I was Reincarnated as the Youngest Child of a Villainous Noble Family Who Controls the Kingdom from Behind the Scenes

The request is to investigate an anomaly in the training grounds.

The training grounds Clyde mentioned are a vast natural field located within the school premises. Here, monsters are kept and used for outdoor training exercises. The grounds are divided into areas for first-year, second-year, and third-year students, with the strength of the monsters varying accordingly.

This time, the investigation target is the field used by the first-year students. Located in the northwest part of the school, it houses low-level monsters, but recently, their numbers have been decreasing. While it's not uncommon to cull monsters when they overbreed, the recent decline is unusual.

"I think there's something lurking in the first-year training grounds. Something beyond what first-years can handle," Clyde said.

"It's a bit odd to entrust something that first-years can't handle to a first-year like me," I replied.

"Your abilities are already beyond that of a first-year. That's why I can rely on you."

"Can't you ask the teachers?"

"The teachers are busy with their own tasks."

Even when I pressed him with a somewhat mean question, Clyde answered without showing any annoyance. I almost blurted out that I'm not exactly free either.

"Fine, I'll do it. But on one condition: I'm taking Lilysha with me."

" Lilysha ? I don't mind, but you seem oddly fixated on her."

"Well, just a bit."

Lilysha, who was suddenly named, looked wide-eyed.

"W-wait! Why me?!"

"It's student council work, right? It's strange to leave everything to me alone, and if it's the first-year training grounds, first-years should clean it up."

"Clean up...?"

"Don't have the confidence?"

"Fine. It's a cheap provocation, but I'll take the bait."

In the past, she would have refused loudly. Thinking about it, the duel we had before wasn't entirely pointless, and I secretly smiled to myself.

"I don't like this," growled Galeo, the wild boy, as he slammed the table again.

"Whether it's the Balfonte family or whatever, you're still just a first-year. I don't think you can handle this."

"Take your complaints to the president. It's not my decision."

"President, what do you think you're doing, spoiling this arrogant first-year?"

Galeo asked the president irritably. The president stood up with a look of exasperation.

"Galeo, why don't you join them?"

"Hah! Really? Won't it be a waste to let that first-year handle it?"

"That would still achieve our purpose."

"Thanks! So, first-year, you're on!"

Galeo grinned triumphantly. Having him along wouldn't be a problem in terms of strength. He's stronger than Deniro, and he might even serve as bait if needed.

* * *

"Alright! Time to show this first-year brat what reality is!"

Galeo was unusually enthusiastic as we stood before the first-year training grounds. I ignored him and walked ahead.

The first-year training grounds are divided into forests, lakes, wastelands, plains, and caves. The second-year grounds include harsher environments like snowfields and deserts, with correspondingly stronger monsters. But there's nothing in the first-year grounds that would trouble me or Lilycia now.

Perhaps aware of this, Galeo confidently ran ahead of me.

"Hahaha! You're slow, first-year!"

Galeo, boosted by enhancement magic, quickly left us behind. What a carefree guy.

"Alphiss , is it okay to let him go ahead?"

"We don't even know where the anomaly is. Let him waste his energy."

Even Lilysha seemed exasperated. I, of course, knew better than to waste my strength. The plains area we were walking through was filled with weak monsters like goblins and killer wolves.

Soon, a pack of killer wolves surrounded us, growling.

"They're here already!"

"Wait."

I stopped Lilyshad with one hand and released a faint wave of energy from my body. The wave traveled through the air and reached the killer wolves.

"Grr..."

"Wooof!"

"Yelp!"

The killer wolves fled in unison. Lilycia looked puzzled.@@novelbin@@

"W-what happened?"

"I released a wave of killing intent. Against monsters of that level, there's no need to fight."

"Wave?"

"I'll explain later."

People often talk about "releasing killing intent," but it's actually about the opponent sensing the energy wave. Animals and monsters in the wild are more sensitive to these waves than humans. In the wild, it's crucial to gauge an enemy's strength and know when to retreat.

What's often called "wild instinct" is simply the ability to sense these energy waves. The difference lies in whether one recognizes them as such.

"I don't really understand, but that was surprisingly kind of you."

"These monsters aren't infinite, and I don't want to kill unnecessarily."

"I'm a bit surprised you think that far ahead."

"I'm still a student of this academy. These monsters are teaching materials for students, so of course, I value them."

As I started walking, Lilysha stopped.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing..."

"Your face is a bit red. Are you feeling feverish?"

"N-no, I'm fine. Let's go."

Lilysha walked ahead of me, as if to show she was fine. She seemed energetic, but I hope she's not going in some strange direction like Letitia. I trust that Lilycia wouldn't do that.

"Hey! We're going together, right?"

"Yeah, sorry."

I scratched the back of my head. I kept telling myself that with Lilysha, it's different. It won't happen, right?