Chapter 92: Final Exams (1)
The day passed faster than I expected. Is that not how ti usually works? It does not co when you wait for it, yet it arrives in an instant when you hope it stays away. Regardless, the day of the final exams had arrived.
"Is everyone well-prepared?"
I was gathered in the auditorium with the other cadets, listening to the words of the Chief Instructor of the first-year students. In a normal school, this would be like a speech from the head of the grade level. Simply put, it was a final word of advice before our departure.
"I am sure that is not the case for everyone. So of you will feel that you lacked ti."
"..."
"But what can you do? Real combat never waits for you to be ready. If you lacked ti, that is entirely your own fault."
Depending on who was listening, his words might have seed unfair. One could argue that it was too harsh for re cadets. However, the Chief Instructor’s words were not wrong in the slightest.
'This is not a place built for spending a laughing, cheerful youth.'
What was the reason Glory was established? It was to raise Players. It was a place to nurture and train those who would hunt the monsters from the Gates and those who would hunt villains. That was the very reason for the existence of Glory.
'And naturally, everything out there will be real combat.'
Would an enemy wait just because soone was unprepared? Would monsters or villains say, "Oh, please tell us when you have finished your preparations"? Absolutely not. This was a world where only death awaited those who were underprepared. Was that not the world in which Players lived?
'Well, it is not an educational thod that only has advantages.'
There is no educational thod in the world that only has advantages. There were certainly disadvantages as well. The fact that fatalities occurred every year was the best example of such a disadvantage. Therefore, it was difficult to clearly judge whether this educational thod of Glory was good or bad. However...
'Right now, that educational thod is proving to be a great help.'
I thought to myself as I looked at the spatial storage bracelet on my wrist. It contained all sorts of things, including the Blue Nightmare, the Blood Wish Sword, and the Petitioner's Glove.
'Real combat is unfair. Therefore, it does not matter what the cadets use to win...'
Those were the words of the money-mad Principal. Honestly, he had probably just wrapped it up with a plausible reason, but the reality was likely different. He had almost certainly accepted bribes from high-ranking parents who could provide their children with high-quality artifacts. But what did that matter now?
'The important thing is that I can take the exam with my artifacts.'
Even if they were full of penalties, these were artifacts that could create variables in an unpredictable situation. If I could bring them along, I would agree with the Principal’s words a hundred tis over. The more options I had, the better. I shifted my gaze back toward the podium.
"As you all already know, I will briefly explain the details of this exam."
The Chief Instructor was passionately delivering his speech without a break. I missed a part of what he said in the middle, but I assud it was sothing I did not need to hear anyway, so I let it go. Moving on, the words he was speaking now seed to be an explanation of the exam rules. In truth, I did not really need to listen to this either.
'I already know everything.'
This was a part that had already appeared in the novel. Every cadet wore a na tag, and they would earn points by taking na tags from others. To prevent students from simply hiding, the locations of the na tags would be revealed at set intervals. In short, it was a battle of pillage.
'There are other hidden rules as well, but...'
Those details would be revealed during the practical exam, so I did not need them right now. As I continued to let the unnecessary information flow in one ear and out the other...
"...Did you all understand? If there is anything you do not understand, ask the person next to you."
Before I knew it, the Chief Instructor’s tedious speech was reaching its end. Sensing that it was ti to wrap things up, he spoke.
"I will end my speech with this. I hope you all achieve great results!!"
The Chief Instructor’s encouragent echoed through the auditorium in a solemn voice. With that, the speech ca to a close. I wondered how many people would actually be energized by those words, but it was not bad. At any rate, after the Chief Instructor finished his speech...
The instructors waiting in the distance began to approach the cadets one by one. They were all instructors in charge of a specific class, and naturally, the instructor who approached Class A was Im Seong-cheol.
"We will now move to the location. Everyone, follow ."
Im Seong-cheol spoke after quickly scanning the room to see if any cadets were missing. We had to use a portal to move to the island. Therefore, we could not stay in the auditorium as he had said. At his words, Class A began to move together following Im Seong-cheol, and it was the sa for the other classes.
'Well then, shall we go?'
I did not know what trials or obstacles were waiting for , but there was no use in being afraid. Everything begins with confidence. I already knew that fact all too well. Therefore, I maintained a steady, unhesitating pace as I moved toward the location of the portal.
***
"Alright, I will explain this only once, so listen carefully. Is that understood!!"
"Yes!!!"
We arrived at the location of the portal after moving in groups. As soon as we arrived, the instructor waiting there began to explain the portal.
"The structure of this portal is slightly different because it was created specifically for the exam."
"..."
"When you take the portal, you will be moved to the island, but you will be sent to completely random locations. Do you understand?!"
Simply put, he was saying that they would scatter everyone because the survival aspect of the exam would be aningless if everyone started in the sa place. All the cadets nodded at his words, and the instructor continued with a satisfied smile.
"We will open the portal in thirty minutes, so wait here."
With that, the instructor walked toward the portal manager. It seed he had nothing more to say. During the thirty minutes given... It was a short ti, but for seventeen-year-olds full of youth...
"I am definitely going to be in the top ranks this ti."
"Hahaha! You? Hey, even a passing dog would laugh at that."
"Do you want to die?"
It was more than enough ti to use productively. Being unable to stay still for even a mont, they were truly teenagers.
'It does not really concern , though.'
They looked like they were having fun, but I did not have anyone in particular to chat with. At most, it would be Kim Su-hyeok or Oh Jin-eon. Just as I was standing still and watching the kids chat happily...
"What are you doing, just standing there blankly?"
A voice suddenly ca from behind . I turned my head, thinking it would be embarrassing if the person had not actually been calling , and there I saw...
"Do Gang-ho?"
"Why are you so surprised? You look like you saw soone you never expected to see."
"No, I just thought you would be hanging out with the kids from your class."
"Not really. It is a waste of ti."
I felt a sudden sense of kinship at those words. Why? Just think about the fact that he ca all the way to where I was while claiming it was a waste of ti. The conclusion was simple.
'He has no friends.'
Even though he spoke like that, he simply did not have any friends. Then again, considering Do Gang-ho’s personality, he was not the type to have many friends. Having grown up through all sorts of hardships, he possessed a very forceful personality. As I stared intently at Do Gang-ho, he frowned and spoke to .
"Do not look at
like that. It makes
feel unpleasant."
"...How was I looking at you?"
"I do not know. But you clearly had an unpleasant expression on your face."
This guy is sharp. It would be great if Kim Su-hyeok had even half of that intuition. Just as I was continuing a conversation with Do Gang-ho about this and that...
"So you were both here. I could not find you because there were so many people."
"Yu-seong and Gang-ho were here!"
Kim Su-hyeok and Oh Jin-eon began to approach us. That was not all.
"I found them! Jin-oh, Ha-yeon, co here quickly!"
"Do not touch . I am going on my own."
"..."
Ha Eun-ha, Ryu Jin-oh, and even Ju Ha-yeon. One by one, they began to gather where I was. As I wore a puzzled expression, wondering why they were all gathering here...
"We are all in the sa club. So I suggested we gather for a mont to give each other a 'fighting' cheer before we leave."
Kim Su-hyeok told
the reason with a smile. It was not as grand a reason as I had thought. But it was not bad. No, in fact, it was quite good.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. If it is you, Yu-seong, I think taking first place will not be a problem."
"How can I take first place when you are here? Regardless of everything else, first and second place will be taken by you and Ryu Jin-oh."
"Haha! I appreciate you saying that."
It was a trivial conversation, but is that not how these things are best? A relationship where you do not just seek each other out when you need sothing, but where you see each other even for minor things. It was a truly precious relationship. It seed that youth was closer to
than I had thought.
'Hmm, thinking about it that way...'
Do they feel like friends? Are friends not people who spend happy tis together, laughing and chatting even over small matters? Well, it was a bit vague to consider a hero I admired as a friend.
'But it is not like I have none.'
Most of the people around
were heroes I admired, but not all of them. There was soone, was there not? Soone I could share pure friendship with. Soone with whom the mory of our first eting was not very pleasant, but who was now becoming a close companion. I thought of this as I spoke casually to Oh Jin-eon.
"So, did you finish your preparations for the practical exam?"
"Yes, I have prepared to the best of my ability. Since I have worked hard, I do not think I will have any regrets."
"If you say so, then it must be true. Still, I hope you get a good result."
"Thank you. I am sure you will have a good result as well."
A good result. We were saying the sa words, but the anings behind them were different. I was talking about a good result in the battle against the villains. Oh Jin-eon was talking about a good result in the final exams. But what did that matter? There is a saying that all roads lead to Ro.
'I do not think that was the right idiom for this situation, though.'
At any rate, as long as the aning got across, it was fine. Therefore, I opened my mouth toward Oh Jin-eon with a slight smile.
"Right. Let's both do our best."
The conversation with Oh Jin-eon seed to end on that note. Was this not a truly heartwarming conclusion to a conversation? ...Or so I thought, but that warmth was shattered instantly.
"What is this, what is this! Is Yu-seong's preference actually n?!"
Ha Eun-ha imdiately poured ink over this heartwarming conclusion. I responded to that nonsense with a look of disbelief.
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"Ahem! That is harsh. Calling it nonsense!"
"If that is not nonsense, then what is? Suddenly saying my preference is n."
"No, it is a reasonable suspicion! Look. It is strange that you only talk to Jin-eon when there are beauties like us right next to you!"
Ha Eun-ha spoke confidently, ignoring Ju Ha-yeon's look of disgust. Faced with her boldness, I...
"..."
I was lost for words. Objectively speaking, it was true that Ha Eun-ha and Ju Ha-yeon were pretty, but saying such a thing with her own mouth was a bit...
'Well, I know why she said it.'
She probably said it to ease the tension for the practical exam that was about to start. In fact, it felt as though the atmosphere had lightened significantly because of her words. Even so, it was still absurd. To suddenly change soone’s preference all at once. There might be people like that, but at the very least, it was not .
'How should I get back at her?'
It is only natural to strike back if you have been attacked. Just as I was contemplating what words to use to tease her...
"Cadets, stop chatting and focus! The portal will open soon, so get ready."
Thirty minutes had passed in the blink of an eye, and the instructor announced that the portal would open soon. At his single word, the noisy atmosphere turned silent in an instant. But just because everyone else shut their mouths did not an I had to. With that thought, I quietly spoke to Ha Eun-ha.
"Ha Eun-ha."
"Yes?"
"I admit that you are pretty too."
"O-oh? That was sudden..."
"But you know what?"
My vision began to be tinted with blue. It seed I would be moving to the island very soon. Therefore, I gave her a slight smile and quickly added my final words.
"They say that the beautiful die young."
"Wait, what?"
"You know what that ans, right? I hope we et soon during the practical exam."
"Yu-seong? A person should not hold a grudge for that long!"
Ha Eun-ha spoke urgently, her usual playful tone completely gone. She seed to be saying sothing else after that, but it was drowned out by the sound of the portal operating and was hard to hear. In tis like this, one should say sothing that is easy to understand even by reading lips. Like this.
"Look forward to it."
Whether she understood my words or not, Ha Eun-ha’s face turned pale and stiff. However, there was no more conversation. As scheduled, the portal perford its role, and Ha Eun-ha and I were sent to different locations. Now that all the first-year cadets had moved to the island...
"It is starting."
The practical exam of the final exams, which I had not been waiting for, had finally begun.
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