Chapter 109
Chapter 109
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Survival Exam (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even though Professor Kim Jin-hyuk had told them to bring everything, no matter how small, the cadets hesitantly started handing over snacks or drinks they'd bought to eat in the morning for inspection.
Ellis had about ten mana stones.
Probably spares in case her mana ran out. She could probably scrape by for a week with those.
But why the hell is she acting like that all of a sudden? I just don't get it.
Even reading her status window, all it shows are thoughts like "trash" or "scum," so no clue there.
Hold on.
Did Ellis maybe see me having sex with Lumi in the clubroom?
Considering she's the daughter of Iris Guild, an information guild, she might've ordered her guild members to investigate me.
Then, due to my carelessness, it got exposed, and the info reached her ears.
'But is having sex with your girlfriend in the clubroom really trash-level worthy...?'
Only Lumi was caught, so the investigators would just think "girlfriend," right?
Ah, whatever. This is all just speculation anyway.
"Enter one by one in order."
We were going into the transfer portal one at a time.
Riding this would take us to the uninhabited island, I suppose.
I entrusted my body to the portal as well. When I opened my eyes, the vast ocean stretched out before me, and behind was a dense thicket of trees like the Amazon.
This spot, with cadets chattering around, was the shoreline of one island.
"A-Class, assemble here."
Our homeroom professor, Kim Jin-hyuk, came out last through the portal and gathered us.
"This is an uninhabited island purchased by Victoria Academy. There's not a single trace of human activity, and its ecosystem has been preserved as naturally as possible. You all must survive here until Sunday."
Professor Kim Jin-hyuk began briefing us on the special exam.
Sure enough, the thickly grown trees resembled a tropical rainforest, untouched by human hands.
"The island is home to many poisonous animals and monsters. Even without poison, there are plenty of beasts that could threaten your lives. If you want to give up, contact me anytime via your smartwatch. If an emergency arises where your life is in danger, use this."
Kim Jin-hyuk distributed stickers that could be attached to smartwatches to the cadets.
"Tear that sticker, and you'll be instantly teleported to safety. However, the moment you do, your exam score will be the lowest possible."
Unlike previous training, there were no safety measures at all. But with a massive number of drones and surveillance cameras monitoring the island to prevent accidents, it probably wasn't that dangerous.
"Isn't this dangerous?"
"I didn't even get to contact my girlfriend..."
Professor Kim Jin-hyuk impassively eyed the murmuring cadets and continued his explanation.
"Let me explain the exam format. You each start with 10 basic points. Scattered around the island are ways to increase those points. First, hunt monsters and scan them with your smartwatch to gain points. Combat between cadets is of course also all—"
Kim Jin-hyuk's explanation was annoyingly long.
In simple terms, points for killing monsters, points for eliminating cadets.
Weak monsters give decent points, stronger ones give more.
Eliminate one cadet and sync smartwatches to take half of their points.
Plus, supply crates dropping from the sky and hidden treasures scattered around also give points.
"To steal another cadet's points, just take their smartwatch. Scan it with yours to claim half the stored points, and your opponent is eliminated."
Kim Jin-hyuk tapped his own smartwatch as he explained.
"I don't think there are any among you who'd risk your lives for the exam... but just in case, I'll say it. This is all part of training. It's a process to experience how you'll handle crises you've never faced before. Don't endanger your lives over mere pride."
"Professor... but what if emotions run high during fights?"
One cadet raised his hand with a question.
It was a reasonable point... but if that logic applied here, they wouldn't have dragged us to this place to begin with.
"You are students of Victoria Academy. Whether you have more talent than others, better family background, or more money—none of that matters now. Once you're in the academy, exposure to tough, dangerous training is par for the course."
Victoria Academy is a world-renowned educational institution.
Behind its fame for producing top hunters lies this Spartan-style training, but it's true that greater trials foster greater growth.
"If you're not confident, contact me and forfeit. Even on the brink of death, tear the sticker and you're safe. As long as you're breathing, the waiting medical team will save you somehow, so don't worry. But we won't save idiots who stubbornly push on without realizing they're in mortal danger."
That makes it sound scary. Of course, I won't die, so no issue for me.
"That's all for the announcements. Finally, here's your individual maps and emergency rations."
We each received one map and one pouch per person.
The pouch labeled "emergency rations" contained two chocolate bars and two eggs.
'Who the hell is this supposed to sustain...'
"Your map should have your mark on it. The exam starts once everyone reaches theirs. From now until then, no talking or contact with each other. Getting caught means immediate elimination, and not being at your mark within 30 minutes is also elimination. Move out!"
With that, Kim Jin-hyuk apparently done speaking, hopped into a portal and vanished.
Probably heading to some control room to monitor the exam.
The cadets looked around in confusion but no one opened their mouths.
"..."
The same went for the other classes.
With over 200 first-years dumped on the shore, that was to be expected.
Of course, after a few seconds of hesitation, everyone quietly headed into the forest.
I gave a quick eye signal to Lucy and Lumi, then checked my map and set off.
*
Waiting at my designated spot, a notification pinged on my smartwatch.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The exam begins now! To forfeit, run this app and press the forfeit button! It's an app installed for exam prep.
Later, it'll be useful for tracking other cadets and more. Not right now, though.
----------------------
📜 SUB QUEST TRANSMITTED 📜 All-Rounder with Extra Special Flair!
The versatile you!
Show overwhelming results in the special exam!
🎁 Reward: Agility +2
"Oh?"
A sub quest popped up too.
But I'm not number one in practicals. Why "all-rounder"?
And why boost agility of all things? Magic power would be nice.
Anyway, gotta grind hard in this special exam.
On day seven, the boss monster drops something I need.
This is just a bonus on top.
For now... let's find a place to crash.
Planning to pick one base and operate from there.
No point wandering around, and earlier on the shore, word spread that I have tons of supplies— to all the first-years.
"Any good spots...? Maybe head to the mountains."
Mountains have good terrain. Caves possible too.
"Somewhere near water would be ideal. Good for washing up."
Brought toiletries, so just need running water.
I checked the map and headed for the nearest river.
*
Ellis began the special exam with a lingering bad taste in her mouth.
She was already pissed from learning Lee Ho-yeon's true colors, and now being dragged to this dump for some "special exam" only made it worse.
"Perverted bastard."
Even thinking back gave her goosebumps all over.
Who would've thought he was such a sleazy guy.
'He was someone I even thought I wanted to get close to...'
A strange lingering regret remained, but physiological repulsion won out.
She shook her head.
Ellis cleared her thoughts of Lee Ho-yeon. The exam was priority now.
"Ten mana stones..."
For Ellis, who needed two or three per practical class just to keep up, ten was ridiculously insufficient.
But she couldn't forfeit, so she'd do her best.
Ellis decided to hunt for treasures first. Maybe something mana-related.
Scanning the map for likely spots, she aimed for the island's center— then remembered Lee Ho-yeon heading that way.
"...Let's go this way."
She wanted to go central, but thinking of him soured her mood.
Ellis glanced at the map and started walking east.
But her innate terrible sense of direction sabotaged her, leading her somewhere completely different from planned.
"Where the hell is this...?"
A wide river appeared before Ellis. It was the source flowing through the uninhabited island.
Climbing onto the rickety wooden bridge to cross, she focused entirely on the map, missing the cadets hiding on the opposite side.
But they didn't want her crossing either.
"Dude... fuck, who said camping it out was the answer? Ellis is coming. You crazy bastard."
The two male cadets in the bushes spotted Ellis on the bridge and panicked.
"We're screwed. Wrong target. No winning if we clash. Gotta bolt."
"Wait. She hasn't noticed us yet. Wanna try?"
The one holding a bow said tensely.
"Even a sneak attack, we can't beat her. Why bother?"
The spear wielder on his back made a sharp point, but the archer shook his head.
"Not Ellis— target the bridge. Just destroy our side's connection."
"Oh...? Yeah?"
A ridiculous plan to destroy the bridge she was crossing. Something full-strength Ellis would've never fallen for, but right now she was in a foul mood and hyper-focused on navigation.
"Yeah. Even if we take her out now, points are low anyway. Just eliminate a rival."
"OK. Let's do it. If it fails, we run."
Ellis was still squinting at the map.
"No... trees here, trees there, mountains there, mountains everywhere. Which way?!"
Rustle—
Artificial rustling of leaves and a presence felt.
Something flying this way at the same time.
'Too late!'
Ellis hurriedly drew up mana to defend against the incoming attack.
Clang—!
But no attack hit her.
The javelins and arrows targeted the creaking wooden bridge, severing the ropes holding it together.
"Wha...?"
Ellis locked eyes with the two high-fiving over their successful ambush— then plummeted into the river.
Splashhhh—
'Gotta get the mana stones...'
Forcing out mana to block the ambush reactivated her mana blockage.
To escape the water now, emergency treatment with a mana stone was needed.
Fumbling in her inner pocket for one, Ellis lost grip due to the unexpectedly strong current.
"...!"
Her inner pocket, loosened by her hand, spilled out the mana stones.
All ten precious spares swept away downriver. Ellis thrashed to escape, but the mana drain aftermath left her body unresponsive.
"This is really bad... Aaaah—."
Thinking it truly dangerous, she reached for the smartwatch emergency sticker— but at that moment, her head, bobbing in the rapids, smashed into a protruding rock.
Short breath, internal mana disruption, and occipital pain hit all at once. Ellis lost consciousness and floated away with the current.