"That's the cry of a Frost Flying Eagle. They're solitary magical beasts, and we already hunted one earlier. Should we hunt this one too before leaving?" Gene's face lit up, and he glanced around at everyone as he asked.
A Frost Flying Eagle's Magic Beast Core was fourth-grade and worth far more than a Wind Blade Demon Wolf's. Although they had struggled to kill one earlier, they now had experience fighting them. At Gene's suggestion, everyone paused, then Fanny glanced at Han Shuo and asked, "Brian, what do you think?"
"With a fortune sitting right in front of us, I think we should take it!" Han Shuo scratched his head and answered with a guileless grin.
"All right, everyone, get ready. We'll return to the academy after taking the Frost Flying Eagle's Magic Core. If our Necromancy Department can bring back two fourth-grade Magic Beast Cores this time, the other departments won't dare look down on us." Fanny nodded and told everyone to move.
At her words, they seemed to recall the humiliation they had suffered earlier. Indignant, they all sprang into action and followed Han Shuo and Fanny toward the source of the Frost Flying Eagle's cries.
Han Shuo walked at the very front, looking every bit the leader. Everyone took it for granted, and no one objected. Without even realizing it themselves, they had already begun to change their opinion of him.
Now, no one dared treat Han Shuo as a lowly errand boy they could bully at will. A trace of awe had already crept into their gazes as they looked at him.
Following the Frost Flying Eagle's cries, the group hurried along and soon reached its location, only to be stunned by the sight before them.
Under the bright, clear moonlight, they saw a tall, handsome young man with tousled silver hair, sharp brows, and bright eyes fighting the Frost Flying Eagle overhead with a longsword in hand.
He wore a simple warrior's outfit, with gleaming silver armor covering his shoulders, chest, and abdomen. His clothes and equipment made him look like a knight. As he swung his longsword, streaks of milky-white light shone dazzlingly, striking the Frost Flying Eagle circling overhead and making it cry out again and again.
"Heavens, milky-white Battle Aura! He's an Earth Knight! Oh... he's so handsome!" Bella exclaimed, her eyes fixed on the Earth Knight, looking utterly lovestruck.
Several female students beside her also wore entranced expressions, their eyes shining as they watched the Earth Knight deal with the Frost Flying Eagle so effortlessly.
Han Shuo frowned, also astonished by the Earth Knight's strength. Last time, his group of twelve had struggled against a single Frost Flying Eagle, only killing it after exhausting all their strength. Facing one alone, this Earth Knight showed no sign of strain and even seemed to have strength to spare. As his milky-white Battle Aura shot out, the Frost Flying Eagle kept giving low cries.
A streak of milky-white Battle Aura soared straight toward the battered Frost Flying Eagle. Seeming to sense the danger, it flapped its wings and tried to escape.
At that moment, the Earth Knight, who had remained on the ground all this time, accelerated and suddenly leaped into the air. His longsword sliced across the Frost Flying Eagle's belly. With a piercing cry, it swayed and finally fell helplessly from the sky.
"So handsome!" Bella said sweetly, her eyes shining as she smiled dreamily.
The Earth Knight walked to the Frost Flying Eagle's corpse and flicked his longsword to extract its Magic Beast Core. Then, smiling, he strode over to Han Shuo's group. After sweeping his gaze over them, he bowed courteously. "Clark, a knight, greets you, noble mages."
"Hello, Clark. You're so powerful, killing a Frost Flying Eagle all by yourself. That's incredible!" Bella gave a demure chuckle and spoke softly, as though she had become a different person.
But Clark's gaze did not linger on Bella. He kept looking at Fanny, seemingly waiting for her reply, leaving Bella somewhat embarrassed.
"We're teachers and students from the Babylon Academy of Magic and Martial Arts, here in the Dark Forest for field training. It's a pleasure to meet you, Clark." Fanny's expression barely changed. She likewise bowed slightly in return and spoke with a smile.
"I see. I've also come to the Dark Forest to train. The magical beasts here are formidable, making it an excellent place to improve one's strength. I certainly didn't expect to meet all of you, haha." Clark smiled at Fanny. There was something peculiar in his gaze that made Han Shuo feel somewhat uncomfortable.
"Teacher Fanny, now that he's killed the Frost Flying Eagle, I think we can head back." Han Shuo looked Clark over a few times and suddenly understood why his gaze made him uncomfortable. The way Clark looked at Fanny resembled Gene's. Though it was not as blatant as Gene's, it already hinted at something-Clark seemed to have taken a liking to Fanny's beauty.
"Yes, yes, Teacher Fanny. It's getting more dangerous now. For the students' safety, we should return to the academy." Gene seemed to have noticed the threat as well, and his gaze toward Clark was somewhat unfriendly. Hearing Han Shuo's suggestion, he immediately agreed.
At Han Shuo and Gene's words, Fanny nodded and was about to agree when Clark suddenly said with a smile, "If you noble mages don't mind, I could travel with you. I think traveling together would benefit us both and greatly reduce the danger. Would you be willing?"
"Wonderful! With an Earth Knight accompanying us, our haul this time will definitely beat the Light Department's." Before Fanny could agree, Bella brightened and blurted out.
At Bella's words, several female students also voiced their agreement. Only Lisa remained indifferent, watching Han Shuo with a strange look. The male students said nothing, looking unconcerned.
Clark's offer, coupled with Bella's encouragement, made Fanny hesitate despite her original intention to leave. Bella's remark about surpassing the Light Department's haul was particularly tempting.
Don't agree, don't agree. That smiling face is up to no good. This fellow clearly has ulterior motives. Whatever you do, don't agree to go with him, Han Shuo kept saying inwardly as he watched Fanny.
"All right, then. Sorry for the trouble. Our entire group consists of mages, so having an Earth Knight as powerful as you will certainly be a great help." After hesitating a while, Fanny finally agreed.
Han Shuo was utterly disappointed, but none of it showed on his face. Instead, he exclaimed, "Oh! We've been chasing this Frost Flying Eagle all along. I didn't expect you to have killed it already. Ah, a fourth-grade Magic Beast Core, gone just like that."
Clark looked taken aback by Han Shuo's words. Then he glanced at him in confusion and asked, "You were chasing this Frost Flying Eagle?"
Han Shuo nodded firmly and said with a regretful expression, "Yes, but we didn't expect you to have killed it already."
Fanny was somewhat surprised by Han Shuo's words and shot him a reproachful glare. Just as she was about to explain that this was not the case, Clark hesitated, then took out the Frost Flying Eagle's Magic Beast Core with some reluctance. Forcing a smile, he offered it to Fanny. "I see. In that case, I'll return it to you. Teacher Fanny, you must accept it."
"We will, absolutely!" Han Shuo approached with a smile. Before Fanny could speak, he had taken the Frost Flying Eagle's Magic Core from Clark and handed it to Lisa beside him. Smiling broadly, he said, "Haha, Knight Clark really is a good man, returning a fourth-grade Magic Beast Core to us so readily. I'm sure he'll be even more obliging during the training ahead."
Lisa's eyes lit up. Smiling just as broadly, she pocketed the Magic Core without ceremony, nodded approvingly at Han Shuo, and secretly gave him a thumbs-up in praise.
Fanny had intended to explain, but in the blink of an eye, the Magic Core was already in Lisa's pocket. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, she shook her head and rolled her eyes at Han Shuo and Lisa, but said nothing more.
A fourth-grade beast Magic Core was worth over a hundred gold coins. Even for an ordinary minor noble, that was no small sum. With Han Shuo having talked it out of Clark's hands in just a few words, it was no wonder Clark felt the loss.
"Teacher Fanny, now that this noble, generous Earth Knight has joined us, I think we can continue deeper to the south. There must be even stronger magical beasts there. If we can obtain a third-grade Magic Beast Core, we'll certainly be able to hold our heads high at the academy this time." Han Shuo smiled as he urged Fanny on, thinking, Since Clark dares harbor designs on my woman, I have to make him do some unpaid labor. With an Earth Knight like him here, why not put him to use?
At the prospect of holding her head high at the academy, Fanny immediately perked up. She nodded and said with a lilting laugh, "All right, we'll continue deeper to the south, then. Noble Knight Clark, sorry for the trouble, but we'll be relying on your care along the way."
Clark bowed modestly and replied with a courteous smile, "No trouble at all. I'd be delighted to be of service."
Since you insist on staying, just see if I don't make your life hell. The sight of Clark left Han Shuo extremely displeased, and he rapidly turned vicious schemes over in his mind.
Before you continue