"you will have a monster hunt task next week while making a team and hunting monsters together"After hearing the professor's announcement, the cadets were filled with confusion. One cadet bravely spoke up from the crowd, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Professors, you mean we will form teams and actually fight monsters together?" the cadet asked, seeking clarification.
"Yes, that's exactly what I said," professor replied, confirming their doubts.
The students were taken aback by this revelation. They had never encountered a real monster in their lives, let alone fought one. Fear began to creep into their hearts as they wished for the professor's words to be a mere joke, but deep down, they knew it was true.
"You will be divided into teams and engage in battles against formidable monsters," the professor reiterated, emphasizing the gravity of the task.
As I listened attentively, Ron voiced the question that had been lingering in the minds of all the cadets.
"Professor, how will the teams be formed?" Ron inquired, representing the curiosity of his fellow cadets.
"The team assignments will be made by us, and you will receive the details on your phones later this evening," the professor responded, assuring them that the process would be communicated soon.
Though I already knew which characters were assigned to which teams throughout the novel, I remained uncertain about my own team. There had been no mention of me in the story, leaving me in the dark about my fate.
"Now that your class is over, you have thirty minutes to rest before the next one begins," the professor announced, signaling the end of the discussion.
As the professor departed, the cadets began to express their unease through murmurs and complaints. Nervousness spread among them like wildfire.
"What are we supposed to do now? I've never killed a monster before!" one cadet exclaimed, reflecting the concerns of many.
"Yes, the professors should have considered our lack of experience," another cadet chimed in, highlighting their apprehension.
While the students continued to voice their worries, I decided to take a break from the commotion. I walked to the canteen, grabbed some food, and began eating in solitude. However, someone unexpectedly sat down beside me and called out my name.
"Arjun, what do you think? Will we end up on the same team or separate ones?" Free, my newfound friend, asked eagerly.
Free and I had become friends over time, sharing meals together in the canteen. Initially, we didn't engage in much conversation, as we were preoccupied with our respective pursuits. However, gradually, we started talking and developed a freindship.
I had discovered that Free's father was an elf from a prominent family, while his mother was a human mistress. Due to this, neither Free nor his mother were fully accepted by his father's family. In a way, his story resembled that of a protagonist from a revenge novel, where his name remained unmentioned in any chapter.
Responding to Free's question, I replied, "I don't know, but I hope we end up on the same team."
"Yay! I think so too. We'll find out this evening," Free exclaimed, sharing my optimism.
"But do you think you'll be okay? You've never fought a monster before," I asked Free, expressing my concern. Although I wasn't typically a worrisome person, this new body seemed to be influencing me to care more about others.
Free, however, reassured me confidently, "I'll be fine. In fact, I'm stronger than you, and my ranking is higher. If anything, I should be asking if you'll be okay."
It was true that Free ranked higher than me, holding the 2756th position. Yet, his ranking paled in comparison to the top-ranked characters in our novel. As for me, I was among the last, with a ranking above nine thousand. Nevertheless, I had grown significantly stronger. My proficiency in wielding sword mana had improved, and my overall abilities had undergone a drastic transformation. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I claimed to be strong enough to rank within the top five hundred.
After chatting a little longer, Free and I said our goodbyes and headed to our respective classes. When all the classes concluded, I devoted several hours to training before returning to my dormitory. Upon arrival, I noticed that Free hadn't returned yet. As I settled in, a notification popped up on my phone, catching my attention.
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Cadet - Arjun Macalo. You have been assigned to team A-5 for the upcoming monster-hunting task. Your team members' names are as follows:
DONN STREE - Rank 3039
CHASE HELL - Rank 6389
KILL LETIS - Rank 5438
MILA ROSE - Rank 7691
SELA LECT - Rank 4879
RENT ROCK - Rank 2054
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At first, I struggled to recall the names on the list. It seemed that they were also background characters like me, with most of them having lower rankings than Free. However, one name stood out: Rent Rock. It felt familiar, as if I had heard that name before. I couldn't quite place it, but I made a mental note to ponder over it later. For now, my primary concern was to ensure that I didn't become one of the students who would suffer injuries or worse, perish within the next three years, as foretold in the novel.
After about fifteen minutes, Free finally entered the room, and we engaged in a discussion about our respective teams and other related matters. Eventually, we settled down on our beds, ready to rest for the night. As students of the hero academy, waking up early, attending classes diligently, and dedicating time to training had become our daily routine.
For the next six days, I hardly interacted with my team members, and they seemed to keep their distance as well. It was as if we were all waiting for the monster hunt task to commence, unsure of how to approach one another. Silent anticipation filled the air as the day of the task drew closer.
And finally, that day arrived.
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author
I will not be able to update regularly because my exam has started but after the exam, I will try to update regularly
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