"Well, as we agreed, the secondary roles are: Alice as a scout, Eira as a trap detector, Elena disarms, Selene of the blacksmith’s and I’ll be in charge of alchemy. Okay, now then, let’s get into acction."
It was the second day of the examination, and we were finally starting to get serious about earning points, clearly assigning secondary tasks.
We went into the forest and began, in an organized fashion, to hunt three- and four-star beasts, which were commonplace in this area. If we wanted to take on the stronger ones, we would have to go to the north of the forest, so we headed in that direction.
All of us present were strong thanks to the ’Dual Synchronization (A)’, and we had reached the fourth tamorphosis and they had stats almost identical to mine.
Even Eira, although she doesn’t share the synchronization, she reached the fourth tamorphosis, but she is only strong in mana stats, unlike us who have all but the defense in the fourth tamorphosis.
Leaving that aside, the objective of this examination was to collect points, which were found in various forms in this forest. They were obtained by defusing traps, collecting beneficial herbs and tals, and also by hunting beasts, which had points assigned to them.
The purpose was to collect as many points as possible. In the end, they could even be converted into academy points to be exchanged for real items.
The team with the most points won, simple. Also, whatever we collected, the academy would buy it or we could keep it for personal use.
It was not allowed to eliminate other teams, so we didn’t have to worry about back attacks. It would be foolish to attack a team because, unable to eliminate them, they might co back for revenge. If you attack several, they might all unite against you later.
Although it was allowed to steal points, it was not a profitable tactic. Besides, there were more rules, but I forgot them already. Luckily, Alice was here to remind if I did sothing wrong.
Anyway, the five of us continued on our way through the forest, and finally started to reach the more dangerous areas. Nothing out of the ordinary so far. We were going at a good pace and kept it up for the rest of the day.
...
..
.
"Big sister, go ahead!"
"Right. Luminous Lances: Laminae Lucis."
It was the fourth day of the examination, and we were reaching the most dangerous area we were allowed to enter. In front of us was a beast: a snake with fluorescent orange scales.
It was a powerful creature and would give us a lot of points. It didn’t stand a chance; with our team’s work, I finally finished it off with a light spell that summoned spears of light.
I was sure few teams could do sothing like that, and it was a boss placed by the academy for students who thought they were capable.
We were on a good pace, and if nothing happened, we’d easily take first place.... That is until the ground began to shake.
’I had definitely just invoked the final flag.’
And I say final because this had started a few days ago, and as I suspected, after the shaking our bracelets, which were safety devices, began to ring. Through them, the urgent voice of an instructor reached us.
"Attention! To all students, unusual activity has been detected in the forest. The examination will be temporarily cancelled. Stay in position; a flyship will be coming to reco..."
["Attention! To all students, unusual activity has been detected in the forest. The test will be temporarily cancelled. Stay in position; a flyship will be arriving to pick y...."]
’Yeah..., what I just heard was a suspiciously abrupt cut of the ssage, wasn’t it, ’
’yes, I can’t believe it actually happened, sothing, but it ans we’re not paranoid’
’luckily we’re ready, heh we can, use this, to ask for compensation, to the girls who didn’t believe in us’.
"Exactly, we’re finally going to get Elena to wear the maid’s Micro vikini, while serving us.’
’we’ll make the rest of them wear it too, huehuehueheu¿
’huehuehuehehuhue’
Talk to my real self, or rather to myself, to relieve the tension, I will ignore elena who looks at penetratingly, as if she knew what I was discussing, with myself....., well, whatever is coming I am already prepared.
And as if to prove 100% that it was a situation, just like that, even evading my perception, a figure erged from the bushes.
It was what appeared to be an older woman, with orange hair and sowhat pale, dressed in robes. She was looking at us with interest, as if sizing us up.
I thought she might be an unknown instructor who had co to protect us, but on her chest she brazenly wore a symbol that I recognized, and I imdiately realized that she was not an instructor.
That symbol ant only one thing: people who definitely should not be here at this ti and place.
Even for , who had been alert to possible variables since the demon attack, I was taken by surprise by their presence. But, still, I was ready.
Finally, my paranoia proved correct, and the preparations that everyone said were useless would now be useful in dealing with this situation.
The woman, who seed to have finished assessing us, spoke with a cheerful tone, as if satisfied with her finding.
"Well, so you guys are one of the most talented groups? I see that the information is correct. A whole group in fourth tamorphosis, that’s great. Our gods will be happy. Okay, guys, don’t resist, I an you no harm, just follow obediently."
The situation was progressing abruptly and without context, but I understood everything quickly. There was no need to panic.
The woman seed powerful, but if she had been able to get in here without causing too much alarm, then she shouldn’t be strong enough to worry about. So, for now, I didn’t fret too much.
Rather, I looked at the other girls and, with a smug expression, said:
"See? I told all of you, you called paranoid?.... Now, who’s the paranoid one?"
"Uh... wait, why are you so calm? This is not the ti for this," Eira said.
Well, I already had my counterasures ready for unexpected cases like this, so the tension of the situation didn’t affect .
Besides, I knew who these guys were and that they wouldn’t hurt us for the ti being, so I confidently spoke up:
"I told them that in this examination an incident might happen. I was right; with this they should understand that they should not doubt ," I said, proudly.
"My lady, this is no ti for your nonsense. This is serious; they are possibly terrorists."
"Yes, indeed they are, but admit I was right and agree to wear ’that’ uniform later. I said Sothing was going to happen and it did. you guys were wrong," I insisted.
"Big Sis, I don’t think this is the ti to..."
"Hey, you’ve gone crazy! Stop talking nonsense. We have to fight that wrinkled old woman,"
Alice was about to say sothing but was interrupted by Eira’s outburst.
’Damn, I thought she was cured of cursing people. That’s going to kill her soday, as I saw in the mories. But there’s still ti to correct her, I’ll have to tell Alice to train herbetter. ’
On the other hand, under the scrutinizing gaze of the girls, it was who gave up showing off. Well, it wasn’t the ti for that, but whether I bragged or not, it wouldn’t change anything.
"I see they are very calm. I don’t bla them, as they don’t understand the situation. We’ve been inactive for a few years; maybe they’ve forgotten us, but I’ll tell them I belong to the...."
"Well, I already knew this might happen.... Okay, here’s the plan: Elena, you’re the leader from now on. Go in that direction; there’s Chris. You stick together. I’ll stay with this old woman. Give barrier artifact number three. That old woman is strong."
I quickly organized, ignoring what the older woman was saying, and Elena passed an artifact, one she had gotten from the domain vault.
Imdiately, I activated the artifact and a very strong barrier ford, enclosing the older woman and in a do, separating from the girls.
"Huh!?, what’s wrong, why did you do that?"
"big sister!!!?... what are you doing? We have to fight together. You can’t sacrifice yourself for us."
"!!??"
Understanding the situation, Eira and Alice got nervous and, although she didn’t say anything, Selene did too.
The only one who remained calm was Elena, because she understood the situation, didn’t she?.... Yes, she definitely understood...., I want to believe that she was definitely calm about it.
I focused on the girls who were not thinking straight and said,
"Girls, calm down. Rember what I am, leave this to . Go to where ’Chris’ is, he’s strong, stronger than , let entertain this old woman for a while."
"But, big sister... we can’t leave you. You could de... Wait Chris oh! right Chris.... Sure!, I understand, I leave it in your hands, big sister, we’ll follow what you say, and go to Chris".
Alice apparently understood and finally cald down, as did Elena. Alice whispered to Selene, reassuring her as well.
"Well, we will follow your orders, my lady. May luck be with you." Saying that, they all ran in the direction I indicated.
"Wait, really, we’ll leave her alone? This is strange, why are they behaving like this? Wait, Selene, her might die."
Eira was the only one who didn’t understand and was worried about leaving alone with this dangerous old woman who appeared out of nowhere. She was dragged away by Selene, and her concern touched .
I will definitely go easier on her next ti I fight like Chris. Now concentrating on what was in front of , I looked at the old woman, who had done nothing so far, and faced her fearlessly.
Obviously, I was the doppelgänger, so it didn’t matter if I died.
"You know, it’s touching how you sacrificed yourself for the rest of the girls, but my minions are everywhere. They won’t be able to escape. But don’t worry, even though you were rude to interrupt earlier, I don’t plan to hurt you, and your friends won’t be hurt either. But well, you’re locked up with now, you won’t be able to do anything."
The older woman spoke calmly, confident that a re student couldn’t handle her. Well, she couldn’t have been more wrong.
"You’re wrong, you old hag. I’m not stuck with you; you’re stuck with ."
"Art of Lust, Fifth Stance: Tempting Torrent. "
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