Evaluation Battle (1)
Several days had passed since the day I first met the Saintess.
Today was the day of the Evaluation Battle.
The Evaluation Battle.
It was the academy's large-scale exam that I would experience for the first time.
For Academy cadets, it was one of the most crucial tests alongside the finals.
No, in some ways, it could even be seen as more important than the finals.
That was the Evaluation Battle.
The reason it held such immense importance boiled down to one thing.
Class assignments.
The Academy's classes varied wildly in educational quality.
Of course, even the lowest class was still the Academy—offering top-tier instruction unavailable anywhere else.
But the cadets who entered the Academy were all ravenous for improvement, locked in fierce competition.
And a sense of superiority? That was the eternal bait humanity had chased for ages.
So cadets aimed for the highest classes possible, and as time wore on, their focus on the Evaluation Battle intensified.
By now, it even rivaled the finals in prestige….
"Right?"
"Eh… more or less?"
"If it's right, say it's right. What's with the 'more or less'?"
It was exactly 8 a.m.
Class A’s lecture hall contained just me and the Saintess.
Since our first meeting, we'd reached the point where we could trade light jabs.
Our personalities clicked better than expected?
Thanks to that, I'd asked her about all sorts of things I didn't know, including details on the Evaluation Battle.
The stuff I'd just rattled off was my own summary of her explanations.
"Anyway, whatever. You gonna be okay?"
"With what?"
"You're really damn weak."
Why hit me out of nowhere?
"…Yeah."
"And you're not getting special treatment like me, either?"
Saintess-level special treatment… I'd love that if I could get it.
"Heard this Evaluation Battle's whole process is being broadcast publicly, though."
…Meaning it wasn't before?
If so, all sorts of backroom deals probably ran rampant….
Ah, and I'm the beneficiary of those shenanigans.
…Whatever.
"So?"
"Means you can't rig your scores with your amazing skills this time, right?"
There was one flaw in the Saintess's words.
Even without public broadcast, I wasn't talented enough for score rigging to be an issue.
Living in this body these past few days had shown me: it had nothing.
No personal strength, no intellect, no assets, no connections.
I was dying to know how I'd become the Academy's biggest parachute kid….
But I couldn't blurt that out to others.
"Yeah… probably."
"…You're way too chill about it."
Hey, this body's a former Demon King.
No matter how trash the shell, an Evaluation Battle's just… lying down for rice cakes.
Mmm, who do you think I am?
"Whoa… I dunno what you're thinking, but that smug face is pissing me off."
Deal with it even if it pisses you off.
You chose this friend. Suck it up.
"Anyway, whatever. So you still don't know how the Evaluation Battle actually goes down?"
"Nope. Past ones always revealed rules and info after starting."
Tsk….
"All we know for sure is that once it begins, cadets get transferred somewhere."
I'd heard that much from her before.
"Not helpful."
"…You have zero conscience."
"Family trait."
Only family member's me, but… whatever.
"Fine, just handle it yourself with your amazing skills or whatever."
Of course I'd handle it perfectly.
"Thanks for the support."
"Thanks? Just buy me a pack of smokes."
Aw, damn….
"Kidding. I'm heading out first."
"Suddenly?"
"Yeah, got a busy schedule."
…Yeah, as the Saintess, she probably had tons of outsider-unknown duties.
"Hit me up if you need anything."
"Cool, thanks."
She gave a casual wave and stood up quickly.
But "hit me up"…?
Like phone messenger or something?
…How?
"Hey! If you're saying hit you up, at least give me your number…."
Hearing my voice rise, her steps quickened.
"Aw…."
Wanna flick her forehead.
"Wonder what Arbel's been up to lately."
Unlike my increasing chats with the Saintess,
I hadn't properly seen Aen Arbel's face, let alone talked.
Same with that silver-haired girl from day one.
Semester starting meant everyone was busy, sure….
But I hadn't expected total radio silence.
"At least we'll cross paths once it starts today."
Aen Arbel's high-energy vibe after so long… It was burdensome at first.
Now, anticipation bubbled up lazily. Guess she'd wormed into me pretty deep.
Wonder if I'll turn into harem bait at this rate.
"…Maybe a sandwich."
Not a bad breakfast choice.
Current time: 11:59 a.m.
One minute until the Evaluation Battle… no, five seconds.
I closed my eyes and exhaled long.
5.
Inhale refilled my empty lungs.
4.
Tense muscles loosened slowly.
3.
Cool spring breeze, birdsong, faint sunlight.
2.
One second from now.
1.
A languid floating sensation spread through my body.
Breeze.
Birdsong.
The warmth of faint sunlight.
The spring sensations I'd felt vanished one by one.
And those lost senses were swiftly replaced.
Salty sea wind laced with waves.
Intense sunlight heat.
The sound of sand whipping in the wind.
The new sensations turned to information.
"Hoo…."
Deep exhale. Opening my eyes slowly revealed the ocean.
No one around.
Sea ahead, lush forest behind—palms and trees tangled thickly.
Dropped in an unknown place like this? First things first: two checks.
No immediate dangers… looks safe.
Confirm my spot's stability.
Food… coconuts?
And secure rations.
Only coconuts looked edible right away.
…Feels like filming a survival flick on a deserted island.
No announcement yet.
By now, the Academy should've announced the rules.
No special alert on my phone.
"…Hope it's just a delay."
Obviously, low odds.
Academy's style: sudden changes come with announcements.
And what was the Academy? Like everywhere else, constant attacks, endless incidents.
"Aw… no easy paths."
Situation sucked all around, but whining wouldn't help.
Priority: grasp the overall picture.
Check other cadets' status.
…If I had mana, one big spell and done.
Obviously, I couldn't cast tracking magic, let alone big spells.
So how?
Run on foot.
"…Does this make sense?"
No people.
Four hours scouring beach and forest.
No people, not even a footprint.
In those four hours wandering, I'd mapped the terrain roughly.
This was an island.
A not-too-big uninhabited one.
Second-year cadets totaled about 80.
If all dropped here, I'd have bumped into dozens by now.
No traces at all.
And no Academy response.
One hypothesis fit.
"Am I really the only one here?"
If so, everything clicked.
Four hours, no people.
'Cause it's really just me.
Academy's silence those hours.
'They figured a nobody like me flunked and returned already?'
Everything matched that hypothesis.
"…Ha."
Now grasping the situation, however vaguely.
What next?
Think slowly. Coldly.
"Hoo…."
Four hours, no Academy response—assume none coming.
If any, it'd be long after the Battle ended.
No guarantee I'd survive till then.
This mess? All on me.
Key now: the cause.
Why'd I end up here?
Academy teleport glitch?
In their precise magic, only for me?
Less likely than the sky falling.
So: deliberate kidnapping.
Don't know the goal, but…
Probably… kill me.
Highest odds.
I'm a reincarnator.
Doesn't seem likely, but if someone knew—Demon King reincarnated—they had reason to kill.
Uninhabited island.
Kill me, no body or traces found.
Perfect alien turf for me.
Constant tension, no real rest, no proper nutrition.
Time drags? Worse for me.
Still, endure.
Till Evaluation Battle ends and incompetent Academy notices.
Battle lasts six days min, usually a week.
So survive at least a week.
This body on deserted island a week?
Objectively near impossible.
Still….
"Not zero percent chance."
Nothing saying I can't, right?