episode_0215

“Can you do it?”

“…Don’t you trust me?”

“No, I’m just worried.”

Eve recalled the short conversation she’d had with Nari before entering the mock dungeon.

Eve Istar, the runner-up in the first semester’s individual tournament. Although she didn’t let on, she’s quite experienced as an adventurer. She’s a four-attribute mana user, and her martial arts and swordsmanship are also solid.

How many people in this academy would worry about her?

No, are there even any people left in this world who would worry about her?

A sweet word formed in her mouth, fueled by gratitude, but a bitter aftertaste lingered at the end, so Eve swallowed her words. Complicated emotions kept making her choose her words carefully.

Perhaps it was her weak showing during the recent academy attack that bothered Nari. Nari wouldn’t have known, but Eve had been tortured naked in Fortress just before that, experiencing the worst kind of humiliation.

She hadn’t been violated. She had firmly resolved that if she offered her virginity, it would be to only one person. Whenever such a situation arose, she always chose the ‘last resort.’

The Seeker knew this well. Every time Eve raised her mana to engulf her heart, he stopped. To him, Eve was an excellent slave, and he didn’t want her to die easily from mere torture.

It was also a sign of respect for Eve’s goals to some degree. Taking Eve’s virginity, who moved only for love, would render the shackles around her neck ineffective.

Therefore, the greatest humiliation Eve could receive was to expose her naked body and inflict all kinds of physical and mental pain. Grinding her already broken spirit into dust was the Seeker’s hobby.

Except when it interfered with Eve’s goals, she always bowed her head and submitted.

Even now, quite some time later, Eve felt troubled.

She hadn’t been able to properly greet Nari, and she hadn’t informed the Seeker that Nari would be outside the dungeon as an observer.

The latter could even be considered an act of defiance. Eve didn’t want anyone around Nari to die.

Especially Yuri. Hearing that everyone had survived the last attack, she had felt relieved, realizing that she still harbored such feelings.

As for the former, she truly hadn’t been able to do it.

She still felt a little regret. To herself, and to those who trusted her, shouldn’t she be honest now?

At least in her heart, she decided to wait for the day she could pour out everything, and Eve sorted out her complex feelings.

*Rustle-*

And a short time later, she felt the presence of people surrounding her.

Eve raised her hand, halting the squad members following behind.

“…”

Eve’s Alpha Squad was currently in the demon beast zone H-7.

As it was one of the outermost zones, like the safety zone, the environment hadn’t changed much. It was still a dense, wooded area.

Parting the tall grass, someone was approaching, surrounding the squad in a circle.

Eve stopped moving and placed her hand to her ear.

She connected to Nari through the mana-based communication network.

「Nari, can you see? It seems something is around.」

「Yeah, I can see…but…」

Her response was unsatisfactory. If there were any problems, she would have told her immediately. It was strange that there was no contact until the encirclement reached Eve’s senses.

And that question was quickly answered.

「Narias, this way too…!!」

「We’re surrounded too-!!」

「Me too, Unni.」

All the squads had been surrounded by numerous attackers.

No wonder Nari couldn’t easily give orders. Eve understood the situation. If one side moved rashly, the offensive might change. For example, by concentrating on the weakest squad and eliminating them quickly.

She anticipated the use of such systematic tactics.

The number surrounding them, far more than one or two parties could manage; countless presences. If such an encirclement had completely surrounded four squads, it could be assumed that all parties except 1-A were cooperating.

*Gulps-*

The other members of Alpha were also visibly tense. Their momentarily peaceful expressions froze, and beads of sweat formed on their foreheads.

However, that atmosphere didn’t last long.

「Okay…got it. Alpha, are you ready?」

Nari, seemingly having finished all her calculations, quickly sent a message through the network.

*Grin-*

Eve, too, smiled faintly.

Since she had defied Moriarty’s wishes and decided to cooperate with Nari for the time being, she wanted to be a proper help in this test.

That thought had made her tense unconsciously, but hearing Nari’s voice relieved it all.

「Ready.」

「There are 35 enemies in total. All are second and third-year students from the magic department, and their skills are below yours. However, the mages have various types of mana, so various attribute magic bullets will be flying.」

Nari concisely relayed information about the enemies.

She seemed entirely uninterested in others, like Eve; yet, when they become enemies, she obtains such detailed information. Eve felt a slight shiver.

And then, in a slightly softer tone, she asked.

「So, combined, are they stronger than you?」

「No. They’re weaker.」

Hearing Nari’s confident reply, Eve clenched her fist.

If she couldn’t overcome this wall, she’d never reach Nari. That’s how she felt.

「How about asking if it’s hot?」

Nari’s last instruction was a slight joke and a signal at the same time.

Eve also judged that tactic to be the most suitable. They were outnumbered and in a geographically disadvantaged position.

Attack was the best defense in this situation.

She removed her hand from her ear.

“From now on, keep your wits about you. I’ll tie them up as they come, so deal with them decisively. Leave defense to me and focus only on the attack.”

The squad members nodded silently with solemn expressions. They stood back-to-back, assuming an interception stance.

*Bang-*

Eve also leaped from the ground. Although they weren’t clearly visible because of the dense trees and bushes, all the attackers were gathering their mana, preparing to attack.

She clasped her hands and slowly wrapped herself in water-attribute mana.

Setting the range of the spell as a conical surface to avoid affecting the squad members below, she gathered the mana surging throughout her body into her hands, calming it coldly.

The attackers increased their speed.

They stopped hiding their presence and ran quickly.

Eve spread her arms and released the gathered mana.

[Absolute Zero]—!!

A brilliant white light flashed, and bone-chilling coldness spread around.

…

…

…

“Ah, isn’t this a little cowardly-!! Taking advantage of the dispersion of 1-A’s forces, they’re all surrounding each squad! Even upperclassmen who are stronger on average than 1-A! The power difference is severely noticeable!!”

“There’s nothing particularly cowardly about it, Meti~ There’s no rule against forming an alliance, is there, huh huh. How do the commentator oppas see it?~”

“Eh, um, well… Ahem, I too think that it’s quite—.”

“Is it because of subduing all the observers!! Everyone’s malice is concentrated on 1-A, where Narias is!! The commentator’s prediction, just tens of minutes ago, that they’re a top contender, might be blatantly denied!! Viewers, you should all remain vigilant—!!”

Meti passionately spoke into the microphone. The commentator still scratched their sparkly hair.

It was understandable.

1-A’s initial strike was effective, and most parties were ‘blind.’ Most thought the atmosphere of the match would calm down for a while.

But that thought shattered.

Senior students with experience in team battles quickly united. This wasn’t their first time, so they had a rough idea of the safety zone’s location. Connecting wasn’t impossible.

Normally, pride wouldn’t allow it. Several upperclassmen ganging up to beat a lowerclassman? It’s something they wouldn’t do out of face.

But this class match was different.

Super rookie Narias Philbrogue. They aimed to quickly crush the winner of the first semester’s individual tournament so she could no longer run rampant.

Face, pride; they decided to discard such things as they recognized her strength.

And they decided to act without hesitation, resorting to any means available.

“Ah, it seems the anti-Narias alliance will concentrate on the weakest squad first!! They’re starting to concentrate their forces around the squad containing Narias’s younger sister, Yurias Philbrogue! She doesn’t seem very familiar with combat, so… What will happen next, 1-A!!”

Meti held the microphone with trembling hands and slowly turned her gaze.

Even though her younger sister was in danger, Narias was smiling.

…

…

…

“Hmm…”

After instructing the squad members to hide in suitable places, Yuri began to move.

‘Forty…no, at least fifty?’

*Shhh- shhh-*

She slowly looked around. They were trying to conceal their presence to some extent, but the sharp mana waves, as if ready to cast magic at any moment, couldn’t be hidden.

Reading mana was Yuri’s specialty.

“Well, that’s true…though, it’s a little unfair.”

Seeing that her Delta Squad was surrounded first, it was clear she had been designated the weakest. That fact bothered her a little.

Yuri was overshadowed by her prodigious older sister and Eve, the top student. If the topic of combat strength ever came up, theirs would be the first to ignite discussion.

It was true that the two were strong. A unique-class adventurer, a four-attribute mana user, and a finalist in the individual tournament. They had quite a few impressive cards.

*Whoosh—*

But Yuri was not inferior to them.

A fact known only to two people in this world. Yuri and Narita were friends before being maid and princess. A relationship where they filled in each other’s gaps.

Next, they were student and teacher. Yuri, though excellent at housework, knew little about the world. Books, court etiquette, magic, and so on. Princess Narita kindly taught her everything.

The lessons took place in various places. In front of a desk, in the market of the royal capital, in the royal corridor, on the bed, and in the training ground.

Through all those places, Yuri became a perfect maid.

It was a fact unknown to those not close to her, as she never flaunted it. Yuri was a monstrous worker.

*Fluttering- thwack- flapping-*

The hem of her uniform jacket fluttered wildly. Her light brown hair also swirled relentlessly.

Because the girl, who decided to finally show her worth, had gathered all her mana.

「Do as you’ve been taught. Don’t overexert yourself.」

「Yes, Your Highness.」

The instruction—no, order Yuri received was one.

To show a side of herself as Narita’s maid that wouldn’t bring shame.

*Swish- swish swish—*

Soon, the mana waves surrounding her subsided.

*Swooooosh-*

Yuri lowered her stance, her feet dragging across the dirt. In her hands were…

Sharp daggers made of hydrokinetic magic.