Episode 125. Survival Exam (18)

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The combat sense, felt for the first time in a while, began to fill my entire body.

Perhaps because I hadn’t encountered any strong opponents throughout the Survival Test, I felt even more nervous.

This place right now is an uninhabited island without a single safety device.

As long as there are no safety devices, like in the last 1v1 duel, I can’t go all out. In case Nam Daeun might get seriously hurt.

Ziiing-

But Nam Daeun, as if not caring about that, used [Space Domination].

Brilliant purple magic power wrapped around the sword.

“Hey… You’re not trying to kill me, right?”

“It’s okay. I can control it.”

Taking a stance as if telling me not to worry, the way she glared at me was terrifying.

‘Shit….’

They say the person you like is supposed to lose, does that mean the one I need to conquer is supposed to lose?

Fortunately, she doesn’t seem to be thinking of using the artifacts hanging from my waist.

If that’s the case, I also have a chance of winning.

It’s not about defeating Nam Daeun, but because I can aim for the smart watch.

If I steal the smart watch or forcibly burn the sticker attached to it, it’s my victory.

Taat-

Nam Daeun, seemingly confident, rushed at me first.

Thump.

My senses became sharper and sharper, and every single one of Nam Daeun’s movements was readable to my eyes.

‘Clairvoyance’

I activated Clairvoyance and even deployed the Rune Barrier.

It was to shake off the Space Domination. If I could block Nam Daeun’s space slash with the Rune Barrier, she would just become a mere sharp sword.

Kwa-deuk.

I detected Nam Daeun concentrating magic power in her legs.

At the same time, I also activated acceleration and prepared for the attack.

Kaang-!

Blocking Nam Daeun’s sword strike, which closed the distance in an instant with space acceleration, using a Cotton Guard, I created distance backward.

“…That’s tough.”

“You’ve improved a bit compared to last time, right?”

“I guess so. You must have trained hard.”

While scraping the floor back and forth with my foot, I spoke to Nam Daeun.

To feel growth in just a week since starting training, she’s an unbelievable talent freak.

“Here I come again.”

Nam Daeun slightly raised the corners of her mouth as she raised her sword.

While I’m struggling to death, she looks like she’s having a blast.

I swallowed a sigh and created distance from Nam Daeun.

*

The 80 students surrounding Nam Daeun and Lee Hoyeon couldn’t say a word.

Those two were shattering the complacent thought that we were all at a similar academy student level.

“Captain. If those two team up, it seems like it would be tough even if all of us attack.”

“It’s not that bad.”

Everyone was surprised by the unbelievable movements of those two, but Kim Young-han judged calmly.

He could handle about 15 students per person.

Of course, he didn’t bother mentioning how nonsensical that combat power was.

“They’re real monsters…”

“From now on, I shouldn’t press the ‘dislike’ button… I might die if they find out.”

“But it’s a bit different from the last 1v1 duel? Nam Daeun has gotten faster, and Lee Hoyeon looks overwhelmed.”

The students watching the sparring match with their eyes wide open couldn’t even think about intervening.

There’s no need to force Nam Daeun into a 1v1.

It’s just that they’re afraid of what might happen if they jump into that fight first, that’s why they’re acting like this.

Kim Young-han also agreed with the last statement.

However, Lee Hoyeon didn’t look overwhelmed.

If anything, Nam Daeun was pouring her all into it, but should I say Lee Hoyeon was holding back?

“I don’t know what he’s thinking. My Hoyeon.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Tell me too. You always act like there’s something going on and then say it’s nothing.”

Ignoring the student chattering beside him, Kim Young-han continued to analyze the sparring match.

*

Taang! Kwaang!

Nam Daeun and I repeatedly attacked and defended, moving around the area.

Usually, I would deflect or block attacks and create distance; that’s how the fight proceeded.

“Haa… Haa…”

Rubbing my feet on the floor, I let out ragged breaths.

I had used too much magic power, and it was starting to get dangerous.

“Why are you keep running away?”

Nam Daeun lowered her sword under her arm and looked at me.

Having noticed my barrier, Nam Daeun also stopped using Space Domination, so the light on her sword had disappeared.

If it became a long fight, I was at a disadvantage.

“…Since I can’t fight head-on, I’m running away.”

“You did last time.”

“No, you charging at me like that in a place without any safety devices is the strange part.”

“I can slash without killing you.”

Pouting her lips, she really seemed disappointed.

I don’t know what kind of sparring match she expected, but I, in my own way, am preparing for victory, you know?

For now, while buying time and checking my surroundings, I realized the other students had no intention of joining the fight.

Even Kim Young-han, who was a potential threat, was just quietly watching my match.

Actually, the preparations were all done.

Moving around inside this open space, made by the students surrounding me with their bodies, I secretly prepared magic circles.

Since it was my first time drawing magic circles with my feet, it was a bit confusing, but after doing it a few times, I got the hang of it.

The target is Nam Daeun’s smart watch.

To subdue her without injury, there’s no other way.

Since the potential threat of other students interfering has disappeared, it should be okay to make my move now.

I raised my magic power and prepared to face Nam Daeun.

Taat-

Watching Nam Daeun charging at me, I slowly dodged her sword and burrowed inside.

And then I created a Spiral in my hand.

If she took a direct hit from this, Nam Daeun would be in danger, but if I use it so openly, she should be able to avoid it.

Nam Daeun retreated as expected, and I activated the magic circles I had prepared.

Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

The magic circles laid out on the floor exploded simultaneously, and pillars of fire erupted from the ground.

I quickly threw fireballs, restricting Nam Daeun’s movements.

Dodging the pillars of fire and fireballs here and there, I kept an eye on Nam Daeun’s clothes and attached a small ember to her body.

‘Got it.’

The small ember carefully traveled on Nam Daeun’s body.

This skill was acquired while giving Alice a massage.

Before Nam Daeun even noticed, the small ember reached the smart watch, and I increased the heat, instantly burning the smart watch away.

Hwa-reuk-!

Startled by the sudden flames that erupted from the ember on her, Nam Daeun was flustered, but the smart watch had already turned to ash.

“Haa…”

Fortunately, the surprise attack worked.

It was a trap that used quite a lot of mana, so if it hadn’t worked, it would have been troublesome.

Now, with my remaining mana, if I can somehow break through this wall of students, it’s over.

Because Nam Daeun is eliminated.

“Huh?”

But why am I not being forcibly teleported? I should have been teleported immediately and eliminated.

“…I lost again.”

Suddenly, a new smart watch was worn on Nam Daeun’s hand.

“What? Why are you still alive.”

“I have a one-time life-saving item. They give it to you for defeating about 30 boss monsters.”

“…”

Academy bastards… What are you supposed to do when you make something like that?

Since the original game is based on an adult game, there’s a limit on the number of boss monsters you can defeat per day.

Because of that, there’s no chance to defeat 30 of them.

I didn’t know there would be a hidden piece like this.

“Haa… Fine. You won.”

I can’t help it. I have to give up what I need to give up.

The Survival Test will also enter its 7th day in just a few more hours.

If Alice, Lucy, and Lumi just stay alive until then, they should all be able to rank.

Kim Young-han’s team, except for Kim Young-han and Nam Daeun, will be wiped out.

Roughly, I should be able to raise the heroines’ ranks.

It’s a shame I can’t get the hidden piece from the final boss… I’ll just have to make up for it with something else.

Cheolkeok. Cheolkeok.

Just then, Nam Daeun, standing in front of me, fiddled with her smart watch, then took it off her arm and threw it at me.

“Huh?”

Unconsciously, I caught the smart watch and looked at Nam Daeun.

What is this? What’s going on?

“I intended to give it to you from the start. As a reward for the practical exam.”

“…?”

Nam Daeun was looking at me blankly.

I looked at the smart watch to understand the situation, then, finding it absurd, I let out a hollow laugh.

“If that was the case, why didn’t you give it to me sooner.”

“I wanted to have a sparring match.”

“If you wanted to spar, just call me. I would have sparred with you anytime.”

I would have sparred with you even without this method.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t experienced social life. Communicating with students is really difficult.

“Hey. Nam Daeun! What are you doing!”

Kim Young-han, who was watching us, shouted towards Nam Daeun, who threw the smart watch at me.

“Since I lost, I’m ending it now.”

“You can’t just do that!”

“Did I ever make any promise with you?”

“…”

Seeing him shut his mouth, it was obvious he was playing coy and kept watching his back even after accepting me into the team.

If only he had tried to communicate honestly, this wouldn’t have happened.

“I’ll use it gratefully.”

I registered Nam Daeun’s smart watch as my smart watch.

“Yeah.”

Nam Daeun left only a short reply and disappeared via teleportation magic.

I didn’t expect to receive something like this.

That’s why I didn’t give up on the survival test and stayed behind.

“Well then… Time to ditch this place.”

The students were still looking at me.

But the hostility from before was already gone.

Except for Kim Young-han, many of the other students didn’t grasp the situation.

Suddenly pillars of fire erupted wildly, Nam Daeun gave me her smart watch, and then she disappeared.

Even if they understood the situation, seeing my combat power, they wouldn’t dare attack easily.

The dozens of fire pillars that covered Nam Daeun in the end looked cool even to me.

The surrounding ground looked like it had experienced an earthquake and became a mess, so it’s understandable they lost the will to fight.

Now is the chance.

‘I’m escaping before my remaining mana amount is discovered.’

My mana level was barely remaining.

If some students immediately came to their senses and attacked, I could be eliminated right then and there.

The remaining time until the 7th day is about three hours.

The chance to escape is only now.

I immediately squeezed out my mana and rushed towards the place with the fewest people, which I had kept an eye on throughout the sparring match.

“If you don’t move, you’ll get hurt!”

Kwang!

And then I detonated the final magic circle prepared for escape.

A much larger pillar of fire erupted than before.

While the panicked students were flustered, I slipped through the gap and escaped.

“Hey you bastards! Why are you falling for that!”

The magic circle only had sound and visual effects; it wasn’t a spell that dealt real damage.

Kim Young-han noticed first, but it was already too late.

Ignoring the shouts from behind, I ran towards where the heroines were located.

*

“Haa… Persistent bastard.”

The remaining time until the 7th day was only 5 minutes.

Kim Young-han stubbornly rallied his team and pushed me.

Right now, I lacked too much mana to escape the encirclement surrounding me.

“But it’s too late, buddy.”

In 5 minutes, the final boss of the Survival Test will appear.

Alice and the Lumi twins had been gathered together since about an hour ago.

Perhaps seeing the students surrounding me, they seemed to be staying away.

That’s a good judgment.

They were following instructions well, just as I told them.

The encirclement surrounding me was closing in, but I only looked at my smart watch.

58 seconds. 59 seconds. Exactly 12:00.

The moment it became the 7th day.

A ray of light descended upon the dark night sky, and centered around that light, the sky began to brighten.

“Wow… I didn’t realize it in the game; that’s insane.”

Seeing it in reality, I can imagine how many magic professors must have been sacrificed.

It must be a grand magic spell centered around Professor Im Sol.

From a single ray of light stuck in a large tree in the center of the island, something appeared.

Ttiring-

The smart watch beeped, and an alarm appeared.

[The final day of the Survival Test has dawned.]

[The High Elf Hunter appears on the island. The High Elf targets students with less than 200 points as a priority.]

Finally, the final boss has appeared.