16 - Rank Selection Exam (2)
The moment we stepped into the unique barrier—and the instant I closed my eyes and opened them again—the forest plunged into even deeper shadow, a chill wind whispering through the trees.
Edwin, at the front, began to advance slowly.
This guy... "Hey, hey, hey."
"...Huh? Me?"
Edwin finally turned to us, but he was so lost in thought he looked half-asleep. Party leading's the tank's job by the national rules...
"You're vanguard. Give some directions at least."
"Oh, right."
Even after awakening as an Executor, the guy's still unreliable. Did the author nerf his IQ on purpose to prop up Kaeran?
"Then I'll take point—everyone keep some distance..."
"Hah..."
Frustrated, I cut in for him. "No time anyway—let's talk on the move? Positions are set."
"Sure."
"Yeah..."
Aria and Hazel nodded agreeably.
Just as we started off—
"Hold up!"
Melissa, throwing a wrench in it.
"Why're you so casually ordering us around?"
"What?"
"You're the exam cheater. You expect us to follow you?"
"Then you lead."
"Huh?"
She faltered. Classic number two—she'd freeze if handed the reins.
"Lecture formation: Edwin front, you right flank, me rear, Aria left, Hazel watch all around. Better idea?"
I tossed it out casually, so she latched onto something else.
"Y-you're rearguard. Who knows when you'll sabotage us? Isn't that risky? How can we trust you?"
Hmm, dicey statement... Edwin jumped in to mediate before it painted all rearguards as scum.
"Hey, Melissa, he didn't mean it like that... We're a team..."
But even Edwin looked uneasy—probably our duel still haunted him.
This confirmed it, though. They suspected me but weren't digging deeper, so no info swap between Aria and Edwin. Aria hoards secrets unless she's close to someone.
"Fine, then..." Simple call. "I'll switch to vanguard. Problem solved?"
"What?"
"You're uneasy, right? We swap. You own any deductions."
"Uh... then rearguard goes to... Deductions?"
Caught off-guard, she hesitated. I pivoted to Aria. "Aria? You invited me—what's your take?"
She replied in her flat, disinterested tone. "...I think we stick to original positions. Mid-exam swaps deduct points. Melissa and I need chant time, so mid-field fits. Hazel's not suited for rear either."
Aria's brutal facts forced Melissa to fold. "If Ria's saying... Ugh, fine."
"Aw, pity—I was looking forward to vanguard."
Melissa shot me a glare. "Just don't be dead weight."
She whipped her head away, and I couldn't help but smirk.
As rearguard, I trailed slowly behind the group.
"I-it's... scary..."
Hazel had a point—the deeper we went, the darker it got. Luckily, Aria's holy magic lit the path without issue.
Melissa kept sneaking glances back at me, though. Kinda annoying.
"Not betraying anyone..."
"Sorry, but you're untrustworthy, so I'm checking."
"Yeah, yeah, suit yourself."
Per the novel, three monster types in the exam:
- Goblin
- Goblin Shaman
- Rag (Tagger)
Key's taking out the shaman first.
Shamans revive goblins for a time—clean kills prevent that. Revived ones drop no loot, so it's a HP and time sink.
We'd walked a bit when—
"Behind."
I halted the party.
"What?"
"Coming from behind. Aria—light here."
-Kieeeek!
-Kiek, kiek!
Monsters twisted their throats in the dark, howling.
-Hyaak!
Hazel let out a sharp yelp. Shadows began to emerge in response.
Aria's staff poured out brilliant light, freezing the charging black silhouettes mid-stride.
First wave's hobgoblins, huh.
Two large hobgoblins. Familiar low-tier trash mobs to any gamer.
But humanoid meant basic smarts—ambushes possible. No room for slacking.
Fucking ugly, though.
Game inflation? Author's taste? Not plain goblins—hobs. Dark-red skin, jagged demon horns.
Thought I'd feel fondness from all the game time, but seeing them IRL? Rearguard was the right call. Facing those mugs up close with a sword? Not ready.
"Feels gross..."
Melissa grimaced—universal reaction to their grotesque look—while chanting.
-Kieeeek!
The goblin spat something and rushed past me—toward Edwin.
"!!"
"Hazel—over here!"
"U-uh, yeah!"
As Edwin clashed with the hobgoblin, flaming magic arrows slammed into it.
-Kiek!
Top-student cast speed. Melissa's 3-circle Fire Arrow.
The refined mana arrow pierced clean—form and impact told the tale.
-Kieeeek!
But they didn't drop easy. Tough hide burned, reeking and uglifying further.
And I? Spectating.
Wait—no presence here.
> [Hermit] - Gamer trait activated
> [Hermit] [Aggro: 2]
> *Aggro reaches 100: Enemy notices you
Simple reason it ignored the closest target—me: The legendary once-in-a-lifetime inheritance from the confession penalty. Non-negotiable.
Hermit.
[Passive]
Hermit
[General Skill 1]
Demonic Eye
[General Skill 2]
Registerable
[General Skill 3]
Registerable
[Ultimate Skill]
Mainhwa
Thought it was trash inheritance, but slot it as gamer passive? Transforms.
Nullifies presence—aka aggro in game terms.
"Die."
-Whoosh!
Oof...
One hob already well-done grilled and KO'd by Melissa's flames.
-Kieeeek!
The orphan charged Edwin again.
But against awakened Executor Edwin? No contest...
"Ngh!"
"Gah! Hff... can't take more."
...Or so. Struggling after one clash.
Grind more, kid.
While focused elsewhere, I nocked the crossbow bolt.
-Rustle.
"Predictable."
Classic timing—shaman sneaks in to revive.
"!"
"Easy hit blind at this range."
Weekend drills: basics and accuracy only.
"Hey, what're you—!"
Ignoring late Melissa, deep breath, steady aim, exhale slow...
Pulled trigger.
-Twang!
Felt the crossbow's kick as the bolt flew. Solid, snappy handfeel.
-Thud!
Traced a faint arc, pierced the dark something.
-Kk...eek...
-Thump.
One-shot, one-kill.
Aria lit the spot.
"...Hieeek!"
"Th-this is..."
A goblin decked in skull handicrafts trembled, then slumped.
"You... saw it?"
Everyone gawked between me and the corpse. I tossed out, "What? Maintenance first, then loot."
I rummaged the shaman's stuff; Aria joined. Our lady Melissa crouched too.
"Hot...!"
"Ow, scorching..."
Cat paws or actually hot? She flinched.
"Overcooked. Cert burned too?"
Melissa yelped. "It didn't!"
One-shot as expected.
Shaman had some shield, but clean pierce.
Not my strength—pure crit.
Not the 2% luck on crossbow proficiency either.
In Reincarnated Hero, one way to 100% crit: Attacks on unaware foes auto-crit at 300% multiplier.
Universal perk.
Devs meant backstab bonus from stealth.
But Hermit lets me manage aggro to zero—infinite crits.
Fanfic-game gap exploit. Solo gamer system OP passive.
Next: Rag, right on cue.