Chapter 5: Missing Ruka

  Afterwards everyone continued to grind for the rest of the afternoon. At the end, everyone in Soula’s group reached past level 50. Finishing off the last few monsters, all of the villagers gathered to the campsite where everyone stayed for the night.

  Upon returning to the camp, the children reported their progress to the guides and were told that only seven others reached past level 50. There was even someone who reached level 60, although his name wasn't told because it’s rude to openly tell one’s information without the person in question’s permission.

  To get used to traveling, everyone has to take care of their own camp chores such as cooking and taking night shifts.

  And thus ended our first day of training camp.

  ……….

  The triplets and Soula finished pitching our tent. All of them will sleep together.

  “Ah, time to sleep,” thought Soula.

  …

  …

  Rudy: “Hey guys, what do you want to talk about?”

  Ruka: “I dunno, but we’re gonna stay up all night.”

  Rudy and Runa: “YEAH!”

  “Noooo, my beautiful sleep.” cried Soula.

  ……….

  The next morning, everyone woke up bright and early.

  Strangely enough, although they did stay up all night everyone except Soula had enough energy to move around.

  Trying to calm down his mind, Soula tried to forcefully make his mind work less to recover faster.

  *Ding*

  Shocked, Soula checked how he got the skill. During his life, other than the ki/mana control skills he got at the beginning, he has never gotten another skill. When he asked the teacher, he was told that skills were unusual powers granted that required certain actions.

  He was woken up by Rudy. “Hey, princess. Stop standing around and lets go already.”

  “Don’t call me princess! I rather be a prince than a princess.”

  Both started arguing about the issue over what would fit Soula’s image. Nearby, Runa was looking around until she asked, “Umm, hey guys. Where’s Ruka?”

  Soula: “What! Ruka’s gone.”

  Rudy: “Oh, I know where she is. She’s at the core area.”

  Soula: “SHE’S AT THE WHAT!!! WHY WOULD SHE GO THERE? AND HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT!?!”

  Rudy: “She told me just a while ago. She said the monsters are too weak in the middle ring and wants to see if the BOSS is also weak.”

  Visibly panicked, Soula started to think rapidly until he felt the effects of [Calm Mind].

  “Runa, go notify the adults that Ruka went into the core area. Rudy, come with me. Were going to get your sister.”

  Rudy & Runa: “Roger.”

  As they split up, Soula hoped that the hidden guards already stopped Ruka before she entered the core area.

  They followed her scent as they ran. One of the perks of being a beastman was increased senses and fitness.

  After running for about 20 minutes, both of them heard someone scream. Stopping immediately, both Rudy and Soula tuned out the surrounding sounds to concentrate on which direction the scream came from.

  Soula: “That way.”

  They jumped pass the last few trees and entered the core area.

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