Chapter 89. Practical Exam
Pa-pa papapa papapapapa papababapa papapa papababa papapa—
"Ugh…"
What the hell kind of dogshit alarm is that?
I downloaded a compilation of alarms guaranteed to wake you up from EveryDay, but all it does is piss me off every morning.
Then again, it does wake me up, so I guess it works.
Liliana was still sleeping next to me, and yeah—original succubus blowjobs were unbeatable.
No human could replicate the tongue skills of a succubus.
Today was Thursday.
In the morning, we had the group boss monster hunting exam. The group project of silence with Nam Daeun, Lumi, and a guy named Lee Byunghoon would resume.
I wasn't thrilled, but it couldn't be helped. I had revealed a fair amount of my strength, so now I'd get a chance to carry.
Same with the real beast combat training in the afternoon. Last time, I was still weak and only managed to hit the A-Class average, but now I was stronger—I'd go beyond that.
"Today's really gonna be Lee Hoyeon's day."
It was time to fully reveal my strength to others.
*
"The morning group boss monster hunting exam will take place in the same testing field used for your first dungeon practice. Like last time, you'll be able to observe other groups."
During morning assembly, Professor Kim Jinhyuk gave us info on today's exams.
"The real beast combat training in the afternoon will also proceed according to your measured skill levels. That one will be in the combat training arena."
I already knew most of this, so I zoned out and passed the time.
"Instead of regretting your written exams, use that time to manage your condition and do well on the practicals. That's all."
After wrapping up, Kim Jinhyuk left the classroom, and cadets began gathering in groups.
"Lucy, good luck. Lumi and I are heading out."
"Okay. Good luck to you guys too. Not that your group isn't gonna rank first or anything, but we'll do our best."
"Your team has good synergy too. Ours is basically Nam Daeun solo-carry."
"True. Anyway, good luck!"
Lucy waved to us and went to her group.
"Now where's our group…?"
"Not sure… We never really gather properly… Huh? Isn't that Lee Byunghoon over there?"
"Oh, yeah."
The fact that three of us from our usually-scattered group were here showed how important midterms were.
"Good morning, Hoyeon."
"...What did you say?"
Lee Byunghoon, who I'd mentally labeled as extra guy #1, actually greeted me.
"I don't think I properly introduced myself despite being in the same group. I'm Lee Byunghoon, eldest son of a prestigious Warrior Guild."
"…."
This pattern—it was the same as when he approached Nam Daeun.
So he only greets me now because I'm famous?
He's something else. At least he's consistently shameless—it's kinda funny.
I can't punch him since we're in the same group, so I'll just let it slide.
"Sure. Let's work well together. I'm Lee Hoyeon."
"Yes, sir! Could I maybe get your contact info?"
"No."
"…Right."
"Just kidding. If you carry the boss monster hunt, I'll give it to you."
"I'll give it my all!"
Go ahead and try, but no way you're outperforming me or Nam Daeun.
*
The three of us headed to the boss monster hunting exam site.
As expected, it was packed with noisy cadets.
Lee Byunghoon wouldn't stop talking, so I escaped with the excuse of going to the bathroom.
He was chattering nonstop—no wonder Nam Daeun always shows up late.
I stepped out of the stuffy test building.
I didn't really need to use the bathroom. I just wanted some fresh air.
There was a walking path nearby, so I headed that way.
"Mm, no, I love you more."
Then, I heard a girl's voice from behind the building near the emergency stairs.
I used a rune-based barrier to suppress sound and looked toward it.
It was Nam Daeun.
'She's always on the phone with her little sister, huh.'
This midterm would be pretty important to Nam Daeun too.
In the original game, the protagonist only overtakes Nam Daeun for first place in the second semester of first year or the first semester of second year.
If you take first place at the end of first year, the protagonist hasn't built up enough strength to face a guild alone, so you can't go down Nam Daeun's route.
The bad end where she slaughters her guildmates to preserve her chastity, kills her sister, and then takes her own life… That one was intense.
But if you take first place in the first semester of second year, the protagonist is strong enough to fight the guild and save Nam Daeun.
My goal is to build up my foundation by the end of first year and save Nam Daeun.
No need to drag it out to second year—I need to wrap this up fast.
"I have to go now. Mhm."
Hearing Nam Daeun's voice, I deactivated the rune barrier and made my way toward the front gate.
Then, as Nam Daeun finished her call and approached the front gate, I greeted her.
"Hey."
"...Yeah."
Nam Daeun glanced at me briefly, replied shortly, and quickly entered through the front gate.
"Let's go in together. We're in the same group."
"...."
Nam Daeun ran off into the exam area without saying a word.
So cold.
I need to start making progress with her in the next exam, but I'm still not sure how to open that route.
I headed over to where our group was gathered.
"You're here…!"
Lumi, clearly hating the awkward atmosphere, looked relieved when she saw me.
"Yeah, sorry. Looks like it's about to start?"
"Yes, it seems that way."
The students were murmuring more loudly, and the professors were starting to take their seats. The exam was about to begin.
[Attention. Attention. Group representatives, please come forward to draw your sequence numbers. Repeat, group representatives, please come forward to draw your sequence numbers.]
"...."
"...."
"...."
"Sh-Should I go…?!"
"I'll go…."
I couldn't send Lumi to grab a number among those lions—who knows if she'd even get one properly.
And Lee Byunghoon, after acting all friendly earlier, was suddenly quiet again.
I drew a number from the box in front of the exam area.
"You're group number 3. Please write your name and your group members' names here."
"Sure."
Third. Not that it mattered—we're taking first place either way.
If we go early, it might demoralize the other groups. Oh well.
I returned to our spot with the number slip in hand.
"Hey guys. We're up third. Let's finish this fast."
"Y-Yes!"
"Going early might be a good thing. You really are lucky."
"...."
Lee Byunghoon's reactions were getting more animated. I wish he'd just show his worth through performance.
[All groups have drawn their numbers. Group 1 will begin. Group 2, please move to the front of the exam site and prepare.]
"It's starting!"
"I'm nervous. We're group 11, right? It'll be our turn soon!"
"We're group 2… One person hasn't shown up and we're next. What do we do?!"
Student chatter filled the air, and our group relaxed as we watched the screen.
Group 1's monster was a Cyclops.
Compared to an Ogre, it was slightly stronger or about the same.
"Whoa, a Cyclops?! Can Group 1 even beat that?"
"Not sure. They've got a good composition, but who knows if that's enough."
Each group got a different monster. Groups were initially formed to be balanced in average ability, but as time passed, individual growth varied widely—by midterms, the balance was a mess.
So monster difficulty varied too.
"Agh!"
Group 1 lost to the Cyclops.
But losing didn't mean automatic failure.
Since the process mattered most, Group 1 would still get a decent evaluation for responding well to the Cyclops's patterns.
[Next, Group 2. Please enter. Group 3, move to the front and wait.]
Our turn was already approaching.
"Let's move."
*
[Next is Group 3. Please enter. Group 4, move to the front and wait.]
A portal was set up at the front of the exam site.
"Once you pass through this portal, you'll enter a space with a simulated boss monster. Even if you're injured or die, it's a virtual space, so no real damage. But you will feel pain, and there could be psychological trauma—be careful."
We heard the final warnings and leapt into the portal.
A nauseating sensation wrapped around me for a moment.
When I opened my eyes, we were in a cave.
"Man, it's always caves."
Group 1 had a meadow, Group 2 had the sea, and we got a cave. Again.
"Come here. Let's first identify the monster before we move."
Since this exam focused on process, prep was key.
Lumi and Lee Byunghoon listened to me, but Nam Daeun didn't—she moved ahead on her own.
"Nam Daeun! This time, listen to me. If you act on your own during a boss monster hunt, other teammates could get hurt. This exam is all about the process!"
I shouted at Nam Daeun, who was walking away without listening to me.
Boss monsters are different from regular monsters. And since this is an exam, we have to use everyone's skills and clear it as safely as possible. That's the point of the test.
"...I can finish it fastest on my own."
Nam Daeun ignored my words and dashed ahead.
"Ah, that crazy... Damn. Let's just follow her."
We had no choice but to chase after Nam Daeun.
As I ran, I scanned the cave walls and ceiling for clues.
'Nothing on the walls, but there are small claw marks on the ceiling. A cave-type boss, claw marks on the ceiling...'
While we were running, we came upon a cavern.
I pieced the info together and instinctively looked up—meeting the glowing eyes of hundreds of creatures.
"It's the Night Queen! Cover your ears with mana, now!"
I shouted so everyone could hear.
The others quickly covered their ears with mana, and right then, the air began to tremble.
- SKREEEEEEEEECH!
Flap flap flap flap!
The Night Queen's signature ultrasonic attack.
Her standard tactic was to break enemy formation with the initial shriek and then let her bat minions take care of the rest.
Thankfully, if you block the first attack, she's not that hard to deal with.
The real issue is just the sheer number of her minions.
But the bats are cowardly by nature.
You can use that against them—lure them into the light and pick them off one by one without injury.
I conjured a fireball the size of my body and placed it in the center of the cavern.
Screeeeech!
Squeak!
The bats, scared by the massive fireball, clung to the ceiling.
Now we could take them out one by one.
But then… Nam Daeun started running again.
"Nam Daeun!!!"
With hundreds of them, not all bats stayed on the ceiling—some were flying through the air.
Nam Daeun began stepping on the airborne bats one by one, showing off her aerial skills as she closed in on the Night Queen.
"Ugh. Lumi! Give Nam Daeun a shield. Lee Byunghoon, protect Lumi. I'm heading up to support Nam Daeun."
I assigned the roles and leapt into action.
The Night Queen grows stronger the more bats she has.
Even if Nam Daeun managed to solo her, she'd definitely get injured in the process.
That defeats the point of the exam. Safety is the foundation of a proper raid.
A real strategy means retreating safely rather than pushing through with casualties.
I followed her, stepping on bats to rise up into the air.
Using bursts of acceleration, I caught up to her...
Only to find Nam Daeun lowering her sword—and the Night Queen already cleaved in two.
SCREEEEEECH!
The bisected virtual Night Queen dissolved into mana.
"...Huh?"
Nam Daeun in the first semester of freshman year... was stronger than I imagined.
*
As soon as the Night Queen vanished, the raid was complete, and we were automatically transported outside the portal.
The atmosphere outside was dead silent, stunned by Nam Daeun's superplay.
The result was good. But this time, I couldn't just let it slide.
"Nam Daeun. You—haah. Why are you in such a rush? You were lucky this time, but if you hadn't taken her down in one hit, we would've been seriously penalized. I told you—this exam's about the process."
I wasn't saying this for the sake of our team.
I said it for her.
In the original game, she could pull stunts like this and still hold first place. She was just that overwhelming.
But now, I exist.
Even if I wanted to hold back, I've already revealed too much of my power.
To win over the heroines, strength is better than weakness, and now that I've shown my hand, I have to perform in the practical too.
If she keeps rushing like this, I might end up taking first place sooner than expected.
"...Sorry. But my ranking is too important. I have to be first."
Nam Daeun turned and walked off again.
Come on, you're not getting first like that. Seriously.
Does she think being pretty makes everything okay?
She probably feels bad for hogging all the points, but seriously, listen to what people are saying.
[G-Group 4… please enter. Group 5, prepare to move forward.]
Even the professor announcing the next group sounded flustered after watching our raid.
"S-Still, it was kind of a success, right?"
Lumi just seemed happy that we passed.
"That wasn't a real success…"
This test was all about reading the situation.
I'd earn high marks for identifying the Night Queen quickly and preventing a wipe.
But Lumi only threw up a shield—so her score probably won't be that great…
"As expected, you're amazing, Hoyeon. That insight, pinpointing the Night Queen so fast—I'd love to learn that. …Could I maybe get your contact info?"
This guy's probably scoring a big fat zero.