Chapter 72
It’s unbelievable.
It shouldn’t be happening.
“I… lost?”
Minarin, who was staring up at the starry night sky while stuck on the forest floor, couldn’t believe the situation she found herself in.
Initially, the battle was evenly matched.
No, she had a clear advantage as the one who initiated the attack.
However, the tide clearly turned as the close combat began.
Unlike her, the witch’s apprentice in shades of seven not only showed proficiency in magic but also in martial arts.
“If there’s someone threatening me… Gyu warned not to be lenient.”
Muttering incomprehensible words.
Without hesitation, the witch’s apprentice in shades of seven swung the iron hammer, breaking through the barrier and not giving Minarin a chance to cast her magic properly.
With swift movements, she launched a kick and proceeded to attack.
In the midst of that, she fell victim to her magic, getting thrown back by the explosion.
“Now, hold on…!”
“You’re going to feel a lot of pain.”
Before Minarin could react.
The witch’s apprentice in shades of seven on the ground leaped lightly into the night sky, leisurely taking to the air.
She held the iron hammer with both hands pulled back behind her shoulders.
Anticipating what would happen next, Minarin, too surprised to even protest, tried to resist with wide eyes.
But it was futile.
────!!
With all her might, the witch’s apprentice in shades of seven brought down the iron hammer.
Minarin took a direct hit from that attack and plummeted to the ground.
Having briefly lost consciousness, she regained it, lying there utterly powerless to move.
She had lost.
There was no room for doubt.
“This… must be a dream…”
Yet, she denied reality.
She couldn’t accept it.
She was Minarin.
A prodigy hailed as the most exceptional in the current generation of the magical community.
The granddaughter receiving immense love from her grandfather, who ruled as the head of the magical community.
The little griffin of the magical community.
Expected to become a leading figure, stirring up fortune in her generation.
She couldn’t afford to lose confidence.
“Me… I, lost? I lost? Me, Mina Rin?”
Unacceptable.
Unbearable.
The battle was far from over.
She had to get up quickly.
Mina Rin gritted her teeth, trying to rise with determination.
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But frustratingly, her body simply refused to obey.
“….”
“Ah….”
It was precisely at that moment when the apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch approached.
Mina Rin’s mouth fell open in despair.
“Trying to force movement might damage your mana circuits. It’s better to recover your strength as it is.”
Beneath the night sky with stars and moons shining.
The apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch spoke, her white hair fluttering in the wind.
Snap!
Mina Rin looked up at her.
Surely, she must have been through a fierce battle, but she didn’t seem to have many injuries.
Thinking so, Mina Rin gnashed her teeth.
“Don’t… look down on me….”
Infuriating. Her pride was hurt.
Mina Rin felt a mix of emotions towards the apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch.
Yet, the apprentice, who knew nothing of her feelings, gently reached out to her.
“I’ll take this. You’ve really collected a lot.”
“Ah….”
The apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch took the exam ticket from Mina Rin.
Mina Rin tried to push her away.
But unable to move, all she could do was watch as her exam tickets, attached to her clothes, were being taken off one by one.
Even her exam tickets were being taken off.
“Don’t… take them….”
“….”
“I said, don’t take them….”
Mina Rin pleaded, her voice trembling.
She had never experienced defeat before.
She had never felt a sense of loss.
Born feeling superior all her life, she now felt defeat and humiliation for the first time.
She never imagined she would abandon her pride and plead like this.
Nevertheless, to her, her collected exam tickets were precious.
Especially, she did not want her exam tickets to be taken away.
Those exam tickets were nothing short of her pride itself.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t grant that request.”
“Ah…”
“Well, I’ll be off then. Wishing you a swift recovery and a pleasant journey.”
However, the apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch did not heed Minarin’s plea.
Having collected all her admission tickets, she promptly left.
Minarin could only gaze at the night sky where she had disappeared.
“I… I am, Minarin…”
I’m the top student.
The night sky looking down at her was disgustingly beautiful to the point of being offensive.
Minarin finally shed tears.
***
There was a monster attack last night.
Already unable to sleep deeply from spending the night alone, I had to fight several times.
Fortunately, I had the instinct to dodge; others must have had a hard time staying awake all night.
“I should start moving.”
And so, the second day on Honrin Island dawned.
Having breakfast at the place the triplets had prepared for me, I decided to explore the island like yesterday.
But I couldn’t just wander around aimlessly.
I checked the time on my Gate Watch on my wrist.
08:58:23
Just about a minute left until 9 a.m.
I waited for that moment.
Finally, the time changed to 9.
Beep!
The Gate Watch beeped at three-hour intervals, and a message appeared on the screen.
I checked the message.
[09:00:00]
[All admission tickets within a 500m radius are displayed.]
Points appeared on the grid-like screen.
The densely clustered points in the center of the screen indicated the admission tickets I possessed.
So, I focused on the locations of the points around me.
“It would be easier to obtain clues from Iga Hyeon if I move to crowded areas.”
I decided on my course of action.
I chose to move towards the location with the most points marked.
Of course, the score does not entirely represent the position of the test-takers.
What the score reflects are the test tickets.
There might be someone like me who possesses a large number of test tickets.
But that doesn’t matter.
“Everyone will flock there anyway to get their test tickets, so why bother.”
It’s a simple logic.
By now, test-takers nearby would have started heading there.
Perhaps someone is even on their way to where I was.
In that sense, waiting could be a solution.
But I didn’t want to wait idly when there was a place with more scores gathered.
Eventually, I arrived at that place.
“They’re right in the midst of a battle.”
There were quite a few test-takers.
They were scattered around, engaging in a fierce competition.
On one hand, the competition looked different from yesterday.
“This guy…!”
“Hand over your test ticket!”
Perhaps because the exam would be over by tomorrow, their actions became more daring.
Most of them were not holding back.
Furthermore.
“There are more people forming groups now.”
While yesterday it was sporadic, today the numbers were significant.
Witnessing test-takers forming groups and competing was a common sight in various places.
It seemed that forming a group was deemed better for snatching or protecting test tickets.
I found it welcoming.
“I don’t have to search for them one by one.”
I leaped into the chaotic melee with a metallic clang ringing in my ears.
The test-takers, who were too focused on their opponents to notice my presence, were greatly surprised.
“You, you…!”
“The Sword Master of the Divine Blade…”
Instead of speaking, swing your sword.
Having fallen from the tree and landed on the ground, I swung my sword before they could even finish their sentences.
The test-taker at the forefront couldn’t withstand the blow and was thrown back.
“How many darn test tickets does he have!?”
“Be careful! It’s the Sword Master of the Divine Blade!”
“We need to stop him first!”
“You little… If you’ve had enough, just leave!”
The test-takers who were engaged in a group fight quickly united due to my intervention.
They aimed their weapons at me and rushed towards me as if surrounding me.
I swiftly scanned the surroundings without getting nervous about the numerical disadvantage.
Ignition!
Flames rose in the air.
Exam candidates in the rear were casting spells.
Some were nocking arrows on their bows, while others were loading cartridges.
“I should handle the rear first.”
Immediately, I put my thoughts into action.
I swiftly pushed past the candidates in front of me and moved forward.
They couldn’t keep up with my speed.
Of course.
Their agility score was mostly around 30, while mine was 71.
There was a difference of at least 30 or more.
“What!?”
“Block him! Quick!”
Exam candidates who realized my intentions shouted urgently.
But they couldn’t stop me.
Even if they attacked me from the rear…
Crack!
I just needed to dodge instinctively.
I dodged the attacks of the candidates, manifesting mana within me.
Blue mana enveloped my body.
Blue currents flickered around me.
＜Combat Style of the Water King Type 6＞
Lion Rampage
A sword technique that defies formality.
The first sword bends the staff of the candidate trying to cast a spell.
The second sword deflects the bullets and strikes the candidate holding a gun.
The third sword shatters the bow of the candidate trying to switch to a dagger.
And the fourth, fifth, and so on…
As the swordplay was about to end, I unleashed a series of sword techniques.
＜Combat Style of the Water King Type 5＞
Lion’s Roar
I step on the brake with one foot.
I pivot widely with the other foot, changing direction.
Having cleared the rear, it was time to strike the front.
I leaped towards the candidate standing on the path my toe pointed to, in a stabbing stance.
“Urgh!”
1st Strike.
Followed by a change in direction, 2nd Strike.
Continuing without stopping until all remaining examinees fell to the ground, I unleashed my strikes.
Traces from the wall mines were left where I had passed.
“Hoo.”
Before I knew it, the situation was under control.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t catch the examinees who were battling from afar.
As soon as they recognized my skills, they fled without a fight.
I decided to forget about them and collect the examination slips of the fallen examinees.
But first.
“We should gather them when we can.”
There were wall mines floating around.
I decided to absorb the residual currents using the power of the Military Blue Sword.
＜Military Blue Sword: Current Condensation＞
The wall mines clung to the Military Blue Sword.
Intermittently, blue currents sparked from the jet-black blade.
After the sparks subsided, I returned the Military Blue Sword to its sheath.
Then, I collected the examination slips.
“Now, how many points is this?”
The examination slips held by those who fell to me were quite numerous.
After confiscating all their slips, it seemed to total around 600 points.
I clicked my tongue in disbelief.
But I must not forget my purpose.
“Is I Ga-hyun not around here….”
A short while ago, when I surveyed from the tree, I couldn’t find any examinee who seemed to be I Ga-hyun.
It seemed like a dead end here.
I had no choice.
Still, I had to keep searching.
If I roamed where people gathered, I might find her.
I decided to change my location.
Then, the Gate Watch rang.
Beep!
“Huh?”
Why is it ringing this time?
I checked the Gate Watch.
[Supplies are being distributed.]
Supplies were distributed once a day.
There was no set time, and the locations where supplies dropped from the sky were random.
Today, it seemed like it was distributed at this time.
I looked up at the sky.
“….”
Parachutes attached to wooden crates were gently descending from the sky.
I searched for the wooden crate closest to me.
“I should go get that.”
In reality, if it was supplies, I had gotten some yesterday as well.
There was enough water and food.
But having more wouldn’t hurt.
Above all.
“People will gather to get the supplies.”
Surely, everyone on Hornim Island would have started moving.
There was no reason for me not to go.
I quickly started moving my feet.