Survival Test (19)
In this world, elves fall far from the picturesque image people often associate with beauty. They manifest as unhinged creatures reveling in the sadistic pleasure of hunting humans. They possess intelligence, but due to a different language, communication is impossible.
The High Elf is likely under magical control; therefore, even if communication were an option, it remains voiceless. This final boss serves as a mechanism designed to address students who opt for inaction until the final day of the academyâs survival test. By actively hunting monsters and uncovering treasures during the week-long survival test can easily result in around 200 points.
The High Elf has a policy against allowing those who avoid combat and choose to run and hide to survive until the testâs conclusion. Merely enduring until the final day still garners a significant points, as the challenges of hiding and surviving are no simple tasks.
Anyway, In the original game, only a few students were dealt with, and the protagonist confronted it. But now, things have changed significantly.
âWhat the hell?!â
âAaaargh!â
Kim Younghanâs group, as they came closer, found themselves under assault from the High Elfâs arrows, which capable of striking across the entire island.
The teamâs large size, with 80 members, proved to be more of a drawback than an advantage. Having a considerable number of people doesnât always equate to a strategic benefit.
Had only around 20 students remained after battling and claiming each otherâs points, they wouldnât have been the elfâs primary targets. The ones genuinely concealing themselves and surviving would have been the focus and faced elimination.
However, an excessive number of students managed to survive. The fixed point distribution system meant that, with an increased participant count, the points had to be dispersed among them. Naturally, this isnât Kim Younghanâs fault, as predicting such a scenario is unreasonable.
Actually, there was a hint given yesterday on the 6th day.
[The names and locations of all students will be displayed in real-time on the mini-map. Students who are just running away to survive, take note.]
This served as a clue about the High Elfâs presence. Iâm uncertain whether it was deliberately placed for players to comprehend. I learned the details by reading explanations circulating on the internet.
I turned on the point ranking, hoping that no students would die due to accidents.
ââââââââ
Current point ranking on the island.
1. Lee Hoyeon. 1210p
2. Kim Younghan. 452p
3. Alice. 434p
4. Lucy. 210p
.
.
.
âââââââ-
There are only five students on the island with scores surpassing 200 points at the moment. This implies that everything will be handled automatically, even if you choose not to intervene. Itâs that simple.
I successfully distanced myself from Kim Younghanâs perplexed team, courtesy of the arrows, and proceeded towards the coordinates of the twins and Alice on the map.
I need to go share points with Lumi.
***
In the academy meeting room, professors were engrossed in the final day of the survival test.
âShouldnât we tweak this a bitâŚ?â A professor cautiously brought up the situation in the test where, with each shot from the High Elfâs arrow, students teleported one or two at a time.
âThe initial 200-point calculation has changed too much now. If we continue like this, everyone except for five will be eliminated.â
âWhy does that matter? Elimination doesnât equal disqualification; itâs a relative evaluation. The only difference is the order.â
âThat may be true, but⌠sudden mass eliminations on the last day due to a point limit could raise fairness concerns.â Another professor sighed.
Fairness. Itâs always the new professors raising that topic. They hadnât fully adapted to Victoria Academy yet.
âFairness? Since when did we care about that⌠You know. Academy policy. Developing those damn situational adaptability skills.â
Situational adaptability.
Getting accustomed to unexpected and sudden events, a characteristic of professions with a lot of unpredictability. Victoria Academy emphasized situational adaptability as an educational institution.
âStill, fairness isâŚâ
âIf youâre going to rant about fairness, there are more than a couple of things to pick on. Itâs a fact that mages have the upper hand in survival. They can easily light a fire to cook and maintain at least minimal cleanliness with magic; some students even created makeshift beds with magic. Why didnât you say anything about those?â
âNo, using magic is unavoidable for mages. Iâm not talking about that. I think we should have stopped Lee Hoyeon from bringing in the food in the first place.â
âLast year, during the special exam, some students brought a map of the academy to prepare for the test that might happen inside the academy. I heard a few first-year students did the same this year after hearing that story. I see it as a similar logic. Itâs the studentsâ freedom to prepare. Weâve already concluded by announcing the notice of the special exam.â
âI guess soâŚâ
While professors frequently debated fairness among themselves, in the end, they couldnât beat Victoria Academyâs policy. Itâs the studentsâ freedom to prepare however they want. The academy only looks at situational adaptability. It doesnât matter if the situation is advantageous or disadvantageous.
Creating an advantageous situation is also a skill, proven by the fact that Kim Younghan has received praise for his ability to recruit students and manipulate situations to his advantage.
âDonât waste time and keep an eye out to prevent any casualties.â An older professor scolded while looking at the monitor.
Even if it feels irrational right now, the professors who graduated from the academy knew that these experiences, which were accumulated through repeated tests, would form a strong foundation.
âA-13 drone student appears to be in danger. We might need to enforce teleportation.â
âDonât ask, just enforce teleportation. And monitor Lee Hoyeon and Kim Younghan more closely.â
The professors focused on the monitors. They didnât want to miss the end of the test.
***
âThank goodness⌠Lumi, scan the monster quickly.â
âYes, thanks⌠Lucy.â
Upon hearing the warning that students with less than 200 points were in danger, they hurriedly tried to share points, but Lucyâs points were only 210, and when she asked Alice to share, the sharing function itself was blocked.
It was a trick of the academy to prevent students from surviving by sharing points on the last day without eliminating each other. Fortunately, Lumiâs points were just 20 short, so they could obtain them by dealing with a passing monster.
Originally, Lee Hoyeon was supposed to share points, but there was no chance to do so on the 7th day. Moreover, Nam Daeunâs appearance messed up the plan and slightly delayed the timing.
âLook, heâs coming this way. It seems he managed to escape in the chaos.â
âPhew, thatâs a relief.â
âY-yes, it is.â
Lucy and Lumi breathed a sigh of relief with their hands on their chests.
Watching this scene, Alice thought, These twins are fascinating every time I see them. With only a difference in hair color, they look exactly the same, and even their actions are so cute that I want to hug⌠ehem, what am I thinking about someone the same age as me?!
Looking at Lee Hoyeon approaching at a rapid pace, Alice thought it was an opportunity. Itâs the last chance to ask these two without Lee Hoyeon around.
âWhat do you think of Lee Hoyeon?â
âS-suddenly? Well, heâs a really nice guy.â
âI-I also⌠think heâs a really nice person.â
Lucy and Lumi, caught off guard by the abrupt question, managed to give good answers while giggling.
âAre you hiding something?â
âUh, hmmâŚâ
âW-well⌠do you think so?â
Both seems to have something, but⌠Ah, itâs frustrating. Should I investigate on my own?
âHey, you girls!â
A voice from afar. It was the familiar voice of Lee Hoyeon. Although the distance was considerable, it seemed like he had already arrived.
Alice managed her expression to not reveal anything.
***
Their expressions seem off.
They werenât talking, and there was this awkward atmosphere in the air. I checked the status windows of the trio.
â Heroine Status Window
[Lucy]
[Affection: 88]
[Lust: 40]
[Appetite: 60]
[Fatigue: 55]
Current Status: Heâs a good guy⌠definitely.
â Heroine Status Window
[Lumi]
[Affection: 92] (+0.3)
[Lust: 63]
[Appetite: 25]
[Fatigue: 39]
The source of this cđ¨ntent is freŃnovelkiss.com.
Current Status: Being a secret friend is toughâŚ
â Heroine Status Window
[Alice]
[Affection: 42]
[Lust: 38]
[Appetite: 25]
[Fatigue: 45]
Current Status: Not keen on learning infiltration techniquesâŚ
Seeing these incomprehensible thoughts made it even more confusing. No, nowâs not the time to worry about this.
âLumi, where did you get the points?â I checked the rankings, and Lumiâs points magically hit 200. I ran like crazy here to share points.
âOh, I got them by defeating a monster together.â
âReally? Thatâs a relief.â
Well, the process isnât that important now that the points are secured.
âLetâs go right away.â
âTo where?â
âWhere else? Elf-hunting time.â
âThe elf? Do we really need to?â
âAfter the elf deals with those bullet sponges, weâre next.â
It was stated that the elf would prioritize students with less than 200 points, not that he wouldnât target those above.
Enduring those long-range arrows for a whole day doesnât make sense. In the original work, the protagonist happened to be located around the center of the island, so he managed to deal with the elf somehow. So, for the sake of the hidden piece, I have to handle it according to the original plan.
I initially planned to confront the elf alone. However, fighting with Nam Daeun left me with insufficient mana at the moment. I ran and filled up my mana as much as possible, but I didnât want to risk it. If we hunt together, I can still collect the hidden piece alone. I just need to prepare for it after defeating the elf. Alice and Lucy will handle the actual task.
âAlright.â
âOkay. Letâs go quickly.â
When even Alice was on board, Lucy and Lumi were sure to tag along.
Off we went, sprinting toward the islandâs center. The arrows didnât even bother glancing our way, as the elf was preoccupied with Kim Younghanâs team which boasted around 80 members. Checking the point rankings, there were now only about 30 survivors.
We need to run quickly before those bullet sponges run out.
A large tree stood at the islandâs core. Up top, the High Elf kept shooting arrows. I prepped my magic, Ignition, a straightforward flame-spurting spell, but its simplicity made it effective.
The target is that tree.
Set the World Tree ablaze.
Fwoosh!
A magic circle was drawn rapidly from my hand, and everything, including the tree and the elf standing on it, was engulfed in flames.
âGaaaaaargh!â
The High Elf dropped its bow and clutched its head as the flames consumed it.
What the heck? Did I bring the trio along for no reason? Looks like I miscalculated my firepower.