Chapter 38: End of Semester Evaluation (3)

As soon as the exam began, I sprinted full-speed toward the cave where I’d be staying for the next three days.

The reason I headed straight here from the start is simple.

There’s no better place to hold out for three days.

Most of the students probably won’t even last five days before they’re eliminated.

Some will fail because they can’t secure food, shelter, or water. Others will burn through their mana. And some will just get taken out by someone targeting them.

Whatever the case, they’ll all get weeded out for different reasons.

But when you get down to it, most of those reasons come from a lack of knowledge.

What good is strength if you don’t know how to survive?

In the end, if you can’t eat or sleep properly, you’re dead. That’s what it means to be human.

Of course, it’s not like I’ve got any real survival experience.

I’ve never done survival training even once in my life.

But the artificial island of Orte is a different story.

When it comes to this place, I already know most of the terrain like the back of my hand.

And I can guarantee—there’s no better place to camp out for three days than this cave.

There’s a stream nearby, edible fruits and berries hanging from the trees, and a picturesque view in every direction.

It’s basically a healing camp paradise.

[6-Star Magic: Subspace]

The 6-star spell Subspace.

In the game, it’s mostly a decorative skill because of the inventory system, but occasionally it came in handy for stashing item types that couldn’t go into the inventory.

Of course, now that I can’t use the inventory at all, this spell is absolutely essential.

“Ahh~ This is the life.”

I blew some mana into the brazier and sparked a flame.

Then I rolled out my sleeping bag and lay down, summoning a floating screen into the air.

[Special Magic: Replay Scenario Story]

In a world where every system counts as a spell, even the convenience features are classified as magic.

For example, functions like replaying cinematic cutscenes from this game’s story episodes.

I played one of the scenarios on the floating screen and pulled out some food I’d pre-packed into Subspace.

And just like that, I started watching the cutscenes while munching on snacks and sipping drinks.

The professors are probably watching all this unfold through Observer magic.

But so what?

I plan to do absolutely nothing but laze around like this for three days.

Letting out a big yawn, I focused on the scenes playing in the air.

Even if Eterna Online flopped as a game, the story was masterfully written.

“Yaaawn~”

The warmth radiating from the brazier, the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, the cozy feel of the sleeping bag wrapped around me—

My whole body relaxed as drowsiness took over.

When I got sleepy, I slept. When I got bored, I watched more videos. When I got hungry, I pulled out food and drinks from Subspace and ate.

I spent my time in pure indulgence, and the days passed in a blink.

The bracelet updated in real time with the names of those eliminated. Judging by that, I’m sure everyone else was running around, desperately clinging to survival.

I didn’t care.

I just enjoyed this rare moment of peace in the middle of the forest.

“When are these guys going to leave already?”

The ones who’d been trailing me since the start of the exam.

Judging by the updates on their location through the bracelet, they were still sticking it out nearby.

Sigh…

Should I just go all out and force them to back off?

I could ignore the others, but that damn Crown Prince is the real problem…

— Luke Richter. Come to my side.

— I’ll grant you all the wealth and glory you could ever want.

— If you ever change your mind, come to me. You’ll be welcomed with open arms.

I can still remember it clearly.
The Crown Prince’s greasy, clinging stare, filled with desire for me.
Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine.

“What the hell am I supposed to do about them…?”

The demon Arcon.

A demonic creature whose entire body is composed of a mineral called Arconium. He’s a conniving bastard who’s been steadily building power on the artificial island of Orte.

He’s only around level 50, but Arcon’s real strength doesn’t come from his own physical prowess.

It comes from the monsters he commands with absolute control.

In that sense, Orte is basically a paradise for him.
With his unique traits, slipping past surveillance and going into hiding on the island is child’s play.

The problem is time.
The more time passes, the wider his influence over Orte becomes, and the harder it’ll be to pin him down.

“George Arrote might be worth bringing along…”

Anyone else would just get in the way, so they’re out.
But George Arrote, the Holy Empire’s rabid hunting dog, would be a solid asset.

Anyway, I’ve still got one day left before the three-day mark. No need to rush.

I laid back down and let out a lazy yawn.

“Yaaawn. Maybe I’ll sleep a bit more.”

Let them fight and claw at each other out there.

I’ll be here relaxing in peace.

---

Meanwhile—

“Huff… huff…”

Aisha had her feet plunged into the stream nearby, locked in an exhausting struggle trying to catch fish.

The reason she was out here fighting for her life was simple.
If she didn’t eat something soon, she’d collapse.

“Nngh…!”

But if this were easy, it wouldn’t be part of the final exam, would it?

This was the S-Class end-of-term evaluation, after all.

“This is just cruel!!”

No matter how hard she searched the surroundings, the only food around was fruit.
And even those weren’t in abundance.

What would’ve happened if she hadn’t followed Luke Richter from the start?

Just imagining it sent a chill down Aisha’s spine as she rubbed both arms.

“So hungry…”

Aisha muttered, splashing her feet in the stream.
At least she’d solved her drinking water problem. That much was a relief.

Technically, she could conjure water with magic, but water created through mana ends up tainted.
It tastes bitter, and it’s not great for your health either.

Having a clean stream nearby was a small mercy.

If only there were more things to eat…

She let out a sigh at the pathetic little fruits scattered around.
For someone like Aisha, who was particularly sensitive when it came to food, this was torture.

“How long is he planning to stay holed up in that cave…?”

Luke Richter.
The demon-slaying prodigy who took down a demon single-handedly.
The youngest-ever Sage.
A magic genius who defies all known standards.

Thanks to the demon’s appearance, the secret that only she had known about Luke Richter was now public knowledge throughout the Academy.

At first, she didn’t like it.

Of course she didn’t—everyone’s attention was suddenly on him.

“I was the one who knew first…”

Aisha grumbled in frustration.

But it’s fine.

No one else seems to know Luke Richter’s true identity anyway.

He’s no mere Tower Master.

No matter how skilled a Master might be, the godlike presence Luke had shown couldn’t possibly be explained by that alone.

The shock of that day still hasn’t faded.

A spell formation worthy of the gods themselves—
The radiant descent of divine light, like the second coming of a deity, brought forth by a 9-star magic spell.

Which leaves only one conclusion.

A dragon.
And not just any dragon—but the Church’s Guardian Dragon.

“He… never left the continent after all…”

Thump—

Her heart beat faster, thrilled at the ecstasy of being the only one who knew the truth about the Transcendent.

That childish and unpredictable personality of his was admittedly annoying, but then again, dragons as a race were known to be selfish and immature. It made perfect sense.

“…Should I just go check…?”

It was now the third day since they entered this island.

And Luke Richter—after retreating into that cave—hadn’t stepped out even once the entire time.

How is he even eating?

Oh, right.
He’s a dragon. Going a few days without food is probably nothing to him.
But still—weren’t dragons supposed to be particularly sensitive when it came to food?

“……”

Yeah.
Just a quick check. That’s all.

What if something happened to him?
If that were the case, she might be able to help.

More than anything, she was at her limit.
She couldn’t just sit around waiting anymore.

Step, step—
Aisha stepped out from the stream and made her way toward the cave where Luke Richter was staying.

The closer she got, the more her throat bobbed in nervous anticipation.

She didn’t think anything bad had happened to him, but still—
She’d wasted three whole days. She had to at least check before deciding whether to leave.

Aisha consciously slowed her breathing and erased all trace of her presence.

“…What’s that smell?”

The closer she got, the stronger the scent became—
and it wasn’t like the foul odors she’d gotten used to on this island.

This was something different…

“…A delicious smell?”

Grrrgle—

Aisha’s stomach rumbled loudly.

What in the world is that?

Carefully, she stepped inside the cave.

To her surprise, the cave was… quite cozy.
There were faint traces of battle near the entrance, but even those were so neatly cleaned they felt more like intentional decoration.

And then finally—

She locked eyes with Luke Richter, who was resting inside the cave.

A sleeping bag neatly spread across the floor, a small, cozy folding table and chair set placed just so, and meat grilling to golden perfection atop a brazier—

Aisha stood frozen, her mind spinning in confusion.

No way…

Has he just been living like this the entire time?!

“……”

“……”

An awkward silence hung between Aisha and Luke Richter.

And then—

GROWLLLL—!!

“Hrk…!”

The thunderous sound echoing through the cave had come from her own stomach.

Luke scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile and asked,

“Uh… want some?”

“……”

Face flushed red, Aisha gave a small, silent nod.