Anna and the other first-year students have come to the forest north of the royal capital as part of the extracurricular activities at Eiketsu Academy.
　This time, the assignment is to form a group of four classmates and work together to defeat the monsters.
　At the beginning of the school life, this kind of task is not only to deepen the interaction between the students, but also to make them more practically aware of the challenges they will face in the future.

　Anna, a cheerful and kind person, adds one of her girlfriends who has become a friend and tries to talk to two of her classmates, who are introverted and slow to talk to each other.
　They agree with a smile and a group is successfully formed.
　The students of the Heroic Academy are the only ones with outstanding talents.
　They didn't have any trouble with the monsters in this forest, and they worked on their tasks in a friendly atmosphere.


　However, Anna was one of the first to sense a change in the atmosphere.


(...... The demon has been acting strangely since a while ago. It seems to be running away from something rather than attacking us ...... well, but I guess I'm mistaken.

　Although she knew she was probably mistaken, Anna told everyone what she sensed was wrong.

I think he was overthinking things. The teachers said there are no dangerous monsters in these woods.

　Kicked off.

　But what Anna sensed was right.
　Because the task is evaluated by the number and strength of the monsters defeated, students who are trying to work diligently will not throw it away halfway through.
　That's why they can't see the danger ahead of time.
　They can't take the teachers' word that it is safe, and they can't take into account the unexpected.


　Then, a huge shadow appeared in front of Anna and the others.

　It was incomparably larger than the previous monsters.
　A red-robed lion.
　It has leathery wings and a poisonous needle in its tail.
　A fitting symbol of strength.


　The manticore.


What is that ......


　One of my classmates muttered.
　He had tears in his eyes with a look of fear on his face.


Ni, ni, ni, ni, ni, ni, ni: ......

　He squeezed out a small, muffled voice.

Don't worry ...... the other person doesn't know you're there yet. If you back away slowly and quietly, I'm sure you'll be able to ......

　Anna was right.
　He was eating when Anna and her friends encountered the manticore.
　The manticore had awakened from its long slumber, hungry and engrossed in its meal.
　If you could leave quietly now and alert the teacher to the presence of that monster, you would be safe.


"Ciaaaa...


　One of them screamed as he could no longer bear the horror.
　Quickly, Anna held her mouth, but the Manticore found out.
　The manticore stops eating the demon and sets its sights on its next victim.
　Demons won't satisfy him.
　You have to eat the humans, their favorite food.


She realizes.

　A cold sweat broke out on Anna's forehead.

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry!　I'm so sorry to bother you!

Don't worry, seeing one of those things would make anyone scream. Okay, here's what we're gonna do. I'll buy you guys some time. You guys run off and tell the teachers what happened.

""What!"

　Anna's offer surprised the other group members.
　They weren't stupid enough to not know what that meant.

'If you do that, Anna would be ......!

Don't worry. I'll take care of it!　Besides, the best way to help as many people as possible is to let the teachers know about that guy's presence as soon as possible!

　He smiled and said that with a smile .
　Anna's friend nodded and ran off with them.
　I'm not heartless.
　It's because he's only been with Anna for a month or so, but he's spent time with her and understands her strange stubbornness.
　She is a good mentor and friend.

　The manticore that appeared in front of Anna's eyes was drooling from her mouth.

(...... I'm already in a giving up mood, but I have to buy as much time as I can for everyone.

　That's what Anna thought, but it's not without regret.

(I wonder if I've become a little more respectable after joining this school. ...... I wonder if I've become the kind of girl that Revell likes).

　But there's no time to think about it.

　The hungry manticore pounces on Anna.
　He opens his mouth wide, ready to take a bite out of her.

"Hurry!

　Anna managed to react to its speed and dodge it by flying sideways.
　However, without a moment's pause, the Manticore attacked with its sharp claws.

"Gghhhhh...

　She caught the attack with her spear, but she couldn't kill it with her power, and Anna was sent flying horizontally.
　She crashed into a tree trunk.
　Her head is bleeding, and she's already wounded.

　As the manticore slowly approaches, toying with its prey, Anna realizes she's dead.

(...... Revel wants to join the high school for me. I'm sorry I did that. (...... Oh, how I wish I could have seen you again)

　The thought brought tears to my eyes.

...... I'm sorry, Revell.



　Those will be the last words.

　They'll never come.

　Sadness over her dying fate, Anna closed her eyes.



Did you call for me?



　The moment she heard that voice, Anna immediately opened her eyes .


'What? Why? ......'


　I thought it was a mirage to stand in front of me with your back to me.
　But when I turned around, she was smiling at me as usual.


"Well, well, we met too soon, didn't we?


　He was no phantom.


　He was a real man, the one I loved.