Chapter 9: Betting on the Spy
Zien put as much distance as possible between himself and the enemies while speaking to Chris.
"Listen up, Chris. We need to buy more time for Aria to finish her work."
Even at this breakneck speed, it wasn't much of a strain on Zien.
"So, Chris, you're in charge of this pouch."
"What?"
"They're definitely coming after me. If you hold onto the pouch, we can avoid the worst-case scenario."
Chris let out a hollow laugh at Zien's words.
Ah. So that's what he meant.
"So, even if you get eliminated... we still secure the points, right?"
"Exactly. We're a team."
Even if it was just a test, Zien always approached gates with utmost seriousness. And even if it was a team formed for the exam, in this moment, it held special meaning.
Once they'd put maximum distance between them and the enemies, Zien set Chris down on the ground. He held out the pouch containing the scoring orbs.
"Here, take it, Chris."
But Chris didn't take it.
"Video transmission stopped."
As per Chris's request, for the next three minutes, the spectators outside wouldn't be able to see Zien or Chris. After hesitating for a long while, Chris finally spoke.
"...No."
"What?"
Seeing Zien's bewildered expression, Chris spoke with resolve.
"Hey, I'm a spy."
"A spy? What are you talking about?"
"Daven proposed it. Said he'd pay me if I betrayed you. Handing over the orbs to me right now would be idiotic."
Watching Chris's agonized expression, Zien asked gently,
"I see. Then why are you telling me this now? This is your golden opportunity, Chris."
"That's..."
Chris started to say something in response to Zien's question but swallowed his words.
Anything he said in this situation would just sound like an excuse. But if he had to pick a reason... it was that Zien had put the team first even in the worst circumstances.
If I betrayed a guy like this...
Chris's eyes shook violently.
I wouldn't be able to face Lua.
Zien placed the pouch firmly in Chris's hand.
"Here, Chris."
The orbs in the pouch were mostly the ones Zien had collected. The core prize of this test. Zien handed this precious item over to Chris.
Zien pointed to the left with his index finger.
"From now on, head left. I'll lure the enemy team slowly toward Aria's position."
"Hey! Didn't you hear me? I'm a spy! A spy! I was gonna betray you for money!"
Chris shouted with fierce eyes, but Zien's voice remained dry and steady.
"That's exactly why I can trust you."
"Ugh, urk. What the hell does that mean? Don't go regretting this!"
Clutching the pouch, Chris bolted without looking back. His stamina was depleted, and he had little mana left in his body, but he ran for his life.
"Huff! Hack! Damn it! What the hell is this?!"
A total of ten gates.
Sixty participants were taking the test, but the vast majority of the audience was focused on Gate 1, where Zien was.
The underdog effect.
People naturally found themselves rooting for the weak.
And here was the overwhelmingly disadvantaged Crow Team putting up a fierce fight against the Seagull Team—so of course, this attention was inevitable.
"They're going after the opponent's orbs even though they have twice as many scoring orbs?"
Selphis stroked his mustache and answered the question politely.
"Ho ho, that's because the test in Gate 1 is a relative evaluation event."
A professor nearby chimed in to support Selphis's explanation.
"If the bottom-tier team and top-tier team are only two points apart, even a win wouldn't boost the Seagull Team's ranking much."
Of course, this assumed Chris could protect the pouch with the scoring orbs. Once Isabel rejoined after finishing her hunt, Selphis could already see the obvious outcome.
Still, that dead last guy's improved quite a bit. I don't like the interview thing, but I'll let him off expulsion. Of course, not before crushing his spirit so he never dares defy me again.
Ice · Ice · Ice · Water · Ice
Chris ran.
Dirt, grass, and puddles whipped past beneath his feet. His breath came up to his chin; he felt like he might puke at any moment. Chris was squeezing every last drop out of his mana and stamina.
What's with this lake? Why's it so damn big?
He aspired to be a Saber, but thinking about it, his position was ridiculously ambiguous. His magic art was just good eyesight, and he wasn't a brilliant strategist like Zien either.
Well, that guy's good at fighting too, but...
His lungs felt like they were about to burst.
Blood trickled from Chris's tightly clenched lips as he endured the pain.
There it is! Finally!
Chris's eyes caught sight of the starting area at last. And Aria, slumped like a waterlogged sponge.
"Huff, hack... I'm dying. Hey... you finished without getting caught?"
"...Of course. Who do you think I am? Damn, I'm out of mana... If only I'd eaten one of those elixirs... that'd be my one wish... Whoa! Hey! Up there!"
Aria pointed to the sky.
Chris looked up belatedly, his face puzzled.
My Previous Life was the Strongest Sword God