novelraw Chapter 604: Episode 604
Chapter 604: Episode 604
It was a merciless rule. Fail to defeat every single monster you declared within 15 minutes, and you would be given an unforgiving zero. There was, however, a small safety net: a ’team score.’ Two groups were combined to form a team of eight. The team ranking would be determined by the sum of each member’s scores, with points awarded accordingly. Even if an individual scored zero, being on a high-scoring team offered a slim chance of recovery. Of course, it was only a chance; getting a good individual score was what truly mattered.
"I’m Eshe Arjel!" Eshe shot her hand up during the explanation. "You said two groups make a team, but our department has thirteen groups."
"I was just about to explain that," Aaron said calmly. Assistants brought a box forward and poured numbered beads into it. "Since the number of groups is odd, one group, chosen at random, will compete with only four members. In exchange, their team score multiplier will be doubled."
With that, Aaron plunged his hand into the box as students murmured uncertainly.
"A four-person team... is that good?"
"Depends on the situation. Both the merit and the risk are doubled."
"It would be a huge advantage for a strong team."
"Seems like it would be crazy stressful."
Aaron pulled a bead from the box and checked the number. "The group that will take the test with four members is... Group 8."
A collective groan swept through the crowd. As luck would have it, Group 8 was currently considered the strongest in Class A, anchored by the powerful duo of Aseraz Mikel and White.
"Understood," Aseraz, the group leader, replied with a confident smile. White, as always, was staring blankly into space, while their other two teammates struggled to suppress grins of their own.
"Of all the luck."
"Group 8 is guaranteed to win."
After that, Aaron assigned the remaining teams.
"I’ll pick!"
"I’ll pick too!"
The twin professors, Lin and Rune, thought it looked fun and insisted on participating. Lin picked one group, and Rune picked the other, forming the teams.
’Team 1:’ Group 1, Group 9.
’Team 2:’ Group 3, Group 12.
’Team 3:’ Group 5, Group 7.
’Team 4:’ Group 6, Group 13.
’Team 5:’ Group 8.
’Team 6:’ Group 4, Group 10.
’Team 7:’ Group 2, Group 11.
Simon was in Team 6, meaning their turn was sixth.
’It’s a relief our turn is in the latter half,’ he thought. A later turn was a clear advantage. While the psychological pressure from the scores set by the previous students would be immense, it also allowed for more informed decision-making.
"Oh, Student Council President!"
The leader of Group 4, a familiar face lately, approached with a smile. They were the ones who had joined Simon’s strategy during the ghoul evaluation, defeating Hector’s group to take second place.
"We’re teamed up with Group 10 again, huh? Let’s do our best!" The leader extended his hand, and Simon shook it with a smile.
"Yeah. Let’s do our best."
Group 4 wasn’t a bad partner. Of course, joining forces with Hector’s Group 1 or Serne and Fitzgerald’s Group 11 to counter Aseraz’s Group 8 would have been ideal, but that was asking too much. The other members of Group 4 followed, shaking hands with Lorraine, Toto, and Eshe, their fighting spirit renewed.
"Eshe!"
"Good to see you!"
Eshe, in particular, was thrilled, as she had a close friend in Group 4. The two clasped hands and jumped up and down excitedly.
"Excuse me." An assistant approached while the groups were talking and handed out a leaflet to each student. "This is a list of the monsters in the dungeon, along with their characteristics. Please use it to plan your strategy."
"Thank you!"
Groups 10 and 4 immediately sat in a circle to strategize.
"There are five types of monsters in total," Lorraine noted.
’Green Orc, Hammernoll, Jezilly, Mine Kobold, Stone Harpy.’
"None of them are particularly difficult, though the flying Stone Harpy could be tricky."
"So it’s a random mix of these five?"
"That’s right," said a male student from Group 4, whose father was a hunter. He took the lead, explaining the detailed characteristics of each monster. "The Jezilly is the real variable." The student, who had droopy, sleepy eyes, tapped the monster’s picture. "Its nickname is the ’Cowardly Jezilly.’ It runs away the moment a battle turns unfavorable."
"It doesn’t escape by digging or flying, right?"
"It can’t."
"That’s a relief."
"We’ll have to conserve some Jet-Black for the chase, then."
The students quickly shared key strategies. The monsters weren’t strong enough to destroy a Dullahan, so the priority was to go all out for the full 15 minutes to reduce their numbers. The cowardly Jezilly should be eliminated first, preferably at the start of the battle. The flying Stone Harpy was the second priority.
After sharing information, they decided on their order.
"Who should go first?"
"The vanguard is crucial. It’s a battle of momentum."
The others debated the order heatedly, but Simon, listening silently from the back, had a different perspective.
’There’s a team score, but this isn’t a test of teamwork.’ He leaned back. ’This is a thoroughly individual battle. When my turn comes, the best thing for the team is to accurately defeat only as many monsters as I can handle.’
Just then, Professor Grelion’s voice boomed. "Alright! Let’s begin. First team, come forward!"
---
Team 1, consisting of Hector’s Group 1 and Group 9, moved to the exam site. The remaining students were directed to a lounge that doubled as an observation room.
"Wow, this sofa is so comfy!" Eshe exclaimed, completely unfazed by the tension as she sank into the plush cushions.
’Indeed,’ Simon thought. The lounge was surprisingly comfortable, with a fireplace and snacks available. A large mana screen dominated the front wall, and students were already gathered around it.
"It’s starting!"
The mana screen flickered to life, showing the students of Team 1 lined up in front of the exam area. Hector, the strongest, was positioned last. A dungeon keeper in a black robe approached them. He was an elderly man with deeply wrinkled skin, his exposed arms covered in a tapestry of scratch marks.
"Name," the keeper rasped.
"C-Coiter Pizn, sir." Coiter was visibly nervous, being the very first to go. His lips trembled.
"Number of monsters?"
Coiter took a long, shuddering breath. "Twenty, please."
Simon, watching from the lounge, tilted his head. ’Twenty? Isn’t that too few?’ Coiter was the one who had been the first to shout ’A-rank’ in response to Aaron’s question.
"Confirmed." The dungeon keeper stepped back, and Coiter entered the exam area. The spacious underground chamber felt vast and empty without any monsters yet. He took his position at the far end, behind a shimmering barrier.
’—Student Coiter Pizn. Please summon your undead.’
The broadcasted voice echoed through the chamber. Coiter nodded and summoned his Dullahan from his subspace. It was made from Abaddon remains, clad in full plate armor and wielding a greatsword.
’—We will begin when you are ready.’
Fortunately, the preparation time was unlimited. Coiter methodically applied formulas to a prepared magic circle and, once finished, attached it to the Dullahan’s back. A low hum filled the air as the circle activated, awakening the undead construct. The stationary Dullahan slowly lifted its torso, then reached down to pick up its own head. A faint whine emanated from it as flames ignited in its eye sockets.
"P-Please begin!" Coiter shouted hastily.
’—Student Coiter Pizn. The exam will now begin.’
The dungeon gates ground open with a clang, and twenty monsters poured out. Coiter let out a powerful shout and thrust his arm forward. "Let’s gooo! Dullahan!"
---
The result was anticlimactic.
Coiter Pizn’s Dullahan was powerful. It took a mere four minutes to fell all twenty monsters. He had a staggering eleven minutes left.
"Uh... Uh...?" But the exam wasn’t over. The clock had to run out its full 15 minutes. Coiter clutched his hair, his face a mask of regret. "It was a mistake! A mistake! I could have handled several times this many!"
He spent the rest of the time agonizing over his miscalculation. He had been too afraid of the risk of getting a zero for missing even one monster. In the end...
’—Time’s up.’
No matter how much strength he had left, he could do nothing but stand there helplessly with his Dullahan. The remaining eleven minutes stretched into an eternity.
’—Student Coiter Pizn, 20 monsters eliminated within the time limit. Student Coiter Pizn and Team 1 have acquired 20 points.’
As soon as he returned to the waiting area, Coiter was grabbed by Hector and slammed against the wall with a bang.
"What the hell was that!" the enraged Hector growled.
Tears welled in Coiter’s eyes as he flailed his arms. "I-I didn’t know it would be like this! I didn’t know!"
"And with that kind of pathetic confidence, you dared to spout off about being A-rank in front of the professor!"
Coiter looked at the other students, his expression pleading. "Y-You all said it! Let’s play it safe! Let’s just make sure we don’t get a zero! That was the strategy!"
The other students met his gaze and quickly looked away.
"Geez. Calm down, Hector." Someone placed a hand on Hector’s shoulder. When Hector whirled around, eyes blazing, a lanky male student was grinning at him. "We learned a lesson from the first turn, that’s all. I’ll go rack up some serious points."
’—Next participant, please enter.’
"Yeah, yeah." Hearing the broadcast, the student waved nonchalantly and headed for the exam site. "You all just watch."
He stood before the dungeon’s barrier. "I’m Kurt Tramblet!"
The dungeon keeper nodded. "Number of monsters?"
Kurt grinned. "Twenty? What kind of man asks for twenty? Let’s quadruple it! Eighty, please."
---
Fifteen minutes later.
’—Time’s up.’
Kurt’s face was frozen, pale as a sheet.
’—Kurt Tramblet, 76 out of 80 monsters eliminated within the time limit. Remaining monsters: 4. Student Kurt Tramblet and Team 1 have acquired 0 points.’
"Graaaaaaaaaaah!"
From the waiting area beyond the wall, Hector’s furious roar echoed, a palpable wave of bloodthirsty Dragon Fear rolling with it.
"H-H-How did it come to this..." Kurt collapsed to his knees, his expression vacant.
This exam was not as easy as he had thought.