Ryuji Takeshi’s View

We were the first team to return, dragging our feet in exhaustion as we made our way across the training grounds. The setting sun cast golden rays over our sweaty faces, illuminating our dusty hair strands and revealing the weariness in our eyes. Our mana cores were drained. Aiko staggered, her face pale, each breath an effort, while Daisuke rubbed his aching muscles, the marks of our immense effort etched into each weary expression. Kenji reported what had happened to Takeda.

Before we arrived, Hana had regained consciousness. Despite the weariness visible in her eyes, she summoned the strength to walk beside us to the training grounds, her indomitable spirit shining through her exhaustion.

“You can wait here until all the groups return. Your mana cores are depleted, so get some rest. Once everyone is back, I will give you a general report on the mission and show you to your dorms,” ​​Professor Takeda announced in a firm but reassuring tone.

Professor Takeda looked at our group with a look of satisfaction. I wanted to smile in return, but fatigue weighed down on me like a stone, keeping my eyes half-closed and my mind dull.

We sat on the nearby benches, some of us slumping heavily, panting, our eyes half-closed in exhaustion. I rubbed my eyes, trying to dispel the haze of exhaustion that clouded my vision.

While we waited for the other groups, the second arrived. There were only four of them, all apparently unharmed. I watched Takeda talking to them, their faces showing tiredness and a mix of relief and concern.

“I think they were instructed to follow the plains next to the forest,” I said, watching the second group settle in.

“Probably because they were one person short,” Kenji replied, nodding toward the group.

Shortly after, the other two groups arrived together. Lee Min and Mei Ling seemed to be in better shape than we were, but their companions were visibly exhausted. A boy from the other group, a huge man over six feet tall, was carrying one of his companions, his legs wobbly with exhaustion.

Before I could think any further about being a leader, Professor Takeda began giving instructions.

“Everyone come here, form up with your groups. I want the leader of each group in front, the rest can stay behind,” Takeda exclaimed.

“Who’s our leader?” I asked, confused. We were all just doing our jobs, we didn’t have a designated leader.

“Of course it was you,” they answered in unison, without hesitation.

I hesitated, not understanding when I had taken on this role, feeling the weight of responsibility. The lack of objections from my companions confirmed my role. My heart raced and I felt butterflies in my stomach. I accepted without much resistance, as there was no time to argue.

With the formation completed, the leaders of each group were lined up in order of arrival: me, a girl almost my height, Lee Min-Jae and the giant student. Before I could analyze the other leaders better, Takeda began to speak.

“From now on, you, who are in front, will be the leaders of your respective groups. There will be no changes. I am the commander, and only I can change the leaders.”

I wanted to protest, but Takeda’s serious expression dissuaded me. The idea of ​​being a leader seemed distant and intimidating to me. I needed to find a way to become stronger, to be up to this responsibility.

“Now, I would like to introduce you to my assistant.” Suddenly, a man appeared next to the teacher, like a shadow materializing. The only indication of his arrival was a slight breeze. The resemblance to Professor Takeda was striking, almost like looking at a reflection.

“This is Professor Tanaka, he was watching some of you in the forest, although there are also hidden cameras so that nothing untoward happens.” Tanaka then stepped forward to introduce himself.

“Hello everyone, good afternoon. As Takeda mentioned, I am Professor Tanaka. And before you ask, yes, we are brothers.” Not really a surprise at this information, taking a step back he hands the floor to Takeda.

“First of all, the mission was a success and you demonstrated true potential. There were six imperial boars in the forest, and five were killed. The fact that we didn’t have to intervene is excellent.”

All the students he could see showed satisfied smiles.

“I know that’s what you wanted to hear, but this mission would only have been a success if it was an extermination mission.”

The change in tone was abrupt, making me swallow hard as his words echoed in my mind: “It’s a reconnaissance mission.”

“Only one group managed to complete the mission as requested, Haruto. Congratulations.” He said, pointing to the tall boy. “Some of you look like you don’t understand why you’re doing this

wrong, so let’s get to the details, first I asked for it to be a reconnaissance mission, it was our information that there were awakened animals in the forest, but which ones, that was all I had to do, recognize which animals they were and how many.” Takeda pauses, when he looks at me a fear I hadn’t felt in a long time passed through my body. “Any questions.”

“I have,” Lee Min said, the confidence in his voice unmistakable. I couldn’t look at him, but I knew it was him.

“Why was exterminating them so problematic? Only one was left, I don’t see how that was bad.” He asked quite confidently.

“Lee Min-Jae, your question reveals a lack of security awareness. That, in itself, already puts you at a disadvantage as a leader. Look at your group, it’s the only one missing a member right now.” A pause followed, the pressure he had put on me had eased, and when I looked at them I could see that Lee Min was shaking noticeably, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white. Sweat was running down his face, betraying his attempt to maintain his composure.

“Everything I say from now on is for everyone who fought. You had a week to learn the limit of mana you could use, but do you know what happened? Out of 14 people who fought, only 3 still had mana left. You need to think about everything. If there were twice as many of these beasts, and half of them appeared after you fought, everyone would be dead.”

Those words were really harsh, especially because they were true, if some mana beast appeared when they were returning to camp, I doubt Kenji would be able to defend all of us.

“But the one who should be more careful is you, King.” When she heard those words, her skin turned even whiter. “Are you listening to me?”

“Yes... sir.” A trembling voice could be heard. Takeda walked slowly towards her, when he arrived in front of her for the first time today he looked at the members of the group besides the leader.

“Before you talk about the exam, know that if you continue acting like this, you will never be able to be leader. You can’t be afraid. Your companions are betting their lives on your decisions. No one likes their leader to show weakness.” Rei swallowed hard, trying to adopt a more confident posture after hearing those words.

“Now about the exam, you’re the only one who doesn’t have a full team, you should have realized that since your group was different, you were placed in a crucial position both for reconnaissance and to support the others.” He stopped talking with a sigh that seemed suffocating even to me. “Why did you go into the forest, when your orders were to stay in the plains until further notice?”

It was possible to see that Rei’s entire body trembled, this was really scary.

“I... I just heard activity in the forest, so we went in and saw the boar.”

“And because you engaged in combat with it, I know you hadn’t been spotted.”

“I... I’m sorry.” She could no longer maintain her posture, now she was hunched over, visibly shaken.

“Don’t do anything that could get you killed,” Takeda said, coming towards me. I expected him to be gentle, but I felt extreme pressure as soon as his eyes turned to me. I finally understood why she was so nervous. Lucky for me, Grandpa sometimes did that to me.

“Ryu, just like Lee Min, you made your group fight. Now, what would you do if another beast appeared?”

I really didn’t know what to answer. We weren’t in a position to fight again. Only Kenji had mana left. Hana and I couldn’t use fire, making it impossible to kill another beast. However, an idea popped into my head.

“Right now, Kenji still had mana and he has good elements to distract the Boar, so I would entrust this mission to him.” I said, praying that it would be a good answer.

“If you weren’t thinking about it now, it would even be a good plan, but the reason you only have to do reconnaissance is to know which animals are in the area.” He takes a device out of his pocket that, when pressed, makes a hologram appear.

“This is the information we have about this species. If you had it, you would know about their crowns.” He said, pointing to the exposed bones on his head. “It has the ability to sense the mana core even through walls, always going for the weakest ones.”

This information really took me by surprise, I couldn’t think of how to respond.

Takeda walked away from me, returning to Professor Tanaka’s side. His stern gaze hovered over all of us, but Rei was the most affected. She was still shaking, her eyes brimming with tears. Takeda’s words shook her deeply; I knew she would carry this reprimand in her heart forever.

“All of you, understand that this is no ordinary school. Here, you are soldiers, part of a military institute. Right now, your lives are more important than those of others.”

any civilian. Learn, train, become strong. Tomorrow, a new day will bring new challenges. But for now, let’s rest.”