The Magic Hunt Festival. The day had finally arrived.
The weather was clear, making it a perfect day for the hunt.
The event venue was the flat expanse of land to the east of the royal capital.
Known as the Sabnock Plains, it was a vast stretch of flatland renowned as one of the kingdom's most prolific monster spawning grounds.
It was royal family territory, situated at a conveniently short distance from the royal capital, and over the years, frontier development had been attempted on multiple occasions with the aim of converting it into farmland.
Each time, however, the development parties were wiped out by the interference of the monster that made its home in the center of the plains—Sabnock.
Since Sabnock posed no danger as long as one did not enter its territory, it had been left alone, and the current state of affairs was that monster culling was carried out along the outer edges of the plains.
"Listen up, everyone. This year's Magic Hunt Festival will be conducted within the boundaries that were distributed in advance. Under no circumstances are you to venture too deep into the plains."
A faculty member was explaining the precautions to the students lined up at the entrance to the plains.
The number of assembled students was roughly two hundred. They were almost entirely from the Magic Department and the Knight Department, though a small number from the Clergy Department were present as well.
Since participation was voluntary, few first-years who still lacked real ability had signed up. Third-years made up the largest contingent—they were likely hoping to earn favorable job offers by performing well here.
Distinguished guests of national importance had also come to observe the Magic Hunt Festival.
Inside the large tent set up a short distance from the lined-up students, it was said that the chief court mage and the knight commander—the two officials responsible for national defense—had arrived.
If one could leave a strong impression here, the chances of catching the eye of those two would rise considerably.
In some years, the king or the crown prince would come to watch as well, but not this year.
The Second Prince, Andrew, was already present at the venue. Should an accident occur and two members of royalty be killed, the pillars of the nation would tremble, so the king and the crown prince had both exercised caution and stayed away.
"If you push too deep into the interior of the plains, you will enter the territory where Sabnock and its kin appear. Do not take reckless risks. If things become dangerous, fire the distress signal that was distributed to all of you. Rescue staff will reach you immediately. Every year, the Magic Hunt Festival claims lives and produces serious injuries. Do not let your guard down."
The faculty member's briefing concluded, and the Magic Hunt Festival officially began.
The participants split into groups of three to five and headed out into the plains.
"Now then... shall we get to work?"
Andrew, the student council president, clapped his hands and called out to the council members.
The council members, including Rest, were in the operations tent set up a short distance from the participants lining up.
"Officers, get behind the scenes and start your tasks. The student council enforcement division, maintain close communication with the faculty, take your assigned positions, and carry out rescue operations for anyone in need. Regardless of the fact that the Magic Hunt Festival is a voluntary, self-responsibility event... I'm counting on you all to do everything in your power to ensure no one dies!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good, get going. I wish you all the best!"
Following Andrew's command, Rest and the others set out as well.
Rest turned back toward Viola and Primula and raised a hand toward the two of them.
"Well then, you two. See you later."
"Yeah, do your best, Rest!"
"Don't push yourself too hard... please, whatever you do."
"Don't worry, I'll come back safe and sound. See you later."
Viola and Primula were working behind the scenes as officers.
Rest, as a member of the student council enforcement division, had been assigned to join the rescue staff.
The rescue staff operated in small squads of five, so naturally, he had teammates.
"All right, first-year. Over here."
The team leader, a senior from the enforcement division, called out to Rest and the others.
A second-year in the Knight Department and a member of the enforcement division. He was tall but rather slender in build. His facial features were reasonably well-formed, but his unpleasant gaze ruined the impression.
"Allow me to re-introduce myself. I'll be commanding E-Team. Yugloot, second year, Knight Department."
Jack Yugloot.
He was a third-ranked second-year student in the Knight Department, renowned as a master of the spear.
Despite being only a second-year, he was such an outstanding individual that his appointment to the Royal Knights was already considered a certainty.
The enforcement division members who gathered under Yugloot were four first-years.
Rest from the Magic Department. Danila and one other from the Knight Department. And a student from the Clergy Department.
"Let me make this clear… On the field, my orders are absolute. I won't tolerate the word 'No,' so keep that in mind!"
"Yes, understood."
"Tch…"
Danila pulled a disgruntled face at Rest's straightforward compliance.
He wanted to tell the guy to show a bit more respect to a senior from his own department.
"If you've got complaints, stay here. In the knights, a superior's orders are everything. I'm the team leader for this operation, and I have no intention of bringing along soldiers who won't follow orders."
"…I'll follow. I don't have any complaints."
Danila reluctantly raised both hands.
"If you've got no complaints, then we're moving out. Our assignment is the entrance area of the plains. It's a low-risk location, but there's no such thing as absolute safety on a battlefield. Stay sharp!"
Rest and the others, despite being part of the enforcement division, were still first-years.
They had been assigned to a relatively safe area.
"Alright, let's go. Move out!"
Following Yugloot's command, Rest and the others entered the plains.
Even as rescue staff, once they entered the monster's habitat, of course the creatures would come attacking.
They fought off the monsters that lunged at them as they pressed forward through their assigned zone.