After some more thinking and cursing Kerren thought of a plan.
It was awful from beginning to end... yet so simple.
Kerren stood up and started telling people to get closer, as he was about to announce his plan...
- Listen, people. Since none of us can use any sort of detection magic or anything like that i have a plan. We will spread out by some distance and scout the area together. When one of us meets an orc or another monster - start screaming for help or whatever, i will run to you as fast as i can and battle that monsters if it's too strong for you!
It really was awful, but could he think of something else? Yeah, moving as a group and looking around was way safer, but that wasn't fast at all, but if they made a line that would just move across the forest?..
However, as he was about to start explaining why it was a good idea and why they should do what he said...
- Uh, actually, i have a scouting skill, i know where orcs are...
One of the awakened students suddenly revealed. Many looked at him with a strange face.
Some even questioned what they just heard, since they saw this guy and they didn't even know that he's an awakened! Much less about the fact that he knew about orcs...
Kerren too was bashed by his words...
- So... You knew where and what those monsters are?...
He looked strangely at the guy as he said it, he was as confused as any other student.
- Y-yeah, sorry for not telling you earlier... -- his head was down as he said it.
- No-no, it's fine... You did waste a lot of our time though, but, well... You'll go together with me and we'll kill all of the orcs, okay?
Kerren didn't want to start arguing over nothing since there was literally no point in doing that, yeah, he was somewhat slow, so what? If he told him that, would he change the past? Not really.
However, as he got closer to the guy and was preparing to explain his new plan to him...
- Actually, we dont need to do that, we are surrounded...
At this moment every student became a wide-eyes statue. Not even Kerren knew what to do or say.
This guy hid the fact that orcs surrounded them!? He could clearly see that, but he chose to stay silent!?
- My guy, why didn't you tell us earlier?.. -- Kerren asked with a smile plastered on his face, it was clearly fake.
- I... I didn't know when to say it, you all looked so busy and... it's hard for me...
It was one of the most ridiculous things Kerren even heard in his life.
Not only his behaviour made some people dumbstruck, they couldn't even start wrapping their heads around his way of thinking!
Nevermind that if this was a real dungeon this guy would've basically killed the whole group, why couldn't he just tell that he had a useful skill!?
Did they not teach that in the university or something!? If Kerren knew that this guy could scout for him, he would've just took him into his group no matter what!
Anyway, it was not the time to explain the importance of sharing information and all that...
They were surrounded by orcs, after all!
Actually, almost all of the students weren't even concerned about his behaviour, they had a bigger problem near them!
What will they do now!? Orcs will attack at any moment, they would run from just one, what about a whole group!? Do they just surrender or something!?
That wont work, but whatever. Kerren tried to think about a way to make himself stand out as a good leader...
- Okay, tell us how many of them are there, where's the boss and at which areas most of them are, i'll figure out the rest for you...
Kerren told the guy with a scouting skill. He tried to be as soft as possible, as he thought if he put any pressure on him he might just refuse to cooperate properly due to some fears or whatever...
- There are 18 in total, the boss is 40m behind you, he is alone. Three orcs... -- he then continued explaining all of that boring stuff...
It turned out that orcs were spread evenly, only the boss was all alone. There were 5 groups of 3 and one of 2.
Kerren didn't think that they would be so evenly spread as orcs didn't use tactics that much, they could surround their targets, but usually they would just send one or two orcs from the main "pack"...
It troubled Kerren, as he initially planned to show off as a great leader by making groups of students defend against orcs and all that, but it seems that there's yet another change of plans...
This dungeon should be called "My plans are useless!"...
In reality, however, he wasn't even sure if those students could kill even one orc, much less 17 and a boss.
Of course, he had an idea but it was far from being good as he didn't have enough time to plan it out...
Thus, he started preparing to defend... and attack at the same time.
- Guys, we're in a peculiar situation righ now, dont forget that you will be given points based on your performance, so dont just give up and all that. I have a plan that might give us a chance...
Kerren then said how great they are, what great raiders they would be and... he basically liked their a*ses so the morale would rise even if just for a bit, it was necessary to show off, if not for that he would've told them to f*kk off and killed the boss alone...
-... So, you must now make a circle and defend for as much time as you can! You've learned fighting formations, right? Swapping people so they can rest and stuff? Great, implement that. In the meantime i will go and fight the boss alone, i'm not confident that i can win, but by doing that we will at least have a chance! If you have any objections please voice them now, as we dont have any time on our hands!
This plan of his was actually better than the previous one with that scouting line... Eh... Oh, right...
After Kerren stopped speaking many of the students went silent, they understood that it was important to actually do something right now, not because their lives were in danger or anything like that, it was because if they didn't they would fail the test, which wasn't a thing they wanted!
As such, they began voicing their ideas to Kerren, most of them weren't better than ideas you get in your dreams, but some were actually decent.
- Why wont you take those awakened guys with you? Maybe you'll have better chances of killing the boss? -- one of the students proposed.
- Good idea, but what about you? I'm sure i can last for a long time against an orc, but what about some of the people here? -- he then looked at all the students who were barely holding back from crying -- Do you think they will approve? I understand what you think, but i think my idea of going alone is better, as such...
As he was about to continue, the guy with scouting skill interrupted him...
- Uh, sir! There's a group of people coming in our direction, they're right behind the boss! -- he could barely say those words, his voice was shaking just as much as he himself did!
- That's... Oh, good job dude! See, just one advice and u're insanely useful now! Keep up and u'll become a good scout!
Kerren then proceeded to show off even more, why wouldn't he use the chance? He was supportive, direct and most importantly brave! Such a good leader he is!
Well, in the eyes of people he looked a bit different from what Kerren imagined, but still, they were glad that he was there...
After a moment Kerren continued speaking, giving new "orders"...
- Change of plans, whoever runs fast will go with me and bring the stray group to help me with the boss! We still have time until orcs attack.. -- he was about to say something else as he suddently looked at the scout skill guy -- Right, tell us if they're going to move, okay? -- not waiting for an answer he moved his head back -- Where was i... Right! Tell me any ideas if you have them, prepare any barricades or whatever, imagine that u're defending a castle! Also, whoever runs fast come to me!
Kerren roleplayed as he imagined a good leader looked like. Of course, he had little to no experience in leading people as he was alone most of the time, and when he wasn't? He simply followed orders, he didn't know how to give them...