Hero or Villain, Both

If there was something wrong with this place, there was only one place to go.

However, I couldn't help worrying about dragging the other three with me.

First of all, it would be hard for me to explain why I knew about the existence of the place that I was planning to bring them to.

Second, it would be hard to explain what that place was and what I was planning to do there.

But I knew that place was the key to all of this.

After all, that place was the place that controlled the entirety of this forest.

It was the place where the spirits that created the monsters came from because those spirits were the ones that had been contracted by the high elf ancestor that was buried here.

As such, that place would be where those spirits were and the place to verify if there was something wrong with them that they were generating these monsters.

Still, the problem was that I couldn't just go there on my own.

After thinking about it, I finally decided, "Let's go back to the main camp."

The three of them were surprised to hear this, but then they had different reactions.

Fae looked relieved seeing me suggest this.

However, Nimue and Rania didn't seem like they could accept it that easily.

"If we go back to the main camp, isn't that the same as saying that we give up?" Nimue couldn't help asking.

Rania nodded in agreement before saying, "We don't have a problem taking care of the monsters, so it shouldn't be a problem for us to remain here." Then after a pause, she added, "Not to mention that we can help more people if we stay out here."

Unlike Nimue who was using just emotions in her argument, Rania used her brain to come up with an argument that was more logical.

But I had my reasons for suggesting that we head back, so of course I had thought of how to counter her logic.

"It's clear that something is happening in this place, it wouldn't be strange if the field trip itself was cancelled. They might have already sent people out to look for us with how dangerous it has become. If we remain out here, we don't have an idea of what's happening, but if we head back to the main camp, at least we can get some more information."

Then after a pause where I could see that they were still unwilling to go, I added, "It isn't as if we have to enter the main camp. We can just go to the vicinity around the main camp to see if we can get any information."

Nimue and Rania looked a bit better when they heard this, but they were still a bit unwilling.

In the end, they agreed to my suggestion to the relief of Fae.

As such, we started heading back to the main camp that the teachers had set up.

Before reaching that main camp, we noticed that there was a group coming from the direction of the main camp.

Based on the sensation that came from that group, it wasn't hard to figure out who was in that group.

"What are the teachers doing leaving the main camp?" Nimue asked out loud for all of us.

I just shook my head to show that I didn't know, but really I could guess what they were planning to do.

Especially since I knew what was in the direction that they were heading in.

After thinking about it, I decided that this was my chance.

"Let's go, we're going to meet up with the teachers and find out what is happening."

The others were surprised to hear this, but then they nodded in agreement.

Well, both Nimue and Rania nodded in agreement. It didn't seem like Fae agreed with this idea based on the look on her face, but she still followed us as we headed in the direction of the teachers' group.

Before we even approached…

"Who is it? Come on out."

With smiles on our faces, we walked out of the bushes into the sight of the teachers' group.

They seemed surprised to see us, but then there were relieved looks as they looked at us. It seemed that they were quite happy to see that we were safe.

One of them came forward to talk to us.

This was the head teacher of the group and the one that was in charge of the field trip this time, Nerina.

"I'm glad to see that you guys are safe, but it is a surprise that you would come back on your own. I thought that you would be wandering around trying to find the source of the monsters since that was what the ones that you saved reported."

Nimue and Rania revealed bitter smiles when they heard this.

However, I just said, "Instead of wandering around like headless chicken, isn't it better to come back and get information from the main camp? After all, it isn't as if this isn't happening without a reason."

The teachers nodded in agreement and looked at me with looks of praise when they heard this.

Nerina did the same before saying, "Not bad. Normally young ones like you let their blood flow to their head and make bad decisions, but it seems like you know how to keep calm and collected."

Nimue and Rania's bitter smiles became even more bitter when they heard this.

After all, it was like Nerina's words were a subtle jab at them.

I didn't bother saying anything about this as I just asked, "Where are all of you heading?"

Nerina and the rest of the teachers all slightly knitted their brows when they heard this. None of them actually answered the question that I asked, but their reaction was more than enough to be considered an answer.

"Let us come with you then. I'm sure that we'll be able to help if we come along."

That was what I had been aiming for all along.