Exposed as Number One
1 hour has passed.
Current 1st Place: Johan (34 headbands)
1st place location revealed to all examinees!
One hour had passed. I'd taken down over thirty guys and snatched their headbands. Then, out of nowhere, an alert popped up announcing the hour mark, and my position got marked on everyone's map.
This wasn't in the original story. There was no character like me monopolizing headbands. The examiners must've watched the test unfold and thrown in this variable.
1st place checkmate, huh? What a gimmick.
I wasn't worried, though. There wasn't a single first-year who could threaten me. Sure, there were a few with killer potential, but they needed time to bloom.
"There he is!"
A voice thick with rage echoed out. It was the demon kid I'd just stripped of his headband. Horns on his forehead, bat wings, black tail—classic devil look.
"Let's take that bastard down first! He's got a whopping 34 headbands!"
"Give me my headband back!"
"You can't do it alone! Team up!"
Fuck, the exam had turned into some political alliance bullshit. The losers I'd robbed had formed a temporary pact against me.
Made sense for them—the most logical play. Still, turning a practical sword test into this? Kinda pathetic. Hope they don't get dinged for it.
"Hey! Hand over our headbands nice and easy!"
The demon stepped up as spokesman, all bold. It was so ridiculous I flipped him off.
"You dumb fucks. Why should I give back what you couldn't protect?"
"Guess you'll have to learn the hard way. You think you can handle all of us rushing you?"
I sighed. These idiots actually thought mobbing me with numbers would win it.
As if. Swarming like this was straight out of fantasy novels—classic loser flag for extras. They wouldn't know that, of course.
No matter how many worms bunch up, they can't touch a man. Time to teach 'em personally.
"Charge!"
""Uwawaaah!""
Students swarmed from all sides, swords raised in a chaotic mess. No coordination, no tactics. They weren't leveraging their numbers at all...
Not that it would've mattered anyway.
Time Acceleration
I maxed out my agility to show 'em the gap. Their already sluggish moves looked like sluggish grubs now.
Stab! Stab! Stab!
I poked each idiot's vital spots as they closed in. The ones with throats pierced let out agonized yells before dissolving into smoke.
Vitals mean instant retirement? Should've aimed there from the start.
"Eek! Watch out! Hit a danger zone and you're DQ'd!"
"DQ means zero points, no comeback! Ugh, what do we do?"
The cocky chargers realized too late they were outmatched and hesitated at the rear. Hilarious sight— even their horde couldn't win.
"You're all zeroed out anyway. Why not just rush?"
I taunted. The demon leader bit his lip in frustration but had no counter.
"R-Retreat for now! Tactical withdrawal!"
"We'll get him next time! Plenty of time left!"
The morons scattered like third-rate villains. So damn boring.
Alert said I was still leading. With 34 headbands, I was basically safe. Wished it showed the gap to second place.
Grab a few more?
Ideally, someone else hoarding like me—easy farm to end the hunt.
Wandering the woods, I ran into another student. Familiar face. He raised his sword at me.
"Vinz Cartman. How many headbands you got?"
"Johan..."
Vinz, one of the original story's side characters.
*-*-*
Being a side character told you everything about his combat prowess.
Ayuin had a massive gap between side characters and extras. The difference between academy top-tiers and mid-tiers dwarfed average vs. upper ranks—power scaling was brutal.
Vinz was among the strong ones. Still first-year limited, though.
Unlike the scrubs, he held his sword steady, no flight in his eyes.
Time to rattle him?
I tossed out a mocking line.
"Think you got a shot?"
"Who knows. Doesn't matter. Enemy in front? Swing. And you're my enemy now."
"What happens when an egg hits a rock?"
"Gotta clash to find out."
Vinz struck first. Not super fast, but precise. No openings, solid form—he aimed low left.
His blade edge was honed sharp, unlike the others. Lethal if you slipped—like a stinger. Guy probably had two or three headbands easy.
"Didn't think it'd land, did ya?"
I dodged and countered. His sword path was crystal clear.
Experience gap was obvious. Weekend privates with Bernhardt had my combat sense leagues ahead.
"Monster, as expected."
But Vinz was a genius too. He parried my storm of strikes with technique over speed. No mistakes, even when one slip meant loss.
"Human, though."
I pulled back. Not from flawless defense.
"Vinz is fighting over there! Our chance!"
"Vinz! Temporary alliance! Take down the monster first, talk later!"
The fleeing cowards were back. Vinz frowned at them.
"No partnering with you lot. I'll earn my score solo."
"Don't get cocky! You're struggling too!"
The demon agitator hit the nail. Vinz didn't flinch.
"Even if I lose, fine. I just want a fair duel with Johan."
Guy had a more protagonist mindset than me. Annoying.
"Tch! Whatever! Attack Johan! Get our headbands!"
""Uooooh!""
"No learning curve with these idiots."
Time Acceleration
Go easy, they crawl back. Time to crush 'em flat.
My blade pierced the moth-like morons' chests. No waste in the whirlwind path—one slash, another, again.
"Gaaah! Crazy monster bastard!"
"F-Fall back!"
The Vinz-believers retired into particles. Vinz stood guard, watching. No openings despite the extras, so he waited for my stamina drop.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
I mowed down the losers' necks. Their mob flipped in five minutes flat.
"Vinz! Attack with us!"
One idiot yelled at the observing Vinz.
"Like I said, fair duel with Johan."
"Urgh! Dense fuck!"
Stab!
I skewered the demon ringleader's head.
"Gaaaaah!"
"Congrats on the zero."
The demon crumbled to dust. Eighty percent of the rabble retired here. Survivors scattered again.
"Thanks for waiting."
Vinz hadn't budged during cleanup.
"Stamina holding?"
Worried about me?
Big-hearted or just dumb? Knight points on the exam?
"Worried about me?"
"Heh. Nah, no need for a monster like you. Sword up."
Vinz pointed his gleaming blade, chivalry shining.
*-*-*
"No match after all."
In the Trial Room control office, Bernhardt watched the first-year swordsmanship students.
Johan led by a mile. Over thirty headbands in one hour—a record.
Twenty-plus ahead of second-place Vinz Cartman. First time anyone monopolized this many.
"But parading like that invites counters."
As predicted, the robbed losers mobbed Johan. Normal move: run.
Genius vs. average gap was smaller in first-years. By third-year, one ace handles dozens easy—but rare early. Johan was that rarity.
He didn't flee; he wiped the mob. Then bagged second-place Vinz too.
"Makes sense. Beat Sun and Hill Circle execs in spars."
Johan was a genius beyond her experience. Even she couldn't predict his growth.
Over an hour left. Hunt more or turtle?
Johan sat under a massive tree. He'd crushed Vinz, locked in first.
Lounging leisurely—his situation was comfy. Then a student approached.
"Hm? That one."
A girl—succubus. Rare in swordsmanship.
"Johan~!"
Sly grin, ominous vibe wafting as she neared.
Bernhardt frowned. Classic succubus tactic: seduction. Happened before.
Weird for a sword test, but rules were ancient—from Abraksas crafting the Trial Spire. No ban on seduction headband grabs.
"Got a lot of headbands~?"
Coquettish purr. Bernhardt seethed. Johan was hers. Unconscious thought.