Practice matches show students their future.
Who is strong in which segment?
Who will cross the finish line first?
Where do I need to train to improve my grades?
Is it realistically possible to shorten my record?
If not, what should I do?
“Of course, you should delay other people’s records.”
“Yufi, that’s too cowardly.”
Warrior Ishtar.
She originally planned to use the saintly compassion of Yufi, her first and only comrade from her warrior party, to recruit Oknodie.
However, after confronting the true nature of Oknodie and realizing her irredeemably corrupted mana and disposition through a cut of the Holy Sword, she flipped the script.
No mercy.
She must expel that demon disguised as a child without a shred of compassion.
Naturally, this included reducing the points that would go to that child and achieving better grades than her.
As long as the academy professors shield her, she had to give them less reason to protect her.
“Istar, you’re thinking the same thing, right? To defeat that child, we need to suppress her grades, gradually reduce her standing, and isolate her in the academy. That way, she’ll feel anxious and keep using that ominous dark mana, overexerting herself to self-destruct.”
“Is it alright for us to descend to that level? I find it humiliating to face the previous hero.”
Previous Hero Ni’alatotep was never hesitant to step into any incident.
How petty would he look if he saw someone engaging in schemes?
“Who would say such a thing?”
“Only the one true god, Sofemia, spoke to me in my dreams. Learn from Ni’alatotep’s righteousness and do not fall into the pit of evil schemes and cunning.”
“Since the gods said so, we have no choice.”
“Right?”
“If we can’t take action ourselves, we have no choice but to use other people.”
“…Using other people is just more scheming.”
“At Golgotha of Decapitation, they glorified me as a saint and spoke these words: There is no distinction of right and wrong with the sword that beheads evil. To follow what is right is to embody goodness.”
“That’s why you’re not a warrior.”
“You chose such a saint as your comrade. What can we do? Are we going to waste time just fretting?”
“…Please.”
“You should have come out like this sooner. Trust me, I’m your dear friend and a steadfast comrade in the warrior party.”
Yufi gave the warrior a hug and patted her shoulder before leaving the warrior’s training room.
“Istar, the situation is much worse than you think. The child’s wickedness isn’t even detectable by my Holy Detected spell.”
Holy Detected.
A spell referred to as divine detection.
This spell can sense those tainted by evil, granted to the faithful by Golgotha of Decapitation, and it’s a powerful detection ability.
Ordinary evil can’t escape this spell.
Unless they possess a trick powerful enough to fool it—like an elite entity of high-risk demonic clans or greater.
“The true danger of Oknodie may exceed your own perceptions.”
Perhaps this [Upper Class Physical Training] might truly be the last opportunity to keep that child in check.
Professor Plato’s last lecture before the midterm exam in [Upper Class Physical Training].
“Everyone, get to the starting line. The matches will proceed sequentially as scheduled. After the run, you may change clothes with the instructor’s help by the river or wear swimsuits from the start. After crossing the river, board the waiting vessel and navigate to the finish line.”
The final practice match for students to test their skills after completing physical and basic training, during which they would compete in three consecutive events.
Oknodie surged to the front right from the start.
Without hesitation, she jumped into the water, quickly shedding her school uniform to reveal the school swimsuit she had on underneath.
Was she a dolphin in her past life?
In an instant, she zipped through the whirlpool segment, leapt onto the golem, and tossed away competing vessels as she bulldozed through dozens of trees, crashing through them like a wrecking ball.
The golem obediently followed her direction, as if it were tempted to break its own limbs.
“1st place, Oknodie!”
With overwhelming performance from the practice match, Oknodie made her mark.
Perhaps it was the frustration of the Empire students that made their faces scrunch up beyond recognition.
“Skola. Can we chat for a moment?”
“Saintess?”
Skola, an heir of the archers.
He had better results than Oknodie in long-range weaponry and had been deprived of his comrade candidate status due to his unjust words that caught the warrior’s ire.
Though Istar would never employ him, Yufi approached him without hesitation.
“I need your help.”
“Is this the warrior’s order?”
“Well, not exactly. It’s a request as one of the warrior’s comrades. If you perform this request well, I might say nice things about you to the warrior.”
Skola eagerly displayed his delight.
“Just give me your orders. What should I help with?”
“Oknodie’s solo performance is getting out of hand. If that child, who wields wicked power, takes 1st place, it will encourage more students to walk the wrong path, idolizing dark mana.”
“Um… Are you suggesting a long-range sniper assignment? I don’t think that’s appropriate.”
‘I guess it’s no good to go that far?’
Yufi feigned innocence.
“Who said anything about sniping an 11-year-old kid? What do you think of me?”
“I’m sorry. My foolish thoughts dared to offend you, warrior’s comrade.”
“I want to discuss fairness.”
“Was there an unfair element to the exam?”
“Oknodie’s golem. Among the vessels, it’s overwhelmingly strong and problematic, right?”
“It is kind of unfair. While my deer was busy dodging trees, that one just bulldozes through the forest, which is infuriating.”
He found himself regretting not choosing a golem when he saw Oknodie excel.
Although he could manage the running and swimming, many Empire students felt despair during the vessel segment.
Skola was one of those students.
“I think we can exploit the golem’s violent disposition.”
“With my limited knowledge, I cannot understand your intentions, Yufi. Could you enlighten me?”
“I gathered information that there’s an [Upper Class Boarding Storage Room] off-limits to first-year students. I need you to infiltrate and capture evidence of the golem harassing other vessels.”
“…But isn’t the first-year restricted area far too dangerous?”
“If you’re an upper-class student, you can come and go freely. As long as you’re mindful of a few precautions on the way, you won’t lose your life.”
Trying to ease his worries, Yufi spoke reassuringly, but Skola questioned earnestly.
“Are you saying I could lose my life?”
“As long as you follow the map I provide and don’t step into unexplored areas, you won’t go missing forever.”
“I’ll make sure to take that map.”
“And if hooded students approach and ask you if you wish to join the dark side, simply ignore them.”
“What kind of people are they?”
“I couldn’t say. I’m just relaying what I heard. Besides, be cautious not to crush even a single bug.”
“What if I get killed by an elf senior for harming a natural creature?”
“Let’s avoid scenarios where seniors who transformed into bugs out of frustration come to your rescue.”
“…”
“Oh, and if you hear singing, definitely cover your ears to block it out.”
“If I disturb the seniors’ performance, will I face their wrath?”
“Not exactly, but there are tales of a few banshees summoned from another dimension that prey on students’ spirits with their song.”
You want me to enter such a dangerous place?
Skola’s expression questioned how anyone could make such a harsh demand, but Yufi offered him a means to resolve all conflicts smoothly.
“I’ll offer you 500 points as a starting fee. Of course, this is separate from my message to the warrior, just a personal gesture, so keep it a secret from the warrior.”
“As long as I follow your instructions, it shouldn’t be difficult. Just give me the map, and I’ll head over with some paint to coat the golem in red. If the bored golem just brushes against any animals, there will be red paint everywhere, and everyone will freak out.”
*Skola’s idea to frame the golem for bothering his companions’ vessels to force a vessel change on exam day!
Yufi nodded in satisfaction at such a scheming archer’s initiative to shoot from a distance.*
