Crowbell explained the rules of the test as we traveled toward the island.
With the help of the tier-four spell [Cannon Launch], students would be launched onto the island at completely random spots. That meant everyone had better be ready to land safely.
Once scattered across the island, the examiners would enter as well, splitting up to patrol different areas.
The objective was simple: attack and steal a badge from one of the examiners. Once you secured a badge, you had to hold onto it until the test ended, fending off anyone who tried to take it from you.
Students were allowed to form teams to defeat the examiners and protect a badge, but in the end, only the student holding it when the test concluded would receive credit.
Anyone who ended the test with a badge earned a massive amount of points—enough to likely push them into the top five of the year. Surviving the day without a badge still counted as passing, but gave no bonus points.
On the other hand, anyone who gave up and left the island early would fail outright. Examiners also had the authority to fail students who demonstrated unfitness or weakness. Conversely, they could award bonus points to students who impressed them with strength or ingenuity.
Because the islands were close to the city, the mana filter extended to them. No monsters would spawn there—meaning the only threats we'd face were each other and the examiners.
There were six small islands in total, some harsher and more resource-scarce than others. Naturally, one would think the S Class—the so-called "elite class"—would be given the best conditions. But no, we were expected to survive on the harshest island, with the least resources.
...Which was fair enough, I suppose. But S Class was filled almost entirely with nobles who had never once been forced to survive in such conditions.
The one exception was me. A peasant, raised in the mountains since I was a child, and later by the mercenary group I still considered family, [Crescent Moon]. Compared to them, this would feel almost natural.
However, I wasn't here to survive like them, I was here to test them.
When we reached the coast—where the land broke into sea—students from every class were already gathered, waiting to be launched to their respective islands.
"Mr. Alen… I want you to know something," Cecil said, standing tall with a fire in his eyes. "I'm targeting you first. You're my objective to beat!"
That was Cecil for you. He lived for challenges. After losing to me in the three-way duel, he had been itching for a rematch.
"No! Alen, I will be the one to defeat you!" declared Lyon Alva, the lion prince, his booming voice carrying for everyone to hear.
"I'll defeat you and prove I'm a true knight! I'll avenge the humiliation of being demoted to Class A!" shouted Ximuss Yolte, the mohawked noble.
"I'm sorry, but I don't plan on letting any of you win against me," I shot back. "I'll make sure you all fail!"
Even if I didn't care to admit it, their fighting spirit fueled my own. Lyon's pride, Ximuss' stubbornness, Cecil's burning enthusiasm—how could I ignore them? I had to answer their resolve with equal, if not greater, determination.
"That's the spirit, Mr. Alen!" Cecil laughed, clearly satisfied that I had shed my conflicted look.
"You were deemed overqualified. That's a good thing, not a bad thing," Theo muttered softly, but his words still carried weight.
"I will not lose!" Lyon roared again as he stepped up to be launched.
…
One by one, students were hurled across the sea until only Franchesca and I remained.
"Alen… I'll protect you!" she suddenly declared, hiding her flustered expression behind her fluffy white hair.
"Huh!? But if you do that, you'll fail the exam!"
"That should tell you how much I value our friendship!" she boasted, pointing straight at me. "I'm the only person you'll ever need in your life—got it?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at her dramatics.
"Fran… you don't need to prove anything. Just focus on earning the best score you can. If you secure a dungeon exploration pass, we can go adventuring together."
"That's… also nice…" she mumbled, looking away, clearly conflicted.
"Then I'll just steal a badge and stay next to you anyway! That's not against the rules, right?"
"I… I guess not…?"
"Then that's what I'll do! Just wait for me, Alen!"
She stepped into position for the launch spell.
"Alen!" she turned back, cheeks blazing red, and shouted something that nearly made me trip over myself. "Don't you dare get close to any other girl—not until I'm there to protect you from them!"
Before I could even process her words, she was launched skyward, vanishing into the distance.
"Huh…?" I blinked a few times, utterly dumbfounded.
---
And so it began. The survival test where the S Class students would have to endure on an island with scarce resources.
The question was—what now?
After being launched by the tier-four wind spell, I landed without issue, saved by my unique passive skill.
I was sure the very first hurdle of the exam was simple: survive the fall. Students who couldn't immediately cast a life-saving spell upon landing wouldn't last long.
For me, that wasn't a problem. [Feather Fall] ensured I hit the ground safely.
As an examiner, I had been provided with a map of the island and a predetermined patrol route to avoid clashing with the other teachers.
There were six examiners in total, counting me.
Kafka Crowbell, of course, was one. Enyoll Iaves was another. As for the remaining three, I hadn't spoken with them before, though I vaguely recalled one of their names from the list of teachers who, in the story's future, would eventually betray Goldenlaw.
My route was along the southeastern side of the island.
The island itself was mostly plain terrain, broken up by forests still withered from winter, waiting for spring to awaken them. In the northwest, a small rock formation rose above the otherwise flat landscape.
We were in the second month—the tail end of winter. Spring would begin with the next.
With no distinctive features and barely any fauna, it was no wonder this barren place was chosen to test the so-called "elite" S Class.
Even so, I couldn't let my guard down. Ambushes were the real threat here.
One advantage I held was my artifacts.
I wouldn't be using the cloak—summoning the Eleventh Songbird Squad, with Rachnera now officially counted as a member thanks to Sheiran's request, would only cause problems.
But Bluemar's Hope was another matter. Its effect boosted my physical power whenever I stood in natural environments tied to grasslands, plains, or forests.
This island was practically built for it. The surge of strength I felt confirmed as much.
The buff would vanish if I entered the rocky formations, but for now, I couldn't have asked for a better position.
As for my examiner duties, I only had to patrol the route every few hours. Technically, I could slack off in between.
Of course, I wouldn't waste the time. I'd use it to practice my Elemental Defense.
The barrier could already withstand up to a tier-three spell—albeit briefly—but that alone was progress I was proud of.
Still, pride wasn't enough. I needed more speed, more precision. The best way to train would be to test myself under pressure—blocking thrown objects of different weights and speeds. Knives, heavy rocks, even dumbbells would help me hone the control of my mana output.
"Honestly…" I muttered to myself, "it was embarrassing having Crowbell and Goldenlaw praise me for things I didn't achieve through talent."
Embarrassing—and dangerous. They had painted a target on my back for the entire academy.
Before, most students avoided me because of rumors, or because of my connection with Franchesca—whose reputation problems practically spread on their own. But now?
A student declared overqualified and assigned examiner duties alongside teachers? To any normal person, that sounded suspicious.
…Well, whatever. Rumors didn't matter. My friends still chose to stand beside me, and my future wouldn't be decided by gossip.
Although… Franchesca's words.
The moment I recalled what she had shouted before being launched, my face heated up.
"Man, the spring-to-summer weather change came earlier than expected!" I lied to myself, fanning my cheeks.
Of course, spring was still a month away, and summer was so distant the excuse was laughably useless.
Honestly, I found her protectiveness kind of cute—endearing, even. The gap between how she treated me compared to how coldly she acted toward others was downright funny at times.
Still, I could tell she was slowly warming up to Theo and Cecil. The four of us spent so much time together that it was bound to happen eventually.
And maybe that was for the best. Anything to steer her away from the story beat where she gets expelled from the academy… and eventually turns into a monster Kaida has to kill before facing Isadora.
Ugh. Just thinking about that name made me remember her attack on me the other day.
I shook my head and forced myself to focus.
"Time to start my patrol route," I muttered, pausing my Elemental Defense training.