Trapped as an NPC in a Dating Sim-Chapter 82: Finally Arrived in the Camp!

The camp the Elite Hunter Academy set up in Whiteleaf Forest was large, spread out across a cleared section of the outskirts.

It was divided into distinct areas, each serving a specific purpose. One section was reserved for the professors, with sturdy tents and facilities to manage the camp and oversee operations.

Another area housed the senior hunters who had come for the hunt and club recruitment, while the juniors had their own designated space.

The camp as a whole functioned like a small, organized village, each group taking responsibility for its section while still being part of a coordinated whole.

Currently, many Seniors from the Elite Hunter Academy were outside their camps, watching the massive screen above, displayed by Professor Lyra.

Multiple teams from the three sections of newbie hunters were running, hiding, and fighting, keeping the bored Seniors entertained.

"A dead monster attacked you?"

However, Professor Lyra herself wasn’t watching the panel. Instead, she let her skills run automatically while observing Soren and his team.

Just as Soren feared, this time his team didn’t manage to finish first, coming in third.

Darius and the twin sisters took first and second place, respectively, while Morgan came fourth, only because he was wandering and fighting on his own.

It seemed Soren’s conjecture that the Professors had prepared a separate, high-level trial for them was wrong.

"Yeah, it was already dead, with its head decapitated, but it attacked me while I was trying to store its body."

Soren briefly recalled the event, explaining what had happened in the forest.

"Hmm... since it’s just a level 40 Phantom Wolf, it shouldn’t have any unique skills like that. Then..."

Professor Lyra’s expression turned slightly solemn, as if piecing something together.

’A Necromancer? But... why would someone so powerful attack such a weak novice team? Just playing around?’

Lyra wasn’t entirely surprised by the incident; she had already sensed someone infiltrating her domain.

Besides, she had received news from Principal Logan about this trip and wasn’t caught off guard by the intruder.

She was only puzzled as to why Soren’s team got involved.

"Okay, I understand. Soren, give me that wolf’s body, and I’ll investigate. And don’t tell anyone about this, okay?"

In the end, Professor Lyra didn’t overthink it. She took the wolf leader’s body from Soren, whose core had already been removed.

Then she pointed to a designated area in the camp and said,

"That is where you’ve been assigned. You can set up your camp there. Rest for today, and starting tomorrow, the Hunter Club Recruitment will begin."

She explained briefly before dismissing them, as maintaining her projection skills consumed too much power.

It was necessary, though, so the Seniors could scout junior students for their clubs; they didn’t know anything about them yet.

Fortunately, she wasn’t projecting inside a dungeon.

"Oh, by the way, the reward for coming third in this trial is 1,000 credit points for each member. You can go and spend it at the small market set up by your seniors over there."

She didn’t forget to remind them.

...

"Sigh... why do I have to set up camp by ourselves? Can’t the academy just prepare one for us?"

On a certain corner of the huge camp, Sylvia mumbled, quite annoyed.

She thought that after completing the gruesome trial, there would be a nice place awaiting them.

But here she was, struggling to tie up huge tent poles and knots, her hands already sore from the effort.

Although the tent they were given by the academy was similar to the ones Soren had seen on Earth, it was far more robust and sturdy, infused with reinforced fibers and minor protective enchantments.

So, it took quite a bit of force to secure the stakes and properly set them up, making Sylvia sweat.

The poor girl didn’t even break a sweat while fighting, yet now her forehead glistened with it under the afternoon sun as she struggled with the stubborn ropes and flapping tarp.

"This is the worst!"

"Haha... this is also part of the Professor’s training. Otherwise, do you think every dungeon takes only a few hours to conquer?"

Just as Sylvia struggled with the knot, Soren stepped in behind her and reached around, guiding the rope as he helped secure it to the stake.

His broad body pressed close behind her, almost as if hugging her soft body.

For a brief moment, her heart skipped a beat, caught between embarrassment and the warmth of his presence.

Sylvia couldn’t help but feel a bit shy as they were outside.

"Some dungeons require days to complete, and sometimes situations happen. At that time, setting up camp becomes necessary."

But Soren seemed oblivious to her shyness.

Rather, while lecturing her, he briefly turned her body around to face him before taking out a white handkerchief from his inventory and wiping the beads of sweat on her forehead carefully.

His touch lingered slightly longer than necessary, gentle enough to make her feel cared for without words.

"Although there are artifacts that can provide shelter better than this, as a newbie hunter, learning it can be helpful at times."

After wiping the sweat from her forehead, Soren smiled at the stunned Sylvia, his hand resting on her shoulder as he spoke softly,

"Okay, your camp is ready now. Go inside, change your clothes, and relax for a while. We will leave after an hour and go to that market."

"It seems there is no shower facility here. We might need to buy some water elemental orbs."

He ordered casually, to which Sylvia could only give a stiff nod in response, a little flustered.

Her hands fidgeted at her sides while her heart felt strangely warm, though she didn’t know why.

To be honest, she was still a bit confused as she entered the camp, casting Soren a puzzled look.

"..."

And she wasn’t the only one, as Aria, Aurelia, and Evan looked just as bewildered, clearly unaccustomed to seeing Soren act this way.

"What are you gawking at? If you’ve set up your camp, go and rest for an hour. Didn’t you hear me?"

Soren, of course, noticed their shocked expressions as he turned around and rolled his eyes.

He was just trying different ways to deepen their relationship, alright.

And judging from the faint jealousy he could see in Aria’s eyes, it seemed to have worked.