Chapter 261
Chapter 261
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 261
Chapter Title: Shrewd Ploy
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"Then, those who want to can form teams among yourselves. Anyone left without a team will be grouped together, so keep that in mind."
Kairan said that and stepped back a pace.
It was to let the examinees form their teams.
Teams with complete strangers.
Not to mention, rivals even in team formation.
The children's game of reading the room began.
Judging who to team up with for the highest score.
"Bianca."
At that moment, a woman approached Bianca and spoke.
Daughter of the sword family, the Junon house.
Dalea Junon.
She stood beside her with a smiling face.
"Let's team up."
Bianca looked surprised.
They had once clashed foreheads hard.
So she figured Dalea wouldn't exactly welcome her with open arms.
"Your expression's finally showing a bit. I like you, Bianca."
"Me?"
"I like pretty people."
Appearance supremacist.
That's what Bianca thought.
"Pretty isn't everything."
"But pretty is right. Your fiancé likes you because you're pretty, doesn't he?"
Hearing that, Bianca fell deep into thought.
Then, recalling Krash, she suddenly let out a chuckle.
Dalea, seeing Bianca smile for the first time, widened her eyes. Bianca replied with a grin.
"Yes, but that's not all."
Krash liked her because she was Bianca Hardenharts.
Looks might play a part.
But Bianca knew the reason Krash cherished her was the bond they'd built over so many years.
That's why she could treasure Krash above all else.
For him, she could do anything.
Just as he loved her for being Bianca Hardenharts, she loved him for being Krash Valheim.
"...You really are loved, huh."
Dalea let out a wry laugh.
"That's right."
Bianca puffed out her chest proudly, like a little white chick full of pride.
"So, what about teaming up?"
Dalea returned to the point, doting on Bianca.
"Honestly, our combo wouldn't be bad at all."
Dalea wielded devastating power in close combat.
Bianca was no slouch with her dagger arts either, but she couldn't match Dalea.
Bianca, who had nearly fallen to her swordplay before, nodded in agreement.
Her specialties were erratic strikes with sword techniques and saturation attacks like a frost dragon's breath.
If Dalea took the front line, Bianca could perform beyond her usual limits.
"But there's individual scores."
The issue was the individual scores.
"I've thought about that a bit."
Dalea leaned in closer so others couldn't hear.
Bianca perked up her ears.
"The examiner didn't explain how scores are measured before individual scores."
"True."
"Yeah, all that talk earlier was probably fake to rattle the examinees. They said scores could be low, but not by how much."
"So really, it's just based on contribution?"
"That's my take."
It was just malicious words to shake up the examinees on purpose.
Dalea bet the reality was different.
"It's a test. I doubt they want to see us sabotaging each other for points."
"Makes sense."
Bianca agreed.
"And the real problem is elsewhere anyway."
Past problems were mere hypotheticals.
Not the immediate concern.
"How many teams of two examinees could take down a vice professor?"
"Well..."
Bianca glanced at Kairan.
Last year, Krash had clashed with the Pirate Empress Kairan and beaten her, they said.
But excluding that, vice professors rarely lost to examinees in spars.
"I heard this exam's examiner isn't Kairan."
The vice professor standing beside her with hands behind his back.
That smirking man was the one proctoring this test.
But both Bianca and Dalea sensed it.
He was no pushover either.
Empty Sword
Lightly
Those who fought him all said it felt like battling a phantom.
Among the new Martial Department vice professors, he was the first name mentioned for skill.
Could examinees at their level take him down?
"Taking down the examiner guarantees first place, regardless of individual scores."
Defeating the examiner fulfilled the top condition.
"And the only team that can is you and me, Bianca."
The other students were talented, but these two were on another level.
"What do you say? My proposal."
Dalea smirked, her eyes brimming with confidence.
"I accept."
Bianca took the offer.
Bianca looked toward the stands where Krash was.
Meeting his gaze, she steeled her resolve.
Fourth test: battle with the vice professor.
Bianca vowed to win and enter the elite class.
＊ ＊ ＊
By the time all examinees had formed teams.
Kairan confirmed the groups were set.
"Vice Professor Lightly."
At her call, Lightly stepped forward into the arena.
"I'll bring victory."
He often provoked Kairan with his poor attitude.
But in battle, his eyes turned deadly serious.
Kairan knew his true capabilities, which was why she assigned him as the fourth test proctor.
His skill was the real deal, at least.
"Any teams ready for the fourth test first?"
At Kairan's question, the examinees hesitated.
They wanted to gauge Lightly's strength first.
Then, two teams raised their hands.
Kairan's eyes turned their way.
One was Bianca and Dalea's team.
The other was Darkan Bardon, eldest son of Dino Bardon, Sea King of the Ten Heavenly Strongest.
His teammate beside him smacked his own forehead.
"Darkan... Forgot we're supposed to play it safe? Last is highest win rate."
"First matters most!"
Despite the rebuke, Darkan showed no sign of backing down.
He grinned broadly and eyed Dalea's raised hand.
"We're first. You go next."
"No plans to yield here."
Dalea snorted back at Darkan's words.
Kairan, surprised two teams wanted first, smiled faintly.
This third-year intake had some solid students.
"No fighting, you two. One from each team, step forward."
At her command, the bickering Dalea and Darkan advanced.
She pointed to her ear between them.
"Whisper one rock-paper-scissors choice to me each."
Keen-eyed, sharp-sensed types wasted energy on rock-paper-scissors.
So Kairan had them whisper separately.
Pure luck that way.
"Examinee Dalea Junon."
Kairan called Dalea first.
She whispered as she approached and passed. Then Darkan did the same.
Nodding, she announced to the waiting crowd.
"Darkan Bardon, Eblens Olria team, take the arena."
"Yes!"
Darkan pumped his fists skyward with a victory shout.
Meanwhile, his teammate Eblens covered his face and sighed deeply.
As if blaming himself for it.
Dalea returned to Bianca without a hint of regret.
Bianca, catching her reaction, asked quietly.
"What'd you throw?"
Dalea stuck out her tongue briefly at the question.
"Said we forfeit first match."
Full provocation, then a forfeit declaration.
Bianca looked incredulous, and Dalea scratched her head sheepishly.
"No need to fight first, right?"
If Dalea hadn't stepped up, Darkan's friend Eblens would've stopped him somehow.
But once she did, it became a matter of pride for Darkan.
Eblens, knowing him well, couldn't rein him in when pride was on the line.
So even he couldn't stop it.
That's when Dalea declared forfeit.
"Better to scout the opponent's style first, yeah?"
Bianca had pegged her as reckless, but she had this cunning side too.
Unpredictable personality, Bianca thought.
"Well played."
And a good play was a good play.
Anything to boost win chances.
"Come on, examiner! Let's do this!"
Meanwhile, Darkan and Eblens climbed the arena.
Darkan swung his massive two-handed axe wildly, fired up.
Lightly, shedding his usual nonchalance, checked his sword.
Then eyed the two before him.
"Victory condition is simple: admit defeat or become combat-ineffective."
"Simple. Eblens, we win."
"Not that simple."
Eblens said so but quietly built his aura.
Meanwhile, Kairan stepped between them.
To referee.
"Ready."
At her signal, Darkan and Eblens assumed stances.
Their specialty: swift, relentless assaults.
Having synced since childhood, these two might have the edge here.
"Begin."
The word fell, and Darkan and Eblens leaped simultaneously.
Darkan right flank, Eblens left—coordinated strike.
Before them.
Lightly exhaled calmly and stepped forward.
In that instant, they swore his blade stretched.
Clang!
Darkan's axe and Eblens's longsword both rebounded off Lightly's sword, sending the pair staggering back.
They felt the shock ripple through their hands.
Not just parrying both attacks in a blink—but the force behind it was no joke.
"That just now..."
Dalea, watching from afar, looked stunned.
Lightly hadn't budged an inch, gazing at them with serene eyes.
Sweat beaded on Darkan and Eblens's brows.
This test wouldn't be easy at all.