Ch 1.4

The leopard beastman held Benjamin by the collar, glaring furiously.
Ben furrowed his brows but didn’t flinch.

That’s when the bearfolk stepped in, prying the leopard’s grip off him.
“That’s enough,” he growled.

The leopard finally let go.
Ben dusted off his collar, clearly agitated.
“What are you so upset about? I killed the ant queen, didn’t I?”

The leopard beastman’s eyes burned hotter.
“My team almost died because of your recklessness. If you had followed the plan, we could’ve slain the queen together.”

Ben’s emerald green eyes narrowed. “Oh, so that’s it. You’re mad because you didn’t get to fight her yourself. You should’ve just said so.”

The leopard beastman lunged again, but the bear held him back.
“We’ve been planning this raid for months,” he snapped. “Then you show up on the final day, turning it into part of your licensing exam. I didn’t mind that at first, but when you threw away our entire strategy just to charge the queen head-on… yes, I’m angry. You endangered my party.”

Ben blinked, puzzled.
“Planning? What planning? Even during my battle with the Queen, I helped you guys when you were struggling the most. You should be thanking me right now.”

This time, even the elf and bearfolk looked disappointed, hearing that.

The leopard shoved the bear’s arm aside.
“You! You don’t even remember the plan?”

To that, Ben remained silent.

Leopard stepped forward.
“We planted monster flesh around the area to lure most of the ants away from the nest. It took months to gather enough. While the bulk of the swarm was out feeding, we were supposed to crush the remaining ants in the queen’s chamber. Your role was to conserve mana and support your teammates. That’s what a healer is all about!”

“…”

“If we had just stuck together and cleared the chamber, we could’ve easily dealt with the queen afterward,” the leopard argued.

Ben crossed his arms.
“There was still a chance she’d call her colony. Isn’t it smarter to strike her down first?”

“That’s what you don’t understand!” the leopard snapped. “I had told you during our planning that the queen was in hibernation. She wouldn’t have woken up until you got too close and her antennae detected you. You woke her. She recalled her entire colony. Everything we prepared for… wasted.”

Ben sighed. “Alright, I get it. But I still managed to beat her, didn’t I? And you’re all still alive. So what’s the big deal?”

“That’s the problem,” the leopard muttered. “You beat her. Not us.”

“I still don’t see the issue. I risked my life to kill her. Why can’t you just be satisfied? Is it because my plan worked and yours didn’t? Or is it because I’m human?”

The leopard bent down and picked up the card he’d swatted away earlier.

“It’s sad you don’t get it,” he said. “You’re powerful, Ben. I’ve never seen a healer fight like that. Your strength and skill are above most adventurers. You’re a great fighter…”

He studied the card in his hand.
“…But this was your licensing exam. And what mattered wasn’t just strength, it was your ability to adapt, follow plans, listen to your captain, and work with a team. You failed at all of that.”

The leopard beastman bit his thumb and smeared a drop of blood onto the card.

Ben’s eyes widened. He clenched his fists.
“You wouldn’t…”

A red cross burned into the card.

“You’re a skilled mage,” the leopard said. “But you’re not an adventurer. Even those without mana understand how to work as one. Until you learn that… you don’t belong among us.”

“As your assigned examiner, I officially mark you as failed, Benjamin Almond.”

He tossed the card. It struck Ben’s chest and fluttered to the ground.

“You bastard!” Ben shouted. “You talk like you know everything! So what if I work alone? I’m still stronger than all of you put together! You’re failing me because you’re jealous! Because I’m human!”

The leopard beastman turned away.
“Let’s go.”

The elf sneered at Ben.
“We should never trust humans.”

She followed the leopard without another word.

Only the bearfolk lingered.

Ben glared at him.
“You got something to say too?”

The bear rubbed the back of his neck, looking regretful.
“Well… you were amazing out there, man. I’ve never seen a healer fight like that. ~ But… it really would've been fun if we’d fought together as a team.”

“Ugh, piss off!” Ben grumbled.

The bearfolk turned and left.

Now alone in the cavern, surrounded by ant carcasses, Ben stood in silence.
He bent down, picked up the card marked with a red X, his failed license exam, and stared at it in his hand.

“I don’t need anybody to fight for me,” he muttered under his breath.