Chapter 60: Midterm Evaluation (2)
They had guessed that it might be a nominal exercise, but it seemed to be different. Cratir, who had been standing beside Navirose, suddenly clapped his hands.
Clap!
Ronan’s vision darkened.
“Huh?”
It was the same sensation as when he had been kidnapped by Cratir before. Fortunately, it didn’t last long. Along with a sensation of dizziness, Ronan’s vision brightened again. Frowning at the unfamiliar scenery, he looked around.
“What the hell?”
The sound of waves breaking echoed from all directions. The damp sea breeze carried a scent of salt.
Ronan tilted his head and scanned his surroundings. The beach, composed only of rocks without any sand, had a deep gray hue. The deep blue waves crashed against the sheer cliffs along the coastline.
“An island…?”
On the mainland, towering deciduous trees stretched densely. It was a landscape that felt primitive, close to untouched by human hands. Adeshan, who had been right beside him, widened her eyes and inspected her hands and feet, turning them around.
“Wow… This is Headmaster’s spatial magic. It’s my first time experiencing it firsthand.”
Most of the students were showing similar reactions. Ronan raised an eyebrow.
“Even the seniors don’t know this place?”
“Huh? Uh….The location for the midterm evaluation changes every time. Right! Your armor!”
“Everyone, pay attention.”
Adeshan was about to take off her boots again. Navirose’s voice echoed in the sea breeze. Holding a trunk-like bag in one hand, she looked around at the students. After assessing the headcount, Navirose began to speak.
“Alright. Since no one seems to be missing, I will explain the rules for the midterm evaluation.”
“Yes!!”
“As you all know, my class emphasizes ‘real combat.’ I would love nothing more than to send all of you to the battlefields in the southern region for a field trip, but… realistically, that’s impossible.”
The faces of the students turned pale. Only Ronan was left in awe, his lips forming a round “O” as he sighed in admiration. The battlefield. Now that he thought about it, that was also an option.
“That’s why I’ve come up with an alternative for this midterm evaluation. You will be randomly placed on this small island and must fight until only one person remains. Look at this.”
Navirose opened the trunk. Inside the bag were more than a hundred black and slender bracelets. She continued to explain.
“These are perception bracelets designed for the exam. The moment you put them on, you will be instantly transported to a random location on the island. They also serve as a device to detect losers. If the wearer is about to suffer damage to the point where they can’t be stripped, killed, or healed, the bracelet will forcibly teleport the wearer to Philleon.”
“Heh.”
Ronan let out a dry laugh. He had never seen so many expensive spatial magic items in such abundance. To use such items only for exams was something that could only happen at the Philleon Academy.
Of course, it wasn’t just because of that that he was astonished. Navirose’s words meant not to worry about hurting opponents and just fight.
“Don’t fear getting injured. The medical team and the best healers from Philleon are on standby. Even if you’re transported while injured, you can receive immediate treatment.”
Furthermore, she added that there were no separate rules against cheating. In other words, it meant they wouldn’t prevent surprise attacks or forming teams to attack or defend.
“So that’s why everyone is dressed up like this.”
It seemed like everyone knew about it and they had come fully prepared. Even students carrying long-range weapons they never used in class or backpacks that were as big as their torsos didn’t look out of place.
“I’m getting nervous… Would you like to be on the same side if we meet?”
“Not a bad idea. Honestly, I’m a bit scared too.”
“Kekeke, capturing juniors is going to be so much fun this time too.”
Despite knowing about it in advance, the content was shocking. The students’ excitement was growing louder. As Navirose began to call out the students one by one, it was a moment when their anticipation reached its peak.
“Then, come out one by one and take a perception bracelet. Shullifen de Gracia.”
Silently, Shullifen walked forward and put on the bracelet. In an instant, his form distorted and then disappeared without a trace. Cheers erupted from all around. Not long after, Adeshan’s name was called.
“Next, Adeshan.”
“Uh… Even if we happen to meet, promise me you won’t go easy. Okay?”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Ahaha, what’s with that? See you later, then!”
Adeshan, who had put on the bracelet, disappeared. Soon, nearby, the students’ excited voices could be heard.
“What? Isn’t she a junior assistant? What is she thinking by coming here like this?”
“She’s a complete pushover.”
Ronan narrowed his eyes. Such guys were everywhere. He was currently scanning the area, searching for the student he had just talked to.
“Next, Ronan.”
“Yes.”
Navirose called out Ronan’s name. As Ronan stepped forward, the group of students parted on either side.
It was thanks to the bald-headed Karudan and the thugs who had confronted him during the introduction. Among the upperclassmen of third grade and above, Ronan’s nickname was becoming something like ‘Senior Destroyer.’
Ronan picked up the bracelet. Without saying a word, Navirose quietly opened her mouth.
“Take it easy.”
“General’s word about the importance of practical combat, I agree with that too.”
“You…”
“Goodbye.”
Ronan put on the bracelet. Soon, his vision blurred, and an entirely different landscape appeared before him. Towering trees were everywhere. The distant sound of waves seemed to be coming from the forest he had seen earlier.
“It’s like pulling fur from a ghost.”
A chuckle escaped him involuntarily. Spatial magic was truly something one could never fully adapt to, no matter how many times they experienced it. He was about to stretch and take a step, but suddenly, a question popped into his mind.
“Wait a minute. Can I even actually go all out?”
Ronan came to a stop in his tracks. He could gather mana by touching his weapon.
If he went all out in real combat and accidentally slashed a student’s throat, there would be nothing more boring than that. He pondered, his hand on his chin.
Suddenly, about five paces in front of him, the space rippled, and a male student appeared.
“Huh?”
The male student immediately assumed a defensive stance and began scanning his surroundings. He seemed extremely tense, more than just ordinarily nervous.
It was when he turned his head to the left. Ronan, whose eyes met his, waved and greeted him.
“Hey.”
The male student’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out. Clutching the polearm in his hand, he shouted.
“You…you’re!”
“Calm down, calm down. Don’t you think you’re lucky by any chance?”
“Die!”
Without warning, the male student rushed forward, brandishing his polearm. The blade, infused with mana, shimmered with a bluish light. Ronan exhaled softly and lowered his posture.
Whooong!
Just as he lowered his head menacingly, a blue serpent was drawn above his head.
“What the hell? Calm down!”
Ronan grabbed the hilt of his sword. Two strikes were sent flying toward the male student. It was just as the male student was about to bring up his polearm.
Thud!
The head of the polearm dropped to the ground. Ronan tripped the legs of the disheartened male student, causing him to fall.
“Ack!”
“I have something to ask you, so wait a moment.”
Pointing the tip of his sword at the male student’s throat, Ronan spoke. He had been pondering if there was a way to find out more information. While he was chewing on this thought, the male student, who had been mumbling to himself, suddenly jerked his upper body roughly.
“Damn it! Don’t mock me!”
“Huh?! You little—!”
Just as the tip of the sword was about to touch the male student’s throat,
Poof!
A sensation of piercing something other than flesh traveled through Ronan’s fingertips.
Swoosh!
The male student’s form suddenly distorted and then vanished into thin air. Ronan, who had been dumbfounded for a while, scratched his head and mumbled.
“…Thank goodness.”
Since it wasn’t a protective barrier but a detection-based transmission method, it seemed that no disasters had occurred. Before long, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Well then, I guess I can go all out.”
Suddenly aiming at the trees above, Ronan threw Lamancha. Flying in a straight line, Lamancha pierced through the dense foliage.
Crunch!
As the sword emerged from the other side of the leaves, a girl in leather armor fell from the treetop.
“Eek!”
She was gripping a longbow in her hand. The girl plummeted from head to ground without a chance to deploy her falling technique.
Originally, it was a height that should have resulted in her neck snapping upon impact. However, just as her face was about to hit the ground, her form distorted and vanished. In the spot where the girl disappeared, leaves and arrows fell like rain.
“I should’ve concealed my presence a bit more.”
Chuckling to himself, Ronan picked up Lamancha. It seemed that magic was triggered even by a type of death other than combat. Well, to handle such a crazy exam, this level of stability was necessary.
There were slightly over a hundred competitors. Ronan moved in the direction where he could hear the sound of waves. There was no particular reason; he just wanted to see the sea.
“You, you’re!”
Thud!
“Ahh! I-I’m weak…! To the others…!”
Thud!
Until he emerged from the forest, Ronan encountered two more students. One tried to charge at him, while the other attempted to flee, but he took both of them down as soon as he saw them. Ronan mumbled to himself with a grin.
“It’s not as satisfying when blood doesn’t spray.…”
Soon, the cliff and the expansive horizon came into view. The sea displayed a deep blue hue that he had never seen before. The cliff’s edges were as sharp as if they had been cut with a knife, and the difference in height between the cliff and the sea seemed to be around thirty meters.
Clang!
Clang!
At that moment, a metallic sound reached Ronan in the wind. The distinct sharpness of the sound made it seem like the clash of blades.
“Hmm?”
Ronan turned his head in the direction of the noise. Not far away, he saw students fiercely engaged in battle. His eyes widened when he recognized a particular face among them.
“Adeshan?”
With each swing of the sword, Adeshan’s jet-black hair fluttered. Whether it was due to diligently attending classes or not, her swordsmanship was nearly textbook-perfect. Ronan clicked his tongue.
“…The sword is too slow.”
However, despite the convincing appearance, the battle itself was a complete disadvantage. Despite the significant height difference, Adeshan was being pushed back. The female student she was clashing swords with giggled.
“Ahaha! Hold on a little longer!”
“Ugh…”
In truth, it was closer to one side playing around. Adeshan swung her longsword vertically. The female student lightly twisted her shoulder to evade the attack and struck Adeshan’s abdomen.
“Urgh”
“I didn’t expect to be the lucky one.”
Ronan’s eyes widened. It was the same voice he had heard at the waiting area. Ronan, who had been contemplating for a moment, kicked the ground and dashed forward. Adeshan continued to swing her sword in succession and shouted.
Swoosh!
“Stop messing around and fight properly…!”
“No, I don’t want to. I’m going to play some more. What can I do? You’re so weak.”
Adeshan bit her lip. The female student, named Kacha, purposely avoided fatal strikes and launched her sword attacks.
Splat!
A shallow scratch appeared on Adeshan’s shoulder.
For a fleeting moment, Kacha’s mouth curled into a disdainful grin. Feeling a sense of danger for a moment, she turned her head. Ronan’s face was right in front of her.
“Huh?”
Before she could react, Ronan pulled back the scabbard. Two thrusts were launched toward Kacha.
Swoosh!
The blade, which had been plunged with precision, came out, and blood spurted. The sword fell from her hand.
“Kyaaah!”
“Is it fun to play around with someone’s life? I’m having fun, too.”
Thud!
Ronan kicked her chest, causing her to fall backward. The injury wasn’t fatal enough to trigger a transport. Adeshan exclaimed in a bewildered voice.
“Ro-Ronan?!”
“Oh, right. I’ll leave the last attack to you, sunbae.”
Ronan pointed at Kacha with his chin. With both arms immobilized, she screamed and writhed on the ground. The calm composure she had shown earlier had disappeared, replaced by a mess of tears and snot. Kacha looked at Adeshan, pleading.
“Adeshan! Please, help me…! We’re classmates!”
Adeshan didn’t respond. Taking a deep breath and pausing for a moment, she swung her sword. With a clean slicing sound, Kacha’s form vanished. Adeshan drove the tip of her sword into the ground and let out a sigh.
“Phew…”
“You did well. Most people hesitate even when they know the opponent won’t die.”
“Thanks for that,… What are you doing here?”
“Just getting a bit tired of the noise. I’m thinking about what to do about sunbae now.”
Ronan spoke nonchalantly. For a brief moment, a shiver ran down both of their spines. He had momentarily forgotten. Though temporary, he and the girl before him were in a situation where they had to face each other with swords sooner or later.
And it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he was the most dangerous adversary on this island. Gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, Adeshan spoke with a trembling voice.
“…Don’t interfere.”
“That’s my intention. Care to join me for a walk?”
Ronan started walking on his own, leaving those words behind. Adeshan hesitated for a moment, then followed him. Soon, the two stood side by side, walking along the coastal cliff.
“The view is nice. Just looking at the color of the sea, it seems like the Southern Sea, but I’m not sure.”
“Why aren’t you attacking? Do you think I’d be pleased by this?”
“Yeah, it’s still bothering me. I’m considering how to deal with sunbae.”
“What do you mean?”
Ronan twisted his lips. He had been thinking a lot about Adeshan’s situation, more than he had during the time of the Dallan incident.
‘It’s too dangerous.’
The fight against Nebula Clazier was gradually intensifying. Throughout every corner of the continent, monsters like Brighia would surely be lurking.
The war with the ancient bastards that existed even before the empire’s founding would undoubtedly be long and grueling.
Ronan tilted his head slightly and looked at Adeshan. Her ashen eyes and pale skin were the first things to catch his attention. The high and sharp bridge of her nose stood proudly.
He hadn’t noticed before, but she was quite beautiful. Her long black hair fluttered in the breeze. Ronan stopped in his tracks, smiling wryly.
“Well, okay. I’ve decided.”
“What have you decided?”
“Draw your sword, Adeshan.”
Ronan faced Adeshan with the cliff behind him. Her face stiffened. Ronan spoke calmly.
“I won’t use a sword. And if even a single one of your attacks grazes me, I’ll consider it my defeat.”
“Are you kidding me…? Are you just going to toy with me like Kacha?”
“It’s not a joke, and I’m not playing around either. Instead, if you win…”
Ronan trailed off. His clenched lips didn’t loosen.
Stop this nonsense and return to my hometown to make clothes or cut fabrics. He couldn’t utter those words. With great effort, Ronan tried to continue speaking.
“If I win?”
“So…you…!”
Suddenly, Ronan charged at Adeshan. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back forcefully.
“Kyaaah!”
She was about to shout something with a flushed face. Shadows were cast over both of their heads.
Soon, Adeshan fell to the ground where she had been standing. A huge cloud of dirt and debris erupted with a loud boom. Dazed, Adeshan took a step back.
“W-What is this all of a sudden…?”
“Well, I’m surprised you dodged it.”
A voice echoed from within the dust cloud. It had a somewhat heavy, low tone. Shortly after, from within the dust, a bald man in heavy armor emerged. A massive war hammer was slung diagonally across his shoulder.
“Nice to meet you, Ronan. I’ve heard quite a bit about you.”
“Who are you?”
“I am Ayun Dallani. Can we have a brief conversation?”
Adeshan’s eyes widened. She whispered to Ronan as if sticking to him.
“He’s the top student in the third year…!”
Ayun was a master of the war hammer who had also demonstrated his prowess in Navirose classes. As if to confirm this, the spot where the hammer had fallen was now imprinted in the ground like a fallen meteor. Ronan spat on the ground and spoke.
“Whether you’re Ayun or whatever, get to the point. We were in the middle of an important conversation, and you…!”
“As expected, you’re quite something. Well, there’s not much to discuss… The reputation of our grade is quite poor for various reasons. As the top student, I’ve come for some kind of retribution.”
Ayun brought the head of his hammer down onto the ground.
Thump!
Although it was a simple action, a heavy sound reverberated through the area.
“Do you think it’s your job to teach us how to talk bullshit when you’re the third years?”
“Well, I also intend to mentor promising juniors. Arrogance tends to grow along with one’s skill. Just like you. If you were to fail at the beginning of an exam, that pride of yours might be slightly broken.”
“Ayun, I’ve captured them all.”
Thud! Thud!
At that moment, two figures of considerable bulk landed on either side of Ayun. Both of them had bald heads that resembled Ayun’s. Ronan chuckled upon seeing the three muscular figures.
“Ganging up together, huh? Aren’t you pathetic?”
“In a real fight, you shouldn’t be concerned about appearances.”
“What nonsense is this? I asked whether you three stooges would gang up on me. How pathetic. You should at least pick some grass and plant it on your head, you idiot.”
“······You really are hopeless.”
Suddenly, Ayun leaped into the air.
Whoooosh!
His war hammer was descending with a brutish roar. Ronan swiftly stepped back, evading the attack.
Quaaang!
The hammer struck the spot where Ronan had been standing. The ground cracked and split apart as Ronan stood at the edge of the cliff.
Ronan chuckled. “Doing the same thing, huh?”
With a light leap, Ronan attempted to jump back up. The two bulky figures behind Ayun lunged at Ronan. It was an action that would only end with all of them falling off the cliff unless they intended to do so.
“Did they plan to do this from the beginning?”
Ronan pulled his sword hilt.
Swoosh!
The sword strike shot out like a ricocheting projectile, tearing through the heads and sides of the two students. The student whose head was torn apart disappeared in a blur.
Blood sprayed from the side of the other student. However, he paid no attention to the injury and forcefully pulled Ronan’s body toward him. The bald man and Ronan began to fall off the cliff together. Ronan glanced up at the cliff edge and muttered.
“Damn it, Adeshan.”
Quaaang!
At that moment, a burst of dirt and debris exploded from above. It seemed that Ayun’s hammer had struck once again.
Ronan gritted his teeth. Twisting his body, he plunged the knife into the back of the bald man number two. Shortly after, the form of the bald man disappeared, and his body regained its freedom.
The ground was rapidly receding below them.
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