154. Rain At Night
The destination was a flat land with relatively few trees and few slopes.
However, there were rocks scattered and tree roots crawling all over.
「All thirty are still here. Well, it shouldn’t be a big deal for students of the academy.」Jema said to the students who were breathing heavily.
The entrance examination probably had the purpose of filtering those who couldn’t keep up with this march.
「It’s already late at night. Get ready to go to bed. We have an early morning tomorrow.」
Having said that, Jema and the teachers started building their tent.
「You have nothing else to do for today. Our side will be responsible for keeping a lookout. Each group can go to sleep as soon as you are ready.」
The students also built tents for each group.
However, it was already midnight and raining. So there were also groups that had trouble.
They were struggling to prevent the inside of the tent from getting wet with water drops falling from rain gear and their sweats.
Meanwhile, Jema and the teachers built their tent in the blink of an eye and went inside.
The teachers will not be taking care of you. That’s what they’re trying to imply with that attitude, it seems.
Some of the students seemed about to cry.
Our team finished building the tent with Rosetta taking the leader role.
The tent was also provided by the academy, like the rain gear.
If students were allowed to use their own belongings freely, the difference between rich and poor would be too apparent.
Conversely, it may also mean that you can create a harsh situation by using poor quality products.
If you actually become an adventurer or a knight, you may not always have good quality equipment on site.
We entered the tent that has been built.
「The tent is a little cramped for four people.」
While saying so, Rosetta took off her rain gear.
Both Tina and Arti took off their rain gear too.
I followed suit and took off my rain gear. I took out a towel and wiped Shiro and Rubeum to dry them.
Fluffy was fine because it can absorb water from the body surface even if it gets wet.
「So hot!」
Fay, who was in my pocket, popped out and got on top of Fluffy.
「I can’t help wearing rain gear. But it’s less exhausting than getting wet and moving in the rain.」
While I was talking to Fay about that, Arti began to strip out of her clothes.
She quickly took off her clothes until only her underwear was left, and even tried to take those off.
「A-Arti?」Tina hurriedly stopped her.
「If you don’t change out of the wet clothes, you will catch a cold.」
「That may be so, but…」Tina said, casting a glance at me.
She probably wants to say that Arti shouldn’t take off her clothes in front of a man.
「It’s terrible to make Will go outside while it’s raining. Besides, we can’t afford to be embarrassed by things like these in the height of battle.」
「…That is true.」Tina said softly.
What Arti was saying was correct. It’s no laughing matter if you get killed in battle due to embarrassment.
Even so, it would be difficult to convince Tina and Rosetta right away.
「I’ll turn around.」I said.
「……Thank you.」
When I turned around, I heard the sound of clothes rustling mixed with the sound of rain.
After Arti and the rest finished changing their clothes, I also changed my clothes.
I didn’t say anything, but all three girls turned around when it was my turn.
「I’ll dry out the wet clothes. Pass your clothes over here.」
I then dry our clothes with magic. Blow a warm breeze to dry it.
「I will dry this on my own!」
When I was drying the clothes smoothly, Tina hid her underwear flusteredly.
「I didn’t give enough consideration. I’m sorry.」
「N-No. Don’t worry.」
Tina dried all the girls’ underwear.
「Pi-Pi」
Meanwhile, Fluffy moved around the floor of the tent.
Apparently, Fluffy absorbed the moisture and dried it.
「I guess I could have asked Fluffy to dry the clothes without using magic.」
「Pii.」
Fluffy is a slime that is good at washing and drying.
After finishing the preparations for sleeping, I tell everyone.
「I’ll go take a look at the other tents. Not all teams can use drying magic.」
「Oh, I’ll help you too.」Tina offered.
「No, it should be fine with just me and Fluffy. It’s not a big deal. Everyone should sleep first.」
And I went around the tents of each group with Fluffy.
Some teams were at a loss because both their clothes and the inside of the tent were wet.
Fluffy and I dried the clothes and tents of each group.
「You are a lifesaver, Will.」
「Don’t worry. It’s not a big deal.」
「But was it okay? We are another team.」
「The teacher didn’t say anything about not helping other teams. Though I’m not sure I’ll help tomorrow.」
「We know that, but just drying our clothes and tent is already a big help. Thank you.」
After going around all the tents, Fluffy and I returned to our tent.
While walking outside, Fluffy covered my body so I wouldn’t get wet.