"No... I can't take this anymore...!"
"Help... I don't want to die..."
Two female students were running across the plains.
Both were third-year students in the Knight Department — participants in the Magic Hunt Festival.
They had entered the Magic Hunt Festival alongside three other close friends, making a group of five... but when a powerful monster had suddenly attacked them, they were separated from the rest and were now fleeing on their own.
"We shouldn't have come to a festival like this..."
Hand in hand, they ran desperately across the plains, both murmuring through tearful voices.
The two were close friends... but their decision to participate in the Magic Hunt Festival had been nothing more than a whim.
After graduating from the academy, both of them were already set to marry their respective fiancés.
Neither was aiming for a career like joining the Knights, so there was no need to put up a strong showing at the Magic Hunt Festival to make a name for themselves.
Being third-years with graduation right around the corner, they had entered the Magic Hunt Festival with nothing more than the lighthearted motivation of creating memories with friends.
The result of that naivety was plain to see.
They were currently in the midst of fleeing for their lives, running desperately toward the entrance of the plains.
"I can't do this anymore, I can't...! Why did things have to turn out like this...?"
"What about Nia? York? Jan? What happened to everyone...?"
They called out the names of the friends who weren't with them, forcing their heavy legs to keep moving all the while... but there was no time to worry about anyone else.
From a patch of tall grass nearby, a wolf monster appeared.
"GRRRRAAARGH!"
"KYAAAAAH!"
The two of them let out screams that could have torn silk.
The creature that appeared was a wolf monster covered in scales. Among the monsters roaming the plains, it was neither particularly strong nor particularly weak — just an average threat.
Under normal circumstances, the two of them should have been able to fight it off without any trouble... but they had been running for so long that their bodies were completely exhausted, and they had even dropped their weapons.
Right now, to that wolf, the two of them were nothing more than easy prey.
"GRRRAAAAAAGH!"
The wolf kicked off the ground and lunged at them.
But then — a massive shadow threw itself between the two girls and the wolf.
"HUUNH!"
"GYAAH!"
A powerful arm roared through the air, and a greatsword swung down.
The dull silver blade cleaved the wolf clean through its scales, splitting it in two.
"Hah, hah... Are you two alright?"
"Mr. Oddman!"
Both girls cried out the name of the man before them.
The one who had saved the female students from their predicament was a faculty member of the Knight Department — Baik Oddman.
A burly former knight who now taught Swordsmanship as his subject, he was a middle-aged instructor well known throughout the Knight Department as one of its most notorious mage-haters.
"Can you stand? I'll escort you to the edge of the plains. Just hang in there a little longer."
"Sir...!"
Tears welled up in the eyes of both female students, overcome with emotion.
Honestly speaking, they did not particularly like Oddman.
He was crude, boorish, and spouted nothing but platitudes about willpower.
And yet, he was a lecherous man whose eyes kept wandering toward the female students' chests and waists.
Apparently he enjoyed a decent following among the male students for some reason, but the girls despised him like a venomous snake.
"Sir, thank you so much...!"
"You saved us...!"
However, having one's life saved naturally changes one's perspective.
The two female students looked at Oddman with newfound respect, feeling ashamed of how they had loathed him until now.
(Girls are looking at me with those passionate eyes... This feels amazing!)
Meanwhile, Oddman was desperately fighting to keep his face from slackening into a dopey grin.
He was vaguely aware that the female students didn't think highly of him.
And yet... right now, the two of them were gazing at him with admiration. It was unbearably thrilling.
(T-those glistening eyes... They must be head over heels for me! There's a chance one of them could say, "Please hold me as a graduation memory," or something like that!?)
Baick Oddman. Age forty-one. Single.
He had once served in the Knight Order... but was discharged due to trouble with women—specifically, for stalking a female knight colleague.
His swordsmanship earned him a reappointment at the academy, but he was still a bundle of unresolved issues.
Incidentally... the reason he came to "hate mages" stemmed from the fact that the woman he once loved had a lover who was a court magician.
(I don't know why the monsters went on a rampage, but there's no way I'm missing out on such a sweet opportunity! This is my chance to show them what an outstanding, virile man I really am!)
Students were being attacked left and right across the plains, yet he harbored thoughts that were the height of indiscretion.
In a situation this dire, a man whose mind was filled with indecent fantasies might, in a sense, be someone rather extraordinary.
"Alright... you two, let's move. Follow me!"
Oddman spoke with heavy breathing and gripped his sword, attempting to lead the way for the two female students.
But... wolves that had leaped one after another from the tall grass surrounded them.
"What!?"
"Kyaaa!"
Oddman's eyes went wide while the two girls clung to each other in terror.
Surrounding them were the same wolf monsters as before. Only this time, there were nearly ten of them.
"This is... rather unfavorable...?"
Oddman couldn't help but groan.
If it were just a matter of defeating them, there'd be no problem. He was, after all, an instructor at the Knight Department. He was confident he could win without a scratch.
But... fighting while protecting the two female students behind him wouldn't be so simple.
*(This is bad... I finally had a chance to impress the female students, and if I die here, it'll all be for nothing...!)* "Grrrrrrr..."
Facing the pack of wolves growling low in intimidation, Oddman broke into a cold sweat from agitation.
*(I have to do something... At worst, I abandon one of them and save at least one...)* Oddman glanced at the two girls' faces, casually trying to decide which one to save based on appearance.
But before Oddman could make his decision, a helping hand was already extended.
"Earthen Lance!"
"Gauh!?"
Suddenly, a sharp spike of earth jutted from the ground, skewering one of the wolves.
That was just the beginning — earthen lances continued to erupt one after another, exterminating every last wolf.
"This is..."
"Are you alright, Oddman-sensei?"
"You're...!?"
When Oddman saw the face of the boy who had appeared, his eyes went wide.
The one who had come sprinting at tremendous speed was a student enrolled in Oddman's own "Swordsmanship" class — Rest, a first-year in the Magic Department.
He had left a lasting impression after defeating Danila Bethras, the second-ranked first-year in the Knight Department, during their very first class.
"Why are you... here!?"
"I'm in the middle of student council enforcement duties. More importantly... turn back to the entrance of the plains immediately!"
"What did you say? I have no obligation to take orders from the likes of you..."
"It seems something incredibly dangerous has started to move... Please tell the administration to evacuate the students to the royal capital!"
Without waiting for Oddman's reply, Rest shot off at an astonishing speed.
Even for Oddman, Rest's pace was so blistering he could barely keep up with his eyes.
"Something dangerous, he says... What on earth is that kid talking about..."
"That wolf, in an instant... how wonderful..."
"What such refined power. It's magnificent..."
"Wha—!?"
Oddman's voice cracked involuntarily.
The two female students he had been guarding were staring dreamily off in the direction Rest had disappeared to.
"————!"
Just moments ago, it had been Oddman receiving their gazes of admiration and respect.
Having single-handedly taken down the entire wolf pack, their attention had shifted squarely to Rest.
"See, this is why I hate mages...!"
Oddman ground his teeth and clenched his fists in bitter frustration.