Chapter 23
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Lucia is Smiling (6)
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For Vivian, finding the orbs was surprisingly easy.
It was to the point where she couldn't understand why this had been made a test question.
'...Is finding those three orbs really the test?'
She could understand if it was about locating the three slightly harder-to-detect orbs.
But unfortunately, the orb that seemed to give the highest score was felt in the completely opposite direction from the starting point.
The usual Vivian would have given up right away, but...
'...This time, at least.'
She wanted to show Eugene that she was a valuable person.
So, she decided not to give up and set off to find the orb.
But as Vivian diligently headed toward the orb, its magic suddenly vanished.
...As if it was toying with her.
'What the hell...'
She had finally tried to put in some effort this time...
For it to suddenly disappear—it was so frustrating and unfair that tears welled up.
She wanted to just give up and pick up any orb.
But the second orb was still there.
So she walked, and walked.
With her pathetically weak stamina, she needed rests even after walking a little.
She had no confidence in fighting those disgusting centipedes, so she took detours to avoid them.
It took several times longer than for others, but she pushed on to show Eugene a cool side of her.
"...Found it!"
After wandering until sunset, she discovered the silver orb.
The orb was embedded in a fairly tall tree.
"Hng...!"
She stretched on tiptoes, but couldn't reach.
"Again... Hup!"
She extended her arm as far as possible and jumped.
After repeating this several times...
Thwack-!
She managed to flick the orb with her fingertips.
"Got it..."
Fearful of losing it, she hurriedly picked up the fallen orb.
Tears suddenly welled up.
For the first time in her life, it felt like she had accomplished something.
It wasn't much, but the fact that even a fool like her could do something made her incredibly happy.
That was when it happened.
"Grrr─"
A foul, blood-scented stench hit her from behind.
She slowly turned her head, and there it was—a wolf.
──Kyaaaaaa!!
A instinctive scream escaped her.
'...W-Why?'
At first, she denied it.
There couldn't possibly be such a dangerous monster in the test area.
It was an illusion.
A mistake.
Thinking that, she tried to slowly back away, but...
Crunch─
The horrific sound dragged her back to reality.
Only then did Vivian realize what the wolf was chewing.
A human hand.
A ring given to students hung from the protruding fingertip.
Crunch crunch─
The wolf swallowed the rest of the hand in one gulp and slowly approached Vivian.
"N-No... I don't want this."
She backed away, but deep down, she knew.
...That escape was impossible.
The wolf, now right in front of her, raised its front paw high.
'...No... Someone... Please... Help me.'
Vivian squeezed her eyes shut and prayed.
....And then
──Boom!
Eugene appeared.
'Fuck...'
It's insanely heavy.
One attack, and I immediately sized it up.
No way I can win this.
I layered telekinesis multiple times to form a barrier and even weakened the blow mid-way with a wind blade, yet I barely stopped it.
"Grrr─"
Angry at the interruption of its hunt, the wolf bared its fangs and growled.
Scary as hell.
In the game, it was mid-level even if you let it grow freely—what the hell did it eat to reach mid-upper level already?
'...Think later.'
Right now, how it grew doesn't matter.
First, survive.
It wasn't that surprising, honestly.
That's how these games are.
Die if you don't know—shitty game.
Some event I didn't know about must have triggered.
Search over, the wolf slowly approached me.
Wind Blade
The cast spell sliced the wolf's hide.
"Grrr─"
The wolf's eyes darkened as it eyed the wound.
Like a paper cut on human skin—annoying, but ignorable...
"Graaa!"
The charging wolf suddenly snapped at the air.
Wind Blade
Telekinesis (Rank E)
It ignored the spell but could it ignore telekinesis too?
The telekinesis-sharpened blade pierced the wolf's hide.
The deep wound spraying blood—this was at least a serious injury.
Not fatal, but not ignorable.
"Grrrg..."
The wolf retreated, scanning for its attacker.
Wind Blade