< Chapter 85: Survival (4) >
This was the hidden rule of the survival test.
“…Right. I thought the villain was having too much of an advantage.”
This survival test was for skill assessment. There couldn’t be any rules that were unilaterally advantageous.
“Did I go too far?”
In a game of Mafia, the one who acts out is the first to die.
I said so, and I was the one who went too far.
The only fortunate thing is that only my name has been revealed.
As long as my location information is not disclosed, whether it’s 10 times or 2 times, there is no way to target me directly.
It only became impossible to approach me pretending to be nice and then stabbing me in the back.
If we engage in direct combat, there will be no significant difference from before.
I only have to continue the attacks as I have been doing. Nothing has changed.
“Good.”
I got up from my seat.
Having organized all my thoughts, I was ready to begin the hunt again.
I followed the position of the cadet that appeared on my terminal.
* * *
“Brother. How’s the practical test going?”
Yu Hwa was making a call from inside the car.
―It’s going quite interestingly.
The person on the other end was Pi Jin Ho.
“What’s so interesting about it?”
―That’s a secret for now. Check it out when it’s announced. It would be unfair.
“Ugh.”
Yu Hwa slightly pursed her lips.
―I heard from Mr. Jung Il-yong.
“Ah, you mean he agreed to manufacture Seo-yul’s weapon?”
―Yes, he said he met him with Maiden.
“Yeah, the three of us went. You should’ve come too, brother. Oh, you said you were busy, right?”
Pi Jin Ho fell silent at Yu Hwa’s words.
―…Did Maiden say that?
“Huh? Yeah. She said you were busy when I asked why you didn’t come.”
―Tsk. Still sulking, I see.
Pi Jin Ho sighed softly. Yu Hwa understood everything from his reaction.
“Ah…unnie didn’t tell you at all?”
―Yes.
Somehow.
―She’s relentlessly chasing after some villain’s tail as if giving herself a job to do was something to sulk about.
Pi Jin Ho shook his head, and Yu Hwa forced a smile.
It seems that the construction of the educational labyrinth was Pi Jin Ho’s own consideration.
Maiden had said something about him being a bad guy who forced a busy person to work through threats.
The opinions were poles apart.
“Ah, right, brother.”
―What?
Yu Hwa decided to change the subject and ask something she had been curious about.
“How exactly is Seo-yul’s physical ability?”
―Are you asking me to reveal the information of a cadet?
“Oh, come on. This is fine. Everyone knows it’s updated after the test.”
After the first test is over, the profiles of the cadets are updated on the school’s website.
It should have been updated long ago, but the continuous delay of the test also delayed the profile update.
“And everyone knows it anyway? Roughly D-rank.”
Yu Hwa recalled the training video released by the military academy and said. In the video, Kang Seo-yul showed the movements of a D-rank superhuman to anyone who saw it.
‘He’s really meticulous.’
Yu Hwa believed that Kang Seo-yul was at least an S-rank superhuman.
The fact that he fought alone with Vagabond and held his ground was the most definite proof.
The fact that he dealt with a villainous duo of Sword spirit and Ghost spirit that had brought Shin Jia to that point in such a short time was also a reason.
It didn’t make sense that such a person’s ability was D-rank.
Even though she was confident, she asked Pi Jin Ho about Kang Seo-yul’s abilities because she had a different intention.
―Well, I suppose this is okay. He’s reached D-rank for now.
“Has he recently improved?”
―Yes.
“Is that confirmed with your ‘eye’?”
―Of course.
“…I see.”
A light showed on Yu Hwa’s eyes.
‘I knew it.’
That was the purpose of the question.
Pi Jin Ho’s ‘eye that sees mystery’ saw him as D-rank.
This meant that Kang Seo-yul possessed some sort of power-sealing ability.
Or there was a possibility that Pi Jin Ho was lying, but…
―He’s my disciple, but his growth is incredibly fast. It’s not an exaggeration to call him a genius.
That didn’t seem to be the case for now.
“Right.”
That pride-filled voice was proof.
The voice of one who genuinely admired Kang Seo-yul’s growth.
‘Indeed, Brother Jin Ho doesn’t know about Seo-yul’s secret.’
He could never have said that if he knew about Kang Seo-yul’s past and hidden power.
‘It’s confirmed now.’
Pi Jin Ho thought of Kang Seo-yul simply as the most promising future talent.
The reason for taking him as a disciple was that he believed he possessed outstanding talent.
―But lately, Yu Hwa, you’ve also been interacting a lot with my disciple. Is there a reason?
“Of course, there’s a reason. I want to build a relationship with the best prospect who will be responsible for Korea’s future.”
Yu Hwa shrugged it off.
* * *
Practical Exam Day 4, 2 PM.
I’ve overcome big and small challenges and successfully dealt with an additional 6 cadets.
That makes a total of 21.
Among those 21, including Choi Jihoon, there were two villains.
Since the score for villains is double, my score is equivalent to having plundered the score of 46 regular cadets.
Even if all other ways of gaining points, including survival points, are employed, this is an absolutely unbeatable score.
I could essentially say that I’m in the first place.
“I have gotten one more chip. Unless something really extraordinary happens, there’s no way I’ll be eliminated, right?”
I looked at the supply box in front of me and chuckled.
I don’t know how many terminal upgrade chips there are, but there certainly won’t be many.
Getting two chips was lucky.
I hummed a tune as I plugged the chip into the terminal.
[Terminal Function Upgrade List]
[You can choose one of the following.]
[1. Check the villain list.]
[2. Check the monster location.]
[3. Check the artifact location.]
[4. Brooch protection function one time.]
The familiar upgrade list appeared.
“What shall I choose?”
Last time, after this, a fifth function for checking the villain’s terminal appeared, but I’ve already chosen that function.
So, I have to choose one of these four.
Personally, I’m drawn to the brooch protection function.
Even though it’s only once, having insurance is a big deal.
“Huh?”
That’s when the noise appeared on the screen.
A new message popped up on the terminal.
[Villain’s terminal check.]
[A new function is added.]
[5. Check the cadet’s location. (upgrade)]
[You can upgrade an opened function.]
“Was there an upgrade?”
This was an unexpected development.
I never thought there would be such a function.
“Number 5, no question.”
I chose the 5th function upgrade without hesitation.
After a brief loading period.
[The upgrade is complete.]
The moment I saw the new message, my mouth fell open.
“My goodness.”
[Displays the real-time location of all cadets within a 2km radius.]
Dots representing the cadets were marked on the screen.
From a 2-hour cooldown to real-time.
From one cadet to unlimited.
It was a tremendous evolution, but I was not surprised because of its performance.
“…What is this?”
There were dozens of blinking dots on the terminal.
Dots representing the locations of the cadets.
Those dots were moving as if surrounding me.
* * *
“The location has…?”
Kang Seo-yul’s position had changed.
He was definitely located in the center just a moment ago, but now he was standing exactly in the position of the Beta team out of the four teams.
“How?”
Had he moved all the way over there at the moment he looked away from the terminal to use the radio? Kang Seo-yul isn’t that fast.
What on earth had happened?
“Beta team, respond! What’s going on? Report immediately…”
That’s when a familiar voice came from the radio.
―Why so serious?
It was a low voice as if pretending, but one could instantly recognize whose voice it was.
“Kang Seo-yul…”
―Why so serious? It’s just a test, a game. If anyone hears this, they’ll think it’s real. Act like yourself. Be yourself.
Kim Chul-jin laughed a bit.
“That’s true. I got so absorbed in the situation without realizing it. How did you know?”
―What? About the ambush?
“Yes.”
―It’s nothing. I just used two chips like you. There’s a villain-only feature, you know.
“Of course, that makes sense.”
―But I didn’t expect you to target me in the first squad. It was a surprise.
Kim Chul-jin laughed sarcastically.
“Did the Beta kids get wiped out?”
―No. They’re all sitting on the floor, looking up at me.
“What?”
Just looking?
“…Why?”
―Because they didn’t think to attack.
Kang Seo-yul said with a smile.
Kim Chul-jin’s brows furrowed.
What on earth is happening?
―Chul-jin.
Kang Seo-yul spoke.
―Do you know why they didn’t provide any equipment other than this terminal for this survival match?
It was an unexpected question.
“…Well, excluding all external reasons, to prove one’s inherent strength. Isn’t it?”
―Right. Using items wouldn’t make for a fair evaluation. You must prove your worth using only your power.
“Why is that?”
It seemed out of context for this situation.
―Then Chul-jin.
Kang Seo-yul asked with a playful voice.
―Is the guardian a factor outside of myself, or my power?
“What?”
―Difficult, right? I thought it was ambiguous, too.
Kang Seo-yul chuckled.
―But as things got urgent, I suddenly thought. No one calls a summoner’s ability to summon creatures an advantage from items, right?
Kang Seo-yul spoke cheerfully.
―So if I summon a guardian in Korea with my power, is it my inherent strength or not? What do you think, Chul-jin?
Kim Chul-jin’s eyes trembled.
“…You don’t mean.”
―Yes. You’re right.
Kang Seo-yul laughed.
From now on, it’s all or nothing.
―Let’s do whatever we want with our Goldie.
―Kwaaaaaang!
A tiger’s roar echoed from afar.
< Chapter 85: Survival (4) > End
