The issue was resolved sooner than later, with Itekan and Itoyea explaining how they had decided to spend the weekend hunting. They also admitted how they'd gotten lost in the dungeon after wandering too deep, unaware that the dungeon changed its internal paths every night.
This left Bukanami and his crew more surprised than anything else.
Till now, they'd assumed Itekan and Itoyea were second-year prodigies—strong enough to roam unsupervised, like all approved second-years. When Itoyea clarified that they were actually first-years who had sneaked out, it flipped their assumptions completely.
Somehow, this made Konacho even more irritated—especially after already slapping both boys earlier.
Bukanami, however, understood. Not everyone was gifted, and those who weren't often had to claw their way up with nothing but grit. He knew the feeling. He wasn't one of the talented ones either. He'd just worked harder than most.
After the explanations, Bukanami told them about their own team—second-year students returning from a mission in the neighboring town. They had chosen to cut through the dungeon because they understood the forest's day-path and could read its shifting, unlike Itekan and Itoyea who had been swallowed in blindly.
With the distrust cleared, the two groups finally relaxed.
"Can you help us? We're trying to head back to the school," Itoyea asked during the lull of noon.
"Sure. We're heading back soon anyway—might as well come along," Bukanami replied.
Itekan smiled at the warm reply, though it dampened slightly when he noticed Konacho still glaring at him like he'd spilled something on her favorite shirt.
"Also, we need to sell the SE stones we got today," Itekan said, glancing away from her stare that seemed to dare him to speak again.
"The nearest town is Lysternia," Tobi said, petting Togira, who was screaming telepathically for Itekan to save him from the "big oaf." Itekan ignored him—he knew it was all theatrics. Togira loved attention, even if he acted like he didn't.
Tobi continued, "It's a border town to Formult, east of here. The only other one nearby is in chaos—its town head was killed by a sentient C-ranked demonic beast.
That's where we were before this."
"You couldn't find it?" Itekan asked, intrigued.
Bukanami shook his head. "We tried. It was gone. Just like the other towns it's struck. Each time it vanishes before a team can arrive."
"About six months ago," Tobi added, "we got a notice about a similar attack. Headmaster gave it to us second-years. My friend Patrick went on that one. They came back empty-handed—said the beast was powerful and cunning. Like, strategic."
"Headmaster sent more of our top-tier classmates after that. Still nothing. Jerome—one of the A-listers—even switched sides," Bukanami said, voice dropping.
"He joined the monster?" Itoyea said, standing quickly.
"Yup," Konacho chimed in, twirling her synth chain. "Snake bastard must've made him an offer. We haven't seen Jerome since."
"A snake?" Itekan asked, surprised.
"According to reports, it's a huge snake with golden, leaf-like growths on its head. Some say that's what gives it its intelligence," Bukanami said as he handled the frying meat over their campfire.
Itoyea noted the way Bukanami cooked while talking—focused, calm, without hesitation. Tobi was marinating meat while watching the fire. Konacho had already skinned the rabbit and cleaned her blade in one motion.
Itekan watched it all with a quiet appreciation. They hadn't needed to talk or delegate—Konacho had skinned, Tobi prepped, and Bukanami cooked. It wasn't flashy or dramatic—it was precision born from familiarity.
They moved together like they'd done this a hundred times before. It wasn't coordination—it was instinct. Itekan realized, in that quiet moment, that he and Itoyea weren't there yet—not as a team. But maybe, one day, they could be.
Then came the question everyone was skirting.
"Why hasn't Headmaster just sent third-years? Or even the fourth-years?" Itoyea asked, brows furrowed.
Bukanami looked down. "Because I asked him not to."
The air shifted.
"I told him to give our class one more shot. It's a stain we need to clean ourselves."
"You're risking more lives for pride!?" Itoyea stood, furious. His voice echoed against the trees, ready to explode into a rant.
But Itekan held him back, arm firm.
"So… you're planning to go back? Catch the snake?" he asked instead, his tone careful but firm.
Bukanami met his eyes. "Yeah. We're not going back empty-handed."
"Our honor as heroes is on the line," Tobi added, quiet but resolute.
Konacho stood, her voice steady: "We'll get it. Even if it kills us."
Itoyea exhaled hard, frustration lingering—but he sat back down.
"Then it's settled!" Itekan grinned, mood lightening.
Just then, Togira—who had just escaped Tobi's grip—ran across the fire and leapt onto Itekan's shoulders, curling dramatically behind him.
The sight made everyone laugh. The tension vanished like smoke, replaced by warmth.
Bukanami sliced up the rabbit meat and began to pass it around.
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