Chapter 103: Worst Positioning

“Juyeon-nim! Emergency!”

Despite having communication devices, members of the Paradise Knights flew directly to the transport ship.

Juyeon calmed the urgent knights and received their report composedly.

“Large marine monsters are crawling onto the land…!”

“That’s what I’ve been sensing. What’s the level of the monsters?”

Juyeon wasn’t surprised by the Paradise Knights’ report.

Observation of the anomaly.

It was merely a feeling that the ominous premonition she had been experiencing had finally hit, so she remained calm.

“Most of the monsters exceed the cadets’ level. They aren’t species that originally inhabit the vicinity of the uninhabited island.”

“Any other peculiarities?”

“…The monsters’ state is strange.”

“Tell me all the observed information.”

The members of the Paradise Knights were selected elites.

They knew that time was an irreplaceable asset.

Therefore, they compressed the information and began a concise explanation for Juyeon.

“First of all, the monsters’ eyes are all red.”

Perhaps due to this, they were displaying abnormal aggression, ignoring pain.

Even stabbing their vital points or inflicting strong impacts was disregarded.

They rushed in until they died, making them much harder to deal with than usual.

“And all electronic devices are down.”

Upon hearing this, Juyeon immediately picked up two communication devices.

One for communicating with the Academy Instructors, the other for the Paradise Knights.

“This is Transport Ship 1, Juyeon. Anyone who can hear me, please respond.”

No answer. Even switching to the emergency channel, her voice didn’t transmit.

The inter-ship communication device next to her was also down.

A signal jammer? Judging by the range of the disablement, is it a skill of that sort?

Either way, there was no need to panic.

There’s no other way but to act calmly.

Stealthy and thorough…

Disabling the devices so discreetly was one thing.

If the abnormal state of the monsters was also someone’s skill, there must be a clear reason why she didn’t detect it despite monitoring the uninhabited island.

Reaching out while knowing that Academy Instructors and the Paradise Knights were present indicates thorough preparation.

“I sense a distinct malice.”

At Juyeon’s words, the knights steeled their resolve.

Even if not to the extent of their general before them, they had experienced numerous battles since joining the Paradise Knights.

As their experience grew, so did their intuition.

“Juyeon-nim. Please tell us your plan. We will personally fly around and relay it.”

“Thank you. For the cadets’ safety, the Practical Exam will end here.”

“Understood!”

Grading could be done sufficiently based on the current situation.

If absolutely necessary, they could combine it with an exam held within the Academy.

Complaints were unavoidable.

The Academy prioritized the cadets’ safety above all else.

“First, I’d like the Paradise Knights to inform the Instructors of the situation and gather the cadets in a safe place.”

“Yes!”

“And one of you, please leave the uninhabited island and measure the range of the device disabling. When you reach a location where the communication device works, please connect to the emergency channel and inform the Academy of the situation.”

“I’ll do it!”

A female knight, confident in her speed, volunteered.

“I’ll go around the transport ships and ask them to descend as low as possible. Afterwards, immediately───.”

Juyeon quickly began to delegate tasks.

Lancelot, the leader of the Paradise Knights, was absent. She couldn’t rely on his assistance.

Rather than feeling regret, the enemy must have aimed for this very gap.

Who are they targeting? It’s difficult to pinpoint their objective.

There were many individuals on this uninhabited island worth targeting, even if it meant sacrificing themselves.

Many of the cadets were children of prominent figures, and the Paradise Knights, being a renowned military force in the Sepia Archipelago, had punished countless villains.

The Academy Instructors were also individuals with considerable past achievements.

Perhaps.

Putting aside all the previous possibilities, perhaps they are targeting Juyeon herself, who was having these very thoughts.

She recognized this.

“…”

Flames flickered in Juyeon’s eyes.

Sling!

Rohan, drawing his Sword, bisected two Honbirds lost in their frenzy.

— Squeak!

— Beep!

Heavy chunks of meat were dropped onto the dirt floor.

With their lives extinguished, their reddened eyes gradually dimmed.

“Tsk.”

His worries deepened.

I naturally assumed it would take place on the last day…

Thinking about it, there was no mention of a specific date in Abyss City either.

Rohan looked up at the transport ship in the sky.

The Instructor must be aware of the situation by now.

Even if she had just grasped the situation, it was not too late.

It was simply a natural consequence.

The Hex’s factor utilized mana and repeatedly manufactured it in the form of skills.

However, when the mana was released and poured out, it was merely a weak chemical easily swayed by even faint mana.

Hex’s Skills, Techniques, and Artifacts.

Calling them a trinity wouldn’t be an exaggeration; even Juyeon, with her wide perception range, wouldn’t easily notice the way these three elements harmonized.

Especially now, when her focus was on the cadets on the uninhabited island.

In addition, Hex mixed in the method of pushing weak monsters, at the level of Geroeyes, among those he controls, into the uninhabited island and the sea.

There was also the explanation that he spread the status ailment ‘Frenzy’ and pheromones to lure large marine monsters to land.

Annoying bastards.

Rohan kicked the dismembered Honbirds into the Bushes.

The chemicals created by Hex’s skills evaporated once the creature died.

Thanks to this act of destroying evidence, eating them wouldn’t cause any harm, but he simply didn’t want to eat them because it felt disgusting.

…

Rohan, sheathing his long sword, closed his eyes.

He contemplated. He deliberated. He considered every possible angle.

The head of the Reverse Praise Society is coming.

Evil with overwhelming power, beyond what he could currently handle, was approaching.

Juyeon aside, there was no one on this uninhabited island who could stand against him.

I need to get them ready.

Rohan immediately opened the Shop.

Everything was for just in case; he hated regretting inaction.

Let’s abandon complacency.

Especially remembering the text about monsters becoming more aggressive and rampant.

Besides Omega, there were many other unsettling factors. He couldn’t just sit back for the sake of safety.

He bought four of each.

Thanks to that, his arms were full.

I feel like a real dad.

Since he prepared a large quantity, if he gave a certain portion to the big eater Noa, she would regain her strength properly.

Ichinose and Corin should also be able to eat enough to feel full without becoming sluggish.

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Returning to the shelter, Rohan unloaded the combat rations and water without changing his expression.

The girls, who were struggling with the campfire, widened their eyes.

“Rohan. What on earth did you bring…?”

“If it’s combat rations, it’s food, right? There’s even water!”

Noa’s tail wagged like a propeller.

A strong wind blew from her tail, causing the campfire to flicker back and forth.

“I guess this was a hidden supply on the uninhabited island. We were lucky. Let’s all eat.”

“I-Is it really okay…?”

Corin looked around, feeling embarrassed.

Rohan, thinking it was a good time to explain, sat down and started preparing the self-heating combat rations.

“You have to eat. I saw something strange earlier.”

“Something strange?”

The monsters’ condition was abnormal. Their aggression was excessive.

After exaggerating the explanation, saying that not only the Honbirds but also other monsters had become strange,

Rohan urged Corin to eat comfortably, saying they needed to maintain their condition just in case.

With the light persuasion over,

Ichinose was the first to express her doubt.

“It’s certainly strange. It’s a phenomenon I’ve never heard of.”

“They say Werewolves become ferocious when the full moon rises. Could it be something like that?”

At Corin’s suggestion, Ichinose tilted her head.

Whether the two were having a serious conversation or not, Noa was staring at the combat rations Rohan was preparing as if she would bore a hole through them.

“That’s also for specific monsters. I’ve never heard of a case where Honbirds or Iron Turtles acted like that.”

“Is there a possibility that the Academy did something for the exam?”

“Well. If it was related to safety, there would’ve been an explanation beforehand…”

Since Rohan kept his mouth shut, even if the cadets put their heads together, no clear answer would come out.

“Let’s eat first.”

Rohan took out the prepared curry and mapo tofu.

The girls couldn’t help but gulp.

Ichinose, who shared a Ramen with Corin, was no exception.

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After a satisfying meal,

Rohan asked the girls to watch the Fire and went around the shelter, gathering firewood.

Naturally, his worries didn’t stop.

Omega intruded using Hex’s ability, right? That place happened to be empty, so he emitted mana to draw out the Instructor.

In Abyss City, a grand battle had unfolded as soon as they arrived.

But what’s important now was something else.

What exactly was that intrusion method and where was its location?

The entrance and exit were highly likely to be in different locations.

Whatever it is, I need to avoid that location.

If there were cadets at the location where Omega was scheduled to appear, he needed to chase them away.

Considering his vicious nature, which was no different from evil, having him vacate the area and encounter Juyeon just like in the original story was the best course of action.

“Hmm…”

Rohan gathered firewood in his arms one by one.

He looked back to see if he had missed anything trivial.

Just as Rohan, having gathered firewood satisfactorily, was about to return,

The ground began to shake as if an earthquake had occurred.

“!!!”

───Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu!!! The rumbling grew louder.

Something was coming this way. It was shaking so hard it was difficult to keep his balance.

Fwoooosh!!!

A worm emerged, piercing through the damp ground.

The body, a mixture of purple and pink, was roughly 3 meters long, just the exposed part.

It wasn’t small.

Crazy!

Naturally, an uninhabited island isn’t a Worm’s habitat.

But what could he do when it appeared right in front of him? He had to deal with it.

Clank!

Rohan immediately threw down the firewood and drew his Long Sword.

“Hooo…”

Rohan exhaled and took his stance, but the worm showed no signs of attacking and remained still.

Can I move?

There was no sense of relief. Only anxiety.

He only thought about leaving and escaping with his friends at the shelter.

─ Gurgle!

The worm’s thick body wriggled.

─ Guweeeeek!

The thick-bodied worm vomited out a human.

The massive human landed on the ground with a thud!

A face dominated by burn scars, a jaw covered in black machinery.

The moment Rohan made eye contact with him, he froze.

“An Academy Student. Hahaha!!! I’ve come to the right place.”

The worst possible scenario among all he could imagine.

Nothing but the vulgar expression ‘I’m fucked’ came to Rohan’s mind.