Chap 76-What the Hell is This…?

 

Professor Merlin stood before the lectern with a stern expression and began explaining the practical exam for the midterm.

Above the blackboard, a complex magic circle appeared along with the exam outline, one by one.

I scanned the details, quickly organizing the information in my head.

The participants would be in groups of five.

The duration was one night and two days, a total of 24 hours.

The objective was simple—survival.

The exam location was the fish farm.

Above all, Professor Merlin repeatedly emphasized the surveillance system.

“The faculty will be monitoring the entire exam area in real-time through the magic control system. Your safety is being thoroughly managed, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

As for the equipment provided, each person would receive a one-time-use survival magic item.

A magical item that would automatically activate upon receiving a potentially fatal attack, safely removing the user from the exam area.

The problem was what came next.

If even one member of a group triggered this item, the entire group would be automatically disqualified.

Collective responsibility—what an annoyingly troublesome rule.

The exam objectives and scoring criteria were quite complex.

Basic points were awarded if the entire group survived for 24 hours, and additional points were added for each lower-level magical beast killed.

And the most troublesome thing was…

Engagement with other groups was permitted.

Activating another group member’s survival magic item would disqualify that group, and the winning group would receive a huge bonus.

In other words, it was a story of killing or being killed.

The Ending Point and return conditions were also important.

There was something called an ‘Ending Point’ near the barrier on the north side of the fish farm, and at sunrise, it would open, revealing the exit.

After that, groups could escape sequentially, with scores awarded based on their arrival time. Naturally, the faster they arrived, the higher the score.

The core of the exam was simple.

Survive for 24 hours, earn as many points as possible, and run to the Ending Point near the northern barrier at sunrise to escape.

To reach the Ending Point as quickly as possible, almost every group would probably gather near the northern barrier just before sunrise, engaging in a fierce battle of wits.

All while trying to stab each other in the back.

Inflicting a fatal blow on each other would disqualify the entire opposing group, so the tension at that moment would be unimaginable.

Everyone would be extremely sensitive, watching each other and waiting for the final blow.

After 24 hours of survival competition and intrigue, wearing down each other’s mental strength and accumulating physical fatigue to the limit, at that very moment.

When everyone was waiting for the Ending Point to open, not letting go of the final thread of tension.

Inside the northern barrier, the core of the gate that had been sealed in the past would reactivate, and a large-scale magical beast attack would begin.

That was the whole story of the terrible tragedy that occurred in the original game.

The students, caught off guard, were helplessly swept away by the magical beasts, and the fish farm instantly turned into a hell of chaos.

But this time…

It would be different.

It had to be different.

Because this time, I was here, capable of effectively luring the magical beasts.

Using the Evil God’s power, I would focus the attention of the magical beasts pouring out of the northern barrier on myself, drawing them away from the students.

And the lured magical beasts…

The witch clan’s forces, prepared by Professor Emilia, would cleanly annihilate them.

That was the plan that Professor Emilia and I had made.

Please…

Please, let everything go smoothly according to this plan.

Unlike in the game, let no one die or get hurt.

I desperately hoped.

Before I knew it, Professor Merlin’s explanation was coming to an end.

“…That concludes the explanation for the practical exam. Anyone have any questions?”

Several students raised their hands and asked questions, but I couldn’t hear them anymore.

Only the upcoming practical exam, the things that would happen there, were swirling in my head.

“If there are no more questions, I will conclude this briefing. Everyone should get plenty of rest today for tomorrow’s Ascension Festival and practical exam. Dismissed.”

As soon as Professor Merlin finished speaking, the students began to buzz and leave the lecture hall with their respective group members.

…

Yeon’s dorm room was old but reasonably cozy and tidy.

Emilia, Yeon, and Bella were sitting across from each other at the dinner table.

The food was nutritious and delicious, specially prepared by Emilia, but the atmosphere at the table was somewhat heavy.

Yeon, in particular, was barely eating.

She was just stirring the food with her fork, hardly bringing it to her mouth.

Yeon wasn’t usually a big eater, but today it was especially bad.

“…Are you worried, Miss?”

Unable to watch any longer, Emilia asked cautiously.

Yeon put down the fork she was holding and sighed deeply.

Her face was full of worry.

“I’m just… I’m worried that things won’t go as I expect. If things go wrong…”

Yeon trailed off.

“Don’t worry too much, Yeon.”

Bella, sitting next to her, patted Yeon’s shoulder lightly, comforting her.

“We’re here, aren’t we? Whatever happens, we’ll solve it together.”

Emilia also smiled gently and chimed in.

“Even if a Calamity-Class Monster appears, we’ve prepared a powerful force capable of dealing with it, so don’t worry too much, Miss. Don’t you underestimate the power of us witches?”

“Still…”

But even with their comfort, Yeon’s expression remained dark.

“There are too many variables. There might be other threats I don’t know about, or… the plan might go wrong.”

“It can’t be helped, Miss.”

Emilia said calmly.

“Of course, I believe in your prophetic insight. But others won’t. No matter how much you warn us of danger, if there’s no concrete evidence, the exam will continue as planned, no matter what we say. There’s no way to stop the exam right now.”

At Emilia’s words, Yeon didn’t say anything more.

She stirred her food again, then finally left most of it behind and got up from her seat.

“…I’m done eating.”

“Miss, you should eat a little more for tomorrow…”

Emilia said worriedly, but Yeon shook her head.

“I’m sorry. I don’t feel well… I’ll go in first.”

Yeon said weakly and turned towards her room.

Her small figure looked particularly precarious.

“…I’ll go after her, Professor Emilia.”

Bella said, getting up from her seat.

“Yes. Please take care of Miss, Professor Bella.”

Emilia nodded.

Their eyes were filled with deep concern and pity for Yeon.

Bella quietly followed Yeon out of the room, and only the cooling food and heavy silence remained at the table.

As soon as the two had completely left the room and the door closed.

Swoosh—

A pure white cat, Nabi, appeared from somewhere.

No.

Anaide silently jumped onto the table.

And without hesitation, she began to devour the food that Yeon had left behind.

Pieces of steak, mashed potatoes, even bread crumbs. She ate diligently with her small mouth.

Witch of Destruction.

Queen of the witch clan.

A powerful transcendent who once struck fear into the gods…

That was who she was, but now…

“Um… Your Majesty. Do you… no longer have any sense of shame?”

Behavior that the old Emilia could never have imagined.

But the Anaide she had seen while living with her…

At Emilia’s words, Anaide stopped eating and looked up.

Her mouth was covered in stew gravy and bread crumbs.

Really…

How should I put it…

To put it nicely, it was an informal appearance.

“Hmm, this is delicious. Emilia, your cooking skills have improved quite a bit.”

Anaide smacked her lips and praised.

“……”

Emilia looked at Anaide with slightly irreverent eyes, then sighed deeply.

“Your Majesty, more importantly… Miss is so worried about the practical exam tomorrow, shouldn’t you reveal your identity soon and ease her worries a little?”

Emilia said seriously.

“No.”

Anaide refused flatly.

“…Do you have any reason for that?”

“If she finds out who I am… I don’t think Yeon will play with me anymore! I don’t want that.”

I tried to think that there must be some deep meaning behind it…

But Anaide’s answer shattered Emilia’s expectations.

“……”

‘This is… a queen…?’

Emilia screamed inwardly.

Dignity, charisma, overwhelming power.

Where had the Witch of Destruction she knew gone…

Now, there was only a childish cat in front of her.

She began to worry seriously about the future of the witch clan.

Perhaps feeling a little guilty about her cold expression, Anaide cleared her throat and began to make clumsy excuses.

“Ahem! Well, of course, that’s not the only reason! Think about it. The number of transcendents that Terra can accommodate is already full anyway. Even if I reveal my identity here and return to my true form, I won’t be able to use my full power, so why bother revealing my identity and causing a commotion? Don’t you think?”

“Then why are you even here…”

Emilia asked, clutching her throbbing head.

‘…Seriously, isn’t this witch actually useless?’

Emilia looked at Anaide, thinking thoughts she couldn’t bring herself to say out loud.

Author’s Note

Um… It’s very late, but…

Anyway, it’s Saturday update…