NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 28
28. Who’s the Crazy One in This Area (1)
On the day of significant exams like midterms or finals, professors bustle around just as much as the students.
They must wrack their brains to devise the toughest written exam questions, and on practical exam days, they are frantically setting up the Void Space Gate again.
This time, it’s not as simple as just creating the Void Space and disappearing. They need to generate virtual monsters inside that can continuously regenerate even after being hunted.
“Thank you for your hard work, Professor Radian.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m just grateful to Professor Stella for coming all the way here to lend a hand.”
Stella Vermillion, the duty officer, is actively cooperating to create a practical exam space for the first-year students.
This role was originally supposed to be filled by Adela Merhenna, Radian’s teaching assistant, but she happens to be hospitalized.
Adela, who was confined during the Lycanthrope incident, ended up being poisoned and lost consciousness.
Fortunately, she is expected to return to work immediately after the midterms.
“Adela is quite lucky, isn’t she? Avoiding such a troublesome path at just the right time.”
“That’s why I’m planning to make the most of my free time. I should be able to handle the grade distribution myself.”
“Is there a student among the first-years that you are particularly looking forward to?”
“Well, there are so many that I should really pinpoint one.”
While the other grades are no exception, the first-year students are filled with rookie talents that outshine their upperclassmen.
Crona Delaware, known as the blazing sun.
Kent Egist, who also serves as the first-year representative.
Jenny Chain Silver, who recently gained control over her strange freezing ability.
Mary Ryudshiel, although eccentric, known as the strongest in Magic.
Luska Mad Eye, who occupied a Class A position purely based on skill despite lacking connections.
Baimon Dreadnote, the mad scientist of the Alchemy Department.
And Lyman Begilius, who, while shrouded in mystery, can clearly be recognized for his skills.
There are other students not mentioned, making this generation brimming with talent worthy of being called the golden generation. The state of upperclassmen is quite dismal in comparison.
“What about the prince of the Papias Kingdom? I’m curious to see how he is growing lately.”
“Are you talking about Totema? Although he studies in the Magic Department, I don’t know the details. I’ve heard some things through discussions with Professor Cerix.”
As a prince of the Papias Kingdom who enrolled, “Totema Redhall Papias” is naturally someone people would have expectations for, given his status.
However, Radian spoke with a troubled expression, revealing a grim reality.
“They say he’s hopeless.”
“Oh dear…”
“Can you imagine how embarrassing it must be to have his grades leaked outside the Academy?”
Being a prince and having poor grades must be a source of embarrassment! And forging grades is out of the question. He’s truly in a difficult spot.
“Then let me ask one more thing.”
“……”
“What do you think about Radon Crawler?”
“Why the sudden inquiry about that child?”
“You mentioned discussing him not too long ago, saying there was a chance he could rise to Class A.”
Stella recalled the practical exam incident. Just like how his hidden skills were revealed when he broke Jenny’s wooden sword with a fishing rod.
“That’s… just a fluke.”
“Huh?”
“Radon’s fight was akin to wielding a real sword.”
But later, she would come to realize that her cool assessment had been an underestimation.
“This exam is not a practice; it’s real. In a space where everyone fights with actual weapons, how well his skills will truly shine is uncertain.”
*
With the midterms now in their final stages, the practical exams just need to be completed before moving on to Chapter 2.
So far, no villains have appeared.
Jenny, Mary, and Crona are set to have a heartwarming story where they give a name, “Angela,” to the white girl they meet in the forest.
However, even without villains, an opponent does exist: Luska Mad Eye.
In this exam, the more monsters one hunts in the Void Space, the higher the score recorded.
Attacking other students is prohibited. During practicals, it’s essential to be able to distinguish allies from enemies.
Nevertheless, Luska challenges Jenny to a fight without any care. Since the Void Space isn’t fully operational yet, it’s impossible to forcibly end their clash.
As emotions flare, Lyman steps in to hilariously teach her a lesson, abruptly ending the fight.
Due to Lyman’s overwhelming power, there’s rarely any tense depiction of a struggle. This feeds into a common trope where the main character is absent.
A crisis occurs, causing supporting characters or heroines to be in peril, after which the protagonist makes a grand entrance to finish things off decisively.
On top of that, Lyman possesses the trait of a “protagonist hiding his power,” making it all the more difficult to showcase his true potential. His real strength will only manifest during the final battle of Chapter 2.
Until then, he’ll only be using his sealed strength. Truly a monstrous being.
“I’m dying from the heat…!”
The trial field recreated in the Void Space was a volcanic area.
Even from a distance, the bubbling lava’s temperature made it feel like standing under the blazing sun, making me sweat.
As I displayed a frail appearance, virtual monsters sprang forth to attack. I was impressed by how closely they mirrored their natural behavior, yet it only made me sneer.
These were magma-based monsters that ambushed exhausted prey from behind. Each beast, made entirely of lava, drooled in anticipation of my emaciated form.
How could I not get the jump on them, given how much I was sweating?
– Deceive and Strike Lv3 (Activated)
The ones that lunged at my limp figure were slashed sideways. It was an unexpected direction thanks to the fishing rod.
As soon as they turned to corpses, they vaporized into particles.
Normally, it takes over 20 minutes to deal with such monsters, but thanks to steadily rising stats, I could easily suppress them.
The peculiar thing was that I’d been summoned to a high point of a volcano. Hence, I could see students fighting monsters down by the foot of the mountain. Among them, there were some familiar faces.
Baimon from the Alchemy Department was spreading gas to weaken the monsters’ defenses.
Those exposed to the gas struggled like Superman against kryptonite, only to be quickly dispatched by lightweight daggers aimed at their weak spots.
Baimon adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses with one hand, striking a signature pose that radiated intellect.
Mary was still endlessly unleashing elemental magic.
She laughed as if she was just playing. It was astounding how she maintained control to prevent the students from being caught in the chaos.
What about the others, though?
By now, Luska and Jenny would probably be inadvertently battling it out over the same monster. Lyman, on the other hand, would be quietly hunting nearby before accidentally discovering them and mediating.
As long as no major variables popped up, I could simply hunt in peace.
– Threat Detection Lv4
…I thought that would be enough.
“!!”
At that moment, all my senses tensed as I detected an arrow behind me.
I twisted my body while swinging the fishing rod to deflect it. The ricocheted arrow pierced a nearby rock.
“Not bad.”
The arrow came from above the hill. There stood Luska Mad Eye, her brown scarf fluttering. I’d already guessed it was her from the purple trail…
“What are you doing here?”
“What do you mean, because there’s nothing to do?”
“Nothing? Aren’t you hunting monsters?”
“I already took down 99. What’s the point in hunting more? With 60 minutes left until the exam ends, shouldn’t I at least do something fun?”
In the main story, she’d typically hunt down 100 monsters. Having caught 99, she would be in pursuit of one more when she clashed with Jenny.
But for some reason, her target changed from a monster to me. Why?
“Why in the world is the target me?”
“Did you forget who pissed me off in Libel Hall?”
Hearing that made me grimace. Back then, I just swapped things around to avoid unnecessary friction.
No matter how much Luska despises scammers, she typically ignores situations unrelated to her business. So why was I catching her attention?
“Take your hits and stay safe.”
“Then don’t even aim at me!”
“Don’t worry. I don’t plan to kill you.”
The pulled bowstring turned black.
Just like last time, she intended to unleash the ‘Break Rain,’ a hail of arrows. Even if she claimed I wouldn’t die, at the very least, I would still be heading to the infirmary for sure!
I don’t know why she’s acting this way, but this is a situation where legitimate self-defense could be claimed.
[Break Ray…]
– Howling Thunder Lv2
Just as the blackened bowstring was about to release, a bolt from the blue struck down from the sky, rendering it a futile effort.
First strike is crucial.
Boom!—
“Ugh!”
Luska fell down the hill due to the lightning. Was that unusual sound she made just now a figment of my imagination?
But there was no time for embarrassment.
Luska managed to slow her descent by sticking her bow into the cliff as she fell. She successfully landed, but a follow-up strike from the lightning was waiting for her.
Boom!—
Once again, a large bolt of lightning rained down on her head.
No matter how fast she might be, she couldn’t outrun the storm.
“Ugh!”
Although it was too late, Luska reflexively raised her bow to block it. Her survival instinct kicked in, making her tremble and emit a faint voice.
Radon Crawler, was that guy strong enough to unleash such large-scale lightning? Besides, being in the Combat Department, he wouldn’t be adept at such magic. It had to be clear that Radon Crawler was part of the Shadow Brigade.
Thoughts like that flitted through Luska’s mind.
“What are you doing right now?”
…Something felt off.
I heard Radon’s incredulous voice…
“Huh?”
The previously massive thundercloud had vanished without a trace.
The bolt that struck on the hill was real, but that large storm that followed was nowhere to be found as if it had been a figment.
“An illusion…?”
– Illusion Summoning Lv1
This skill had been activated simultaneously with the Howling Thunder. It had unintentionally triggered in an unconscious state, leaving me puzzled as to what had happened.
That’s why I was questioning Luska’s crouched form.
< Degradation Rate Decreased: -30% >
[+5000 Credits]
In any case, I had succeeded in deceiving her, thus reducing the degradation rate.
To master illusions completely, I’d need more training, but this was not the moment to deliberate over that.
I soon realized I’d missed my chance to escape.
“…So this was your doing?”
“Ah….”
“Once again, you managed to trick me….”
Creak!—
Slowly raising my head revealed Luska with clenched teeth. The murderous intent in her unveiled gaze sent chills down my spine.
The arrows shimmered violet in the instant, and the bowstring was drawn back even faster than before.
[Break Rain]
Massive amounts of arrows rained down like black rain, painting a dark expanse.
Even if I tried to counter with ‘Gather,’ I wouldn’t be able to deflect them all. The gap in strength between Luska and me was too vast, and I currently lacked a way to close it.
The most dreadful of situations seemed imminent.
Splash!—
A sparkling wall shot up in front of me. The diamond-like wall shielded me from the hail of arrows.
I quickly realized the temperature around us had dropped drastically, the icy barrier obvious in an instant.
Among the first-years, there was only one student with such abilities.
“I was curious why familiar thunder was falling, so I came to check…”
The girl with flowing blue hair descended gracefully, landing on the ground. She glared sharply at the black-haired girl who had fired the arrows.
“Luska. Are you out of your mind?”
Jenny was genuinely angry at the delinquent student who had caused this chaos.