Arc 2: Part 6

Two hours later. They arrived at Trutam village, situated not far from the forest itself. The village wasn't big as it had only approximately 70 houses. Fortunately, it had electricity due to its proximity to Suroff. Not all settlements enjoyed such amenities, as those distant from major cities or power plants often lacked electricity.

The bus halted, and students disembarked. The students lined up while waiting for the patrols to report to the village chief.

One of the patrols stood in front of the students and spoke, "Before we proceed, I heard you guys have your own plan. Do tell me."

Eric stepped forward with Kyle and began to explain their strategy. The patrol listened attentively and nodded.

"So six groups. Designate one as a scout to assess what's ahead before the others advance. I will assign one patrol for each group to watch over you guys," the patrol conveyed while adding some adjustments.

"The rest will be behind you guys, along with your teacher. We will serve as a backup team in case of unforeseen events. But since we are just clearing the edge part of the forest, there won't be any dangerous monsters."

"The operation will begin at 8.30 am and end at 5.00 pm. However, if we determine the operation is complete or successful, it might end sooner."

"But, if the situation is far than we have expected and dangerous, we might have to stay here for a day," added the patrol. It caused complaints from the students, but of course, they were smart enough not to voice that out.

When everyone was ready, they headed toward the forest. Kyle and those under the scout group led the way by following a patrol that acted as a scout as well.

"Sir," Kyle approached the patrol who led their group and spoke politely, "My name is Kyle Welton, and on behalf of the others, I would like to ask."

"Ah, just call me Jean, Jean Wilkins. What do you want to ask, kid? And relax, no need to be formal." The patrol named Jean smiled.

"Yes. We have gathered information about Trutam through books, but I think it is not enough. Is there anything else we should know about the forest?"

"Hm …. What do you know about it?"

"Since it is a vital resource for the village, it is best not to cause any damage if possible. Monsters typically stay in the depths of the forest and rarely venture outside. Some animals can be found, but in situations like these, they will probably hide to avoid monsters emerging from their territory."

Jean nodded with satisfaction. "Good, you are well-informed. Then, I'll tell you what is left. Trutam is a relatively safe place from the dangers of nature, such as poisonous plants. There are only a few of them. However, it is different when we are stepping into the monster area. Since the monster area is left untreated, numerous poisonous plants or even monster plants thrive there."

"The terrain isn't challenging, but be cautious of the tree roots and mind your surroundings. You wouldn't want to trip or make noise by stepping on a tree branch while scouting."

"Also, monsters here are agile and adept at using their surroundings as they like, so we must do the same. As a scout, avoid carrying any scents. Some monsters have sensitive noses to notice this." Jean paused, scrutinizing Kyle to ensure he understood.

"I see. Thank you very much. Then, how should we proceed with scouting?" Kyle asked.

"We will split up later, but not too far from each other. Also, have any of you experienced being a hunter, a scouter, or something like that?" Jean asked the students he had to take care of. Among five people, only three raised their hands, including Kyle.

"You two will stay with me for a moment to learn. The rest, can you guys cover these two positions for a while?"

''I can," Kyle replied. "My mana strings can cover extensive areas and detect any movement through waves."

"That's good." Jean seemed to have a higher opinion of Kyle by telling him about his capability and readiness to take responsibility. "You three shall move to the front. Return to us once you've finished confirming the surroundings."