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

Meanwhile, Cecelia's thoughts wandered to Kael.

Her breathing began to slow, the rush of battle fading into the background for just a moment.

Her gaze drifted past the trees, toward the deeper parts of the forest, where the mist hung thicker and the shadows seemed heavier.

(If Kael were here…)

She could almost see him—moving silently through the undergrowth, eyes sharp, steps steady. The image pulled her back to their last conversation before the exam began at the terminal.

He had been quiet that day, not his usual self.

Focused, almost distant.

But there had been something in his eyes—a spark of determination that she couldn't quite read, something that made her wonder what was really on his mind.

(I shouldn't be thinking about him right now… but…)

(Why do I keep thinking about him?)

A warmth spread through her chest, subtle but persistent, contrasting with the cold adrenaline still pumping in her veins.

She didn't like the thought of him wandering these dangerous woods alone. She knew he could handle himself—Kael wasn't reckless—but his stubbornness had a way of pushing him into situations most people would run from.

She wanted to protect him, even if she would never say it aloud. Not because she doubted his strength… but because the thought of him not coming back unsettled her in a way she couldn't explain.

Cecelia blinked, shaking her head quickly, forcing her focus back to the present. The battlefield demanded her attention now. There would be time to think about Kael later—if they all survived this.

Her victory over the massive bear left no time to rest—two more still raged on. Cecelia's eyes flicked to her teammates, each locked in their own desperate struggle.

Without hesitation, she broke into a sprint, boots pounding against the dirt as leaves scattered under her steps.

Rea's spear had already pierced deep into the first bear's side, but the beast refused to fall.

It roared in fury, thrashing its massive frame and nearly wrenching the weapon from Rea's grip. The ground trembled beneath its rage.

Cecelia dove in, sliding to a stop beside her teammate. Her palms lit up instantly—not with the gentle glow of healing, but with a fierce, focused radiance.

She pressed her hands to the shaft of the spear, golden light flowing into the weapon like molten sunlight.

The spearhead blazed with holy brilliance, light dancing along the steel.

"Drive it in—now!" Cecelia's voice cut through the chaos.

Rea's eyes widened, but she obeyed without hesitation, pushing with all her strength. The spear sank deeper with a wet, tearing sound, the radiant energy searing through muscle and bone.

The bear let out a strangled roar, its massive body shuddering before collapsing heavily to the ground.

Only one remained—Linden's opponent. The beast was bleeding from multiple wounds, sides heaving, but its eyes still burned with wild fury.

Cecelia moved again, a golden streak in the forest gloom. She appeared beside the beast, raising her palm, and unleashed a concentrated flash of light straight into its eyes. The bear bellowed in agony, momentarily blinded.

"Now!" she called.

Linden didn't waste the chance. With a fierce leap, he landed on the creature's back, dagger flashing in the sunlight.

The blade plunged into the base of its skull, ending the fight in one final, shuddering breath.

The forest fell silent.

The forest fell silent once more, the only sounds being the ragged breathing of Cecelia's group and the faint rustle of leaves in the wind.

The scent of blood still hung heavy in the air.

"We… we did it," Moran finally said, leaning heavily on his shield. His armor was dented, his hair damp with sweat.

Cecelia gave a short nod, already reaching into her pouch. She pulled out several small vials, the liquid inside glowing faintly.

"Drink," she said, handing one to each of them. "We rest for a few minutes, then move. We're too deep in beast territory to relax completely."

Rea took her elixir gratefully. "You really saved us back there, Cecelia. If you hadn't told us to switch… well, I don't think we'd be standing here."

Linden, still catching his breath, accepted his vial but didn't drink right away.

"I don't get it," he said slowly, eyeing her. "You're a healer… but you fight like—" He stopped, as if searching for the right word.

"Like someone who doesn't want anyone to die on her watch," Cecelia finished for him, her tone calm but firm.

She took a sip of her own elixir before kneeling beside Rea, pressing a warm, glowing hand against a cut on her side. The wound sealed in seconds.

"Thanks," Rea breathed, flexing her arm experimentally.

They began collecting the beasts' mana cores, prying them from the warm bodies. Moran wiped his hands on a cloth and said, "With these, we might actually have a chance tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Cecelia asked, glancing up.

"The boss beast," Linden reminded her. "If the scouts are right, it's twice the size of these bears… and smarter."

Rea shivered. "Then we'd better be ready."

Cecelia said nothing, but her thoughts drifted briefly to Kael. Somewhere out there, he was fighting his own battles.

And if she had to face a hundred more fights like today's just to see him again, she would.

She capped her empty vial, stood, and looked toward the deeper forest. "Rest's over. Let's move."

On the Next Day!

The dawn after the midterm exam crept slowly into the forest, bleeding pale light into the lingering shadows. The first rays of the sun struggled to break through the mist, turning the air a cold silver-gray.

The forest bore the scars of their struggle. The ground was uneven and torn—deep gouges carved where claws had raked the earth, patches of dirt scorched black by bursts of magic.

Trees stood broken and splintered, some leaning at awkward angles like wounded soldiers barely holding their ground.

The sharp scent of iron-rich blood still lingered in the air, mixed with the faint, acrid smoke of burned wood.

Around the battered clearing, groups of students began to stir. The exhaustion from the day before clung to them like a second skin, but there was no choice but to move forward.

Armor was strapped back into place with practiced hands, buckles clicking shut. Weapons were checked—blades sharpened, bowstrings tested, runes reactivated. Packs were tightened and secured, the weight of supplies and precious mana cores pulling at tired shoulders.