Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Make Your Offer
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The students had already encountered a third-circle druid.
The one they saw back then had transformed into an ancient werewolf.
This time, however, the creature was on a completely different level.
"That's...!"
The monster that emerged from the iron cage was a massive, dark-red spider.
It was called a Crown Arachne due to the golden M-shaped pattern on its head.
It was a powerful monster, classified in the same tier as an ancient werewolf.
*Sshhhhk! Thud, thud.*
Spewing a white thread from its spinneret, the creature crawled up to the arena ceiling.
There, it hung upside down, its eight eyes glowing as it scanned its surroundings.
*'This won't be easy.'*
Just as Anselm had warned, the Crown Arachne was a tricky opponent.
Sticky webs, deadly venom, and eight legs that moved freely across any terrain.
It was an incredibly difficult foe for humans who were bound to the ground.
The students let out low sighs in unison.
"I see why they stressed the ten-person teams, but can we really beat something like that?"
"It seems better not to even try. If you get bitten by those fangs, it'll be over before you can do anything."
"Isn't that why the mages are on standby? To cast detoxification spells?"
"Your body would have already melted by the time they finished casting."
"Tsk! This is a tough one."
This joint training session was not mandatory.
Only the confident teams were to participate.
As a result, the competition was low, but no one dared to step forward.
The opponent was simply too strong.
Furthermore, as Anselm continued his explanation, the students' faces turned pale.
"This third-circle druid has been maintaining its Spirit Advent ever since its capture. It's in a sort of berserk state."
Just as he said, there was a black pendant hanging below the Crown Arachne's cephalothorax.
*Crackle! Crackle!*
But then, the black seal of the malevolent spirit momentarily flashed silver before returning to its original color.
Some students who noticed it voiced their confusion.
"Huh? Didn't that just turn silver?"
"What are you talking about? It's just black now."
"Whatever it was, I'm sitting this one out."
It was such a brief change that most people seemed to have missed it.
They only shuddered, recalling the might of the third-circle druid they had seen before.
Finally, Anselm pointed to the mages of the Blue Tower and concluded his explanation.
"Should you find yourselves in danger, our tower will cast a control spell. The training subject's movements will cease, so do not worry too much."
But no one believed his words.
"They're insane. Who would do this kind of training?"
"Unless you're crazy for extra points..."
But it was at that very moment.
*Thump! Thump!*
A group strode out from the arena entrance.
They bowed their heads toward the seats of honor where the president and professors were sitting and spoke.
"We will go first!"
The one who had fearlessly declared their participation was none other than Franz, the leader of Team 1.
Watching the situation unfold leisurely, I let out a small laugh inwardly.
*'Looks like someone's desperate for extra points.'*
The point difference between the princes was practically nonexistent.
A single evaluation could turn the tables, so they were bound to be anxious.
That was why they had all flocked to me, suggesting we merge our teams.
"I like your courageous challenge. If Team 1 succeeds, I will grant an additional point to each member."
"Thank you, President!"
Extra points were awarded to a select few, so every single one was precious.
Precious enough for the pride-filled Franz to bow his head.
*'Ah, of course, he's only doing that because she's his biological mother.'*
In any case, the first challengers were Franz's Team 1.
They had merged with Team 4, which had performed well in the druid subjugation mission, significantly boosting their strength.
"Still, with Team 1's strength, don't you think they can win?"
"The second prince is exceptionally skilled, but the opponent is just too much. It's a Crown Arachne, for crying out loud."
"This will be a battle where we can't predict a thing."
The students watched Team 1's challenge with a mixture of worry and anticipation.
I, too, watched Franz's actions with interest.
The second prince glared at the stands where the third prince was sitting for a while before turning his gaze away.
But then, his eyes met mine.
The feeling I got from our brief exchange was singular.
*'Confidence? Is he telling me to just watch and see?'*
And so, Team 1 confidently descended into the semi-underground arena.
*Thud! K-thump!*
As the gate opened and the students entered, the Crown Arachne hanging upside down reacted.
Its eight eyes glowed as it slowly began to spew webs.
It seemed to have sensed the hostility radiating from Team 1.
"Seal the entrance. Disengage control magic. The training begins now!"
With Anselm's shout, the half-open iron gate slammed shut.
*K-boooom!*
As the heavy impact reverberated throughout the arena, the Crown Arachne immediately trembled.
The control magic that had been restraining its body was now gone.
Its berserk ferocity returned, and it began to release long strands of webbing toward the ground.
*Shhhhhh!*
It seemed to be preparing the terrain to its advantage.
"We can't let it. Go!"
"Yes!"
Franz immediately led his teammates to encircle the Crown Arachne.
Its abdomen was its weak point, so he likely thought they had a chance if they attacked from all sides.
But that was a clear miscalculation.
*Fwoosh—!*
"Ugh!"
A bundle of webbing shot out like a net, incapacitating three team members who were approaching from the rear.
On top of that, the Crown Arachne raised its hind legs to strike them down.
*Clang! Ba-thoom!*
If Franz hadn't rushed in and launched an attack from the front, at least one of them would have been killed.
"Damn it! Try attacking from a slightly different angle! Bizolt, get to the rear and cut away the webs!"
"Y-yes!"
At the second prince's roared command, Bizolt scrambled around the battlefield.
It was to rescue the team members caught in the web net.
*Shink! Shink!*
"I-it's done!"
He seemed nervous, his sword movements a bit awkward, but thankfully the webs were cut away easily.
It was thanks to his aura.
But after freeing the three, Bizolt whipped his head around and his face went blank.
While 40% of their forces were occupied, the rest were being crushed by the Crown Arachne.
"Wow... We're screwed."
* * *
"Team 1 has failed!"
In the end, Franz's team was utterly annihilated by the Crown Arachne's overwhelming power.
If the mages from the Blue Tower hadn't intervened at the right moment, they would have all been wiped out.
*'They were lucky to survive, thanks to its habits.'*
The Crown Arachne didn't kill its prey immediately.
It would inject a paralyzing venom, wrap them up in webs, and save them to munch on later.
That was why they were able to survive despite being defeated by the creature.
*'I see why they brought this thing in as a training subject.'*
If they tossed in livestock like cows or pigs as food beforehand, it wouldn't immediately kill the students.
In any case, after Team 1's crushing defeat, the arena fell into a lull.
"Hey, is this even possible?"
"From what I can see, it's absolutely impossible. Frankly, the arena itself is too advantageous for that thing."
"True, fighting through sticky webs in a confined space... Anyway, who's going to challenge it now?"
"If the second prince failed, there are only two possibilities left."
The students murmured, their gazes fixed on where Ellington was sitting.
The third prince's faction was the second most powerful force in Venderford, after all.
But no matter how they thought about it, it didn't seem possible to defeat the Crown Arachne.
Despite the situation, the expressions of the president and the faculty remained unchanged.
*'It's as if they're posing a question to the students. Telling us to figure it out ourselves.'*
A considerable amount of time passed, yet no challengers emerged.
Then, Marie Meliesse rose from her seat and stepped onto the platform.
"This hesitation is not a pleasant sight. As before, the mages of the Blue Tower will protect you. So please, feel free to challenge it."
"..."
Although the president encouraged them, no team was willing to step forward.
It seemed to be because they had witnessed Team 1's overwhelming defeat.
Her brow furrowing slightly, President Meliesse held up five fingers and continued.
"The successful team will be awarded five additional points, and the prize will be doubled. Furthermore, I will allow teams of up to fifteen members. Team 1 is also welcome to try again."
"Gasp!"
At her shocking declaration, the students all sucked in a sharp breath.
Earning that many points here would secure them a spot in the top ranks.
But at that very moment.
*Scrape!*
Ellington shot up from his seat and began to stride somewhere.
Seeing where the third prince was looking, I shook my head internally.
*'No. Don't come here. I plan to slack off!'*
*Thud!*
But Ellington approached without hesitation and stopped in front of me.
"My offer still stands. Won't you join forces with me?"
Just as I expected, the third prince was proposing an alliance.
He seemed to be asking how long I planned to sit on the sidelines when the reward had increased so much.
But my stance was the same as before.
"Mine is as well. I said let's drop the useless ones."
"By that logic, Adel Richter should also be excluded from our forces."
"And why is that?"
"Because she is the weakest among us."
"But she's pretty, isn't she?"
"..."
Apparently finding my answer absurd, Ellington stood there, mouth agape, at a loss for words.
I pointed out an important fact to the third prince.
"I thought you were quick on the uptake, but it seems you still don't get it."
"What do you mean?"
"If you want to negotiate, you should have offered what the other party wants."
"Are you saying the reward for first place in the training isn't enough?"
"Change your perspective. Try thinking that I don't need the help of your team members."
"...So you want something unrelated to Venderford."
Now we're talking.
A sly smile on my face, I lifted my chin toward Ellington.
"Make your offer."
Let's hear what you've got to give.