CHAPTER 253: UNTAMED FOREST

I could have just used the teleportation.....

Ash grumbled inwardly, staring out from the window of the armored military vehicle. It was a machine built for war, designed to carry entire units of soldiers together, but in the back compartment, there were only two passengers: Ash and Ray. The driver sat separated at the front, focused solely on the road that cut deeper into the wild forest.

Outside, the landscape was passing in a blur. Dense trees stretched endlessly, their crowns woven so tightly that little light filtered through, and the undergrowth was alive with shifting shadows. Strange birds rose startled at the sound of the vehicle, and the thick foliage was swallowed by distance the moment it appeared.

I am glad I left Snow with Elysia.....

The thought made his chest feel lighter. With their unique soul bond, he could reach Snow in an instant, no matter the distance, and they could communicate across vast stretches of land as if standing side by side. That power had not come overnight; it was the product of countless experiments Ash had conducted, slowly unraveling both Snow’s abilities and his own.

Pulling his gaze back inside, Ash examined the interior of the vehicle. The walls were layered with thick steel plates that carried the smell of oil and iron, and the windows were fitted with durable glass that distorted the view of the forest. Two long benches stretched along either side, padded with rough leather stitched in military green and brown. He and Ray sat opposite each other, close enough that avoiding eye contact was impossible.

Ray was already staring at him. Irritated by that unwavering gaze, Ash frowned and asked in a flat tone, "What..?"

Ray did not answer immediately. His silence stretched, heavy and sharp, until he finally spoke with a voice that carried a restrained fury. "You look completely fine. Did you seriously forget about those dead people?"

Ah! No. Is he really going to give me a lecture about humanity right now.....?

Ash felt the irritation rising, which was unusual for him, since he was not easily provoked. Still, he kept his composure and answered evenly, though his words carried a sting. "Yeah, my mentality is not that of a child, so I recovered quickly. But hearing that question makes me think.....that you have not recovered." A teasing smile formed on his lips as he finished, deliberately pushing at Ray’s nerves.

A vein throbbed on Ray’s forehead as he clenched his teeth. "I am not a kid."

{You are

a kid.}

Shut up, whose side are you even on.....?

At those words, Aetheris went quiet.

Ash leaned forward slightly, his tone rising just enough to sound provoking. "Oh no, you are. Technically, physically, and even mentally too."

Ray’s anger reached its limit, but instead of snapping back, he activated Null Mind. In an instant, all fury drained away, leaving his expression unnervingly calm, though the price was the steady drain of his mana. Closing his eyes, he slipped into meditation, shutting Ash out entirely.

Seeing Ray turn silent so suddenly, Ash clicked his tongue in mild frustration. He leaned back on the soft bench, letting his head tilt toward the ceiling of the armored compartment, and closed his eyes. His mind drifted to the trial they had been assigned, thoughts circling around what awaited them once this vehicle stopped.

***

[A few hours ago.]

"So, how are you feeling?" Hearing the teasing tone in Instructor Elva’s voice, Ash gritted his teeth and muttered, "Don’t put salt on my wounds."

But her response wasn’t words. A melodic giggle escaped her lips, light and unrestrained, making Ash’s chest tighten for a second. His gaze wavered, slightly dazed by the sudden softness in her expression.

Damn, was she always this expressive...? I don’t think so... is this another thing I changed?

He forced himself to avert his eyes from her graceful figure, trying not to blush.

Nature has created beautiful things, and as a man, I should appreciate them all. But my heart belongs to Elysia alone. Yeah.....

Meanwhile, Ray, sitting next to him, flushed visibly and turned his head to the side, refusing to meet Elva’s eyes.

{Tsk tsk, no matter the era, some things never change...}

Shut up.

Aetheris spoke in Ray’s mind, only to receive the usual response of annoyance.

Elva’s laughter finally faded, her expression returning to normal as she wiped the corner of her eye. "It’s funny to see you like this. I heard about a boy who openly spoke against the Saints just a few months ago, and now that same boy is being toyed with by one."

This time, Ash did not react with words. He only met her gaze with eyes that had turned noticeably colder, his silence sharper than a retort.

Once she was satisfied with her teasing, Elva’s demeanor shifted. She picked up a paper from the desk, her playful expression vanishing as a serious one took its place. Glancing over the details written there, she lifted her eyes, studying Ash and Ray one after the other.

A quiet sigh escaped her lips.

"Well, jokes aside, the task you are about to undertake is quite dangerous."

Both Ash and Ray leaned forward slightly, their attention sharpening at once. Ash in particular felt his nerves stir with unease. This was an event he did not recall from the novel, which meant it was one of the changes he desperately needed to understand.

".....But, knowing you two possess unusually strong defenses and resistance, the task should be manageable. At least, if nothing unexpected happens."

Her tone carried a subtle warning.

"A large number of dungeons have begun appearing all across the world, creating havoc everywhere. For now, we don’t need to concern ourselves with the entire world, only our continent. Still, those awakened from associations, guilds, and prominent families have already been dispatched in large numbers. Our manpower here is stretched thin.... but."

She lifted her eyes from the paper, fixing them firmly on both of them. "We discovered two first-years whose strength is equal to, or perhaps even greater than, some of our more experienced fighters. So, what do you think the Association decided?"

Ray answered almost instantly. "To use us to clear dungeons."

Elva chuckled lightly. "Use you? What are you, tools? Don’t think of it like that. Rather than use, deploying would be the correct word. You will be rewarded as well, apart from receiving full marks in your exams. You will also earn Military Credits, which, as you know, are extremely valuable."

Well, if it includes that... then I suppose it’s fine.

Military points were far different from Academic points. Academic points could only be used inside the academy for purchases, but Military points opened access to far greater things. With them, one could buy weapons, rare knowledge, combat techniques, or even the experiences of powerful figures within the Military. The sheer scope of possibilities made them priceless.

Although the credits themselves carried no inherent value, what they could grant was enough to silence Ash for the moment. Still, a faint sense of dissatisfaction lingered.

"I think we should receive more for this," Ash finally voiced. "If the task is truly as dangerous as you say."

Elva’s smile deepened, and Ash immediately felt a bad premonition stir in his chest. "Of course. Which is why, once you complete the task, both of you will be granted a special privilege. You’ll be allowed to skip any class you wish and seek guidance from anyone in the academy without restriction. You’ll be free to train however you like, and no one will disturb you. Isn’t it fascinating?"

Damn you, old geezer. I asked for privileges, and now you are extending them to your disciple as well. Talk about blatant favoritism...

Although Ash was annoyed, he swallowed his irritation and forced his voice steady. "Please, tell us our task."

"Oh, right." Elva placed the paper down. "There is an area deep within the Untamed Forest where the military was attempting to establish a base. But unexpectedly, fifty gates appeared in the clearing. All of them broke at once, flooding the area with monsters. The gates were ranked from C to A. I believe you can handle them without much trouble."

The untamed forest was the same area that covered 60% of the human domain and was not claimed by the humans. Many dangers dwell there, and many other things as well.

Her eyes grew sharper. "The A-rank monsters are few, but the B and C ranks are numerous. Roughly a thousand in total, according to our estimation. Strangely enough, they are not fighting each other, which makes the situation even more unusual."

"That clearing has been sealed off with a powerful artifact to cage the monsters within. Your task is simple: eliminate everything inside and claim the area."

She leaned back slightly. "Simple, right?"

Elva finished speaking, her gaze resting firmly on the two of them.

Sigh, so it’s only monster killing..... that should be simple enough.

With a faint smile, Ash opened his mouth to speak, but Ray’s voice rang out faster. "Yes, Miss!!"

Ash frowned, replying a moment later with less enthusiasm. "Of course."

Bastard...

****