There's a Spider

"Alright, this is definitely suspicious."

Rena spoke as he saw the supposed 'Illusion' Magic Circle disappearing into thin air while the whole class stood with a confused expression, surrounded by thick rainforest that didn't allow sunlight to reach the surface while the sounds of various insects filled the surroundings.

"Eeeeee— EXPLOSSSIOOONNNNN!"

Zeus's and other student's eyes widened in surprise as a part of the forest was blown up while they were hit by the sudden shockwave and heat.

"What the hell, Megumin?! You trying to kill us all once again?"

One of the Elder youth shouted with an exasperated voice as all of the students looked at the tear-stricken face of a young and fair-skinned girl sporting shoulder-length dark-brown hair while her Crimson-eyes could barely contain her tears.

She held a wooden staff with a Crimson pearl attached to its end while she wore a shoulder-less red dress that reached the beginning of her thighs. With a wizard hat on her head, a brown choker on her neck and a golden-edged cape alongside fingerless gloves, she would've been an outstanding beauty in this outfit if not for her petite and loli-like physique.

Though, in Zeus's appraising eyes, she had her undeniable charm, too.

Megumin slowly took deep breaths and calmed her heart.

"You are 17 years now, how can you be afraid of a spider?"

"What? A spider?"

The group became even more exasperated when they heard Megumin's reason for destroying a part of the forest.

"Eh? I said it out loud?"

Megumin looked around indifferently and her expression had turned normal.

Hearing her words, many faces of many students turned dark.

Meanwhile, unknown to some boys, other girls had already started to look around and evade any kind of insect that might approach them out of nowhere.

"Zap!"

Zeus's eyes widened as he created a bolt of lightning through sheer control of Elements and his magic power and shot towards the incoming claw.

The forest immediately turned deadly silent when this particular claw emerged and from the destroyed patch of forest, everyone could see three pair of glowing eyes on top of each other while there were 'tuc tuc' sounds, as if the creature was striking his mandibles.

It was at this moment, Megumin whispered.

"See, I told you! Spider!"

"Will you shut up for once!"

"Hey!"

"Shit, can't you see this is no time for jokes? There is an unknown monster right in front of us!

Right.In.Front.Of.Us!"

It could be said that neither of them were actually serious enough.

Tuctuctuctuc

With the spiky claw retracted, the pairs of eyes slowly vanished as rustling sound emerged from their surroundings, covering the next attack.

"If I may say so, I don't think this is an Illusion battle."

"Hah? Newbie! Even if you are a Prince, don't think that you know better."

The surrounding students didn't give any face to his background... no... they simply didn't give 'him' any face.

This was the Imperial Academy! So what if you are a Prince? If you are weak, then be prepared to get roughed up!

"Do you really think that the Imperial Academy will send us into a surprise battle with real monsters?"

Another one chuckled but after he heard his own words, cold sweat poured out of his forehead while the other students including the carefree Megumin felt the same.

'Imperial Academy IS the kind of place to send us into real surprise battles!'

They all thought at the same time and immediately prepared for battle.

The surroundings were filled with magic circles and the students immediately covered their surroundings with defensive spells and started thinking of a plan to live this fight off.

No student was arrogant enough to underestimate an opponent in real life battles. While many shows did depict the scenes of a villain underestimating a hero, in real life, if a weak-ass hero showed himself in front of his destined enemy, 9/10 times, he will not live to see the next day's sunrise!

***

"You did what?"

Mei couldn't believe what she heard.

"I said, I sent the kids to the Bumi Island."

Harry replied as he took his seat. But this time, he didn't sit on the main chair but the assistant chair. He had lied to the kids and tricked them into going to the Bumi Island.

"You— That location is supposed to be the qualifying exam for the students who had broken through Rank 4 and want to graduate to the Rank 4 Classes!"

Mei was practically shouting! She really couldn't believe Harry's craziness!

"Oh, come on! Don't make it sound as if I am the bad guy here!"

Harry sighed while the maids almost collapsed after hearing his words.

You are the bad guy here!

"Either way."

Harry continued.

"Sending a single Rank 4 or sending almost 20 Rank 3 students, which one is safer. You tell me?"

He smiled at Mei. In terms of battle power, he was way ahead of Mei but he didn't show any terrible because there was no need to.

He and Mei were both teachers. Both of their goals was to nurture their students. Even though he had an astounding battle strength and a reputation that could eclipse the entirety of the Buxom Beauty Mei, he also acknowledged her teaching and guiding abilities.

"You know that I have to report this to the Head Master, don't you? After all, you just sent two Imperial children into a dangerous location and one of them happened to be the second-most favoured prince after the Crown Princess."

Mei spoke gravely.

"Oh, don't worry about that. You are just doing your job."

Harry wasn't the least bit bothered by getting reported. After all, he was valuable to the academy and wouldn't lose such a lucrative and fun job that easily.

Mei sighed and looked at the maids.

"You girls will stay in your Master's room, got it? You are not allowed to come out until they are back. I suppose you all have necessary rations, right?"

The maids quickly nodded and excused themselves.

"Oh, one more thing. I just read that Zeus also needs to go through the graduation ceremony of Rank 2 Knights. If you are already going to Head Master, please inform him of this issue, too."

Harry smiled and took out his research notes and immediately delved into his research of higher spells while Mei had a headache.

Maybe she should really apply for promotion and stay away from this crazy dude.

***

Surrounded by various elemental domes, Zeus had twitching lips while someone had the same thought as his.

"Is this your idea? Covering ourselves so that we cannot even see the next strike?"

Apparently, Malty was really smart to have such insights on fighting. Well, it was normal. As an Imperial Child, fighting should be her second nature and her foresight was better than most of her batchmates.

"Hmm hmm, Let me out! I will just create a super big explosion!"

Megumin spoke while extending her arms in an exaggerated manner.

"Um... did you maybe think that this Huge Spider was attracted by your explosion in the first place?"

Zeus's words quietened her down while she felt the icy-cold glare of her classmates. Her mouth immediately puffed up and she looked at Zeus with a gaze saying: What have I ever done to you, Newbie?!

"Anyway, I suggest that we should take down these barriers and create small defensive magic. If someone agrees with me, then please say so."

Malty's words sent others into a dilemma. If they did agree to her then even though they may survive this battle, they would also be handing the reigns of the entire group to Malty.

"I think that Elder Sister Malty is right."

Zeus smiled and spoke up. He knew all of their thoughts and while he had a certain degree of assurance to survive in this rainforest alone, he wouldn't leave the chance to stay in the group and fool around a bit.

Thinking a bit logically, as his new teacher Harry taught, it was quite easy for Zeus's perverted mind to reach this conclusion.

They all were stranded inside a deep jungle where he will have lots of moments where he can become the hero who saves the damsels in distress.

With this, he would get closer to the damsels of his Liking and just enjoy this location as another holiday trip!

With Zeus siding with Malty, the other two students with a plain background also nodded and the slowly, everyone accepted Malty's proposal.

Seeing this she grabbed Zeus's hands smilingly and knelt down and whispered.

"Thank you. I'll be sure to help you in the future."

Zeus, who knew Malty's true nature, understood that all her goodwill towards him stemmed from a single source.

Dracule Mihawk.

All this time, Malty had thought of approaching Zeus to get closer to Dracule and this very approach would soon become her one-way ticket to 'Zeus-ville'.

****

New character introduced:

Megumin

Anime: KonoSuba

Link

https://konosuba.fandom.com/wiki/Megumin