The faint morning light slipped through the dense tree leaves, awakening the camp to an unfamiliar calm.
The air was a little cold, and the scent of dampness filled the place, as if the forest itself was still asleep.
Rain slowly opened his eyes inside his tent.
The first thing that came to his mind… last night's talk with Alya.
Hell Forest… betrayal…
Too many things at once.
He sat on the edge of his temporary bed, rubbing his face, trying to drive away the remaining fatigue.
He didn't feel like he slept well, but in a place like this… who could?
Outside, soft sounds began to rise.
Students exchanging greetings, others preparing some simple food.
Rain stepped out of his tent and saw Rafi sitting near the small fire, staring at the flames in a daze.
But this time she wasn't alone. Sitting in front of her was Randy, the white-haired, green-eyed strongest golden student!
'Why is he here?'
Rain walked toward them until he reached them.
"Morning."
Rain greeted them.
"Good morning, Rain."
"Good morning."
That was the response of both Rafi and Randy to Rain's greeting. Rain sat beside them.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was sitting alone until Randy came and greeted me, then we started talking together."
'So he did come.'
Doubts crept into Rain about the reason for Randy's coming,
until Randy opened his mouth.
"It's the duty of team members to be close to each other, isn't it?"
'So you want us to be close.'
"Well, but I'm sorry, I don't think I can make you feel like a noble in your home. We're not your servants."
Rain said this with a little aggression.
"Rain! That wasn't good," Rafi said.
Silence fell for a few moments until Randy spoke again.
"I'm also sorry, Rain, but I'm not like those nobles you think are corrupt. Don't compare me to them. You will never be my servant, and I will never ask that. We'll just be team members. I only came to get to know you guys. Believe me, I have no hidden motives behind this."
Rain stared at him with a sharp look, but in the end he said,
"Alright, no problem if that's really what you want."
Randy lowered his head and said,
"Thank you."
He raised his head and continued,
"It seems that Professor Kaster is calling us. We should go see what he wants."
"Alright, let's go."
The three of them quickly stood up and went to where Professor Kaster's tent was. They entered and saw a red-haired girl.
She turned to look at who had entered.
"Oh, welcome."
Rain and his companions who had just entered looked around the tent and asked,
"Alya, where is Kaster?"
"Oh, it seems he has something to do with the others, and he assigned us to gather firewood from the forest."
Rain replied to her,
"Oh, I see."
Alya and Rain exchanged secret glances.
Alya opened her mouth and said, "We should split into two groups to search for firewood. I'll go with Rain, and you two together. Agreed?"
Everyone nodded in agreement with Alya's suggestion, but Rafi seemed a little worried. Rain looked at her.
'What's wrong with her?'
"Alright, let's go."
Randy and Rafi left the tent and started their task.
Rain said, "We should head out too."
"Wait a moment."
Alya took a plastic bag she was holding and emptied it on the ground, and a lot of firewood fell out. Rain was surprised when he saw that.
"Why did you send them when we already have all this firewood?"
Alya answered immediately,
"Because you have to do what you promised me yesterday, right?"
Rain remembered that he had told her yesterday that he would help her investigate Professor Kaster.
Rain let out a light sigh and said, "Alright, let's go."
Then he added, "But what should we do?"
"Isn't it obvious? We'll follow Professor Kaster and spy on him."
Rain was shocked when he heard that. Sneaking around someone like Professor Kaster could lead to your death if he discovered you.
"What? Have you gone crazy?"
"If you're afraid we'll be discovered, don't worry. Use this and you won't be detected."
Alya took out a black bracelet from her pocket and tossed it to Rain to catch it and put it on his left hand.
"What is this?"
"It's a bracelet that hides your presence. Look, I have one too."
"Alright, let's go."
Rain and Alya left the tent but didn't find Kaster.
"Of course we won't find him here. I assume he'll be with the students."
They continued walking between the trees, their steps light so they wouldn't be heard.
The light struggled to pass between the branches, drawing long shadows on the damp ground.
They passed many places where the students were, but they still didn't see Professor Kaster.
It was strange that a teacher wouldn't be with the students and would leave them alone in a scary forest like Hell Forest. It was a wrong decision.
"It seems he's doing something."
Alya said it with some worry on her face.
"Don't worry, we'll find him."
Rain remembered the events of that night when Alya first spoke to them while he was with Rafi by the riverbank.
He remembered what Rafi said, "All of this is because of me? What does that mean?"
Alya heard him and asked, "What did you say?"
"Nothing, I was talking to myself."
'All of this is because of me?'
Suddenly, a cold sweat ran down his back, and he was struck hard. His face turned pale, and cold sweat spread across his face as well.
Alya turned to look at Rain and found him in a miserable state.
"Rain, what's wrong with you?"
"Alya, I think I almost understand everything that's going on. We have absolutely no time to explain. Where are Rafi and Randy? Quickly!"
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