episode_0108

After the explanation of the test was over, we began to enter the mountain one by one, led by Sir Germa.

Eventually, it was my turn, and as I crossed the entrance and border of the mountain, I felt as if the air had become heavier.

My body felt heavy as if submerged in deep water, and every time I took a breath, my body felt heavy, as if a large stone had been placed on my chest.

It was a big change that came so suddenly, but I didn’t try to show it and just walked along with the person in front of me.

“… … .”

It’s only one step, but can it make this much of a difference? I know that the magical power of the barrier is stronger than other places because it is close to the core of the barrier, but this is the first time I have seen such a sudden difference… … .

Compared to three months ago, the pressure of the barrier I felt now had become strangely stronger. Has anything more changed in just three months? No, nothing has changed. Although it caused people to die, it never increased the power of the barrier.

There is no will in the barrier. This means that people are pushed harder and harder when they commit evil deeds, and no one acknowledges them for doing good deeds. So, I guess there is another reason… … .

I began to quietly look around, looking for anything strange. Is it because of the nature of the exam, or is it because of the tension of the actual test? It was truly surprisingly quiet in the mountains.

-Hmph~

So much so that I could softly hear Hermel humming from behind.

I listened to Hermel’s song with one ear and looked up at the sky. The clouds had settled down to the point where I thought they might have fallen right over my head, and it looked ominous, as if it was going to rain at any moment.

As I lowered my head and looked ahead, I saw a mountain path that was already dark because it was in the forest, but with so many clouds that it felt like sunset.

It felt like the worst weather to take the test, but no one complained, perhaps because it was a practical exam based on the actual test.

It’s dark enough that no shadow is created even if something flies in the sky.

‘The name of the hidden event is Gryphon Attack. It’s a special event in the game that fills up 1/4 of the favorability with the crown prince.’

“Aha… … .”

I thought as I touched the brooch with my hand as Ceria’s words suddenly came to mind. This situation may be due to the hidden event that Seria spoke about at the time.

Of course, I can’t be sure because I haven’t experienced it myself. But there was only one hidden event that could explain this situation.

I didn’t like the fact that I couldn’t be sure of anything, but I had thoroughly prepared for this moment, so as long as I don’t let my guard down, there won’t be any problems.

I smiled slightly and walked quietly, thinking about focusing on the current situation.

―Everyone taking the practical exam, please gather here!

As I walked towards the sound coming from ahead, I came into an open space and saw a knight holding a flag twice his height.

Students gathered in front of the knight, and all the students, including Hermel, who had been following behind for a while, gathered in front of him. The knight looked around the crowd, tapped the ground once with his flag, and spoke loudly.

“You must have heard the explanation about this test at the bottom of the mountain! Since this practical training is based on actual practice, cooperation, traps, etc. are required as long as it does not cause harm to other students! Anything is allowed!”

“I won’t tell you what is included in causing harm to other students! There’s no way those of you who are bright enough to enter the Academy wouldn’t know that!”

As the students nodded heavily, the driver took out something that looked like a ball from the leather pouch attached to his waist.

“But one in a thousand! We have to prepare for every possible situation, so we have unleashed familiars along with monsters all over the mountain! And this bead is the bead that records the scenes seen by the familiars! The familiars will fly in the sky and record every situation, so don’t even dream of doing anything foolish!!”

The knight shouted louder than ever before, pounding the floor twice.

“Okay then! Good luck!!”

Pooh–

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of a horn echoed throughout the mountain, and the students looked around in confusion, startled by the loud sound.

The first one to jump out was, of course, Hermel.

“Haha! Charles! I’ll go first!!”

“Ha… … .”

I laughed, looking at the back of Hermel, who was jumping out laughing wildly like an animal.

They say the words have changed, but nothing has changed. You say you’re going to protect someone, but you raise a shield and run out first, leaving behind someone to protect you. It’s Amitabha Buddha.

“I need to move too.”

ruler… … . The hidden event with the crown prince that you have been longing for. Relax and have fun. Enjoy it thoroughly. Seria.

Before entering the forest, I looked at Seria, who was looking towards the crown prince, and the crown prince, who was standing alone in the corner looking at me, then turned his back and went into the forest.

Where should I go… … . As I was looking around, I wasn’t particularly serious about winning and there was no place I could go, so I decided to aim for something else.

“Let’s go to the top of the mountain.”

From there, you can best see Ceria being caught by the griffon and flying away. Oh, and I guess I’ll have to take a look and see if it’s a barrier stone or not.

I draped the halberd over my shoulder and headed to the top of the mountain.

* * *

Because I was so nervous, I wiped the sweat from my palms on my clothes and grabbed the sword again.

It’s today. Hidden event with the crown prince The day when the griffon attack occurs is today.

There is still a long way to go. It’s still a long way off―― While I was waiting for the right time to come, I was thinking of making this event a success and quickly raising my favorability with the crown prince.

As the day approached and I stood at the place where the incident took place, the tension was so great that I couldn’t express it in words.

“Phew… … .”

You were so nervous. are you okay. The Crown Prince, Sargela, will come to rescue you. I looked at the forest in front of me, trying to calm my heart that was beating wildly out of control.

The trees and fresh green grass that filled my field of vision, unlike usual, which gave me a sense of refreshment and comfort, made me feel as stuffy and exhausted as when I was in that hospital room at that time.

I was afraid. The fact that you can’t know anything. I was afraid of what might happen in the future. At that time, the words Charlotte told me continued to linger in my mind.

‘This is reality. ‘Not in the game.’

Those words that passed through my mind, the terrible incident that happened at the Spring Festival, Bey who was crying, and the other friends who were trying hard to pretend that everything was okay.

The shock from that time still remained, gnawing at me and tormenting me in the name of fear and anxiety.

What if Sargela can’t come to save me? What if I don’t even notice that I’ve been kidnapped? Even if you notice, what if the brooch doesn’t do its job?

The hand holding the sword trembled. Even though I tried to stop the trembling by squeezing my trembling hand with my other hand, it wouldn’t stop.

“It’s okay… … . It will be fine… … .”

Until now, my knowledge of the future was a map that showed me the path ahead and a compass that showed me the direction.

However, a series of situations that did not go as planned made me confused about whether the path I was walking was the right one.

And a shocking incident and the death of a fellow classmate made me not believe that the direction I was going in was right.

‘The possibility of treatment… … . doesn’t exist.’

‘It seems difficult at this hospital, so why don’t you try going to a bigger hospital?’

‘… … I’ll do my best.’

Uncertain. Incomplete. That’s what’s holding me back, and knowledge of the future is no longer a compass or a map. It felt like a deadly poison eating away at me.

I planted my sword in the ground, closed my eyes and closed my eyes as if praying. I wasn’t praying to anyone in particular.

‘It’s okay, my daughter. ‘Mom is by your side.’

In my past life, I just did what my mother did whenever I was anxious. That alone made me feel more at ease and my hands stopped shaking a little.

okay… … . You can’t sit down just because the future is uncertain. That’s something I’ve already experienced a lot in my past life, to the point where I’m sick of it.

“Student, are you okay?”

“Yes? Ahhh. yes… … . It’s okay.”

He smiled faintly at the instructor who approached him and asked, then adjusted his sword and walked slowly into the forest.

It’s scary, but we can’t stop. Just because I couldn’t see the road ahead, didn’t mean my legs couldn’t move.

“You can do it!”

Cheering on myself, I drew my sword and walked into the forest. My palms were still slippery, but at least they weren’t shaking anymore.

It is definitely at the top of the mountain that the griffon appears. It was said that griffons come in through the cracks in the overloaded barrier stone for some reason.

I don’t know what the reason was, but where I had to head now was decided.

“To the top of the mountain.”

I don’t know if I’ll have the stamina.

I straightened my shaking sword and headed to the top of the mountain.