Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Power of the Elf Princess is Needed
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Since Tail showed no particular reaction, Cromhel—the second son of Count Barker's family—seethed with frustration.
"This... This is utterly humiliating for me."
He glared at each of them one by one before continuing.
"And what kind of lineup is this? Three archers, a buffer instead of a healer, and a swordsman without a mana hole to boot."
Cromhel let out a scoff.
"Isn't this the absolute worst combination?"
His words, laced with condemnation, sharpened the children's gazes.
"Watch your mouth."
Ray, who could wield buffs, growled through gritted teeth.
But Cromhel just shrugged nonchalantly.
"Why? Want to take a swing at me all together?"
"Cromhel Barker!"
As the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile, an instructor's voice cut in.
-Ah. Can you hear me?
It was Titina's voice.
The sudden sound put the team members and Cromhel in a temporary truce.
-Hello, everyone~ Nice to meet you! I'm Instructor Titina, in charge of this exam~
The cute voice echoed across the wide space.
She must have used mana to amplify it.
Come to think of it...
'So she really is an instructor.'
Makes sense. Changing leaders like that meant she held a pretty high position among the instructors.
Even now, she was the one giving the explanation.
She looked like she was in her teens no matter how you sliced it, but as a non-human, her actual age was anyone's guess.
'Probably not too old if she's at this level.'
Tail thought so as he listened to Titina's continuing explanation of the exam.
"Once this teleport magic circle activates, each team will be scattered into the forest way over there!"
Titina explained in a bubbly voice.
"There are two ways to pass the exam! First, steal the colored bands assigned to each leader."
At the same time, colored bands appeared in the air.
'Better tie it somewhere easy to hide.'
Tail grabbed his and wrapped it around his wrist.
As the leaders of each team tied theirs, Titina continued.
"Or, you can attack the instructors wandering the forest and leave a scratch or any mark on them!"
The previously quiet surroundings erupted in murmurs.
Take on those instructors who looked ridiculously strong?
It defied common sense.
Meanwhile, Titina went on.
"Even if you can't do either, showing outstanding individual skill will get you through, so do your best, everyone~"
With that, the ground flashed brightly.
Tail, feeling an ominous vibe from her words, rested his hand on the wooden sword from the monastery.
'Damn. This teleports us right away, doesn't it?'
It was preparation in case they landed face-to-face with another team.
And sure enough.
"Alright then~"
She shouted with playground-level excitement.
"Let's go!"
Light burst from the ground simultaneously.
Whoosh!
The brilliant light swallowed all the students and instructors in an instant.
Just before closing his eyes, Tail thought.
'Damn. Why are my bad feelings always spot on?'
When he opened his eyes next, he was in the middle of the forest.
No sooner had they landed in the forest than the bickering resumed.
"If you're here to hold me back, I'd rather move alone."
With that, Cromhel ditched the team before anyone could stop him.
In the end, the remaining members were...
Ray Justy: Buffs.
Alice: Bow.
Vivian: Bow.
Ricky Gord: Bow.
Bow. Bow. Bow.
Three whole archers.
Plus one swordsman and one buffer.
Honestly, Cromhel had a point.
'We're totally screwed.'
The lineup was a complete disaster.
Tail let out a long sigh.
"Haa..."
No mages, no healers.
Hell, how does it even make sense to put three long-range users—all wielding the same weapon—in one group?
What kind of team composition is this?
But...
'Use your head, Tail.'
Getting dropped here meant total failure.
Plus, Yujin looked like a shoo-in to pass.
Failing while he succeeded would be embarrassing in its own way.
At least something good came from it—Yerin's stories about Alice popped into his mind.
Then, the quiet Ricky awkwardly spoke up.
"So... what do we do now?"
"With only one swordsman, wouldn't ambushing other teams be best?"
Ray suggested, and Vivian nodded.
"I'm for it."
As opinions leaned toward ambushing another team, Tail, deep in thought, finally spoke.
"Ray. What kinds of buffs do you specialize in?"
"...Well. Um. I can manage recovery boosts or defense increases, nothing fancy."
After a brief silence, Tail asked.
"What about body enhancement?"
"Ah... I can do it, but I wouldn't recommend it."
Ray continued slowly.
"Compared to other buffs, body enhancement directly affects the muscles, so the aftereffects are rough, and adapting to it is incredibly tough."
He bowed his head slightly.
"Plus... with my limited skill, I can't even hold it for five minutes."
Body enhancement could temporarily boost defense, attack power, speed—overall stats—which made it seem cheat-like at first glance.
'But it comes with nasty side effects like a severe hangover.'
And suddenly jacked-up stats overload the body, making adaptation a nightmare.
Still, Tail nodded as if he had an idea.
"So it's possible, at least."
Then, decisively.
"Here's my proposal."
Ray, Alice, Vivian, Ricky.
All eyes turned to Tail.
"From now on..."
Tail's mouth moved slowly.
"We're going after an instructor."
Silence.
A heavy quiet fell.
"...Pardon?"
Their eyes widened round.
"An instructor?"
"No way our attacks would even land on one."
"That's..."
Universal negativity.
But Tail was firm.
"Hear my plan first, then decide."
"Fine."
"Got it."
The mood shifted to "let's hear him out."
Then Tail looked at the elf who hadn't spoken a word: Alice.
"Before that."
Alice met his gaze.
"Alice. Let's talk privately."
She didn't budge, so Tail added curtly.
"As your leader, I'm asking."
"...Fine."
The two stepped away from the group.
A short distance away, Alice spoke first.
"Why'd you pull me aside?"
Tail scanned the surroundings before replying.
"Your role is the key to this plan."
Alice blinked in surprise.
"My role? You mean my bow skills?"
"No. Not that."
Her body froze at Tail's next words.
"Daughter of the World Tree, blood of the Rite Kingdom—the elven realm."
Alice's eyes trembled faintly.
"I need the power of the Elf Princess."
The elven nation of Rite Kingdom.
Among its elves, those of royal blood were exceptionally special.
The reason?
'Overwhelming spirit affinity—they can converse with every spirit.'
And even make 'requests' of them.
Wielding spirit power without a contract.
'How do I know this?'
Simple.
'Because the Elf Princess of Rite Kingdom right in front of me ends up as Chloe's best friend later.'
According to Yerin, they start as rivals, clash hard, but eventually understand each other and become inseparable.
That's when she reveals her secret to Chloe.
Yerin's shocked face was still vivid in his mind.
"Holy crap. Alice is a runaway princess?"
Yes.
Alice had fled Rite Kingdom and come to the Bellenuus Empire.
The reason?
When the Empire requested aid from non-humans, her brother—the prince of Rite Kingdom—went to war and earned great merit.
But he lost his arm in the process, rendering him unable to wield a bow again, and returned home mid-war.
Perhaps scarred by the world's dangers, the prince forbade Alice from leaving the kingdom.
Frustrated, she escaped.
To gain recognition from her brother, she came to the Empire for training.
"My terms are these."
Tail addressed the frozen Alice.
"Lend me the spirits' power. Just once."
His eyes gleamed earnestly.
"It's not a tough ask. Think of it as subbing for a mage."
He continued steadily.
"Do that, and I'll keep your identity as Rite Kingdom's princess secret forever."
And added.
"Plus..."
Tail's eyes sparkled.
Alice swallowed nervously without realizing.
"Accept my offer, and I'll do everything to get you through the entrance exam."
Tail smirked inwardly.
She won't refuse.