Chapter 14
Chapter 14
I, I was the top graduate from the Magic Tower..." "I've seen better. Once, the Magic Tower Lord himself went staggering down. Want to know how that guy died?" "..." At those words, Fey's mouth shut. "Back in the day, I could've escorted promising kids like you. But with this body that spits blood at the drop of a hat, I can't even guarantee breaking through the Purgatory zone on the first floor. I'd just be a hindrance." "We, we'll adjust as much as possible to..." "That's the problem. You think Nether expeditions are a joke that can be done while babysitting a patient?" "...
Ugh." Stabbed right in the heart, Fey couldn't say more. "...
So it's our level that's the issue." "Yeah. At least come back as top scorers on the exam. Unless you're the fastest to finish among this batch." Regen said that and drained the rest of the liquor in front of her. "...
More importantly, isn't your exam tomorrow?" Exam? "Isn't it the day after?" "What are you talking about? Exams are traditionally on the first of the month. Tomorrow's the day." "What?" But Fey definitely said... I turned to look at Fey, "...
Ah." and understood everything when I saw her pale face staring at her exam ticket. One brilliant moment, one blunder. Keeping the ratio balanced? "W-Will... S-sorry..." "...
It happens." The fire was already at our feet anyway. No point getting mad; time to move. "Then... how much time until..." "Three hours." "Excuse us. We'll be going." We hurriedly bowed to Regen, quickly wrapped up the drinks, and headed for the exam hall when, "...
Sigh, wait. Take this. It'll help." Regen handed us something. "This is..." What Regen pulled out was a leech. -Wriggle, wriggle. No, a slime creature that looked like a leech.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Three hours later, I stood in the crowded exam hall, half-crushed by the booze. 'I'm gonna die for real.' Hangover on the big day. What am I, a hungover freshman?
"A-are... you okay?"
"Yeah, somewhat... No, it's rough."
"I'm really sorry...! I mixed up the dates..."
"No, it happens... Urk."
"Agh..."
I tried to fake being fine, but my body was honest. Fey, who'd drunk less, was just sleep-deprived, but I'd gone shot-for-shot with Regen. Honestly, standing was a chore. That was when. As I barely held up my about-to-collapse body, a familiar face approached.
"Hey, that's."
Wasn't that the gang leader who'd gotten tossed by Regen yesterday? Looking closer, his cronies were with him. The leader was a burly thug elf with a delinquent vibe. Next to him, a sleazy second-in-command fawning over him, and behind, a queen bee girl elf fluttering around. Classic K-high school bully setup. 'Ignore 'em.' Getting tangled with those types is a loss. I ignored them, pulled jerky from my pocket to soothe my empty stomach, and chewed.
"Hey."
"?"
"You eating jerky right now? In front of an elf? Crazy bastard."
The K-delinquent elves, inheriting that bloodline, suddenly bit at me. Impressive pick-a-fight skills. This footwork earns you bully status in fantasy.
"Wait, aren't you that guy from the tavern yesterday?"
"So?"
"So, chowing down like that is speciesism, got it?"
"Speciesism?"
"Yeah, punk."
Chomp chomp— I ignored it and demonstratively chewed and swallowed the jerky. By their logic, I was in the right. Because— "You barely qualify as people, so it's fine."
Act human to get treated like one.
"This punk..."
The second elf ground his teeth. But what if he got mad?
"This is the exam hall? Gonna swing? You'd just hurt yourselves."
But at least here, I could bluff like I dared them to try. No way they'd actually...
"Will! Dodge!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Elf_23123 attacks 'Will'.] "Ugh, hangover." With Fey's shout, a sudden hangover wave hit, making me stagger briefly,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Physical damage predicted.] ['Will's Luck stat rises: 3 → 99] [Luck success: Attack evaded.] "Huh?!" Perfectly timed, the thug elf's swung fist sliced empty air. And then, -Trip. "Ugh, ack?!" -Splat! His foot caught on mine, and he face-planted. "...
Wow." Fey let out a small gasp. "...
Dodged Illian's attack...?"
"Even though it was a sneak attack..."
His cronies reacted eagerly too.
"Huh?"
Honestly, I was a bit flustered.
"This punk... Fine, let's go..."
Meanwhile, the staggering thug elf approached again— "Quiet! Any more nonsense and you're all disqualified!"
Nice. A mustache-impressive middle-aged man appeared right on cue, stopping us.
"The exam starts now. I'm Mike, your examiner."
Confirming the man's identity, the thug elf reluctantly stood down.
"Hmph, lucky."
The gang backed off unwillingly.
"Whatever, no need for future top scorers like us to mix with lowly trash like you."
"Sure."
I smiled and flipped them the bird behind their backs. Hope I never see them again. The examiner, looking at us pitifully, continued.
"Simple rules. You'll complete the task in the 'Forest of Screams' in Purgatory." 'Forest of Screams, just like Regen said.' According to what I heard yesterday... no, this morning at dawn, two pass conditions.
"First: Find and bring back one corpse from the designated area."
Murmurs— The unexpected task stirred the crowd. 'To show the dangers of Nether exploration.' As expected, Examiner Mike emphasized its meaning.
"You're about to step into the world's strangest, most dangerous place. Most of you will end up as corpses rolling around here."
A bit scary phrasing, but exaggerating danger to prevent foolhardiness makes sense.
"This exam shows the fate of reckless adventurers. The wise will quit and go home. The less wise will figure out why corpses are there, avoid dangers, and retrieve one. The fools... will become the next batch's task."
So, go to a deadly spot with real fatalities, breakthrough dangers, and fetch a 'corpse'. Heard it from Regen, but still creepy.
"The other is a special condition. I doubt any of you can do it."
Swish— Examiner Mike showed us a picture. A massive flower with blood-red leaves. 'That's it. Regen's recruitment ticket.' "Blood Rafflesia. Grows in the 'Forest of Screams'. Bring it severed, and you're auto-passed."
Per Regen, top score needs that flower. Corpses are remote, delaying return time, unlike the special condition—good luck means grabbing it near start.
"Really, just that flower for a pass?"
"Yeah, if you can bring it."
Mike grinned toothily at the asker. Try if you think you can.
"Last and most important: If you find clear ruins in the Forest of Screams, stay away. Corpses from there don't count, even if brought. Violate, and the Association won't guarantee anyone's safety."
Touch ruins, and we're on our own. Pretty ominous.
"Follow me to the Forest of Screams."
Thus, we followed Mike to the exam site. Tension, excitement, anticipation heated the air. 'Just one bowl of country rice soup, and I'd have no regrets.' Me? Craving soup bad.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ How long did we walk? Mike spaced out examinees one by one. "Examinee 172, you're last. This is your start. Complete the task and return to the marked spot on the map for pass." "Got it." "...
More than that, you're unfazed? By this scene?" Scene? I looked around. Just a normal forest, like in Korea? What's special? "Uh... something weird?" "...
No. Good luck."
His face somehow more sickly than first sight, Mike turned and left.
"Here... attach this, right?"
I dug in my pocket, pulled out Regen's leech-like slime, and stuck it under my ear. -Stick. Cold sensation crawled over my earlobe. She said it'd help. When asked how, vague "You'll see."
Anyway, I waited for changes with it attached, but. 'Hm? Nothing different?' No change. Hangover nausea eased a bit, but not hugely.
"Body doesn't take to it."
Not everyone responds to leeches. Maybe same for this slime.
"Eh, whatever. Let's go."
I peeled off the slime, pocketed it, and headed downhill into the forest depths.
"Hm, Blood Rafflesia? Best to snag that for the pass."
Finding corpses is too gruesome. Plus, hangover—want rest ASAP. And a red flower in green woods? Stands out visually. 'If easy, wouldn't be special...' Huh? My gaze locked, thoughts froze.
"That."
Beyond the brush, the bright red flower described poked its petals.
"No way." -Dash dash. I bolted to it, -Snap. and effortlessly sliced it with my jungle knife, holding it up.
"What the."
Exam over, absurdly anticlimactic.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, at the Forest of Screams entrance. Examiner Mike clutched his throbbing head, cursing. 'Over 20 years exploring, and this damn forest still torments me.' Forest of Screams. Top avoidance for Iron~Bronze explorers, top retirement reason for rookies. Yet, must-pass bridge to Dawn Zone below. Those shivering call it 'Crimson Hell.' Trees like human guts, fruits like pus. Baby-like cries instead of birdsong, rotting corpse stench everywhere. A hellish space shredding senses—shouldn't exist. Today's exam ground. 'Thirty minutes in. Time for...' Checking his watch, Mike heard the inevitable dropout screams.
"Aaaagh! Can't do it, forfeit!!"
"Uweeeck!! What is this, stop! I wanna leave!!!"
"Insane! How find corpses here!!!"
Examinees tearing tickets, cursing, fleeing the horror. 'Yes, normal reaction.' But, he recalled his last placement, 172. 'First time. That calm.' A bit wobbly like hungover, but barely affected here? Near impossible. 'Maybe... first in three years.' Someone with the second condition, Blood Rafflesia. 'Blood Rafflesia.' Hard to spot amid fleshy red trees, but real issue: its power. 'Curses to drive humans mad easily.' To pluck it, must be tempered against those curses— 'Impossible for newbie fresh in dungeon.' Even Gold-rank him couldn't. A rookie? Laughable. Thus, second condition symbolized Nether's unreasonableness. '...
Huh?' Pitying vomiting examinees, Mike spotted a familiar one approaching. The unusually fine one from the forest: Will. 'Looked okay, but quit quick after all.' Must've misjudged. As Mike turned away, "Examiner?" "...
For forfeit, wait here. If puking, not here—go with them..." "No. Uh... here to submit." "...
What?" Rustle— Will pulled something from his bag and showed Mike. "...
What?" He yanked out his notebook, flipped to the red flower sketch. "Im... imposs... impossible." It matched Will's flower perfectly. "Uh, so now I can rest? Man, this hangover." "Uh... uh..." Felt like losing what hair remained. Mike blinked like a goldfish.