I was slightly intimidated but turned around without a word.
"Why."
"You... you said you quit smoking back then."
"...What?"
I froze for a moment at the sudden remark.
I had indeed muttered something like that unconsciously at the mountain cabin. I'd been talking to myself for no reason and gotten caught by Chae Nayun.
"I did."
"...How did you quit?"
It was a random question. Was she trying to offer me a poisoned cigarette or something?
"You don't need to know."
It wasn't the type of question I could answer, so I shut her down like that and passed by Chae Nayun.
I felt her gaze on my back.
End.
One week before the written exam.
I was playing an augmented reality game to take a break when text messages arrived on my smartwatch.
Ding— Ding—
Two in a row.
[ Hajin, are you thinking of selling your summary notes? ]
[ Hajin, it's Yeonji. Please lend me your notes ㅜㅜ When I become a Hero later, I'll pay you back with ranking points ㅜㅜㅜㅜ Please, can't you lend them to me ㅜㅜㅜㅜ ]
Needless to say, there were too many desperate kids these days, so men and women I'd never seen before or only knew by name were sending me texts like this. Just the other day they were calling me a delinquent and badmouthing me. But who the hell is Yeonji anyway.
"Yeah, ignore."
The moment I blocked those two bastards, another message came.
"Ugh, what now..."
My furrowed brow relaxed on its own.
This time, the sender was Rachel.
[ Um, could you explain this to meㅠ.ㅠ? It's a calculation problem, and it's so hard... *sniff*. ]
Rachel had taken a picture of a problem and sent it.
"......"
I sat quietly and began solving the problem.
* * *
Four days before the written exam.
Yoo Yeonha was writing a talent report late into the night. Unlike usual, round glasses were perched on her nose. They were glasses with eye fatigue recovery and typo inspection functions.
===
[Kim Hajin]
[Physical] ■■■□□ ~ ■■■■□
[Intelligence] ■■■■■
[Utility] ■■■■■
[Potential] ■■■■■
[Talent] ???
*Evaluation Grade — 1st Grade*
—For some reason he tries to hide his strength, but power beyond the level of a cadet is glimpsed. While the fact that his Talent is not publicly disclosed is a flaw, it is estimated to be at least 4 points or higher.
===
===
[Kim Suho]
[Physical] ■■■■□
[Intelligence] ■■■□□
[Utility] ■■■■□
[Potential] ■■■■■
[Talent] ■■■■■
*Evaluation Grade — 1st Grade*
He is more than deserving of a perfect 5 points based solely on the fact that his Talent is Sword Saint. Furthermore, his elegant swordsmanship is renowned even among the cadets. While he may not be on Kim Hajin's level, he still has the makings of a highest-grade Hero...
===
"...Ugh, I'm tired."
Yoo Yeonha took off her glasses.
She had spent a whopping five hours writing this report. She had summarized the abilities of a total of seven cadets, including Kim Hajin and Kim Suho, into approximate numerical values, and had written over 200 pages of materials to justify those numbers.
Among them were things not disclosed to the public, known only to Yoo Yeonha. For example, it even recorded what feats Kim Hajin had accomplished against demons. This report would now become a Class 1 secret of the Strait of Jeongsu and be delivered to Commander Yoo Jinwoong.
The exam was right around the corner, but to Yoo Yeonha, this report was more important than grades. Of course, high grades were nice. However, Yoo Yeonha's goal was not something like 'the greatest Hero.' To begin with, it was impossible, and no matter how strong a single Hero was, they were merely an individual who could not overcome society.
However, Yoo Yeonha wanted to build her own society here in the Republic of Korea. The reason she had enrolled in Cube was simply to utilize the status and connections of being a Hero.
"...But how long does this person plan to stay underwater?"
Yoo Yeonha grumbled and looked at her smartwatch.
Her uncle, Yoo Jinhyeok, still hadn't sent a reply.
* * *
Three days before the written exam, the last Friday.
The Captain of Wisaekdan took a deep breath in front of the unfamiliar school gate.
—There's no one who'll notice your disguise anyway, so don't worry, Captain. The name is Seo Ijin. Just don't forget it. If anything happens, come find me. I'll be in the infirmary.
Jane's voice whispered in her ear. As she'd said, the disguise was perfect. The cadet named Seo Ijin was similar to her not only in physique but also in hair color and length, so not much mana had been needed for the disguise.
—Go in now.
The Captain nodded and opened the door.
Perhaps because it was right before class started, the room was full of cadets. She had already memorized all their faces. She approached the group that was said to be close with Seo Ijin.
It was then.
"Hey! Seo Ijin!"
Someone smacked the top of her head. It didn't do much damage. But for a moment, her vision blurred and her mind went blank. She thought back on what had just happened, then regained her senses and stiffly raised her head.
Some guy whose name she didn't know was standing there.
"Did you study?"
The guy looked down at her and asked. She answered as she had practiced.
"...Yeah. I did."
"But what were you doing yesterday that you didn't—"
Before the guy could do anything else, she sat down at her seat first.
"Ijin-ah~"
The moment she sat down, someone wrapped their arm around her neck. She was slightly surprised, but it was less of a shock than before. Maintaining her composure, she turned to look at the woman clinging to her from behind. It felt like a cicada had latched onto her. The fact that she could kill it with a single punch was also a common trait.
Creak—
Just then, the back door opened. She looked over there. There was Kim Hajin, the reason she had infiltrated this place.
She looked at Kim Hajin. Kim Hajin was walking while yawning when his eyes met hers. Suddenly, his legs stopped dead in their tracks.
"......."
The look in his eyes as he stopped walking and stared at her was somehow ominous. One doesn't usually gaze so deeply at a woman they'd just met. Then, it must mean there was some kind of relationship between this woman and Kim Hajin.
'Jane did a good job.'
She was quite satisfied.
*
'...What the fuck.'
I sat at my desk and stared at the woman. A woman whose name I didn't know but whose face was familiar was with her friends. On the surface, it was an extremely ordinary scene.
But I could see through it. Because one of my Talents, 'Observation and Perusal,' perfectly neutralizes Jane's Talent.
That woman wasn't an ordinary cadet; she was the Captain of Wisaekdan. She had probably come to observe Kim Suho and Shin Jonghak. But this too was something that deviated from the original work.
"Hey, why'd you suddenly stop using SNS these days? Did you get a boyfriend?"
The cadets who didn't know the truth were pestering her. The woman who was originally in that group must have been somewhat of a pushover.
"Hoho. Boyfriend? What are you talking about. I was just tired, so I slept~"
The Captain answered with an awkward tone, but cold sweat clung to my spine. If things went even slightly wrong, it felt like everyone there would be torn limb from limb.
"Ah. But Ijin's cheeks look chubbier today. Are they swollen?"
Then a girl pinched her cheek. Instantly, the Captain's face stiffened completely. Without realizing it, my mouth opened. I urgently called out to those bastards.
"Hey, hey."
But perhaps because my voice was too quiet, they didn't hear, and her cheek was already stretched to its limit. The Captain's small fist clenched tightly.
"Hey!"
I ended up shouting. This time the volume was too loud. Instantly, the classroom fell silent, and all their gazes focused on me. But I didn't care.
"Shut up! You're disturbing my studying."
I said, pointing at the notebook on my desk. If she exploded, they'd all die.
"...What the hell. Tch. Showing off 'cause he studies well?"
They grumbled, but thanks to my intervention, the mood died down.
After that, the Captain looked at me with a strange gaze, then quietly lay her head down on the desk. The rest of them sat obediently and began to badmouth me behind my back.
* * *
Throughout the week of the written exam, I carefully observed the Captain disguised as Seo Ijin. It wasn't just observation. Hoping I might gain some SP, I deliberately acted very close and talked with her. She used a high school girl speech pattern that didn't suit her at all and bought me ice cream. That ice cream is still stored in the refrigerator without being eaten.
Anyway, in the meantime, the written exam ended. Cube over the weekend after the exam was desolate. This was because the cadets, whose biorhythms were slightly ruined from pulling all-nighters, were preoccupied with managing their condition at home. Perhaps because of that, the weekend flew by.
"Attention, everyone!"
And today was finally Monday, the day the final exams began in earnest.
About 1,300 first-year cadets had gathered and taken a Portal to a port in Busan, and now they were all aboard a ship, divided by class.
"We will inspect your belongings."
The moment all cadets boarded, the belongings inspection began. Three instructors each called out cadets' names one by one. I was among them.
Entering a private room, I held out a magic pouch at the instructor's order to put out my belongings.
"Capacity?"
"It's 10kg."
"What's inside?"
"Food, a tent, a frying pan, a torch, a burner, and various other things."
"...Open it."
If you were going to do that, you should've just opened it without asking. The instructor took out everything inside the magic pouch. He looked at the items strewn across the table as if he was dumbfounded.
"Why did you prepare so much?"
"I just heard we'd be taking only one exam for a week, so I roughly guessed what was up and brought everything."
"...You're quick-witted."
The supervisor snickered but inspected thoroughly to see if anything was hidden before sending me back.
Fortunately, Evandel's seed wasn't discovered. I'd brought it just in case because it would be a big deal if it hatched while I was gone, but they seemed to have thought it was just a slightly large almond.
"Phew."
After the inspection, I sat on a bench at the bow.
An island was beginning to appear in the distance. Numerous surveillance drones were circling the island like seagulls.
"...I'm nervous."
Now that it was right in front of me, I was getting nervous. The final exam would be a tough one for me. Above all, I couldn't use Desert Eagle.
...No.
I can use it. As long as those drones don't capture it on camera.
And the method to avoid being captured is simple.
Hacking the notebook.
"Now. I will explain how the exam will proceed."
As if all belongings inspections were finished, an instructor suddenly came out and spoke.
"In 30 minutes, you will be divided into groups of ten and dropped off at different points on that island. You must survive there for five days, and you must resolve all food, clothing, and shelter yourselves. Rations for only half a day will be supplied."
The rations had decreased from one day's worth to half a day's.
At that shocking declaration, the deck began to grow noisy.
"The exam method is simple. The points you acquire are your grades. The way to acquire points is also simple. Monsters and beasts live on that island. If you slay a monster, you will acquire between 1 and 10 points depending on its grade. If you scan the monster corpse with the exam smartwatch distributed in advance, you can acquire the score."
The instructor's explanation continued.
To summarize:
Cadets can steal points from each other, and buy and sell them. Additionally, if you retire a single cadet, 5 points are given. However, combat between cadets is only possible 24 hours after the exam begins.
"And, though I doubt it will happen, there are large name tags attached to the supervisors' chests. If you take one, it's 200 points."
It was an enormous score, but no one dared to covet it.
"Lastly, you see that tower in the center? Anyone who has their exam watch stolen is disqualified, so you only need to recuperate there until the exam ends."
When the explanation finished, the deck was filled with tension. No one was talking to each other. In the tightly strained atmosphere, the ship anchored away from the island and launched boats. The cadets would be divided into groups of ten and take those boats to the island.
"Chae Nayun. Jin Yuun. Selen. Heize......"
That combination was quite important as well.
Who you would be with from the very beginning.
"Kim Hajin. Jin Seoha. Yu Jung. Wang Shifu. Blen······ Rachel. Tara."
I boarded the ship. On the small boat, nine cadets including Rachel awkwardly looked at one another.
Before long, the boat set off. Without a word, I gazed out at the boundless sea and thought. Rachel was probably the person exposed to the greatest danger in this exam. After all, Lancaster, steeped in resentment, had transformed into a far more proactive villain.
"Please disembark."
Before I even had time to think, the boat had already arrived.
As soon as I stepped onto land, I spoke to Rachel.
"······Miss Rachel. Would you like to team up?"
I hadn’t expected much, and sure enough, Rachel shook her head.
"I’m more comfortable alone."
That was what Rachel said. But I didn’t stop there and shared the location information of my exam watch with her. This exam watch had exactly two functions: point transactions and location sharing. They were functions made for alliances.
"Just in case."
I said, pointing at the watch. Rachel merely smiled brightly and left. Then the remaining kids started whispering about how I’d been rejected and whatnot. Since it didn’t seem like staying with them would be of any help, I also simply ran toward the forest.
I leaned against a random tree and turned on my laptop. The SP needed to access the drones’ server was reasonably priced. As soon as I paid it, several video feeds appeared on my laptop. The laptop screen was divided into 60 sections, but my kinetic vision, developed by my talent, could clearly distinguish them
all.
Most of the named characters were alone. Chae Nayun was already preparing to get lost, Kim Suho was grappling with a monster, and only Yoo Yeonha was with someone else. I remembered her as a female cadet ranked 15th. She had already seduced someone promising.
However, they were not what I wanted to see.
"······There they are."
A group of five, belonging to the so-called "repeat class." I had already memorized the faces of the high-risk individuals. In the original story, only Joo Yehoon and two others among them were Djinn, but now, there was a high chance that all five of them were Djinn.
However, there was still a long time left before they would begin acting. No matter how reckless they were, they couldn’t fight the cadets for at least a day.
Until then, what I needed to do was······
"I should find a place for my tent."
End
It had now been an hour since I entered the island, and I was still walking through the forest.
I was looking for a place to set up my tent. A terrain with a river nearby and a mountain embracing the rear. I wanted the "mountain behind, water in front" that the sages had so emphasized.
My preparations for exploration were thorough. In my right hand was a laptop playing footage from the drones, and in my coat was a map printed out with the Book of Truth. It was as if cheat keys were plastered all over me.
But before reaching such a place, I found a monster first.
A clown monkey. As its name suggested, it was a monkey that looked as colorful as a clown. Its face was quite grotesque for a monkey, and it was about the size of an adult man, so if one suddenly encountered it, it would be enough to make anyone flustered.
"······It looks vicious."
That thing’s grade was probably low-intermediate rank 9. Of course, its grade could differ depending on the individual, but the one in front of me didn’t look like it was any higher than that.
I took out the cadet-issue handgun.
It was quite fast, so if I didn’t finish it with a surprise attack, things would get troublesome afterward. In that case, I had to aim for a vital point.
I aimed at its tail. Clown monkeys were innately extremely agile. However, if their tail was damaged, they lost their sense of balance and ended up self-destructing.
Without hesitation, I pulled the trigger. The quietly fired magic bullet drew a straight line and pierced its tail. At the sudden surprise attack, the monkey hurriedly tried to leap upward, but that thought remained only a thought. Unable to keep its balance, it collapsed to the ground. I fired five shots in succession into its head. The fourth magic bullet pierced the monkey’s skull.
"Easy."
After recognizing the limp corpse with the exam watch, I continued moving.
Like that