Chapter 34: The Forest Expedition and the Knights’ Pledge

The next day, the students of the advanced class arrived at school. They had barely settled into their seats for two minutes, their bottoms not even warm, when the principal walked in and announced their immediate departure for the Wunaluo Forest.

At the mere mention of the name, the students’ faces within the classroom instantly fell.

It couldn’t be helped. After all, for these young masters and ladies, accustomed to the prosperous and tranquil life of the royal capital, the Wunaluo Forest nearby represented the most perilous place they could possibly conceive.

This ‘testing ground,’ a vast expanse specially reserved by the kingdom for mages residing in the royal capital’s outskirts, teemed with an array of considerably dangerous magical beasts.

Though these lesser demonic creatures lacked true intelligence, most possessed incredibly brutal instincts. An ordinary person encountering them would almost certainly become their next meal.

Even for these budding mages, trained in magic, tackling a magical beast alone was an arduous task. They would need several to band together just to cautiously explore the Wunaluo Forest’s periphery.

And that wasn’t even mentioning the elite-tier magical beasts rumored to dwell in the very heart of the Wunaluo Forest. Those creatures… if one truly had to face them, a sharp intake of breath—

It would be utterly terrifying!

Consequently, many students immediately wished to withdraw. However, since the principal himself had made the announcement, backed by the Lord Bishop, they felt trapped.

With the school still holding their graduation certificates and transcripts, the students, utterly perplexed by the situation, dared not request leave. Instead, their faces pale, they turned their gaze towards Teacher Yuna, who trailed behind the principal.

The red-haired mentor observed her students. After a moment, she could only let out a long sigh, then spoke softly:

“Let’s go, don’t be afraid. This practical combat class is designed to hone your abilities. Should any real danger arise, I, your teacher, will protect you all.”

At her words, many students finally breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing that Teacher Yuna would accompany them offered a much-needed sense of security. Yet, a moment later, they suddenly realized…

Their worries seemed somewhat misplaced.

Because…

Behind the principal and Yuna, a squad of royal guards suddenly appeared. Then, a blond-haired youth, his hair styled distinctively and clad in gleaming silver armor, slowly stepped out from behind the principal. He approached Vivian, who sat in the very front row of the classroom.

“Prince Arius—?!”

A chorus of hushed gasps immediately rippled through the crowd. Arius, standing before Vivian, slowly removed his helmet, then shook his hair. He gently extended his hand towards Vivian and spoke:

“Lady Saintess, please allow me to be your knight for this practical combat class. Let me protect your safety by your side!”

“Wow—”

“Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, isn’t that just too romantic?!”

“Prince Arius is actually smitten with Lady Vivian~ How enviable!”

“What? You didn’t know? Hehe, I noticed it ages ago~ I’ve seen them walking together secretly around school before~”

“Prince Arius truly has a deep affection~! Phew, this is great! With the guards protecting us, this practical combat class will be no different from a staged play~!”

“More than that! Hey, look, Tok from the martial arts class and the Hero are here too!”

Listening to the excited chatter of her classmates, Allyrose followed their pointing fingers towards the door. Sure enough, her fiancé Jason and Tok entered the classroom together.

Jason, naturally, wasn’t approaching her. He merely spared a glance in her direction before immediately joining Tok in fawning over Vivian!

“Don’t forget about me, Arius~!”

The green-haired simp, Tok, laughed as he slung an arm around Arius’s shoulder, earning a displeased glance from the blond youth beside him.

Yet, Tok, still brimming with self-satisfaction, continued to act chummy with his ‘good brother.’ He then turned to Vivian and declared:

“Let me protect you too, Vivian! I absolutely won’t let you suffer even a single scratch!”

Similarly, a moment later, Jason also stepped forward. With a serious expression, he gently addressed Vivian:

“Please allow me to join as well. As the Hero, protecting the Saintess is a duty bestowed upon me by the Divine!”

Good heavens…

It had turned into an otome game!

As the three handsome male characters extended their olive branches, Vivian couldn’t help but swell with smug pride. Her sense of superiority was almost soaring to the heavens!

She even deliberately turned her head to glance at Allyrose, who was sitting in the corner. Yet, at that moment, the black-haired girl merely yawned with an air of indifference.

‘Hmph—’

‘She must just be pretending to be unfazed! Hmph… How could that girl not be jealous? How could she not envy me right now~?’

So, a moment later, Vivian turned her head back and deliberately looked towards Jason. She then shyly lowered her head, softly cooing to the three men before her:

“You… what are you all doing? I’m just attending a practical combat training class; there’s no need for such a grand display. Ugh… truly, I can’t do anything with you guys. But… thank… thank you~ Having such good friends truly makes me so happy~”

After her display of feigned shyness and cuteness, Tok, among the three men, was the first to be utterly charmed into idiocy. The green-haired simp chuckled at Vivian, then quickly replied:

“Of course, of course~! We’re good friends, after all~”

As for the remaining two men, Jason, who was being watched, was currently preoccupied with devising a plan to make Allyrose apologize to Vivian later.

His ultimate goal was to improve their relationship, thus giving him the chance to ‘capture’ both of them. Consequently, he was clearly distracted at this moment.

Arius, who had made the grandest entrance and put on the biggest show, was now clearly feeling a hint of frustration and jealousy that Vivian hadn’t looked at him.

The Second Prince, feeling neglected, first shot a displeased glance at Jason. A moment later, he turned his head away.

“Alright, alright, everyone, no more talking! Time is short, form two lines, we’re preparing to depart!”

At the classroom door, Yuna clapped her hands, urging the students to hurry out. The students, still not having had enough of this otome drama, reluctantly began to exit the classroom and form lines.

A moment later, Allyrose also pulled Luo Jia to her side and headed out of the classroom. Arius, who had been waiting behind Vivian for Jason, Tok, and Vivian to exit, now slowly followed, sidling up behind Allyrose. Then, with a gloomy expression, he vented his displeasure onto Allyrose.

“Allyrose, you’d better take this seriously. Don’t forget, we still have our bet today.”

“Oh~”

Allyrose turned around, giving Arius a mischievous smile, then tilted her head, saying playfully:

“Prince Arius, perhaps you should worry about yourself first~ You wouldn’t… be losing a woman to my husband, would you~?”

“You?!”