That is the line. Naturally, things like “Test that cadet’s abilities—” are not allowed.
Also, just because reverse-summoning exists, it does not mean they vanish with a poof like dust, so cadets taking the exam must exercise extreme caution.
“If you think it’s dangerous, be sure to surrender. You can either shout that you surrender, or tap the floor twice.”
“······.”
I quietly listened to the explanation. Chae Nayun was glaring at me from over there, but I ignored her.
“The rest of the explanation will be given by the mages assisting with the exam. Now. Please welcome them with applause.”
The door opened, and mages wrapped in robes entered.
Mages who handled summoned beasts were treated ordinarily. Even in the Magic Tower, where status varied depending on one’s major, they were average in every sense. Also, since summoned beast specialists often worked outside the Magic Tower, their personalities were not as twisted as those of other mages.
“Hello. I am Chief Mage Jin Juhwa.”
The leader of the mages stepped forward and bowed to the cadets.
“From now on, you will be facing ‘exam summoned beasts’ that we summon. But please be careful. Summoned beasts are the same as monsters. Even if we reverse-summon them, they do not disappear instantly like in a game. So if you think it’s dangerous, you must surrender.”
At the mage’s kind explanation, the cadets nodded.
“Good. Then I will now explain how the exam will proceed.”
Jin Juhwa smiled brightly.
“Four people will take the exam at once, and each person will be allotted fifteen minutes. However, considering your positions, the evaluation criteria are not victory and defeat.”
Jin Juhwa raised her index finger.
“The top priority is ‘how long you can endure.’ Next is ‘how calmly you respond.’ There is no need to go out of your way to kill the summoned beast······”
Wooong—
At that moment, a faint vibration rang out, cutting off the mage’s words.
The mage swept her gaze over us.
“Please turn off all your smartwatches.”
She said it as though it were nothing important.
We, too, turned off our smartwatches as though it were nothing important.
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Sudden Encounter (3)
Chief Mage Jin Juhwa’s explanation dragged on for so long it became boring. The method of the exam, group composition, the types of summoned beasts that would be summoned······ I could tell she had a careful personality, but just when I was starting to wish she would please start already, the words I had been waiting for finally came.
“Now. We will begin the exam. Group 1, please stand.”
Group 1 consisted of Hazuki, Kim Junho, Yu Jungjin, and Spener.
Aside from Hazuki, they were all people whose names I had only heard.
“I’ll do my best and come back!”
Hazuki stood up while receiving cheers from her friends.
The four members of Group 1 walked toward the examination hall under the staff’s guidance.
“The remaining cadets, please move against the walls on both sides for now.”
Jin Juhwa said. The remaining ninety-six cadets of the Truth Class looked puzzled, but still went and stood against the walls. Suddenly, Jin Juhwa clapped her hands. In the center of the waiting room, ten round tables and chairs rose up in a row.
“Everyone, please sit. There will also be a written component to this exam.”
At that moment, sighs rang out from the cadets.
“Sit wherever you like.”
Since I already knew this, I very calmly sat anywhere. Soon, the cadets also paired up with those they were close to and took their seats.
“······?”
I was waiting for Jin Juhwa’s next words without much interest when, suddenly, a fragrance drifted over from the seat beside me. A unique yet fragrant scent of roses. I glanced that way.
It was Rachel. She was looking at her own fingernails. As if one of them had grown too long, she suddenly took out a nail clipper and lightly brought it to the nail of her ring finger. Just as she was about to cut it, our eyes met.
Rachel quietly slipped the nail clipper back into her pocket.
“What you must do is ‘analysis.’”
Jin Juhwa’s explanation began again.
“It is simple. You will closely observe a cadet participating in the exam and write a report.”
At that moment, monitors rose from the round tables. One at each seat, a total of one hundred.
The monitor screens were divided into four sections. Each screen showed the inside of a different examination hall.
“Why was this cadet able to defeat the monster, or why did they lose? Even if they did defeat it, what parts were lacking? If they lost, was there a better way they could have responded to avoid defeat? Please describe that.”
Clap, clap. When Jin Juhwa stopped speaking and clapped her hands, assistant mages appeared and distributed documents to the cadets.
“You must write a total of three pages, but only the single most reasonable report will be selected and graded. Ah, but of course, if you only write one, points will be deducted.”
I picked up the document. In the field for “reviewing cadet,” I had to write my own name, and in the field for “evaluated cadet,” I had to write another cadet’s name.
[If you wish to remain anonymous, please check the ‘anonymous’ box.]
Fortunately, there was an anonymous function.
“The weight of this report is not very large. It is only five percent. However, every report you write will be delivered to its subject.”
At those words, the cadets began looking at one another. The exchange of glances between them was quite meaningful.
“To offer healthy advice and criticism to your comrades. And thereby promote one another’s honest growth. I believe that, too, is a quality of a hero. Therefore, if you abuse anonymity to express absurd malice, points will be deducted.”
The chief mage said that and raised the corners of her mouth.
“It seems they are ready now. We will begin Group 1’s exam.”
I stared intently at the monitor, then touched the section of the four-way split screen that showed Hazuki. The other three screens disappeared, and only Hazuki’s filled the entire screen.
The monster Hazuki would face was a “ghoul.”
A lower-intermediate grade 1 monster with the undead attribute. For Hazuki, it would certainly be a difficult opponent.
—Clang, clang.
The ghoul’s claws and Hazuki’s axe clashed sharply.
Hazuki responded to its attacks with reasonable calm. However, a ghoul’s claws were harder than most high-grade weapons. After exchanging blows a few times, Hazuki seemed to decide close combat would not work and began circling around the interior. She was taking advantage of the ghoul’s slow speed. For the time being, Hazuki focused entirely on evasion while waiting for an opening.
However, fifteen minutes passed without any gain or loss.
The ghoul was reverse-summoned and disappeared.
“Draw, Hazuki and Yu Jungjin. Victory, Spener. Defeat, Kim Junho. Next, Group 2. Chae Nayun, Ho Jun, Jutrin, Carlos.”
The next turn was Group 2, to which Chae Nayun belonged.
Chae Nayun walked out with imposing confidence. The weight of that bow looked especially light today. Just what kind of consolation had she received from Kim Suho yesterday to be so lively?
I watched Chae Nayun’s examination hall through the monitor.
“A Cheollima?”
Chae Nayun’s opponent was the intermediate grade 9 monster, “Cheollima.” She had drawn the most troublesome opponent for an archer to respond to. However, on the screen, Chae Nayun stood before the Cheollima with a very confident attitude.
Before long, the battle began.
Chae Nayun aimed her bow, and the Cheollima charged at high speed.
I watched that clash carefully. Perhaps my Sharpshooter talent really did affect my eye, because Chae Nayun’s shortcomings were clearly visible.
[Chae Nayun Report]
Chae Nayun dodged the charging Cheollima by rolling to the side. The moment it brushed past her was definitely an opportunity to attack. If she had gripped an arrow and stabbed it into its flank, or fired her bow directly from the rolling posture, she would at least have hit its rump.
[Chae Nayun wants to shoot arrows only from overly proper stances. In other words, she lacks sense as an archer.]
However, Chae Nayun stubbornly clung to textbook posture, and the Cheollima easily evaded her arrows.
[Due to the nature of a marksman, in order to face a monster one-on-one, meticulous analysis and background knowledge are required. However, Chae Nayun lacks knowledge of monsters.]
A Cheollima is easily dealt with by attacking its legs first. However, Chae Nayun was attacking areas with large hit zones, such as its neck and torso, first.
“She hates memorizing theory.”
That was a weakness of Chae Nayun’s that I had personally set.
[Her ability to predict the target’s movements is outstanding, but her ability to account for the speed of her arrows is lacking.]
This was a matter of talent. Among Chae Nayun’s talents, the bow was probably second or third. First was the longsword, followed by the spear and bow.
In other words, what I could predict, Chae Nayun could not.
It was a difference in talent.
[Nevertheless, the reason Chae Nayun defeated the Cheollima was because of her overwhelming magic power capacity, utilization, and responsiveness.]
However, the Cheollima was growing exhausted. It could not withstand the endless hail of arrows fired on the basis of her tremendous magic power capacity.
[Based on the above factors, it is judged that Chae Nayun should seek another weapon better suited to utilizing her magic power.]
The exam ended in Chae Nayun’s victory.
However, my report contained nothing but harsh criticism. Still, they were all valid opinions. If the person evaluating this report had a decent eye, they would realize that everything I said was correct.
“Victory, Chae Nayun. Defeat, Ho Jun and Jutrin. Draw, Carlos.”
Having finished her exam, Chae Nayun returned in high spirits. I did not even look in that direction. Feeling needlessly guilty, I flipped my report over as well.
“Now, next, Group 3······.”
And so the exam continued.
* * *
Meanwhile, Oh Junhyuk was patrolling the western forest. It was because the faint vibration he had felt a moment ago kept bothering him.
Normally, it would have been so minor that he would have simply dismissed it as a natural phenomenon and moved on, but just yesterday, there had been an incident in which a police officer was murdered. Because of that, Oh Junhyuk had no choice but to pay more sensitive attention than usual.
Wooong—
And now, an even clearer vibration than the one he had felt earlier occurred again.
“Yeongji. Did you feel that just now?”
Seo Yeongji’s reply came less than a second later. The performance of the miniature radio was excellent, as expected.
—Yeah. It shook. I’m estimating it’s underwater, but can you explain exactly when you felt it?
“How am I supposed to know that?”
—Then send me the data from your smartwatch.
“······.”
Oh Junhyuk did as Seo Yeongji told him.
—The vibration on your side was 0.03 seconds faster than on the east side where I am. The epicenter is the sea to the west where you are.
“Does my watch show that kind of thing too?”
—It’s a smartwatch made by the Association. It has lots of functions. I’ll head over there for now too. Wait there.
“Got it.”
After ending the transmission for the moment, Oh Junhyuk walked toward the western edge. He advanced while stepping on the weeds growing haphazardly. Since the vibration had come from the sea, he intended to watch the sea.
Then, at a certain moment.
From somewhere, he felt magic power condensing and scattering at the same time.
Oh Junhyuk quickly turned his gaze in that direction.
In the forest. Between the large trees, a human figure that had not been there before was walking out.
“······.”
Oh Junhyuk held his breath and watched. Step, step. The man who emerged from the forest while making heavy footfalls was······ someone he had seen somewhere before. His appearance was so distinctive that he could not have forgotten it.
A massive physique and a fierce face.
It was the man who had glared at him in the dueling arena.
Oh Junhyuk met the man’s eyes. The man gave a deep smile.
Looking at the man, Oh Junhyuk spoke in a businesslike tone.
“Outsiders are not allowed here.”
“Really?”
A rough glint seeped into the man’s eyes.
“Then why are you here?”
As befitted his huge body, his voice was gruff, and its volume resounded powerfully. However, Oh Junhyuk did not flinch in the slightest and answered indifferently.
“Because I’m not an outsider.”
“Mm. What an astonishing thing.”
The giant rubbed his chin and replied dryly. Oh Junhyuk forced a smile at him.
“If you understand, please leave.”
“I don’t want to.”
The giant chuckled, then abruptly began cracking his joints. It was a movement filled with clearly combative intent. Oh Junhyuk let out a deep sigh.
“You’re the one who killed the police officer, aren’t you?”
“Huh? Ah, dunno. More importantly, don’t block my way for no reason.”
In that instant, a desolate chill drifted in from the sea. At the same time, O Junhyeok’s smartwatch began ringing noisily.
“If you don’t want to get beaten up, move.”
Just as the giant’s voice sank low—
Swaaaa—
From the depths of the sea, something surged upward, sending up enormous ripples. O Junhyeok hurriedly looked back.
Its overall shape was that of a snake. However, its overwhelming size and vicious maw declared that it was a being on an entirely higher level.
Iryong(?龍).
By its more familiar name, an “Imugi.”
That mysterious monster had revealed itself here in the East Sea.
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A Sudden Encounter (4)
“Wow~ Did I gain enlightenment or something? I didn’t think I’d beat a Cheollima this easily~”
I was staring at my laptop, bored of waiting, when Chae Nayun’s boasting seeped into my ears.
“I know. Nayun, what happened?”
Yu Yeonha, sitting beside her, joined in. Yu Yeonha normally bowed her head to Chae Nayun anyway, but judging from the look of genuine admiration on her face, this time it didn’t seem to be flattery.
Well, of course. Yu Yeonha, who knew nothing about bows, couldn’t have noticed Chae Nayun’s flaws in the test just now. From the outside, it certainly had been an impressive battle. The phrase “all show and no substance” fit perfectly.
“I learned from defeat, or something like that. Pwahahaha.”
Chae Nayun let out a hearty laugh, so happy that she even brought up her own defeat from just yesterday. Kim Suho was watching her with a satisfied smile.
But for some reason, a chill ran down my spine. If she received my report while she was that happy... I’m starting to get scared. Should I submit it anonymously?
“Group 10. Rachel, Kim Hajin, Skid, Yiwei.”
Meanwhile, Jin Juhwa called out Group 10. I glanced sideways at Rachel, who was sitting beside me. Perhaps she had been conscious of me as well, because our eyes briefly met. Soon, she rose from her seat, and I followed her.
“Please follow me.”
Under the gazes of many cadets, Rachel’s and my Group 10 followed the staff member.
The staff member opened a large door built into the right wall of the waiting room.
“Please enter.”
Beyond it appeared a long corridor.
We entered the corridor. On both sides of the corridor were two doors each, four examination rooms in total.
“Please stand in order, starting with Cadet Rachel.”
The staff member assigned the examination room locations. Rachel and I were on the same line.
“Good luck on your exam!”
When I put on a smile and struck a fighting pose, Rachel silently gave a small nod.
“Please take one minute to confirm the monster and terrain.”
Beyond the glass window, I could see the monster I had to face and the terrain.
The terrain was flatland, and the monster was a Chrome Wolf.
Chrome Wolves were monsters ranging from lower-intermediate grade 4 to lower-intermediate grade 2, meaning their average rank was quite low compared to the other cadets’ opponents.
However, facing one with a gun was difficult. Quite difficult, in fact. Just looking at that surface, didn’t it seem like it would deflect bullets?
[Special Trait—Its surface has the property of repelling metal.]
[Weakness—Inside the mouth.]
[Strength—Hard epidermis.]
In fact, the Chrome Wolf was a monster I had set up myself.
“30 seconds remaining.”
Its attributes were a composite of Metal and Earth. Its vital point was inside its maw. The combination of metal and earth was troublesome, but its weakness was surprisingly clear. Extreme heat hot enough to dismantle metal and melt earth. Or a metal harder than it.
I gripped the knife inside my coat. If it came down to it, I could heat the knife using Stigma’s magic power.
“One minute has passed. Please enter.”
All four members of the group entered the examination rooms at the same time.
A space of roughly forty pyeong. Dirt and pebbles were scattered across the ground, and on the opposite side, a wolf was crunching on something.
There wasn’t even time to think. Unusually, this wolf was capable of long-range attacks.
I hurriedly raised my gun. In that instant, the creature spat something out—ptooey. Hard fragments poured from its maw. Matching the trajectory of the fragments, I fired my bullets. The bullets and metal shards collided and oxidized.
Immediately afterward, the beast charged at me. Bullet Time was activated in moments like this. I did not dodge the attack of the wolf whose movements had slowed. I simply waited until the wolf opened its maw. It was so slow that it wasn’t even particularly frightening.
Like a scene in slow motion, the wolf began to open its jaws toward my throat.
I shoved the muzzle of my gun into its mouth and pulled the trigger repeatedly. Then, just as its jaws were about to close, I leaped far backward.
My perceived time returned to normal, and the wolf, slammed into the wall, trembled in agony.
Unfortunately, however, it wasn’t over. The creature retched several times, then—