Madman in a Fantasy World – Chapter 30

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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The first-year students gathered in a clearing.

A professor, standing with her back to the forest, amplified her voice with magic.

“I will now explain the group assignments for this training exercise.”

To prevent an imbalance of power, the groups were randomly assigned by the professors.

Each group consisted of four students: one from Class A, one from Class B, and two from Classes D and E.

While the monsters in the forest were no match for A- or B-class students, this arrangement was a precautionary measure.

Riche’s group consisted of…

“Hey, Riche! We’re in the same group! Nice to meet you!”

“…”

…two E-class boys and Arthur, the boy she loathed.

She hadn’t thought much of it before, but she seemed to be encountering him a lot lately.

He always sought her out.

Am I being too sensitive…?

It was just a training exercise.

She could just ignore him afterward.

Once the students were grouped, the professor explained the exercise.

“Today’s training is a practical monster hunt. Unlike your usual duels, these monsters will be trying to kill you. This will be a valuable learning experience.”

“The professors will be stationed here in the clearing. We’ll monitor the forest with magic and provide support if needed, but magic isn’t万能. Anything can happen in a real fight, so don’t get complacent.”

“The monsters you hunt today will affect your rankings. Points will be awarded based on the rank and number of monsters slain. Fighting amongst yourselves is prohibited. Any student who initiates a fight will be expelled.”

Expelled.

The word caused an uproar among the students.

“I’ll take any questions now.”

The explanation had been clear enough, except for that last part.

Someone hesitantly raised their hand.

“Yes, you. What’s your question?”

“Um… is expulsion really the punishment for… fighting other students…?”

“Yes. It’s been approved by the Headmaster.”

The Headmaster.

A renowned mage, known even outside the academy.

Lucia Marigold.

If she had approved it, then there was no room for argument.

It was a harsh punishment, but there must have been a good reason.

“Professor! Expulsion is too harsh! Fighting other students can be a valuable learning experience!”

The student who said that, unfortunately, was Arthur, Riche’s teammate.

“Hmm. And you are…?”

“Arthur, from Class D!”

Questioning a professor’s decision was a bold move, even for arrogant nobles, let alone a D-class student.

But the other students were probably curious too, and no one dared to interrupt a professor.

“So, Arthur, you think expulsion is too harsh.”

“Yes!”

“Let me ask you this. In a life-or-death battle against a monster, would you forgive someone who stabbed you in the back?”

“W-what…?”

“Are you suggesting we should condone betrayal and friendly fire in the face of a common enemy?”

Attacking an ally during a monster hunt was suicidal.

Arthur might have thought he was making a valid point, but he was only proving his own foolishness.

He was silenced by the professor’s logic.

Riche sighed.

Her teammate was an idiot.

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Whoosh!

Riche’s fire magic incinerated the upper half of a Shift Chameleon.

Despite being in a dense forest, her precise magic control ensured she only hit the monster.

She felt stronger than before, which was satisfying.

“Wow! You’re amazing, Riche!”

If only that boy wasn’t there.

Arthur and the two E-class boys were following her, diligently collecting the tails of the monsters she killed.

It was convenient, but this exercise was for their rankings. They should be hunting monsters themselves.

Arthur, in particular, had been following her relentlessly since the beginning.

His constant praise whenever she killed a monster was annoying. He was like a noisy, clingy puppy.

She didn’t say anything because she knew he’d take it as encouragement.

An hour had passed.

The monsters, initially plentiful, had become scarce.

It was strange. Even with bad luck, they should have encountered more.

“We have to—”

She tried to order a retreat, but…

…it was too late.

The two E-class boys were unconscious.

Only she and Arthur were left standing.

“You’re quite perceptive.”

A chilling voice.

A dark, shadowy mist crept along the ground. A sinister presence sent shivers down her spine.

The darkness coalesced into a humanoid form.

A man with pitch-black eyes and purple skin.

A demon.

The curse on her body reacted to its foul magic.

“A demon…!”

The enemy of mankind.

Monsters were like natural disasters.

Demons were villains, reveling in slaughter and tormenting humans for sport.

Mindless monsters and sentient demons were not the same.

“You finally show yourself, you vile demon!”

While Riche was assessing the situation, Arthur stepped forward.

“Hmm… so it’s you.”

“It is!”

They spoke as if they knew each other.

It was strange, but Riche didn’t have time to think about it.

“Arthur! We have to retreat!”

“Take this!”

“That idiot…!”

The demon’s magic power was unsettling, but weaker than hers.

She could probably defeat it alone, but demons were dangerous.

That’s why she had been hesitant to engage.

But Arthur, the fool, had charged in, swinging his sword.

A strange phenomenon occurred.

A faint, white light emanated from his sword, coalescing into a blade of light.

Light Magic…?

A rare and powerful attribute.

And Arthur possessed it.

The demon, enveloped in shadows, dodged Arthur’s attack and retaliated with a punch, which Arthur blocked with his sword.

Even Arthur, much weaker than her, was holding his own.

Riche decided to help.

She focused her magic, creating a thin, sharp spear of flame and hurled it at the demon.

“It’s useless.”

The spell hit, but it didn’t do any damage.

“Magic doesn’t work on me.”

If that were true, why had the demon dodged Arthur’s attack?

Her mind, sharpened by battle, quickly found the answer.

Light Magic was a demon’s weakness.

Magic itself might be ineffective, but physical attacks imbued with Light Magic were not.

But Riche couldn’t use Light Magic, and she couldn’t use a sword.

Interfering would only hinder Arthur.

All she could do was watch.

I’m useless…

She had been praised as the top student, and she had forgotten…

She had trained to kill demons, but she was still weak.

She was still just a frog in a well.

“Grrr…”

She gritted her teeth.

There was no time for self-pity.

She had to buy time until the professors arrived.

She couldn’t just accept her helplessness.

If something was impossible, she would make it possible.

She focused on what she could do.

She used magic to disrupt the demon’s balance and create walls of fire to obstruct its vision.

She thought she was gaining the upper hand.

But then…

“You’re… quite skilled, for children!”

Black mist enveloped the demon’s arms, forming gauntlets.

“Riche! Phase two!” Arthur shouted.

Phase…?

She didn’t know what that meant, but the demon was definitely stronger now.

Blades of light clashed with shadows.

The demon was faster and stronger.

Her tactics were no longer effective.

Even Arthur was tiring.

“Guh!”

The demon punched Arthur in the stomach, sending him flying into a tree.

It’s over…

Arthur, the only one who could harm the demon, was defeated.

Riche had given up hope, when…

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

“…!”

Something flew out of the forest and struck the demon in the side.

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