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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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I was bewildered.
‘… Hitting a perfect 10 at this point? Maybe if it were in the 2nd or 3rd year, but now?’
Of course, in terms of pure potential, the Template holders were capable of reaching 10 points, the level of genius or monster, in either physical or magical ability.
Even Regret, whom I had been supporting to develop her overall abilities, could have achieved it if she had focused solely on physical enhancement.
But the fact that there was already a Template holder who had reached that level without my intervention was, frankly,
‘Oddly irritating.’
It felt like being outscored by a top student who claimed to have only studied the textbook, after painstakingly tutoring my younger sibling or friend to improve their grades.
Whoever this Template holder was, I resolved to show them my true abilities when we met. I addressed the two beside me.
“Let’s grab our luggage and get off. And just in case, check the other luggage compartments too.”
“Other compartments? Even if they’re careless, there’s no way they’d be that sloppy… Whoa, there really is something.”
-Click!
-Rustle.
Regret casually opened the compartment of an empty seat, and another backpack containing a compass and food appeared.
Fiore covered her mouth with her hand and murmured,
“I see, so that’s why they gave us ten minutes. I thought it was a long time just to grab our own luggage.”
I took out the food from the newly found backpack and transferred it to my own, saying,
“Each of you take a spare compass, and give me all the food.”
Four days’ worth of food. One week to reach the destination.
I didn’t know the actual distance we had to cover, but it was always better to have more food.
‘It’s a shame I’ve never experienced this route before.’
I wished I had reincarnated after thoroughly exploring all routes, not just clearing the game three times, as I focused on packing.
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The massive iron beast whistled as it left the forest.
When its rapidly receding form disappeared completely from view, the remaining people’s reactions could be broadly categorized into three groups.
“Just reach the destination? Easy!”
“I’ve spent years hunting in forests. I’ll be the first one there!”
The first group, burning with enthusiasm and fighting spirit, raced into the forest, vying to be ahead of everyone else.
These were hunters, mercenaries, or those confident in their abilities.
Their experience in harsh environments and confidence in handling most situations spurred them forward.
In a sense, they were the most actively participating in the exam, but they were a minority.
“W-wait, are they really just going like that? Leaving us here in the middle of the forest?”
“How do we forfeit? What if something happens along the way?”
“My, my backpack… I forgot my backpack…!”
The second group was paralyzed by confusion and hesitation.
They had hurriedly disembarked after hearing the announcement about forfeiting if they remained on the train, but were now lost and bewildered, abandoned in the middle of a forest.
Some hadn’t heard the announcement properly due to chatting with other applicants or falling asleep on the train, and hadn’t packed their food or compass.
They couldn’t bring themselves to boldly enter the forest like the first group, nor could they follow the tracks back.
They simply wandered about indecisively.
While they might seem pathetic or lacking in resolve, unfortunately, the majority of the participants belonged to this group.
And the last group were those who quickly adapted to and tried to exploit the situation.
“Listen up, everyone! Don’t panic and gather here! If we cooperate, we can all pass together!”
A loud voice echoed from the center of the clearing, drawing everyone’s attention.
Standing there was a handsome young man in knight’s armor.
With golden hair like spun gold, blue eyes, a tall stature over 180cm, and a sculpted physique, he was the epitome of a handsome knight. One of the participants stepped forward and asked,
“Who are you to give us orders?”
The question, asked in a slightly trembling voice, perhaps due to being overwhelmed by the young man’s physique and aura, was answered not by him, but by one of the two knights beside him.
“How dare you! This is Lord Alphonse Betouare of the Betouare Marquisate! Show some respect!”
The man who’d just questioned him flinched under the knight’s aggressive posture, as if he might draw his sword at any moment, but Alphonse stopped him.
“Wait, Nikolaus. Don’t be so intimidating. It can’t be helped if he didn’t know.”
“Yes! My apologies.”
“I know it’s hard to believe, and you must be confused. But think about it. The examiner only said, ‘Reach the destination within a week.’ He didn’t say anything about a limited number of passes or that we have to eliminate other participants.”
As the participants quieted down, Alphonse continued,
“Do you see this vast forest? The chances of success are much higher if we cooperate than if we venture into this wilderness alone, relying only on a compass! What do you say? Will you join me?”
“Please take me with you!”
“Me too!”
“Um, can I participate even if I don’t have a backpack…?”
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Observing how the majority of the remaining participants, excluding those who had initially rushed into the forest, flocked to Alphonse, Fiore asked,
“So, Oppa, what should we do?”
I asked back,
“Do you want to join them?”
“It would be efficient.”
Fiore continued, wearing her characteristic bright smile,
“Numbers are strength, and being here means we passed the preliminary exam, so most of them have at least minimal ability. With the easily recognizable authority of a noble and his charismatic appearance, he’ll probably be able to maintain control quite well.”
“Is that your type?”
“Maybe a 60 out of 100?”
“Harsh.”
“I don’t like the way he naturally looks down on others.”
“Actually, me neither.”
As we talked, Alphonse Betouare’s team continued to grow, and only a few participants, including the three of us, remained.
Nikolaus, one of the two knights who appeared to be Alphonse’s confidants, shouted at us,
“Hey! If you’re joining us, hurry up!”
I replied,
“We plan to go separately, so don’t worry about us.”
“What?”
Nikolaus’s expression twisted slightly, and some of those who had joined Alphonse’s team seemed to recognize us and started murmuring.
Regret spoke, mimicking their words,
“‘Those are the ones who got those weird scores in the preliminary exam!’
‘Even I, who’ve spent my life in the mountains, only got 5 points, and that skinny guy got 6 for physical ability? And what about that brown-haired girl next to him!’
‘They’re from the Midas family, right? Did they bribe the examiners or something?’
‘Wow, that’s dirty.’
‘It looks like they’re going on their own. They must be confident.’
‘Who knows? Maybe they bribed someone to learn about a secret route or something.'”
Fiore asked, sounding bewildered,
“Can you hear them murmuring from over there? And even distinguish individual voices in a group?”
Regret shrugged.
It was a gesture that implied it wasn’t difficult at all.
Nikolaus, seemingly realizing our identities, sneered,
“The Midas family, who know neither honor nor shame, their base nature gilded like stones on the street. You might have gotten away with bribery in the preliminary exam, but don’t think it will work here.”
“Uh, you’re saying we bribed someone?”
“Are you going to deny it? Anyone can say anyth…”
“No, that’s not it.”
I widened my eyes and spoke loudly, making sure everyone around could hear,
“You’re saying that the Empire’s impartial examiners accepted bribes from my family and made biased judgments?”
Nikolaus was momentarily taken aback, but quickly regained his composure, realizing that only participants were around, and glared at us menacingly.
“You cowardly bastard, twisting my words!”
“Besides, it’s strange that there are no examiners around, even though this is the main exam. They might be watching from somewhere.”
“You little—!”
Nikolaus roared and drew his sword.
“That’s enough, Nikolaus!”
Or rather, he tried to. If Alphonse hadn’t stopped him.
“Lord Alphonse.”
“Stand down.”
Nikolaus glared at me as if to say ‘we’re not done yet,’ but obeyed the order.
Alphonse spoke,
“I apologize for my subordinate’s rudeness. I want to make it clear that I have no intention of discriminating against you because you’re from the Midas family. If that’s why you’re going separately, please reconsider. This forest is dangerous.”
I shook my head.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’d rather not travel with unnecessary tension.”
“I see.”
Perhaps expecting this answer, Alphonse didn’t press further.
Instead, he asked,
“You seemed to be quite late getting off the train. Did something happen?”
“I have trouble waking up once I fall asleep. It took me a while to grasp the situation. But why do you ask?”
I didn’t miss the way Alphonse’s gaze flickered to our backpacks.
“No, it’s fine if nothing happened. Good luck.”
Watching his retreating figure, I thought,
‘He seems to suspect we took extra supplies, but he doesn’t want to confront us yet. I guess he’s already secured enough ‘reserves.”
I looked at the participants gathering around Alphonse.
I wondered how many of them would be able to protect their food until the end, against the ‘rational decisions of a leader for the greater good.’
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