Beasts and monsters being sentient.

Considering the scale of the world mages are living in, it isn’t really all that rare to encounter such oddities, and even more so, it is not even surprising nor unbelievable if a travelling mage were to tell their story of encountering a beast or monster that can talk in human tongue.

Such is the blessing that mana gives with an individual’s increase in affinity with it, aside from the increase in life span and strength with the increase of one’s tier, insights, as well as wisdom, are also granted, and it is not too rare for a non-human creature to be granted the wisdom of the human tongue.

However, as plausible as these events can be, there is one restriction that makes it so that not all the beasts and monsters in the world are capable of human speech, of sentient thoughts, and that is the fact that in order to attain such feats, one has to possess power that stands above the masses, a magic tier that transcends the normal.

Which is why the news hits all the harder as his teammates heard what Laios just said.

In fact, from all this common knowledge, the less experienced freshmen couldn’t help but feel weak in the knees as their first naïve deduction is that the beasts and monsters within the range of the infested island are more than strong enough, hence the reason as to why they are granted such sentience.

The sharper ones, however, despite still feeling the immense pressure from fighting against sentient monsters and beasts, think in a completely different direction, thinking that their current opponents don’t need to be as strong as those granted enlightenment for them to be dangerous.

"Now, I don’t think we can still take advantage of them using normal tactics..." one of the other sophomores in the group mutters to herself while listening to the discussion of their leader and the Sword Princess. Her words, despite being meant only for herself, were heard by the entire group, causing them to feel all the more worried about the exam.

Silence engulfs the group of students as they come to the realization that everything is going to be far more difficult to deal with now.

"Senior Sword Princess, how about teaming up with us? The situation doesn’t seem to work really well for just two people to roam around the infested island after all..." heaving a sigh before deciding to shoot his offer. Laios said with seriousness in his tone, his eyes revealing a gaze of someone who is willing to do anything to make sure that everyone on his team is safe.

’It doesn’t matter even if Senior Medea takes over the leader’s role...’ he thought to himself as he waited for Medea’s answer, making him notice when the lady directed her attention towards her companion, as if she also wanted to know his opinion on this matter.

’For someone’s opinion to be considered important by that Sword Princess...’ this prompts the second-year student to direct his attention towards the freshman as well, his interest being slightly piqued as the young man who teamed up with who can be considered as one of, if not the actual strongest among the fourth-year senior students appears to be more than meets the eye.

Meanwhile, seeing the look on Medea’s eyes, Novus merely shrugged his shoulders as if telling him that he leaves all the decisions to her, his action making her wryly smile as she gently shakes her head before she answers the offer.

’Junior Novus is still hiding his strength so...’ seeing the same look of disdain and hostility towards her companion, Medea concluded to herself, leading her to a single answer to the offer.

"I don’t think we’ll be joining you for now, Junior Evergreen." Medea faintly smiles as she turns down the offer while refusing to elaborate.

And receiving such a reply, there is nothing that Laios can do but to accept it, revealing a helpless smile on his face as he nods, accepting her reply before he speaks once again.

"Well, it’s not that bad to try, anyway, thank you for saving us, Senior Medea and Junior Novus" staring at the tall figure standing beside the Sword Princess, Laios paused for a while before revealing a faint, knowing smile, showing courteous gratitude to them as he slightly bowed his head.

"Don’t mind it." Medea merely smiles as she waves off the gratitude as if she had done nothing of too much significance to her, just a moment later, she didn’t linger around anymore as she began moving at such a swift speed, leaping across tree branches, her figure disappearing in no time at all.

And along with her disappeared her companion, whom this group of students didn’t even notice moving, no explosion of air nor sound of limbs hitting ground as he disappeared, as if he was never there at all to begin with.

"That bastard is way too lucky... first Lady Alicia, then now, the Sword Princess..."

"Tsk, I guess all the fortune that he should’ve had with magic goes to womanizing instead..."

With the freshmen voicing their thoughts as soon as Novus and Medea disappeared from sight, Laios couldn’t help but turn around as he was once again reminded of how notorious that junior’s reputation is not only among freshmen, but also among other year levels.

"Hm... is that so?" however, being an ardent believer in seeing is believing, the impression he got from that junior is something that is completely different from the rumor.

"I mean, isn’t it obvious, Laios? Senior Sword Princess is the only person who helped us when we were attacked; she even made sure to incapacitate the weaker Silver Direwolves before dealing with the other threats..."

One sophomore supported the freshmen’s words, making the leader of this group wonder about something.

’Is it just me, or are they that inattentive to details?’ he wonders to himself as he recalls the blurry figure that weakened the group of E Tier Silver Direwolves for them, and there are multiple things he noticed that he just couldn’t help but feel like something is off.

’In the first place, that figure is a couple of sizes larger than the Sword Princess’ frame...’ the image flashes back on his head, and the only person his mind is being reminded of in an attempt to figure out the identity of that blurry shadow is but one person only.

’Right, Junior Novus is around that height and build...’ the answer arrives at him like being served on a silver platter, yet even then, he still couldn’t help but feel disbelief at the conclusion his mind had settled on.

After all, the sheer contrast alone of his infamy about his proud character with nothing to show off but his mediocrity, and that level of skills that figure shows is like crossing a massive chasm one cannot even see the opposite end of.

"Well, I guess..." he answers with hesitation to the words of his classmates as a seed of interest towards that junior was planted in his mind.

While this group recovers before they continue on with their hunt, those very two people they are talking about have already crossed a large distance, from the luminescent woods they came out, and greeting them right in the front is a clear, calmly flowing stream with multiple beasts seemingly guarding the place.

What piques their attention all the more is how orderly the beasts are using the stream, all lined up and patiently waiting for their turn to drink from the fresh body of water, as if they are soldiers being rationed with supplies.

The consistent tapping of her fingers on the hilt of her blade stopped as her hands gripped it as tightly as they could

"What the hell is this..." seeing how organized the beasts are, those words uncontrollably escaped from Medea’s mouth, her tone revealing a great sense of unease that Novus felt for the first time from her.