'It's torso… if I target that spot with enough force, I could immobilize it in no time,' he calculated.
Just then, he noticed the Warrior strike the exact same spot with his sword. With practiced precision, the student easily beheaded the Level 10 Minotaur, finishing the fight just as the time nearly ran out.
"Excellent, student James passed. Next, Ethan Carter, A-rank Mage."
With one student finished, the class officially started as Professor Lyra began calling names one after another, giving each student a challenge based on their class.
For example, a Mage would face a controlled elemental monster to test their spell precision, while a Scout had to navigate a trap-filled course, demonstrating agility and observation while avoiding the summoned monster's watchful attacks.
Of course, the level of the monsters they faced was always equal to the student's own level, keeping the challenges fair.
With her Zone Authority skill, preparing a suitable testing environment for each student was effortless.
Everyone was impressed as the room itself seemed to react, heating up with energy as the students began discussing who would finish fastest and who might struggle.
Soren noticed that nearly every student present was an A-rank, with a few S-rank hunters, and only a handful, like him, were B-rank.
Elite Hunter Academy didn't earn its reputation for nothing; it seemed
"Good… Student Sophia successfully completed her challenge in under five minutes."
Professor Lyra showed a genuine smile, clearly impressed at seeing a student finish the task so quickly. It seemed this batch was promising; she would enjoy teaching them.
"Next, S-rank Hunter, Aurelia Flareborn, Class: Elemental Mage, Level 20?"
Professor Lyra's brow lifted slightly at such a high-level student.
"Wait a minute…are you the daughter of Madam Archmage Seraphine?"
Lyra immediately recognized her and spoke aloud. Instantly, everyone's attention turned to a tall girl with red hair and an impressive figure, walking steadily forward.
As hunters, nobody here hadn't heard of Archmage Seraphine. She was a well-known and powerful figure in this world.
Even Professor Lyra showed respect when calling her name.
"Yes, Professor. I am Aurelia Flareborn, daughter of Archmage Seraphine."
Aurelia readily nodded, announcing her status with pride, paying no mind to the crowd's reaction.
Instead, her gaze flicked to a certain corner, and a faint smirk appeared on her lips, quickly hidden from view.
"Good… it seems I am quite lucky to teach the daughter of such a distinguished figure,"
Professor Lyra mumbled, feeling a rare sense of fortune. Yet, as a teacher, she made no distinction between students.
Without delay, she turned to the summoner behind her.
"Summon a Level 20 Fire Elemental. Student Aurelia, your challenge is to defeat it within ten minutes."
She spoke before sending Aurelia to the center of the arena she had created. In an instant, Aurelia found herself standing before a massive Fire Elemental, its body wreathed in roaring flames that twisted and danced with a life of their own.
Yet Aurelia showed no fear. Instead, she calmly drew her staff from her inventory, preparing to strike the Fire Elemental and end the challenge as quickly as possible.
She wanted to make a certain someone see who he had truly provoked.
'Ah… I cannot wait to see his ashen face.'
The mere thought sent a shiver through her as she poured even more mana into her staff.
Finally, a wicked, captivating smile appeared on her lips, making her look even more striking and dangerously beautiful.
…
"Crap… Soren, we're done for. She's the daughter of Archmage Seraphine. Do you even know what an Archmage is?"
While Aurelia battled the elemental, Soren grew increasingly irritated by Evan's constant rambling.
"Damn… and I almost fought her in the cafeteria too. Will I get expelled from the academy or what?"
Evan was sweating bullets. He truly had no idea about Aurelia's identity. If he had, he wouldn't have argued with her earlier.
Although part of him still felt she was in the wrong, he realized now that maybe he shouldn't have pushed it.
"This… is really surprising. Soren… your plan might backfire."
Sylvia bit her lip and looked ahead.
"I saw her glance at you just now. You might have made a first impression… but she's way out of your league."
Sylvia murmured in a low voice, forgetting her earlier nervousness.
"Your crush… might just remain a crush,"
She seemed genuinely sympathetic toward Soren, who could only roll his eyes in speechless exasperation.
"Crush…what is crush?"
"Okay, stop acting like an idiot and focus."
Soren quickly pushed Evan before he could inquire further and lightly tapped on Sylvia on her head.
"And you… don't mumble so loudly. Do you want everyone to hear?"
He whispered with annoyance, and she just gave an awkward smile. Fortunately, at that moment, Professor Lyra's voice rang out, diverting Evan's attention.
"Excellent! Student Aurelia has successfully completed her challenge in just one minute. She truly lives up to her name."
Professor Lyra announced loudly, smiling, while Aurelia walked back to her starting position with quiet pride. Behind her, the massive Fire Elemental had already been reduced to cinders, leaving not a trace.
As she returned to her place, Soren noticed her gaze land on him once more, a faint smirk playing on her lips; something his Eagle Eye skill immediately picked up.
'This girl really holds a grudge for the last incident. Sigh… I hope she doesn't file a complaint. Otherwise, I'm finished.'
Soren rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on which Aurelia immediately noticed.
'Pfft… now you know who I am. Let's see if you still try your weird methods to get close to me,' she thought, feeling amused by his reaction.
She wanted to see whether he would continue pestering her or quietly disappear.
"Next: S-rank Hunter, Evan Alarion, Class: Swordsman, Level 15."
Professor Lyra's voice echoed through the room, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
Soren watched as Evan stepped forward, more serious than before. Perhaps due to Aurelia, he seemed under pressure; his aura growing stronger with every step.
'Welp… it looks like this guy is about to show off,' he thought, when suddenly someone pinched his forearm from the side.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" he asked, glancing at Sylvia, whose blue eyes were wide and shimmering with intense curiosity.
"Soren… why aren't you afraid?" she whispered.
Even Evan looked serious just now after knowing Aurelia's identity. But Sylvia noticed that Soren seemed completely unfazed. He didn't even appear surprised after learning who she was.
Curious, she couldn't help but ask. What gives him so much confidence?
'Is it… love?'
The thought made Sylvia's ears flush bright red, a shy expression spreading across her face.
Then, remembering that Soren might not be worthy of Aurelia or could even get retaliated, she felt sorry for him again.
'Maybe… I should help him. He is my friend, after all…'
Sylvia bit her lips, unaware that Soren was watching all of her reactions in real time.
To be honest, speechless didn't even begin to describe what Soren was feeling.
He had already realized that the main heroine of the dating sim Lover's Labyrinth was exactly as he had expected: gossipy, overthinking, and far too dramatic.
'She must be having her weird analysis again.'
Soren completely ignored Sylvia and didn't answer. He was already tired of dealing with one girl and didn't want to deal with another one, too.
Ding!
[Main Heroine Sylvia Everhart's interest in you has increased significantly.]
[Congratulations! You successfully awaken a new Perverted Quest.]
Well, it seemed he jinxed himself as the moment he had those thoughts, he saw a quest panel in front.
— Perverted Quest —
[Quest: Light Sneaky Touch!]
[Content: Secretly touch one of the breasts of the Main Heroine Sylvia without her knowledge.]
[Reward: ??]
[Time Limit: 1 hour]
[Remaining Time: 59:42]
[Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆]
[Failure Punishment: All stats temporarily halved. Gained Debuff: Coward's Mark]
[Note: Because she is the main heroine, successful completion grants an extra reward.]
—
"..."
'Fuck!'