Chapter 37
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 37: Alice's Nightmare (2)
About 12 hours had passed since the practice began.
We were crossing a thick forest.
Perhaps because it was lush with greenery everywhere, the secured vision wasn't very wide.
*Buseureok—!*
Meanwhile, monsters were hiding everywhere.
We advanced while shaking off surprise attacks.
“Sir Viktor! Coming from behind too!”
A short shout.
Immediately after, several wolf-like monsters rushed at us.
Hideous teeth. The speed at which they approached was quite fast.
Perhaps due to their pack-hunting nature, there were seven of them in total.
—Kiyaaak!
—Keong keong!
However.
I didn't waver in the slightest.
“I'll handle it.”
I quietly raised my scythe.
Inside my palm, a pocket watch was gripped.
*Click—.*
As I pressed the button, my vision flowed slowly.
It was a scene as if slow motion was being played.
I leaped lightly and swung the dark red scythe.
‘Parrying.’
*Pi-ik—!*
As I narrowly shaved off the attack, the teeth bounced in the wrong direction.
The wolf was flung away without knowing why.
—Kkaegaeng...!
The guy floating mid-air.
Aiming the scythe, I muttered.
“Initiate. Thorns.”
*Chwaaak, pu-uk!*
A single thorn extended from the tip of the scythe.
It pierced through the wolf's heart.
The monster lost its pulse and sprawled out.
—Keureureu...!
—Kyaaaaak!
The remaining ones rushed in, but the result was similar.
The pocket watch turned several times in my hand.
*Click—.*
*Click—.*
*Click—.*
Every time the button was pressed, monsters turned into mush by thorns.
Only after dealing with the very last one did I let out a breath.
Sweat beaded thickly inside my mask.
“Phew...”
Overall stats E-rank.
Maybe because my body couldn't keep up, my stamina drained exceptionally fast.
Even now, I felt out of breath just from moving this much.
While I was quietly catching my breath, my team members approached.
“Sir Viktor!”
“Ah... Miss Lanne.”
“This side is cleared! To think they would attack in a pack like this...”
“My side's subjugation is also complete. Still, we swept up points all at once.”
“It's thanks to Sir Viktor's active role! Such mysterious movements!”
“It's a trivial trick. More importantly, is everyone okay? Anyone hurt?”
“I am fine!”
“I, I also...”
An energetic Lanne, a somewhat shrunken Alice.
Both seemed to have no particular abnormalities.
I checked my crystal ball.
[Monster ‘Zergling Wolf’ defeated.]
[You acquire 20 points.]
[Monster ‘Zergling Wolf’ defeated.]
[You acquire 20 points.]
[Monster ‘Zergling Wolf’ defeated.]
[You acquire 20 points.]
[Monster ‘Zergling Wolf’ defeated.]
[You acquire 20 points.]
.
.
.
[Points settled so far: 1872]
[You acquire 20 points.]
[Monster ‘Zergling Wolf’ defeated.]
[You acquire 20 points.]
[Monster ‘Zergling Wolf’ defeated.]
[You acquire 20 points.]
[Monster ‘Zergling Wolf’ defeated.]
[You acquire 20 points.]
.
.
.
[Points settled so far: 1872]
Points already approaching 2000.
There was a reward for diligently going out to hunt.
On one hand, it was also thanks to Lanne's active role.
As expected of the runner-up, the power of each of her attacks was different.
‘Well... she's the protagonist after all.’
I wondered what the point of newly admiring it was.
On the other hand, in Alice's case, she had no active role.
Far from going out to hunt, her role was to tremble in fear in the back.
“Miss Alice. You don't look well.”
“A-ah, no... That is, I-I'm sorry. For not doing anything...”
“It's alright.”
Of course.
I brought her along knowing it would be like this from the beginning.
Because Alice wanted to hide her abilities.
No, maybe it would be more accurate to say she *had* to hide them.
The girl feared a situation where her power would leak outside.
‘Certainly...’
Uncontrolled power.
Trauma.
Nightmares.
The third ruin that will someday arrive on the continent.
The window that will bring the girl's nightmare into reality.
‘Wonderland.’
It was a power that not only she, but anyone wouldn't be able to handle.
If it were to run wild, it wouldn't end with an ordinary accident.
‘Of course... it would be fine with me around.’
While racking my brain this way and that, I tapped the crystal ball in my hand.
Afterward, what floated on the screen was the ranking window.
It was an indicator showing the current status of point collection.
[Current Point Collection Status]
1st place – 3903 points (Leader: Lin Glacia)
2nd place – 2140 points (Leader: Gelic Leribut)
3rd place – 2031 points (Leader: Ruska Vanity)
4th place – 2000 points (Leader: Genorinne Kyumbet)
5th place – 1872 points (Leader: Viktor)
.
.
.
2nd place – 2140 points (Leader: Gelic Leribut)
3rd place – 2031 points (Leader: Ruska Vanity)
4th place – 2000 points (Leader: Genorinne Kyumbet)
5th place – 1872 points (Leader: Viktor)
.
.
.
[Total 51 teams]
‘It's going smoothly.’
We had already entered the top 5.
Moreover, excluding the overwhelming 1st place, the rest were all neck and neck.
It was in the middle of a continuous battle for rankings, going back and forth.
‘This... 1st place is impossible, but up to 2nd place seems doable.’
I slyly examined the 1st place team.
The name displayed as the leader, Lin Glacia.
Class A top student.
During the entrance exam, she was the girl who crushed Lanne with an overwhelming score difference.
‘Her points are shooting up too.’
Certainly, that side was out of the question.
Of course, if I scraped together all sorts of bugs, it wouldn't be impossible, but...
‘There's no need to waste effort.’
Although a sub-quest had popped up, this was a secondary element.
Ultimately, what was important was the incident that would soon burst in the practice.
Because I was moving to prevent that.
‘2 hours left, huh.’
2 hours until the incident bursts.
It was time to slowly move to the point.
“Shall we move.”
“Yes!”
“Y-yes, yes...”
I led my team members and walked toward the center of the forest.
The blue window was still floating in front of my eyes.
[Sub Quest]
- Title: If going to do it, should do it properly!
- Content: Take a rank of 3rd or higher in the practice.
- Penalty upon failure: None
- Reward: Consumable item ‘Very Secret Tie (B-)’
- Content: Take a rank of 3rd or higher in the practice.
- Penalty upon failure: None
- Reward: Consumable item ‘Very Secret Tie (B-)’
[Time Limit: Before the practice ends]
“Hmm...”
What should I say.
I did have some lingering attachment.
Maybe it felt more so because I periodically checked the rankings.
‘The quest said I only needed to place within the top 3, but...’
In such quests, a concept called overachievement exists.
If you finish the practice in 1st place, there was a high possibility that a [Bonus Reward] would be given in addition to the originally planned reward.
Because it was like that in the original work too.
An additional reward provided upon perfect clear.
‘I wonder what will come out...’
Of course, I had no intention of getting distracted.
Even if I went around hunting students starting now, there wouldn't be enough time.
And targeting top-tier teams seemed like too severe a waste of combat power.
Well, I don't know if low-tier teams swarmed over to dedicate their points while saying 'please catch us'...
‘Tsk... does that even make sense.’
I smack my lips in regret.
It couldn't be helped.
Because trying to grab this and that could lead to losing both hares.
‘This is the right choice.’
Consoling myself, I crossed the forest.
Just about when we almost reached the destination.
Lanne, who was walking beside me, suddenly stopped.
Purple eyes scanning the surroundings, as if sensing something.
“Sir Viktor.”
“Miss Lanne?”
“It seems we have been surrounded.”
*Buseureok—.*
Subsequently, figures revealing themselves from the bushes.
There were many of them.
Maybe around thirty?
Judging by teams, it seemed to be about ten teams.
They stealthily appeared and stood as if blocking our path.
“Oh my...”
I look back, but the path we came from was also blocked.
There is no retreat.
I looked straight ahead again.
Did they form an alliance among themselves?
Or maybe, they were one team from the very beginning...
While I was briefly lost in thought, a guy who looked like the leader stepped forward.
“Viktor.”
A somewhat familiar face.
I tilted my head and asked.
“Hmm? You know my name.”
“Of course...! As if we wouldn't know your name.”
“Excuse me, but who might you be...”
“Ha! Do you intend to bluff like that, saying you don't even remember?”
“......”
No.
Who are you?
I really don't know.
“We came to repay the humiliation we suffered from you!”
“Humiliation...?”
“Are you going to pretend you don't know until the end! The Freshmen Welcome Exam was only a week ago! Or are you scared? Where did that spirit you used to confidently provoke our Class C disappear to?”
“Ah.”
Now I remember.
Class C students.
The guys who were gleefully trashing Class E during the Freshmen Welcome Exam.
They were the lackeys of Shariel, whom I had knocked out on the spot.
It was only a week ago, but since I had so much going on lately, I seemed to have forgotten.
“Ha! That's an expression that says you finally remember a bit!”
“This is my mistake. Because I don't really remember weak people well...”
“Eek, eeeek...! Arrogant until the end! Let's see how long that sneer lasts!”
“Because I naturally have a smiling face. More than that, where is Princess Labriel?”
“If it's Lady Shariel, she isn't here! She went to the Purgatory side for practice!”
“Ho-oh.”
“The ones who came to see you today are just the rest of us!”
*Seureung, cheolkeok, tuk—.*
The Class C students each took out weapons from their sleeves.
Eyes dyed in vengeance glared at this side.
“Lady Shariel said to just let it go but... we cannot tolerate it!”
“To dare give such shame to Lady Shariel! We came to take revenge for that!”
“After suffering from you, Lady Shariel has become strange.”
“Someone who was so confident has withered away!”
“We don't know what you did, but we will smash you and boost Lady Shariel's spirits!”
Guys rambling on about their circumstances one after another.
A story that couldn't be heard without tears.
Truly loyal subjects of this era.
To swarm like this for a lord who has lost her energy.
“Uhah...!”
Thus, I couldn't help but break into a broad smile.
The corners of the mask's mouth tore as if they would reach beneath the ears.
Dark red mist spread through the forest.
“Everyone.”
Exactly 9 teams.
I aimed my scythe at the children.
I never expected things to work out like this.
“You all have 300 points each, right?”
1st place is mine.
***
Meanwhile, somewhere in the forest.
A girl was walking among the bushes.
“......”
Blue hair of a mysterious hue.
Eyes that seemed to have no emotion.
Her impression was so sharp that it felt pointy.
A beauty capable of making anyone's breath stop for a few seconds, regardless of gender.
Next to such a girl, the corpses of mercilessly butchered monsters were scattered.
*Dalkak—.*
The pure white blade went into its sheath.
A chilly wind unsuited for the season.
Even snowflakes were fluttering down from the empty air.
The girl's atmosphere seemed like it would freeze the entire hunting ground.
“Haa...”
Breath blooming like a flower.
The girl's name was Lin Glacia.
The 1st-year top student called the most overwhelming in the history of Grandia Academy.
“......”
Lin was alone.
Because she didn't bother with things like team members.
From the moment the practice began, she acted as an individual.
Every time the sword containing winter was swung, dozens of monsters were swept away helplessly.
*Chwaaaaak—!*
Without even getting tired, she didn't even take a rest.
She merely massacred monsters like a machine.
‘Rank...’
Did it suddenly come to mind?
Lin took out a crystal ball from her bosom.
Beside the smooth surface, pure white frost had fully formed.
‘......It must be 1st place.’
It was an obvious result, but she turned on the screen to check anyway.
After blinking a few times, the ranking appeared in her vision.
Lin scanned the table with emotionless eyes.
However.
“......?”
The girl had no choice but to float a question mark upon checking the result.
Because the rank displayed on the screen completely missed her expectations.
[Current Point Collection Status]
1st place – 5839 points (Leader: Viktor)
2nd place – 4394 points (Leader: Lin Glacia)
3rd place – 2531 points (Leader: Ruska Vanity)
.
.
.
2nd place – 4394 points (Leader: Lin Glacia)
3rd place – 2531 points (Leader: Ruska Vanity)
.
.
.
[Total 51 teams]
Instead of Lin, a name written in 1st place.
A score leading hers by 1500 points.
The blue-haired girl ended up stopping.
“......Hah?”
Along with a cold, icy gaze.
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