Ch.190189. Graduation Exam (3)

# 189. Graduation Exam (3)

In the end, he couldn’t reach it.

But this struggle wasn’t meaningless.

Until now, there were countless people who couldn’t even do that much, and there would be countless more after.

“Still, young master Chris has done the best so far.”

So far.

Those words implied that someday this fact would change, and no sooner had he finished speaking than another student appeared.

Like Chris earlier, this student also approached Marco with a rather relaxed demeanor.

He had seen this student before too.

‘It’s that kid.’

Two years ago, the female student who was with that student named Albert in the Colosseum.

She too looked quite different from back then, just like him.

Unlike Chris earlier, the female student, without a single drop of blood on her clothes, spoke for the first time.

“From now on, I’ll be number one, at least until tomorrow.”

Those words foretold many things.

They contained considerable confidence and respect for the one who would take this exam two days later.

Hearing this, Marco smiled.

“Interesting.”

“What’s interesting?”

“You always seem to be thinking about that boy Albert.”

“What..? WHAT!?”

“Am I wrong?”

Marco’s innocent question contained absolutely no ulterior motive.

Nevertheless, for some reason, Reina didn’t say anything in response.

Instead, she raised her sword and pointed it at him.

“It seems you don’t want to answer.”

“…”

The moment she raised her sword, Marco doubted if this was the same girl who had been embarrassed by his question earlier.

Reina’s attitude was that serious and cold.

Marco was taken aback by this sudden change.

“Now you truly have the aura of an assassin.”

“…”

Still saying nothing, Reina immediately used her unique skill that symbolized assassins.

[Stealth].

-Swoosh-

Reina completely concealed herself without moving a single millimeter from that spot.

Along with any trace of energy or fighting spirit.

Perfect [Stealth]—truly worthy of being the most coveted skill of all assassins in this world.

“To think I can’t sense any presence at all…”

Marco raised his sword and looked around.

But no matter where he looked, not even Reina’s shadow could be seen.

All that was visible was the appearance of the examination site.

“That’s certainly overpowered.”

At that moment, a faint energy was felt from behind.

Along with that energy, a finely sharpened blade aimed for his head.

-Swish!-

He didn’t panic despite the sudden ambush and immediately ducked his head.

As expected, the ambush failed to catch him, and Reina’s sword sliced through empty air.

-Whoosh!-

In that moment, Reina’s body was exposed.

But she didn’t allow that opening to last and immediately used [Stealth] to conceal herself again.

Marco advised Reina, who had once again vanished before his eyes.

“At this rate, you’ll run out of mana.”

And as if telling him to shut up, Reina immediately continued her attack.

The first energy was felt from behind, just like before.

So Marco turned around immediately, just as before.

But there was no one there.

“Where are you looking?”

That voice from behind.

Along with that voice, a loud crackling sound pierced his ears.

-Crackle! Crackle!-

Marco hurriedly turned around as soon as he heard that sound.

But it was already too late.

-Thunk!! Crackle!!-

Reina’s sword pierced through his body.

At that moment, fresh blood burst from his body and mouth.

Soon after, the smell of blood filled the examination site.

Reina, with blood splattered on her sword, body, and even face, inhaled the scent of that beautiful crimson and said:

“I told you, didn’t I? That I would be number one.”

Unlike the previous students, Reina had reached him.

She had even inflicted a wound.

A large wound that might remain as a scar on his body for the rest of his life.

Fortunately, however, he wasn’t someone who would fall from an attack of that level.

Despite spitting out that much blood, he was relatively fine.

He firmly gripped the sword still embedded in his stomach to prevent it from being pulled out.

Then he swung his sword at Reina, whose movement was restricted because of this.

-Swish! Whoosh!!-

Reina had no choice but to abandon her sword to avoid his attack.

Having given up her sword, Reina distanced herself from him.

Only then did Marco pull out the sword stuck in his stomach.

“Ugh…!”

The pain felt each time the blade cut through flesh.

That pain was much worse than when his stomach was first pierced.

Excruciating pain that made his consciousness fade.

But he endured it.

Marco raised the removed sword and pointed it at Reina.

“Do you want to continue?”

“Tch… I should have just tried to hold out.”

A voice filled with regret.

There is no future for a warrior who has lost their weapon.

She could fight barehanded, but rather than doing something so foolish, it was a hundred times better to surrender.

Knowing this better than anyone, Reina finally raised both hands.

“I surrender, I surrender.”

“…”

Despite her declaration of surrender, Marco just stood there.

Reina asked him:

“I said I surrender, didn’t I?”

“Don’t try to pull anything, press the button.”

“Tch… what a shame…”

Surrender is only processed when students press the button on the watch they wear on their wrist themselves.

A trick using that rule.

But of course, it didn’t work on Marco.

“You’re quite perceptive…”

After that, Reina obediently pressed the button on her wristwatch.

Then a modest bell sound announcing the end of the exam rang throughout the examination site.

As soon as the exam ended, Marco sat down on the ground, breathing heavily, and priests appeared to heal him.

Seeing this made her feel guilty.

“Maybe I should have gone easier on him?”

Feeling embarrassed that she, the examinee, hadn’t received a single wound, Reina approached Marco, who was in the opposite condition.

Then she offered him words of apology.

“I’m… sorry…”

“For what?”

“It was cowardly… stabbing you and then surrendering…”

If Albert had been there, he would have definitely scolded her for what she did.

But Marco’s thoughts were slightly different.

“An assassin is supposed to be cowardly. Don’t worry about it too much.”

“Oh, alright.”

“By the way, did you also train under Albert’s guidance?”

“Yes, he even helped me awaken…”

Reina became excited, happy, and shy at the mere mention of him.

It was nice to see.

But realistically, it wasn’t a good sign at all.

Of course, he had no intention of interfering in the kids’ romance.

“As I thought… Albert seems to have a talent for teaching others.”

“Yes! I really think so too! Although… he can be a bit rough!”

But seeing this, he couldn’t help but say something.

“Reina.”

“Yes?”

“If things get difficult or seem impossible, surrender like you did today.”

“What? What do you mean…”

“It’s just an old man’s meddling, so you can ignore it if you want, but I’d like to see you happy.”

With those final words, Marco stood up even though his treatment wasn’t finished.

He returned the sword to Reina and said:

“We are dangerous people who don’t even know when or where we might die.”

“Those words…”

“What is it?”

“Ah… it’s nothing! Just something I’ve heard before…”

Those words that were still clearly etched in her memory.

Reina recalled the moment when she first felt attracted to him.

It was more than two years ago.

***

As always, after finishing training and about to return to the dormitory.

The sound of a heavy sword cutting through the air was heard.

“Still at it? Who could it be?”

Reina was secretly watching a boy who remained until the end, swinging his sword.

“Ah… it’s him…”

The one who always worked hard and took good care of his party members.

He had even helped with Reina’s awakening during the recent midterm exams.

“But why did he do that…?”

“Do what?”

“Eeeek!!!”

Startled by the sudden voice, Reina screamed in shock.

“Ah… sorry, I guess that was pretty startling.”

“No…! It’s just me not paying attention.”

“But more importantly, what were you talking about earlier?”

“Earlier? Oh… I was wondering why you helped with my awakening.”

“Oh, that?”

Reina spoke before he could respond in what seemed like a dismissive tone.

“In a way, we’re all competitors, right? Even if we’re in the same party. So I was wondering why you did it. You often help other kids too.”

“I just want you to be a little happier.”

That answer was completely unexpected.

And happiness… it was too abstract.

“Happiness?”

“Yeah, we’re people who will do dangerous work where we don’t know when or where we might die, right? I just don’t want you to be unhappy because you lack strength when you become that kind of person.”

You…

Those words sounded as if he himself had experienced that.

Reina repeated his words.

“Without becoming unhappy… then what about you?”

“Of course, the same goes for me. That’s why I work hard like this and meddle in your affairs. I want all of us to be happy.”