Chương 3: Study Trip

Ch 3 - Study Trip Learning at the Secondary Institute was manageable. Evan had to dust off knowledge he had long forgotten, but he could still keep up with the regular classes. The real headache came from subjects unique to Nova Terra, such as Basic Monster Knowledge and Tower History. His classmates had spent years studying them, while he was starting from scratch.

He had read plenty of stories about Gates and Awakeners, but none had bothered explaining monster anatomy or what ordinary people were actually supposed to do when monsters appeared. Since the System refused to be helpful, he would have to memorize everything the hard way while also figuring out how the original Evan had behaved. That worried him far more than the classes themselves. If Reid noticed something was off, he would start asking questions.

And if Evan's suspicion was correct and Reid really was Reuel, then "my little brother got replaced by another soul" sounded suspiciously close to demonic possession. Evan had no desire to experience the Legendary Demon Hunter's exorcism firsthand. It wasn't as though he could neglect his schoolwork, either. From the report cards and completed assignments he'd found, the original Evan had been an excellent student. A sudden drop in his grades would be difficult to explain. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"What has you looking so miserable today?" the girl at the desk beside him whispered. She had long, straight hair held back with a headband and light brown eyes. Glittering polish covered her neatly trimmed nails. A quick glance at her name tag reminded him who she was. Zhao Yuyan. From the messages on his phone, the two seemed to be close friends.

"It's nothing," Evan said.

"I don't buy that." Yuyan tilted her head.

"Is your brother fussing over you again because of today's study trip to the Outskirts?" Evan stiffened. A study trip? He had checked the timetable before leaving home. He had even looked through the calendar app on his phone. Neither had mentioned anything about going to the Outskirts. A knot formed in his stomach. Routine events had a terrible track record in transmigration stories. School excursions, festivals, entrance exams... somehow they always spiraled into disasters.

Evan had no evidence that the same would happen here, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this outing was going to go horribly wrong. Could he refuse to go? Probably not. Skipping a school trip without a convincing reason would only attract attention from his teachers and classmates, and more importantly, from Reid. The original Evan would likely have gone without complaint. Drawing suspicion now was the last thing he wanted.

With no better option, Evan could only brace himself and hope that whatever inevitable catastrophe awaited him would at least be kind enough to leave him alive. Classes ended at eleven, and the students gathered outside to board the waiting bus. At first glance, it looked ordinary, but once Evan climbed aboard, he noticed the thick seams along the exterior panels and the seats bolted firmly to the floor. The vehicle's solid construction eased his nerves slightly.

At the very least, if something attacked them on the road, they wouldn't die immediately. Evan took the aisle seat, figuring it would give him the best chance of making a quick escape if anything went wrong. Yuyan settled into the window seat beside him, while a dark-skinned boy with short curls took the middle. Marcus Reed, Evan recalled from the name tag. He was another of the original Evan's close friends.

"Dang," Marcus groaned.

"Couldn't they have skipped the morning classes today? We could've spent way more time outside." Yuyan rolled her eyes.

"For someone whose grades are barely staying out of the red, you should spend more time in class."

"It's not my fault the lessons are boring."

"Being a student-athlete isn't an excuse to slack off." The two continued to banter while Evan stayed out of it. Judging by how naturally they bickered, this wasn't the first time they'd done this. The bus filled quickly. Once everyone was seated, the doors hissed shut, and it pulled away from the school before merging onto the freeway. Nova Terra stretched beneath the Tower Barrier, divided into twenty-two Districts. He and Reid lived in Outer District 20, one of the outer residential zones.

Travel between Districts wasn't straightforward. Security checkpoints and traffic control could turn even short trips into hours, depending on the direction of travel. Leaving the Districts was easier than entering the Tower Barrier, though school transport was usually subject to lighter inspections. Fortunately, today's ride was smooth. As the bus continued, the Tower's protective barrier came into view. A colossal wall of dark, seamless material encircled the Districts, rising hundreds of meters into the sky.

At its base stood security facilities and checkpoint buildings, all dwarfed by the sheer scale of the fortification. Traffic funneled into a checkpoint ahead. The bus entered a dedicated lane and rolled to a stop beneath a canopy illuminated by floodlights. A guard boarded and made his way down the aisle, scanning each passenger with a handheld device that emitted low beeps. Outside, another guard spoke with the driver, reviewing data on a tablet before giving a brief nod.

Moments later, the barrier lifted, and the bus passed through the gate, leaving District 20 behind as it entered the Outskirts beyond the wall. Evan had expected something closer to a slum, but the reality was different. Mid-rise buildings lined the streets, most constructed from reinforced concrete and glass, while older structures had been expanded over the years with tasteful additions. Utility lines and maintenance conduits were more visible here, running along building exteriors and beneath elevated walkways.

Shops and residential blocks stood close together, with residents and travelers moving through the streets. What caught his attention most, however, was how many people openly carried weapons. It was a stark contrast to life inside the barrier, where weapons could only be carried by authorized individuals. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The bus stopped at a nearby Outer Zone Security Station, and the students stepped out.

They were greeted by a massive man standing well over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and thick muscles. A bushy ginger beard covered much of his face. A broad blade was strapped across his back, and gear pouches were secured to each of his legs. Light armor plates covered his torso and shoulders.

"Welcome, students, welcome!" the man said.

"My name is Harlan McBride. I am a C-rank Awakener who will be your tour guide today. Nice to meet you!" The students greeted Harlan with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Evan scanned the surroundings. Nothing seemed out of place, and the sky was bright and clear. He couldn't hear anything resembling monster activity, either. After introducing himself, Harlan led the group through the station.

According to the itinerary, today's trip was a Career Exposure Day designed to give students firsthand experience with jobs in the Outskirts. The government had been encouraging more people to work beyond the barrier for years. Expanding settlements outside required workers, not just Awakeners. Most Awakeners were willing to accept the risks, but non-Awakeners were another story. From what Evan knew, many people living beyond the barrier did so because they couldn't afford to live inside it.

Judging by the bored expressions around him, the presentation wasn't having much effect. Most students seemed more interested in being out of class than learning about careers in the Outskirts. Yuyan sighed as they trailed behind the group.

"If only we could meet Junhao. That would've been more exciting."

"Why the heck would an S-rank be here?" Marcus said.

"Why not? One can dream, you know," Yuyan replied with a dreamy sigh. Curious, Evan opened social media and searched for the Awakener they were talking about: Chen Junhao. He was an S-rank martial artist and one of the most recognizable young figures in Nova Terra. Junhao had short, wavy dark hair with a thin rat tail at the back, usually tied loosely during training. His bold eyebrows gave him a perpetually focused look, even when he smiled. In nearly every photo, he wore the same easy grin.

Yeah, he could see why Yuyan was a fan.

"Well, then I hope Selena is here," Marcus said.

"Why would the number one Awakener be here?" Yuyan asked.

"You think Junhao can be here but Selena can't?"

"Junhao is very close to his fans, okay? Selena, though? No way. She's such a workaholic!" Before Evan could look up the name Selena, Harlan had brought them to the training ground, where several low-rank Awakeners were exercising. The training yard occupied a wide open section behind the station's walls and steel fencing. Rows of battered targets lined one side of the yard. Nearby, wooden practice posts and weapon racks held spears, swords, shields, and other training equipment.

Evan's eyes brightened seeing those weapons. His hands twitched as the urge to grab one surged inside him. While he had no experience with any of these weapons, he still felt uneasy about the study trip. At the very least, it would have been nice if he could grab a knife or something just in case some incident happened.

"Alright, so this is our training ground," Harlan said, waving at the area before them.

"The Awakeners assigned here often train in this area. Though sometimes young Awakeners who have yet to gain their license also drop by to spar. Does anyone want to try to spar with me?" Harlan picked up a wooden broadsword from the rack and shot a grin at the group of students. The teens exchanged glances. They were non-Awakeners, and while they did get daily exercise and some were even budding athletes, there was a difference between Awakeners and non-Awakeners.

Seeing their hesitation, Harlan said, "Don't worry, I know how to hold back. There's no way I'll accidentally hurt you guys. If I did, it'd be my head on the chopping block. Hahaha!"

"Let me try then!" Marcus said, raising his hand. Evan and Yuyan shot incredulous looks at Marcus, but the kid was already bounding off happily toward Harlan.

"Oh geez, that muscle head," Yuyan said, shaking her head.

"Maybe it's a good thing he's not an Awakener, or he'd already be one of those battle-crazy types."

"But I thought you're a fan of Junhao?" Evan asked. Even from his short internet sleuthing, it had become obvious that Junhao was one of those people obsessed with fighting strong opponents. He often appeared in the Arena, accepting all matches, even from lower-ranked Awakeners who had the gall and madness to dare challenge an S-rank.

"Junhao is different, okay! He's doing it to protect the Skybreak Guild's reputation!" Yuyan shouted. Spoken like a true fangirl. Evan stared dryly at the girl, already very familiar with how many fans acted. It seemed not even an apocalypse could erase the existence of fangirls and brain rot. Turning his attention back to Marcus and Harlan, Evan saw the two continue their exchange of blows. Even without any fighting experience, he could tell Marcus had no chance of landing a hit on Harlan.

In many of the web novels he read, the strongest Awakeners received almost all the attention. Evan understood the fascination with the strongest, but seeing Harlan effortlessly circle Marcus despite his larger frame drove home just how vast the gap between Awakeners and ordinary people was. Even a C-Rank Awakener like Harlan was far beyond what a regular person could hope to match. Dodging another of Marcus's lunges, Harlan swung his sword overhead.

As the massive wooden weapon came down, Marcus closed his eyes on instinct. Some students gasped in fear, but the strike stopped a centimeter from his head. Then, with a very gentle move, it tapped Marcus on the forehead.

"Great job, kiddo," Harlan said with a grin. Marcus rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish.

"Thanks…"

"You're the first kid that raised your hand to spar with me. I think that says a lot about your character, boy," Harlan said as he slapped Marcus on the back.

"Alright, who else wants to try?" After seeing how the spar turned out, more kids showed interest in trying. Even Evan considered giving it a try; maybe he could get some useful pointers. This was not like his old world, where the most dangerous thing you might encounter was a thief on your way back home at night. There were monsters around, and if Evan decided to stick around living here, picking up basic self-defense would be crucial.

Out of the blue, the System window appeared before him, showing a new message: [The Curse of ■■■■■■ stirs.]