A Promise with Ibuki

"Hunters nowadays mainly use firearms for hunting. Besides that, there are also traps, snares, crossbows, bows, spears, and knives."

Edward took out some teaching equipment and laid it on the table, but these were clearly not models—they should all be real tools that had been used in actual combat.

You En looked at the horizontally arranged old-fashioned double-barreled shotgun in front of him. The number of times he had touched a gun could be counted on one hand.

If he could use a gun, hunting would be much simpler—relatively speaking, of course. There was still danger.

But Teacher Edward shattered his illusion.

"I don't plan to teach you firearm hunting. We'll focus on the latter methods, starting with traps and weapons that are easy to make."

Ibuki Mio was clearly very interested in these things; her eyes were even sparkling a little.

"Let me think about where to start teaching you."

Edward rested his hand on his forehead.

"I've taught you how to identify insects, snakes, and small animals before, but for large animals, it mainly relies on fur, droppings, and footprints. It would be great to have a hunting dog with a keen sense of smell for this, but the wild often doesn't turn out as we hope."

You En and Ibuki began today's lesson.

But the difference in learning speed became apparent.

And since You En had also read some introductory books himself, he absorbed and grasped things much faster than Ibuki. Many times, after the teacher taught them, You En would then teach Ibuki in a way that suited her better.

The course progressed quickly—from finding and processing trap materials, to making and setting traps, to crafting and using simple weapons, to identifying traces of large animals, recognizing species, and understanding their ecological habits...

You En soon finished learning the bulk of it. When he came back to his senses, he realized this was really just the basic framework; there wasn't much advanced content.

Edward praised him, "There's no student easier to teach than you. You're the best student I've ever had, and no one will surpass you in the future."

"Thank you, teacher."

You En could still stay clear-headed.

But Ibuki's brain was already feeling a bit swollen.

You En took out his terminal and confirmed that he had mastered three skills:

Trap Making (lv0, Beginner)
Weapon Making (lv0, Beginner)
Beast Recognition (lv0, Beginner)

Edward spoke up, "I've taught you all the basic knowledge about wilderness survival. Of course, there's one more important skill, which we'll learn in the next lesson—but I won't be the one teaching it."

"Is it over?"

Ibuki Mio snapped back to reality.

"Actually, what you've learned is all very basic stuff, but the more practical aspects need to be mastered through practice. Are you willing to participate?"

Edward asked.

"What kind of practice?"

Ibuki asked curiously.

"Teaching you to actually hunt."

Edward said with a smile.

You En asked knowingly, "Where? Do we have to go out into the wild?"

"The venue is here, and I have the beasts here too."

Edward walked behind his mysterious curtain partition and then pushed out an iron cage.

Inside the cage was a wild wolf.

Based on what he had learned, You En identified it as a Eurasian Gray Wolf. Its body was a light gray, about 1.5 meters long, with a slightly elongated snout. The eyes above it held a strong sense of vigilance and wildness.

Edward said, "This is a gray wolf brought in from the outside that failed domestication. It has a deep hostility toward humans and has attacked many keepers, even causing one person to be disabled.

If other managers hadn't discovered it in time to stop and rescue, it could have resulted in death."

You En knew this was to eliminate any sympathy they might feel, and at the same time, to warn them—this was no docile zoo animal, but a beast that would truly attack and even kill them.

He looked at Ibuki: "What do you think? I think it's a bit dangerous."

"I'm with you."

Ibuki Mio nodded in tacit agreement. This kind of real predator was far harder to control than a python. It wasn't that she was afraid to take risks, but she felt there was no need to fight this wild wolf right now.

"The right choice."

Edward didn't encourage them to take the challenge, nor did he say they lacked courage. Instead, he praised them, "Hunting itself is a very dangerous activity. Weighing the risks is crucial. In the wild, even a minor injury can be fatal.

There's no need to pick unnecessary fights. Your choice was very rational."

He pushed the cage back. "Good. My course basically ends here. You two performed excellently."

Edward said at last: "Next time, during the last class, if you still want to challenge, you can give it another try."

By the time they came out, it was already dark.

You En figured Horikita Suzune had probably already eaten dinner by now and wouldn't be waiting for him, but he still sent her a text.

Ibuki felt a bit regretful, leaning against the wall corner. "This class wasn't as thrilling as last time's."

"Isn't there something more thrilling? We just didn't pick it."

You En pointed at the wild wolf.

Ibuki chuckled lightly. "Then forget it. It's not like we'll ever run into a situation where we have to take on a wild wolf barehanded."

Would they really not?

You En thought logically, yes, but this school didn't seem to follow logic.

"Should we give it a try?"

Ibuki leaned in. "What?"

"I mean next class. Didn't the teacher say we could do it next time too?"

You En explained his thoughts.

"Since it's next class, we have a whole week to prepare. Isn't that what hunters do? Challenge after thorough preparation."

Ibuki glanced at him. "You're a weird one. Weren't you the one who said no just now?"

She rested her hand on her arm, tapping lightly with her index finger, looking down the hallway, then turned back with a cool, slightly cocky smile.

"Fine, I'll keep you company. You wouldn't dare go alone anyway, would you?"

"With you by my side, I won't be afraid."

You En nodded.

His cheerful tone and handsome features.

Instead, it made Ibuki a little uncomfortable, and she turned her head away.

Both of them knew—they each had their own fears, though different in nature... But if they could be together, they could suppress those fears.

Ibuki Mio suddenly thought: there was only one class left. Once it ended, the chance to have stable alone time with You En would disappear.

She took the initiative. "I still don't have your contact info. Do I have to be the one to ask first?"

You En knew how to answer that.

"Because it's you, Ibuki. So I waited."

Ibuki didn't buy his nonsense. "Hmph. You must say stuff like that to Horikita Suzune all the time, don't you?"

You En added her as a friend, ignoring the remark, and said:

"Teacher Ed said firearms are banned for hunting, meaning other things are allowed...

But buying them probably won't work. Things made with what we learned in this class should be considered valid weapons for the assessment."

Ibuki caught on quickly, understanding his meaning.

"You mean we find materials this week to make traps and weapons?"

You En said: "And armor. Not just that—we also need to hone our skills. What club did you sign up for again?"

"Combat Club."

Ibuki Mio waved him closer, signaling for You En to lean in.

"I have something to tell you alone."

"What?"

You En didn't hesitate and moved in close.

Ibuki felt it was a bit too near, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she whispered:

"I'm a reserve formal member of the Combat Club. I haven't even told anyone in my class. Don't tell anyone else."

You En had some understanding from the senior. He remembered the Combat Club was also an advanced club, though not as highly ranked as the Kyudo Club in the school's hierarchy. Still, it was no small thing.

"Don't worry, I'll keep it secret. And I'm a reserve formal member of the Kyudo Club too."

"I already knew that,"

Ibuki Mio said. "If I hadn't known you were a formal member, I wouldn't have thought to ask Senior Chun-Li about it. I might not have even joined."

"So what do you practice?"

You En had never met another reserve formal member of an advanced club besides himself.

"I practice Mixed Martial Arts on my own,"

Ibuki said. "At the club, Senior Chun-Li teaches me leg techniques and kicking techniques she developed herself, along with some Chinese boxing passed down from her father."

You En asked: "Is she strong?"

"She could easily take on ten of me and probably just be warming up."

Ibuki glanced at You En.

"If it came to fighting you, a hundred of you wouldn't be enough to warm her up."

You En couldn't argue; his shortcomings in this area were pretty obvious.

He had learned a bit himself, enough to handle a useless sack like Yamauchi, but facing Ibuki, Horikita Suzune, and the others, he was completely outmatched.

Damn it, he had to find a way to step up.

The terminal's notification sound rang out.

Ibuki Mio glanced at her terminal.

"Alright, some piece of shit needs me. Can't help it, I'll head over first. See you next week."

You En put on a look of deep affection.

"Goodbye, Mio-chan."

"Rue~"

Ibuki Mio made a retching face and flipped him off with her middle finger.

You En pulled out his own terminal. That notification sound just now had actually been two.

"Suzune: 'Come to my dorm. The cafeteria's this late, most windows are closed. I made dinner.'"

"You En: 'On my way.'"

"Suzune: 'Mm.'"

In the dorm room, Horikita Suzune set down her terminal. She felt a bit nervous, went to the bathroom to wash her face, then checked herself in the mirror to make sure she hadn't gotten anything weird on her face from cooking.

She looked at her white casual shirt. Would it give You En the wrong idea?

"Hey, I'm here."

Horikita Suzune was just about to change into her school uniform when the doorbell rang. You En had arrived faster than she expected—no time to change.

She ran to the door and opened it.

You En saw her in that white shirt and skirt.

"That outfit's pretty cute. Did you wear it for me on purpose?"

"Who wore it for you? Shameless."

Horikita Suzune's lips curled up slightly.

"Come in. You took so long, the food's going to get cold."

You En smiled and said generously, "Mm, then I won't hold back."