Chapter 37: End of the Exam
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 37: End of the Exam
“Hahahaha…”
“Now, this is a development I didn’t see coming…”
The teachers watched the screen, laughing in disbelief.
A mass drowning. While students occasionally failed exams by drowning, a massacre on this scale was a first.
“Gasp—Huff, huff—Wheeze…?”
“Ugh— Huh?”
One by one, the victims of Yeon-woo’s slaughter began to materialize behind the teachers.
Students eliminated from the fifth day onward had all been watching the exam from the same space as the faculty.
The moment they died, they were summoned here. Except for the very first student to be eliminated, everyone had shown embarrassing displays of pain and terror in their final moments, and the crowd arriving now was no exception.
Some were still disoriented, flailing their limbs against the solid floor as if they were still in the water, while others kept their eyes shut tight, screaming and swinging their weapons at thin air.
However, as soon as they realized something was off and looked around, they saw the previously eliminated students and the teachers staring blankly at them.
The disappointment of failure, followed by a wave of belated embarrassment—these were the universal emotions felt by the students arriving here.
Sara, who had been spluttering and paddling against the floor, turned bright red and hung her head low the moment she snapped out of it.
The only silver lining was that since they had been wiped out all at once, a steady stream of students destined for the same humiliation kept arriving.
“Ho ho… In this case, who should we award the elimination points to?”
“It should be seen as a joint effort between Chika Fraser and Seo Yeon-woo.”
“But wasn't it Yeon-woo who came up with the plan? We should give him a higher score.”
Regardless of the students' embarrassment, the teachers were busy with their evaluations.
“If you do that, Yeon-woo will probably protest.”
“Protest what?”
“Do you still not know Yeon-woo? If he gets too many points, he’ll definitely insist that it was a group effort and that the points should be shared fairly with the others.”
“Ah~ right. Yeon-woo is such a diligent student. His loyalty to his comrades is deeper than anyone else's.”
In contrast to the teachers' heartwarming conversation, the expressions of the students listening to them were the exact opposite.
Seo Yeon-woo is diligent?
That bastard cares about his comrades?
He’s the most underhanded, petty guy there is!
There was a significant gap between the teachers' and students' perceptions of Yeon-woo, whose affinity rating with his peers plummeted every time they did something as a group.
Even Kurumi, who had just been eliminated, wore a dazed, stupid expression, as if she were suffering from severe cognitive dissonance over the teachers' assessment.
“That aside, it was a brilliant strategy.”
“Indeed. He didn't even exploit the rules this time. He must have taken the previous controversy to heart and gritted his teeth to prepare this.”
“Hahaha, if that’s the case, Yeon-woo’s ability to show immediate results is truly terrifying.”
The more the teachers praised him, the stranger the students' expressions became, but the faculty, focused solely on the screen, didn't notice.
“What I find most impressive is the process of creating the desired outcome.”
“Exactly. Thinking of what to do is easy, but guiding the flow and creating the perfect situation—that is true wisdom and strategy.”
“Yes. When he set the island on fire, I was worried he was being too obvious. After all, the students waiting near the cave entrance saw him do it, didn't they?”
“That was the bait. He intentionally made himself a common enemy to take them all out at once.”
“It was a trap that could only be sprung once. And those were Shock Potions he made with the materials provided during the exam, right?”
As the teachers looked his way, Conrad, who had administered the alchemy exam, chuckled.
“Yes. When Yeon-woo came to my exam, he stole some materials. He did it so blatantly it was as if he wanted me to see, so I let it slide out of curiosity. I wondered what he’d do with them, and he produced this result.”
In reality, Yeon-woo had tried his absolute best to steal them secretly, but in Conrad’s eyes, it had looked like he was taking them in broad daylight.
The Shock Potion Yeon-woo smashed at the entrance had exploded, causing a deep collapse that reached far into the tunnel.
“Still, he’s a bit mischievous. He could have used force to collapse it, but he chose to bury them with potions without breaking a sweat. That side of him is quite youthful.”
Actually, he had used Shock Potions because he didn't have any suitable attack magic, but the teachers had no way of knowing that.
As the teachers continued their praise, the students grumbled in disbelief.
“Wow… they’re actually praising that?”
“It was such a cheap tactic. Why is he being rated so highly?”
“It’s because they weren't the ones on the receiving end.”
At Jessica’s calm remark, the students finally nodded as if they understood.
It might have been infuriating for the victims, but from a spectator's perspective, it was entertaining and thrilling.
When the water came rushing in, Shizuka had ignored the students in front of her and used magic to try and blast through the wall. Jessica, caught off guard, had been swept away by the magic and eliminated.
Vowing to pay Shizuka back someday, Jessica stared at the screen showing Yeon-woo.
* * *
I didn't expect my plan to work this well.
Dull thuds continued to echo as someone—likely using magic desperately to escape—tried to break through the blocked entrance, but the intervals between the sounds were gradually increasing.
It’s just an exam… but I feel a bit uneasy knowing I drowned everyone with my plan.
And my leg hurts like hell…
The Shock Potion was stronger than I thought, and a flying rock snapped my shin.
This is only half the pain? I really shouldn't walk around outside without a Mana Barrier.
I’m too scared to even try and set the bone back to its original position.
I lived in a peaceful world, damn it.
This is bad… everyone else is inside, so there’s no one to help me, and I don't think my pathetic recovery magic can do anything about this.
I sigh and just lie back on the ground.
There’s nothing I can do anyway, and nothing left to do.
Akito couldn't have gathered every single first-year, so there must be some kids left outside, right?
I’ve got elimination points coming in, and with so many people disqualified, my survival points should be decent. This should be enough to make up for the points I lost by skipping the mid-exams.
Since the plan was a success, Masayoshi and the others inside should be safe too.
If the water rises higher than expected… well, we agreed to eliminate each other if it came to that, so they’ll handle it.
I’ll just lie here, kill some time, and wait for someone else to eliminate m—
As I stare up at the sky, my thoughts come to a halt when a cute girl’s face enters my field of vision.
Park Yu-jeong, why are you here…?
“Hehe, I was curious because everyone talks about you so much, but you really are handsome. It’s a shame. It would’ve been nice if we’d faced off during the entrance ceremony.”
“Not just handsome, I’m damn handsome.”
“You’re funny.”
Park Yu-jeong giggles and grins.
Bright sky-blue hair, a cute face, and a mischievous smile. However, despite her lively and adorable appearance, Park Yu-jeong is a heroine who leans closer to being a villain.
She crouches down to look at me, and the dagger in her hand is making me nervous.
“Hey, hey. When did you start thinking of this? From the beginning? Or as soon as you heard the exam details on the fifth day? Oh, I’m Park Yu-jeong. Nice to meet you. Your leg is dangling, but your hands are fine, right?”
Park Yu-jeong smiles brightly and grabs my hand to shake it as she pleases.
“So. You’re the one who planned this, right?”
“Yeah, somehow.”
“You’re so stiff. That’s not what I heard.”
Well, that’s because you’re… you.
Park Yu-jeong is close to an anti-hero. She doesn't hesitate to be cruel if necessary and loves to toy with her opponents.
Of course, to someone like me who hates Akito’s personality, she’s a charming character, but the problem is that she’s uncontrollable.
In a game, you can laugh at the situations an unpredictable character creates, but keep someone like that by your side in reality? I wouldn't be able to sleep out of anxiety.
She’s the type who would suddenly say she’s going somewhere during a mission and blow up a power plant, or drive a car straight into the VIP you’re supposed to rescue.
Since Akito is always forcing his rigid sense of justice, her actions are cathartic, but if you asked me to be friends with her in real life… I’m a little scared because I wouldn't be able to handle her.
She was definitely there when Akito’s group gathered at the entrance.
But she was the only one who didn't go in. Moreover, the fact that she was hiding nearby means she either read my mind…
Or maybe she just instinctively knew it was dangerous.
“You’re really smart. I almost got caught too. I didn't go in because I had a bad feeling, and I’m glad I didn't.”
“Then that means you’re smarter than me.”
“Hmm? Praising me won't get you anything~”
Park Yu-jeong smiles brightly and pats my shoulder.
I’m just really glad that the hand patting my shoulder isn't the one holding the dagger.
“But you know—is this what they call 'kindred loathing'? Why do I dislike you so much? You’re definitely handsome, but the more I look at you, the more I feel like puking.”
“… …”
“I like using my head too. But maybe I’m a bit jealous because you succeeded so… perfectly?”
“…Actually, another guy named Masayoshi planned it. He’s the really smart one. He’s so brilliant people call him God Sayoshi. He’s inside there; if you dig a bit, he might come out. It’s all his fault.”
“Ahahaha! You’re selling out your comrade just like that? You’re great at jokes.”
I guess that didn't work.
Park Yu-jeong’s grin is terrifying.
With my leg like this, I can't even run away.
What if she changes her mind and decides to torture me? If it’s Park Yu-jeong, she might even ignore the exam rules to do it.
“Anything else to say?”
“Spare me, please.”
“Pfft— You’re really funny. You act all weak while being like a villain who manipulates everything from the shadows. You see that a lot in movies.”
“Please call me a charming villain, Ma’am. This talent you praised! I will gladly use it for your sake.”
“I wasn't praising you, though?”
…Well, then I have nothing left to say.
I begged for my life, but it seems Park Yu-jeong has no intention of letting me live.
Please, just make it quick.
At that moment, a massive pillar of light erupted.
Fwaaaa—!
The pillar of light pierced through the mountain where the cliff was, and from within it, Akito soared into the air, holding Shiori.
Wow… he didn't die even after that? A true protagonist indeed…
And Shizuka followed right behind him.
“Hey, could you just kill me quickly?”
“What~? You just asked me to spare you.”
The pissed-off Akito and Shizuka are coming this way!! I have to get out of here!
Park Yu-jeong noticed my desperate state and smiled, her eyes narrowing.
“Should I help you~ or not~?”
“Ma’aaaaam~~! My dear sister, you’re not such a heartless person! Hurry!! It’s an emergency!”
“Hmm—”
Park Yu-jeong looked up at Akito and Shizuka, who had reached the peak of their jump and were now falling toward us, then smirked and looked down at me.
“You owe me one.”
With a lovely smile, Park Yu-jeong plunged her dagger into my heart.
“Guh—”
I clutched my chest where she stabbed me and bolted upright, only to see a white space.
I’m out. Thank god.
“Oh! Yeon-woo! That was a magnificent strategy!”
“It was so impressive my palms were sweating just watching. I have no choice but to praise you.”
“Still, you were too careless at the end. Delaying treatment just because it was over—you need to fix that habit of letting your guard down.”
I wasn't being careless; I just couldn't treat it because my recovery magic is garbage.
The teachers surrounded me, showering me with praise.
This is good. My evaluation will definitely go up with this.
Ah—this brilliance of mine just can't be hidden, no matter how hard I try.
As I turned around with a smirk at the teachers' praise, a famous quote came to mind.
Was it that there is no paradise in the place you fled to?
I don't know if it’s a famous proverb or a line from a movie, but the expressionless students were all staring at me in unison.
Deja vu?
I feel like I’ve been on the receiving end of these stares before.
The teacher nudged me to go wait with the other students since the evaluation had to continue, but I was too terrified to go.
As I walked slowly, I could feel the heads of the students I passed turning to follow me. It was terrifying.
I mean… I won fair and square with a trap this time, didn't I?
It wasn't some cheap trick like a suicide attack using the rules. I didn't call anyone a loser either.
The students' glares were stinging, and the Samurai in particular was radiating enough bloodlust to look like he might attack me at any moment.
“Yeon-woo! Over here!”
Mio, you’re on my side!
Unlike the entrance ceremony test, the kids who were on my team this time welcomed me.
Rio, that coward, was staying quiet because he was scared of the other students' glares, but as I approached, he gave my shoulder a quick tap and a secret thumbs-up.
The ones eliminated were Rio, Mio, Toby, and… what was her name? Anyway, including me, there were five from Yukina’s team?
Not bad.
The operation was a success without major casualties, and I still have people who support and cheer for me.
And so, the grueling Deserted Island Survival exam came to an end.