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After the arrival of Kalen Snowhite, the four of us, with ample water and food, camping sets, and robes to fend off occasional sandstorms, headed straight to the southern entrance leading to the desert.
…And then.
“That’s…”
“Hmm.”
People leaning against the walls near the exit or lying down inside.
Or those limping back.
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There were also those holding broken weapons, some kneeling blankly, or touching the ground and lying down.
I know.
They are those who lost a companion during the expedition, returned alone, or were injured and lost strength.
In Selenium’s ‘exploration’, since it puts one’s own and others’ lives at stake, one must be prepared for such situations.
If you don’t regain your senses even a little, you and your companions will die.
“…Quite a lot.”
“Yes, recently, there have been a lot of people like that.”
Passing by them just before heading to the desert.
Someone tightly grabbed my arm.
Turning around, it was the 3rd year who had just been banging his head on the ground.
“Don’t go. You shouldn’t go out now.”
“Is there something wrong?”
“I don’t know, the monsters… I don’t know why the venomous scorpions are appearing at the entrance… I also…”
He mumbled, then let go of my arm, slumped down, and mumbled while staring into space.
It seems like I’ve overlapped with my lost colleague.
We passed by them and headed towards the desert.
“Why do they all go on expeditions, even with such risks?”
“Well, probably for reasons similar to ours.”
“…Yes.”
As we went a little further in, we saw people dragging a fallen comrade towards the exit, crying.
We passed by them and continued forward.
The ‘Scorching Desert’ in the southern field of the Academy is vast.
To reach the middle of the intermediate area from the beginning, it would take about 1 night and 2 days, considering the return journey.
None of the Eran Party members headed there.
He said it would be better if one person stayed behind to take care of the injured until we returned.
So, only four of us, me, Eran, Silvi, and Calen, set off to explore the Scorching Desert.
And two of them are first-year freshmen who haven’t fully adapted yet.
It would be an incredibly reckless act to cross the Scorching Desert with this number of people and target ‘that guy’, but I am someone who is completely reckless.
As we boldly moved towards the deepest part without hesitation, occasional glances were directed at us.
Eran, walking and leaving footprints in the sand, had a gloomy expression.
He probably thinks that he couldn’t protect Bilum while being the leader.
He is also probably thinking about the people we saw at the entrance.
Someone who cares more about others than himself.
The more I see him, the more he seems like a heroic figure.
“Eran.”
“Yes, yes! Senpai.”
“By the way, before the ambush, did you feel anything?”
“Um…let me think for a moment…”
He crossed his arms and touched his chin before saying, “I remember. I felt like someone…was watching us at that time.”
I see.
That must be the ‘Search Eye’. It probably assessed your abilities before the ambush and was confident that it could defeat you.
“We were…weak.”
“You are still ‘weak’. Even your Hero Sword probably has a strong recoil when used.”
“Yes, that’s right. Ahahahaha, it’s amazing how well you know about me.”
Well, it’s hard not to know.
I also glanced at him.
Considering the gloves, sword, and accessories he’s wearing, it’s a decent outfit for a ‘newbie’ in Act 2.
He’s equipped with items that naturally come into possession if you quietly follow the path given by the ‘system’ in the original work.
It’s not bad, but it’s not great either.
“By the way, Senpai, thank you. I mean, for going this far for us…”
“It’s never too late to express gratitude after everything is over.”
“Ah.”
“And I’m not just moving to get a simple thank you. I will certainly receive corresponding compensation, so be prepared.”
“Compensation… Yes, I understand. I will offer anything I can.”
“Tsk, focus on the task at hand.”
At that moment, Kalen, who had been walking ahead, returned and reported.
“…Adrian, it seems we have entered the middle area. There are three monsters ahead.”
Monsters?
We’re at the edge of the entrance, though?
“What kind of monsters?”
“Cacti… and it seems there’s a ‘Venomous Scorpion’ as well. What should we do?”
As with any field, at the ‘entrance’ there are just animals like desert foxes or meerkats, weak monsters from the boundary between the entrance and the middle, and ordinary monsters from the middle onwards.
…It’s one thing if there are cacti, but a venomous scorpion here.
“…That man was right. Kalen, be prepared to deploy ‘Ice Shield’ at any time, and protect Silvie as much as possible. I can handle my own body to some extent.”
“Yes, understood.”
She said that and pulled out the shield on her back and placed it on the ground with a thud, then stood next to Silvie.
“Ah, um… Senior Kalen?”
“I will protect you.”
“Oh, yes… yes!”
Silvie’s face looked oddly red, but well, it’s probably just her mood.
As we pushed through the sandstorm, we could see the signs of the ‘middle’—the crags and rocks carved by the wind.
And in front of that, on the sand plain that marked the end of the entrance…
“Ah.”
“There are monsters…”
There were cacti that seemed ready to hurl fruit at us at any moment, and venomous scorpions wandering around with their tails raised.
But wait?
One venomous scorpion was looking in our direction, its tail dripping with a purple liquid.
“Hmm.”
This distance is originally beyond the range that can be narrowly recognized, but for some reason, it feels a bit distorted.
“Senior, I also…”
“Conserve your strength. The Hero’s Sword is the last resort. If you use it too much here, you won’t be able to use it in the most important place.”
Moreover.
We can easily handle a monster like that.
There’s no need for a big battle.
I murmured as I took out a long staff from my inventory.
“The method to deal with the venomous scorpion is simple. First, **[Low-level Wind Elemental Magic: Wind Blade].**”
Now, it’s practically my signature magic.
The wind sphere created from the end of the staff and all around me shot out sharp winds, swiftly cutting off the scorpion’s tail.
The excerpt has been faithfully translated into English while preserving the original atmosphere and tone:
Without giving the screaming figure a chance, he immediately approaches.
He charges, skidding across the ground.
Gripping the staff in reverse, with a drawn dagger on the other side, he slips under the tail of the scorpion whose tail has been cut off.
He stores the staff in the inventory, leans on the hilt of the sword, and after tearing the scorpion in half from below, he retrieves the dagger and turns around…
“Kkiieeek!”
With the sound, the figure quietly emits green blood from all over the body and disappears, leaving behind the tail and carapace of the scorpion.
“…Impressive.”
“We, we only attacked the body.”
Unlike the two amazed figures, Kalen quietly watches the scene and only smiles when I return.
“The carapace is tough. So, the proper way is to first get rid of the ‘tail’ and then attack the ‘lower’ as much as possible. And Erhan.”
“Yes, yes!”
When you use the ‘Hero Sword,’ your speed and strength increase dramatically. Can you read and reproduce my movements in future battles?”
“Yes, …I will definitely show you!”
Good.
By the way…
‘Scorpions with venom come out a little further. It’s unlikely to come out at the boundary between the entrance and the middle like now.’
From the words of the male student, even before entering the middle, for some reason, cactus figures appeared one by one.
‘Has the habitat of the monsters shifted one by one? In that case…’
It makes sense.
The recent surge in deaths and injuries in ‘exploration’ also makes sense.
The fact that ‘that figure’ crawled out to the middle of the middle and flapped its wings at these newbie figures also makes sense.
“Erhan.”
“Yes, senior.”
When was the day Villem was injured?”
“It was two days ago.”
Two days ago.
‘I see… already.’
Monsters are gradually being pulled back one step from their original habitat.
As a result, there are more and more incidents where those who were at the entrance and those who suddenly encounter monsters with abilities beyond their own like ‘Villem’ are increasing.
It’s something that shouldn’t be happening in the first place.
Due to the perfect design of magic and ecology, monsters are not supposed to leave their habitat.
But for some reason, the monsters have left their habitat, and things have happened.
Yes.
The Selenium Academy, where there are many casualties, is weaker in defense than ever before, and a weakened defense provides a good opportunity for ‘darkness’ to spread its wings.
Quite familiar, isn’t it?
‘Darkness’ and ‘Academy.’
“…Act 3.”
Carefully, I spread the sand on the ground and put it on my palm.
Among the sand scattered by the wind, there are some gritty soils mixed in.
When I crush the soil-like stones with my fingers, black powder scatters in all directions.
From the given novel excerpt, I will now provide the translation in English while preserving the original atmosphere and tone. Please note that all characters in the excerpt are fictional and above 21 years of age.
#### I had a reason for saying that I was starting to have a hard time from this point.
“……It won’t be easy.”
A being whose existence itself is a proof of life, and a true ‘demon’ who didn’t immediately escape after the Great War.
The boss of Act 3 started his activities ‘faster than in the original’.
* * *
However, even if the boss moves right away, there is nothing we can do here except prepare in advance.
So, for now, we should focus only on the current task.
The scorching desert.
From the beginning to the middle, this field can be crossed in half a day, but from the middle, the map becomes significantly wider.
To give you an idea, it takes about 3 nights and 4 days to cross from the middle to the end on foot.
From the end to the deeper part, the ‘edge’, it is even further.
Even if we consider returning, it will take at least a week.
That’s why.
We decided to set up camp first.
We set up the tent we brought, filled our stomachs with preserved food for dinner, lit a bonfire, and took turns keeping watch.
The night sky in the desert is beautiful, but the temperature is not at all pleasant.
In the sky adorned with countless stars, the bright Polaris reveals its presence.
If we had come here for no reason, we could have enjoyed the adventure, but since Villem’s life is at stake, no one said a word.
And so, the next day came, and we went deeper, avoiding the sand dunes, carved rocks, and monsters.
And.
We arrived at a ‘place’ where the presence of completely different monsters disappeared.
“……Here it is.”
“Yes, this is where we… were attacked and immediately retreated.”
Right in the middle of the middle.
We stopped here for a moment.
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“I feel that feeling again….”
“Hmm.”
A feeling of being intensely stared at by someone, which is extremely unpleasant.
No, in fact, we are being ‘seen’.
“Everyone, from now on, look only at the ground. Never turn your gaze. Villem, you probably saw something different from the others, that’s why.”
Then, Kalen spoke.
“Adrian, um, there is something nearby.”
“I know.”
“That, it seems… very big. It’s coming towards us without stopping….”
“I know.”
“We, we have to… avoid it….”
No.
In order to subdue that guy, we have to summon him first from here.
That’s why Villem was cursed.
“Everyone, wait here.”
Thud thud thud!
Along with the sound of the ground shaking, a ‘gigantic something’ brushing the sand and rapidly approaching was felt.
“…….”
Then.
An immense, unmatched shadow loomed over all of us.
The falling sand gave a sense of its size even by touch.
What met the eyes of all who lifted their heads was a serpent with silvery scales that seemed big enough to easily surpass the dormitory building… vast and endless.
“A visitor.”
I looked at the lad, gripping my staff.
—Sssaa….
Indeed.
This lad.
The monster that Vilhelm petrified in full.
The field boss of ‘Central Ingress.’
“Basilisk.”
This should be an amusing battle.