Transmigrating as an Extra, But the Heroine Has Regressed?!

(Wait... they didn't send a Dread-ranked beast? Then Kael—why were you the first one it found?

Did you know something? No... don't jump to conclusions...)

She looked at Kael from the corner of her eye and said nothing.

Just then, one of Elysia's team stepped forward quickly and interrupted, pointing toward the treeline, where the forest grew thick and dark.

"It went that way!" he told professor slyvia. "Toward the west edge!"

Everyone turned their heads in the direction the student had pointed.

The trees ahead were still moving, their branches swaying unnaturally, as if something enormous had just crashed through.

Broken limbs hung at odd angles, and deep cuts in the ground showed where the beast had thrashed its way through the underbrush.

Leaves were scattered everywhere. The air itself felt strange—dark wisps, like thin trails of smoke, lingered in the space the Shadow Leech had fled through.

It was as if the creature's presence had stained the forest.

A heavy silence fell over the group.

Professor Sylvia's sharp gaze followed the trail. Her eyes narrowed, and for a brief moment, even the wind seemed to stop. The forest was completely still—like it was holding its breath, afraid to move.

Sylvia's expression was worried.

"I'll go after it," she said quietly but firmly. "This… wasn't supposed to happen."

She turned back to the group of students, her tone shifting to one of command.

"You have less than two days left before the midterm trial ends. Use your time wisely. Heal your injuries, regroup with your teams, and continue the test as planned."

Her eyes grew colder.

"Do not chase that thing. Don't even think about it. If it returns, use your emergency talismans again immediately with no hesitation."

Then, without another word, she went. In one smooth, powerful leap, Sylvia launched herself into the trees. Her figure vanished into the forest canopy like a gust of wind.

The leaves rustled behind her for a moment—then even that faded, leaving behind only silence.

For several seconds, no one spoke.

The air was still heavy with tension. Everyone stood frozen, unsure of what to do next. The wrath of the battle with the Shadow Leech still lingered in their minds.

Finally, breaking the silence, one of Elysia's group members, his voice was quiet and low—spoke.

"…Should we move?"

Another student, "We don't have much time left. The trial hasn't ended… We need to keep going."

No one disagreed. The silence that followed wasn't hesitation—it was acceptance. They had survived, but they couldn't afford to rest for long.

Without saying a word, the group slowly began to gather themselves.

Some students pulled out bandages and healing items, patching up wounds as best they could.

Others helped their teammates to stand, supporting those who were still recovering from injuries. A few glanced back toward the path where the Shadow Leech had fled, the memory of the battle fresh in their eyes.

Despite what had just happened, they had to keep moving. The midterm exam wasn't over, and staying in one place for too long was dangerous. The only path now was forward.

Kael quietly walked over to Elysia, who was still leaning against a tree trunk. Her breathing was more steady now, though she looked exhausted.

He gently offered his hand to support her. "Are you alright now?"

"Shut the hell up."

Her words stung more than he expected.

Some of her teammates glanced between them, unsure of what had just happened. From the outside, it looked like she was upset at Kael—maybe because he had recklessly fought the beast, or maybe for some deeper reason.

Kael was confused.

(Why is she still angry? She came all this way to help me, but now she's mad again?) he thought, trying to make sense of her behavior.

Before he could ask, Selene—the healer in Elysia's group—stepped forward and looked at Kael with concern.

"You're by yourself," she said gently. "And that thing nearly killed you. Why don't you come with us?"

Another student added, "Yeah… It's too dangerous to travel alone. Safety in numbers, right?"

Several others nodded in agreement. It seemed logical—Kael had proven himself useful in battle, and having more members meant better chances of survival.

Kael opened his mouth slightly, caught off guard by the unexpected offer. His hand instinctively moved to his sword belt, gripping the hilt like it could help him decide.

He was about to respond when a cold voice suddenly cut through the air.

"He is not joining any team."

Everyone turned to look. It was Elysia.

Her eyes were narrowed, her voice sharp with anger—and something else no one could quite place. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a storm behind it.

Selene blinked in confusion. "But—"

"I said no." "No means no". Elysia's tone was final, her glare freezing any more discussion. "He has his own goals. Let him be in his own way."

Kael's brows furrowed. He hadn't expected her to reject the offer so bluntly. Was she protecting him… or pushing him away?

"Elysia—" he began, trying to understand.

But she turned her back to him, her voice colder than ever. "Stay out of our path."

Without another word, she signaled her group, and they began to move deeper into the woods, leaving Kael standing there—alone once again.

He watched them go, a bitter wind brushing past his cheek, the silence between them louder than the screams of any monster.

The group stood in silence for a moment, unsure of what to do next. Their eyes shifted between Kael and Elysia, confusion and concern on their faces.

No one dared to speak against Elysia's word, but the tension was heavy in the air. Eventually, one by one, they began to move. No one argued. No one looked back. They simply followed her lead.

Even as she walked, it was obvious Elysia was hurt. Her steps were uneven—her right leg dragging just slightly with each movement—but when one of her teammates tried to offer a shoulder for support, she refused with a cold shake of her head.

She didn't want help. She didn't want to show weakness. Her back remained straight, her pace firm, and soon, her figure was swallowed by the thick trees and shadows of the forest.

Kael stood there alone, watching her until she vanished completely from view. Leaves swayed gently in the wake of their passage, but no other sound filled the space.

"…Thanks," he whispered quietly, his voice barely audible. He knew she couldn't hear it, but he said it anyway.