Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Survival Event (4)
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Ken had left the tower for the survival event, and the fourth night arrived.
In the dark room of the tower.
Even though it was late at night, Rafne hadn't gone to bed. She sat on the floor, surrounded by her dolls.
Her eyes stared vacantly at the floor.
She pitifully hugged her knees.
Tears had stopped flowing since the third night.
She simply spent her time in that position, wrapped in endless solitude and despair.
And like this, surrounded by dolls, they soon began speaking to her.
"[Rafne, abandoned again. How pitiful.]" The first doll she had received looked at Rafne with pity.
"[But it's okay! We are here for you, Rafne!]" The second doll she received comforted Rafne.
"[We won't abandon you!]" The third doll chimed in with reassurance.
Of course, the dolls didn't speak.
It was all just imagination conjured up in Rafne's mind, now teetering on the cliff of despair.
But that imagination only fueled her anxiety.
"...No, no. He said he'd come. ...Ken definitely said he'd come."
Tears welled up again as Rafne began muttering, and the surrounding dolls mocked her.
"[Rafne, fooled again?]" "[Don't expect anything. Expectations only hurt.]" "[Give up on that guy. He must've left to live happily with some other girl.]" "No, no, no, no..."
Whispers born of solitude and anxiety.
Those whispers bred more anxiety, which plunged Rafne deeper into isolation.
In this vicious cycle, Rafne sank further into despair.
Then, one doll spoke.
"[Then check for yourself, Rafne.]" "......Huh?"
"[If you can't believe it, just confirm it yourself.]" Rafne lifted her head at the doll's words, and what entered her view...
Was the door to the room where Ken always entered.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day after joining Emily.
During a meeting over breakfast, I explained our strategy for the remaining survival period.
"...Huh? We're doing nothing?"
"Is that really okay?"
Emily and Alicia voiced their doubts at my words.
The survival event ended at noon on the fifth day.
The plan was to hide and wait until then.
"If Ken says so, I won't object... but why?"
"Eek! Senior Emily, you're okay with Ken Senior's plan?"
"Y-you idiot. Ken wouldn't say something like that without reason!"
Alicia's baffled reaction was understandable.
We had just formed a team of three, so gathering as many badges as possible would be ideal.
But I saw it differently.
In this game, the final gathering point for badges was predetermined anyway.
"We're targeting the Golden Goblin."
"...Golden?"
"G-Goblin, you say?"
No, it wasn't a real goblin, obviously.
The Golden Goblin I meant was the top contender for first place in this survival event.
Adrian Faraday.
If I were alone, Adrian would be my number one to avoid.
But with three of us, it was worth a shot.
As the final day approached, the number of participants would dwindle, and the badges each held would increase.
At that point, targeting one person with a massive haul would be more efficient.
Plus, it avoided the risks of multiple battles against unknown opponents.
You never knew what abilities the other participants had.
More fights meant more unforeseen dangers.
So, we target Adrian, whose abilities I knew best.
"Let me explain the plan."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Time passed, and morning of the fifth day arrived.
A man walked through the silent forest.
'As expected, no sign of anyone around here.'
The noble young man with flowing golden hair and red eyes—Adrian—was scouting the woods.
Five days had passed, with many participants fighting and dropping out.
Adrian had been at the center of it all.
With overwhelming force, he had taken down masses of foes and amassed a huge number of badges.
Still, he wandered the forest in search of any hidden stragglers.
Then, across the trees and bushes, a figure appeared in a clearing.
"...Hic, sob, help me..."
And the sound that reached him was a girl's crying voice.
In the quiet forest, the girl's sobs stood out sharply to Adrian.
He headed toward the clearing.
'...A trap?'
A small girl stood in the center of the clearing.
This forest, under academy management during the event, was closed to outsiders.
So, that girl was definitely a participant.
'Obvious ploy.'
He had encountered such traps multiple times over the five days.
Teams baiting with one member to ambush the hooked target—a simple scheme for prizes.
'...But.'
The survival event was nearing its end.
Setting such a crude trap now?
At this stage, preserving badges mattered more than collecting them.
So, it might not be a trap.
'Maybe genuinely lost...'
She could be a dropout wandering without knowing the exit.
Thus, Adrian approached.
Though likely a trap, a group using such amateur tactics would be easy prey.
It was even a chance to turn the tables and snag badges.
Harder still to ignore the possibility of a truly distressed girl.
His personality couldn't pass by a crying child.
"What happened? Lost?"
"Ah...!"
Spotting Adrian enter the clearing, the girl stopped crying, her face brightening with relief.
"G-good! Sob, I-I don't know where to go..."
As the girl explained, Adrian scanned her surroundings.
'...No anomalies.'
He checked for magical traps, but nothing seemed off.
"I'll help. Come on, let's go."
There was only one small girl here anyway.
Even if others showed, he could handle it.
Adrian was confident in his power.
So, he smiled and offered his hand.
"Ah, kind big brother... and so handsome too."
The girl took Adrian's hand, smiling and blushing.
She, who had sobbed so delicately moments ago, now looked like a mischievous imp.
"Handsome brother, your eyes are pretty."
Then, she gazed at him with an alluring expression.
Like a girl smitten, meeting her prince charming's eyes.
She grinned slyly.
And a strange pattern floated over her pupils.
'...Magic Eye!'
Adrian noticed the change and tried to yank his hand away and retreat, but...
It was too late.
Magic Eyes came in many varieties.
The girl's—Alicia's—was hypnosis.
The moment their eyes met, he was in her grasp.
"Don't move for ten minutes."
Alicia's voice rang out with a chilling smile.
Her will pierced his mind through her eyes.
"......Tch."
Adrian's body stiffened, movement sealed.
"Yay! Plan success! Golden Goblin captured!"
Alicia, who had trapped Adrian with her ability, jumped for joy in place.
"Didn't expect the Magic Eye, I'll admit."
"Hehehe! That's why you can't let your guard down!"
Alicia wagged her finger arrogantly before the frozen Adrian.
Even at the impudent girl's display, Adrian kept his cool, assessing the situation.
His body rigid like stone.
Not a finger could twitch.
'Can't move... but.'
The hypnotic Magic Eye restricted action, but he could still control his mana flow.
In that case.
"Wh-whoa whoa whoa!"
At Adrian's will, mana surged through his body, igniting massive flames.
"Too early to think you've won by stopping my movement, no?"
"R-right?!"
Startled by the flames erupting around Adrian, Alicia hurriedly backed away.
'Just endure ten minutes.'
The Magic Eye was unexpected and deadly.
But if he could still cast spells, he was fine.
Adrian focused his mana to ramp up the firepower.
Then.
Shwaaak!
Gleaming chains of mana pierced into Adrian's body.
"...Th-this is... Emily?!"
Adrian recognized the ability invading him.
Mana chains entered his body.
His surging mana flow halted, and the protective flames died down.
"Sorry, Adrian. I really want this prize."
Emily and Ken emerged from where Alicia had gone, smiling.
"Impressive. No way out now."
Can't move. Can't use magic.
Completely cornered.
"As expected of Senior Ken! I believed your plan would work!"
"Don't lie. You didn't believe it at all."
"Ugh."
Alicia winced at Ken's retort, hitting the nail on the head.
But her doubt was natural.
Who would fall for such an obvious trap? She had a point.
But Ken knew Adrian's personality well.
Confidence in his abilities.
And a kind heart that couldn't ignore someone in trouble.
A protagonist-like sense of justice wouldn't leave a crying little girl alone.
"Well, Adrian. Sorry, but we'll take the badges."
"Emily, isn't that harsh to a friend?"
"Ugh, I-I'll make it up somehow later."
"No need."
But Ken had overlooked something.
"It's not over yet."
"What do you...?"
The assumption that Adrian, so confident in his power, was alone.
"I have allies too."
In that instant.
Fwaaah!
A massive ice wall enveloped Adrian.
"Kyaa!"
"E-Emily!"
Ken dove to catch Emily, flung back by the ice wall's shockwave.
"Pathetic, Adrian. Weren't we supposed to gather badges separately and regroup?"
The girl with flowing blue hair and cold eyes—Mary—approached Adrian slowly.
"M-Mary."
Mary's arrival reversed the situation.
Combined, Emily, Alicia, and he could take Adrian.
But with Mary joining, it changed everything.
'Of all people, Mary...'
The unexpected duo teamed up.
Rare elemental ability users united.
Mary's cold gaze turned to Ken's group.
Her eyes met Ken's, and she blushed, looking away.
"S-sorry, Ken. But this is all for meal tickets."
'How delicious can it be to get her this serious...?'
Ken grew increasingly puzzled by her reaction.
But Mary or no, he couldn't just surrender.
With Adrian still frozen, it was their golden chance.
"Emily! Got the badge pouch?"
"Y-yeah! Here..."
Fortunately, Emily had snatched the pouch from Adrian earlier.
Only one thing left to do.
Ken judged swiftly and charged forward.
"...K-Ken?"
Toward the biggest threat now.
"Emily! Run with that! Alicia! You handle Adrian!"
"O-okay!"
Stunned by Ken's sudden rush, Mary froze, letting him close in.
As Mary panicked, Ken circled behind and embraced her from the back.
"...Kyaa, kyaah!"
Mary let out a cute scream at Ken's abrupt approach.
"Sorry! But I have no choice right now!"
It might be unpleasant for a girl, but in this urgent moment, no time for delicacy.
Block Mary's movement somehow, buy Emily time to escape.
With that in mind, Ken held Mary from behind.
"......K-Ken."
'...Huh? Less resistance than expected?'
Ken figured she'd struggle to break free.
But Mary stayed strangely still.
She just glanced back, cheeks flushing, and carefully spoke.
"Y-yeah... I really can't move like this..."
Ah, so Mary was weak in physical strength.
Ken relaxed seeing she couldn't escape even without a tight grip.
"Go, Emily! While Alicia and I hold them!"
"You think you can escape━?!"
But Emily's reaction was off this time.
Perfect chance to flee, yet she blushed, pointing accusingly at Ken and Mary.
"Mary! You joking? Stop blushing and break that weak hold already!"
"No, but I really can't move."
"A-and Ken! Why'd you grab Mary yourself? Make Alicia do it!"
"Wh-what? Adrian can't move right now... Anyway, run, Emily! Time's short!"
"Aaaah━! Seriously━!"
Emily stomped in frustration at Ken's urgent shout before finally turning to flee.
She dashed into the forest, leaving the four behind.
"Heh, yeah... can't move like that. Hehe."
"Tricky situation, but entertaining view."
Alicia and Adrian watched Ken and Mary with amused grins.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A bit after that scene.
"Whoaaa!"
Amid raining ice arrows.
Alicia, running beside me, screamed.
"Ten minutes is too short!"
"C-can't help it! Behavioral hypnosis maxes at ten!"
After buying Emily time to escape, Alicia hypnotized Mary to restrict her movement, and we fled too.
Staying meant getting wrecked by Adrian after ten minutes.
Thus, we reached now.
Panting hard, we ran through the forest, with Mary and Adrian pursuing.
Good thing Emily had sealed Adrian's powers—no fireballs.
But the ice arrows alone were plenty threatening.
"S-Senior! Can't you use that weight-loss skill from before?!"
Alicia asked while running.
"Sorry! Won't solve this!"
Calorie Burn could boost stats to fight, sure.
But the time limit was the issue Alicia didn't know.
Against Mary and Adrian, no guarantee to finish and eat in time.
Rash use might dig our graves.
All we could do was flee till noon.
"E-Emily!"
Mid-struggle, a familiar silhouette appeared ahead.
"K-Ken! Mary and them are right behind!"
Seeing Mary skate after us on ice, Emily freaked and joined our marathon.
'Damn, what now.'
We were supposed to meet Emily at a preset point, but bumped into her early.
Original plan: seal Adrian's action and powers, escape leisurely with badges.
Mary's surprise screwed it up.
That moment.
Kwaaang!
A huge ice wall erupted before us.
"Wh-what!"
"Road blocked!"
The sudden wall halted our advance.
'...She let us run till Emily showed!'
Mary's "easy misses" on the ice? We got herded perfectly.
Too frantic to think that far.
"Now, Ken. Hand over the pouch."
Mary and Adrian closed in on us rats in a trap.
"K-Ken...!"
"Senior, what do we do?"
They looked to me, terrified.
But my mind was chaos too.
We'd lose the hard-won badges.
What now?
Use Calorie Burn to hold them off?
Mary and Adrian wouldn't expect much raw power from me.
Might work.
Judgment reached, but still hesitated on the skill.
Risk too high if it didn't go perfectly.
Miss timing, and we're dead.
'Damn, how? How to...'
The twin calamities of ice and fire approached relentlessly.
I racked my brain hardest since possession.
Searching for a turnaround.
Then.
"Caw, caw."
A familiar bird cry.
The sudden odd sound drew all eyes—including mine—to the bird.
Not an ordinary bird.
The mana-formed bird familiar I'd seen lately.
It flew in and perched on Adrian's shoulder.
Opening its beak, human words emerged.
"Rafne Bell Martinez has escaped. Rafne Bell Martinez has escaped." The unexpected familiar's arrival.
And the shocking name from its mouth.
The four who knew that name and its owner...
Mary and Emily looked puzzled.
Adrian and I hardened our faces.
"Approaching this location."