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

Low murmurs passed between teammates, some discussing the route back, others quietly reviewing the dangers ahead.

The exam wasn't over—not until they returned to the Elaris City terminal and officially logged their results.

For many, yesterday had been the hardest fight they'd ever faced. But for today… the looming thought of the boss beast waiting deeper in the forest pressed heavily on every mind.

On the far edge of the temporary camp, away from the chatter of other students, Kael Ashford knelt beside a massive corpse — the hulking body of one of the boss monster's elite guards.

The beast's body was a mountain of muscle and fur, its thick hide scarred with deep claw marks from the fight that had brought it down.

Its glazed, lifeless eyes stared blankly into the canopy above. Even in death, the sheer size of the creature gave off a lingering, oppressive presence, as if it could rise at any moment.

Kael tightened his grip on the hilt of his hunting knife. The blade was no longer sharp; days of use had worn it down, but it would still do the job.

Turning back to the corpse, Kael pressed the edge of the knife against the beast's hide. With a steady push, the blade slid between the thick skin and the muscle beneath.

The sound that followed was wet and unpleasant — a slow, sticky tearing — but Kael didn't flinch.

His movements were quick and practiced, the kind of work he had done many times before.

One by one, he removed the most valuable parts:

The claws — curved, long, and sharp enough to carve through stone.

The fangs — heavy, jagged, and wrapped carefully in cloth to avoid injury.

The gall bladder — precious to potion-makers, its contents worth a fortune in the right hands.

Patches of hide — thick and durable, perfect for armor plating if sold to a skilled blacksmith.

Each item went into his pack, tucked away with careful precision. He knew the value of every piece and exactly which guild or craftsman might pay the best price.

(If I sell to the alchemy guild… the claws and fangs to a weaponsmith… and the hide to the armorers… I could afford a decent secondary blade. Maybe even buy a few emergency supplies, potions, spare gear…)

He paused to wipe the sweat from his forehead, noticing how his fingers were slick with blood.

The sun had climbed higher, casting shifting shadows across the camp. Time was passing quickly.

(I can't stay here too long… but leaving this behind would be throwing away gold. Every coin counts.)

He tightened the straps on his pack and reached for the next claw, his eyes narrowing with focus.

Kael wasn't just scavenging — he was making sure that every drop of effort, every risk taken in this exam, would pay off later.

Kael kept his distance from the main rush, moving silently through the undergrowth. He wasn't interested in joining the chaotic melee.

For him, survival — and profit — mattered more than glory. Still, the distant echo of the boss beast's roar sent a shiver through the forest, shaking leaves from the branches.

By afternoon, the battle had reached its peak. Somewhere beyond the trees, the clash of steel, the roar of magic, and the ground-shaking bellows of the beast rang through the air.

The fight dragged on for hours until, finally, as the sun began to dip, the forest fell into an exhausted quiet.

One by one, students began the long march back to the Elaris City Terminal, their clothes torn, faces streaked with dirt and sweat.

Packs were heavier now — bulging with beast cores, and other staff, and whatever valuable parts they had managed to claim.

By the time evening settled in, the terminal was bustling. Groups lined up before the exam officials, unloading their collected materials.

Beast cores glimmered faintly in the fading light, each one weighed and recorded.

The examination terminal of Elaris City stood like a gateway between two worlds. A handful of professors manned the station, their eyes scanning the treeline for approaching students.

Edwin's group was the first to arrive at the Elaris City Terminal. They didn't rush, yet every step carried a quiet confidence.

Their armor, polished even after days in the forest, caught the fading sunlight, gleaming as if untouched by the chaos of battle.

The six of them moved together in perfect formation, like a well-oiled machine. Heads turned as they passed, other students watching with a mix of respect and envy.

At the front table, Professor Kalden sat with an open ledger. He glanced up as they approached, his sharp eyes scanning their condition.

"Edwin Leonhart. Your group's results?"

Edwin stepped forward without hesitation, a self-assured smile already on his lips. From his pack, he pulled out a dark, fist-sized beast core, its surface swirling with faint, deep red light.

He set it carefully onto the rune-engraved scanner at the table, where golden lines flared to life, confirming its authenticity.

"Boss monster core — intact," Edwin said smoothly. "And…" He gestured to his teammates, who began unloading smaller cores onto the table. "Secondary cores from the beast guards. All accounted for."

Kalden examined each one with the trained eye of a veteran, turning them over in his hands before nodding in approval.

"A clean execution. Efficient."

Edwin smiled brightly. "Efficiency is what we do," he replied, his tone light but brimming with pride.

Behind him, one of his teammates glanced toward the forest trail.

"I wonder how far behind the others are," he said casually, though the faint amusement in his voice made it clear he already thought he knew the answer.

Then Cecelia's Group Arrives

Cecelia's team appeared from the forest trail not long after Edwin's group, moving at a steady, purposeful pace.

Their steps were lighter than when they had first entered the woods, but their gear told a different story.

Scratches marred their armor, bits of dirt and dried blood clung to their boots, and faint scorch marks hinted at close calls with magic attacks.

Unlike Edwin's spotless group, theirs carried the marks of a real fight.

Cecelia led from the front, posture straight despite the lingering fatigue in her shoulders.

The faint, calming scent of healing herbs followed her — traces of the salves and elixirs she had used during the exam. Her expression was composed, but there was a quiet sharpness in her eyes.