Free Web NovelChapter 167: Team Competition [2]
Chapter 166
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Episode 39 - Team Competition [2]
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"First, all cadets who were hit by the spheres without even fighting against me have failed the exam."
The expressions of everyone present fell, and feelings of despair began to bloom.
However, Professor Rein continued, unfazed by their reactions.
"Second, all cadets who fought against me and managed to put up a fight, congratulations, you have passed the exam."
In contrast to what the cadets who had failed were experiencing.
Those who had passed the exam shouted in joy, but then...
"But if you keep causing a disturbance during class, you will fail."
Then, everyone present, as if they had gone back in time, returned to normal.
"Third, the two cadets who gave me a fight and managed to defeat me while my power was at that of a Seven-Star Mage in the Initial Stage, congratulations, you have achieved the highest score."
Lumina, from a distance, did not even seem to be listening to Professor Rein.
Meanwhile, since I could barely feel emotions because of my Trait, I did not react; I simply drew a smile on my face.
In truth, there was no reason to celebrate yet.
"Now, regarding the next exam, as I said, there will be two exams, but this one is actually divided into exactly two parts"
This was the reason I was not celebrating.
The exam is divided into two parts, and the next one will determine the final score for Professor Rein’s exam.
"In this second exam, you will form teams of three cadets; however, cadets ranked from 6th to 1st cannot join the same team. They may be members of other teams or serve as the team leaders."
"In this exam, all of you will fight against one another. Think of it as a team battlefield. The teams that place in the top three will receive the highest score. That is all."
"Now, the exam will take place inside an illusion world, so you may kill one another, and the exam will begin after the break period."
With that said, Professor Rein left the classroom.
Clank!
The door closed, and silence filled the classroom.
But, as if it were a chain reaction...
"Princess Clana, let’s form a team."
"No, I approached her first."
"Please, Miss Clementine, let’s form a team."
"Miss Charlotte, may I join your team?"
"Young Master Leon, may I join your team?"
And just like that, the war to join the main characters’ teams began.
While I "watched" all of this, I noticed that no one approached me.
Was it because of pride? Was it because I was a Dark Attribute user?
Honestly, I was not sure. In any case, I turned to Rinna and asked,
"Do you want to join my team?"
Rinna was not among the top six ranks, so she could join my team.
"I was just about to ask if I could join you, Adel."
"Then that’s a yes."
Now I only needed one more member, but I wondered who it should be.
And it did not take long to find one. A voice reached my ears as a certain annoyance surfaced.
"Older brother, may I join your team, please?"
Veronica appeared in front of me out of nowhere. It was as if she had been moving toward me from the very beginning.
I rubbed my temples as I thought,
’Well, I have Rinna, who is a Mage, so just the two of us are more than enough, actually.’
When creating a team, the first thing you need is a mage.
Mages are extremely important when it comes to building a team on a battlefield.
’Although I’d also like to take Charlotte with me.’
The two of us can coordinate our attacks since we spent more than a month together in the Fallen Maiden’s Memory Gate.
And we have developed a sort of synergy when we fight, so she would be the best option, but...
"Come on, come on, older brother, pick me, please."
"If you choose me, I promise I won’t bother you for a week. One week is my limit."
"And if you choose me, I can defeat several teams with a single strike. You know my swordsmanship very well."
Well, she was right, but in a way, she was annoying me.
"What do you mean by leaving me alone for a week? And what do you mean by saying that’s your limit? Just stop fucking bothering me."
"A-ah, that’s not what it looks like... haha, it’s not like I bother you, hahaha."
A vein throbbed on my forehead; however, I let out a sigh.
"Fine, fine. In exchange, answer a question, something related to what I obtained recently."
"Ah, that... uh, oh no, I think I promised to join another team."
"....?!"
Just as Veronica was about to run away, I grabbed her hand.
"Sorry, but you’re already in, and you’ll have to repay me later."
Her body froze. Noticing this, I smiled sincerely.
***
In the cafeteria.
After grabbing my sandwiches and coffee, I took a seat and started eating.
While doing so, I reviewed what had happened with Veronica.
There was only one question that needed an answer, and that was about the Rings of Origin. I wanted to know why she reacted to the Ring of ■■■■.
Or at least understand why I have the memories of those two people, memories that awakened because of those seven rings.
’I don’t know why, but the way Veronica speaks and the way the girl in my memories spoke, as well as the man standing beside her, are almost identical to the way the two of us talk to each other.’
But I’m not sure if she’ll actually be able to answer.
In any case, I also wanted to know whether there was any connection between the two people in those memories and my current self, or whether Veronica’s way of speaking had something to do with it.
However, since she said she had certain restrictions, I wasn’t sure if she would be able to answer me.
"We’ve secured the highest scores on this final exam, right?"
At that moment, Rinna spoke. I raised my head to "look" at her, confused.
"What do you mean by that?"
Rinna looked back and forth between Veronica and me.
"Uhm, Rank 1 is with me, and Veronica is here too. Isn’t it obvious?"
"...."
"I think you’re mistaken. This time, securing first place will be a little difficult."
I was referring to none other than Lumina. Without using my Unique Trait, Eyes of the End, it would be difficult to guarantee a victory.
If she were a villain, it would probably be much easier.
My current Traits are more effective against villains than against Awakened individuals.
"Is there really someone stronger than you, Adel?"
I tilted my head as I thought for a moment.
"Yes. Do you remember the duels on the first day of class with Professor Franklin?"
"Ah, that’s right... wait, then when Lumina defeated you, it was because she was actually stronger than you."
"...."
"Wasn’t that already obvious?"
I shook my head while taking a sip of coffee.
"Ah, by the way, Adel, how did you and Lumina defeat Professor Rein?"
At Rinna’s question, everyone turned to look at me.
"Yes, that’s true. Professor Rein was already pretty strong when I lost."
"And he probably became even stronger, so the two of you must have had a really hard time."
Charlotte and Julian murmured while looking at me.
I let out a light sigh and said,
"We simply... created a kind of synergy during our final attack and won. There’s nothing more to it."
"What? That’s all?"
"Yes."
In reality, that wasn’t all. I didn’t know why, but I had the feeling that Lumina was familiar with my fighting style.
As if we had fought together more than once.
’But the only time we ever fought was on the first day of class, and we haven’t even fought together to defeat someone stronger.’
It was as though she had already fought alongside me on more than one occasion.
It was strange because I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all at the time.
As if she naturally adapted her fighting style to mine, creating a kind of synergy.
Something that took me three weeks to achieve with Charlotte.
’I think... I should start paying attention to Lumina from now on... I have a slight suspicion, but it should be impossible because everything is tied to the soul.’
Perhaps I existed in her previous regression.
***
Shortly afterward, the break ended, and I returned to the classroom.
Professor Rein was already standing at the podium, looking through a book while seated behind the teacher’s desk.
I took my seat, and after a few seconds, all the cadets sat down as well.
"Now let’s begin the next exam. Everyone who already has a team will be sent into the Illusion."
Clank!
Professor Rein struck the ground with his sword cane, and in the next instant, the surroundings before me changed.
I was no longer in the classroom but in a kind of jungle filled with trees as tall as skyscrapers.
"Adel, look... uh, I mean, the trees here are really tall, and their leaves are purple. What a strange forest."
’Purple leaves?’
I think I already know where we are, although this isn’t the original place, of course, but an Illusion.
"It looks like we’re in the <Soul Tomb>, a forest known for devouring souls."
And above all, a place infested with <Wanderers>, semi-ghostly creatures that nevertheless possess physical bodies.
