Helmut and Asuka exchanged glances, a foreboding feeling between them. Without a word, they sprinted towards the source of the scream.
'A trap? Has Black Hawk attacked someone?'
Considering all of Group 9's members, except for Helmut and Asuka, were nobles, it seemed unlikely that Asuka would be the target. Black Hawk had targeted Asuka once before.
Various assumptions flashed through Helmut's mind as he saw Group 9's members gathered in the distance, having spread out for a break not long ago.
"What do we do now?"
"Someone run and fetch Professor Dwayne!"
"We need to remove the leg from the trap!"
"Don't just shove your hand in recklessly. You'll get hurt too!"
"Damn it, there's too much blood! Basil's going to die!"
Helmut saw Basil's face, pale with pain.
Looking down through the gap between the group members, he saw Basil's leg caught in the trap, half-severed and bleeding profusely!
It was the same trap Helmut had seen before.
'This wasn't aimed at me.'
It was clear, considering Helmut wouldn't have fallen for such a trap. This wasn't a coincidence.
Clearly, it targeted one of Group 9's members. That one of his group was the target was evident.
'Why?'
Basil was a noble, as were all of Group 9's members. Did that mean they didn't care about attacking nobles?
But Group 9's members were just academy students to Helmut, expendable. Did they not realize that Helmut wouldn't bat an eye if they were targeted?
'Maybe they don't know.'
Did they attack, thinking they were friends with Helmut because they were in the same group, regardless of being nobles or Greta Academy students? But why go to such lengths?
'After all, I'm the target. It would be easier if they just approached me.'
It seemed excessive for a show of force.
'They could have killed if they wanted. Setting up a trap is more troublesome than just killing.'
Perhaps it indicated they didn't intend to kill. Whatever their motive, it only raised more questions without achieving any practical effect.
Helmut was too accustomed to tension to be rattled by such minor threats.
"Make way."
Helmut pushed through the group members and, before anyone could stop him, swung his sword.
Mangled, Basil's leg was a horrific sight, as if it had been through the maw of a beast, completely drenched in blood.
Helmut bent down to carefully remove the trap's pieces from Basil's leg. Basil's face trembled, barely holding back a scream.
"Cutting it with a sword is dangerous!"
"Leaving it is more dangerous."
Helmut's firm response was followed by grabbing James.
"What, what?"
"Are you his friend?"
"Yeah. Why?"
Without waiting for another response, James's cloak was torn. Helmut used it to tightly wrap Basil's leg.
"Keep this on. We can't let him bleed out."
Caught off guard by his suddenly torn clothing, James complied without protest, holding Basil's leg. Asuka stepped forward as Helmut looked around.
"I'll bring Professor Dwayne. I'm the fastest."
Surprisingly, Asuka volunteered. He was indeed the fastest to reach the campsite without tiring.
After Asuka left, Helmut began to search the area and soon spotted some grass under a tree.
'That's it.'
Chewing the grass produced a bitter taste. Helmut spat it into his palm and approached Basil, who was sweating cold and half-conscious.
It didn't seem like poison, more like blood loss.
"This herb has hemostatic properties."
It was something he had learned from Darien, never expecting to use it like this.
After explaining, Helmut applied the chewed herbs to the wound, causing Basil to moan from the pain.
"Ugh!"
James ended up removing his cloak entirely. Helmut tore it into longer strips for further treatment before standing up.
Feeling a sense of satisfaction from this new experience of emergency aid, he realized the value of learning anything.
Lifting his head, he noticed the others looking at him strangely.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, nothing."
"The way you handled this calmly... I'm impressed."
Helmut raised an eyebrow. It was Basil who was injured, not him. He would have remained calm even if Basil had died. He had braced for the worst on his way here.
But unlike him, Group 9's members were initially in a state of near panic, which made Helmut's composure seem remarkable.
"What happened here?"
The location was peculiar. Sharp thornbushes on either side, and Basil had stepped right into a shallow thicket that seemed safe to walk through. Understanding the circumstances was necessary.
"Basil and you were together, right, James?"
When someone pointed out, James brushed off his
pale face.
"Basil saw something over there and started running. I chased after him, and suddenly he screamed and fell."
"What did he see?"
Basil managed to grimace and reply despite his condition.
"A bear? Something big like that."
"To think they set a trap for an animal here. It was inevitable to step on it."
Everyone nodded in agreement, recognizing the danger.
Basil's condition worsened. He had lost a lot of blood, and although the bleeding had somewhat stopped, the wound was not something that could heal on its own.
Fortunately, soon a magical presence approached from ahead.
Pop! Three figures appeared out of thin air: Asuka, Instructor Patricia, and Professor Dwayne, who had cast the spell.
"Over here, Professor!"
James waved his hand. Approaching Professor Dwayne examined Basil's leg with a thoughtful expression.
"Hmm? Someone performed first aid. This is a herb effective for stopping bleeding."
While Greta Academy taught herbology, it was rare for swordsmanship department students to attend those classes.
"Helmut did it."
"I see."
Professor Dwayne looked at Helmut with a surprised gaze for a moment before carefully removing the applied herbs. Basil screamed without restraint.
"Aah!"
"Bear with it for now. We need to treat the wound."
Then, light flowed from his hands, and Basil's wound healed cleanly.
This sight felt familiar to Helmut. He realized where he had seen it before.
'Alea.'
Alea had used similar magic when treating Asuka. Though not well-versed in magic, the effects and magical power seemed no different from then to now.
'So she is a genius.'
Being a second-year in the magic department and yet matching a professor's skill in magic. Helmut felt a peculiar sense of recognition of Alea's abilities. It seemed best to continue pretending not to know her secret.
Instructor Patricia, noticing the trap stained with blood, furrowed her brow.
"To have such dangerous traps here..."
"Lack of training. Being slow gets you caught in these things."
Asuka, who had been speaking thoughtlessly, received a hit on the head. Thwack! Instructor Patricia, having struck him, returned to a serious demeanor.
"It seems there really are poachers around. We'll need to request a crackdown."
"Are the others okay?"
When someone asked, the instructor shook her head.
"You were the first to run over after the incident. We'll have to warn everyone to be careful. Accidents happen in the forest all the time, big and small. Just last year, someone climbed a tree, fell, and nearly died with a cracked skull. These things happen."
It seemed the hunting picnic wouldn't be canceled. Though cancellation might have been preferable.
Helmut could have insisted on cancellation if he spoke up. Mentioning Black Hawk, especially with Asuka, who had already been attacked, there wouldn't be taken lightly.
But he didn't want that. The situation was, in fact, interesting to him.
Ordinary people might fret and fret until their bodies and blood dried up, but not Helmut. He genuinely enjoyed this unusual situation.
'I want to know why they're doing this.'
Helmut decided to enjoy guessing. Whatever happened, he was confident that no crisis would reach him.
Professor Dwayne, having cast a few more healing spells, stood up. Healing magic was said to be high-level, and he looked a bit tired.
Instructor Patricia asked, "Basil lost a lot of blood. Even though the wound is healed, it's risky to send him back alone. Anyone willing to go back with him? One might not be enough; two would be better. Professor Dwayne needs to conserve his magic for other emergencies. We can't use teleportation magic all the way to the academy."
With a large number of students and only three instructors, it was a challenge to manage. About thirty students per instructor wasn't too bad, but in this situation, it was difficult for an instructor to leave.
"I'll go."
"Me too."
Wesley and Mitchell stepped forward. They were closer to Basil than the other three, but if two of them left, one would be alone. It made sense for them to go.
"Let's head back to the campsite. It's best to go by horse. If we contact the academy, they can meet us halfway along the road."
As everyone seemed ready to return, Asuka raised his hand.
"Can I go separately? I've got some loot."
He looked entirely unconcerned about his fellow student.
Instructor Patricia glanced at him.
"What kind of significant loot do you have?"
"You'd be surprised."
Asuka smirked confidently.
"Don't step in any traps and be careful. Do as you please, whether you return now or continue hunting."
"We'll..."
After exchanging looks, Group 9's members unanimously decided.
"We'll return to the campsite."
The unsettling incident had dampened their spirits
The unsettling incident had dampened their spirits. Besides, there might be more traps around.
Instructor Patricia, holding the trap, nodded.
"Alright, let's go together. What about you, Helmut?"
"I'll stay with Asuka."
"Both of you be careful. Don't come back too late."
"Yes."
After everyone else had left, Asuka nudged Helmut with a grin.
"I knew you'd stay."
"We're supposed to move in pairs."
"Right, I'll take care of the bear, and you can hunt."
As they prepared to part ways, Asuka suddenly realized a dilemma.
"Wait, I have to take care of the bear, but how will I hunt?"
He couldn't be left alone, yet dragging a large bear along made hunting impractical.
Helmut opened his mouth, ready to resume the conversation they had paused earlier.