Chapter 9
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Episode 3 - Maximum evaluation [1]
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Charlotte was disconnected.
"Kill the owner."
That only meant killing the most powerful monster in the forest.
"Killing the owner here would be impossible for a student from the Sanctuary of Heroes. If we tried to kill the owner, it would be impossible. Do you think the people taking the entrance exam would find it an easy task?"
Charlotte complained.
Although killing the owner of this place meant going against the strongest monster.
Normally, this wasn't included in the entrance exams because the owner was level 1, and all the cadets were level 0.
Asking the examinees to attempt such a feat seemed ridiculous.
However, saw it differently.
"This is a test to see if we have the potential to become heroes, right?"
Charlotte nodded.
"Yes."
"Then, shouldn't we face challenges worthy of true heroes? Besides, since this is an exam, the tests we face won't be so difficult that we have no chance of overcoming them."
Charlotte stopped, and her expression changed.
"Alright then, if this is a simulation of the Fragmented World, where a group of level 0s like us can be expected to succeed, then it makes sense."
I smiled as I watched Charlotte think more carefully about the entrance exam.
"I thought she was a bit dumb, but she understood quickly and easily... What a smart girl."
She was a girl with great abilities and also a strong sense of pride.
Usually, these kids tend not to listen to their peers.
But she was receptive to my reasoning and immediately considered my approach.
"She's adaptable. The strength of a mage, without a doubt."
Nodding, I then said,
"I think we can complete it."
Charlotte nodded.
"I agree."
In situations where monsters appeared, defeating them had a high probability of dropping rewards.
I had my suspicions about what exactly we had been tasked to kill.
Clenching my fist, I grabbed Charlotte's wrist.
'Although, with all these people here, someone else might get there first.'
I was looking at the monsters' bodies when Charlotte shouted.
"What are you doing?"
She seemed confused, but suddenly.
Wooom!
I pulled Charlotte towards me in one swift motion.
Two arrows pierced the spot where she had just been standing.
Her eyes widened as she stumbled.
Thud!
"H-huh..."
She fell backward, stunned.
Charlotte, with tears still in her eyes, grimaced as she adjusted her posture.
"If you're going to grab me, make sure to hold me tight so I don't fall!"
"Sorry, I just didn't want you to get hurt."
"It's even more outrageous that you let me fall like that!"
Shaking my hands, I said,
"Alright, alright, whatever you say."
Charlotte grumbled.
"Even without you, those arrows wouldn't have hurt me."
Ha, what an annoying girl, honestly.
"Anyway, the arrows were imbued with Aura."
At my words, Charlotte's eyelid twitched slightly.
"I probably could have deflected them with the shield magic I had already prepared!"
Although she retorted, her tone softened.
"Well, thanks anyway."
I laughed at her act.
Crunch!
Suddenly, voices were heard very close to our position.
"I could have taken down Charlotte Ares!"
Other cadets emerged from the foliage, casting accusing glances at Charlotte and me.
"You two."
When Charlotte took a step forward, the group of five cadets tensed up.
"Let's not fight. Join us instead."
Suddenly, Charlotte suggested something that surprised me.
"What?"
Her sudden proposal puzzled them.
"Your group is made up only of knights, right? There's no problem in adding a mage like me to balance things out."
Despite their attack, Charlotte had offered cooperation without resentment.
Since it was a test, it was expected that they would outmaneuver others.
'If this test were only about eliminating rivals, I would fight with everything at my disposal, but now it's about killing the owner of the Fragmented Dimension simulation.'
I nodded while Charlotte turned towards me, her expression as if asking for my opinion.
"Let's cooperate..."
In response to Charlotte's gaze, I agreed. Then, the opposing group said,
"We may only be knights, but we can already handle long-range attacks. The balance of our group is fine."
"What?"
Charlotte was surprised.
At that moment, the apparent leader of the group chuckled.
"There are only two of you, right? Against the five of us? We have the advantage if we fight now."
"Yeah, and we're all candidates to become heroes too, you know?"
"Do you think I offered to cooperate because I'm afraid?"
Even though Charlotte tried to be reasonable, this group was too ignorant and arrogant, ignoring her suggestion.
Then, the opposing group's leader continued.
"If you fall, a candidate with potential would be easier for us to deal with. So why should we cooperate with you?"
"Ha, ha, ha, now that's what we're talking about."
Charlotte tried to say something, but I interrupted her.
"Enough, we can't communicate anymore anyway."
"But..."
Frustration clouded Charlotte's expression.
The funniest thing was that she was frustrated seeing the group refuse, while with me, it had been difficult.
Drawing my sword, I began to speak.
"If you want a fight, then have it."
Charlotte immediately nodded as she got ready.
"Alright, I guess it can't be helped."
Charlotte sighed and extended her hand, ready to cast a spell at any moment.
Seeing that Charlotte was about to act, I interrupted her and said calmly,
"This time, support me from behind. I'll handle it."
"What?"
Charlotte was surprised.
"It's a waste of your magic to deal with these small fry."
They weren't a threat to me. Then, Charlotte looked at me and said,
"Really? They're using Aura, you know?"
"So what? I'm strong, aren't I?"
"Hmm. But what if they end up hitting you?"
Despite her cold tone, Charlotte decided to prepare to assist me if necessary.
Even though I hadn't told her to.
Meanwhile, the group looked at me with frowns.
"Who do you think you are?"
"Do you think you can take on all of us alone?"
"What an arrogant son of a bitch."
The cadet with the bow quickly drew and fired an arrow.
Wooom!
The cadet seemed confident since the arrow had no Aura.
I assumed it was to conserve his Aura and fight Charlotte after defeating me.
At the same time, they murmured,
"If he dodges, he'll leave an opening. From there, we can surround him and finish him off..."
Crunch!
Grabbing the incoming arrow with my hand, my expression remained indifferent.
The arrow shattered with just a bit of force.
"W-What?! With your bare hands...!"
Wooom!
The moment they spoke, I had already launched myself at the group, tensing the muscles in my legs.
My movement speed was incredible.
"B-Block him!"
"Get ready!"
The cadets shouted as they prepared themselves.
The swinging of swords and sword techniques were displayed.
All kinds of sharp blades appeared in front of me.
"Although it's a bit annoying, I shouldn't let my guard down."
They could attack Charlotte in a moment of distraction.
Boom!
The muscles in my right arm swelled, and veins bulged as I struck the body of one of the cadets.
The cadet flew to the side while another shouted,
"What an idiot, he's not using Aura!"
Turning to the one who shouted, I responded with a mocking smile.
"Of course not, these are just my fists."
Clank!
The movement of my leg struck one of the remaining cadets, leaving only two.
"Damn it!"
One of them yelled.
***
Lucius single-handedly dominated each of the five cadets with ease.
Meanwhile, Charlotte, observing from the barrier, watched in awe.
"How is he moving like that without even using Aura?"
As a mage aspiring to become a combat-type mage, Charlotte had dedicated years to extensive training in martial arts.
Therefore, she could appreciate the precision and skill in Lucius' movements.
'He's... so cool!'
Feeling her heart race, Charlotte was surprised at herself.
"No! What am I thinking? He's on Ashly Sephir's side! Calm down, Charlotte!"
Despite shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Charlotte couldn't take her eyes off Lucius as the fight had already ended.
***
"Charlotte, are you okay?"
"Ha, yes, brother."
After some time, we managed to find Ashly and Franz.
"You're safe. But why were you with Charlotte?"
I answered Ashly's question.
"We ran into each other at the beginning of the exam and decided to work together from there."
Ashly was surprised and asked,
"Huh? I thought she was quite proud and stubborn. Did she agree to cooperate with you?"
A malicious smile appeared on my face.
"I have my methods, hehe."
Charlotte was speechless.
"I know you well enough to know what you did."
After all, having been with me for a week, Ashly already more or less understood my personality.
"You're also pretty bad at jokes."
Muttering, Ashly, I asked,
"It seems you went with Franz too, although you said you didn't look like someone who would do it."
Ashly shook her head.
"You can't recklessly get involved in combat without understanding the criteria for passing the exam."
Sighing, I looked around, noticing several cadets.
"By the way, it seems you've gathered quite a large entourage."
"Franz and I moved quickly, so we managed to recruit some allies to navigate the forest. Although most of them are from the Edran Empire."
The Edran Empire was primarily dominated by two prominent families: the Sephir and the Ares.
Since the representatives of both families had recommended cooperation, no one from the empire would dare refuse such an opportunity.
"Anyway, I have an idea to pass the exam."
Ashly blinked in confusion and said,
"Huh? How?"
"I think I've figured out how to pass this exam."
"We have to kill the owner."
"Kill the owner?"
Ashly tilted her head in confusion before nodding in understanding.
"Well, this exam is quite unconventional. There's nothing wrong with trying to kill a level 1 monster."
"Exactly."
"Anyway, that's the only condition."
Although the Fragmented Dimension simulation was a simplified version, with just the monsters and landscape present,
In an exam like this, there were additional requirements apart from killing the strongest monster, which was called the "Owner" in this simulation.
Normally, this wouldn't be included in the exam, but the Owner would naturally be wandering around, and whichever cadet encountered them...
That would be their end.
The other condition was completing a mission.
This mission could involve obtaining an objective.
The chances of the Owner having that objective meant that the conditions were tied to both the Owner and the object.
Thus, achieving 100% completion in this exam was no easy feat.
Considering the enormous difference in power between level 1 and level 0, and the fact that the Owner was level 1…
I took a deep breath and said,
"The Wild Forest is currently in an unusual state."
"An unusual state?"
"Yes. Doesn't it seem strange that no monsters have appeared here in the Wild Forest?"
As if understanding, Ashly nodded and said,
"That's true..."
Normally, the forest would be teeming with monsters, and their relentless attacks would continue.
However, in this Fragmented Dimension simulation, monster sightings had become rare, indicating an unusual disturbance.
"It's as if they're afraid of something."
Ashly's expression turned serious as she considered the implications.
"The answer is the Owner."
I responded immediately, and Ashly nodded.
"But it's hard to find them."
"Indeed."
However, Ashly seemed doubtful.
"But even if it's the Owner, wouldn't it take more than that to scare all the monsters? What kind of race would they have to be for the monsters to be afraid?"
Understanding Ashly's concern, I responded.
"About that... I think I have an idea… Heh."
Rumble!
The ground trembled overwhelmingly as a slightly uneasy smile appeared on my face.
"Looks like it's made its entrance."