Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Midterm Evaluation (3)
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Normally, if someone heard they had to take down two people's worth of monsters alone during a midterm evaluation, how would they react?
It wouldn't be easy at all, so most would probably shake their heads in disbelief.
Simple story. All the other hundred-odd teams were sweeping up monsters in pairs, so beating those two-man teams while dragging around dead weight was damn near impossible.
Even those confident in their abilities would quickly give up, saying they couldn't do it.
But even accounting for that difficulty, I was a genius mage on a whole different level from those guys.
'Easier than I thought.'
I was basically carrying the team solo, but I figured I'd be fighting for the top five at this rate. I'd swept up that many points all by myself.
Nothing difficult about it. Every time monsters came into view, I'd shoot ice spikes at them or whip them apart with my tendrils, pushing deeper into the mountains.
I didn't have the kind of firepower that flame or lightning mages could pour out in massive bursts, one shot after another.
Ice magic's true value lay in its utility, after all.
Controlling the battlefield, disrupting enemies, blocking their movement and attacks, stubborn survivability, and so on.
Those general advantages might seem a bit bland at first glance, but...
[Team 37 Lee Hyun-jin & Kanzaki Rie: 310(+20)]
For clearing out monsters in these mountains, I could perform better than any other mage.
Way more capable than a lightning mage who could only blindly burn everything in sight.
'Not like I'm singling anyone out specifically...'
Definitely not talking about some Heavenly Family punk who's probably wrecking the natural environment of Gyerysan right now without a care. Nope.
I just wanted to highlight the strengths of an ice mage. For real.
Squeeeal! Boom!!
"Kek..."
I swung a frozen vine to rupture the wolf's internal organs, then shook out my hand to release the plant manipulation magic.
These gray-furred wolves were common in Gyerysan—mere D-rank monsters.
Not very satisfying since they were only worth 10 points even if you went out of your way to catch them, but hey, many hands make light work. I was just smashing whatever crossed my path.
Today, I was the wolf slayer.
Shaking off those idle thoughts, I rolled my slightly sore shoulders.
'Whipped too hard, maybe.'
Guess repeatedly using my body in uncharacteristic ways had worn me out a bit.
Though my physical stats weren't as frail as other mages'.
"Ahem. Hm."
Then, a deliberate cough sounded out. Like it wanted to be heard.
"...Why?"
I turned with an annoyed look to glare at the culprit.
My baggage, Kanzaki Rie, who was totally under my thumb, in crude terms.
"No, well..."
She rolled her eyes in a way that didn't suit her, pretending nothing was up. Then she crept closer, step by tiny step.
Right as I was perched on a rock taking a short break.
"...?"
What was this? A sneak attack?
But she knew better than anyone that nothing she did could threaten me.
So I just watched her sideways...
"...Ahem."
Kanzaki plopped down behind me and started timidly kneading my shoulders.
"...?"
I blinked in bewilderment.
What the hell was she doing?
But ignoring my suspicious stare, she kept at it with a serious, effort-filled grunt, pounding my shoulders and back.
Her grave expression in this mismatched situation made her look pathetic.
'Feels guilty for doing nothing, huh.'
She must've noticed me loosening my shoulders earlier. I let out a dry chuckle and shot a weary glance back, then...
Called her softly.
"Hey."
Thump thump.
No reply.
I tilted my head.
"Kanzaki?"
Thump thump thump, thump thump thump.
Still no answer, just her arms flailing enthusiastically.
I'd spoken softly, but not that quietly.
"Rie."
She was so focused she didn't even notice me calling her name.
It was getting ridiculous enough to laugh.
I'd heard Japanese people were super sensitive about this stuff.
Yobiste or something? Calling by first name?
Her uncharacteristic watchfulness piqued my interest.
So I casually stretched my arm back, whatever.
She froze briefly.
Glanced at me cautiously.
I tossed out flatly,
"My arm's numb."
"...?"
"Legs hurt too... from all the walking, maybe."
"...Uh."
Her face flushed pink.
Maybe embarrassment kicking in, or her rebellious side flaring at my shameless demand.
Would she quit this ridiculous act now?
I thought so.
"...O-okay..."
Wrong.
"...Huh?"
The nodding Kanzaki gently gripped my forearm and started massaging it properly.
I flinched in surprise instead.
'What's with her, seriously?'
Did I underestimate the depths of Kanzaki Rie's twisted heart? Sure, she was riding my coattails in this eval, but...
This seemed excessive, even accounting for that.
No reason for that Kanzaki to grovel this much.
I schooled my face into ice-cold steel and glared.
Then snapped sharply.
What's your game, bitch?!
......
......
......
Hm.
But damn, it felt kinda good.
Better than expected.
Soft, squishy touches...
'Head's getting... fuzzy...'
I blinked hazily down at her. She'd just hiked up my pant leg and was tickling my calf with her tail.
Her glossy navy hair brushed my thigh.
Kanzaki smiled softly and looked up with a seductive tilt.
Gentle eye contact. Magenta eyes that pulled you in.
I stared blankly, and she caught something in my gaze—flashing sharp for a split second.
Her pale red lips ground together, chewing-like.
Then parted slightly.
"...Hyun-jin-kun."
"...?"
Her voice calling me. No answer.
Her eyes gleamed.
I dazedly watched her slip a hand under my shirt. Emboldened, she leaned her upper body against me.
Smooth feminine curves pressed in fully.
Gulp-
Whose dry swallow was that?
Not mine, so probably hers?
"...Haa..."
Confirming it, she let out a heated sigh. Tense, anxious.
Yet she curved her eyes prettily and trailed delicate fingers over my chest.
Her pure, ladylike looks clashed with those bold nails tormenting sensitive spots.
Teasing 'tap tap' obscenely.
"...You said it, Hyun-jin-kun."
She pulled her lips away. Calm, yet dripping with allure—a sweet whisper.
My gaze flickered side to side.
"If you're low on mana or magic power, grab some elixir and absorb it..."
"...?"
"I'll do as you say. So..."
She added the adverb in a voice tangled with emotions, then looked up pitifully with embarrassed, swirling eyes.
"Help me out... just once? You're the only guy I can ask for this..."
By then, I'd snapped out of it somewhat. The charm weakening.
More precisely, I'd resisted after some effort...
Anyway.
'This bitch casts charm with zero warning...?'
Even if desperate.
This crossed the line.
I glared with pissed-off eyes, and she finally flinched, shrinking back.
"...S-sorry."
Realized her charm half-broke? She clung to my leg like kneeling, voice breaking in plea.
"I didn't want to do this. B-but this vulgar power is all I have? It's my way to survive, sob sob..."
...Pitiful eyes. Attitude switch lightning-fast.
If only it weren't the clumsy act of a nine-tailed fox trying to devour me.
Ah, correction—maybe 25% genuine...
Not meaningful, though.
'Shake her off first, think later.'
Suppressing the deep rage, I grabbed her shoulders and peeled her off.
"...Ah!"
She yelped sadly from low angle, shoulders slumped like a wet puppy.
Yeah, not falling for it.
I sighed heavily and waved her off.
"Cut it out. I'm seriously pissed."
"...?"
She wilted, head down—her uncharacteristic look softening me a tad. I continued gentler.
"I did say I'd look for an elixir, true."
"...?"
"But I never meant for you to interpret it like this..."
"...Standing at attention?"
She cut me off bluntly.
I paused, looking down.
"...?"
"...?"
She stared meaningfully at my crotch, then slowly lifted her gaze to meet mine...
"...Kkh."
Eye contact hit me with vertigo.
I pinched my nose bridge and leaned back—
"Hyun-jin-kun."
She wouldn't let me calm.
Her high, excited voice made my shoulders tremble.
Kanzaki flashed a bewitching smile.
"Body's honest, isn't it?"
Chat over. She pressed my thigh and shoved closer.
Her small face slotted perfectly between my legs.
She grinned awkwardly, then nudged my knees apart.
'Ah.'
...Instinct screamed: she's lost it.
"Haa, haa."
Kanzaki panted roughly, sparkling eyes up at me.
She grabbed my belt, fumbling to undo it.
"...Hey, Kanzaki. Calm down. Your face looks dangerous right now."
I tried stopping her, sweating bullets—useless. A mindless succubus couldn't be controlled.
She eyed my underwear with wavering pupils.
"N-not a big deal. Just let me touch a bit, close your eyes and cum. I'll handle the rest..."
Our eyes met briefly; realization hit, mouth agape.
She giggled vacantly, pressing her tongue tip down with a finger.
Choppy words:
"Right here, heave it, ooout..."
"...?"
Her trait-enhanced charm 90% broken, yet testing my sanity with dirty talk.
'...Fuck it.'
I squeezed my eyes shut, shoved aside flimsy reason blocking desire, and grabbed her head—pulling deeper between my legs.
"...! Eek, mmph."
Startled at first, Kanzaki's eyes soon burned with lust as she yanked my uniform pants down.
Her hot, impatient breath hit my lower half.
We knew mid-mountain wasn't ideal, but desire won.
She gripped my underwear waistband, licking her lips.
Kraka boom!
And Kim I-jun plummeted from the sky.
"?"
"?"
Our silence didn't last.
Eyes wide in unison.
"...Huh?"
"Eh?"
My reaction quicker by a beat. Reflexively, I hugged Kanzaki—dead weight, rice sack—and hurled sideways.
Kwaaaaang!
"Gahk..."
Sword Saint's disciple, Kim I-jun, smashed the rock we'd been on to bits.
His dying scream faded as his hands shook, sword clattering down.
'What the.'
Dead?
As I instinctively checked breathing—
Zzzap-!
Chills. A razor-sharp spark grazed my cheek.
"...Hup."
Kanzaki felt it too. Sanity snapped back; she hiccuped in terror.
Next instant.
"Right now..."
A fiery timbre echoed like purgatory's whisper—crystal clear, piercing our ears.
We whipped heads toward the source on spinal reflex.
Higher than the mountain trees.
Blocking sunlight, in the sky above.
Academy topper floated there via flight magic, serene.
But with a twitching smile hiding massive rage.
Cheon So-yul looked down at us, lips twisting.
"While everyone's focused on the exam... what the hell are you two doing here...?"
"...?"
"Care to explain? Lee Hyun-jin?"
Grin!
A lovely smile bloomed.
Laden with fatal charm...
No.
Just fatal.
Swish!
"Eh?"
My call was quick. I flung hugged Kanzaki to the ground.
Pointed accusingly.
"Kanzaki jumped me."
"...Hyun-jin-kun?!"
Her jaw dropped, staring in disbelief.
I ignored it.
No.
What.
Not like I lied; I was just an innocent victim enthralled by the succubus, right?
'Hm.'
Anyway.
I'm innocent.