Second Test #2

 

The sun sets quickly in Garden.

Silence settled over the wilderness. The land was still and darkness was descending on the horizon.

“Phew, haa.”

My heart was pounding. I hadn’t stopped running since earlier.

‘Where is Flora?’

I had a strangely ominous feeling.

If you just look at the content, it’s probably not that difficult of a test.

What is this feeling that something unexpected is going to happen tonight?

Let’s finish this quickly and without any leeway.

I don’t know why, but I have a bad feeling.

I paused for a moment to catch my breath.

There’s still quite a bit of time left until we arrive at the meeting place.

“Uh, you?”

A voice was heard nearby.

An adventurer was looking at me with a surprised face.

“Estelle… right?”

“You saw wrong. I’m not that kind of person.”

“Hey, that’s right. I even remember your face. What’s the big deal? Hey, I’m a fan of yours. And we meet here.”

The adventurer and I exchanged an awkward smile for a moment.

“If you’re a fan, give me a badge…” Even if I say that, you’ll refuse, right?

“Yeah. Sorry, Estelle. I’m desperate too.”

“Well, I guess so.”

The adventurer took out the whip from his waistband with an embarrassed expression.

“I didn’t want to do this.”

Shaak—

The whip cut through the air, making a sharp cracking sound.

If you get hit with that one time, your bones and flesh will separate.

‘You’re my fan, you little shit.’

In survival, you shouldn’t expect recognition.

Everyone you meet is an enemy.

“You won’t die, but it will hurt a little!”

The adventurer swung his whip.

As expected of an adventurer who has reached the second test on his own, this is not the clumsy work of a newbie.

The adventurer took advantage of the whip’s unique long reach to cut down all four sides without leaving a single gap.

‘Perfectly? No way.’

I internally revised the thought I had just had.

If there are no gaps, I’ll just make it.

Knock—!

I dodged the whip and jumped into the air.

If there is no place to escape on the ground, then flying is the right answer.

“Huh? That’s right, Estelle? Once you jump into the air, you can’t dodge anymore!”

The adventurer quickly retrieved his whip and prepared to swing it again.

“I’ll shoot you down!”

Shaak—

The whip shot towards me like a snake.

But, I am no longer where the whip is aiming.

I stepped on the dagger that was floating in the air and used the recoil to leap forward.

phut!

The adventurer’s eyes widened, as if he hadn’t anticipated my movements at all.

“What is that- foul- ugh.”

The adventurer couldn’t even finish his words.

The adventurer’s body collapsed after being struck by an elbow strike to the forehead.

“I didn’t know I had fans. Anyway, it was nice meeting you.”

I whispered as I passed the fallen adventurer.

Anyway, you’re already passed out and can’t hear me.

“I’ll take the badge.”

This leaves four badges left.

No, finding Flora comes first before getting the badge.

It seemed like there was some danger lurking in this test that I wasn’t yet aware of.

There is no basis for this. It just feels that way.

If others heard this, they would laugh at it and say it was pathetic.

However, since coming to this world, I have overcome many crises thanks to this feeling.

A sixth sense that detects danger, perhaps? Like a spider sense?

I still feel it.

An unpleasant sensation, as if a snake were opening its mouth and slowly coiling around itself.

‘I have a bad feeling about this.’

The inexplicable anxiety grew more and more intense.

***

‘I have a very good feeling.’

Eden, the priestess, arrived at the border of the wilderness test area and looked around.

Hururuk.

There are magical pillars of fire lined up in a circle at regular intervals.

A barrier that prevents participants within the area from leaving, while also restricting those outside from entering.

Eden was lucky.

The search area has been narrowed due to the barrier.

It saves you the trouble of having to search all over the vast wilderness.

Eden took off the rosary she was wearing around her neck and brought it to the barrier.

Phagejik—

The magic barrier of the barrier and the rosary collided, sending lightning flying.

A crack appeared on the magic barrier, creating a hole large enough for a person to enter and exit.

Eden passed through the barrier without difficulty and entered.

Brim, brim—

As the night deepened, the sounds of people shouting and swords clashing could be heard throughout the testing area.

The exam was in full swing.

Where is Estelle?

Eden realized that she had reached the very edge of the lich she had been chasing.

We’re almost there now. All we have to do is harvest it.

“⋯Who are you?”

A voice was heard from above the trees.

Eden raised her head and looked in the direction where the voice came from.

“A priest? We’ve never called a priest for our exams before.”

Eden did not answer.

Are you a test subject for the Adventurer’s Guild? I had no intention of asking for your cooperation anyway.

What Eden will do from now on is something for which she cannot expect the Adventurer’s Guild’s understanding.

“Are you mute, sir?”

“⋯.”

“I’m warning you. Turn around immediately and go back the way you came. Otherwise—”

Eden quietly made the sign of the cross.

“Justia. From now on, this little lamb will assist you in your work. Please watch over him warmly.”

The next moment, the tree that Test Tube Jack was on was engulfed in white flames and burst into flames.

“Wh, what!”

A white firework lit up the dark night sky, and Jack fell from the tree.

Jack couldn’t hide his bewildered expression as he threw off his cloak, which had caught fire.

“You’re crazy. Are you going to try it?”

It’s a sacrifice that must be made, Eden thought.

Richie is good at disguising himself.

Eden knows her true face, but she can’t guarantee that it still looks that way.

The only certain information is that Estelle is mixed in somewhere in this testing ground. That’s it.

In the end, we can’t just single out Estelle.

Even if it’s a bit extreme, I have no choice but to use honest methods.

‘The easiest way to find a needle in a haystack is to burn the entire haystack.’

If you waste time, you’ll end up giving Estelle another excuse to run away.

Eden grabbed Rosario.

Hwaruk—

A white sword of fire blazed above Rosario.

“Sword of the Spirit”.

This is the divine skill that cut off the dragon’s neck during the ‘Warrior Party’ days when I was active with Michael.

“That technique… You, surely?”

Eden silently looked into the other person’s eyes.

I have no grudge against that adventurer.

I don’t even know who it is.

It’s just one obstacle in front of you.

‘It’s an unavoidable sacrifice.’

As Eden approached, Jack took a big leap and put some distance between them.

“I just don’t understand… Why are you, a fellow warrior, attacking me? What is your purpose? I want to know why!”

His words were already out of Eden’s ears.

Even if you kill a lich, he will resurrect.

Therefore, after killing everyone gathered here tonight, the one who comes back to life is Rich.

It was a truly clear verification method for Eden, but she didn’t have the confidence to explain it in an easy-to-understand way to others.

Even if people pointed fingers at me and said I was crazy, there was nothing I could do.

Just remember that your sacrifice was worth it.

Justia is with you.

Eden’s body was filled with the vitality to begin a great undertaking.

“You’ve completely lost it. You’re making no sense.”

Jack’s pupils fluttered. He shook his head, his gaze like a monster.

“It’s too late to regret it. You will pay the price for your foolish actions!”

Jack took refuge in the dark woods where the trees were.

If you let it run away, it will become a nuisance.

Eden followed him, aiming the sword of the Spirit.

A chase like a scene from a horror movie continues.

rustle—

“Ugh!”

Jack’s left arm was cut off by a sword of white flame and fell to the floor.

‘I don’t want to die.’

A kaleidoscope of images flashed through the mind of veteran adventurer Jack.

Every adventurer has wondered at least once what kind of death he will meet.

But Jack didn’t know that he would be killed so senselessly by such a madman.

“At least fight back! I can’t just sit back and die.”

A glint of anger appeared in Jack’s eyes.

‘You son of a bitch.’

Jack took out the crossbow on his back and aimed it at Eden.

It wasn’t easy for a one-armed man to skillfully operate a crossbow.

‘It’s fortunate that my left arm was cut off.’

Jack pulled the crossbow string with his teeth.

Push—!

A crossbow arrow flew towards Eden’s face.

Eden didn’t even avoid it.

The crossbow arrow fell to the ground in vain, blocked by the transparent barrier surrounding Eden’s body.

‘It still doesn’t work. But…’

Jack didn’t give up and continued firing his second and third crossbow shots.

Before I knew it, my teeth were stained with blood.

The pain of my severed arm and the despair of impending death mixed together made my head dizzy.

“⋯.”

Eden walked slowly.

The prey has already lost the ability to escape. Now all that remains is to recapture it.

Wave—

Suddenly, a loud explosion was heard from behind.

Eden glanced in the direction of the sound and frowned.

‘Firecrackers⋯?’

A loud flash of light and an explosion spread from the stray arrow, lighting up the night sky.

“It’s a signal flare. It seems like he wanted to tell his colleagues something.”

Jack chuckled with a pale, tired face.

“No matter what, it won’t work out the way you want.”

A signal flare containing the meaning of a warning.

Maria will understand the meaning of the red firecracker.

And if there’s a participant who’s been paying close attention to the Adventurer’s Guild’s public signal, they’ll notice it too.

The exam is cancelled.

If you see this signal, use all your might to ensure your survival.

Live, Maria.

Jack quietly closed his eyes. In the corner of his vision, he caught a glimpse of Eden raising the Sword of the Spirit.