Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: The Last Task
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"You're not even going to give me the 'Nani?!' treatment."
"What are you talking about, showing up out of the blue…?"
"It's exactly what it sounds like."
You are already dead.
I said that, but she's not actually going to die.
Well, if that toilet-head loses his mind and no one helps her, she might actually die.
"Sir Luke... isn't there something else you wanted to say?"
"Now that I'm here to say it, I've realized it's a huge pain to explain, you know?"
If I tell her, she'll just ask what I mean, or exactly when it's going to happen.
I'm sure I'll get bombarded with questions, and I came here to give information, not answer a million questions. Suddenly, all my motivation has vanished.
Besides, what better way is there to deliver information as briefly and powerfully as what I just said?
Just one line, 'You are already dead,' should be enough to make her watch her own back.
Not that it would actually work.
"Waaah. I'm baby Luke. Someone explain for me~"
"..."
Luna, even if you make that dumbfounded face, I know you'll do it for me in the end.
I sat down in a chair, pulled Yui into a hug, and gave her a snack.
That should keep Yui still for a while. I rested my chin on her head, using it as a chinrest.
Yui is the perfect height to be a chinrest, so I've been using her as one quite often lately.
In that position, I watched the two of them talk.
"Miss Liche. Have you heard that the next practical training has been changed to a survival exercise?"
"...No? I thought we still had quite a bit of time until the next one?"
See? It's already becoming a whole chain of explanations. This is why it's so tedious.
I have to start with the survival exercise, then explain about the demons, then the demonic humans, and then reveal that the demon is the very one she's been searching for her whole life?
I'd be stuck answering questions for at least three hours.
"That was the original academic schedule, but the Headmaster has changed the order. In three days, it will be the deserted island survival exercise."
"The deserted island survival... I was sure that was scheduled for the second semester..."
In truth, the information Luna is sharing is top-tier intel that no one else knows.
The fact that Liche doesn't know means the news about the training being moved up hasn't been spread by the professors or the Headmaster yet.
That means Liche now has more time to prepare for the survival exercise than anyone else.
Even the toilet-head, the one who's been reincarnated, wouldn't know this. How could he, when the schedule changed so abruptly? I wouldn't have known either if Lucia hadn't come and told me.
The only people who know this information are the ones here, the professors, and Lucia.
And Luna is giving away that valuable information for free.
"Then... I suppose I should prepare for the survival exercise in three days."
"Ah. Just a moment, there's something else before that."
"What? There's more?"
"This is the most important part, actually..."
Before delivering the final piece of information, Luna looked over at me, as if seeking my permission.
So I just shrugged, telling her to do as she pleased.
As long as I wasn't the one who had to do the tedious explaining, I didn't care if she told her or not.
"Miss Liche. Sir Luke said that demons and demonic humans will appear during the survival exercise."
"...Again?"
It seems that kind of reaction is normal for her now.
Demons are supposed to be objects of fear, but she's reacting as if she's just tired of it all.
"And he said that the demon is Hex."
"...What?"
Perhaps because she now knew the truth of this world, instead of burning with vengeance as she normally would, Liche's shoulders began to tremble slightly.
Knowing she absolutely couldn't win meant defeat, and defeat meant death.
After all, Liche had one of her arms broken by Hex last time.
"That's all I heard from Sir Luke. I don't know anything more."
Isn't it funny? The source of the information is right in front of her, but he won't say a word, using someone else to do the explaining.
And it's not even the full story, just half-baked information.
"Th-that information... c-could you tell me more about it...?"
"I told you everything. What more is there to tell?"
Literally. Hex will show up during the survival exercise.
I think I heard somewhere that people are supposed to communicate.
This must be why I don't.
"It's a pain."
You might criticize me for finding even talking to be a pain, but there really are times like that.
Times when even speaking is too much effort, and times when you're hungry but even eating is a hassle.
This is one of those times.
"Then at least a hint..."
"Blood moon, mana exhaustion, Arthur."
The key words. If she's good at deduction, she should be able to figure out what's going to happen.
"Arthur again..."
Liche made a face that would have saddened the toilet-head if he'd seen it. It was the kind of expression that blatantly showed she hated being involved with him at all.
Hey, he's your future boyfriend. You should at least try to like him.
Kids these days just don't put in enough effooort.
"Anyway, I'm going to go rest."
I've said what I needed to say.
I headed back to my dorm to laze around some more.
Hearing Liche thank me from behind.
***
Three days later.
We, along with the other professors and all the students participating in today's deserted island survival exercise, were gathered in front of a teleportation circle.
"First, we will conduct a baggage inspection."
As soon as Lucia made the announcement, the professors moved in perfect sync to inspect the students' belongings.
For reference, the fact that the next practical training had been changed to a deserted island survival exercise was announced exactly one day before it was set to begin.
One of the scoring criteria for the survival exercise is survival skill. If they were told in advance, they could just pack a ton of food, find a spot, and do nothing, which would defeat the purpose of the training. Any food that seemed excessive was confiscated.
The second reason for the baggage check was because of magic tools and artifacts.
Students could bring some ridiculously overpowered artifact and breeze through the exercise, so the inspection was to prevent that beforehand.
Artifacts aren't exactly easy to come by, but most of the kids here were young masters and ladies from wealthy families. They were the type who could procure an artifact from anywhere without it being strange.
The confiscated food filled a large bundle, and there were several magic tools and artifacts as well.
"Before I explain the rules of the survival exercise, I will hand these out to everyone."
Lucia handed each student a firework with a short fuse sticking out.
"During the exercise, if you find yourself unable to fight or in a dangerous situation, launch it into the air. Professors will immediately come to your aid."
I'm not going to help even if I see a firework.
Someone else will go.
"Now, I will explain the rules of the survival exercise."
The rules were, as the name suggested, simple and clear.
Survive for five days on a deserted island. Aside from what was brought, all food had to be self-sourced.
This self-sourcing also included plundering from other students.
Defeating encountered monsters and submitting proof at the end of the exercise would earn extra points.
Forming teams was allowed, with no limit on the number of members.
"To signal the end of the survival exercise, we will launch three fireworks on the final day. When you see them, all students should return to the location of the teleportation circle."
I can guarantee they won't see three fireworks. They'll see a whole bunch of them going off simultaneously.
That's how it was in the original story.
"Now, all students please stand on the teleportation circle."
The first teleportation circle I'd seen since coming to this world. I wasn't sure if it was only used for the survival exercise, but it was massive.
All the first-year students followed Lucia's command and stepped onto the large circle.
"You will be teleported to random locations on the island. The survival exercise begins the moment you arrive, so you may start moving immediately."
Lucia checked the time on a round wristwatch, then activated the teleportation circle at a precise moment.
I mentioned this a long time ago, but teleportation is an absurdly expensive mode of travel.
The reason is that it requires a vast amount of mana to operate. It seems a mage on Lucia's level can handle the mana cost of teleportation all by herself.
Then, a blinding blue light flashed from the circle, and in the blink of an eye, the students who had been standing on it vanished without a trace.
"Ooh..."
I was clapping at the novelty of seeing it for the first time.
"To the professors, I'll be giving you these."
Lucia approached and handed out bracelet-like objects to the professors, including us, just as she had with the students earlier.
"They're concealment magic tools. As I mentioned beforehand, please wear these as you move around to protect the students and deal with any B-rank or higher monsters."
Weren't magic tools expensive? Is it okay to just hand them out like this? I feel like I could sneak one away after this is over.
As I was wondering this, Lucia seemed to notice my expression and answered my unspoken question.
"There are different kinds of magic tools. These are low-grade ones that only hide your body; they can't conceal a person's scent, presence, or footsteps, so it's fine."
"So they're not expensive?"
"Hmm... they're expensive for a commoner, but I suppose they're on the cheaper side for a noble. It's a bit ambiguous."
Okay. Message received.
'At this point, it's like she's advertising for me to take one.'
Things will be chaotic once the survival exercise is over, so she probably won't even think about collecting these. I've gotten my hands on a nice tool.
"Now then, professors, please step onto the teleportation circle."
We stepped onto the circle with the other professors.
Lucia, the last one on, activated the circle. Just like before, a blue light flared and engulfed our bodies.
The dazzling light made me shut my eyes instinctively. When I opened them again, I had already arrived on the deserted island.
And so, the final event to take place during my time at the academy began.
The deserted island survival exercise had started.