.｡.:✧ Chapter 17 ✧:.｡.

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Oh, there are four teams?”

Amanda, the professor, seemed somewhat perplexed by the unexpectedly high number of teams volunteering, but she called the representatives forward.

While it made sense for Rin and Tana to want me on their teams, I couldn’t help but wonder why Sen and May were interested in having me.

‘For now, I need to avoid being on the same team as Rin.’

I had recently decided that to understand why Rin had become the Commander of the Undead, I needed to recreate a situation as close as possible to my previous life.

If she were to become the Commander of her own volition, or gain similar power, I would boldly cut off her head.
“That’s why I deliberately cut ties with them.”

While living at the academy might lead to some different circumstances, I believed that her transformation wouldn’t be too drastic.

“…”

Rin had been staring intently at me since earlier.

Her unrelenting gaze felt like she was watching me like a hunting dog. It made me uncomfortable, so I instinctively avoided her gaze.

“Can I choose a team?”

I raised my hand slightly and asked, but Amanda, with a surprised expression, asked back,

“Are you sure?”

This woman had a playful nature, which contrasted with her mature appearance.

“Well then, since time is limited, shall we decide with a simple game of rock-paper-scissors?”

This is really shit.

Sen found it amusing and extended her hand, while May and Tana didn’t seem to mind either way. But Rin was different.

“Professor, can’t we just take Daniel with a few more points deducted?”

Rin’s bombshell statement started a commotion among the other students. Students from her own team asked her what she meant, but she didn’t pay any attention to her team and kept her eyes fixed on Amanda.

Contrary to the others swayed by Rin’s momentum, Amanda shook her head firmly.

“Of course not. Especially not if you’re going to act so autocratically without consulting you’re teammates.”

“…”

Biting her lip, Rin reluctantly extended her hand.

I sighed in relief and my eyes were fixed on the rock, paper, scissors played by the four girls.

“Ah……”
As May chose scissors and emerged as the clear winner, she stared at her own hand in a daze, her reaction somewhat strange.
“Then Daniel will join Team 16. We’ll draw lots for the opposing team. Representatives, please step forward.”

I expected May to step forward from Team 16 again, but another student with glasses unexpectedly volunteered to draw.

While receiving odd looks from her team members, I approached May.

“Hey.”

“Huh, yes?”

“Yes?”

Suddenly, she was using formal language. It seemed that her voice reached the surrounding students because their attention was focused on us. She blushed while suppressing her voice and replied.

“Um, why…”

“Why is what I want to say. Why did you choose me?”

“Well, just…”

Why is she doing this?

When I pressed her to speak properly and frowned, she almost cried and lowered her head towards her shoes as she spoke.

“Um, I met Elise during the first test… and I was eliminated immediately, so I needed the points.”

“Ah.”

“Uh, Y-yesterday, with me and my uncle…”

She couldn’t continue any further and sealed her lips. In short, from her perspective as someone who had already experienced my abilities, she considered me necessary for this additional test.

‘I guess she’s more rational than I thought.’

Despite what happened yesterday, she chose me to improve her grades. That’s why she looked somewhat upset after picking me.

‘Well, it’s actually better like this.’

If yesterday’s enemy becomes today’s friend, it can only happen when the enemy surrenders to me, and now is that situation.

Perhaps relieved by my words, May nodded. She and the Dean had become cards I could use at the academy, and it might have been uncomfortable for her if she fell short in her grades.

“Anyway, I’ll win this one since I need the points.”

We were using a format where teams faced off against each other, rather than a tournament, so the points were limited, but it was better than nothing.

May seemed to be somewhat reassured by my words. It was strange how a girl who used to laugh at me was now acting so timid.

Our teammates were already whispering about May acting strangely.

The drawing had started, and when I looked that way, the male student who had gone to draw for us seemed uneasy.

It was a draw system where teams with the same ribbon color would face each other.

The ribbon our male student held was yellow, and the other team with a yellow ribbon was…

“Then, it’s a match between Team 1 and Team 16. We’ll give each team about 30 minutes to prepare and familiarize themselves with the rules and teamwork.”

Professor Amanda spoke gravely.

Team 1 consisted of Ares, Hayoon, Elise, Damalico, and Pouni, a team where the power balance had collapsed.

“Hey, you!”

The timid hamster-like May suddenly shouted and rushed towards the male student who had drawn.

“Wow, her personality hasn’t changed.”

May grabbed the male student by the hair and shook him, causing a commotion. Still, our team huddled in a corner and began what seemed like a strategy meeting.

“We lost.”

No, it wasn’t a strategy meeting; it was more like a complaint session.

The slightly chubby male student sighed and spoke, and the other students seemed to share his sentiment, lowering their heads.

“Well, we haven’t even started yet!”

May tried to argue confidently, but she couldn’t counter their thoughts strongly.

“Hmm.”

I didn’t interfere with the conversation and just observed the students. None of them were particularly well-known by name, but that didn’t necessarily mean they were all lacking.

‘It seems like our team’s overall skills are similar, however no one stood out in particular.’

On average, our team might have the upper hand. If it were a format where each team member fought one-on-one, our team would win hands down. Even if Ares and Hayoon were strong, they could only earn a maximum of 2 points.

However, this team confrontation wasn’t about that.

It was a King’s Game.

One student on each team would be the “king,” and if the opposing team managed to take a band off the king’s wrist, their team would lose.

From this perspective, there was no need to face an opponent directly.

“Maybe Ares or Hayoon will be the king?”

The student who had drawn earlier, now smoothing his ruffled hair, commented, and the team fell silent again.

“Why are you just lounging around like this?”

Frustrated, I finally spoke up.

“We need to strategize on how to win. If you don’t fight and just complain about losing, the professors might think, ‘Wow, they’re so objective, let’s give them some points.'”

“You came and gave us a score penalty, so what are you saying?”

“Yeah, why did you bring him?”

Annoyed by the students, I continued.

“If you don’t plan to win, then what?”

“How can we win?”

The girl who had shouted earlier became the focal point of complaints, and other students began blaming me. They were either lamenting their loss or trying to console themselves, thinking there was no need to get worked up about an additional test.

It seemed everyone was acting out their frustration in their own way.

“Then the king will be May. The two of us are going to fight, so go buy some popcorn and watch, you idiots.”

I decided to make May the king since the other students seemed to be primarily concerned with complaining and self-pity.

“Ye… yes?”

Perhaps May didn’t expect me to call her, as she looked startled, but the other students started hurling insults at me in response.

***

“Are you really going through with this?”

“Yeah.”

An empty field.

The students from Team 1 on the opposite side were casually stretching and chatting amongst themselves, not giving us a second glance.

I could spot Eve among them, surprisingly engaged in a conversation with Ares and Hayoon.

‘The king is Ares.’

I carefully examined the blue band wrapped around Ares’ wrist and drew the practice sword that I had brought.

“Hmm, its lighter than I expected.”

Compared to the swords I used to handle, this practice sword felt too light, but I didn’t have high expectations. It was just a training sword.

Our team members glanced at me with a mix of frustration and ongoing complaints.

They had already given up on the exam.

Since it was the supplementary exam, and not the main one, they didn’t seem too bothered.

“Phew.”

May, who was standing right next to me, was panting heavily as she swung the practice sword around haphazardly, clearly lacking any proper form.

“What are you doing?”

I asked in disdain, and she seemed embarrassed, hiding the practice sword behind her back as she tried to explain.

“Well, my main focus is usually magic, but, uh, this test prohibits magic usage…”

“Put down the practice sword. Don’t try to do anything fancy in this test.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ll handle everything. Just stay still.”

“…”

“And if you’re going to use informal language, stick to it. Don’t mix formal and informal speech.”

“Yes… I mean, okay!”

Did she choose informal speech after all? Well, it seemed like her stubborn pride wouldn’t let her use formal language.

“But, can you really handle it alone? Should I say something to the others?”

“It’s fine. They won’t even get one point this time.”

With all five professors observing this exam, they wouldn’t give points to those who had already given up.

“I’m more comfortable alone.”

Yes, it was indeed more comfortable without anyone nagging by my side.

As a sherpa roaming the Demon Forest. As I mentioned before, I shed my human guise and roamed the Demon Forest, guiding people and helping them gather necessary demon materials or collect herbs.

So, what would happen if demons attacked while leading people through that place?

Absolutely, I would never allow clients to fight or get hurt.

If I were to calculate how many people I’ve protected from the dangers of the Demon Forest during my years as a sherpa, it would surely be astonishing.

“But now, all I have to do is protect one person from little kids.”

To be honest, the most difficult thing was hiding my laughter, which kept slipping out.

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