Chapter 119. Survival Exam (12)
First-year cadets gathered around Kim Younghan.
The so-called Kim Younghan Team had already grown to over 50 members.
"Hey, is that guy really in the same year as us?"
"...Don't ask me."
"Still, you placed third in the one-on-one duels."
"I told you I didn't place third."
Kim Younghan was shocked watching Nam Daeun's movements.
'There's no way I could've beaten her...'
He had been a little disappointed that his surprise move, which he had saved for the finals, was blocked by Lee Hoyeon... but now, that disappointment felt ridiculous.
If he had faced Nam Daeun, the match might've ended in three seconds.
"How the hell did our pretty boy beat her...?"
Kim Younghan seriously wondered if gathering cadets would even be enough to take down Lee Hoyeon.
But soon, Nam Daeun finished her hunt and approached.
"Good work."
"Here. Points."
"Yeah, thanks. I'll transfer you the contact permit I got over there."
Kim Younghan transferred to Nam Daeun a permit that allowed contact with the outside world.
'Transfer all your contact permits to me.'
That was Nam Daeun's condition for joining the team.
Kim Younghan recalled their first conversation.
'All you want is contact permits with the outside world?'
'I have enough points. Don't need them.'
'...Fine. I'll give you all the permits. Take some points too. We still need to split things fairly.'
'Do as you like.'
He still didn't fully understand it, but she'd gathered a ridiculous number of 5-minute permits, allowing her over an hour of contact with the outside every day—there had to be someone important to her out there.
'A boyfriend, maybe?'
Apparently, she'd been collecting permits by taking down every monster she saw even before joining the team—so it was probably a boyfriend or family member.
"I'm heading out."
Nam Daeun took the permit and disappeared somewhere.
"She's always like that. Where does she go?"
"Probably to make a call. Just leave her be."
Kim Younghan didn't understand her actions but didn't try to.
He had a feeling digging deeper would only get him hurt.
*
"Finish it!"
At my shout, Elise dashed between the Wood Giant's legs and swung her sword.
Rumble—
After about ten minutes of fighting, the boss monster was defeated.
The Wood Giant was a giant made of wood.
The vines extending from its hands and feet made it an annoying monster.
Naturally, I didn't go all out. No point wasting energy where it's not needed.
Since I knew Nam Daeun was around, I had to conserve most of my strength just in case.
"Phew. Nice shot."
"Yeah."
Elise approached, brushing dirt and grass off her sword.
Maybe it was because she felt good physically, but her expression looked better too.
'...She's definitely gotten faster.'
Even in a short time, my mana massage seemed to be working.
I scanned the code on the back of the Wood Giant's head to tally up the points.
[Wood Giant defeated! You earned 80 points.]
- Boss monster defeat reward.
- You have earned one opportunity to contact the outside world.
- This opportunity is transferable.
"Ah, this again?"
Why are contact permits with the outside showing up so often?
They weren't in the original storyline.
"You want it?"
"If you're offering, I'll take it."
I transferred the contact permit to Elise and stretched out on a nearby rock.
Elise was swinging her sword in the air.
Ever since I gave her the mana massage, she's been training like this in her spare time.
She's probably craving my massages more now—good sign. And of course, her growing combat ability is great too.
The survival exam had already entered Thursday.
More than half the exam period had passed—normally, the weaklings should've been weeded out by now.
At this point, only cadets who could at least read mana and prepare for ambushes should be left.
But strangely, a lot of people were still surviving, so there were plenty of prey.
Like the duo heading this way now.
They had no clue about our presence.
Elise had already stopped training and was hiding behind a tree. I signaled her with my eyes.
She understood and drew her sword, ready to pounce.
As the duo passed by, we moved simultaneously.
'Flame Burst.'
Flames burst from the ground targeting the rear cadet, and Elise, leaping from behind the tree, slashed the back of the startled one.
"Gaaah!"
The cadet who got slashed collapsed to the ground.
"W-what the hell!"
Elise ignored the remaining one and slashed the fallen cadet's smartwatch.
The cadet's body teleported away. That wound was deep—it must've hurt like hell.
The last one, upon seeing us, nearly gave up and lowered his sword.
"Shit. If I knew I'd run into these guys, I should've joined Kim Younghan's team..."
But what he muttered sparked my curiosity.
"Hold up, Elise. Hey, what did you just say?"
I stopped Elise's sword as she went to finish him and questioned the muttering cadet.
"W-what?"
He looked confused that I was asking questions instead of finishing him.
"You just said Kim Younghan's team. What's that about?"
The cadet's face brightened slightly—probably thinking he had a chance to live.
"You seriously don't know? Half the remaining cadets are probably part of it. And you, the guy at the center of it all, don't even know? This is valuable info—if I tell you, will you spare me?"
"Yeah. I'll spare you."
"R-really?!"
Then, he started talking about Kim Younghan's team.
Apparently, it started with a group of cadets without food sticking together. Then one by one, they began to rally around Kim Younghan with the idea: Let's stop fighting and steal Lee Hoyeon's supplies!
That group had now grown into a massive force of over 50 people.
I was honestly dumbfounded.
'That sly bastard Kim Younghan.'
The idea of using me as a target is probably just a pretext—they likely just needed a large group of people.
Kim Younghan isn't that stupid.
By selling me out, he's gathering points. The more people he has, the better his chances of surviving until the end, and if they all make it, Kim Younghan, who's collecting the points, will get the most.
But why is Nam Daeun with them?
"Th-then I'll go?"
"Yeah. Take care."
The male cadet finished speaking and started watching my reaction nervously.
I waved him off as he slowly got up.
The cadet hesitated for a moment, then began backing away. Soon, Elise slashed his smartwatch.
"You said you'd spare me! You bastard!"
"I did spare you. Elise is the one who killed you."
If I let him go, he'd probably join that so-called Kim Younghan team. Why would I be dumb enough to allow that?
The cadet cursed as he was teleported, and the forest was silent again, with only the two of us remaining.
"Sorry. Looks like you got caught up in this because of me."
Elise had nothing to do with this, but now she was fighting alongside me because of my situation.
But then again, I'm not exactly at fault either, am I?
"If we lead them into small-scale guerrilla warfare, we can totally win."
Elise was right. Honestly, if Nam Daeun weren't there, the two of us could probably take on twenty people.
If I went all out, I might even be able to handle twenty on my own... maybe?
But with over 50 already gathered, and both Kim Younghan and Nam Daeun in the mix, a head-on fight is a no-go.
So what should I do?
The answer's simple—just keep Elise on my side.
The underperforming cadets will get filtered out on the final day anyway.
All we have to do is keep running until then.
Kim Younghan's method of gathering people by selling me out may seem smart... but to someone who knows the future, it's just dumb.
"Whatever. Let's not worry about it until we run into them."
We'll deal with it when the time comes.
Of course, I'm only talking big because Elise is with me—when it really happens, I'll be running.
I mean, come on, how the hell do you beat 50 people?
"So... can we do it now?"
"Ah... I'll set up the tent."
Her slightly flushed face and the way she asked me—that was our signal.
Elise was asking for a mana massage.
Since it involved baring her back, even in broad daylight we always set up the tent for it.
I sometimes wondered if the professors would get suspicious, but it didn't matter.
It's not like they cared about cadets' personal lives, and I had nothing to hide.
Elise went into the tent first.
A moment later, she called me in, and when I entered, I saw her lying in a position I hadn't expected.
Until now, she'd always taken off her top and covered her chest and stomach with clothes, sitting with her back exposed and her head turned.
I assumed it'd be the same, but this time, she was lying down fully dressed in her cadet uniform, only lifting the part covering her stomach.
"...Elise?"
"I-I just wanted to try a different area. To see if it works too."
"Got it."
Elise had her face covered with both hands.
Judging by her flushed cheeks and ears peeking through, she was incredibly embarrassed.
'Even her belly button is cute.'
Her smooth abs had no extra fat, and her belly button was adorable.
I couldn't see her tits or pussy—the most important parts of a woman's body—but even this much was sexy enough.
Looking at Elise, lying there with her face covered, felt like appreciating a piece of art.
"Alright, I'll start now."
I wanted to take my time again, but since it was daytime, we didn't have much time.
Still, there were upsides.
The belly is an easy place to stimulate what's right underneath.
The mana spreading from my hand split between her stomach and pussy.
Half stimulated the mana circuits in her belly, and the other half touched her pussy and womb.
"Nnngh..."
Elise clamped her mouth shut with her hands, trying to stifle her moans.
'As long as no one catches me bullshitting, it's fine.'
If word got out that some guy was groping a girl under false pretenses, the Iris Guild Master wouldn't sit still.
A hitman might even be sent after me.
That's how scary the Iris Guild is.
"Nnng... w-wait a sec."
"Ah, yeah."
I had been lost in thought and accidentally lost control of the pleasure I was sending her.
★ Heroine Status Window
[Elise]
- [ Affection: 41 ]
- [ Lust: 62 ]
- [ Appetite: 30 ]
- [ Fatigue: 41 ]
Current Status: Is massage... always this refreshing?
Elise's body was damp with sweat.
I decided it was the perfect time to talk.
"Do you feel warmer or anything like that?"
"Haa... a little. I think so."
"Then you're probably someone who responds well to it. I was like that too."
I tossed out a half-assed lie to keep the conversation going.
"R-really?"
"Yeah. Even if you feel weird, just go with it. I'll make sure you don't get hurt."
Whether she trusted me or was just that desperate for the treatment, she was listening very earnestly.
I kept talking to lower her guard as much as possible.
"Nnngh..."
This time, I only stimulated the mana circuits in her belly—didn't touch anything else.
Though I didn't forget to send a bit of mana down into her womb.
"Haa... ah... ngh..."
'Watching her react is kinda fun.'
Whenever I subtly sent mana down, she'd try to hide how good it felt by holding her breath—it was funny to watch.
"W-wait. That's too low."
"Oh, sorry. I got too focused."
I pretended to reach for her pelvis by accident, but of course, it didn't work.
Too bad.
But hey, she's not rejecting my massage at all now. That's a win.
Now I just need to gradually expand the areas I touch.
I don't know how far we'll go during this survival test... but even after it's over, she'll come looking for me anyway, so it doesn't matter.