A round monster

When Desty's party returned to the frontline, with them was a piece of bad news that caused a disturbance to all of the teachers and instructors of Ex Soul Academy.

In the report, their group had suffered an unforeseen attack from Rank-B Mutated Beasts, and one of their party members was not so lucky to become a victim.

Just reading their report startled the teachers and instructors. After all, it was a party consisting of Class A students. And most of them were from the leading families of the federation.

It also mentioned that not even the recruit soldiers could deal with those beasts. In regards to the students, most of them could only deal with Rank F and D Beasts at most. But, after finding out that the unlucky person was someone from Class F, the panic had slightly diminished. Not totally, but it lessens remarkably. It would leave an unpleasant record of the academy's performance if ever the victim was from Class A.

After learning that it was her student, Miss Sylva did not waste time and reached out to the frontline officials to help her find her missing student.

It was only yesterday that the two of them talked about counseling. Although that student was the weakest in the Academy, he was a student that often helped her in some subtle matters like handling the student's report cards in order. And other suggestive works. Even without it, Miss Sylva was the kind of teacher who gave importance to all her students.

The officials heeded her request and formed a search party. Their squad consisted of elite soldiers. All of them were level 4-5 soldiers. With their level, they have a great chance of surviving against a Rank-B Mutated Beast.

However, after a day of roaming the Desolate Region, in the surrounding area, near the river, they saw nothing, except for some marks of dry blood.

However, those blood led to the labyrinth of no return, the Uno Labyrinth. It was the most feared area inside the Desolate Region. No one who entered the Uno Labyrinth had managed to return. It was also the reason why it was also called the Labyrinth Of No Return. There were rumors that it was the lair of dangerous beasts, a dwelling for more ferocious and nefarious ones.

After the higher officials received such a report from their search party, they didn't immediately inform the findings to Teacher Sylva. Instead, they sent another search party the next day.

The other students continued with their training as usual, as though nothing happened. Upon receiving the report from Desty's group, the teachers and Instructors association did not disclose the unfortunate event to the students because there was a high possibility that it might scare them. But much tighter securities and rules were implemented to prevent the same thing from happening.

They also prohibited Desty's party from telling their friends about it. Not even Miss Sylva could disagree with this decision from the majority. It was true that it was unnecessary to cause panic among the students, but this left a bitter taste at the tip of Miss Sylva's nose.

The academy higher-ups warned her that the student's training must not be hindered. Miss Sylva could only bit her lips in frustration.

The most affected of all of this was Desty herself. She failed her promise and even dragged her friend to his demise. She got scared and escaped together with everyone.

That time, her mind was so blank. She could not think of a good solution. She couldn't even remember how she agreed to their decision. There was nothing she could do, as even a Level 3 soldier died from those beasts.

Although the other soldier was able to lead them back to the frontline, he sustained injuries that required hospitalization right away.

However, because Jem Hansen was an infamous student, many students started to notice his absence. They also noticed Desty's absence. She used to be the most eager person in terms of training.

But after that time that they came back from hunting low-level beasts, she seemed to have changed. She looked dispirited every time she appeared, and most of the time, she was absent.

The first to notice it was Wendy. She even visited her several times in her chamber. But Desty would occasionally avoid her.

Wendy started to suspect that something happened on their hunts. There was also gossip that the toothless Jem Hansen had last seen with the group of people from Class A. As a member of the Student Council, Wendy wanted to know about these mysterious happenings.

When the teachers and instructors association noticed the student's suspicion, they summoned Desty and advised her to act naturally. Desty could only force herself a nod.

To give her more time, the teachers and instructors decided to disclose to other students that Desty was not feeling well. And it was the reason for her absences. They also stated that Jem Hansen decided to leave the academy.

Because of this, they succeeded in impeding the student's suspicion. The days went by, and most of the students started to forget about it. Everyone tried their best to hunt low-level beasts in the Desolate Region. But the teachers and instructors prohibited them from disobeying their guide. They could not let another incident happen, especially to the students of the higher classroom.

It was already two weeks after Jem Hansen lost in the Desolate Region.

Meanwhile, his footsteps echoed in the dark passage. Only the illumination coming from his necklace gave the place a slight brightness.

As he continued his advance, he noticed that the atmosphere had started to become rigid. But thanks to the two shiny crystals with him, it decreases the coldness he felt.

Some distance droplets of water excite him. His throat had started to get dry from traveling for quite so long. He estimated he was walking for almost an hour and a half now.

Besides being thirsty, there was also another thing that worried him.

GROWWWWLLL!!!

His stomach was now demanding him to eat. Not only that, his muscles had started to feel numb. It was the result of walking nonstop in this cold place.

Fortunately, after another 15 minutes of walking, at the corner of his eyes, he noticed a familiar object.

"M-mushroom!" He subconsciously muttered the name. Looking at it, he noticed it was the same mushroom he ate before coming to this place. So, Jem Hansen already knew that it was edible.

He put away the hatchet and reached on it, however. After releasing his grip on the hatchet, he heard a slight grating noise from his side.

He saw a furry round creature. It had a big mouth and razor-sharp saw-like teeth. It had dark brownish stripes from its face to its back.

It didn't waste time and jumped towards him with a gaping mouth. Sticky saliva scattered away from it.

Jem Hansen paled as he stared at it. He disregarded his hunger and rolled while taking at him the hatchet.

The monster landed in his previous position. Jem did not waste time and stood on his feet. He grimaced upon noticing a web-like crack on the ground where he was standing a while ago.

Jem did not wait and brandished the hatchet to the monster. But the enemy was able to evade by stepping back. The inertia of his attack almost caused him to lose his balance.

He staggered a little and regretted his action. Thanks to his pounding chest, he couldn't think clearly. Tsk! Jem bit his lips in frustration.

Seeing the defenseless human, the beast size of a normal pig, threw itself to him. However, as it was in the air, Jem noticed the beast produce a pair of limbs.

And on its three fingers, long pointed claws extended to three inches!