Survival Evaluation (4)
Squelch. Squelch. The soil, saturated with moisture, clung to her soles like it was trying to drag her down with every step.
"...Annoying as hell."
Neriel's face twisted in irritation as she glared at the ground. She already hated trudging through forests like this—every little detail, from the mud sucking at her ankles to the oppressive humidity, was fueling her rage until it boiled over.
Part of her wanted to torch the whole damn area, clearing out every tree blocking her view. But she held back, silently pressing on.
Mana Crystal Count - 1020
Survivors - 152
Curiosity struck, and she glanced at her bracelet. The mana crystal count was overwhelmingly higher than most students', but she ignored it, fixating on the survivor number below. Her brow furrowed.
'Already down to this?'
152. It felt like only about four hours since they'd arrived on the island. Forty-eight eliminated already? It wasn't impossible, but the pace seemed too fast. At this rate, they'd hit the 50-survivor cutoff in no time.
'Is someone deliberately thinning the herd?'
If someone had already stockpiled crystals or was strong enough, it made sense—knock out competitors early and snag their crystals for double the gain. But something felt off to Neriel. Hunting students solo in this vast, tangled island would require a massive skill gap.
As far as she knew, Teleos Academy had only a handful of people capable of that, and none of them were the type to pick fights.
'Maybe a group battle? Not my problem anyway.'
The suspicion lingered, but she shook her head to clear it. Survivor counts and monsters didn't matter to her. If idiots came at her, she'd crush them. She wasn't about to fear some beasts.
Gulp. Gulp.
Neriel grabbed her canteen from her belt and drank. The thick canopy blocked the sun, but humidity still choked her, demanding constant hydration. Better to prioritize a hideout and rest over more crystals for now—she'd already bagged plenty from big monsters.
Rustle.
"...!"
Then she heard it—faint footsteps while reattaching her canteen. Her eyes sharpened.
'Who's there?'
At first, she thought it was wind rustling leaves, but no. Mana couldn't be fully suppressed to zero, and she sensed a faint flow prickling her skin. Anyone less skilled than her would've missed it.
"You there—come out. Better for you if you show before I make you."
Her sharp voice echoed through the silent forest. No response despite the clear warning. The enemy was still hidden.
Fwoosh.
Unable to wait, Neriel instinctively surged her mana. Crimson waves gathered at her fingertips, rippling with power. They were probably watching her reaction. She counted to five in her head, ready to strike first, glaring into the underbrush.
"Jeez, think hiding your mana makes you invisible or something?"
"...What the—why're you popping out?"
Silence, then bushes parted to reveal an unexpected face—one she knew well.
A man with slightly tousled black hair, exuding a mysterious yet decadent vibe. His usual relaxed expression was smeared with dirt and leaves clinging to his shoulders and clothes.
"Why not? Just passing by."
"Yeah, right. As if you'd have the guts to ambush me."
"No reason to. But if it's a fight you want, I've got plenty of guts."
"Hmph. Is that so?"
It was Aren. They traded barbs like always. Strangely comfortable in the banter, Neriel startled herself—eyes widening at the thought. Comfortable with this damn ape? Must be the heat.
"You alone?"
"Yeah, still flying solo."
"Bullshit. I don't buy it."
"Tch, so picky."
Was that supposed to be a joke? Neriel snorted, more incredulous than amused.
"Truth is, I was with the young miss. But she got hungry, so we split to forage."
"Young miss... that girl from orientation?"
She vaguely remembered the pink-haired girl beside him—boyish vibe. Hard to forget since Aren mentioned her constantly.
"Yep. Tiabel, my boss. Guess that makes her your boss's boss."
"Hmph. Won't be yapping that for long. You know the contract term?"
"Course."
One semester—six months exactly. That's how long Neriel was his "slave." He shrugged at the reminder.
She almost forgot herself. Nominally his slave, but he'd only bossed her around once—right after discharge post-magic duel. His questions were encyclopedia-level easy anyway.
"Anyway, slave. Fetch your master some food."
Today, though, he was milking it. Cocking his head smugly. Neriel flashed an uncharacteristically bright smile.
"Want the whole forest to burn, Master?"
"...Hey, why'd you jump straight to mana? You some thug mage?"
"Hmph."
She conjured a massive fireball, pressuring him. He raised his hands in surrender first. She turned coldly, muttering like an ant crawling.
"...Follow me. No rations, but I can help gather ingredients."
"For real? Thanks. Man, you saved me."
She glanced at his beaming face, then whipped her head away.
"Thing is, me and the young miss suck at this. Can't eat what we don't know. Was gonna hunt beasts, but none around."
He rambled on unprompted, spilling his woes. Listening quietly, Neriel finally exhaled in disbelief.
"You two—master and servant—just a pair of idiots? No basic knowledge?"
"Who memorizes poisonous mushrooms for survival?"
"It's not for survival prep—it's common sense."
"Don't raise the bar on 'common sense.' At least the young miss knows every flower in her garden."
"And that's worth defending?"
Probably ornamental flowers—useless for eating or alchemy. What good was that trivia? Neriel scowled, marching on.
"...Here. Look close—this mushroom's edible."
Spotting a milky-white one, she bent, plucked it expertly, and showed him.
"Dude, that looks sketchy. You trying to poison me out?"
He eyed it dubiously. Fair—its thread-like base and anemone shape screamed unappetizing.
"Wish I could, but no. It's sulfur shelf—totally edible. See that bright yellow one? False chanterelle next to it—also safe."
"Whoa... They teach this at the Magic Tower?"
"Hell no."
The Tower wouldn't waste time on edible mushrooms—maybe alchemy herbs at best.
"Then how do you know so well?"
"That's..."
Neriel froze mid-answer. She bit her lip, eyes darkening, glancing between the mushroom and his face.
Then—
Whoosh!
"Ugh, crap—why's it pouring now?!"
Rain hammered down suddenly. Aren whipped around, hunting shelter. Neriel swallowed her words, tapped his arm, and pointed.
"Small cave that way. Let's go."