“Competition......”
Alicia mused,
“These next two days should be relatively peaceful.”
“But on the final day, the real free-for-all will begin. I hope not too many people fall in this forest this year......”
“......I hope so too.”
Unfortunately, that hope was likely in vain.
After exploring during the day, Hulim had already noticed something:
the number of monsters and the level of danger in this designated exam area were far higher than normal.
Clearly, the academy had artificially increased the difficulty.
In such a situation, a considerable number of students would be unable to collect enough Magic Crystals on their own.
Which meant that the final moments would inevitably devolve into a large-scale scramble......
“Zzz, zzz......”
Soft snores drifted over.
“Miko?”
“Zzz, zzz.”
Miko did not respond—only the gentle rise and fall of her breathing answered Hulim.
“......”
“......She’s fallen asleep.”
The two quietly watched Miko lying on the ground, a content smile on her face as if she was having a sweet dream.
They did not disturb her.
A few minutes later,
Hulim stood up.
“Let’s rest for now. Conserve our strength—tomorrow we’ll push deeper into the forest.”
“Alright.”
Alicia stood up as well.
The two carefully carried Miko into the cave, gently laid her down on the bedding, and covered her with a blanket.
Miko murmured in her sleep, her lips moving:
“I...... can’t eat another bite.”
Hulim smiled, gently brushed her ear, and whispered:
“Good night, Miko.”
Twitch, twitch.
Miko’s ears twitched in her sleep.
Then soft breathing resumed......
After settling Miko in,
Hulim stepped lightly to the cave entrance, raised her Seven Luminaries wand, and tapped it gently on the ground.
Hum~!
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A barrier slowly rose at the entrance.
The glow of the campfire that had spilled out of the cave vanished into the forest, and darkness reclaimed the area.
...
Outside the Monster Great Forest,
dozens of figures stood silently.
After some time, a black-robed figure with a hood covering their head emerged from the forest.
“You’re late.”
“I couldn’t risk arousing suspicion.”
The hooded black-robed figure spoke, then pulled out a scroll and handed it to the figure opposite.
“This is the map of all the magic circles.”
A figure on the opposite side took the scroll and stowed it away.
Then they spoke slowly:
“The operation begins at noon tomorrow.”
“By then, thick fog will shroud the forest, the path out will be lost beneath our feet, and the cage will trap all weak prey.”
With that, the figure pulled out a vial containing a transparent liquid.
“You know how to use this, I assume?”
“Naturally——”
The black-robed figure reached out and took the vial.
“......After all, I am an expert in this field.”
...
The next morning.
“Mmm~~!”
Miko stretched lazily outside the cave.
“I slept so well last night~!”
Swish! Swish......
The sound of a dagger cutting through the air rang out clearly.
“Perfect—I’m full of energy today!”
After flexing her limbs, Miko felt the last traces of drowsiness fade away.
At that moment, Hulim’s voice called out:
“Miko, come get breakfast.”
“Okay——”
“Coming right up!”
After breakfast,
the three packed their bags and, as planned the day before, continued deeper into the forest.
As they pressed forward,
the traces left by other students became fewer and fewer—until eventually, they vanished entirely.
And the forest environment grew increasingly complex.
The types of monsters multiplied, and their strength grew.
Tiny venomous insects lurked underground and among the leaves, leaping out to attack the moment prey drew near.
Poisonous, even carnivorous plants disguised themselves as ordinary flora along the path; getting too close meant facing released toxins and sudden vine attacks......
Boom!
A storm of countless wind blades tore through the bushes.
The dense vines hanging down from the trees were shredded to pieces.
A shower of green debris rained down to the ground,
mixed with a few glinting crystals.
“Huh—there are some here too?”
Miko bent down to pick up the crystals.
Just as her right hand was about to touch them,
a dead leaf on the ground suddenly flipped over, and a venomous insect leaped toward her hand.
Clang!
A flash of white light.
The insect’s body was sliced clean in two, falling to the ground and writhing in its final throes.
“I spotted you a long time ago.”
Miko sheathed her dagger casually, then stuffed the Magic Crystals into her backpack.
She then asked:
“Hulim, which way should we go next?”
A massive cliff lay ahead of them.
They couldn’t walk across it—they would have to go around either side, or fly over directly.
“Hmm, let’s just fly——”
“Roar——!”
Just as Hulim opened her mouth to answer, a deafening roar echoed from above.
“Huh?”
The three looked up at the cliff above.
Then they saw a huge black shadow plummeting down.
Thud——!
A heavy dull thud shook the ground.
“W-What is that?!”
Miko stared dumbfounded at the massive shape before her.
After about two or three seconds, the shape moved.
It struggled a few times on the ground, then climbed to its feet.
Thud!
It stamped its thick limbs heavily on the ground, which rumbled in response.
“Roar——!”
A gust of wind accompanied the roar, blasting toward the three.
“That thing—it’s a Caiman Thunder Rhino......”
Its enormous size, thick limbs, armor-like skin, and especially the massive thunder-wreathed horn on its forehead—
Alicia recognized it instantly.
“What’s going on? Caiman Thunder Rhinos are supposed to be relatively gentle creatures. I’ve never heard of one jumping off a cliff to attack people!”
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh......
White mist like smoke billowed from the Caiman Thunder Rhino’s nostrils. It pawed the ground with its hind legs, assuming a charging stance toward the three.
Hulim raised her Seven Luminaries wand.
“Miko, Alicia—step aside.”
“Okay.”
“Be careful, Hulim—Caiman Thunder Rhinos are extremely powerful even among B-rank creatures.”
“Don’t worry—I’ve got this.”
The two hid behind a large tree nearby.
“Roar——!”
Letting out a roar like thunder, the Caiman Thunder Rhino charged straight at Hulim.
Hum!
Several orbs of white light appeared before Hulim.
Swish——!
The orbs instantly transformed into thin beams of light, shooting forward.
They struck the Caiman Thunder Rhino’s limbs dead-on.
Boom——!
The charging Caiman Thunder Rhino toppled forward, crushing all the bushes in its path.
A clear trench was carved into the ground.
“Roar!”
The fallen Caiman Thunder Rhino lifted its head and roared at Hulim.
Crackle~!
At the same time, the horn on its head flashed with dazzling thunderlight.
But——
Hum! Hum......
Hundreds of the same light orbs that had appeared earlier floated into its field of vision.
“......”
...
