Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: The Practical Hunt
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Sunday evening.
The students, having finished their meals, gathered in small groups to chat or retreated to their rooms to rest. Some model students were even preparing for tomorrow's lectures.
Ullan was one of them.
"...That's all the information."
The silver-haired girl sitting beside him.
Dilia finished her lengthy explanation.
She took a sip of her cocoa packed with ice before turning back to Ullan.
"Got all that up to here?"
"Yeah, I understand."
Ullan nodded.
Then he recapped everything he'd heard so far. About tomorrow's scheduled "Practical Hunt."
'Second week of April, Monday.'
So, tomorrow at 6 p.m.
Professor Stella's Practical Hunt lecture would begin its practical exam.
The location was the forest beyond the academy's north gate.
A place teeming with monsters of 2-star rank and below.
There, students would pair up in groups of two and hunt monsters.
'But it's not just about hunting.'
The goal of this lecture was to train exceptional hunters.
So the exam would evaluate not only hunting prowess but also teamwork with their assigned partner and even survival skills.
That was why the Practical Hunt exam lasted unusually long compared to others.
'A total of 72 hours.'
For up to three days, they had to survive in the forest while hunting monsters. That was the main content of the test.
The only supplies provided to students were a backpack filled with survival essentials and two weapons.
Everything else had to be procured directly from the forest.
'And the final score...'
Would be determined by how long they lasted in the forest and how many monsters they defeated.
That was all the info from Dilia.
As he recalled every detail...
"Oh, right."
Dilia's eyes suddenly widened slightly.
As if she'd remembered something she'd forgotten.
"Depending on the results, there are benefits too."
"What kind?"
"The top team gets exempted from the written exam."
Ullan's eyes sparkled.
It was only natural. For someone who felt faint after reading just a few pages of a book, the written exam was as terrifying as the Hero's Trial.
But exemption?
"We have to aim for first place no matter what."
"Yeah. With the two of us, it's possible."
Dilia smiled faintly.
Soon, silence settled between them. With the main topic wrapped up, there was nothing left to say.
But the quiet didn't last long.
"Hey, Ullan."
"Hm?"
"What are you up to now?"
It felt a shame to part ways just like this.
So she casually tossed out the question. If he had time, she planned to suggest a walk together. That was when Ullan's reply came.
"Heading to the library."
"Library?"
"Got a book to return."
And one more thing.
There was a reason for visiting the library.
In about ten minutes, at 8 p.m., he had an appointment to meet Noa in the reading room.
'She said she had something important to discuss.'
Unlike usual, her face had been deadly serious.
As he recalled Noa's expression from earlier at the cafeteria, Dilia's response came.
"Then I'll come too."
She had no particular reason to go to the library.
Still, wanting to spend more time with Ullan, Dilia offered to tag along. Meanwhile, Ullan nodded indifferently.
"Sure."
"Okay."
With faint smiles blooming on their faces.
The two headed straight for the library.
Meanwhile, at that very moment.
Noa was already in the reading room.
She had nothing pressing to do, and she happened to have some organizing to finish.
Scratch, scratch!
With her notebook open, she jotted down notes at a rapid pace. A summary of the major events during midterms.
How much time passed like that?
"Alright, that should do it."
Having finished organizing everything.
Noa wore a satisfied expression.
There were two major events during the first semester midterms. The one Noa was most focused on was the "Direk Professor Rampage" incident.
'It happens on the last Thursday of April.'
Location: Mana Spring, Zone 2.
Professor Direk visits for the practical exam and assigns students a high-difficulty task before suddenly vanishing.
'To enter Zone 3.'
Because he has secret business there.
A while later, Professor Direk returns to Zone 2 as if nothing happened.
But shortly after, as the scheduled exam time ends, a mana surge occurs, causing his body to collapse.
'And he turns into a monster.'
An event boss that slaughters indiscriminately—a full 7-star magic beast. That's the overall outline of the incident.
Succeed in subjugating him, and you get substantial rewards along with a "key" possessing special powers.
What Noa was after was that key.
'Of course, the difficulty is immense.'
The opponent is a 7-star magic beast.
In the original story, it was one of the low-success-rate events. Many gamers gave up on the reward, but Noa couldn't.
She'd never gotten a proper reward before. So she was determined to claim this one no matter what.
'That's why this time...'
She'd tell Ullan everything and ask for his cooperation.
His power was essential for a safe subjugation. And she couldn't afford another half-baked plan that yielded no reward like last time.
Noa resolved herself firmly.
At that moment.
Dong! Dang!
The clock tower bells rang out.
Signaling exactly 8 p.m. Noa remembered her appointment with Ullan.
The reason she'd called him separately was simple.
She had something to tell him.
The Practical Hunt exam scheduled for tomorrow.
During the exam Ullan was participating in, the second major midterm event would occur.
As soon as she recalled that.
Noa's expression visibly hardened.
'...The Abyss Worshipper incident.'
Abyss Worshippers were exactly what the name implied—those who worshipped the Abyss.
Their goal: Open the Abyss Gate to summon Abyss entities and ultimately receive grace to become apostles.
'They're quite a headache in the early game.'
Most Abyss Worshippers were mages.
Specifically, lunatics obsessed with forbidden magic. They were formidable foes if encountered early.
The problem was that these Abyss Worshippers— a group of them—would pass through the northern forest the night after tomorrow.
Not alone, but in a pack.
Having recalled that far.
Noa opened her notebook. To review the incident's flow and outline once more.
'The incident starts around 9 p.m. on Tuesday.'
Suddenly, anomalies strike the forest.
The woods twist into a maze, hallucinations appear, and so on. The Abyss Worshippers' doing, after detecting the students.
'Their goal is to kidnap students.'
To prepare sacrifices for the Abyss.
Why students specifically was never revealed in the original.
Anyway, the battle's outcome.
All five Special Task Force agents on guard duty die, and sixteen students are abducted in the tragedy.
'Honestly, up to here...'
It's not that significant.
No real rewards, and coldly speaking, the dead agents and kidnapped students don't impact the main scenario.
But the real issue is elsewhere.
This Abyss Worshipper incident is a named character's "death branch point." And Noa knows that character well.
'...The Star Witch.'
Dilia Arpen.
She gains a "chance of death" in this event. Not guaranteed, but probabilistic during combat.
'Even so, if she dies here...'
The situation turns dire.
One of the seven heroes goes vacant, and the hero party generates as if it was always "six members."
Fighting battles that even all seven heroes struggle with—now with six? That means difficulty skyrockets.
'So she absolutely cannot die.'
The best way: Don't participate in the exam at all. No encounter with Abyss Worshippers, no brush with death.
Even if it means the tragedy of all other students dying or being kidnapped, it's better than losing Dilia.
'But...'
That method won't work.
Dilia wouldn't listen to her anyway. And truthfully, there was reason not to need it this time.
A person whose very existence was a wildcard.
Ullan.
'That's why I asked to meet.'
To tip him off about the incident and hand over something helpful.
As she finished organizing her thoughts.
Thud! Thump!
Sudden heavy footsteps echoed.
She knew who it was without looking. Smiling faintly, Noa stood from her seat.
"Welcome, Ullan. I've been waiti—"
About to greet him with a smile.
Noa promptly shut her mouth.
She had no choice.
Because beside Ullan, glaring fiercely at her, was Dilia Arpen.
"U-Ullan?"
"...?"
"Why is Dilia here...?"
"She had business. Don't mind her."
No, how could she not mind with that blatant stare?
As Noa made an awkward face.
"More importantly, what did you want to say?"
Ullan asked the reason he'd been summoned.
Right, this was what mattered. Regaining her composure, Noa cleared her throat briefly.
A moment later.
With a serious expression, she spoke.
"I saw an ominous future."
"...!"
"The night after tomorrow, something horrific will happen in the forest beyond the academy's north gate."
Meeting Ullan's hardened gaze.
Noa explained everything.
About the Abyss Worshippers. Their attack time, goals—all of it.
As the fairly long tale ended.
Sudden snickering broke out.
"It's all just ridiculous nonsense."
The one laughing was Dilia.
She looked at Noa in disbelief, as if telling her to cut the crap.
"You expect us to believe that?"
"..."
Noa, meanwhile, remained calm.
She'd anticipated this reaction the moment Ullan showed up with Dilia. So she replied in a steady tone.
"Then I'll prove it."
"Prove what?"
"On exam day, five Special Task Force agents will be dispatched as escorts for student safety."
With Noa's abrupt statement.
Dilia narrowed her eyes. She'd figured out the intent.
Predict something verifiable immediately tomorrow to lend credibility to her words.
"The agents: two wind-attribute mages, the rest specialists in earth, fire, and light attributes."
And that wasn't all.
Noa predicted other details too.
Like extending the written exam exemption benefit to top three places, or that it would rain late tomorrow night.
The moment she heard that far.
Dilia whipped her head away.
"No point listening anymore."
Utter nonsense.
No basis at all, right?
Dilia dismissed Noa's words as lies and lost all interest. Meanwhile, Noa persisted steadfastly.
"Next, please take this."
"What's this?"
"A talisman that points to your partner's direction. Useless if too far apart, but better than nothing."
A pair of talismans.
Made specifically to counter the Abyss Worshippers turning the forest into a maze.
"Give one to Dilia."
"...I don't need it."
Dilia shot Noa a glare.
Noa ignored her. As if Dilia's opinion didn't matter.
"And this is for you, Ullan."
A small cloth pouch.
Seemed to contain something.
"If you end up in a tough spot, open it. The answer will be inside."
"Got it. Thanks."
Unlike Dilia, radiating distrust, Ullan calmly accepted Noa's advice.
A while later.
Having finished everything.
Noa looked somewhat relieved.
"That's all from me."
She'd taken every possible action. Now all that remained was to trust Ullan and Dilia and wait for their safe return.
"Please be careful, Ullan."
"I will."
Meeting Noa's worried gaze, Ullan nodded silently.
Thus, Sunday night faded away.
The next afternoon.
Practical Hunt exam day.
Perhaps because they were about to leave the academy and live in the forest for 72 hours?
The students gathered at the north gate wore expressions mixing strange tension and anticipation.
And Dilia was no different.
'72 hours...'
With Ullan.
The thought kept her tossing and turning all night.
Her heart fluttered so much she couldn't sleep. Forgetting it was an exam, she beamed excitedly when...
"Dilia."
A low voice called.
Ullan's. Dilia spun around with a delighted face to greet him. But in that instant, Ullan thrust something at her.
"Take this."
"Huh? This is..."
A talisman etched with a blue pattern.
The exact one Noa had given her yesterday at the library. Realizing that, Dilia furrowed her brow, but Ullan continued.
"Just keep it on you."
"...You actually believed what she said yesterday?"
"I do."
Ullan nodded without hesitation.
He couldn't fully trust Noa, but her prophecies were reliable. They'd never been wrong so far.
Meanwhile, perhaps because of Ullan's immediate affirmation?
Dilia looked displeased.
Staring alternately at Ullan and the talisman with a sulky expression when...
"Good, everyone's here."
A cheerful voice rang in her ears.
Professor Stella had arrived. Appearing with backpacks for the students, she took the podium as items were distributed.
"Before we start the exam, a few changes to announce."
As if she had something to say.
Stella continued shortly.
"First, about the 'special privilege' I mentioned last time. Many said first place is basically decided, so we're extending benefits to top three."
"Whoa, really?!"
"Top three is doable."
"Yeah, giving it only to first was pointless anyway."
Students reacted positively.
Meanwhile, Dilia's eyes widened like a startled rabbit. Because she'd heard something similar just yesterday.
But the surprises weren't over.
"Next, meet the ones who'll watch over you for 72 hours. Come on over!"
Stella waved.
Moments later, five men and women in pristine white coats appeared. Seeing them, students' eyes bulged.
"Th-those uniforms...!"
"Special Task Force from the Magic Department?!"
"Yep. We planned for guards, but Special Task Force had availability, so they're helping out."
Stella smiled as she answered.
As the five agents introduced themselves, Ullan muttered flatly.
"Everything just like Noa said."
"..."
Dilia clamped her mouth shut.
Words she'd dismissed as nonsense and laughed off just ten minutes ago were turning into prophecy before her eyes.
Her eyes mixed shock and fluster.
With her gaze wavering in agitation, she tucked the talisman in her bosom carefully.
A while later, after distribution ended.
Stella stepped down from the podium.
"That's all the announcements! Safety notes for the exam on the way to the site."
Stella headed straight to the front of the group.
Soon after, the students departed the academy under the Special Task Force agents' escort.
Toward the designated hunting ground.
The northern forest.
Arc 19. Do Not Start the Hunt