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A few days later.
Swordsmanship class.
"The practical exam is next week. Everyone, you've all formed your four-person groups, right?"
"Yes!"
"Perfect, the numbers work out nicely. Now, I will reveal the first practical exam for the Swordsmanship Department sophomores."
The head of the Swordsmanship Department gave instructions to form four-person groups for the first practical exam.
However, no one knew the topic of the practical exam.
Even asking the upperclassmen at the academy only yielded responses like, "Already? Did they always have practical exams this early?"
"The topic of this practical exam is simple. However, it is the largest-scale lower-grade practical exam Elton Academy has ever had."
The students murmured.
"Large-scale?"
"As you go up in grade, the practical exams become more practical, right? They say it's part of Elton Academy's social contribution project. I heard that last year's 6th and 7th graders were even deployed to war. Some seniors even died then."
"Come on, still, we're only sophomores."
"They're not really going to send us to a real battlefield, are they?"
Leo Martiang, head of the Swordsmanship Department, began to announce the topic of the practical exam.
"Recently, very peculiar fellows have appeared in the central desert region. The Red Sand Raiders are the name of their organization."
"Raiders? What's that?"
"I don't know. Never heard of them."
"Aren't you mistaken for bandits?"
Davian tilted his head.
'Red Sand Raiders?'
A name he had heard in his third playthrough.
A group that attacks people or caravans passing through the desert to extort money.
'But the Red Sand Raiders aren't supposed to be the target of the academy students' practical assessment...'
Davian first heard their name in the second semester of his third year in his 3rd playthrough.
The royal family, unable to ignore the damage they were causing, dispatched the Royal Guard for a suppression operation.
A large-scale operation involving the entire 5th Royal Guard, the Gorilla Guard.
Eventually, the Royal Guard succeeded in suppressing the Red Sand Raiders.
However.
In the process, they lost two-thirds of the 5th Royal Guard's forces.
'They said they've rapidly increased in size, so the raiders' scale might be smaller now than it was then. Still, this is too dangerous.'
Leo Martiang continued his explanation of the Red Sand Raiders.
"There have always been robbers who attacked people crossing the central desert region. It's a barren desert land, but it's also a major route connecting the east and west."
Central desert region.
A barren land where it is difficult for people to live.
But the fastest way to exchange goods from the east and west is to cross this central desert region.
"But group living in the desert is not easy. Due to the lack of water and food, and the unbearable weather. So desert robbers usually move in small groups and commit robbery. But this time, very peculiar fellows have appeared. A group that resides in the central desert region on a large scale and commits robbery. The Red Sand Raiders are those guys."
Only then could the students understand what a raider was.
A group living in the mountains and committing robbery is a bandit group.
In the sea, it is a pirate group.
And.
In the desert, it is a raider group.
The Red Sand Raiders were the first raiders to appear in the Alcancia Kingdom.
"We are going to suppress those Red Sand Raiders. That's the topic of this practical exam."
The students' expressions gradually became peaceful.
Some students even scoffed.
"Ah, what. I was worried for nothing."
"Yeah, we're only sophomores, so this level is appropriate for a practical assignment."
"I thought I was being dragged to a real battlefield and was so nervous."
"I've never heard of them, but suppressing bandits or raiders is nothing."
A natural reaction from the students.
There are many strong people in the world.
On the other hand, there are far more ordinary people who do not have high mana affinity.
Being admitted to Elton Academy means having innate talent at the highest level.
It is not common for people with even half of their mana affinity to join bandit or pirate groups.
There are plenty of easier ways to make a good living.
So, in the eyes of Elton Academy students, bandits and pirates are just bad ordinary people who steal the wallets of good ordinary people.
Even if hundreds of ordinary people gather, they pose no threat to Elton Academy's swordsmanship students.
Ting.
A notification only Davian could hear.
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[Quest: Red Sand Raiders Suppression]
—Suppress the Red Sand Raiders who are causing trouble in the central desert region.
—Rewards will be distributed differently according to the contribution of subjugation.
—Reward: 10K ~ 30K Mana Points (x2)
=====
'What is this.'
This is the first time in this playthrough that he is taking the swordsmanship class, but he has never heard of this kind of practical assignment in the swordsmanship class.
In the first place, he first heard about the Red Sand Raiders in the second semester of his 3rd year.
'Is this a changed story because Leo Martiang became a professor in the 2nd year?'
One student raised his hand.
"Professor. But is there a reason why you have us form four-person groups to suppress thieves?"
"A very good question. What's your name?"
"It's Billy."
"An excellent student. Although it is a practical exam, this is also clearly something for our Alcancia Kingdom. You don't know how many merchants and caravans are struggling because of the guys who have taken over the central desert region."
Pride began to bloom on the students' faces.
This is the social role of Elton Academy.
"However. Due to the nature of the desert, they are not gathered in one garrison. They are divided into several colonies centered around oases. Moreover, they are familiar with the desert, so they mainly carry out guerrilla activities rather than moving on a large scale. That's why even the nearby city guards can't do anything about it."
Leo Martiang looked around at the students.
"So, you are in 10 groups of 4 people. Each group enters the central desert region and individually destroys the colonies of those guys one by one. This is the task of this practical exam."
"Davian, what's wrong? Why did you tell only us to gather separately?"
"I have something to say."
"What is it?"
"About our practical exam. We need to strategize."
Bonita replied, caressing her sword.
"What strategy? You're here, Davian. We have reliable Nubes. And me and Bellum. What are you worried about? Just cut down the criminal guys as you see them, right?"
Bellum shrugged his shoulders and pretended to tremble.
The exaggerated expression was a bonus.
"Bonita, sometimes you're scary."
"What. Isn't that the content of the practical exam?"
"That's true."
Davian snapped his fingers to focus everyone's attention.
"Bonita, Bellum, Nubes. How much do you know about the Dejert Continent?"
"Dejert Continent? That continent across the sea to the south?"
Davian nodded.
Bellum answered.
"90 percent of the continent is desert, so it's a desolate place. The population is small, and it's less developed in many ways."
"Those Red Sand Raiders in the central desert region. They're guys who came over from the Dejert Continent."
"What?"
"Really?"
"How do you know?"
Davian stared intently at Bellum, who asked the last question.
Bellum scratched the back of his head awkwardly, laughing.
"Well, because it's Davian."
Davian continued.
"What's the most disadvantageous thing when fighting?"
Bonita answered.
"Fighting someone stronger than me?"
"No. It's fighting someone you don't know how to fight at all."
"Ah..."
One year after the double major.
Davian can now say that he is on track to a certain degree.
Nevertheless, the reason he was able to face strong enemies in succession.
It was because the opponent did not predict the way Davian fought.
The same goes for Sierra, who he fought most recently.
If she had known that Davian used lightning magic that was especially responsive to metal.
She would not have reached out her big sword toward Davian, who was casting Lightning Bolt.
"Then what should we do? Do you know, Davian?"
Davian shook his head.
Unfortunately, he doesn't know.
Davian has never fought a person from the Dejert Continent either.
However, he only knows that the Red Sand Raiders are from the Dejert Continent because of the memories of the previous playthrough.
Because it was an event that surprised the world quite a bit back then.
"I don't know either. So from now on, let's each investigate. Find out as much as possible about how people from the Dejert Continent fight. We need to know the enemy to develop a strategy."
"Did you tell the professor? Did you tell him?"
"No. As always, you guys are the only ones who believe these words without any doubt."
"Well..."
One of the reasons why Davian's friends are his most reliable allies is this.
At least these friends now accept whatever Davian says as fact.
Bellum shouted.
"Let's ask a blabbermouth! Shouldn't we ask a blabbermouth to find out? That guy always says that. What was it..."
Nubes imitated Liber's voice.
"I am the scion of the Specula family, which has the best intelligence agency on the continent. Do you guys know why the Maliano Emperor..."
Bellum took over.
"Could win the continental war? It's information, information."
"That's right, that's right."
While Nubes and Bellum were giggling.
"I already told Liber."
"As expected, Davian!"
"Anyway, since we are the ones who are going to fight. Let's each find out. A way to completely drive out those guys."
"Got it!"
"Yeah!"
"Okay."
"This practical exam. Our group will devour everything."
Bonita thrust out her clenched fist forward.
"Of course."
A week later.
The swordsmanship students warped to the central desert region through a pre-prepared magic circle.
Because people who have only practiced internal strength cannot use magic circles, magic department teaching assistants also accompanied them.
"Everyone. This is near the eastern end of the desert region. It's early morning now. Take a good look at the direction where the sun is rising over there."
The students' gazes followed the tip of Leo Martiang's finger and checked the position of the sun.
"From here, you can search widely to the northwest and southwest, so please refer to the position of the sun. Teaching assistant, distribute the scrolls and magic cubes."
The teaching assistants who came with them distributed scrolls and magic cubes.
Pressing the side while distributing the magic cubes, small wings sprouted from the four sides.
Wee-ing.
It rose into the sky.
It was a magic cube that would film the students' images and send them to the academy.
"I will return to the academy and evaluate you by watching the screens sent by the magic cubes. The scroll that was distributed together is a warp scroll that allows you to return to this place."
"Yes!"
"From now until the sun completely sets in the west tomorrow. We will conduct a practical exam for 1 night and 2 days. Tonight, camp out with the equipment you have each brought. Tomorrow, as soon as the sun goes over the desert, tear the scroll and return here."
"Yes!"
"Even if it's before the sun sets tomorrow, if you are in a very dangerous situation, don't hesitate and tear the scroll and return here. The magic department teaching assistant waiting here will help you return to the academy."
Several students folded the scroll well and said quietly.
"Will there be a situation where we feel a threat to our lives?"
"We're going to beat up a gang of thieves, aren't we?"
Davian turned his head and looked at the whispering students.
'What time will you tear that scroll and rush back here? Can you make it through today?'
Leo Martiang's booming voice traveled far on the sandstorm.
"Come on! Elton Academy soldiers! From now on, we will begin the Red Sand Raiders suppression operation! Depart!"
"Waaaaah!"
"Depart!"
Davian turned his head and looked at Bonita, Nubes, and Bellum.
"Let's go too."
"Yeah!"
"Yeah, Davian!"
"Okay."
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