The White Yeti of the North (1)
Ever since the Black Rose Instructor mentioned it, my fellow trainees had been buzzing nonstop about the evaluation throughout training.
"Did the instructor just say hide-and-seek?"
"I've heard about it before. They say the final evaluation at the training camp is always handled directly by the instructors."
The final evaluation in the Northern Snow Mountains. It finally hit me that our time at the training camp was drawing to a close.
Reflecting on the past year, I thought about how I'd done. At the start, I was always falling short in training and wasting everyone's time. But from the middle onward, I'd built up my stamina on my own, and the results started showing. I'd even reached 1-Ring, after all. That was a huge accomplishment, even by my own standards. That mine had been terrifying, but in the end, it had made me grow. I felt proud of myself.
I think I did pretty okay in all the evaluations so far...
That said, it wasn't easy to claim I'd been great overall. Honestly, even in the snow mountains, without using mana, I still lagged behind the others. I was still someone specialized for short bursts.
"Hooah!"
Lost in my worries, I reached the midway point of the snow mountains. The Black Rose Instructor checked the time, glanced at me, and headed back. It wasn't as late as I'd feared.
"There they are..."
Vina, Iri, and even Elvin. They were all gathered, chatting away.
As time passed at the training camp, groups naturally formed—just as you'd expect. And curiously, the group I was in consisted entirely of top performers, aside from me.
Hee hee, they're all amazing friends I can learn so much from.
I sometimes felt a bit out of my league, but whenever I approached, they welcomed me like they'd been waiting. It made me feel like the group mascot or something.
"Yufir!"
"Yufir, over here."
Vina and Iri waved. Elvin gave an awkward smile. He still seemed a little intimidated by me.
"Phew... what were you guys talking about?"
"Yufi-Yufi, we're sharing some super important info right now."
Vina brushed the snow off my head as she spoke.
"I overheard it from a guy whose sibling is an agent. He said the final evaluation tests every single element of being an agent."
"Every element..."
I rubbed my chin, pondering, but I had no clue. Did it mean combining everything we'd done so far?
"I saw other instructors head to the Temporary Barracks this morning," Iri added.
"It doesn't seem like the Black Rose Instructor is handling it alone. It might be a bigger-scale evaluation than we think."
Elvin nodded in agreement.
"And choosing the snow mountains of all places... Maybe they want to use the terrain on a grand scale."
"Then you're feeling confident, right, Elvin?"
I said that, and Elvin shrugged with a "Well..." He seemed less sure of himself than before.
"Terrain advantages are definitely there, but I'm not sure if that'll be enough to pass the evaluation... The instructors wouldn't make it that straightforward."
"Elvin... you look kinda down."
"Do I?"
Vina tilted her head, but that's how it looked to me. Still, this was the guy I'd fought once before. Back then, he'd been so... majestic.
"Elvin, is it because you heard how every time you saw a bear yesterday, you wet the bed that night and tried drying the sheets in secret without telling the teacher?"
"That's not..."
Elvin whipped around, startled, scanning the surroundings to make sure no one overheard.
"If not that, then maybe because you admire Regaf the teacher so much you like him too much, and he made you hold an axe bigger than your body and your arm popped out?"
"Stop... please stop."
Elvin covered his flushed face and begged. Vina and I giggled, wondering what other stories there might be, when I overheard another group passing by.
"Then extra personal training later..."
"Yeah, the top scorers together..."
Everyone seemed geared up for the upcoming evaluation. Even the usually chill ones were getting antsy at the mention of the final test. The whole atmosphere today was electric.
"Shouldn't we do something too?" Vina asked.
I glanced at Iri.
"Staring at me won't reveal anything..."
Then at Elvin.
"Actually, I was planning to prepare too."
Elvin spoke up right on cue.
"Wanna come with?"
Something was up.
"Ahem."
Using personal time, we slipped out of the Temporary Barracks. Elvin led us to—of course—Regaf's Cabin.
"So, what you're saying is..."
Regaf scratched his head at Elvin's brazen return.
"I need your guidance, teacher."
Elvin dropped to his knees right in front of the cabin. Vina, Iri, and I could only offer awkward smiles at the awkward scene.
"Sigh... Elvin. Don't make your friends uncomfortable. Go back."
"I'm at a wall right now."
"Everyone hits one eventually. You have to break through it yourself—no one can do it for you."
"But my first ring was thanks to you."
"Don't mix up the order, Elvin."
Regaf lowered his voice, his intimidating presence looming.
"I just honed the process. In the decisive moments, you made the choices with your own will. This time's no different. What are you hesitating for?"
Elvin's head drooped.
"I suffered a defeat."
"You've faced that countless times already. Why now..."
"I couldn't do anything. My teammate and I were safe, but our senior got badly hurt."
We hanging back knew exactly which incident he meant.
"It's true I've had few losses since leaving the forest, and maybe I got arrogant. But I know even I can't beat everyone. I wasn't arrogant enough to think otherwise."
Elvin continued slowly.
"It was supposed to be a simple patrol in the slums, just catching pickpockets. But things went sideways, we clashed with some organization, and that guy with the greatsword got us from behind...!"
Regaf pressed his forehead as Elvin rambled. He looked deeply troubled. Even I felt sorry for Elvin, seeing him like this. Was it empathy? If it hadn't been for Iri, I might've ended up the same.
"Was he strong?"
"Yes... a vile piece of trash, but strong."
"Think you'd lose again?"
"Yes... I can't picture winning."
"Are you scared of him?"
"No, that mocking laugh as he watched me run with my teammate—it pisses me off to no end."
Elvin clenched his bare fists into the snow. His hands turned red, then chilled white.
"Good."
Regaf knelt on one knee, placing a hand on Elvin's shoulder.
"Hold onto that anger. Uncontrolled, it'll kill you and your comrades. Controlled, it burns hotter than any fuel."
Standing again, Regaf eyed us behind.
"You lot followed because you need something too, right?"
"We'd like guidance if possible," Vina said. I nodded eagerly beside her. Iri looked indifferent—she was mostly here for Elvin, after all.
"Hmm."
Regaf gazed up at the snow mountains.
"You'll need weapons."
"Here, pick one."
Regaf opened the warehouse.
"Whoa, did you make these yourself?"
I stepped inside and gawked at the walls and floors lined with weapons of every type imaginable.
"Living out here, you need whatever tool fits the moment. Plus, this bedwetter's picky as hell about weapons, so I gathered everything usable or not."
"Teacher, how long are you gonna call me bedwetter...?"
Elvin shook his head at the nickname in front of friends. He pointed to a hand axe that fit perfectly in his grip.
Vina, looking overwhelmed, and the impassive Iri each picked swords suited to their height. I scanned around and settled on a short dagger.
"Ooh, just barely fits."
I emerged with my perfect match, and Regaf tilted his head.
"Little one, you good with that?"
"L-Little one...? I'm an adult!"
"Ahaha, sorry, slipped out. So our pink friend here's fine with a kiddie sword, huh?"
"K-Kiddie...?"
I bristled at the wooden sword's label. Vina turned away giggling, and Iri fought a smile, her lips twitching.
"Don't laugh!"
The whole world seemed bent on treating me like a kid, and it grated on my nerves.
"This one's the best fit for me!"
I huffed confidently.
"Really?"
Regaf eyed me curiously, then ducked into the warehouse and came out gripping a massive axe.
"Uh, eek..."
I gulped at the gleaming blade's size. Why was it that huge? It could lop off a head easy.
"Haha, no need to freak. It's my cherished weapon—mastery guaranteed. I won't hurt you kids."
I knew, but knew and still feared—I edged away.
"Guess I gotta see your skills first to guide you."
We followed Regaf to the clearing, weapons in hand.
Whoosh.
Cold wind whipped through. Regaf's coat billowed as the four trainees—including me—faced him.
"Huuuuh, haa."
Regaf inhaled the mountain air deeply, eyes bulging.
"Come at me. Even rusty, I won't disappoint."
Clang! Vina's sword flies, embedding in a tree.
Thud, smack! Elvin's hand axe rolls across the ground.
Kaang! Iri, flung back, barely catches her sword and stabs it into the earth.
Whoosh.
Cold wind blows. Regaf hasn't moved an inch, yet he's subdued three.
I clutched my lone dagger, my will to charge last fizzling out.
"Our little one not coming?"
The white yeti. A true snowman. Towering height, white hair and beard. An axe that could shred a bear like grass.
Gulp.
Deep breath. Yeah, Regaf won't hurt us, right? So I can go all out.
"E-Eiyaa!"
I charged, draining the world's color. In the slowed world, I eyed the red line on Regaf.
Was the line always this faint?
My racing thoughts questioned mid-stride. The red line flickered faintly. Was it always like this? I didn't get it, but I was locked on. My body was primed.
Bam!
I kicked off the snow. Regaf's pupils widened. In this slow world, I always had the edge. As I swung at the faint red line on his neck, I gripped my mind tight.
D-Don't kill him!
Not a monster or criminal.
"Hup!"
The moment I reined in my killing intent—
In the colorless, sluggish world, only Regaf moved freely.
"Who's holding back on who?"
The red line I'd fixed on vanished; my intent lost direction.
"Eh?"
Kaaaang!
My dagger soared skyward as I tumbled across the ground.