Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Midterm Exam (1)
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A cool sea breeze blew in pleasantly.
It was about time to arrive.
And then the crisis hit.
"We'll begin the inspection of personal belongings."
For the midterm exam, only the standard issued items were allowed. Nothing else.
Even Yoo I-seol had a relic suppressor strapped to her left arm.
"Lee Han-su!"
My name was called, so I stepped forward.
...
"Hm... Head over there."
I nodded.
The proctor searched me thoroughly before letting me go.
Fortunately, it seemed like I hadn't been caught.
I headed to the bathroom and opened my mouth.
A small silver ring embedded with a blue gem popped out from inside my mouth.
A Subspace Ring.
'They really didn't notice.'
Well, they wouldn't inspect that meticulously anyway.
If you could sneak in a relic past the barrier magic over the uninhabited island and the surveillance drones scattered everywhere, you were already way beyond student level.
...
"I'll explain the test format. For the next three days, you'll earn points out there. The basic method is to hunt the monsters on the island. You can trade or steal points from other students, or team up if you want. That's it."
There was no failing the midterm.
I cautiously scanned my surroundings.
Already spotted a few guys thinking about camping out.
Pathetic campers.
"Then let's begin. Good luck."
Wooong-!
No sooner had the words ended than a massive magic circle appeared beneath our feet.
The area around us began to warp bit by bit, until a huge flash of light engulfed us.
"..."
When I came to, I was inside the uninhabited island.
'It's started.'
I carefully surveyed my surroundings.
Towering trees clustered together, forming a vast forest.
'The forest zone.'
The island was fairly large.
I'd landed in the southern 'forest' sector.
Nearby, there should be a hospital and a beach.
The standard supplies were rations for one day, a single bottle of water, and a sleeping bag. That was it.
I pulled out some jerky and chewed on it.
Student-vs-student combat was permitted after 24 hours.
I looked up at the sky.
The barrier magic had various functions, one of which displayed the time.
The real midterm would kick off in earnest after those 24 hours.
I quickly moved my feet.
Yoo I-seol scanned her surroundings.
Metal scraps strewn everywhere, and a massive metal building behind her.
'The factory zone.'
No monsters nearby, it seemed.
Yoo I-seol looked up at the sky.
A 24-hour countdown floated there.
Her eyes glowed red.
She sensed about two presences nearby.
'Annoying.'
Yoo I-seol moved cautiously.
She planned to head to the center early and claim a spot.
...
About five hours passed.
Yoo I-seol had taken down around six monsters along the way.
She pulled a piece of jerky from her bag.
Rations for one day, one bottle of water.
Starting tomorrow, she'd have to scrounge for both food and drink.
Just as she was about to set up camp...
Rustle.
"!"
Yoo I-seol instantly aimed the tip of her spear toward the sound.
"It's me."
"Huh?"
Lee Han-su emerged from the bushes.
"...I don't have any points yet. Don't look at me like that."
...
Crackle, crackle.
The campfire warded off the midnight darkness and chill.
"You traveling alone?"
Yoo I-seol spoke first.
"For now."
"I see."
Yoo I-seol glanced at Lee Han-su.
He had his arms crossed, lost in thought.
Yoo I-seol brushed her hair back and mustered her courage.
"Wanna team up?"
It was nothing much, but it felt embarrassing, and her heart raced a little.
What if he says no?
"Sure."
Thankfully, the answer was positive.
Dinner ended quickly.
It was just jerky anyway.
Starting tomorrow, to get food, they'd have to go after 'supply crates,' trade or steal, or as a last resort, eat monsters.
There had been people in the past who tried farming monsters for food.
They tasted awful, though, so it never caught on.
...
Yoo I-seol crawled into her sleeping bag.
It was decently soft and warm.
These were actual sleeping bags used by active Heroes entering Gates.
Low-grade Gates were one thing, but higher ones required surviving inside for days, so ample rations and sleeping bags were essential.
"...You asleep?"
"..."
No response.
Yoo I-seol glanced sideways and closed her eyes.
...
-Keeeek!
A 9th-grade monster, goblin.
The goblin wielding a wooden club swung it wildly in all directions, furious for some reason.
Whoosh!
Yoo I-seol swung her spear lightly, and the goblin turned to dust.
Light emanated from Yoo I-seol's bracelet.
The bracelets handed out before the exam displayed current points accumulated, and also handled point trades and steals.
"You not gonna hunt?"
Yoo I-seol asked me, who was just watching with my hands in my pockets.
"I'll collect mine another way."
"Hm."
Her lips curved up at that.
If not hunting monsters, it had to be 'stealing.'
"Nice. Then I'll take point."
Yoo I-seol's eyes glowed red.
Confidence overflowed in her expression.
"Nah, I'll go first."
"..."
Yoo I-seol almost launched into an explanation of her Demon Eyes but barely held back.
She remembered Lee Han-su mentioning his pathfinding skills last time.
...
Swoosh!
An arrow infused with mana grazed Arima Kanna's shoulder.
"..."
She'd formed a team early for efficient hunting when they were suddenly ambushed.
Shing-!
As Arima Kanna drew her sword, the three students traveling with her took up positions as well.
"Whoa, whoa, easy now."
A man walked slowly forward from up ahead.
Name... unknown.
Not in her memory, so probably a low-ranker.
But his aura was on par with the top students.
At the same time, more students burst from the bushes.
'...?'
Arima Kanna's eyes widened.
Orbis Academy had a grade retention system.
Exactly as it sounded: students who lacked grades or attendance stayed in the same year.
Reasons varied, but most were due to lack of skill.
Low grades at Orbis meant low skill.
Unlike ordinary Hero academies, Orbis trained the world's top Heroes.
They had to be strict.
Promoting weak students was unacceptable.
But most students didn't get that.
These kids had fought through insane competition to enter Orbis, used to being called geniuses.
And then came the sweet whisper:
-Need power?
The students from the bushes wore necklaces.
Silver chains with a pitch-black gem in the center.
"..."
Arima Kanna cautiously eyed her teammates.
Most had already caught on.
"You've given up being human."
"No idea what you're talking about."
The lead retained student tilted his head innocently.
Most Demons' bodies were far from human.
Mana incompatible with humans granted immense power but twisted and ruined the flesh.
Of course, some bodies resisted it.
Those already strong enough, or gaining power through mediators instead of direct contracts.
"No need to be so tense."
The man grinned sleazily.
A small portal opened, and one person emerged.
Body twisted, cloaked figure.
The murky mana emanating from them made her head spin and stomach churn.
"Urk...!"
One student finally couldn't hold it in and stepped out.