Chapter 91: The Directionally Challenged Partner

The act of defeating the monster of printed letters on a blank sheet, armed with the knowledge and theories accumulated in one’s head.

Ah! The written exam! A truly desirable fellow, as bitter as its name.

How diligently one has to stay with their buttocks glued to their seat, unseen by others. It’s a time when one can prove themselves without shedding a single drop of blood, a time for someone to prove their worth and vent their frustrations.

“10 minutes remaining.”

Juyeon’s voice, supervising the exam, permeated the cadets’ ears clearly.

There was only Juyeon supervising the exam in the classroom.

But no one attempted to cheat. They didn’t even dare to think about it.

Even if Juyeon had her back turned, they knew that the moment they tried anything funny, they’d definitely get caught.

“…”

With the feeling of remembering a gas stove left on back home, Rohan double-checked that he had written his name and number correctly.

He didn’t know how many times he’d checked it, but reassured by his neatly written personal information, he returned to the problems.

The last two problems…

The end of the written exam was in sight. To maintain his focus until now, he’d even resolved his lunch with a light protein shake.

The faint hunger sharpened his awareness.

Although there were a few questions where the answers eluded him, perhaps due to a lack of depth in his studies, he felt that the overall flow has been quite excellent.

“5 minutes remaining.”

As a side note, Noa Frozenheart had been sweating profusely since the exam began.

As soon as the first subject ended, she buried her head in her desk. It was impressive to see Ichinose feeding her snacks without being surprised.

It’s her first time challenging theory seriously.

Being tested on the time invested and her weak points seemed to be eating away at her spirit.

“TIme’s up. Put down your pens and place your hands on your heads.”

They moved in unison. No cadet craved more time.

Juyeon would catch any such attempts without mercy.

“Hmm.”

After gathering the exam papers, Juyeon quickly finished checking the number of sheets and the names written on them.

She placed the exam papers in a thick envelope.

She smiled faintly, looking at the particularly exhausted Rohan and Noa.

“Good work, everyone. You can rest until just before departure. Just make sure you’re gathered in the classroom at the specified time.”

With the envelope tucked under her arm, Juyeon left the classroom with the click-clack of her shoes.

Their tension released, the cadets exhaled sighs bordering on groans.

“Wow, I’m dying.”

“Ugh…”

Rohan and Noa slumped over their desks like slimes.

“Noa. Good work.”

“Hug me…”

“That’s a difficult request. I’ll feed you snacks instead.”

Ichinose spared no praise for Noa, who had tackled studying for the first time.

And there was another one.

Knowing that Rohan, who always bombarded her with questions via messages, had also put in a considerable amount of effort, she glanced at him briefly.

─ Rohan. The next thing you’ll say is… “Let’s just rest quietly. What are you trying to do now?!”

─ Let’s just rest quietly. What are you trying to do… Huh?

─ Uhahahaha!!!

Gilbert shouted with joy.

Seemingly having poured everything into the exam, Rohan simply covers his ears in his slumped state.

Amazing.

Ichinose, with the corners of her lips upturned, averted her gaze.

She began to attend to Noa, slumped beside her.

Numerous transport ships awaiting takeoff, landed at Orion Academy.

A model crafted in the Sepia Archipelago, a nation self-proclaimed and widely recognized as the best in aviation; these ships, shaped like boats, fly through the sky at high speeds.

“Attention.”

Each class stood before their assigned transport ship.

Under the darkening sky, they listened attentively to their instructor’s explanation.

“Before departure, I will explain the content of the Practical Exam. I will take questions separately, so please focus.”

Juyeon continued her explanation, her gaze fixed on the paper in her hand.

“First, we will randomly pair you into groups of two. Only Orion Academy’s standard-issue weapons will be permitted. If there’s an unavoidable reason that requires the use of your own weapon, speak to the Instructor.”

In such cases, they would likely incur a significant point deduction. Even aside from that, it was clear that permission wouldn’t be granted easily.

Even in Abyss City, no cadet brought their own weapons inside.

“Also, only the Monsters you have been taught about in class exist on the uninhabited island.”

Orion Academy operated under the premise that cadets understood how to deal with and the characteristics of Monsters.

Those words alone bring the reality of the exam into sharp focus.

“Self-sufficiency is the basis for food and water. Even with that said, there will be cadets who attempt to endure using Mana, since the period isn’t long, right?”

Juyeon flicked the paper in her hand, making it crisp.

“However, as this exam is based on the Monolith incident, the Instructors will intervene. Learn a lot by failing a lot in this aspect.”

While the exam had a clear end time, the scenario itself assumed a moment where the end was unpredictable.

Moreover, Rohan knew what “intervene” meant.

“Separately, small amounts of food and water have been hidden throughout the uninhabited island. There will also be cases where supplies are provided for everyone to see. The problems that arise here will have to be solved by the cadets themselves.”

The objective was transparent.

It was clear that she was observing the point of conflict and discord.

“Given the nature of this exam, I will understand disagreements and non-lethal physical altercations. Even that has become a part of education in the current situation. However…”

Heat shimmered at the end of Juyeon’s sharp gaze.

An overwhelming aura emanated, warning everyone.

“Don’t try to kill each other, fellow cadets.”

The feeling of her words being etched deep into their consciousness.

Rohan felt Dick, positioned in the back row, gulp nervously.

“Instructors and other related personnel will be monitoring you at all times.”

Juyeon’s gaze swept over each cadet in Class 1.

Even with instructors, blind spots were inevitable, so worry and concern coexisted strongly in her gaze.

“The most important point is this. If you experience any physical problems, don’t be stubborn and immediately use a signal flare. The instructors hope there will be no casualties in this exam.”

Juyeon reduced her imposing aura and softened the atmosphere.

She brushed her red bangs aside with her fingers, lightening the air.

“Now, I will inform you of the evaluation items and their scoring.”

The exam’s theme was to survive on the uninhabited island, treating it as a dungeon created by a Monolith.

The evaluation items were diverse, including cooperation, health status after the exam, the number of monsters eliminated, and partner evaluations after the Practical Exam.

Juyeon folded the paper and put it in her pocket before speaking.

“That concludes the explanation. I will now take questions.”

As soon as she finished, Ichinose raised her hand.

After receiving permission from Juyeon, she asked,

“I’m curious if the pairs of two are categorized into vanguard and rearguard.”

“That would be ideal for balance when facing Monsters. However, this exam is, as stated, random. We will not be doing that.”

“…”

“The training conducted at Orion Academy up to this day has had basic conditions and assumptions.”

When going to a location where monsters were present, thorough preparation was essential.

Even if encountered suddenly on the road, those who wield power as a profession were generally prepared to some extent.

However, dungeons shattered those conditions and assumptions.

Powerless citizens could be mixed in at locations they couldn’t escape, and elements that rapidly deteriorate individual conditions coexist.

Consumables quickly ran out, and even if those capable of fighting were gathered, having non-overlapping formations was purely luck.

“The anomalies caused by Monoliths don’t take those things into consideration. If rear support members are paired together, they will have to establish their own countermeasures and survival rules, and the same applies to the opposite case.”

“I understand.”

“Next question.”

Questions and answers were exchanged in a serious atmosphere.

After confirming that no more cadets were raising their hands, Juyeon led Class 1 onto the Transport Ship.

“It will take some time to reach our destination. You may sleep until you are called.”

··

··

The pairing for the uninhabited island was determined through a lottery inside the Transport Ship.

The method was to reach into a box and draw a number.

Matching numbers become partners.

“What’s your number?”

“Number 12!”

Classes with an odd number of students have one team of three, but Class 1 had an even number.

“Next.”

It was Rohan’s turn. He stepped forward and put his hand into the box.

He closed his eyes, feeling the papers.

Please.

Hoping to be paired with a friend he could communicate with normally.

──Thump.

He grabbed a piece of paper and pulled his hand out. Gilbert’s gaze, a spectator, pierced him intensely.

“What number is it?”

At Juyeon’s voice, he unfolded the paper.

“Number 3.”

Gilbert clicked his tongue, “Tch!”

Rohan breathed a sigh of relief.

“Number 3 is an already drawn number.”

“I’d like to know who it is.”

“Look to your right.”

At Juyeon’s words, he turned his head.

A girl with closed eyes showed her number.

The number 3 written on the paper.

Rohan’s partner for the uninhabited island life was decided to be Ichinose Yui.

“Please take care of me.”