Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Entrance Exam (6)
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"Get out!"
"Wait! Just a moment! Please hear me out just once!"
In the heart of the city, the Guidance Patrol served as a substitute for a police station.
A lone boy was desperately shouting in front of its doors.
"It's true! There's going to be a terrorist attack during the entrance exam! You have to cancel the test!"
"So where's your proof?!"
"Well... if you catch some of the suspicious people around..."
"Haa... Listen, kid. If you're gonna lie, at least make it a believable one. During entrance exam season when security is at its tightest, what lunatic would pull off a terrorist attack?"
"But it's really true! A real terrorist attack is going to..."
"Yeah, yeah. Even if one happens, our Guidance Patrol will handle it perfectly, so don't worry."
"Wait! Just a moment! Let me talk one more..."
"Argh! Shut it! One more stunt like this, and I'll arrest you myself!"
"N-No way!"
The boy pounded on the firmly shut door, shouting endlessly, but only left with a tearful face after hearing the thickly threatening yell from inside.
"What do I do now..."
Noah, the boy who sat by the fountain after even the Guidance Patrol—the last place he'd visited—refused to believe him, hung his head in heavy despair.
"If things stay like this, something terrible will happen."
It had been a week since she'd realized the truth about the main scenario.
The first doctor she'd gone to had treated her like a patient with headaches.
The scout Rachel, with whom she'd had a serious discussion, dismissed it outright for lack of evidence.
After leaving the hospital, she'd gone around nearby schools to spread the warning, but was chased off by the instructors guarding the gates.
In a last-ditch hope, she'd visited the chairman, only to be shooed away by security without even seeing his face.
After repeated snubs, her final choice had been the Guidance Patrol.
Of course, that had just failed spectacularly too.
"Of course they won't believe me without evidence."
They'd listened with serious faces at first, but once they realized there was nothing to back it up, their attitudes flipped, and they chased her away.
"Even if I want to prove it somehow, I can't even convince myself."
It was natural that her own half-hearted belief seeped through.
Honestly, how could anyone believe an event that hadn't even happened yet?
Unless she had prophetic visions of the future, it was impossible to accept that a terrorist attack would hit the entrance exams.
"Haa..."
What now?
As a mere aspirant—not even a student—there were limits to what she could do.
The heavily guarded Research District was off-limits, and even the Academic District restricted her movements. The only place she could roam freely was the Commercial District.
The entrance exams were definitely happening in the Academic District, packed with academies, so that's where they'd likely make their move.
Like the mountains behind the academies.
Or the parks in the academy-dense areas.
But as an aspirant, too many zones were restricted.
'You can't even visit your target academy without an application form.'
Even with one, you could only visit the academy you'd applied to.
It was probably a measure against demons hiding among aspirants, but now it left her on the verge of tears.
She wanted evidence, but couldn't get any.
"I even went to Slaine, but the reaction was the same."
Same? If anything, they seemed welcoming.
The instructor, eyes gleaming with excitement at the thought of trials making heroes stronger, had chatted lightly before leisurely departing.
"What do I really do..."
With all her shallow plans failed,
Only one option remained for her.
"...No choice."
Muttering that, she slowly rose from her seat.
"I'll have to move alone!"
It might seem reckless to others, but true to the protagonist, her burning sense of justice drove her to step into danger to minimize the city's harm.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "So you snuck in?"
"...Yes."
And just like that, Noah was caught.
Grabbed by the Guidance Patrol on patrol near Slaine, she couldn't lift her head as she apologized to the girl before her.
"I'm sorry."
"Sneaking around late at night like this is no good!"
About Noah's age, perhaps.
She looked quite young for nighttime patrol.
Her outfit was unique too—just martial arts training clothes with a single Guidance Patrol armband.
'Don't they always wear uniforms?'
Noah tilted her head for a moment, but hurriedly bowed at the girl's next words.
"This is wrong! If you're a student, act like one—go to bed early at night!"
No authority emanated from the girl, who lightly frowned and scolded.
Without that armband, no one would peg her for Guidance Patrol.
"Even in Academy City, there are dangerous people at night! You can't wander around this late!"
Her orange hair swayed as she placed hands on her hips and lectured.
Brushing back her shoulder-length hair, the girl finally addressed Noah.
"So, which academy's student are you? No penalties, so speak freely."
She pulled a small device from her pocket as she spoke. Noah, who'd been listening quietly, hesitated before opening her mouth.
"I-I'm not a student yet... just an aspirant..."
"Huh? Aspirant? Not a student?"
"Yes."
The girl's expression darkened in an instant.
"...!?"
"What are you?"
'When did she...!?'
The girl had a spear aimed at her throat in a flash, coldly questioning the terrified Noah.
"A spy from somewhere? Foreign agent? Don't tell me a demon."
A chilling killing intent poured from her, prickling the skin.
'W-What kind of aura is this...!'
Just from that presence, she rivaled the chairman Noah had seen at the transfer ceremony.
Realizing the girl wasn't ordinary, Noah frantically shook her head.
"N-No! I'm not...!"
"I'll be the judge. Sneaking into the Academic District—not even a student, just an aspirant—and lurking around Slaine."
Speaking gravely, the girl dialed somewhere on the device in her other hand.
"Ah, this is 'Orange Hawk.' I've secured 'Cicada.'"
[Roger. Sending 'Eagle' right away.]
"Confirmed."
Perhaps sensing things heading south,
Noah's face paled by the second.
"W-Wait! I'm not suspicious!"
"We'll see. Details at the barracks!"
"Please wait! I'm not a bad person!"
And so, Noah was taken into Guidance Patrol custody.
"Hey, buddy. Let's be honest here."
"I-I really didn't do anything...!"
Locked in a dim isolation room with only a single light.
"Whew... Listen, buddy. You might not get it yet, but you're lucky it's me handling your interrogation. If it were the others—or especially the section chief who brought you in—you'd vanish without a trace."
The male Guidance officer spoke with a steaming pork cutlet rice bowl in front of him.
"...!"
"You said there are guys planning a terrorist attack at the entrance exam. That wouldn't be you, would it?"
"W-What?!"
"Since no one believes you, you're planning to cause one yourself, right?"
It happened sometimes.
Crazies who threatened terrorism in advance.
The officer interrogating Noah figured this kid was similar, nodding to himself.
"Alright, let's get honest."
The bad guys you mentioned? That's you.
"......"
Dark isolation room.
Blinding harsh light.
A scary-faced Guidance officer ahead.
Accused as the culprit.
Noah finally burst into tears.
"I-I'm really not!"
"Come on! Crying won't help. It's you!"
"I'm really not...!"
Noah began sobbing pitifully, hiccuping.
The interrogation continued for a while, mixing carrot and stick.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, at that time, in the Student Council room.
"This never ends."
He'd spent the whole day buried in paperwork, yet the stack still towered high!
A sigh escaped involuntarily at the hopeless sight.
'Time for a break.'
He finally stopped his relentless hands, set down the pen, and rubbed his neck while doing light stretches.
The other executives had already been forced to head home.
He was the only one left in the Student Council room.
'Seon-hwa and Tatiana worked nonstop too. They need a rest.'
Conditioning was key.
Especially since neither was in combat roles; their stamina wasn't infinite.
Though it was unilateral on his part without their consent, Yeon Je-seong had pushed them to go home.
"Feels awkward."
The long-overdue quiet atmosphere felt off, perhaps from spending so much time with the executives.
"...Four days left."
In four days, all academies in Academy City would hold their entrance exams simultaneously.
Not just drills, but mock battles mimicking real combat.
All sorts of incidents would arise, keeping the Supreme Student Council swamped.
Especially the Guidance Patrol.
'They act like the city's police, so they'll be busiest during events like this.'
Even now, they were patrolling everywhere at his request, anticipating demon moves.
He couldn't predict exactly how the infiltrated demons would act, but direct attacks on academies seemed certain.
Now that protagonist Noah had appeared, the long-dormant demons would start moving.
"Good thing I scouted the demons in advance."
Their identities were secured. At the right moment, guide the protagonist there for some easy EXP farming, and done.
"Maxed out security for any contingencies too."
Not just Guidance Patrol; he'd called in the vice president on dispatch and many alumni connections.
"They're all busy, so not everyone can come, but a couple should make it."
That alone would foil the enemy's shallow plot.
Honestly, with him here, even that might be overkill—but with lives at stake, better safe than sorry.
Then.
His Flue on the desk suddenly rang.
"Hm?"
Rare for it to ring.
The Flue, circulated only in Academy City, doubled as a phone with student ID functions—a cutting-edge magitech device.
Needing special waves and facilities, it was city-exclusive, but since all academies used it as ID, everyone had one.
"This is Supreme Student Council President Yeon Je-seong."
He picked up the clear-ringing Flue and answered.
A young voice soon entered his ear.
[Hello, Chairman!]
"Hey, Ru."
[Sorry to call so late. But I thought you needed to hear this.]
Yeon Je-seong straightened at the serious tone from Guidance Chief Ru, usually lighthearted.
Serious from her meant big trouble.
[About the demon terrorism you mentioned.]
"Yeah, find any signs?"
[Yep. Caught someone lurking near Slaine.]
As expected! He'd figured the enemy would target the Big Three.
"I see. What kind of guy?"
Probably not a demon in person.
A subordinate or brainwashed civilian?
[Name's Noah. Not a student, just an aspirant. Strongly denies it, but was shouting about terrorism for days—looks highly suspicious.]
"Noah... Huh?"
Why are you showing up there?