Chapter 92
Survival Island.
The final, fourth day.
The evaluation ends at 12 noon. There’s exactly one hour left.
Kamibarez, who had successfully entered the Mansion of the Indestructible, was nervously watching the entrance.
“Worried that much?”
Kamibarez turned her head.
Having apparently just washed her hair, Maelyn—with a towel draped over her face—set down a glass of fruit juice and winked.
“Ah, thank you.”
“Don’t worry so much.”
She sat next to Kamibarez and sipped her own juice.
“They’re not the type to go down easily. I’m sure they’ll arrive in time.”
“You think so?”
Entry into the Mansion of the Indestructible was worth 200 points.
If you were aiming for at least a mid-tier ranking, this was a must-enter location, so much so that you could say there was no choice in the matter.
The inside of the mansion was a non-combat zone, and all its facilities were free to use. In the jungle, they had chewed on foul-smelling monster meat or plant roots, but in the mansion, they could enjoy all kinds of luxurious food, desserts, showers, and even various entertainment.
Of course, not everyone inside was just relaxing. Some students stayed near the mansion to ambush others trying to enter.
The later someone entered, the more likely it was that they had scored a ton of points by hunting monsters. Such students, once inside, would become serious competition, but if you could hunt them, you could multiply your own points severalfold.
So, the students who entered early formed ‘alliances’ among themselves and built up defensive lines around the mansion. In fact, the security had become so tight that latecomers didn’t even dare to approach.
“Alright, alright. Can I have your attention for a bit?”
And the person who led this large-scale ‘Mansion Alliance’, Elisa, Special Admission No. 7 of Class E, entered the mansion. As always, she wore a large admiral’s coat draped over her shoulders atop her school uniform.
“There’s only an hour left in the survival exam. I want everyone to head outside and help defend the mansion. If the students who’ve been racking up points all this time make it in, we’re guaranteed to fall behind in score.”
Elisa was the daughter of the Prime Minister of the Dresden Kingdom.
Taking after her father, she was a thorough politician. Even during this class, she was infamous for occupying the western island bridge and extorting points from other students.
“This is for all of our grades. I hope you’ll cooperate.”
Her voice was strong and persuasive, and her argument had merit. By appealing to a sense of unity and danger, she convinced a good number of students to join the mansion alliance.
Elisa turned her head to Maelyn.
“If you join the defense team, that’d be a huge help. Class A’s number one.”
Maelyn snorted.
“Not interested.”
“Unexpected. I thought we were alike. Don’t you like this kind of strategy? Back then, when I begged you to show me the vice-chancellor’s test questions, you refused, saying it was against class interests.”
Maelyn chuckled and replied.
“You’re still holding a grudge over that? You’re more petty than I thought.”
Elisa’s facial muscles twitched slightly, but her poker face held. She spoke as if spitting.
“Makes sense though. You just want to benefit without lifting a finger. Selfish to the core.”
The atmosphere around Elisa turned icy. Some students even stared daggers at Maelyn.
Kamibarez, flustered, looked between Elisa and Maelyn, but Maelyn simply responded with a smile.
“You’re too self-centered. People aren’t pieces on your game board, you know? Don’t assume everyone will just do as you say.”
“……”
Elisa bit her lip and turned her back. The sleeves of her admiral’s coat fluttered in the breeze.
“I’ll remember this.”
Other students followed her out of the mansion like escorts.
“A-Are you okay, Maelyn? You didn’t have to provoke a named student like that……!”
“It’s fine. She only understands if you speak bluntly.”
Maelyn calmly propped up her chin and looked out the door. Kamibarez also turned her gaze to the entrance.
“Ah!”
At that moment, Kamibarez shot to her feet.
“What’s wrong, Kami?”
“Simon! Simon’s coming!”
“Really? Where? Where is he?”
As the two made a fuss, there was also a stir outside the mansion.
Commands to prepare and move into position were being shouted. Elisa was even using a magically amplified loudspeaker to direct students.
“Ah……!”
Finally, Maelyn spotted him too. From a distant hill, Simon was walking toward the mansion.
But the group combination was strange. To his right was Loraine, and to his left was someone Maelyn didn’t even want to imagine.
‘Why is Serne with Simon?!’
Maelyn leapt to her feet.
No doubt about it. Simon must’ve fallen victim to her abilities.
Panicking, Maelyn began hastily putting on her school jacket.
“Get ready, Kami! I think Simon’s become Serne’s plaything……!”
“Ah, I don’t think it’s like that.”
Kamibarez said, pointing toward the trio.
Simon said something, and Loraine laughed. Serne looked irritated and protested.
It definitely didn’t look like he was under mental control.
‘But why is he acting all chummy with Serne?!’
Just as Maelyn was seething,
—Hold on! I have a proposal for you three.
Elisa’s magically amplified voice rang out. Naturally, the “you three” referred to Simon’s group.
—We don’t want to fight you. Just let you through, in exchange…
Elisa, perched in a tree, was looking past them.
—Would you help us stop those?
The trio turned around.
Students who had been hesitating near the mansion now surged forward. Over fifty of them at least.
‘Oh crap.’
‘We’ve been spotted.’
They flinched. Loraine didn’t seem to care, and Serne stared straight ahead.
“How ridiculous.”
Swoosh.
Startled, Elisa ducked her head.
Thwack!
A feather embedded itself in the tree above.
“Who do you think you’re giving orders to?”
Serne smiled coolly.
Elisa scowled. Things weren’t going to go smoothly.
“Fine.”
With help from her teammates, she stood and snapped her fingers with a look of fury.
Voom! Voom! Voom! Voom! Voom!
Five subspaces opened in the air, and from within them, five large sailing ships burst forth.
They looked like wrecks salvaged after a typhoon. Their hulls were worn and rusted, sails full of holes or shredded.
And above all, they floated in the air.
“Woooooah!”
“It’s Elisa’s ghost ships!”
Elisa was a rather unusual Spiritology student. She could float ‘ghost ships’ powered by Spirits and Darkness.
Cannons pointed downward, aiming at Simon’s group and the students behind them.
—I declare,
Elisa said with a cold smile.
—Anyone trying to enter the mansion will be wiped out. Any Tongue Pad points dropped will be evenly distributed to everyone participating in the defense. I, Elisa, guarantee it.
Cheers erupted from all over the mansion.
“She can float ships like that in the sky……?”
“This is a whole different level!”
The students trying to enter the mansion wavered, while Serne elegantly yawned with a palm to her lips, and Loraine continued to look indifferent.
Simon cracked his shoulders as he watched and said,
“Let’s break through.”
The two nodded.
Simon took the lead in a sprint, followed by the others. Loraine summoned a skeletal horse and mounted it mid-run, and Serne’s feet lifted from the ground.
“The special admits are on the move!”
“Let’s catch up too!”
The remaining students clenched their teeth and ran. The ghost ships in the sky were threatening, but there was really no time left now.
“Like moths flying into the fire.”
Elisa extended her arm.
“Wipe them out.”
With a deafening roar, the cannons all fired at once.
Dozens of Darkness shells rained down, devastating the ground. The forest in front of the mansion was instantly engulfed in flames and smoke.
‘That’s no joke.’
Due to the smoke from the bombardment, Simon couldn’t see his surroundings. He’d been separated from Loraine and Serne.
As he frantically dodged falling shells, Simon, as if he had no other choice, gestured behind him.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
From within the thick smoke, a pre-assembled Mud Golem burst forth. The golem charged forward, carrying Simon through the bombardment.
“A g-golem!”
“If it’s Summonology, then that’s Simon Follentia! Stop him!”
Students from the defense team, who had even built a fence around the mansion, shouted. Amid a flurry of ranged projectiles flying madly, the golem charged straight through.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
The golem, tanking all the firepower with its body, rammed into the fence like a war machine, shattering it. The students who had been guarding near the fence were thrown back by the impact.
“Ugh!”
The defense line was broken in one blow. The students turned around in a panic.
Simon, stuck right behind the golem, was waving leisurely with a smile on his face.
“Stop that bastard, now... huh?”
By then, skeleton bones were scattered all over the ground. Simon clenched his fist.
<Bone Nail Application Technique – Brawl>
The shattered bones flew into the air and began spinning like a whirlwind. They struck students in the face, tripped up their feet, and disrupted their movements. The students were helplessly thrown to the ground or smashed into the fences.
[Boy! Watch out ahead!]
“Huh? The golem’s handling that...”
BOOOM!
With a sudden impact, Simon was flung off the golem’s back and rolled across the dirt.
Spitting out the taste of soil, he looked ahead.
“Hector...!”
He was shocked. Hector, whose upper body was covered in black, scale-like material, was locked in a power struggle with the golem.
“Simon Follentia!!”
Hector shouted loudly while holding the golem in place with sheer strength.
“This time, we settle this!”
Why the hell is he picking a fight now, of all times?
Simon scowled and lowered his arm. Power surged into the Mud Golem, pressing down on Hector even harder. The ground beneath Hector’s feet caved in.
“Grrraaaagh!”
Hector’s face flushed bright red, veins bulging as he gritted his teeth. Then, he opened his mouth wide and spewed something pitch black from his throat.
Breath, one of the iconic techniques associated with dragons.
The black wave erupted from Hector’s mouth, striking the Mud Golem in the chest and forcing it to stagger back.
“Haaah! Huff!”
Hector caught his breath and steadied himself. His upper body was entirely covered in scales.
It was the unique ability of the Moore family—to transform into a Corpse Dragon. The world referred to the Moore family as the “House of Dragons”.
Hector charged with a roar. The Mud Golem didn’t back down and swung its fist.
Whooosh!
Dodging the golem’s strike with agile movement, Hector leapt into the air and punched the golem square in the face.
Crack!
A fissure appeared in the golem’s face, shaped exactly like a fist. Landing on the ground, Hector unleashed a flurry of rough punches.
Smash! Crunch! Whack! Crack!
His arms, hidden beneath the black scales, moved so fast they were a blur as he pounded the Mud Golem. Then, with a powerful uppercut, he sent the golem’s head flying with a tremendous crash.
‘Got it!’
“You idiot! What are you doing?!”
A male student passing by yelled at him. Only then did Hector realize the golem had stopped moving.
Before he noticed, Simon had snatched the golem’s Core and was already sprinting toward the mansion. Hector’s face turned red and blue in fury.
“Simon Follentiaaaaaaaa!!”
Enraged, Hector planted his hands on the ground, stretched his legs in a near-split, and opened his mouth wide. A massive wave of Darkness swelled in his throat.
‘He’s doing Breath again!’
Simon thought as he inserted the golem’s Core. The other students, seeing Hector prepare, panicked and fled.
“This lunatic! He’s going to fire that thing toward the mansion?!”
“Hey! Hey! I’m still here!”
As the students scattered like Moses parting the sea, a blazing red flash shot straight toward Hector.
Thud!
Hit by the shock, Hector let out a “Guh!” and was knocked flat.
“Simon!!”
Simon looked up to see Kamibarez, crouched in a sniper stance, waving and shouting.
“You’re safe!”
“Kami! You saved me!”
“I’ll cover you! Hurry to the mansion!”
Simon nodded and resumed his sprint. But this time, someone up in the trees was aiming at him.
‘No way I’m letting Special Admission No. 1’s points slip away.’
Elisa opened her palm. One of her ghost ships turned its cannon toward Simon and locked on with a Darkness round.
“Fire comm—!”
Fwoooosh!
A house-sized black flame came down from the sky, engulfing the ghost ship. The ship tilted under the intense heat, misfiring its cannon into the ground. Flames spread rapidly across the deck.
“Wh-Who did that?!”
Elisa screamed in panic. Above her, even higher in the trees, Maelyn stood with her arms crossed.
“You! Not only did you not help, you’re interfering...!”
“Oh, you idiot.”
Maelyn grinned, conjuring black flames in her palm.
“I told you, people aren’t your game pieces. If you block the mansion, how do you expect my friend to get through? You think I’d help with that?”
“You damn—!”
Both of them swung their arms at the same time.
Cannons and black flames clashed, unleashing a thunderous roar that echoed in all directions.
Superb.