Ch.431431 – Test Opponent 3

<431 – Test Opponents 3>

“Professor Gremlin. I’ll allow our Non-Aerial Training Corps to be invited as lecture test opponents for Gift Academy. 300 gold coins will be sufficient payment. You say winged creatures are too unfair as opponents for the <Long-Distance Running> lecture? What a conscientious professor you are. Hmm, as for combat opponents, we’ve already prepared the Heavy Armored Cavalry… Hmm? Isn’t that just as unfair?”

—Thud. —Thud. —Thud.

“Professor Demonica. Would you consider inviting our Non-Aerial Training Corps as your test opponents? 200 gold coins will be sufficient payment. What? You say you don’t need beastkin specifically in these times when beastkin terrorists are running rampant? Then why did you invite the Blood Music Corps, who are terrorists with instruments…”

—Thud. —Thud. —Thud.

“Professor Pinkberry. Won’t you use our beastkin as disguise technique test opponents? The gold coins, umm… 100 coins, no, 50 would be enough… You still don’t need us? Specially for 10 coins, you still refuse? Then what if it’s completely free!?”

—Thud. —Thud. —Thud.

“Hello? Hey, hey!”

Foundation Supervisor Possible Ef, who had been consecutively rejected by Academy professors, was not having good luck.

“This is strange. According to records, the Academy actively employed people of lower social status like adventurers who don’t value their lives or beastkin as test opponents.”

In a normal year, beastkin groups could easily become test opponents for first-year students, but this year featured the 981st class, famous for their exceptional average skill level.

The professors’ standards were higher than usual, so instead of employing cheap or expendable opponents, they brought in high-quality opponents based on strict criteria.

Naturally, it wasn’t easy for Possible Ef’s subordinates in the <Non-Aerial Training Corps> to enter the Academy.

“That man’s offer is still valid. How about reconsidering your stubbornness now?”

Despite the advice from his supervisor assistant and long-time advisor, the crow beastkin Kkamang, Possible Ef stubbornly shook his head.

The invitation to Jona Wiheomhae’s <Mana Refinement Method Training> lecture, which welcomed him anytime.

No matter how much of an extreme opportunist he was, he couldn’t accept an invitation from someone who had kidnapped his young lady and staged a hostage situation.

“The Academy is vast and there are many professors. We must still have opportunities left.”

Possible Ef, looking at the lecture list, brightened his eyes and picked up the magical communication device.

As he continued the communication, Possible’s expression gradually brightened for the first time, and instead of a depressed sigh, he put down the device with a satisfied smile.

“It’s done. They asked for night duty, saying they’d be willing to pay 500 more gold coins. With this, we can infiltrate the Academy.”

“Considering what happens every time you get ahead of yourself with enthusiasm, I’m not very reassured. If I may ask, what kind of lecture is it?”

“Nothing difficult. It’s a lecture called <Adventurer’s Terrain Adaptation>. The professor’s name was Sadaco, I believe?”

A name that would have made the former supervisor immediately cancel the application even if it meant paying a cancellation fee!

Unfortunately, because the former supervisor had suddenly passed away at the hands of Professor Destroyer, information about the faculty wasn’t passed down to the new supervisor Possible Ef.

“…I still have a bad feeling about this. I sense we’ll face harsh consequences if we don’t prepare something.”

Only the supervisor assistant Kkamang felt the ominousness, shuddering his wings at the supervisor’s excited appearance.

* * *

In the season when fire dogs that barked fiercely all summer disappear into dug holes looking for hibernation spots, and ice dogs that were already hibernating start stretching and barking loudly.

In the last week of September, the exam week that students had never looked forward to finally arrived.

“Hello everyone. It’s Monday’s first period homeroom time again with your homeroom professor, Mahabharata. Though I usually appear to deliver weekly event announcements, today I have special information to share with you regarding exam week.”

“Is the principal going into hibernation?”

“Is there a free credit sharing event?”

“None of those. As some of you may already know, we’ve invited <test opponents> from various fields for this exam. This homeroom will give you a preview of what to expect.”

When Professor Mahabharata snapped his fingers, guests who had been hiding beyond the mana barrier appeared.

“Ah~~hahaha! Hello there, juniors!”

“The evil energy that would anger Immanuel still vibrates here. Even worse than before.”

“As an exorcist, I cannot overlook this strong dark mana energy.”

“What are you looking at? Want to get hit?”

Orthodox noble lady Mandela Castella.

White Paladin Roo.

Blue Fist Io.

Terrifying Deadcat.

With the appearance of the Four Heavenly Kings of the second year and other senior class students, the first-year advanced class students straightened their backs like snakes wary of enemies, showing signs of tension.

“This is unfair! Bringing people stronger than us as test opponents.”

In response to Dorothy’s complaint, Deadcat, sitting on a desk, bared his teeth threateningly.

“Are you stupid? Weaklings who aren’t even worth a single punch aren’t enough as test opponents even in large numbers. Of course the opponents are stronger.”

“That’s why only those who defeat us in a simplified match will be allowed to leave the homeroom classroom. But in exchange, first-years get to choose both their opponents and the type of competition!”

The fighter Lotta cautiously raised her hand and asked a question.

“I have a lecture during second period… If I don’t win by the end of first period, you’ll still let me go, right?”

“Ha. What an obvious question.”

Blue Fist Io crackled bright blue lightning in both hands and pounded his fists together.

“You won’t be able to escape from here even by lunchtime, let alone second period!”

“Hieek!!”

“All test opponents visiting the Academy have been carefully selected and invited by the professors. Those too weak to face them with dignity don’t deserve to take the exam!”

Among the first-years, Zigoku, who had experienced Mandela Castella’s strength, fiddled with his gun barrel with a serious face before approaching the professor and asking in a small voice.

“Professor Mahabharata. Can I insist on a quick-draw shooting competition after firing one shot first?”

“If you end up getting beaten in an unlimited match without rules by second-years, I won’t take responsibility.”

“…”

The only ones who lose by not setting rules for the fight are the first-years!

But I don’t understand why everyone looks so intimidated.

“Isn’t the little lady nervous?”

“We can choose both our opponents and the competition method. This is a legitimate opportunity to give the seniors a hard time, so why should I be nervous?”

If anyone should be nervous, it’s the second-year seniors!

“Indeed…”

“Then I’ll go first.”

Son Ocheon stepped forward confidently.

Then he shouted loudly to Giselle.

“Miss! Who’s the weakest person in the second-year advanced class?”

“It’s the shaggy-haired boy standing in the corner with no confidence, whose bangs cover his eyes.”

“You there! Come fight me. The competition is one punch. We take turns punching each other in the face, and whoever falls first loses. I’ll take the first hit, of course!”

The second-year senior challenged by Son Ocheon showed a troubled expression, his mouth fidgeting visibly despite his shaggy hair.

The match-up between the thin, barely 170cm tall senior and the muscular, 190cm tall Son Ocheon seemed heavily tilted toward one side.

“I-I’ll forfeit…”

“Winner, Son Ocheon. Ocheon, you may leave first.”

“Hahaha! This is an easy win. Winning without even using my strength—is this the mystery of a body-cultivator who benefits from daily training?”

“For reference, the victory points Son Ocheon received are 1000 points, half of the 2000 points allocated to the lowest-ranked student in the second-year advanced class.”

The joy of victory was short-lived.

Son Ocheon’s expression suddenly crumpled.

“What? So I received the smallest reward?”

“I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily a loss!”

I patted Son Ocheon’s thigh to comfort him.

“Second-year seniors who lose to first-years must give half of their allocated points to the first-years, but the person who defeats the next-lowest ranked senior after Son Ocheon will only receive 500 points.”

For challenges of the same difficulty, the person who challenges first and wins takes the biggest share.

“Does this apply to exams in other lectures that will follow?”

Professor Mahabharata nodded affirmatively with a smile.

“Ha. Typical of cowards who don’t know how to challenge. In the end, only those obsessed with targeting the weakest to escape the classroom and pass the exam will share the same basket.”

Honer FriedChicken raised his spear proudly with a dignified smile.

“White Paladin Roo. I challenge you to a duel. If I can withstand more than 30 exchanges, I win.”

“I don’t dislike juniors with spirit. Try your best to endure.”

The proud Honer FriedChicken lost his spear and was slammed to the training ground floor after just 10 exchanges.

“That’s what happens when you show off by challenging a master beyond your skill level—you fail your grades while being greedy for points!”

“S-someone, please take me to the medical wing…”

“Oh right. The exam only ends when you leave the classroom. Going to the medical wing means disqualification, but if you somehow endure your injuries, get up, and challenge another test opponent, you might barely pass. Isabelle and Giselle should know this in advance!”

The instructors who approached to take Honer FriedChicken to the medical wing looked down at him blankly.

“Are you going to the medical wing or not?”

“…I’m not going.”

Honer FriedChicken stood up on trembling legs and glared at me with hateful eyes.

Seriously.

Look at that ungrateful expression after I saved him from the risk of failing the exam by going to the medical wing during this trap event?

He doesn’t even realize I saved him from becoming a dropout who can’t accept reality and turns into a villain.

I won’t give him any hints next time!