“Unnie, I think it’s oppa’s last written exam period.”
Like Clara, Sion was also looking at the group messages.
Though they were lying cozily on Rohan’s dormitory bed and chatting in low voices, their expressions were anything but relaxed…. they were grave and serious.
“Hmm…”
Sion and Clara weren’t fully prepared to accept Rohan’s absence just yet.
They had even seriously considered hiding their presence and following him.
Sion was confident in her ability to erase her presence. Even if she wasn’t as skilled as Clara
They also had specialized equipment for observation.
And, if they wanted to justify it, there was at least some reasoning behind their actions.
Rohan has a tendency to get himself tangled up in incidents on his own.
Sion had casually brought up the idea with that thought in mind, but Clara who had already encountered Joo-yeon knew better.
Reality wasn’t so easy to bend to their will.
While Rohan was deep in concentration on his written exam,
The two girls had taken a stroll that conveniently led them near Orion Academy.
And there, Sion understood why Clara had said that observation would be difficult.
As expected of Orion Academy.
The individuals inside were on an entirely different level. They were undoubtedly the instructors responsible for training the students.
And among them, there was one person whose aura stood out the most.
Without even stepping foot inside the academy, Sion and Clara were already completely detected by this individual.
“……”
The presence Clara had spoken of… Joo-yeon. Sion felt an immense wall in front of her.
The fact that someone like that was by Rohan’s side gave her both reassurance and a powerful sense of urgency.
A mix of admiration and jealousy, in a way.
A bitter frustration stemming from her own lack of ability.
I need to intensify my training.
Sion had come to a realization.
Clara’s desire to reach greater heights was largely influenced by the fact that she had encountered Joo-yeon before.
***
[A quest has been triggered.]
[Unsettling Peace]
◇ Quest Objective: You have observed the shadows lurking in the world. Though you are aware of the turbulent currents and impurities blending into the flow, as a student, you must faithfully complete your midterm exam.
◇ Category: Main Story
◇ Rewards: Varies based on ranking and contribution
◇ Penalty for Failure: None
A notification window appeared before his eyes.
Rohan who was awakened by the sudden quest sat up in the crowded lounge of the ship, where male students were packed together.
He cast his gaze outside.
There it is.
Even under the dark sky, his magically enhanced eyes could clearly distinguish the boundary between the water and land.
The island was far larger than he had expected.
This was the deserted island where the Orion Academy students would be staying for the next five days.
If I move carelessly, I won’t run into anything but monsters.
With that thought in mind, he carefully observed the terrain, trying to memorize as much of it as possible.
Just then, Joo-yeon’s voice rang through the ship’s intercom.
— Attention, Class 1 students. Gather in front of the second-floor dining hall in ten minutes. I repeat, Class 1 students, gather in front of the second-floor dining hall in ten minutes.
— If you see anyone still sleeping, wake them up. That is all.
Click! The announcement ended with a sharp sound.
Rohan nudged Gilbert who was snoring loudly with his foot to wake him up. Then, he got up from the floor and quickly began preparing.
“….…”
The students rose and silently continued getting ready.
They gathered on the second floor well before the designated meeting time.
“Do not move around aimlessly. Find your assigned partner first. Once you’ve found them, assemble in front of the instructor.”
Rohan walked over to Ichinose who was standing at the very front.
Naturally, they started talking with each other.
“How’s your condition?”
“No issues. I’ve been resting with Noah until now.”
When he turned his head, he saw Noah.
Noah who was still not fully awake staggered as she searched for her assigned partner.
The student paired with Noah Frozenheart was one of Class 1’s vanguard.
She was a female student named Corin.
She wasn’t a playable character in Abyss City, nor did she possess any particularly outstanding skills. As a result, Rohan had little to no information about her.
“Is there anyone who hasn’t found their partner yet?”
“””….…”””
Silence.
Confirming that there were no issues, Joo-yeon immediately began explaining.
“Before landing on the deserted island, the instructors mentioned they would take measures to prevent anyone from sustaining themselves with magic for five days.”
Joo-yeon held up a translucent sticker as she spoke.
Intricate geometric symbols, the kind typically used on talismans, were inscribed within its small frame.
So that’s what it is.
While the other students seemed unfamiliar with it, Rohan had been expecting this item.
“When applied to the skin, this sticker has three effects.”
“……”
“You’ll feel hungry, thirsty, and drowsy. That’s all.”
The students who had been listening quietly flinched at her words.
It was already clear that these five days wouldn’t be easy.
“You won’t feel the effects immediately, but the cycles of hunger and drowsiness will come faster than usual. And you’ll experience them more intensely.”
Rohan stared at the sticker and felt a strange sense of unease.
A debuff that had once lowered recovery speed and movement speed in Abyss City had now manifested in reality.
“But there’s no need to worry. This sticker can be easily removed using magic.”
Without hesitation, Joo-yeon pressed the sticker onto the back of her hand.
Scratching at it or wetting it with water had no effect. It wouldn’t come off without magic.
After showing the sticker to each student, Joo-yeon gathered magic in her fingertips and peeled it off.
“As you can see, the moment it comes off, it loses its effect. Once used, it loses its adhesive properties and can’t be reapplied. Even if you try to force it on, it’ll be obvious.”
She tossed the now limp sticker into the nearby trash bin.
“At the end of the exam, the instructor will personally check and collect them. Until then, you just need to keep them on.”
A large number of stickers appeared from Joo-yeon’s arms.
“The instructor will apply them directly to each of you. Show the back of your neck.”
Snap! Snap! A few quick sounds, and it was done.
It took only seconds to attach the stickers to everyone in Class 1.
“If you find life on the island completely unbearable, you can take it off. It’ll only affect your score, nothing more.”
When Joo-yeon told them to get ready to disembark, Rohan checked his gear with Ichinose.
He even pulled up his status window and started scanning it carefully.
….
Name: Rohan
Health: 99%
Magical power: 98%
Affiliated Nation: Southern Ruins
Affiliated Organization: Orion Academy
Attributes: [Physical] [Fire]
Status: Amplified Desire
Remaining Points: 16,098P
….
“…Amplified Desire.”
The name sounded somewhat dubious, but this was Orion Academy.
The sticker on the back of his neck had a clear function. It only intensified sleepiness and hunger.
“You’ll be dropped off at different locations to avoid overlap. The transport ship will get as close to the shore as possible, so disembark when your name is called. Understood?”
“””Yes!”””
Joo-yeon maintained contact with the other instructors through the ship’s communication devices.
She raised her voice once more to check if there were any additional announcements to make.
“And lastly, if you see someone floating in the sky, don’t be alarmed. They’re here to support us for the students’ safety.”
They were personnel assigned to assist the instructors, swiftly rescuing students who sent distress signals and preventing any unforeseen incidents.
They came from the Sepia Archipelago and were a combat unit that used equipment made from refined levitation stones that allowed them to fly freely through the sky.
By the time the sun rose the next day, the students would recognize from their armor which unit had been dispatched for support.
“The altitude has dropped enough. Everyone, move to the deck.”
***
Rohan and Ichinose were the third to disembark from the ship.
The salty scent of the ocean lingered in the air.
At the boundary between the sea and the deserted island, damp earth mixed with sand that crunched softly underfoot.
“Ichinose, how are you feeling?”
“I don’t notice anything yet.”
With her eyes closed, the girl absentmindedly touched the sticker on the back of her neck.
“I feel fine for now too… but first, we should find a place to rest.”
“Are we heading into the forest?”
“It seems more likely they would have hidden food or water inside rather than in an open area like this. What do you think?”
“…….”
Instead of her beloved sword Yoru (Night), the girl carried a standard-issue sword.
She tapped it lightly against the ground and was lost in thought.
“At the very least, I can move without being hindered by the darkness.”
“I’m not as good as you, Ichinose, but I can see decently well too.”
“Then before we go in too deep… let’s start by skimming the outskirts while keeping the ocean in sight.”
“Good call.”
As they approached the forest ahead, the sound of the waves grew distant.
Stepping into a forest after sunset might seem foolish, but for Ichinose who was accustomed to darkness, it made no difference whether it was day or night.
It was also a chance to secure supplies before the other students.
Should I save my shop skills as much as possible?
While Rohan swung his sword, cutting through vines to clear a path, Ichinose suddenly stopped walking.
Rohan sensed something as well, so he didn’t ask why.
“There’s something here.”
Without hesitation, the girl drew her blade from its sheath.
Whizz!
She swung.
Screech!
A strange cry rang out as a bird fell from a tree.
Its severed head which was cleanly split by her strike bore a pair of sharp horns.
[+1P]
When Ichinose slid her sword back into its sheath, a point was added to Rohan.
“It’s a Kakjo (Horn Bird).”
Its official name was Hornbird, but in the Three Nations Alliance, that was how they called it.
Rohan picked up the decapitated Hornbird with its head cleanly severed.
“This Hornbird….”
“Is there a problem?”
“Can’t we eat this?”
Hearing the excitement in Rohan’s voice as if he had stumbled upon a great find, the girl suddenly froze in shock.
Ichinose Yui. The heir to Tenkaichen (Heaven Beyond Heaven), which was the largest corporation in the Three Nations Alliance. She was someone who had lived a life far removed from the wilderness.
“Eh…?”
The girl who usually maintained a composed and aloof demeanor wavered. Her voice and expression faltered.
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