Anerias was still curious about what Zach and the others had been through in such a short time, especially when he saw Julius' broken leg and the Mannequin's new appearance. But it was also those three he was dealing with. He wanted to be done with it.
So, after asking one of the few in the class with a familiar that could help recover, tend to Julius, Anerias, Zach, Dukiel, and the others continued climbing the mountain.
While climbing they also went in a spiral since their goal was to find the camp, not get to the top. Anerias' group went in one direction, and Violina's group started from the other side and went in the same as they climbed to cover all sides.
Anerias told Zach that they would regroup with the rest of the class at the base of the mountain before nightfall, and the group that found the camp first was supposed to fire a flare before descending in the camp's direction.
It was a simple plan, but it highlighted the cooperation and trust the class had built with each other over the last week and a half.
The group that remained at the base protected most of the supplies and secured a camp for the night. The two groups wouldn't advance ahead without the others, even if they found the camp first.
However, Zach and his two good friends hadn't built up or earned that trust with the rest of the class. If anything, they had lost some of what they had simply from being in the same class after they set out on their own.
As he climbed and watched the forest below, Zach wondered what to do.
Should he accompany the class? Or should he rush off as soon as they found the camp?
Zach figured it would be less work to go with the class since they should be begging for him to join them. He also wouldn't have to struggle to put food in his belly since they would be gathering the resources for him in exchange for his and Yanael's presence.
But the only one Zach wanted to be pampered by was Yanael. He also didn't look forward to how noisy his classmates would be or how many monsters they would be fighting.
Although the others, Anerias especially, weren't as ragged as Zach, Dukiel, and Julius, they and their clothes were still worn and covered in stains of dried blood.
A large group worming through the forest had attracted more than a few monsters. On the other hand, Zach and the others hadn't encountered much of anything moving other than mosquitoes.
As long as Yanael was next to him, Zach was confident he could deal with anything, but if he joined the rest of the class, he would inevitably have to contribute with something. And the only thing he could contribute with was Yanael.
Zach frowned.
'I'd rather not.'
He didn't want Yanael to help others, only him.
With that, Zach had decided. As soon as the camp was found, he would set off. Naturally, he would bring Dukiel and Julius, at least Dukiel.
Zach wasn't sure Julius wanted to come with since he had been a little grumpy lately. But Zach was pretty sure Dukiel would come. Zach hoped he would. Otherwise, he would have no chance of finding the camp.
However, even when nightfall approached, there was still no sign of the camp.
Anerias and Zach's groups could only descend to the base and take a break for the night before either climbing higher tomorrow or going around the mountain and looking for the camp by using the map.
Zach stuck around for a night, much to the annoyance of those who had gathered food and prepared the tents since he took advantage of their hard work and gave nothing in exchange after abandoning the class on the first day.
Even if he had never been obligated to lead the class or anything, Zach was the class' only S-rank, and he had the highest grades. It was only natural that the class wanted to rely on him, even if he was unreliable.
But when Zach left, the class took it as an insult and a betrayal. He didn't care for his classmates. So, why should they care about him?
However, they were still classmates, so they couldn't just ignore him, especially when it became clear that he and the other two had already suffered for their choices.
Besides, it would be fine as long as he made up for it from now on by having his maid contribute to the group's operations. No one knew how strong or combat capable Yanael was.
But most had seen how fast she was when she saved Zach from the chandelier and how easy she had cut through it. Some had also seen the beginning of Yanael's and the Sentinel's spar.
Of course, compared to the powerful familiars of Anerias and Violina, no one thought too highly of Yanael and the Sentinel.
Over the last week and a half, Violina's Ice Spirit and Anerias' Blackfire Hound had repeatedly led the charge against the monsters, freezing or shredding them. They had overwritten the impression and understanding of power the rest of the class had.
On the other hand, Zach and Dukiel had snuck off with their familiars with no one to witness their strength or ability to traverse the forest.
Still, an S-rank was supposed to be stronger than A-ranks, and a Sentinel was supposed to be one of the strongest in the A-rank, so the class still had high hopes for the two classmates and their familiars.
However, before dawn, when everyone started waking up other than the last watch shift, three people were missing.
The others swore Anerias' face and head were burning when he discovered that Zach had grabbed his friends and taken off during the cover of the night, sneaking past the perimeter without anyone noticing.
On the other hand, the ground around Violina had frozen solid.