Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Survival Exam (7)
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[Treasure No. 19. 100% Stamina Recovery Ticket]
'A treasure that wasn't in the original story.'
It must be a new one that appeared when Baek A-young joined the academy.
"Feels like a spare life."
'...Who knows. I doubt it'll be used that way.'
Ellis was looking at me with suspicious eyes.
Honestly, I didn't think it'd be used as a spare life either. Probably tonight or tomorrow night in a cave like this.
"Let's head out for now. Doesn't seem like there's anything else to get."
"Okay."
We stepped outside.
Around noon, massive helicopters started flying overhead.
"Those must be the supply helicopters."
Now the real fun begins. Treasures and boss monsters belong to whoever finds them first since their locations are unknown, but supply crates drop right out of the sky in plain sight.
That's why fights break out all over.
"Oh? That's close enough to go for."
A supply crate had dropped not far from our position.
We had plenty of food, but supply crates contain not just rations but all sorts of survival gear.
Sleeping bags to avoid camping out, cooking utensils for meals, training artifacts usable only in the survival exam—tons of useful stuff.
And most importantly, scanning the code inside with your smartwatch updates the survival exam app.
You can check nearby players' locations, or find monsters and treasures.
"Ellis. Let's snag that one."
"You sure? A ton of cadets will swarm it."
"What're you worried about? We've got this."
Ellis and I hurried over.
It was pretty close, so it should come into view soon...
"Ah, there it is."
Hopefully we get some sleeping gear. Sharing a tent with Ellis still feels a bit much.
Ellis, leading the way, opened the supply crate.
"...It's empty?"
"What? Someone already—"
💥 AMBUSH! 💥 DANGER DETECTED
My Combat Sense blared a warning, and on instinct, I conjured a cotton guard on my right side.
Clang—!
"What the fuck, it actually blocked it? You said you'd hide your mana, you lying bastard?"
"Look at him. He's the weird one."
"Ellis and Lee Ho-yeon teaming up? That's way too broken."
"This ain't fair~."
Four cadets burst from the bushes on the right.
Since I hadn't sensed any mana, they must've grabbed an artifact from the crate that masks presence.
Most artifacts get pierced by my Mana Sensitivity, but training artifacts exclusive to the survival exam trade restrictions for top-tier performance. Can't be helped.
Maybe it even synced with their smartwatches somehow.
Still, catching it at the last second was lucky.
"Gave me a scare."
"...You scared? How'd you even know?"
"Just a hunch."
Ellis seemed a bit embarrassed for not sensing the ambush. I readied for combat.
"Ugh, talk about bad luck."
"Still, 4v2 should be doable, right?"
The attackers were familiar A-Class cadets. Not close enough to know names, though.
Probably cocky thinking four A-Classers could take us... Tough break.
"Thanks, kids. I'll take good care of that artifact."
I locked eyes on the green wooden staff held by the girl in the back.
*
"Hm, not bad."
Of course, the four got wrecked and sadly shipped off the island.
Who told them to try us?
I checked the spoils from beating our class's cadets.
⚔ ACQUIRED ITEM ⚔ [Verdant Veil] - Artifact that conceals presence. It was called Verdant Veil, an artifact that hides your presence.
Sure to come in handy somewhere.
I pocketed it and approached the boss monster ahead.
The only boss whose location I knew.
Unlike treasures, monsters move around a lot, making them hard to find.
Only the Giant Tarantula stays put in this cave.
"Alright, let's do this~."
I pumped up the team's morale, but Ellis hit the brakes.
"Um... I'm low."
"Ah, got it. Here."
I grabbed Ellis's shoulder and infused mana. Doing this a few times a day was a hassle, but farming's always tedious at first. Keep at it, and it'll pay off.
"Good? Let's go."
"Yeah. I'll take point."
Ellis coated her sword in mana and charged the tarantula.
The Giant Tarantula doesn't use webs like a normal spider; it attacks with its massive body and legs.
I harassed its legs with fire spears while targeting its huge eyes.
Grrraaah—!
The Giant Tarantula put up a fight swinging its legs, but it was an opponent Ellis could've soloed. With me joining, it didn't stand a chance.
"Got it... What the fu—?!"
As I stepped forward to grab the loot from the fallen Giant Tarantula, a tiny spiderling had latched onto my arm and bitten into my flesh.
I shook it off quick and stomped it flat.
"You okay?"
Ellis shook off her sword and approached.
"Stings a bit. Arm's tingling. Must be poison."
"Call Teacher Baek A-young. Perfect timing."
"Really? Tarantula venom's just mild paralysis. It'll wear off soon."
It'd clear up in a bit anyway. Seems wasteful to use it here.
"You never know. Just call her."
Ellis's expression was firm... like she'd get mad if I didn't.
★ HEROINE STATUS ★ ❤️ Favorability: 33 💖 Lust: 57 🍽️ Appetite: 40 😴 Fatigue: 79 Current Status: Should I use the Verdant Veil? Yeah. He won't notice if I don't attack. What the hell is this?
"...Alright. Let's check the rewards first."
Well, I wanted to see Baek A-young anyway. No deep thoughts.
I peeled the device off the Giant Tarantula's back and scanned it with my smartwatch.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Giant Tarantula defeated! Acquired 100 points. "I'll send you 50 points."
"Okay."
We agreed to split points 50/50 no matter what.
I could've taken more, but Ellis aims high, so I let her have half.
⚙ BOSS REWARD ⚙ - Reward for defeating the boss monster. - Grants one chance to contact the outside. - This opportunity can be transferred. "...What?"
A chance to contact the outside? Why give something like that?
"Ellis, you want it?"
"Hm... If you're giving it, I'll use it."
"Go ahead then. I don't need it."
Outside contacts? Professor Im Sol, Moon Soo-rin, Lilia at best. What's the point?
Oh, Baek A-young too.
But I can see her right now anyway.
"Use it now?"
I hovered my hand over the [Treasure No. 19. 100% Stamina Recovery Ticket] button.
"Yeah. Perfect, we're in a cave. Nice and private."
"Got it."
I pressed it, and with a poof sound effect, a portal appeared before me.
"You okay? Breathe slow... Huh?"
And out popped Baek A-young from the portal.
"Hello, Teacher Baek A-young."
"Uh... Hello, Cadet Lee Ho-yeon."
Baek A-young looked puzzled seeing me perfectly fine after summoning her.
I subtly nodded toward the drone watching us.
"Ah, Cadet Lee Ho-yeon. Take off your shirt."
She caught on instantly and shooed the drone away under pretense of starting treatment.
"Thanks, A-young. Quick on the uptake as always."
I'd never called her A-young in front of others, but Ellis knew anyway, so casual it is.
"Yeah, Ho-yeon... Huh?"
Baek A-young tilted her head at my casualness with Ellis right there.
"It's fine. Ellis knows about us."
"What?!?!"
She was genuinely shocked.
Her eyes went wider than I'd ever seen.
Better clarify before weird assumptions.
"Don't worry. She won't blab. Right?"
"Yeah. I'll guard the entrance from outside. You two have fun. Oh, give me the Verdant Veil? I'll stand watch."
"Sure, thanks."
Why's she suddenly so agreeable?
Hiding presence and standing guard? Appreciate it.
Ellis really went outside, activated the veil, and hid in the bushes.
Now we're alone. Time to relax.
"A-young. Been a while, right?"
"Nngh... We met Saturday."
Three days isn't long, but we'd been meeting so often it felt like it.
"Why didn't you warn me it was the survival exam? I could've prepped casually."
I teased her sternly on purpose.
"S-sorry. Mana Oath bound me..."
"Think that'll fly? Get over here."
"Hnnngh..."
★ HEROINE STATUS ★ ❤️ Favorability: 89 (+0.5) 💖 Lust: 80 🍽️ Appetite: 30 😴 Fatigue: 35 Current Status: Thought I wouldn't see him this week... Hnnngh, feels too good. Started paying extra attention to her as the only heroine outside the academy... Now she's the one I see most.
Playing along with the pervy stuff was tough at first. Now I feel like the pervert. Kinda scary.
I pulled a chair from my subspace pocket, sat, and spread my legs.
"A-young. Long time no see. Say hi."
"...Hello, dear. Slurp."
Baek A-young knelt, unzipped me, and stared hungrily at my semi-hard dick, licking her lips.
...She's not calling the dick "dear," is she?
*
Ellis left Ho-yeon and Baek A-young in the cave and went outside.
First, she activated her smartwatch and used the contact pass she'd just gotten from Ho-yeon.
⚙ CONTACT WARNING ⚙ Max 1 person. 5 minutes duration. Academy will not eavesdrop or record. However, severe penalties if actions affecting the exam are discovered. The warning popped up, followed by the contacts screen. Ellis selected Sebastian Chan.
"Sebastian Chan. Can you hear me?"
- Lady?! Aren't you in the middle of the survival exam?
Sebastian sounded flustered by the sudden call.
"Yeah. Got a chance to contact outside. Sorry for interrupting your vacation."
He'd been thrilled about a week off, so she felt a little bad, but it was urgent.
- No, it's fine. What's so urgent during the exam?
"When investigating Lee Ho-yeon's relationships... Did you keep any video or photos?"
Ellis lowered her voice cautiously.
- Videos or photos...? Pictures of him at the cafe with Cadets Lucy and Lumi, entering the orphanage with Saint Baek A-young, etc...
"No, something solid... Sexual relations or mucosal contact?"
For the first time, Sebastian felt frustratingly slow.
No way those pics are needed. Why make me spell it out?
- None like that. Direct footage or photos are too risky...
"...I've made contact with Lee Ho-yeon, but I need leverage. Could you get shots like that? Video's better. The more explicit and longer, the better."
- Uh... That'd be tough. His barrier skills are high-level... Filming video would take minutes from the same spot...
"Fine. Can't help if you can't. I'll find another way."
- ...I'll make it happen somehow.
Ellis smirked.
She knew how to stroke the pride of an ex-top dog.
"Good. But don't overdo it."
- No, ma'am. It'll be perfectly ready before you return.
"Thanks, Sebastian Chan."
Beep—
Time up, call ended.
'...No way it's over already?'
With her limited sexual knowledge, she couldn't gauge how long man-woman sessions lasted.
Ellis hastily activated the Verdant Veil to hide her presence and crept along the cave wall, slipping inside.
Gulp.
Only the sound of her swallowing echoed outside the cave.