask, "Do you think I'm a dick for not helping them?"
Without missing a beat, she nods. The blunt agreement catches me off guard and I choke on my words. Damn, she didn't even think about it.
Seeing my surprised face, she gives me an unapologetic shrug. "It's true, isn't it?"
Huffing out a laugh, I admit, "Maybe you're right. But look at them, they're preparing a plan to fight it. If we were there, some of the others wouldn't be fighting, which would be bad. If we happen to split up, it could cause problems."