Charisma 100: My Academy Life As A Heartbreaking Commoner-Chapter 181: More Hunting

Aegis stood in the manor’s courtyard, watching Scarlett and Kanna gear up for their next hunt.

Scarlett was strapping on her black armor, the legendary piece they’d recovered from Dawnspark Ruins. Kanna tested the weight of her new sword, taken from the same place, the black blade humming faintly with residual magic.

"Mixsight Forest," Aegis said, handing Kanna the map she’d marked up. "Cinderwolf pack. High-value pelts, dangerous but predictable. Should take you two days, maybe three if the pack’s bigger than expected."

Scarlett pulled her gauntlets tight and grinned.

"Or we could bring you along and get it done in one."

Aegis raised a brow.

"I’m not a field operative. I’m management."

"Come on." Scarlett threw an arm around her shoulders. "When’s the last time you actually got out and did something? You’ve been drowning in ledgers and supply chains for weeks. Live a little."

"I live plenty."

"You fuck plenty. Different thing."

Kanna cleared her throat, not looking up from her sword.

"It would probably help us be a bit more efficient to have a mage with us."

Aegis looked between them.

Scarlett was giving her puppy eyes. Kanna, to Aegis’s surprise, was acting indifferent but something told Aegis she wanted her to come along.

[Fuck it. I could use the exercise.]

"Fine. But I’m not carrying anything."

"Yes!" Scarlett punched the air.

---

The Mixsight Forest lived up to its name.

They’d been walking for an hour, and Aegis had already stopped them three times. Once when the path ahead shimmered a little too hard, revealing itself as a mirage that would’ve led them into a ravine. Once when Scarlett nearly grabbed a glowing fruit that turned out to be a carnivorous plant’s lure. And once when the trees themselves started calling them, using each other’s voices.

"How do you keep catching these?" Scarlett asked, watching Aegis dispel another illusion with a lazy flick of aether.

"Pattern recognition."

[And about three hundred hours grinding this exact forest in the game, but sure, let’s call it pattern recognition.]

Kanna studied the dispelled illusion, looking thoughtful.

"The predators here are using the illusions to their advantage."

"Yep, they’re smart like that." Aegis checked her map. "Okay... This way. We’re getting close."

They pressed on, moving quieter now. Aegis kept her hands hovering over her daggers. The trees opened into a clearing.

There they were. Cinderwolves.

Six of them, maybe seven, with sleek bodies covered in ash-grey fur that shimmered from heat distortion. Their eyes glowed like hot coals, and smoke curled from their mouths with each breath. The pack was gathered around a fresh kill, some unfortunate deer they’d brought down.

Aegis signaled Scarlett and Kanna to stop.

The alpha was obvious. It was way bigger than the others, with darker fur and scars crisscrossing around its muzzle. It lifted its head, sniffing the air.

Then, the alpha’s eyes locked onto them.

[What? Already?]

It howled, and the pack exploded into motion.

"Go!" Aegis shouted.

Scarlett charged forward with a battle cry that probably scared the wolves more than it should have. She met the first Cinderwolf head-on, her black sword cleaving through its guard. The wolf yelped and scrambled back, singed fur smoking.

Kanna moved like water, flowing around two wolves that tried to flank her. Her blade found gaps in their defense, precise strikes that left them limping. She didn’t waste movement. Every step, every swing had purpose.

Aegis hung back, watching.

[Man, I really hired the creme of the crop.]

This was their job, after all. She was just here for moral support and emergency backup. Plus, watching Scarlett fight never got old. The woman was all power and enthusiasm, turning combat into performance art.

One of the wolves broke away from the pack, circling wide.

Targeting her.

[Of course.]

The wolf lunged, jaws wide, aiming for her throat.

Aegis used Aether Step.

She reappeared five meters to the left, and the wolf’s momentum carried it past where she’d been standing. It skidded in the dirt, snarling, trying to reorient.

Aegis hit it with Aether Burst.

The pulse of energy slammed into the wolf’s chest, stunning it mid-turn. It collapsed, legs twitching, smoke pouring from its mouth.

"Kanna!"

Kanna was there in an instant, her blade finding the wolf’s throat. Clean. Efficient.

The alpha roared.

It charged at Aegis, ignoring Scarlett and Kanna entirely. Apparently, she’d pissed it off. It closed the distance in seconds, claws extended, fire building in its throat.

Aegis used Aether Step again, reappearing behind it.

The alpha twisted mid-charge, impossibly agile, and swiped at her with one massive paw.

She ducked, felt the heat of its claws pass over her head, and rolled away.

"A little help here!"

Scarlett was already moving, her armor clanking as she sprinted. She brought her sword down in a massive overhead swing that the alpha barely dodged. The blade bit into the earth where it had been standing, leaving a smoking crater.

Kanna flanked from the other side, her strikes forcing the alpha to split its attention.

The alpha snarled, fire building in its maw.

Aegis hit it with another Aether Burst.

The pulse disrupted the fire, making it explode prematurely in the alpha’s mouth. The wolf howled in pain, stumbling, smoke pouring from its nostrils.

Scarlett didn’t waste the opening. Her sword found the alpha’s neck, driving deep, and the massive wolf collapsed.

Silence fell over the clearing.

The remaining wolves, seeing their alpha fall, scattered into the forest. Smart animals. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Scarlett planted her sword in the ground and leaned on it, breathing hard.

"That was fun."

"You have a disturbing definition of fun," Aegis said, checking herself for injuries. Nothing but dirt and a few scrapes.

Kanna was already moving among the bodies, assessing the pelts.

"Six intact. Two damaged. The alpha’s pelt is pristine."

"Good." Aegis joined her. "Let’s get to work."

Skinning the Cinderwolves was messy, hot work. The pelts retained heat even after death, and more than once Aegis had to pull her hands back before they blistered. But the payoff was worth it. Each pelt would sell for at least three hundred gold, and the alpha’s would go for double that.

Aegis was elbow-deep in the alpha’s corpse, extracting its claws, when she spotted something.

The heart.

Cinderwolf hearts weren’t just any hearts. These were rare as hell, worth a fortune to the right buyer, and absolutely essential for Rosalie’s high-tier Fire Resistance potions.

[Jackpot.]

She pulled it free carefully, wrapping it in cloth from her pack. The others were busy with their own work, not paying attention.

Aegis pocketed it.

"Got everything?" Scarlett called, wiping blood from her hands.

"Yeah. Let’s move before something else shows up."

They packed the pelts and claws, distributing the weight evenly. The walk back was slower, heavier, but the mood was good. Successful hunt, no injuries, and enough material to keep House Starcaller’s coffers happy for another month.

Aegis fell into step beside Scarlett, who was humming something off-key.

"You know," Aegis said, "watching you fight never gets old."

"Yeah?"

"You’re like a walking natural disaster. It’s impressive."

Scarlett grinned, flexing one arm.

"I do try."

Ahead of them, Kanna was scouting the path, her grey hair barely visible through the mist.

"So," Aegis said, lowering her voice. "When are you going to make a move?"

Scarlett nearly tripped over her own feet.

"What? I don’t, there’s no move to—what are you talking about?"

"Kanna. You’ve been staring at her ass for the last hour."

"I have not!"

"You absolutely have."

Scarlett’s face went red.

Kanna glanced back at them, one eyebrow raised.

"Problem?"

"No problem!" Scarlett said, way too loud.

Aegis bit back a laugh.

They walked in silence for another few minutes before Scarlett, apparently unable to help herself, cleared her throat.

"So, uh. Kanna."

Kanna didn’t look back.

"Yes?"

"That thing you did. With the flanking maneuver. That was good."

"Thank you."

"Really good. Like, tactically sound. Smart."

"I am aware."

Scarlett floundered, and Aegis glanced over, making it clear just how amused she was.

"And your form is excellent. Your sword work, I mean. The way you move. It’s efficient."

Kanna stopped walking and turned to face them.

Scarlett froze.

"You fight well also," Kanna said. Her expression was neutral, but there was the tiniest hint of something in her eyes. Amusement? Interest? "Your talent is considerable."

Scarlett’s face did something complicated.

"Thanks. I, uh. Train a lot."

"It shows."

Aegis took that opportunity to mutter:

"Good God, just kiss already," Aegis muttered.

"H-HEY!" Scarlett was indignant.

Kanna, however, cutely scratched the back of her head, looking away.

[Did she just blush?]

Aegis wriggled her brows at Scarlett.

Scarlett looked at Aegis with pure panic in her eyes.

Aegis shrugged.

[Not my problem.]

---

By the time they reached the manor’s gates, Aegis’s face hurt from suppressing laughter.

Evelyn met them at the entrance, took one look at the pelts, and nodded approvingly.

"I’ll have these catalogued and sent to Master Corin immediately. Excellent work."

Aegis handed over everything except the wrapped heart in her pocket.

"I’m going to check in with Rosalie. You two get cleaned up."

She left Scarlett and Kanna standing awkwardly in the courtyard and headed for the gardens where Rosalie’s workshop stood.

The heart in her pocket was still warm.

[Fire Resistance potions. High-tier ones. This is going to make Rosalie very happy.]

And happy alchemists meant better products, which meant more money, which meant getting one step closer to marrying a princess.

Aegis grinned.

[Time to pay my cute alchemist a visit.]