Predator (2)
The classroom buzzed with the restless murmurs of students. For the past several decades, Yolam’s first exam had always been a written test assessing basic proficiency across each subject. The themes changed every year, of course, but that simply meant variations in topics and phrasing. Holding the first exam as a practical test was something that hadn’t happened in decades—not since the chaotic early days when Yolam was first founded.
“Hehe, I suppose it’s only natural to be flustered. I understand, but if you keep chattering like that, I won’t be able to explain anything.”
The female professor’s voice, amplified through the speakers, finally calmed the uproar.
“As I briefly explained during the entrance ceremony, starting this year Yolam’s curriculum will undergo a major overhaul. This was a direct request from the Republic’s Supreme Council, and after extensive internal discussion, the Yolam Education Committee decided to accept it. The primary reason behind these changes is the increasingly unstable state of affairs we’ve seen lately.”
The professor swept her gaze across the students as she continued.
“I’m sure you all remember the large-scale demon invasion that breached the barrier a few years ago. The northern fortresses were burned to the ground, and we suffered massive loss of life and severe economic damage. Recently, scouts have reported movements following a similar pattern, and that information has reached the Intelligence Bureau.”
“…Hyun? Are you feeling okay?”
“…It’s nothing. I must have dozed off for a second…”
I clenched my teeth. Yena tilted her head at me, as if she’d sensed something strange. Of course she had. After all, I had been a direct victim of that very incident.
“The north isn’t the only place at risk. In the south, various anti-government factions are growing stronger by the day. I’m sure you’ve all heard of the People’s Liberation Front—commonly known as the PLF—and their violent terrorist acts. Every member of their leadership has been identified as a dark mage, and they are believed to have close ties with the demon race.”
“In the east, the failure to subdue the Special Class Monsters observed several years ago continues to delay the construction of pioneer settlements and colonies…”
“In the cities, the number of mutants committing brutal, perverse crimes without hesitation is increasing every day…”
The speakers carried the professor’s voice without pause.
“The Supreme Council has judged the current situation to be comparable to the chaos of the Magic Dawn Era. The faculty of Yolam agrees. In times like these, what we need is not theoretical perfection but rapid adaptation to real combat. The revision of our educational methods stems from exactly that context.”
The students finally seemed to grasp the full picture. I glanced around. Some, like Yena beside me, wore deeply worried expressions, but the majority displayed faces full of fighting spirit. It was quite striking. Those who applied to the magic department were, after all, mostly people with considerable ambition and desire. So it made sense they would welcome a challenge like this.
If I were to be honest, I preferred this format too. While I had been squeezing in self-study whenever I could, my theoretical knowledge was still lacking. A hands-on exam offered a much better chance of scoring high.
“What excellent spirit! Yes, that’s exactly the mindset a mage should have!”
The professor let out a hearty laugh, clearly satisfied with the students’ attitudes.
“But as I told you before, even though the format has changed, the exam itself won’t be that difficult. It’s pitched at a level you can handle using the knowledge you’ve gained over the past two weeks. Just keep in mind that future classes will follow this practical direction. Now, shall I explain how the exam will work?”
The professor stepped aside and pressed a button on the device in her hand.
“The official name of this location is the Cheongong Basin. It is the only spot in the area where a meteor struck during Falling Star Day. The government has since entrusted its entire management to Yolam for research and educational purposes.”
A mechanical whirring sound filled the room, and soon various explanations, photographs, and diagrams were projected onto the white screen set up on the lecture hall platform.
“This is the area where a meteor rich in Bessel particles crashed, and thanks to the basin’s topography, the particle flow is stagnant, resulting in an extremely high concentration of particles in the atmosphere. Because of that, all sorts of bizarre and grotesque flora thrive here. While it is infested with dangerous monsters, it is also an invaluable source of research material. Scholars sometimes call this basin a place closer to the alien world. You’ll understand what they mean once you see it for yourselves.”
At the mention of dangerous monsters inhabiting the area, several students flinched. The professor caught their reactions and smirked.
“Heh heh, no need to be scared just yet. Thanks to decades of careful management, Yolam has near-perfect control over most of the basin. The area where you will take your exam is here—the northern sector of the Cheongong Basin.”
She pointed to a section of the map with her pointer. A small zone marked off by red boundary lines stood out from the rest.
“The monsters inhabiting the northern sector are only those ranked Danger Level 3 or below. Monsters of Grade 3 or lower do not possess developed Kaiber Fields; they are essentially beasts that even ordinary people could handle with firearms. If you’ve properly absorbed the lessons from the past two weeks, you should be able to deal with them without much difficulty. Keep that in mind.”
“The exam is simple. At the center of the northern sector, a certain device has been installed. You will make your way to this device through various routes and then…”
The professor began explaining the exam’s main objective in detail. It wasn’t particularly difficult to understand. Students would each receive a bracelet-shaped identification tag. They were to reach the device at the center of the northern sector, register their tag, and return to the starting point. There were multiple possible routes. The easier paths required a longer detour, while the shorter routes cut through areas densely populated by monsters, forcing students to fight their way through. The choice was theirs. Points would be awarded based on the order in which tags were registered, with additional points granted for cooperation between multiple people or for eliminating large numbers of monsters. Once all exams were completed, the scores would be tallied to determine the final rankings.
“Related materials will be distributed to each of you shortly, so be sure to study them thoroughly before the exam. I will also go over a few important rules. Practical exams are still part of the official curriculum. The use of any personal equipment—such as particle-resistant suits or particle array devices—beyond Yolam’s standard issue is strictly prohibited. The use of drugs such as awakening agents, acceleration agents, or sensitivity enhancers is also absolutely forbidden. Remember that no student has ever successfully bypassed Yolam’s doping tests. Contact with corporations or sponsorship contracts may only begin after the rankings are announced, so do not confuse the timing…”
The professor continued explaining several more rules before finally concluding.
“That should cover the explanation. The most important first exam is right around the corner. Everyone, prepare diligently until the very end so you can achieve good results!”
“There’s only a week left… I’m so nervous… What should I do…?”
Yena muttered in a timid voice as we left the classroom. From what I had observed, her skills were by no means poor. Her theoretical knowledge was actually far better than mine, and her good relationships with classmates meant she picked up all sorts of useful information. The only flaw was that, having never seen a monster before, she trembled excessively during live combat drills.
“You’ll do fine. If you’re really worried, want to team up? They said we can get extra points for cooperation…”
“Eh? Then… No, um…”
Yena had been about to nod with a bright face but suddenly swallowed her words. Then, with a determined expression, she shook her head.
“N-no, it’s okay. I can’t keep relying on others forever. You’ve already helped me so much during training, I feel bad enough about that…”
“…Are you sure? Your hands were shaking the entire time we were learning monster extermination techniques…”
“It is a little scary, hehe… But I’ll try to do as much as I can on my own…! If we run into each other midway, we can team up then…”
If that was what she wanted, I had nothing more to say. Yena had an unexpectedly strong side to her. She might even be adapting better than I was.
We were heading down to the lecture room on the lower floor for our next class when someone suddenly appeared from a corner of the hallway and collided with Yena.
“…Ugh.”
“Ouch… Um… Are you alright…?”
The impact must have been significant. The other person crumpled to the floor, clutching her chest and letting out a pained groan. It was a female student. From her badge, she appeared to be a second-year. A sweet floral scent—perhaps perfume—filled the air around her.
When Yena, flustered and unsure what to do, began apologizing, the girl abruptly lifted her head and glared at her.
“…Where exactly are your eyes while you’re walking—”
“…Hic.”
It didn’t seem like Yena had done anything particularly wrong. Accidents like this, happening in an instant, couldn’t clearly be blamed on one side. Yet the girl’s fierce demeanor felt strangely familiar. Neatly combed straight hair, a slender and delicate face. Large, clear eyes and pale lips. A nose with an artistic angle and flawless, spotless skin. An alluring and haughty appearance that captured one’s gaze instantly—yet between those cold eyes leaked arrogance and insolence.
I quickly realized who she was. In all of Yolam, there was only one person I knew who possessed such a venomous look and casually looked down on others.
“Tsk. They let in any mutt or stray as students these days, so trash like this thinks it can run wild…”
Yeon Minha muttered as she brushed herself off and stood up. At her menacing aura, Yena shrank back like a frightened rabbit.
“…Hic.”
“…Don’t you think your words are a bit too harsh? It seems the senior also shares some fault for not watching where she was going.”
I hadn’t exactly stepped forward just for Yena’s sake. That characteristic condescending tone of hers had simply made irritation surge inside me.
“And who are you… Ah, it’s that guy.”
Yeon Minha, who had been about to say something, suddenly showed an expression of understanding. We had briefly made eye contact during the entrance ceremony, and she had probably heard the rumors about my unusual background. The word “that guy” likely carried that implication.
“Anyway, how fitting that the pathetic ones stick together… Get lost.”
I had thought a bigger clash might occur, but Yeon Minha simply spat out a mocking remark and staggered away down the far end of the hallway. It was somewhat unexpected, but it didn’t seem like she had shown any mercy. Perhaps even dealing with us was already too much for her right now. The Yeon Minha we had just encountered looked noticeably worse than when I had seen her at the entrance ceremony a few days ago.
“…Are you okay?”
“Thanks… But that was almost a disaster… I really thought I was going to cry… Senior Yeon Minha is seriously scary…”
Yena brushed herself off and stood up with a weak laugh. It was a little absurd to see the victim of such an unfair encounter making that kind of face. Even though I hadn’t been the direct target, there had been something about Yeon Minha’s attitude that turned one’s stomach.
I had planned to avoid contact with her until after the first exam precisely because I knew it would feel like this. Still, since we attended the same school, running into each other eventually was inevitable. I had already experienced an even worse encounter last week. But this latest meeting had confirmed one thing with absolute certainty.
As expected, I really hate women who are needlessly arrogant and stuck-up.