Survival Evaluation (2)
“Ugh… I feel like I’m gonna puke…”
This damn teleportation never gets any easier, no matter how many times I do it. What the hell are those big shots in the Magic Tower doing? They can’t even patch in something convenient like this. Just normalize teleportation once, and the world would shower them with praise.
I grumbled inwardly, barely settling my stomach before scanning my surroundings.
The soil piled thick underfoot mixed with the dampness from the surrounding woods, creating that distinctive musty smell.
“Even worse than the Spirit Forest.”
That place had a certain mystical vibe despite the darkness. But here? It screamed humans not allowed from every angle. Animal bones scattered everywhere, faint beastly howls echoing now and then. Even a faint whiff of blood in the air. Probably from fights between monsters and wild beasts.
[Mana Crystal Count - 0]
[Survivors - 200]
First things first, check if the bracelet’s working right. No issues there. No map function? Guess they don’t provide that much. Looks like I’ve gotta move.
The problem is, one wrong turn toward the island’s center could spell trouble. According to Professor Azela, the heart of Kelrun Island is home to the apex predators that survive amid all those monsters and beasts.
But what bugged me more was something else entirely—the Silence Followers I’d run into just recently.
They’re not gonna let this golden opportunity slip by.
I still hadn’t figured out if their real target was Theo. But they were definitely hunting sacrifices to revive their boss. In an academy story like this, smack in a romance-fantasy world, the prime candidates for those sacrifices had to be the main heroine types.
And with all us first-years scattered, no real supervision? No way they’d pass that up. I didn’t buy it.
Guess I’ll start looking.
The test? As long as I don’t flunk, I’m good. Priority one: keep the main heroines in sight as much as possible. Even if I can’t recruit them as allies, it’d prevent isolated fights breaking out everywhere if shit hits the fan.
With a rough plan in mind, I started moving. Praying this test ended without a hitch.
Kelrun Island boasts two massive trees called the Sky Nests. Each towers over 120 meters high, with trunks so thick they resemble hills more than trees. Atop one lives Korast, one of the island’s top predators—a seriously tough monster.
It sports a crown-like horn on its head and looks like a hawk crossed with a horse, which is how it got its name. True to its reputation, it’s huge and blindingly fast, gliding over the forest canopy to snatch prey like fish from the water’s surface. Humans? No exception. That’s how vicious it is.
- Kieeeek…!
Kik…! Kieek?
But for some reason, this Korast was letting out pathetic little squeaks, shaking its head side to side. Pathetic wasn’t quite right—more like adorable. Hard to imagine the once-mighty “Prince of the Skies” that ruled Kelrun Island making noises like that.
And standing in the nest below its gaze was a young woman. Flanking her were a blue spirit and a light-green one, floating lazily as if guarding their master. Somehow, her hand rested on the Korast’s snout—like petting a beloved house pet.
“Good boy. You’re even more obedient than I thought, huh?”
- Kieeeek…!
The girl was none other than Tiabel.
She’d heard teleportation was random, but landing in the Sky Nest? Talk about luck. The Korast had just returned from hunting and spotted her. She’d braced for a fight at first, but it showed no hostility. Instead, it approached, nuzzling her affectionately. Her high affinity with spirits had unexpectedly won over the monster too.
- Kiiwooo!
- Nihihit!
- Kieek!
“Playing with my friends too? Thanks.”
Suddenly besties with Tiabel’s spirits Lirua and Selphin, the Korast even let them ride on its head and danced around goofily. Any monster scholar would gawk at the sight, but to Tiabel, it was routine. Rare with monsters, sure, but spirits pulled this all the time. During the spirit affinity test in the Spirit Forest, everyone else fled from spirits while hers helped her breeze through.
What about the test? Gotta head down soon.
Tiabel watched the trio play fondly but knew she couldn’t stay forever. She couldn’t disturb the Korast after it approached first, but the test demanded she descend, hunt monsters or beasts, and collect mana crystals.
And I’m worried about Aren.
Truth be told, the test wasn’t her top concern. Aren’s safety was. He was tough for a guy, resilient as hell—probably fine alone here. But as his lady and the girl who loved him, she couldn’t just assume.
Plus, in dire straits, leaning on her could spark his feelings. Men instinctively fall for women who protect them, right? Tiabel resolved to turn this test into a stepping stone for her romance.
“Sorry, but… do you know a way down from here?”
- Kieeeek!
Asking the Korast for help, it flapped its wings and nodded toward its back.
“Huh? You want me to ride?”
- Kieek!
“Whoa!”
She’d half-guessed, but when it confirmed it’d carry her down, Tiabel clapped in delight. As it lowered its wings for her, she thanked it and hopped lightly onto its back.
Flap—!
The Korast’s wings beat powerfully, lifting them from the nest.
“Wheeee!”
For that moment, Tiabel forgot everything, laughing like a kid in pure joy.
Rustle—
Pushing through the bushes, I emerged into a clearing where three students stood, weapons drawn, exchanging tense glances. My appearance snapped their eyes to me.
A beat of silence.
“…Isn’t that Aren?”
“Yeah, the guy from the inter-class match.”
Recognizing me, one scowled. The others nodded, adjusting their stances—they remembered my face too.
“What’s this? You guys teaming up already?”
“Yep.”
“Obviously.”
The air shifted instantly, and my gut twisted. I’d stumbled on three who’d already grouped up.
“…Mind letting me in?”
“No chance.”
“Like a commoner belongs here.”
“Plus, he fought in the inter-class match. Better take him out now.”
Tch, that old noble-superiority crap. Knight class guys had warmed up to me mostly, except a few. But magic class? Yeah, they were the worst for that mindset.
Guess we fight. Silver lining: knocking out three rivals early.
Shing—
Drawing my sword and steadying my breath, their mana surged in unison. No avoiding this.
“Charge!”
Fireballs bloomed from their hands, wind blades slicing the air. Good news: no frontliner. Bad news: all ranged fighters. Tricky.
Hummm—
I lightly manifested aura to slash the incoming spells—
SKREEEEEE—!
A heaven-shaking roar crashed from above. A gale ripped leaves from trees, churning the ground and flinging dirt everywhere.
“Wh-what the hell?!”
“A monster?!”
They looked up in panic, and my view filled with massive wings and golden crown-like horns. But what really caught my eye was the familiar face riding it.
“Aren!”
“…Miss?”
Pink hair whipping in the wind, she waved cheerily. I froze, brain short-circuiting on this insanity.
- KEEEEEEK!
“Gyaaah?!”
“What the fuck is this?!”
“R-run! Not the time to talk!”
The monster’s roar sent my would-be attackers scattering in terror.
“Ehehe! How dare you attack our Aren!”
Grinning down like she’d planned it, she shouted from atop the beast.
“Go, Korast! Wing flap!”
Like some isekai anime tamer, she commanded it.
WHOOOOSH—!
“Kyyyaaah?!”
“Save meee!”
“You’ll pay for thiiiis!”
Its wings beat, hurling them away in a blast of wind like third-rate villains.
“Aren! You okay? I came to save you!”
“Yeah, as you can see, I’m fine… but what the hell is that, Miss?”
Korast, was it? She hopped down its wings proudly, beaming and flashing a V-sign.
“A friend I just met! Landed right in its nest. Lucky it didn’t attack—in fact, we hit it off, so it brought me here.”
“You befriended a monster you just met today?”
“Yep!”
Oof, shit. Our miss is on another level. Even if it approached first, befriending a monster? Tough sell. Though she’s not one to overthink it.
“Don’t worry from now on! Korast’ll take out most of ’em for us!”
Auto-hunt mode unlocked outta nowhere. Hope the proctors don’t dock points for this. Probably never saw taming coming.