Chapter 116: Survival Test (9)
<strong>Survival Test (9)</strong>
“So hungry…”
“Quitining; it’s a waste of energy. I’m hungry too. ”
Wednesday. The morning of the third day dawned, and the students began to feel the limits gradually. Although there were many edible nts on the deserted ind, intensepetition among the participants was also evident. Numerous carnivorous animals, monsters, and fellow students were all engaged in hunting for sustenance.
“Hey, isn’t that a wild boar?”
“Hush… Let’s check it out.”
For two hungry students who had only eaten fruit for two days, the prospect of a wild boar was tempting.
“Hey, what’s up with you guys? That’s ours, you know?”
“Ugh… I’m really hungry, and I don’t have the strength to fight…”However, these two students were not the only ones eyeing the wild boar. They confronted other students they encountered in the bushes.
“Hey, we’re hungry and not in the mood to fight. Can’t you just step aside?”
“But we can’t just give up the wild boar. We’re fed up with fruits by now.”
“Wait, do we really have to fight?”
On the third day, about half of the students had been eliminated. This meant that most students had experienced one or two battles.
And they discovered something: defeating the enemy in front of them didn’t fill their stomachs. The food from supply boxes was ridiculously scarce, and even defeating monsters didn’t provide sustenance. In other words, the more they fought, the greater their energy consumption became.
Of course, it was all ording to the academy’s n. In a situation with high demand but low supply, surviving meantpeting and sometimes cooperating to obtain food. It perfectly matched the theme of ‘survival’ in the survival test. However, now that things had deviated from the original, the students began to consider alternative solutions.
“Let’s join forces and look for Lee Hoyeon. I heard he brought a lot of food.”
“Yeah, I heard he has a massive supply of smoked duck.”
“Trying to fight each other will only make it harder. Let’s gather other people.”
The survivors began searching for the golden goblin somewhere on the ind.
***
Wednesday morning.
“Hmm…” I gently patted Alice on the shoulder and infused her with mana.
“You’re not meeting Lumi?”
After a few days together, Alice began initiating conversations asionally. Today, out of the blue, she brought up Lumi.
“She wants to team up with Lucy.”
“Hmm…”
<em>Why is she asking about Lumi? I still can’t fully understand her.</em>
After infusing mana into Alice, I checked the remaining participants with my smartwatch.
“130 people…”
“The rate of decrease is slower than I thought.”
“Right…”
Alice’s observation is correct. <em>This is really strange. There should be a gradual decrease to below 100 people by the third day… What changes could have urred?</em>
The most critical issue in the survival test is food. Due to the abundance of monsters, there are few wild animals, and the fish are not substantial. Ultimately, we have to rely on tree fruits and wait for supply boxes to drop, fighting fiercely to get the limited supply boxes that fall less frequently than expected. <em>But people aren’t decreasing. What’s the problem?</em>
“Four people ahead.” At that moment, Alice’s words snapped me back to reality.
“Ah, okay. Sorry, I got lost in thought and forgot to check.”
“It’s fine.” Alice’s slight smile seemed to indicate she was pleased to have spotted the enemies before me.
“Let’s take two each.”
“Yes.”
“You handle the two in front; I’ll take the two behind.”
After dividing roles, we approached the enemies. They were familiar faces, a team consisting of ss A and ss B students. Even though facing the two of us might be intimidating, strangely, their expressions showed they were ready to fight from the start.
“It’s Lee Hoyeon! Take him down!”
“Hand over your damn food, you piece of garbage!”
“Check out his rosyplexion. He’ been feasting so well!”
“He’s even hanging out with Alice! I’m going to end you!”
<em>I’m the problem after all. Did they stop fighting each other just because of me?</em>
It was only a matter of time before they decided toe bother me since they discovered I had food right from the start.
“Hey, I was just prepared. Don’t me me.”
While charging my mana, I exchanged a knowing nce with Alice, and in perfect synchrony, we rushed toward the enemies. My focus centered on neutralizing the two mages, leaving Alice to manage the pair wielding des. In a less-than-ideal 1 vs. 2 conflict, the notable difference in ability between top-tier and upper-tier students was hard to overlook.
As I closed in, I skillfully sidestepped an ice arrow aimed at my upper body while simultaneously incenerating the vines coiling around my feet—a tactical move against a tree’s ensnaring strategy.
<em>Seems like we have a dynamic duo simr to Lucy and Lumi here.</em>
While considering the most effective way to secure a clean win, a tree behind me disrupted my thoughts by unexpectedly releasing a flurry of leaves.
“No, what’s this?”
Dodging, I saw a student with their hands on the ground manipting the tree. The ice mage beside him summoned ice around me and hindered my movement.
<em>I’d really like to just burn everything.</em>
Being a fire mage in the forest is a real headache. If a fire identally catches in the surrounding woods, the situation can escte beyond control. Summoning lightning and striking them down would be ideal, but I wasn’t quite ready to reveal my other elements.
“Ah, whatever. Just die, all of you.”
It’s truly bothersome when these lesser beings swarm.
<em>eleration.</em>
I elerated the circuit in my body, infused mana into my feet, and charged at the enemies. Upon realizing that a mage like me was engaging in closebat, the momentarily confused guys abandoned tree maniption and opted to wrap themselves with vines for close-quarters defense.
“It’s toote, idiots.”
Probably, while one guarded, the other was preparing a big spell, but it’s too straightforward.
<em>Fire Wave.</em>
A skill that spreads mes like a shallow wave. I had used this skill during a practical test to infiltrate the gap of a scrap giant. Normally, weak firepower entering through these vines wouldn’t harm the enemy. However, my Mana Sensitivity made it possible.
“It’s futile! Our duo is invincible!”
The forest-dwelling mage, concealed behind vines, shielded another mage and prepared an advanced ice spell. He appeared rather confident in his endurance. However, as mes emerged between the vines and merged right in front of him, he couldn’t remain silent.
“Now, hold on. How do you control magic once unleashed… Aaagh!”
The mes engulfed both the mage caught off guard and the one casting magic from behind.
“Argh!”
“Ahh!”
The two mages, startled by the unexpected attack, being teleported with the warning sound from their smartwatches.
“Goodbye. Bring more food next time.” I waved farewell to the departing duo.
“You devil! The enemy of men!”
“I can’t stand anyone being with Alice!”
Tsk, pathetic. In the end, they couldn’t handle me hanging out with a girl. The fight took longer than expected. Of course, Alice must have already dealt with hers.
“Huh?” Turning around, I witnessed Alice being relentlessly pushed back by two swordsmen.
“Am I seeing things wrong?” Even after rubbing my eyes and double-checking, it remained the same. Alice couldn’t withstand the onught while retreating with each sh of swords.
I activated Vision Enhancement and checked her internal condition.
“Oh, she’s out of mana.”
Well, considering the time that passed since recharging, it’s understandable. Although she knew my fight was over, she wasn’t asking for help. Probably her pride, wanting to deal with it herself.
Ifortably sat on a nearbyrge rock. Alice’s remaining mana was barely a handful. Maybe I’ll let it go for about 10 minutes. Wait until she’s on the brink of injury, then swoop in to rescue.
***
About 30 minutester, Alice finally lowered her sword, and just before one of the opponents could strike her down, I stepped in.
“Sorry, I couldn’t just stand by and watch you get hurt.”
“…”
I swiftly positioned myself between Alice and the swordsman and blocked the impending strike with the Cotton Guard. Alice, unable to help herself, bowed her head as if her pride had been wounded.
“What’s this? Why is Lee Hoyeon here!”
“And the others?!”
The two swordsmen were so immersed in their duel that they didn’t realize I had been observing for over 30 minutes.
“You’ll meet them for yourselves soon.”
Dealing with the exhausted swordsmen after more than 30 minutes ofbat was easier than a stroll in the park. After the two teleported away, breaking the awkward silence and initiating conversation proved challenging. The negative energy emanating from Alice was no joke.
“Ahem, Alice? Are you okay? I’ll replenish your mana.”
“…”
“But still, your mana control is truly incredible. You held out for 30 minutes with almost no mana.”
“How did you know I had almost no mana left…?” Alice raised her head, ring at me with a fierce look.
<em>Why the anger…</em>
“Just because I have a bit of talent with mana.”
“I see…”
It’s a slight information slip, but subtly conveying that there’s no masseur as exceptional as me might not be a bad idea.
“Come here. I’ll refill your mana.”
I turned behind Alice and ced my hand on her shoulder. However, her words halted my action, “If you do it with bare skin… it’s more effective, right?”
***
“Students are starting to gather. They’re targeting Lee Hoyeon.”
“How frustrating. How’s this turning into a test like this?”
“It might not be detrimental. Facing such a situation is umon. It will offer a one-of-a-kind experience for everyone.”
In the professors’ meeting room, they were conducting real-time checks and evaluations of the survival test. While the scoring concluded the moment someone was eliminated, umting a high score allowed those eliminated early to potentially receive a higher score than someone eliminatedter.
Among the professors, Professor Im Sol silently observed Lee Hoyeon.
<em>I’ve never seen mana control like that before… Impressive.</em>
Im Sol was pondering whether to disclose herself as Lee Hoyeon’s sponsor or possibly take him on as a personal disciple. Such a decision could hold social advantages for the 20-year-old Lee Hoyeon.
<em>I’ll just observe a little longer.</em>
At that moment, her smartwatch set on vibration mode started buzzing. Typically, it would be considered appropriate to turn off the smartwatch entirely during grading. However, Professor Im Sol is an invited professor personally brought in by the principal and chairman. While she wasn’t obligated to partake in test grading, she came to observe Lee Hoyeon, and no other professors voicedints.
“What do you want?” Im Sol stepped out of the meeting room to take the call.
[S! How’s the test grading going?]
The voice on the other end was Min Yeji’s. Im Sol let out a sigh at her friend’s enthusiastic tone.
“Not much. Why are you asking?”
[No, if it’s a survival test, you should’ve given me a heads-up! I was nning to reach out to Lee Hoyeon this week!]
“You knew I couldn’t. Even if I could, I wouldn’t.”
It wasn’t like she didn’t know about the Mana Oath. Still, she was quite a bothersome friend.
[Okay. Then tell me what he likes. I’ll try bribing him when negotiating.]
“Bribing…”
Im Sol couldn’t help but picture Hoyeon’s delighted face every time she sucked him off.
“He likes…” However, she couldn’t bring herself to say that he would easily sumb if enticed with your body. It was just a regr, light-hearted joke, and Min Yeji wouldn’t take it seriously. But still, she didn’t want to voice those words.
[What is it?]
“I don’t know… Oh, he likes magic.”
[No, I know he likes magic!]
“I have no clue! I’m busy, I’m hanging up.”
[S! S!]
<em>Click</em>
“Shall I take a short break…?”
Staring at Lee Hoyeon’s face for an extended period had started to y tricks on her mind. Even though he wasn’t hers to im, she felt it would be a missed opportunity to let someone else have him.
“Alright… Let’s dive into some magic research.”
For Im Sol, taking a break tranted to delving into magic studies. Yet, as she immersed herself in her research, thoughts of her exceptional student lingered more prominently in her mind.