Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: The Bandits Appear
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‘Yeah, now that I think about it, you’re right?’
Kerr’s words were spot on.
Even if peeling it myself counted as diligent behavior, I could just have her do it.
She was already being put to extremely good use in all sorts of ways lately—blankets, massage chairs, shades, you name it.
‘Never thought to use her as a shell-peeling tool, though.’
Looks like my sloth skills were still lacking.
But something felt a bit off.
Kerr was the type who’d grumble if I asked her to do trivial chores like this, outside of combat or travel.
Of course, she’d still do them anyway.
But for her to step up and offer to peel the shells herself?
Maybe she couldn’t stand the idea of someone else doing it, even if she didn’t want to.
I chuckled and asked,
‘Kerr, are you jealous right now?’
[Wh-what?! J-jealousy? What jealousy?!]
Kerr raised her voice indignantly.
‘Your voice is cracking, though?’
[No, it’s not! I just... wanted to teach you thick-headed fool how to use this body’s power more efficiently and perfectly! That’s all!]
‘Come on, it’s not like I didn’t know.’
I tried to soothe her mood, pretending to be serious.
‘You worked the hardest today, wandering the whole island. That’s why I didn’t ask you to do it—figured you deserved a break.’
[......]
She didn’t reply.
But the emotions coming through felt noticeably softer.
[Hmm... Well, that’s surprisingly thoughtful of you.]
Her shadow body gently wrapped around my arm.
[...But I’m not particularly tired.]
She mumbled softly.
[If you really need it, you don’t have to hold back... It’s fine to use this body.]
‘Oh? So I can use you as much as I want?’
That was the perfect attitude.
She’d been cool toward the protagonist in the original game, but thanks to my Myth-class trait, she showed me a lot more favor.
No way I’d pass up the opportunity.
‘Got it.’
I told her,
‘From now on, I’ll use you plenty—until you’re worn out.’
I’d been planning to work her harder anyway. Perfect timing.
Might as well roll her exactly as she wished.
But.
[......]
No response.
Instead, a wave of confused emotions washed over me.
And then.
Whoosh—!
‘What the. Why’s it so hot?’
The temperature of Kerr inside my uniform spiked dramatically.
She usually kept things comfortably regulated, but now she’d turned into a hot pack.
‘Kerr, is your temperature control busted? It’s too hot.’
[...Shut up! You idiot human!]
Snap.
Kerr snapped at me and cut off our mental link.
‘......?’
***
Time flew by quickly, and the day of the second exam arrived before we knew it.
Unlike the first exam, where they’d given the details and rules right before it started, this time the announcement came a full hour early.
To sum up the rules Professor Kate relayed:
The goal was to collect ‘star shards’ hidden all over the island.
There were three types total.
Divided into gold, silver, and bronze.
Bronze stars were worth 10 points, silver 50.
And the rarest gold stars were worth a whopping 100 points.
Apparently, the professors had hidden them using magic or tucked them into treacherous terrain.
One unique detail: the distribution probabilities for stars were announced by region.
Once the exam started, each team would step through a dimensional gate to their chosen sector and begin searching.
You’d get 30% of the points the moment you picked up a star, but you had to hold onto it until the end for the full 100%.
That’s how rankings were determined—and there was one major variable.
Combat between cadets was allowed.
In other words, you could attack other teams and steal their collected stars.
Knocking out another team didn’t give extra points, though, and losing a teammate didn’t deduct any either.
That was the gist of it.
And one more thing.
This time, the top team would receive a special prize.
Something Professor Zephyr had prepared himself.
All the cadets were buzzing about what a famous adventurer like him might offer.
We had an hour for strategy planning.
Yuria spoke up first.
“The first exam tested combat and survival against magic beasts... So this second one’s evaluating PvP and search skills, right?”
“Yeah. I think it’s a fair format.”
Artel continued her sharp analysis.
“Every department has its specialties. Pure search would favor detection-heavy ones like magic or divine studies, but PvP gives the edge to martial arts, swordsmanship, or assassination departments.”
“Then it all comes down to playing to our strengths while covering each other’s weaknesses!”
“Exactly. Team comps will lead to all kinds of strategies.”
Like they said, it was definitely an exam that required some real brainpower.
...If we were going by the book.
But I already knew all the star locations—especially where the gold ones were.
I’d run this comprehensive eval plenty of times.
In the game, of course.
So search wasn’t an issue.
The problem was PvP.
Honestly, you could dodge fights, grab stars, and camp in a corner for a top rank no sweat.
But this exam? We couldn’t settle for top ranks.
We needed first place, period.
Because the top team’s prize was the key to getting that Hydra egg.
‘This exam’s the main event.’
The first exam’s overwhelming first-place finish was just a warm-up. This was the real showdown.
That’s why I’d been raising Yuria and Artel all this time.
Even with vet strats, fights were inevitable eventually.
‘We’ve got this.’
I was confident.
Sure, I’d never cleared with Yuria and Artel in the original game.
But with me and them now? Absolutely doable.
That’s when Yuria looked at me with expectant eyes.
“Jeron. Got any special plans this time too?”
“Yeah.”
Their faces lit up at my firm answer.
“So, we split up again at first? Like last time, each covering our zones...?”
“Nope.”
I shook my head.
“We’re sticking together this time.”
The most efficient—and laziest—way.
That’s what we needed.
***
One hour later.
“Hey, so where’s our starting point? Time’s running out—decide quick!”
Team leader Veil spread out the map and shouted urgently.
The pre-exam strategy time was almost up.
“‘Forgotten Ruins’ has the highest gold star probability. But S-Rank monsters’ll swarm there for sure.”
One teammate scratched his head.
“Too far out, though, and we’ll just get bronze stars...”
“How about ‘Mist Marsh’ as a compromise? Decent silver odds, and the terrain’s great for avoiding fights.”
“Ooh, solid. Let’s go there.”
Veil’s team: four B-Rankers.
Their strategy was safety first.
Avoid clashes with powerhouses, steadily rack up bronze and silver points.
With grim determination, they leaped into the dimensional gate.
Wooong—!
The damp, dreamy landscape of the mist marsh unfolded.
“Nice, no one here. Let’s move!”
Veil’s team stuck together, combing the marsh thoroughly.
Luck was on their side—they scored early.
“Found one! Silver star here!”
“Nice! Two bronzes over here!”
Stars hidden in tree knots and bushes lit up, easy to spot.
The work of their party wizard, Kyle.
“Glad we recruited a mage. You’re the best, Kyle!”
“Heh heh. All that detection spell practice paid off.”
Great start.
Keep this up, and even if not top-tier, they’d post solid scores.
“Think we’ve cleared this zone?”
“Yeah. Next sector, then. West from here looks promising too.”
Veil led confidently.
His teammates followed with light steps, patting their fuller pockets.
To exit the marsh, they headed through a narrow canyon—the only path.
That’s when it happened.
Pop—!
“Huh...?”
The teammate at the rear vanished in an instant.
No scream.
Just dispersed into the air as white light.
Life-protection magic activated.
Meaning: eliminated.
“Wh-what?! Kyle?! Where’d you go!”
Veil whipped around in shock.
Kyle was gone. Only the star shards he’d picked up lay scattered on the ground.
“Ambush! Defensive formation—!”
Thwack—!
Before he could finish.
A sharp ice spike flew from somewhere, slamming into the second teammate’s chest.
“Gahk!”
The protection magic kept it from piercing, but he was out.
The teammate let out a short cry and crumpled, vanishing as white light.
The third went the same way in seconds.
Suddenly, Veil was alone.
“Th-this crazy...!”
Terror-stricken, he staggered back.
Nothing visible.
Couldn’t even see where the enemy was.
‘R-run! Gotta run!’
Instinct took over—he spun around.
But.
“......Huh?”
His feet wouldn’t move.
More precisely, his body felt like lead.
Overwhelming fatigue crashed in.
Like he’d pulled all-nighters for days—eyelids heavy, limbs powerless.
Forget the exam. Just wanted to crash in a soft bed.
“Ugh.... Why all of a sudden...”
Veil swayed.
Through his blurring vision, he saw a purple butterfly fluttering toward him.
That was his last sight.