Chapter 41 The Preliminaries Begin
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I hadn’t expected the second test to feel like a circus. A mocking announcement came through like a taunt:
‘Interference! Sabotage! Anything goes in the preliminaries — PTA storming ahead~!’
”From this moment the second examination begins!”
We stood before one of the academy’s forbidden special zones, a place they called the ‘Forest of Death’. It was the arena for the second trial, where they’d sort who truly had the right to compete in the school martial tournament.
One hundred and two students who had passed the written test waited in a tense line outside the gate.
‘The second test is a race and survival challenge inside this Forest of Death.’
”You will enter the forest in turn,” a teacher announced, “and try to be the first to reach the goal!”
I lifted my eyes. A fence rose up like a fortress wall, running so far it met the horizon. Beyond it, monstrous trees crowded together, their trunks and branches forming a claustrophobic ceiling. It felt like stepping into a world of giants — sunlight strangled to slivers, the whole place heavy with a sullen pressure.
‘This is a harsh environment; there are even reports of Class One calamities witnessed inside the human sphere. Survive the interior and exit the opposite side of the forest to reach the goal. The first thirty-two to arrive pass the test.’
”The order will be from those with the lowest written-test scores up!” the teacher continued.
From inside the trees came constant growls, the sound of beasts stirring; a damp, clinging unease seeped outward, settling on our skin. The visible trunks bore pale, blotchy streaks, and every so often something on a branch would burst, spraying a sour sap.
‘Interference is tolerated. You must protect your own (Jibun no) body.’
”Your objective is the goal — nothing else. It’s dangerous; we do not recommend any other actions,” the teacher warned.
Even as I watched the forest, invisible eyes — a thousand thin knives of hostility — pressed against my back. I wanted, suddenly and strongly, to break down, run and hide in my mother’s arms. Being the target of so much open contempt made me tremble inside.
‘Still, Homo-chan cleared the first test at the top of the list, so she’ll go in last.’
”Now, when your name is called, enter the forest! Jennifer!”
When the woman whose name had been called stepped forward and walked toward the trees, she shot me a hard, hateful glare as she passed. It landed like a stone. I realized then — even the teachers disliked me.
‘Of course, going in earlier is an advantage. Besides being able to move ahead of others, you can set traps or lie in wait and thin out rivals.’
”Next—”
Names kept being called, one after another. In my head, a voice continued to narrate, explaining the forest and the strategies, talking to someone I could not see. I still didn’t know who — or what — it spoke to.
‘After you pass the fence, a supervising teacher will give you a map of the forest and a teleportation portal. Everyone’s start point is different, but places suitable for traps and ambushes are limited.’
”Next! Reina Alcott!”
Hearing my name at last, I forced my legs to move though fear made them heavy and numb. A teacher leaned close as I passed.
”—Do your best to survive,” he murmured, voice flat with thin amusement.
He looked at me with a cruel smile and didn’t bother to hide his contempt. There it was again — proof I was disliked.
‘So, although topping the first test gives you experience points, entering last can leave you at a disadvantage. This game works that way.’
”Here’s the map. Hold the portal.”
A different teacher waited just past the fence, and before I could answer he pressed the map and the small teleportation device into my hands. He said little more.
When the portal touched my palm, a painful, sucking sensation crawled through me. My vision warped as if reflected in water; a faint swoon like the edge of fainting rose in my chest. I gripped my head to steady it and fought the nausea, and then I noticed the sound of water.
‘Don’t worry. We know exactly where each entrant will be teleported. We have a clear picture of who was sent where and what each person is doing.’
I lifted my eyelids slowly. A vast lake lay directly before me.
‘Look instead at this lake.’
Where the tree canopy had split open, sunlight poured down like curtains, and the water glittered with sharp brilliance. It was so clear I could see the bottom, and countless crystals jutted up from beneath the surface, scattering the sunlight into a thousand tiny flashes.
‘Beneath this lake is a cave. If you dive like a beaver into its mouth, you can swim into a dry cavern inside.’
The lake was too large to see across. I scanned the shore for any cave mouth the voice had mentioned, but none appeared within sight.
‘Within that cave is the nest of a Class One calamity.’
I stepped back a few paces without meaning to.
”…”
My chest clenched. I wasn’t ready for this.
‘This time your objective is to reach that place and kidnap the baby from inside.’
Wait. No. Please. I thought desperately.
‘Traps? Ambushes? Who cares! I’m going to crush everything with Monster Reina!’
No one asked my opinion. They marched toward the water with the same casualness one might have when going out to play. They treated this like a game, like a splash in a lake.
I swallowed and took another step back, watching the glittering surface as the others began to move.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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