episode_0066

For a while, I couldn’t leave the dormitory.

The female students from the Spirit Department who were chasing me had blatantly staged a protest near the male dormitory, waiting for me to come out.

Their actions continued until evening, and only after they completely dispersed was I able to step outside.

“What on earth….”

With a heavy heart, I walked through the slightly darkened outdoors, pondering.

“Is it because of my performance during the second test?”

To cross the Forest of Delusion, one student specializing in support and one in attack must form a pair to achieve optimal synergy.

Usually, due to the lower population in the support department within the academy, the attack specialists end up taking the lead, but…

“The situation earlier was a privilege of the top ranks… Well, something like that.”

Suddenly, the overwhelming presence of many Spirit Department students gathering made it quite daunting.

I don’t know if all top rankers experience such heights during the third test, but if I were to face it again, it felt like my heart would drop.

“Anyway, what should I do now?”

I ran away.

The third test would begin tomorrow, and if I still hadn’t found a partner by then, I would end up taking the test with a randomly assigned partner.

Random assignment was absolutely out of the question.

There was a high probability that someone lacking skills, essentially dead weight, would be paired up if left to random chance.

Deep down, I regretted instinctively running away.

“Sigh. Back to square one-”

“Um, excuse me…!”

As I sighed and walked, someone approached.

“Are you… Si-an…?”

A cautious woman approached me hesitantly, like a wary rabbit.

She appeared to be around 150cm tall, with a petite frame, pink braided hair, round black glasses, and a gentle demeanor shining through.

I was taken aback as she suddenly approached me.

“Who are you?”

“Oh… I’m Tiara from the Spirit Department! It’s just that…”

Spirit Department!

Come to think of it, there was a Spirit Department emblem on the left chest of her school shirt.

It seemed like there were still female students who hadn’t dispersed yet.

“Could you partner up with me?”

Her following words were as I expected.

“As long as our skills are verified, there shouldn’t be any problem. It’s not as pressuring a situation as before.”

The evening was slowly approaching. If I didn’t find a partner now, I would truly be at the mercy of random assignment.

“First, let’s assess your skills….”

“Isn’t she the first-year loser everyone talks about?”

Just as I was about to talk to Tiara, a voice from somewhere interrupted me.

It was the voices of two female students passing by behind me.

Familiar faces. They were among the group of Spirit Department students who had been chasing me earlier.

“Her name was Ti, right? She’s the one who got D’s in both the first and second tests, right?”

“How is that even possible? At least one should have been a C, shouldn’t it?”

“That’s why she’s known as the loser. …And she dares to ask the top performer to be her partner? Hah!”

“……”

The girls openly sneered and mocked.

As a result, Tiara in front of me lowered her head.

She seemed crestfallen, with a slight trembling indicating her anger.

I didn’t miss it.

“Excuse me-”

“Wait.”

I quickly grabbed her arm as she tried to leave.

“Do you have good stamina?”

“…What?”

“Stamina. The Forest of Delusion requires quite a bit of physical endurance due to its challenging terrain. Are you confident?”

“…?”

Perhaps she didn’t expect such a question, as she stared at me wide-eyed before quickly regaining her composure and nodding vigorously.

“Y-yes! I’m confident about my stamina. Staying up all night due to training is like eating dinner for me…!”

“Alright then. Let’s go.”

“Go… where…?”

“We need to partner up. Let’s go somewhere to talk.”

“….!”

The two girls behind us were taken aback.

The reactions were amusing.

Both Tiara in front of me and the two girls behind seemed surprised.

They probably never imagined I would make this choice.

Honestly, as long as it’s above a certain level, it doesn’t matter.

In the end, only Ora and Seongsoo can handle spirits.

If the spirit master could defend against the most annoying corrupted spirit’s mental attacks, passing the third test was as easy as flipping your hand over.

Though the female students in the distance seemed to be looking at us with puzzled expressions, I walked with Tia without turning back.

“I’m Tia Heightsbell! Nice to meet you….”

The sparkling lights created an atmosphere like a city’s night view in a cozy cafe.

We sat outside the cafe and engaged in conversation.

“I’m Sian. I wield a sword. You don’t have to be so formal.”

Her hesitant demeanor made me feel uneasy.

I asked her as she hesitated, “Now that I ask, why do you want to partner with me?”

“……”

She paused briefly while lifting her coffee cup.

“…Because no one else wanted to partner with me.”

“No one wanted to partner with you?”

I was puzzled.

She is a spirit master.

Even if she is a lower-level spirit master, she would be a significant force in this third test.

Even without effective means of attack, supporting a swordsman or a mage with a spirit would make a difference.

But no one wanted to partner with her.

“May I ask why?”

“Um….”

Understanding my intention, she nodded and said, “…Because I couldn’t.”

“Excuse me?”

“…Because I couldn’t.”

“I’m sorry, but could you please repeat that?”

Her voice was too soft.

Although it was frustrating, out of consideration, I strained to listen to her almost whispering voice.

This time, it was clearer.

“…Because I couldn’t form a contract with a spirit….”

“……”

It felt like a blow to the head at that moment.

“You couldn’t form a contract with a spirit?”

“Yes….”

“……”

“Well, there was no choice…. All the members of the Swordsmanship Department expressed their refusal….”

Finally, I understood.

Her seemingly low self-esteem. Her reputation as a failure.

All of it.

A spirit master who couldn’t form a contract with a spirit cannot be called a spirit master.

Dealing with spirits is the essence of being a spirit master, but without a spirit.

Just an ordinary person….

“I… I’ll do whatever you ask! I’m really good at carrying things. I’m stronger than I look!!”

Seeing through my mood, she urgently flexed her slender arm.

It was not convincing at all.

“Sigh.”

“……”

What can I do?

I already said we would partner up.

It wasn’t right to back out now.

Still, being a spirit master by name, she might be of some help. After all, I had intended to take on the third test alone.

With a resigned expression, I told her as she started to get up from her seat, “Sit down.”

“Eh…?”

“We need to discuss. You’re not going to refuse to partner, are you?”

“Thank you! Thank you…!” She repeated endless thanks, almost bending her spine towards me.

***

‘Soon we will meet again in the Forest of Delusion. It would be wise to think carefully until then.’

The voice of the villain they met a few days ago lingered in Cain’s ears.

He introduced himself as a revolutionary fighting for equality and made one absurd proposal to Cain.

“An unreasonable proposal… indeed. There are many crazy people in this world.”

Cain thought that if he met him again, he would definitely report him.

“Hup!”

-Whoosh!

In preparation for the third test tomorrow, Cain swung his wooden sword in the training grounds tonight.

His partner is one of the few individuals blessed with divine power by the gods.

It’s none other than Elise from the special division of the Magic Department.

Corrupted spirits belong to the demons. To them, divine power is more lethal than anything else, making them sturdier allies than most senior spirit masters.

‘This time, I will surely surpass Sian in the test.’

No matter how high his martial prowess, Cain considered himself superior in terms of strategy.

People don’t change easily. Despite any enlightenment, Sian was still reckless, arrogant, and foolish. Therefore, Cain believed his opponent wouldn’t outsmart him.

Cain planned and discussed the most efficient route with Elise.

After thorough research at the magical library, they had enough information about the Forest of Delusion.

To prove himself, Cain was determined this time.

He believed that only those who channel their will correctly and strive will eventually triumph.

He was certain he wouldn’t lose sight of the light in the end.

That day, Cain was convinced.

“Phew!”

***

Finally, the day of the final exam arrived.

“Hu, hu, hwaiting… We can do it….”

“Tia, it seems like even your existing confidence is diminishing. Stop it.”

“S-Sorry….”

The night before, Tia and I decided to let go of our words.

It was a means to ease her anxiety even slightly and make her treat me more comfortably.

Numerous students lined up at the entrance of the Forest of Delusion under the professors’ control. All first-year students from the academy had gathered here.

The examination was overseen by Bahamut, the same instructor from the second test.

Confirming that all the children were present, Bahamut bellowed loudly.

“In 10 minutes, we will begin the final grading exam!”

The excitement began to build up.