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

The boy's head lowered, shame in his eyes. "Y-yes, I understand."

Jin sighed and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You've got heart. I can see that. But courage without thinking will only get you killed. Use your head next time too."

The boy nodded again, this time with determination.

Jin rose to his feet and addressed the rest of the team, his voice steady and clear.

"Everyone—well done. That was a Dread-rank beast. Arcadia Academy released these to test us… and they weren't kidding."

A quiet ripple of relief and pride spread through the group. They had survived their first real fight against such a dangerous creature.

One of the team members thought to himself, (Jin is really strong… With just two strikes, he crippled that beast. Working under him is a blessing.)

Nearby, the archer leaned toward another teammate, whispering with a small smirk, "He shouts a lot though. Always scolding us like a drill sergeant."

Veyla, the healer, gave a soft laugh while focusing on healing the wounded.

"He does talk a lot and shout… but he's kind-hearted. He always makes sure we come back alive. That's what matters."

Jin's gaze returned to the Ironback's corpse. Its armored plates were cracked, and its once-fearsome eyes were now dull.

"Alright, start collecting the materials," he ordered.

The team moved quickly. They extracted the Ironback Core, several heavy armor plates, and the faintly glowing mana threads from its wounds. Each piece was valuable for the trial's scoring system.

Jin's thoughts lingered as he watched. (Was this really a Dread-rank beast? It felt… weak. Maybe it only just advanced to Dread rank. Or maybe Arcadia is easing us in before the real threats appear.)

"Collect only the cores," Jin instructed aloud. "Those alone are worth a hundred points. Leave the rest. We've got more beasts to hunt, and we can't carry everything."

Once the loot was secured, he straightened and looked into the shadowy corridors ahead. The ruins stretched into darkness, broken pillars and vine-covered walls whispering of ancient secrets.

"Alright," Jin said firmly. "Let's keep moving deeper into the ruins."

"Why?" a girl asked, raising a curious brow as she brushed dust off her clothes.

"This trial isn't just about fighting monsters," Jin explained, his tone turning instructive. "Arcadia likes to test us in other ways. There are relic recovery sites and puzzle trial chambers hidden in some of these ruins. Solving them can give us rare rewards and more points."

"A puzzle trial?" she tilted her head. "That sounds… safer than another beast."

"Exactly," Jin said. "After what happened, we need to be smart with our energy. We nearly got wiped out by a single Dread-rank beast. Tomorrow is the last day of the trial, and Arcadia will release the boss beasts. We need to save our strength for that."

One of the team members frowned. "But why bother with relics if we have a strong hero like you, Jin?"

Jin gave him a sharp look. "Strength isn't everything. Look at all of you—we struggled against one beast. If we keep charging into fights like that, we won't last long. This trial is about strategy too. We hunt smart, not just hard."

There was a quiet murmur of agreement.

"Alright," Jin concluded, his voice steady.

"We will move carefully, we aim for a puzzle chamber or relic site, and we will get out with enough energy and enough puzzle cores for tomorrow with no mistakes."

The team nodded. Dust swirled around their feet as they took their first steps deeper into the forgotten wilderness of ruins, their torches casting long shadows against broken stone.

Into the Eastern Forest

The eastern side of the forest had a different world feeling to it. Unlike the west, where most students preferred to hunt, there were no cheerful voices or frequent clashing of steel against low-ranked beasts.

Out west, weaker monsters roamed in larger numbers—perfect for racking up points quickly.

But here, in the east, silence reigned.

The air was cool, damp, and heavy, carrying the earthy scent of moss, wet soil, and decaying leaves. Every breath tasted faintly of mist.

The ground was soft and uneven, covered in thick roots and rotting foliage that muffled their footsteps. Sunlight struggled to pierce through the towering ancient trees, their branches weaving together into a natural roof.

Even though it was midday, the forest felt trapped in permanent twilight, with streaks of pale light barely reaching the forest floor.

A thin veil of fog hugged the roots, curling around boots as the group walked. Somewhere far away, a crow cawed once—then nothing. The forest returned to its eerie quiet.

Even the sound of a single twig snapping beneath a boot felt like a shout in the stillness.

Edwin led the way at a steady, cautious pace. He was a tall man with sharp eyes and a disciplined air.

Even though he had experience, he wasn't arrogant enough to let his guard down in this part of the forest.

"Keep the eyes open," Edwin said quietly, his low voice somehow louder in the hushed woods.

"The eastern forest is different. Savage-rank beasts are territorial. If we run into one…" He glanced back at the group.

"We finish it fast—or retreat before it calls for backup."

The six students behind him nodded silently, adjusting their positions in a loose formation.

Directly behind Edwin walked their tank, a broad-shouldered boy in heavy armor. He carried a massive rectangular shield, nearly as tall as he was, the steel edge scuffed from training.

His role was clear: to hold the line, protect the mages, and absorb the first impact if a beast attacked. Every step he took made a soft clink of metal as his armor brushed together, a rhythmic sound in the forest's quiet.

Behind the tank were two mages. The healer of the group clutched a short staff carved with runes, while the offensive mage had a small spellbook tucked under his arm, ready to draw out mana at a moment's notice.

They kept their eyes moving, knowing any surprise attack would target them first.