The Huntsman Of Death:A Gamer's POV As Side Character-Chapter 112 - 114:The Forest

The sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of the huge trees, illuminating the grassland's edge. Tents dotted the clearing, their colorful fabric flapping in the gentle morning breeze. Students milled about, their faces a mix of nervous excitement and dread, as Emilia stood before them, addressing the crowd with a firm voice.

"Remember," she began, her gaze sharp as it swept over us. "This isn't a joke. Your lives are at serious risk here, and no one is coming to save you. That's why you'll be working in teams. Lose your teammates, and you're on your own."

Her words were cold but fair—a reminder that this wasn't just another school exercise. This was a test of survival.

I stood off to the side, arms folded, observing the scene with detached calm. The way some of the students were fidgeting, they wouldn't last a day out here.

"Lukas!"

I turned my head slightly to see Ashton jogging toward me, his usual grin plastered on his face.

"It seems I've been put in your team," he announced, slightly out of breath. "I'm team 15 now!"

"Congratulations," I replied flatly, offering a small nod. My tone wasn't sarcastic, but it wasn't exactly warm either.

Before Ashton could reply, I noticed someone else approaching. Freya. She moved with an air of superiority, her expression cold and her steps deliberate. Ashton's smile faltered as he noticed her. His excitement evaporated, replaced by a faint look of panic.

"In my excitement, I forgot she was here," Ashton muttered under his breath.

Freya ignored him completely, brushing past like he didn't exist. She stopped directly in front of me, her gaze sharp and unwavering.

"Don't you have anything to say?" she demanded, her voice as icy as her demeanor.

I raised an eyebrow, trying to recall what she was talking about. Then it clicked. I uncrossed my arms, gave her a casual thumbs-up, and said, "You did a great job."

For a moment, Freya blinked, clearly taken aback.

"Is this it?" she asked, her tone rising slightly.

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

I froze. Around us, a chorus of surprised voices echoed. I glanced to the side and found the entire group of main players staring at us: Roderick, Leila, Ava, and Selena. Roderick's jaw was practically on the floor, and Leila's eyes were wide with shock. Selena, on the other hand, looked at me like I'd just committed some unspeakable crime.

Freya glanced at them briefly, her expression as indifferent as ever, before turning back to me.

"Is that all you're going to say?"

"Why? Do you want me to praise you and kiss your feet now?" I replied, keeping my voice calm but with just enough sarcasm to make my point.

GASP!

A collective gasp rippled through the group. All eyes turned to Freya, who stood there, her face twisting into an ugly scowl.

Ashton swallowed hard, clearly sensing the tension.

Freya clicked her tongue, her frustration evident. "Ah! What else could I expect from a peasant? Manners? Certainly not!"

With that, she stomped her foot, spun on her heel, and stormed off.

As the group watched her retreat, Roderick pointed a trembling finger at me. "You… you…" he stammered, but before he could finish, another voice cut in.

"Are you close to her?"

I turned to see Leila, her face flushed, her expression uncertain. Her question caught me off guard for a second, though I quickly masked it.

Scratching my cheek, I gave a neutral answer. "I don't know. It's just a team thing."

Leila didn't look convinced, but she stepped back, her blush deepening. Around us, the group slowly began to disperse, though I could feel their lingering gazes.

Ashton leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Just what is going on here?"

I gave him a blank look. "I don't know."

He stared at me in silence, clearly skeptical.

Of course, I knew.

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Freya had requested Ashton for the team, citing concerns about being targeted again. She had insisted on keeping a similar lineup to our previous mission, claiming it would increase our chances of survival.

And she did all this because I told her…I mean asked her to do so.

But I wasn't about to tell Ashton that. He didn't need to know the details.

Instead, I looked over at Leila one more time. She caught my gaze and quickly looked away, her blush spreading further.

Smirking inwardly, I turned my attention back to Ashton. "Let's just focus on the mission," I said calmly.

.....

Freya led the way through the dense forest, her confident strides a testament to her self-assurance. Ashton followed close behind, glancing occasionally at Talia, who walked with quiet steps, her demeanor reserved.

Ashton squinted, trying to read her.

"She seems clumsy," he thought. "But there's something sharp about her, like she's not as fragile as she looks."

Their journey was uneventful until Freya suddenly stopped in her tracks. Ashton, caught off guard, almost bumped into her.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice curious.

Freya turned, her face stern and serious. "Listen, Ashton. Since you're new here, there are a few things you need to understand."

Ashton's ears perked up, and he gave her his full attention.

"First thing," she began.

"Yeah?" Ashton asked, leaning forward slightly.

"Know your place," Freya said coldly.

The bluntness of her words hit Ashton like a slap, and he stumbled back a step. "What?!"

Before he could even process her words, Freya cut him off.

"Second, don't disturb me when I'm fighting. I'm the strongest here, which means I'll be the one dealing with the most difficult challenges." She raised her chin slightly, her arrogance shining through. "I can't babysit you, so if you're not capable of handling monsters, don't even think about getting involved."

"Third," she continued, not giving him a chance to interject, "don't let your focus wander. This isn't a stroll in the park."

"Fourth—"

Ashton's head was spinning by this point. Her endless rules were making his mind whirl. He blinked, trying to steady himself, and turned toward Talia for some kind of reassurance.

"Is she really like this?" he whispered.

Talia hesitated for a moment before nodding softly. "Um… yes."

Ashton's heart sank. He sighed, already regretting being part of this team, and turned his head to look for Lukas. If anyone could provide some semblance of normalcy, it was him.

"Hey, where are you looking? Focus on what I'm—" Freya's voice trailed off abruptly.

Her expression shifted to one of confusion as she noticed where Ashton's gaze had gone.

Lukas was a few steps back, his outline vaguely visible through the undergrowth. His movements seemed… odd. He was rubbing his foot against the ground, his posture casual but strangely deliberate.

"Hey, peasant!" Freya barked. "What are you doing?"

Lukas paused mid-motion, glanced at her, and then at the rest of the group. His face remained impassive as he spoke in his usual calm, serious tone.

"I stepped on some beast shit. Just cleaning it off."

Freya's body stiffened, her composure cracking as a wave of disgust washed over her.

"Ewwwww!" she shrieked, her voice echoing through the forest.

Ashton's jaw dropped as he struggled not to laugh, while Talia covered her mouth, her eyes wide.

Lukas, unfazed, simply returned to scraping his boot while signing.

'AHHH!'

'What kind of shit I needed to do.'