2.20.

The students' morale dropped over the next few days; the cycle of rest and exploration went on loop. The teams would join different supervisors and repeat the same trail, making sure to stay close to their campsite should they encounter any issues. Though they did bump into the other classes on rare occasions, it didn't do anything except remind the student how the boredom and fatigue was slowly crippling them from the inside.

Food was also another issue as predicted by Sequencee. The teams had to begin to cooperate to bring back the spoils, drain the blood and carve the meat out. It was a messy process where many students had come to Sequencee for help. Lucky for him there was someone in class who knew better about processing meat so he shifted the responsibility to her.

And so, with the students slowly inching to the edge of insanity, they began to tell stories of their past and hopes for the future. Sequencee learnt a lot about Evelyn over the fews days as they were almost always together during these boring walks. As the second princess of the empire, her choice to join the hero was because of Sequencee. She had thought that he died, and like himself, wanted to seek revenge against The Sovereign of Demons.

"I hope you understand where I'm coming from.." Evelyn said with a pale face.

"I do. Somehow, Schwii doesn't want me to join the hero. I don't really know the details of why."

"That fiance of yours.. the more I think about it, the more I begin to wonder if she's genuine about the relationship. More so, could she be something other than an elf? An elf is supposed to be elegant and cordial; she however, gives off a seductive air.."

"If you met this other elf who drinks like a barbarian, you might just change your mind."

"So do I assume that Schwii is indeed an elf? There's an odd air about her which I have to caution you on."

"She's an elf."

'How many times have I lied to this point?'

Sequencee was doubting his options. The longer he sat on the fence, the worse it would become when he had to pick a side later. He only had another two days to decide if he would take Evelyn's offer or place his trust in Schwii. In both cases, he'll have to draw a line against either.

"Evelyn. How do you decide to trust someone?"

"Trust? It depends much on the person you're speaking with. For example, I trust you because you're Sequencee. I may not trust others as much as I do you."

"Say if I'm hiding something from you right now."

"I'm aware. In that case, I still trust you. I believe you have good intentions behind why you would hide things from me. It's a common thing among my family, ignorance is bliss as they say."

"I see.."

'I think I got my answer now.'

"Team Five, get ready!" Grian shouted.

"Carlsim, Taylor, Adrinee; Nordd, you stay back I'll support," Sequencee called out to the three.

"Roger that," Nordd patted his chest. As someone who had to keep the light orb evocation for hours at a time, he was relieved to be off the fighting roster.

"C-rank gray centipedes, numbering two," Grian announced, preparing his sword. When the teams behind him heard that, they paled. "Fall back if you can't handle them."

"Roger that," Adrinne's voice turned grave.

"Taylor, Carlsim. Will you two be alright with this?" Sequencee confirmed with his team.

"Will try," Taylor took in deep breaths to calm his tense nerves.

"No problems," Carlsim remained unwavering.

The two gray centipedes drew close, the rest of the class backed away in steps. The tapping of the thousand hairy feets and long curly feelers curiously assessing the group. The mandibles opened, revealing rows of teeth dripping in acid inside.

"Three of you take on the left on, I'll deal with the right one," Sequencee extinguished a dozen elemental beads and erected a wall of transparent, glowing ice in the center to separate the tunnel into two sides. He sprinted to the right, smaller pathway, rationalizing that it would be better if they could split the two centipedes into two fights each.

"Hey!" Adrinne shouted– but stopped when the centipede on the left side made its advance as if a charging bull. She quickly drew her Chakram and imbued it with thick mana. She hurled it towards the centipede.

Taylor and Carlsim stood guard in front of Adrinne to act as the vanguard. The jaws shot forth, Carlsim's spear came just as fast. The Chakram imbedded itself into the carapace, Adrinne clicked her tongue and used her system gift to forcefully retrieve her weapon–

[Unique Skill: Weapon Manipulation]

The tail came whipped forward at Carlsim was busy intercepting the jaw of the centipede, Taylor tried to parry against it but found himself thrown to the wall by the force. The slight impediment by Taylor managed to divert the centipede, allowing Carlsim to pull out before the tail struck him.

And as that was happening, the Chakram shot out from being wedged by the carapace and returned to Adrinne's grasp.

'Damn hard.'

"Fuck! Buy me some time," Taylor got up, his body began to bellow out gold smoke as his eyes glowed in a radiant light.

[Activated Skill: Preload Strike]

He stacked images of himself striking the bug a hundred times, each thought made his figure grow one level brighter, his figure more gallant. The centipede soon realized that he was the biggest threat, slipping out from Adrinne and Carlsim's defense, it tried to attack Taylor.

[Unique Skill: Dawning Oppression]

Carlsim activated his gift, a crushing force fixed the centipede in place, causing it to shriek.

"Thanks! Eat this!"

Taylor took one step forward and swept down– hundreds of sword strikes blurred into a single wave, it crashed down against the abominable creature at one point. Acid spurted out at random, Taylor was hit by some of it during his retreat. The wounds festered, he bit his tongue and endured. Carlsim and Adrinne quickly distanced themselves; the gray centipede continued to writhe with the body parts severed into two. Though, it wasn't long before it finally stopped moving and convulsed fixedly on the ground.

"Sequencee.. what?" Adrinne's eyes went round, seeing how he was already pulling Taylor towards Her Highness to get his wound treated.

"He's good," Carlsim said.

Adrinne looked towards the right half of the partition, and for some reason the centipede corpse was nowhere to be found.

"Sequencee, generate some alkaline water and wash off the remnant acid," Her Highness Evelyn didn't waste any time unbuttoning Taylor's shirt.

"AGHH!?" Taylor groaned in pain as the water came into contact with his wounds. Sequencee made sure to wash the wound to get rid of as much of the acid as he could. Fortunately the site of injury was limited to his right arm and some parts of his chest.

Once it had been cleaned, Evelyn concentrated her mind to mend the injury beginning from the face. The necrotic tissues feel off, replaced by red granulation tissue and eventually, healthy skin. Then she proceeded to the chest.

In a few minutes, the acid burn injury had been restored as if it never happened.

"Wheewh. Thanks," Taylor laughed.

"It's my pleasure."

"Your pleasure to look at a man's chest eh?" Adrinne joked.

"This much is normal for a priestess, you know? I've had to deal with genitals in my line of work," Evelyn fired back.

"W-Wow.." Taylor's face stiffened.

"Good work Team Five. Sequencee, sorry to trouble you but could you remove the other corpse too? I think we can still proceed," Grian asked.

"Sure thing."

The ground turned to mud and swallowed the remnant acid and centipede whole. The mud, after settling, returned to its original dirt path. The barrier of wind separating the air between the students and battlefield turned into a one way current of purifying wind, alleviating the stench deeper down the path.

"Jeez, just how much mana do you have?" Nordd found Sequencee's display of magic too surreal.

"A lot."

"We will advance after a ten minute break. Everyone please keep on your toes."

"Hm? Why is there no smell?"

"Yeah, that's odd."

"Maybe this one is different.. no, maybe the class rep did something special."

The students began to wonder what was happening.

Eveyln got up and looked at Sequencee. She recalled how he had dealt with the centipede alone and couldn't help but find his figure awe inspiring.

'I definitely have to add him to the hero's team.'

"Hm?"

"N-Nothing.." Evelyn turned away.

'He may very well become this era's Sage.'

===

There had been incidents where priests or priestesses needed to act to treat the wounds of the students, but there wasn't anyone in class E2A who had been injured to a point where emergency treatment was necessary. However, there was one class among the many where the excursion had been called off because of an emergency.

Funnily enough, it was Leticia's class, the one where the heroes belonged to.

"Iona, do you know who it was that got injured during the dungeon excursion?" Schwii spoke into the red necklace that hung on her neck.

["I'm not certain about the matter. Should I investigate?"]

"Did that elf return?"

["You mean Leticia? Yes, she returned much earlier than expected. Should I ask her about it?"]

Schwii then looked at Sequencee.

"It should be someone else then."

Schwii understood Sequencee's worry. Despite her nagging efforts to stop him from trying to care so much for that half-elf Leticia, as his fiance, she thought she should at least respect his wishes.

"We're going to arrive soon. If she's in her dorm, maybe wring out some information from her."

["Understood."]

The class was soon arriving at the exit, light could be seen at the end of the tunnel. The students raised their cheers. Passing into the light through the shadows, the blue skies opened up to them. As they filled their lungs with fresh air, few of the students broke into tears. Grian gave a final speech before dismissing everyone. There will be a two day break, only after that will everyone be called to return to class before another excursion next week.

"Finally back huh.. so what did you think about this trip?" Sequencee asked Schwii.

"It was educational.. "

"My apologies. Could I spare a moment?" Evelyn called them out from behind. The two turned around to meet her weary expression made worse by her messy white hair. She had been watching them for a while, and now that they were out of the dungeon, she had to leave some parting words.

"What is it?" Schwii barely had the strength to complain to her by this point.

"I don't mean to be privy and I hope you keep this to yourself. Apparently Hero Risa was the one who was caught up in danger. If I may ask of you, could we, as in, us three come together and visit her later in the hospital later in the evening? I would like to take the opportunity to introduce you both to them as soon as possible," Evelyn said with a composed expression.

"What have I to do with this?" Schwii narrowed her eyes.

"You're his fi-an-ce. So of course it affects you directly."

Schwii wasn't sure what exactly Sequencee told Evelyn the past week. Her team was, for some reason, always acting under a separate instructor from his. Her heart told her that he hadn't betrayed her, but, it didn't mean she was out of the woods yet.

"Your Highness, maybe we should meet at another time. I don't think it's really appropriate to visit the hero when she's recovering. Perhaps when everyone is more prepared," Sequencee suggested, which put Schwii in relief.

"You do make a point there.. I may have been too rushed. In that case, how do you suggest we get in touch in the future?"

Sequencee looked towards the haggard Judy who had her big hat hanging low, staff pointed downwards. She looked like she had just been through hell.

"That too is a good suggestion, but I would like a more direct means," Evelyn drawled.

Sequencee didn't really know what other method he had. He was pondering his options when Schwii took off her necklace and passed it to Evelyn. Sequencee found her actions perplexing.

"It shall go through my maid. Infuse mana into it and you'll be connected directly."

"Are you sure.. that it's alright giving me something like this?" Evelyn flinched a little.

"I'd rather," Schwii let go of her grip, Evelyn caught it.

"I see.. then from your maid the message will be relayed to you?"

"Yes. Anything else?" Schwii said coldly.

"This is satisfactory. Then I shall see you two next time," Evelyn bowed stiffly.

"See you," Sequencee said awkwardly.

Schwii merely nodded.

Evelyn turned around and headed towards the direction of the pagoda. Her figure quickly faded into the crowd.

"I hope you go far, far away," Schwii said.

"Schwii."

"Yes?"

"I trust you."

"Hm? What do you mean.. you've decided to keep away from the hero?"

"If that goes against your plan then yes, I'll try to stay away."

Schwii blinked a couple times. She pumped her fist in silence– her efforts weren't futile. At the same time, she knew she needed to do more for him as this was only the beginning. Chances are, the two other 'whores' will try to incite him to take the route of revenge.

"Sch..wii?"

"Thank you," she croaked, pressing her body tighter around his.