Chapter 260
Chapter 260
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 260
Chapter Title: If You Have Complaints, Come at Me
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Inside the forest of the arena.
Bianca stared at the boy who had claimed to belong to the Lactea family.
Arashism Lactea.
The Lactea family—undoubtedly the ones who specialized in hunting down World Erosion entities.
His words were enough to make even Bianca, who barely flinched at anything, freeze in place.
"...You're here to save Lord Krash?"
"That's right. Krash Valheim is in danger right now. Or more precisely, he's the one walking straight into it himself."
Bianca's body twitched.
Anything involving Krash—she couldn't just let it slide.
"Krash Valheim is currently the target of the World Erosion group, Ixion."
And just like that, Arashism spoke his next words.
The target of the World Erosion group Ixion.
Bianca knew from the news that Krash had been kidnapped into the Giant's Forest by World Erosion entities.
Officially, it was framed as him getting caught up while trying to rescue Sizzly.
But the truth was that Ixion had targeted Krash.
Thank goodness it had ended well.
It could have easily cost him his life.
The problem was, Krash hadn't told her a thing about it.
'He didn't want to worry me.'
Bianca knew his personality all too well.
Even so, her lips pursed slightly.
He should have at least told me.
"Is the Lactea family going to help Lord Krash?"
The Lactea family eradicated anything tied to World Erosion.
Yet here he was, saying they'd save Krash—who was already entangled with them.
It was a glaring contradiction.
"More precisely, it'll be a mutual arrangement."
And sure enough, the Lactea family had their own demands.
"We can help him, and he can help us."
A sharp glint flashed in Bianca's eyes.
Krash was Ixion's target.
The Lactea family hunted World Erosion entities.
Naturally, their goal was to eliminate Ixion.
What could a mere target like Krash possibly offer them?
The answer was obvious.
"You plan to use Lord Krash as bait."
That was the only way he could "help."
Pure white frost began to emanate from Bianca.
Her familiars reacted to her emotions, baring their killing intent.
A bit of the chill touched Arashism's arm.
He glanced at his freezing arm, then lightly stomped the ground.
Whoosh!
In that instant, a massive blue shadow erupted from the earth, blotting out their vision.
As Bianca hurriedly summoned her familiars to respond—
Arashism was already soaring into the sky atop a gigantic blue shadow bird.
Pew!
At that moment, the signal flare marking the end of the exam rose into the sky.
Bianca still had plenty to ask him.
But that flare announced the exam's conclusion.
"We'll talk more later."
The boy added those final words to her.
"And it's best not to tell Krash Valheim what I said today. It wouldn't do him any good."
By the time Bianca looked up at the sky and reacted—
His words ended, and her vision blurred.
Moments later, she opened her eyes back in the exam arena.
Other examinees were there, some already sent back midway.
The key difference: they were separated into those with two bracelets and those without.
A line down the middle—left for failures, right for passers.
Naturally, Bianca was on the passers' side.
She scanned around.
There, in the distance, was Arashism.
He stood alone in a shadowy corner, just like when he'd first entered the arena.
"Failed examinees, please exit the arena as is."
In the meantime, the failures were escorted out by the teaching assistants.
Their faces were full of dejection.
But many wore expressions of acceptance, having recognized their limits.
Once the failures had mostly cleared out—
Vice Professor Kairan stepped forward before the second-round passers.
"Given the high number of injuries in this second exam, we'll resume the remaining tests in four hours."
Perhaps because so many had gone all out.
A mid-exam break was granted.
Examinees promptly collapsed wherever they stood.
And they all subtly glanced at one person.
There stood a white-haired girl.
Utterly expressionless, as if oblivious to her own actions.
Her beauty made even her blank face stunning.
But those who'd survived the exam now knew she wasn't just beautiful.
She'd been the wildest one there.
"Lord Krash Valheim's fiancée, huh..."
"Figures. To marry into the Valheim family, you need that kind of edge."
"If I'd been a bit closer in the forest, I'd have been out."
Most of the failures had Bianca to thank.
Her Ice Dragon's breath had swept away so many at once.
"If it weren't for her."
"Why drag us into it?"
Some shot her blaming glares.
"Hah, what a bunch of clowns."
Right on cue, one examinee—sprawled lazily on the ground—scoffed at them.
"The strong survive, the weak get crushed. Don't blame others for your own shortcomings."
The surrounding examinees frowned at his outburst.
Who do you think you are?
But soon, those who recognized him stiffened and averted their eyes.
Protector of the Maritime Kingdom Poseus.
Captain of the Golden Line, the only ship to cross the Golden Forbidden Sea.
Ten Strongest Under Heaven
Sea King
Dino Bardon
This was his eldest son, Darkan Bardon.
His twin axes could cleave even naval cannon fire.
No point picking a fight.
"Don't let it get to you. You did great."
Darkan laughed heartily, telling Bianca not to mind the haters.
Though Bianca wasn't paying him—or anyone—any attention.
"Well said."
Then another voice agreed with Darkan.
A girl with light golden blonde hair.
Dalea Juno.
She'd returned after recovering in the infirmary.
She glanced at Bianca.
After turning into an ice statue.
When she thawed, a bracelet was on her wrist.
She knew instantly it was Bianca's doing.
No ordinary examinee could survive that breath head-on.
'She didn't have to go that far for someone like me.'
Was it just for fun?
Or some other reason.
Either way, Dalea smiled at Bianca.
She liked her.
"Anyone caught in the crossfire with complaints, speak up. I'll drop you myself."
She flashed a chilling smile.
If Dalea set her mind to it, she could pull it off.
No one wanted trouble with either of them.
The examinees fell silent.
In that tense atmosphere.
The quiet break began.
As Bianca had predicted.
Arashism Lactea made no further approaches after that.
'Too many eyes watching, probably.'
So, from the second exam through the end of the third.
She had no chance to speak with him.
Bianca decided to shelve her questions about him for now.
The exam was her top priority.
"I... I surrender."
Her third-exam opponent hit the ground, conceding defeat. Bianca let out a light sigh of relief.
Third exam cleared.
Admission to Raheln Academy was basically guaranteed now.
'Finally, I can be in the same place as Lord Krash.'
She clenched her fists, thrilled her efforts had paid off.
But the hurdles weren't over.
Raheln Academy had added a fourth exam starting last year.
All for the Special Class.
A class that let elite students skip training and jump straight into the student council.
That was the Special Class.
Top ranker Krash was in it, of course.
To join him without six months of training, Special Class was essential.
'The issue is the fourth exam's pass condition.'
It was a duel with a vice professor.
Damage dealt to them determined Special Class placement.
'If I can take one down...'
That would seal it.
"Announcing the third exam passers."
Right on cue, the results came.
Kairan projected a list of names into the sky.
The failures seemed to have expected it.
No major outbursts of denial.
Just quiet disappointment.
Failures departed, leaving the final third-exam passers.
They eyed each other, memorizing faces.
These were their future classmates at Raheln Academy.
Better to know them now.
"Congratulations on passing the third exam, examinees."
Before the winnowed group.
Kairan stepped forward, hands behind his back, offering his congratulations.
These were the faces he'd see around the academy.
He scanned them, a smile tugging at his lips.
"As you all know, the final fourth exam is the Special Class selection process."
Examinees' expressions varied wildly at his words.
"Those not interested in Special Class can skip it—no penalty."
He raised his hand as example.
Glanced around.
"Anyone sitting it out, raise your hand."
The fourth was optional, essentially.
But Kairan soon lowered his hand.
No one raised theirs.
If anything, their eyes burned fiercer.
Special Class was the elite track.
Its members were on another level.
Joining them meant shining even among Raheln's geniuses.
Anyone passing the martial department exam was ambitious enough.
No hands went up.
"I understand your resolve."
Kairan dropped it.
Anyone aiming for martial department expected this much.
"Now, the fourth exam format."
He explained next.
First off, like last year: combat against a vice professor.
But with a new rule.
"You'll pair up—one pair per vice professor."
Not one-on-one anymore.
Some examinees' eyes lit up—seemed easier.
But the sharper ones thought differently.
Bianca included.
She raised her hand.
"One question."
"Of course."
Kairan welcomed it.
All eyes on her, Bianca asked.
"For two-person teams, how are scores calculated? Team total?"
Sharp question.
Know the scoring to strategize.
A wicked grin crept onto Kairan's face.
"No. Strictly individual scores."
Murmurs rippled through the examinees.
Kairan clarified.
"Say one crushes the vice professor. Their partner gets a lower score by comparison."
Realization dawned—faces hardened.
Teams of two, but individual scoring.
Meant competing within your team too.
Now they got the wicked grin.
The fourth exam was pure malice.
"Alright then."
Kairan clapped, flashing a broad smile to lighten the mood.
"Let's begin the fourth exam."
The devil himself couldn't have said it better.