Survival Test (17)
On the 6th day during lunch.
âWhy in the world?â
Clusters of dots on the mini-map were swarming toward the islandâs center.
âTheyâre heading our way.â
âShould we make a run for it?!â
âHo-HoyeonâŠâ
âCalm down, Lumi. Letâs hold off for now. Theyâre acting foolishly.â
Looks like Kim Younghan isnât managing his team as well as he thinks. Despite surpassing Alice and securing 3rd place, heâs leading his team to attack me. That sly guy wouldnât make such a dumb move. Thereâs no benefit in top players like us battling each other.
âLetâs keep a reasonable distance and retreat.â
We should scrap the plan to head to the islandâs center. At this rate, weâll encounter Kim Younghanâs team before the 7th day arrives. freewebnĂžvel.coɱ
âLucy, Lumi, how many points do you have?â
âIâve got 210 points!â
âIâm at 180 pointsâŠâ
âThatâs sufficient.â
We need to maintain at least 200 points before the 7th day. Thatâs the survival condition. Lumi is short by about 20 points, but I can support her, so itâs not a problem. Catching up to Nam Daeun is already too late, so dividing the points is fine. The gap wonât narrow even if we defeat the final boss.
âBut why keep this distance?â
âAlice, letâs just⊠wait.â
It would be nice if Alice just followed my words like the twins, but convincing her requires presenting logical reasons.
âI think there might be something in the center of the island. See the empty space and big tree there?â
âYes?â
âThat could be some marker; thatâs why we should head to the center eventually. But for now, letâs retreat.â
âIt wouldâve been helpful if you told us that earlier. Okay, I get it now.â
Phew⊠Taking a relieved breath, we walked toward the opposite side of Kim Younghanâs team.
***
Leading the way, Kim Younghan followed Lee Hoyeon with a large group of students in tow.
At this pace, weâll catch up with them soon.
His team had been busy defeating boss monsters, discovering treasures, and hunting down other creatures. They had accumulated a substantial number of artifacts along the way.
Among these artifacts were some that boosted movement speed in confined spaces and others that enhanced buffs. Initially, a few students playfully experimented with these artifacts. But unexpectedly, the synergy between two particular artifacts kicked in, propelling the entire Kim Younghanâs team forward.
âLetâs go nab Lee Hoyeon!â
âCome on, letâs go!â
Excited by the increased tracking speed, students enthusiastically raised their hands and followed Kim Younghan.
Whatâs the big deal that has them cheering like that⊠Those overly enthusiastic ones are always the first to go down.
âSighâŠâ
In a situation where Kim Younghan was accumulating points bit by bit from over 80 students, he couldnât simply bail out because he wasnât in the mood. He reluctantly took the lead in chasing Lee Hoyeon.
âCaptain, whatâs with the sigh?â
âDonât call me that.â
Right. I should stay positive. Itâs better that theyâre focusing on Hoyeon rather than coming after me.
The moment someone questions why youâre ranked 3rd in points when everyone is working together, itâs trouble. Because Kim Younghan monopolized codes for treasures and boss monsters, other students couldnât check the point rankings. But with locations being public, the possibility of point rankings becoming known remained.
âLetâs go! To take down the enemy of men, the pretty boy, Lee Hoyeon!â Kim Younghan enthusiastically incited the students.
Sorry, pretty boyâŠ
âCharge!â
âThe enemy of men! Get him!â
âMen are so straightforward⊠Well, Daeun will handle everything, right?â
âOf course. Sheâs really strong.â
Kim Younghanâs team pursued Lee Hoyeon, each driven by their own motives.
***
âArenât they too fastâŠ?â
As Kim Younghanâs team increased their speed, we also accelerated. However, in response, they sped up even more, chasing us at a speed over three times faster than our full sprint.
âThey must have obtained some artifacts.â
âAt this rate, weâre practically handing ourselves over to them.â
Alice and I, the minds behind our teamâs strategy, convened.
Should I hide our coordinates now?
As an experiment, I tried it out and found out that with Rune Barrier, I could cloak our coordinates provided in the Battle Royale. Now, the real issue is how the academy will respond this little trick. Sure, it makes sense to permit a studentâs skill, but thereâs always the chance of a discontented murmur from other students.
If the response is, âThe student went and broke the rules of the exam,â well, thatâs fine and dandy. But if it turns into, âThe academy couldnât even crack through a studentâs skill,â then Iâm brewing up a storm of trouble.
Having had my fair share of the Victoria Academyâs incompetence, Iâd rather not get entangled in their mess again. If I do decide to wipe our coordinates, itâll be a last-ditch effort when thereâs absolutely no other way out. Iâll just have to pretend itâs not intentional.
âLetâs keep moving for now. Iâll try to buy some time.â
âWhy are you doing thatâŠ?â
âBecause Iâm the only one who can escape.â
Itâs as straightforward as it gets. No matter how furiously those guys pursue me, if I simultaneously use âAccelerationâ and âRune Barrierâ to cloak the location, theyâll be running in circles. As long as Alice, Lucy, or Lumi can hang on until the 7th day while I play the sacrificial lamb, then itâs our victory.
Alice looked at me as if surprised by the unexpected decision.
In this situation, I donât see how anyone can be as nice as me.
â Heroine Status Window
[Alice]
[Affection: 42]
[Lust: 38]
[Appetite: 25]
[Fatigue: 45]
Current Status: Iâm trying to figure out if heâs putting on a good act or if heâs genuinely kind.
Alice mustâve endured quite the ordeal with unsavory characters to be so hesitant to trust others. Given her difficult past, I get it. But sheâll catch on to my âpureâ intentions sooner or later.
âGirls, do you know about my Rune Barrier?â
âYes.â
âWith that, I can briefly conceal your coordinates. The barrier will be released when you move too far away from me. Stay hidden until then, got it? Letâs meet at the center, connecting the coordinates of the four of us on the final day, tomorrow.â
Lucy and Lumi, who were listening nearby, shared a look. Even though they worried about me stalling, they gave reassuring nods when I insisted everything would be fine. Alice couldnât hide her surprise at the news about the barrier blocking location coordinates. But there was no time for a lengthy explanation. Kim Younghanâs team was closing in even as we spoke.
âIâll go this way. Letâs regroup after staying hidden.â
While Kim Younghanâs team need a bit to catch up, the girls need time to vanish. To buy that time, I have to confront them head-on.
âHoyeonâŠâ
âYou must survive for sure!â
âGot it⊠Thanks.â
Lucy and Lumi bid me farewell as if sending off a husband to the battlefield. I told them weâd meet again soon. Alice looked at me with a somber expression. I waved lightly and dashed towards Kim Younghanâs team.
***
âWhat is happeningâŠ?â Kim Younghan was the first to sense something amiss. Having tracked Lee Hoyeonâs coordinates for hours, he was the most perceptive.
âCaptain, whatâs wrong?â
âWhy is the pretty boy heading this way?â
Lee Hoyeonâs coordinates suddenly made a U-turn, approaching them.
Whatâs going on in his mind? Even if itâs him, itâs kinda wild to hustle toward us solo with 80 students on our side. Even if there are some low-levels among us, one guy canât take them all down.
âThe coordinates of the three girls are still⊠huh?â
The coordinates of Lee Hoyeonâs team, flickering on the minimap just a bit ago, disappeared.
Did he defeat them?
Younghan quickly checked the point rankings. Aliceâs name didnât disappear. Lucy and Lumi, lower on the list, were also still there.
âCould our pretty boy be carried away by the thrill of being a runner up in the practical test?â
The coordinates of the three girls likely disappeared because they got their hands on some artifact that conceals their whereabouts. Though itâs a bit hard to believe such an artifact exists, thereâs no other logical reasoning.
âHey, why is Lee Hoyeon charging towards us alone?â
âHeâs going 1v80?â
âDo you need that level of determination to win over a girlâŠâ
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Other students also started to notice.
âCaptain, what should we do?â
ââŠâ
Is there a variable in play? But there seems to be no downside. Running into Hoyeon while following his coordinates is bound to happen anyway. If a fight breaks out, we can handle it without a hitch. Even if thereâs no confrontation, itâs no loss; weâll just continue our chase.
âDivide into four teams and surround him! Lee Hoyeon is coming!â
âThe Captain orders a surround!â
Kim Younghan took the smartest route on the fly. The team split into four, encircling Lee Hoyeon. Even with all eyes on this move, their target didnât make a run for it.
The encirclement is already complete. Thereâs no escape.
Kim Younghan welcomed him with confidence. Hoyeon looked oddly chipper, as if he was on a camping trip rather than a survival challenge.
âWell, Younghan. Seeking payback for that 1v1 loss?â
âLong time no see, Mr. Handsome Lee Hoyeon.â
In a large circle, 80 students surrounded Lee Hoyeon. Yet, he seemed relaxed.
âWow. Quite the gathering. Pulling them together like this is quite the skill.â
âWhatâs on your mindâŠ? Youâre completely surrounded. Itâs not the time to be so carefree.â
Kim Younghan couldnât comprehend the situation. Why is he so laid-back? What trick does he have up his sleeve?
âHeh, take it easy. This isnât a war. But winning doesnât mean not getting a scratch.â
Hoyeon shrugged, and hearing that, Younghan let out a bitter laugh.
âGuess itâs just me being serious again.â
With a slight nod, Kim Younghan softened his stern expression and cracked a grin. Clearly, he came to buy time to protect the girls. He didnât need to dissect Hoyeonâs motives.
âHey, everyone! Surroundââ
âIâve got Lee Hoyeon. You can leave it to me.â Cutting off Younghanâs words, a girl emerged from the crowd. With features like a work of art and long, flowing hair, she was an enchanting girl.
âNam Daeun? Whatâs thisâŠâ Seeing the bewildered face, Kim Younghan seemed unaware beforehand.
âI said Iâd take care of him, thatâs what you agreed to.â
âThat was when we knew Lee Hoyeonâs team of four simultaneouslyâNam Daeun, uh, Miss Daeun?â As Kim Younghan spoke, she approached without responding.
ââŠ?â
Lee Hoyeon also seemed thrown off by her abrupt appearance.
I was just trying to ruffle some feathers and make a quick getaway with Acceleration⊠Why is she doing this all of a sudden?
Lee Hoyeon checked Nam Daeunâs status window.
â Heroine Status Window
[Nam Daeun]
[Affection: 51]
[Lust: 17]
[Appetite: 34]
[Fatigue: 26]
Current Status: Iâve geared up for you⊠A little sparring wonât hurt, right?
Nam Daeunâs body was decked out in island-obtainable artifacts.
Sheâs so eager to spar with me?
âLong time no see. I appreciated your help back then.â Nam Daeun thanked him while holding a sword.
Whatâs with the sudden grudge against me?
Lee Hoyeon swallowed nervously, and simultaneously, his heart began to race, and mana started accelerating.