Kaede and Karma were beyond frustrated. The sun was already starting to go down, but they were nowhere close to any exit of the mountains. Instead, both of them were completed drained, had some rather serious injuries and have already failed the test since Karasuma had to interfere.

Things started out really smoothly. They quickly found a clean water source and Kaede made them some water bottles out of wood with her wind magic. The pathing was going well too with Karma doing the general direction and Kaede fine-tuning in between with her Unique Skill.

However, all the coordination had collapsed when they ran into their first enemy. Their synergy was absolutely terrible! By now, there were already several cut marks on Karma's armor that were clearly not from any claws or fangs while Kaede had several burn marks on hers.

If Karasuma hadn't been watching them the entire time, he would probably think that they've turned on each other during the training, but nothing of that sort had happened. They were simply so out of sync that they somehow managed to disrupt or get hit by each other's attacks.

Karasuma was holding the bridge of his nose while wearing a deep frown on his face. Both Kaede and Karma had enormous potential, actually, Karasuma had never seen anyone with that much talent in his entire life before.

As of now, Karasuma would actually prefer if they had turned on each other. Because if it was only a personal grudge, it could still be worked out. But these two were actually trying their hardest to cooperate with each other, but the results just showed that these two were so incredibly incompatible that Karasuma could only come to one conclusion to solve this issue… one of them would have to leave the team.

But that was also something Karasuma really didn't want to do. No matter whom he had to kick from the team, it would be such a huge loss for him. He was certain that there was no way he could find a replacement for either of them in his entire lifetime.

Karasuma was getting a major headache from just watching these two. Kaede and Karma just kept running into unknown and rare beasts. It was as if God just wanted to mess with them today. According to Karasuma's calculation, Karma and Kaede should've been out of the mountains more than an hour ago.

The distance to the exit Karasuma had left them in, was the equivalent to the times when Karma was alone. If Karma was able to do it on his own, they should've been able to make it out easily, no matter how bad their coordination was.

But that was not how it went. After having their first few encounters and accepting the fact that them working together was actually less efficient than going in solo, Karma and Kaede had decided to take turns fighting against beasts that they run into.

For them this was the most efficient way since teaming up was ironically more exhausting then soloing. What this also did was to give one person some time to rest while it was the others turn to fight.

Normally this plan would've worked just fine considering that Karma used to do this on his own in the past. But they just had such bad luck today. On their fourth encounter, they had run into a rare type of tier 4 beast that was known as the Dracula-wolf. The wolf-like creature was covered in dark red fur, had fangs of a bat, and large bat wings on its back. It was a lot faster than your typical tier 4 wolf type beast and had the ability to fly.

These types of beasts usually come into existence when a pregnant high tier wolf beast hunted down and devoured the magic core of a high tier bat beast that caused her child to mutate in her belly. But since the chance of a mutation happening was extremely low, it was incredibly hard to run into one of these.

While Karma and Kaede were slightly surprised when they saw it, they didn't think much about it and after a really fast-paced fight, Kaede managed to land a fatal hit on the wolf. But just before the hit landed, the Dracula-wolf let out a deafening howl before falling to the ground.

That was when things started to go south. Dracula-wolves lived in packs, just like any other wolf type beasts. But Kaede and Karma forgot one little detail… they could fly.

From this point on, Kaede and Karma hadn't been doing anything else but escaping from the Dracula-wolf pack's pursuit. Kaede had also tried to use her third Unique Skill, grab Karma, and escape from the air, but she quickly found out that it was a horrible idea.

The sky was much more dangerous than the ground where they had the cover of the trees. The border of high and low tier between the center and the outer ring did not apply to bird monsters! After taking flight for less than a minute, Kaede and Karma suddenly realized that the wolves had stopped chasing them.

Just a few seconds later, they were covered by a large shadow and when they raised their heads to check, both of them could see their lives fading in front of their eyes. There was a huge bird with dark brown feathers diving straight towards them! With its wings completely spread, the bird was at least 10 meters wide and the sharp fangs inside its beak made Kaede and Karma shudder.

That was when Karasuma had to interfere. The bird was a tier 7 beast known for its size and enormous aggression because of its unsatisfiable appetite. While Karasuma was confident to take on this bird on his own, he could not risk attracting even more high tier beasts with Karma and Kaede still around.

So after crashing into the bird to stop its dive, that created a shockwave, which sent Karma and Kaede straight back to the ground, Karasuma had then grabbed both of the kids and started to run by foot. The large size of the bird made sure that it couldn't chase them into the woods and with Karasuma's speed and the cover of the treetops, it didn't take long until the bird had lost track on Karasuma.

"It was partly my mistake." Karasuma sighed and admitted, "I didn't expect Kayano-san to have a Unique Skill that grants her the ability of flight, so I didn't warn you about it." Karasuma explained.

No matter mages or combatants, they first gain their ability to fly when they reach the fifth stage. It was the stage where the gas-like energy of aura or mana started to be compressed and starts to liquify. Only then, were mages and combatant able to form aura or mana wings on their backs that would support them to gain the ability to fly.

Even then, combatants and mages rarely use this ability since this skill consumed a ridiculous amount of energy. The pool of a low-level stage 5 would only support the wings for less than 10 minutes.

"When in the territory of beasts, the ranking of danger usually goes like this, water, sky, ground." Karasuma explained, "The skies in these mountains are even dangerous for me to explore if I'm not careful."

Kaede and Karma gulped hearing Karasuma's words. If Karasuma said that it was dangerous for him, what they did was not far from what people would call suicide.

"Now to how you did… I already know what Akabane-san is capable of, so I'll skip the basics for him." Karasuma started, "Kayano-san, great mental stability. I was surprised that you were able to stay this calm and come up with reasonable and effective ideas on top of Akabane-san's usual attempt. Your approach to start this test was pretty much perfect, all you lack is some experience in that regard. You pass this part of the test."

"Thank you, Sensei." Kaede nodded and said sincerely.

"Akabane-san, initially this was supposed to be a test to see how well you are able to support an inexperienced teammate, but Kayano-san's performance made this test impossible, so you won't get a rating for this." Karasuma turned to Karma.

"Yes, sir." Karma just shrugged while taking a sip of water.

"And now to the important part… your teamwork." Karasuma couldn't help himself and let out a long sigh while both Karma and Kaede couldn't help but to grimace hearing Karasuma bringing that up, "Frankly I've never seen anything like that." Karasuma said while holding his forehead, "I didn't even think something like this was possible."

"I can work just fine with other people…" Kaede couldn't help but to mutter, she was doing just fine working together with Hiru even if it was their first time.

"Oh wow, so it's my fault now? That's fresh coming from someone who doesn't have a single friend in the entire academy." Karma rolled his eyes and said bluntly, even if he didn't dislike Kaede's personality, there was still a lot of bottled up frustration after getting hit by her attacks numerous of times, let alone getting hunted by a horde of flying puppies. "Have you ever tried to cooperate with someone before? "

"And what makes you any different?! You think I don't know that the entire academy tries to avoid you as if you're some kind of disease?" Kaede grit her teeth and glared at Karma, what Karma said was not unreasonable, this was the image she was giving off in the academy, someone who doesn't want to work with anyone, even the teachers. She really wanted to retort, but her work at the dusk was something she definitely couldn't bring up.

"Is that how…"

"That's enough!" Karasuma facepalmed seeing his only two students like this, he had miscalculated once again. After seeing that both of them had started on not the best, but quite mature and collective note, Karasuma had decided to let them work things out on their own. But he had forgotten that no matter how mature they were, they were still 12 and 13-year-old kids. And kids in that age start holding grudges very easily, and once they do, they become extremely stubborn.

"Let's get out of here… we'll discuss the rest when we find a place where we can stay the night and eat." Karasuma decided.

"Ehmm that won't work Sensei…" Kaede's expression quickly changed when she heard Karasuma, she was supposed to meet up with Hiru tonight! "I need to get back to the academy today Sensei."

"Hmm? What's the matter, can't you postpone it?" Karasuma frowned and asked her.

"I'm afraid not." Kaede was slightly nervous, "I wouldn't have come if you didn't say that we would make it back today." Kaede said with determination.

"That was the plan, but you two are in no condition to travel back right now," Karasuma said. "The risk is too high."

"It's fine! I can still move just fine!" Kaede jumped back up on her feet but grimaced when she felt her entire body ache. "And you're there as well Sensei! It's not even that far away."

"I'm afraid this is not possible Kayano-san." Karasuma shook his head. "This test was meant to build a connection in this team, there won't be a point if we end it prematurely."

"If that's the case I will leave on my own." Kaede didn't back down, it wasn't easy finding a partner that fit her grandfather's conditions, she was not going to let this partnership end because of this. If she was going to let Hiru hanging right on their first meet up, she was 80% sure that the partnership was going to end right there.

"I can't let you do something like this as your teacher, Kayano-san" Karasuma insisted.

"Then I'll quit your class!" Kaede blurted out without hesitation, "I have to get back today, vice principal Karasuma!" she purposely changed the way she addressed Karasuma to show him that she was not joking. Yes, she did want her school life to become more interesting, but she was not going to sacrifice her main goal of shutting down the entire slave market for that. And for her to be allowed to take any mission above A rank, she needed a partner! And Hiru was her only choice!

"If you do that, I'm afraid that I will have to retrain you Kayano-san, even as vice principal I can't let one of our students do something this reckless." Karasuma was starting to get irritated and subconsciously started to apply pressure onto Kaede with his aura.

"I will quit the academy if you do that." Kaede, who felt the sudden weight coming down on her, could feel how her anger was slowly boiling up. "And don't even think of going to the wind tribe for this, they don't have a say in this." Kaede glared right back at Karasuma not giving in to the intimidation.

"Jo Karasuma quit the bs." Karma finally spoke seeing that this was starting to get out of hand. "I don't know what your problem is, but if that's the kind of teacher you are going to be I'm leaving this class as well."

"This is a different matter Akabane-san, I need a reason why she thinks she needs to make her team travel while being completely exhausted." Karasuma shook his head and stared back at Kaede.

"Team? Don't you think it's a bit hypocritic considering that you aren't even sure if you want to keep me in the team yet, vice principle Karasuma?" a rather cold smile appeared on Kaede's face, "Excuse me for my straightforwardness but I don't trust you, not one bit. You were playing with the thought of kicking me off the team after seeing the problems between me and Akabane-san, weren't you? So why are you expecting me to put this team of yours above everything else I care about, while you aren't even considering me as an official team member yet?"

"…" the entire pressure Karasuma had placed on Kaede suddenly vanished while Karasuma was taken aback for a short second. She was right, subconsciously Karasuma had assumed that since he had gone all the way to invite Kaede into this class, it was only natural that she should be able to make sacrifices for this team.

Without a doubt, Karasuma has been putting this team of his ahead of everything else, but he had also forgotten that it was the members what made this team possible. That is also why he had been this strict with the selection of the members.

Up until now, this team had only been him and Karma, who were both ready to make sacrifices to a certain degree for the existence of this team. But Karasuma had forgotten how long it took get Karma somewhat attached to this class of his, it was so long ago that he had subconsciously considered this a natural. There was no way he could ask the same of someone who hadn't even been a member of this team for more than a day.

"You are correct, Kayano-san." Karasuma bowed slightly, "It is true that I had subconsciously put the existence of this team above of you as its member, and therefore prioritized my own desires above my duty as a teacher. You have my apology." Karasuma said sincerely, "But I would still like to ask you to reconsider."

"… I'm sorry Sensei, but this is really important to me." Kaede looked at Karasuma expression for a while, let out a silent sigh and shook her head. She didn't say anything, but just by the way she called him, Karasuma knew that he was forgiven for his previous action.

"… Can you wait till we find a place to rest? I will then personally send you back as fast as I can." Karasuma let out a sigh, "You should know that both you and Akabane-san are not in the condition to travel."

"… That should be fine, I think." Kaede bit the bottom of her lips, that would mean that she'd be at least an hour late for their meeting and she wasn't sure if Hiru would wait this long for her.

"Thank you, Kayano-san." Karasuma nodded. If she had even declined this offer, he would really have to consider removing her from this party. Even if she was correct that she had no obligation to put this team as her top priority, Karasuma still didn't want his team members to be people that show zero consideration to people around them.

"Uhh, that was gutsy." Karma had an excited smirk on his face while he started to grin at Kaede, "It's been a while since I've seen someone being able to talk like this to Karasuma. I think I'm starting to like you more Kayano-chan." Karma said completely ignoring the fact that Karasuma was standing right next to them.

"Well, can't say the same from my side, but still, thank you for helping out." Kaede threw a quick glance at Karma and looked back at Karasuma as if she was urging him to finally get moving.

"… We'll have to work on your coordination tomorrow. Training will start at 10 o'clock tomorrow, Akabane-san and I should be back by then." Karasuma said while grabbing both Kaede and Karma and leaping into the air. Large dark brown energy wings started to form behind his back as soon as they were just above the tree lines. "If you need to travel fast in the mountains in the future, this is the safest way," Karasuma explained while the wings on his back made a powerful swing and sent the three of them dashing across the mountains.

"You get protection from the beasts on the ground using the treetops, while you can quickly retreat into the woods if you get attacked by a high tier bird monster." Karasuma explained, "Of course, this is all based on the assumption that you're strong or fast enough to only consider the high tier bird monsters a threat. Otherwise, you'll just get hunt down by a horde of low tier bird monsters or mutated beast from the ground like the Dracula-wolves you've encountered today."

This information was mainly directed to Kaede, since she would be able to use this method sooner than anyone else, but also as some sort of apology. Since Kaede already had her third Unique Skill that could grant her the power of flight, once she becomes a stage 5 mage, she could user her Unique Skill combined with her mana wings and heavily increase the flight speed and duration of a normal stage 5.

The lecture didn't last long though since with Karasuma's speed, it didn't take long till they've found a small inn they could rest in. After getting a room and leaving Karma there, Karasuma quickly grabbed Kaede and started to head towards the academy in the same manner as he had brought them out of the mountains.

Man, having the time to just sit at home with a cup of tea and some snacks while I can just let my mind run wild and type away, damn I've missed that feeling.

In the last few months even when I found the time to write, my mind was still filled with all the bs from work like, "Oh crap I got this meeting tomorrow, do I have all my documents?", or, "Oof business trip tomorrow gotta pack my luggage." and so on.

So yeah :/ to everyone who's still in school or in university, enjoy that part of your life. I know what my parents used to tell me, "Work hard now son, once you get your degree and start earning money, you can start enjoying your life."… If your parents are telling you anything like that =.= that's a 100% bullshit, you will never have as much freedom as you did in university or school, if you get a decent job, unless you make it all the way up in your company. And that doesn't just happen with a snap of a finger.

Well, enough of me ranting :P, hope you all enjoyed the chapter, please tell me what you think about it in the reviews, have a great day and I'll see you in the next chapter! ;)