Chapter 77
“……?”
Simon opened his eyes wide.
An external instructor? Isn’t this a first?
“Come in.”
At Jane’s gesture, a middle-aged man walked up to the podium.
He wore a big, friendly smile and was dressed in work clothes with tons of pockets.
“Let me introduce Hunter Edward Buckbec.”
Jane said.
“He may be a new face to some of you, but he’s a legendary figure in the industry, having discovered over twenty ancient ruins, and is one of the top-tier treasure hunters.”
Applause broke out from all corners of the room. Dick, in particular, was pounding on his desk with excitement.
“Crazy! Whoa! No way, is that the treasure hunter Edward? Professor Jane’s recruitment level is just……!”
“Is he that amazing?”
Maelyn asked with a sulky expression, and Dick turned to her with a shocked face.
“Hey! How could you not know Edward? That’s just plain common sense failure!”
“I’m asking who he is.”
“Uwaaah!”
Edward, now standing on the podium, gave a nervous smile and opened his mouth.
“Ah, um. Nice to meet you. You’re the first years from Keyzen, right?”
“Yes!”
The students responded in unison.
“Ohoho! The day I get to lecture at Keyzen is finally here! I must’ve really made it, huh? Actually, the only reason I’ve come this far is all thanks to my father. I was born into unfortunate circumstances, but……”
Ahem.
Jane, standing behind him with her arms crossed, gave a small cough. Edward flinched and straightened his posture.
“Ah, yes! Let’s skip the small talk and get started! I pride myself on having visited every corner of the Dark Alliance’s territory. Well, to be precise, I’ve roamed the entire continent. Even the Holy Federation’s territory, sneaking in here and there……”
“Hunter Edward.”
“Ah! Sorry, Vice-Chancellor! Hahaha! In short, I’m a survival expert. I may not possess powerful black magic like all of you, but the weak have their own ways to survive. That is, through meticulous preparation! Alright, alright.”
Babbling on, Edward pulled out the materials he’d prepared from his bag and began pinning them to the chalkboard.
They showed the monsters and types of flora found on the island, illustrated with diagrams and charts.
Teaching assistants moved around, handing out copies of the materials to the students.
“The location of your exam is an island we call ‘Kera Island’.”
Edward said, glancing around at the students.
“It’s a restricted area under Keyzen’s control, but there are several other large and small islands nearby. I’ve explored all of them, and based on that, I was able to estimate the flora and monsters likely to be found on Kera Island.”
Though he was obviously nervous to be at Keyzen and kept checking Jane’s expression behind him, once he started talking about his field of expertise, Edward became incredibly professional.
Edible plants found on Kera Island. Inedible plants.
Monsters that can’t be eaten, and monsters that can. Which parts are edible, and how they should be prepared.
Weather and climate, terrain hazards, tidal patterns, behaviors that attract monsters, ways to repel wild snakes, etc.
Even the noble students who had been sitting back with disinterested expressions quickly leaned forward, absorbed by the lecture. Understandably so, this was survival knowledge they’d be using in just two days.
The students furiously scribbled notes with their quills.
“Yes! That concludes my explanation. Thank you for listening! Any questions?”
Hands shot up all around.
As Edward answered questions one by one, Simon quietly looked through the copied materials.
‘Hm?’
Among the various monsters inhabiting the island, one in particular stood out. He wasn’t sure why, but it strongly drew his attention.
It was a monster with its face wrapped in bandage-like cloth.
While Simon stared intently at the creature, Feer’s avatar began to twitch and stir.
[Hey, boy……!]
‘Oh, Feer. When did you get here?’
Feer’s avatar opened its eyes wide.
[That photo! Bring it closer to me!]
Simon held the photo up to his chest so Feer could see it clearly.
Feer’s avatar’s pupils began trembling wildly.
[This is impossible. No way! What is he doing there?]
“Do you know who that is?”
[Of course I do! That one was a general of the Legion, an Ancient Undead!]
Simon’s eyes shot open. A general, here?
[Keh-heh. Never thought I’d see that face again.]
Feer’s avatar muttered in a serious tone.
[Boy! You remember the sins of the Legion, don’t you?]
‘Yes. Under my father’s orders, the Legion betrayed the Dark Alliance and fought against the necromancers to protect my mother……’
[Right. During the long battle, when the Legion finally had to retreat due to the Allied forces’ full-scale offensive, there was one who gave his all to hold the line and help us escape safely to the sea.]
‘Don’t tell me that was……’
Simon’s gaze returned to the monster with the bandaged face.
[His name is Vikroom.]
Feer’s eyes grew solemn.
[He was the General of the Legion’s Giant Troop.]
Simon listened carefully as Feer explained further.
An Ancient Undead who had willingly sacrificed himself for the Legion’s sake. Despite being an undead, he was said to be incredibly loyal and devoted to the Legion.
[I was sure he died back then. But to think he’s alive, and on an island owned by Keyzen, no less.]
‘……’
Simon rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
It was strange. Why would one of his father’s undead be on the island where their survival test was happening? The timing was way too convenient.
But the lead was too big to ignore.
[There may be a connection! If you go inland from Kera Island, you’ll reach the port city of Ballot. Vikroom went missing during a battle in that very place.]
‘That makes sense. Since he’s one of father’s undead, I’d like to recover him. Would that be alright?’
[Keh-heh! Of course! He’s a valuable asset. If you can secure him, he’ll be a tremendous power at your side.]
‘Alright. Nothing to lose by trying, so let’s make contact.’
Along with taking the survival evaluation like any other student, Simon now had a new objective.
And perhaps, it was a mission even more important than getting a good grade.
[But since a lot of time has passed, he may have changed. His personality might’ve shifted, or his state of mind could be different.]
Simon nodded.
Even Erzebet had been uncooperative with the Legion at first.
[So take me with you! I must persuade him myself.]
‘Mmm.’
Simon flipped through the guidebook with a troubled look.
‘It says here, right before teleportation, they inspect each student’s subspace. Unnecessary items or food supplies are strictly prohibited……’
[Subspace inspection? That’s a nuisance.]
‘I’ll come up with something. I’ll stop by the ruins tonight and talk to Erze.’
Just then, the bell signaling the end of class rang. Jane clapped her hands and returned to the podium.
“That’s it for today’s lecture. Prepare thoroughly over the next two days. You’d also do well to familiarize yourselves with the detailed rules and Tongue Pad operations. Class dismissed.”
“Thank you!”
The students poured out of the lecture hall like a receding tide.
Dick and a few others looked like they wanted to talk to Edward and get autographs, but Jane’s gaze made them shrink back and walk away.
“Simon, what are you doing? Let’s go grab something to eat.”
Simon smiled and replied to Dick’s suggestion.
“Sorry, but I’ll be eating with Maelyn’s group today. I have some personal matters to take care of.”
“?”
* * *
“Three minutes and twenty-one seconds of meal time remaining.”
To Edward, nothing he’d faced — monsters, traps, anything — was scarier than this woman, the vice-chancellor of Keyzen.
Without even tasting the food, Edward had shoveled it into his mouth and now followed Jane’s lead toward the teleportation magic circle.
Rather than an escort, it was more like being taken away.
“V-Vice-vhancellor.”
Edward gave a forced smile.
He decided to at least say something. Surely she wouldn’t turn someone into a skeleton just for speaking?
“Five hours! No, just two hours! Please! I’m a professional treasure hunter, and I came all the way to the mysterious Roke Mountain, I can’t leave like this……!”
Jane checked her wristwatch with an expressionless face.
“Roke Mountain is restricted to those without formal entry permits from Keyzen. Your permit has six minutes and twenty-three seconds remaining, Hunter Edward.”
Cold sweat streamed down Edward’s face.
‘How can someone be this inflexible……! But still, I can’t give up like this!’
“T-Then maybe we could extend the permit time just a little! Ah, earlier, Professor Bahil mentioned asking me to teach Class B as well……”
At that moment—
Jane’s eyes sparked.
Realizing too late that he had made a verbal blunder, Edward hurriedly clamped his mouth shut, but it was already too late.
Jane gestured to the teaching assistant behind her.
“Tell Professor Bahil to come to my office immediately.”
The assistant, stiff with tension, asked,
“U-Um, may I ask the reason for the summons—”
“Shut it and tell him that if he’s not there within ten minutes, I’m coming myself.”
At those words, the assistant bolted away like a madman.
Edward’s mouth twitched.
He was done adventuring. All he wanted now was to leave this island alive.
After walking a few more minutes, they arrived at the teleportation magic circle leading back to the continent.
“Is this a joke?”
But the trouble wasn’t over yet.
After hearing the teleportation operator’s report, Jane’s expression exploded into fury.
The operator kept bowing repeatedly like a criminal awaiting execution.
“You’re telling me the magic circle’s overload due to Island Survival prep is an excuse?”
“I-I’ll fix it immediately!”
“Have the entire teleportation team assembled in my office by 6 o’clock.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Jane let out a long sigh and approached Edward. She then closed her eyes and bowed slightly.
“Due to internal maintenance issues, your return may be delayed by about ten minutes. On behalf of Keyzen, I offer our sincere apologies.”
“Ah, ahahaha…… I-It’s fine! Really, really fine!”
Seriously? Holding up a guest’s departure by ten minutes and reacting like that? Is this what their organizational culture is like?
“I need to check the magic circle myself. Please remain here and do not move, Hunter.”
With that one sentence, Edward truly felt like he physically couldn’t move.
So this is that rumored thing, the curse of authority?
“A-Alright! Take your time! Haha!”
Jane headed off to inspect the magic circle.
Left alone, Edward let out a long sigh of relief. Somehow his legs gave out and he crouched down.
“Hello there!”
Someone called out to him. Turning his head, Edward saw a male student in a Keyzen uniform smiling down at him.
“Oh! You’re a student from……!”
“I was in Class A and attended your lecture earlier. It was a great class.”
Edward, feeling his self-esteem rapidly recovering, jumped up and pulled out a pen and paper at lightning speed.
“Huhu, great. What was your name again?”
“I’m not here for an autograph. I had a question about something from your lesson.”
Edward’s face fell as he lowered the pen.
‘Man, what is with this school? Professors and students alike are so uptight.’
“This monster from your materials.”
Simon continued, holding out Vikroom’s photo.
“Do you know anything about it?”
Edward took the photo. He looked it over with a thoughtful “Hmm—”, tilting it this way and that.
“This one was in the batch too, huh. I printed them all at once, so I didn’t really check them individually.”
He returned the photo and shook his head.
“I took the picture because it looked interesting, but I don’t know what kind of monster it is either. I’ve been in this business for thirty years, and I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“……What do you mean by ‘interesting’?”
Edward narrowed his eyes slightly.
“The fog was heavy that day, so I’m not sure if I saw it right, but the monster suddenly appeared to grow massively in size, roaming across the island. When I urgently pulled out my mana camera, it had shrunk back down.”
Simon swallowed dryly.
“How big did it get?”
Recalling the scene, Edward’s face stiffened.
“Big enough to cover the entire island.”
Superb.