Chapter 14
At the entrance to the Eoduk Forest, we waited for the evaluation to begin, our tension slowly easing. Even though all the trainee agents had gathered, there was only a bit of whispering—it was eerily quiet. In that silence, I trembled uncontrollably.
"We're not the only ones nervous."
Edmon spoke flatly as he checked his weapon.
"It's an evaluation that lasts a long time anyway. Getting worked up will just tire you out."
"Yeah... that's true," Bina agreed with a nod.
"B-but still!"
I just couldn't shake off the tension.
"I keep getting nervous because I feel like I have to do well..."
No one knew how much this first evaluation would impact our futures. It was the first one, so it wouldn't decide everything, but there were no guarantees we'd nail everything perfectly from here on out. We had to do our best when the opportunity arose.
"Yufir."
Bina approached, bending her knees to meet my eyes. She smiled brightly and pulled a candy from her jacket pocket.
"Huh?"
"Here, eat this."
"Candy?"
Bina nodded and patted my head.
"Yeah, roll it around in your mouth. It helps ease the tension more than you'd think."
"Oh, thanks!"
I popped the kindly offered candy into my mouth. I rolled it with my tongue, tucked it in my cheek, and fidgeted it around endlessly.
Right, I remember hearing in my past life that sucking on candy or chewing gum helps relax you.
I hadn't expected Bina to know that too. Sometimes it seemed like bits of practical wisdom from my old life applied here as well—things you learn through experience.
"Heehee... mm."
Of course, it wasn't some magic that made all my tension vanish in an instant. But I could at least take in my surroundings a bit better now.
Some groups were holding strategy meetings, others focused on themselves, and a few were already blushing, arm-in-arm, looking surprisingly close.
Airi's...
She was alone in the corner.
Tch... It's weird to act like we know each other since we're not teamed up.
She always topped the rankings, but no one stuck around her. Or more accurately, she brushed them off. Like a hedgehog bristling its spines, maybe. I just watched from afar, figuring she had her reasons, but she looked kinda lonely.
"..."
"Guh?! A-hem."
Elvin turned away the moment our eyes met. The guy from the north always seemed scared of me. Sure, I'd done something pretty rough to him... but come on. Was he actually a coward deep down?
Thud. Thud.
Instructor Blackrose passed between us. A group in suits followed behind her.
"Your first agent evaluation begins now," Blackrose announced from the small platform.
The people who'd come with her stood with hands behind their backs.
"These are your seniors, in a way."
The trainees eyed them curiously. I did too.
Official agents...!
That was why we were enduring this training camp.
They didn't look that different on the surface, but they had this aura of experience.
"As announced, I'll explain the rules again before we start."
Blackrose went over the evaluation details. The area was the entire Eoduk Forest. Time limit: two days. Trainees had to team up, use the intel they'd gathered, track down and capture an almiraz.
"...For you rookies, we've got contingencies in place."
Blackrose glanced at the female agent beside her. The woman nodded and snapped her fingers.
Snap!
Black, ink-like maggots rose from the ground.
Flutter flutter!
They took shape into a flock of crows that soared into the sky and glided swiftly into the depths of the Eoduk Forest.
"We'll be watching, but don't think that guarantees your safety. The Eoduk Forest is a prime monster habitat. Slack off for a second, and you'll be their meal before we can even rescue you."
Swallows gulping nervously echoed around. I wasn't the only one shaking.
"This isn't the academy. No one's gonna coddle you. Guard your own life."
We always risked our necks, so even evaluations were close to real combat.
"Alright."
Blackrose checked her wristwatch.
Tick. Tock.
It was early morning. The sun was just rising.
"Begin!"
Our strategy was simple. Caves near the start were unlikely to have anything—and even if they did, too much competition. So we aimed deep inside, beat other teams there, and check the caves we'd scouted beforehand.
We moved in our pre-set order: Edmon leading, Bina next, me last.
This formation was decided during planning.
—I see... I don't know much, but isn't that stunt something you can't always pull off?
—I was shocked because Yufir didn't seem like Yufir that time! Good thing... or whatever, but it's not always like that, so that's a relief!
After our preliminary scout, we'd talked it over. What each of us was good at, what we sucked at. We shared to cover weaknesses.
Edmon had the highest all-around specs. Stamina, strength—nothing lacking. Leader and vanguard.
Bina said she was at home in forests, never got lost. Wide field of view, versatile skills—middle support.
And me...
—M-me...? An important role?!
I thought I'd just be bait, but Edmon insisted I was key.
—Yufir, that breakthrough power you showed is top-tier in our class. Maybe even rivals Airi or Elvin.
Even if we surrounded an almiraz perfectly, chases often drew other monsters. If interrupters showed up right as we closed in, we needed a fast wedge to break through.
Yeah, that's why I was so tense. This crucial role.
"Huff... huff..."
I weaved between trees. Worth the solo stamina training? I wasn't lagging yet.
"Look over there!"
Bina pointed. Airi and Elvin.
Fwoosh!
They accelerated terrifyingly. Leaving their teams behind to race ahead alone.
"Same strategy, huh," Edmon said from upfront.
"They scouted spots ahead of time. Instead of matching pace, their speed demons go first to claim priority."
From the moment the eval was announced a month ago, they had superior intel. Only solo-viable-in-this-forest types could pull it off. Exactly the top two trainees.
"Amazing..."
Envy slipped out. They could already handle harsh environments solo. Basically finished agents.
"I... I too..."
I clenched my fists. I'd trained hard for this. Two days meant it wouldn't end quick. Short bursts were my weakness, but I had to overcome it.
"Ahead!"
At Edmon's call, we gripped our weapons.
Awooooo!
Deep in the Eoduk Forest now. Wolf monsters—bargs—emerged.
Still distance to the cave cluster, but interrupters already.
"Hup!"
Edmon charged without stopping, slashing horizontally with his two-handed sword.
Slash!
Perfectly fluid. Small pack. One down, the rest circled us.
"Wipe 'em here," Edmon said. We pressed backs together.
"We could run, but we'll hit more inside. Can't clear a big group at once, so handle what we can."
"Got it!"
Edmon charged again; Bina flanked the distracted bargs.
"Hiyat!"
Slash, spin, long legs crushing ribs. Pure Bina—sword and body techniques in unpredictable chains that flustered foes.
Tap. Tap.
From the rear, I locked eyes with a barg eyeing our back. Both wedges in our packs.
"Grr! Grr!"
"Eek?!"
Fierce bark. White fangs bared. More intimidating than any dog.
The barg growled, then lunged straight.
Beasts sniff out weak prey like ghosts.
You know too, huh... that I'm the weakest here.
Used to hunting, super sensitive to it.
Fwoosh!
"Krahng!"
It leaped, jaws wide. Huge— one bite could rip me apart.
"M-move, legs!"
I kicked off as its paws left ground, dropping low to the dirt.
——.
Colors faded.
Before, I'd blindly follow red lines. It worked.
Now, different. Five kills wouldn't end the eval.
"Iyat!"
I rose, thrusting hand up.
Thwack!
Blade still sheathed, like an uppercut to the jaw. Jaws clamped; hilt jammed tight.
Pressed the button.
Stab!
Spring-launched blade pierced jaw, brain, then sliced to gut.
It flopped down. Gush—blood and guts spilled.
"Hahk... hahk..."
Drip drip—blood slid down the dagger blade.
"Haha..."
First time taking a life without staring at the line.
"Haha!"
I threw my arms up.
"I did it!"
Training paid off impressively.
Thwack! Thud.
An arrow buried in the almiraz's head.
"Whew, damn."
The man sighed, rising from the leaf pile. Crossbow in hand.
"Fuckin' rabbit's a pain to spot."
He yanked the arrow, drew his sword, and severed the horn.
"Third one... with this."
Monster parts sold well. Almiraz horns were prized for mana conductivity, but rumors of a drug turning people hazy had rich folks buying high lately.
"Bran."
"Yeah?"
His partner emerged from the woods, blood-splattered.
"What about the bodies?"
"Leave 'em. Monsters'll devour every trace."
"Those mercs had good stuff—let's split it. Hurry up, man."
"..."
Bran, illegal monster hunter, glanced over the hill.
Decades hunting honed his instincts.
"Just over that hill."
"...What if someone spots us?"
"Kill 'em."
He smirked, turning away.
"No one cares if someone dies in a place like this."