Chapter 173
"Keke, what a sight."
Front, back, left, right. Stone walls boasting a height of about 3m.
No matter how much I advance and advance again, only stone walls of similar shapes greet me.
To actually face a scene I could only see in the game. It feels new.
'Well, the structure is different though.'
When playing the game, it was a tile-shaped map structure where the overall structure was visible, a characteristic of classic SRPG games.
Now it's practically a first-person perspective.
It might be slightly inappropriate to say it feels new.
Since it's almost like a place I'm seeing for the first time.
'It's not as much as the Tomb of the Sacred Sword, but this has its own flavor.'
I feel like this is why people travel the world.
'Annwood Academy is amazing, but... other places will be even more amazing.'
The countries of other races, the dragon's nest, the holy land of heroes, the great temple of the Holy Kingdom, etc.
What they will look like, what kind of relationships I can make, what kind of fun they will offer me.
Just imagining it is exciting.
The summer vacation that begins after the final exams. Of course, the first travel destination is...
'Hmm.'
I shook my head and came to my senses. Because now is not the time to be immersed in appreciation.
The pop quiz has just started.
I've prepared sufficiently, but to let my guard down is forbidden.
'Of course, there's no way I'll get lost.'
An omniscient perspective and a first-person perspective.
The structure is completely different, but it's not to the extent of being a problem.
I'm a veteran in this game.
And this pop quiz is an early episode of Chapter 2.
Meaning it's a labyrinth I've experienced thousands of times.
'Since the academy is the main stage in the game titled "Hero of the Academy".'
So even if the perspective has changed, there won't be a problem.
Honestly, I could walk through it with my eyes closed.
Well, I won't do that, since there won't be many opportunities to enjoy such a sight.
While admiring the statues placed here and there, I recalled the information about the 1st stage in my head.
'Pop quiz 1st stage, Stone Labyrinth Breakthrough test.'
It's longer and more complex than the labyrinth in the entrance exam, and the time limit is shorter at 30 minutes.
It's a test where if you get lost once, you might as well consider it a failure.
In fact, the number of kids who fail in the 1st stage is close to half. But.
'It's not to the point of being impossible to break through.'
The most commonly used method when conquering a labyrinth.
The 'left-hand rule' and 'right-hand rule' of moving while keeping a hand on one wall.
Using this method, it's a labyrinth that can be broken through sufficiently. Meaning it's a very easy labyrinth.
'The problem is that Caron set up small traps.'
The majority of kids try to break through the labyrinth using the left and right-hand rules.
Moreover, as soon as they entered the academy, the professors gave lectures and education on the subjects of the entrance exam.
In other words, there isn't a kid who doesn't know the left and right-hand rules.
Therefore, Caron set up small traps.
He designed it as the labyrinth that takes the longest time when using the left and right-hand rules.
That's right. The thing to be most careful about in the 1st stage is.
'Impatience.'
The gradually passing time.
The labyrinth that, strangely, doesn't seem to end.
When they don't even see slimes seen in the entrance exam, the kids come to have one thought in their heads.
'It must be a more difficult test than the entrance exam, but... it's this easy?'
Not only are there no obstacles like slimes, but Caron's incomprehensible words, 'If you recklessly make enemies, you'll be in trouble at the end', fill their minds.
In this situation.
"15 minutes before the end of the test! Pick up the pace a bit more!"
If the voice of the instructor announcing the remaining time and the urging are added, then.
"Oh no! How can I, who entered the advanced class, fail here!"
"This time, I must get into the advanced class no matter what!"
In the end, the kids give up the left and right-hand rules and start running.
They self-destruct by abandoning the labyrinth they were breaking through well.
Swoosh-.
Knowing these facts well, I didn't take my hand off the wall for a single moment.
I know the optimal route to the exit. If I use that route, it won't even take 5 minutes.
But the reason I'm still using the left and right-hand rules?
'Because it will arouse suspicion.'
If I escape the labyrinth without getting lost even once, it will raise suspicion from the instructors.
That's not all.
'The instructors' favorability towards me will hit rock bottom.'
Because they will think I made a dirty deal with someone and got the information.
There is a bottom below the bottom.
The favorability that is already at the bottom due to my slit eyes will dig through the ground and go down.
The scoring method for the Stone Labyrinth Breakthrough test is ultimately based on 'whether you can break through within the time limit'.
The score of a person who passed in 5 minutes and a person who passed in 29 minutes is the same.
Well, there will be a slight bonus, but still.
'I also have to be careful of Caron's Hidden Piece.'
In fact, this is the biggest reason why I'm using the left and right-hand rules.
If I escape the labyrinth in one go in the pop quiz episode following the entrance exam, Caron will come and have a counseling session.
'Who did you get the information from?'
And the conversation hell begins.
If I make a mistake while doing a lot of clicking, I'll be expelled for doing something unfair.
When I'm unlucky, I sometimes end up in the torture room and meet the torture ending.
'I will definitely take the torture course.'
What if Caron personally provides a special(?) torture course?
Just imagining it made my body chilling.
No matter how much I think about it, this method is the best.
"5 minutes left!"
Before I knew it, I was able to reach the end of the labyrinth.
Oh, I did meet a few kids here and there.
The reactions of the kids who faced me were as follows.
"I-It's 3rd place! Run away!"
"Kyaah! Pervert!"
"Does it mean that the Kraken's tentacles are still thriving even in the labyrinth! Retreat!"
Either they ran away, treated me like a pervert, or slandered(?) me.
It didn't differ much from these three reactions.
"Congratulations on passing. Wait here for a bit."
The ten kids who arrived first turned to look at me.
It was only natural for them to be faster than me, since they ran through the labyrinth to escape my tentacles(?).
Well, I was walking slowly too.
"Keke, congratulations on passing, everyone."
Swish-.
Swish swish-.
When I smiled and approached them, they slowly moved away.
When I approach, they move away, and when I approach, they move away.
Even magnets aren't this bad.
"Time's up. End the 1st test..."
"Wa-Wait a moment!"
A boy came out of the labyrinth, panting and out of breath.
It was the kid who was instigating to eliminate me when the labyrinth test started.
The name is... I don't remember.
"Zero! As expected, you're amazing. To break through this labyrinth without shedding a single drop of sweat!"
"Keke, labyrinths are a breeze for me. Ah... The name was definitely Ze..."
The boy quickly nodded his head.
So this name must be correct.
"Zema?"
"It's Zepa! The third son of the great Oshri family, Zepa!! You bastard! You're doing it on purpose, aren't you?"
It can't be helped.
Because an extra with such a name doesn't exist in my old-timer knowledge dictionary.
This kid is impossible to even put in the party.
Meaning he's a character that doesn't even get extra treatment in the game.
'It's a waste of brain capacity.'
So there's no way I'll remember.
I can easily find out the name using the [Information Window] skill, but even that is bothersome for him.
"Keke, don't get too angry. Isn't it important that I know your face, Zedai?"
"Even so, having a different number of letters is too much, isn't it?"
"Keke, it's a misunderstanding, Zeras."
"...Now you're not even pretending to remember. It's a duel! Draw your sword!"
But he couldn't draw his sword.
"Urgh, ughhh..."
"Ah, oh no!"
"Everyone run away!"
The 2nd stage of the pop quiz, the illusion test, had begun.
Of course, I was unaffected.
Not only do I have the [Mental Defense] skill, but also.
[Parma's Hand Mirror: B]
Once a day, it can block illusion and curse-type magic below 6-star level.
Because I have the artifact Caron got for me.
Luna and Rezé have the same thing, so they will be able to pass the 2nd stage without difficulty.
As expected, the key to this test is the 3rd stage, the group duel.
"Ze-Zero, as expected! No wonder you're called the Kraken! Get away! You squishy bastard!"
What kind of illusion is he experiencing?
Teron Faction's Zedai(?) waved his hands in a daze.
Squishy, you say. Even though I have a very firm and heavy body!
Of course, I'm talking about muscles.
Taking out a pen and doodling on his face, I thought.
'The rabbit's test would have ended a long time ago...'
I only have the 3rd stage left.
All that remains is.
'Hmm, I wonder if our cat is doing well?'
*
Around 10 minutes after the test for the last Team 14 began.
Luna, who got lost and became a lost child, thought.
'It's not that I lost the way. The way lost me.'
Then.
"I just need to make the way find me!"
Stomp stomp stomp-!
And so, Luna began to sprint through the labyrinth.
But.
"Huff huff... What kind of path is this?"
There's no way the path can find Luna. It's Luna herself who needs to find the path.
"He said to follow people if I get lost, but... I don't see any kids either."
Luna, who had been running like crazy and shouting.
It was only natural for the kids to avoid her. Because there's nothing more dangerous than facing a psycho(?) in a labyrinth.
"Huh?"
Then someone entered Luna's field of vision.
It was Daike. Teron's right-hand man and hunting dog.
"......"
"......"
An awkward silence flowed.
Because they had a duel once due to Teron's scheme.
Luna even almost had her arm cut off.
But.
'Well, it doesn't matter. My arm is fine now.'
Luna is the owner of a cool(?) personality towards those who aren't her friends.
She doesn't dwell on things that happened in the past.
'I've also become much stronger than then.'
Although she's not strong enough to beat Daike yet, she was confident she wouldn't lose overwhelmingly like before.
That she had become stronger than then, and she would continue to become stronger.
'Because Zero told me.'
So she doesn't feel intimidated.
"I'll go first?"
"...Do as you wish."
Luna passed by Daike.
Although Zero told her to follow someone else if she gets lost, Luna doesn't want to follow Daike.
Because he might misunderstand her for catching up to him suspiciously.
Step step-.
Step step-.
"......"
Suddenly, Luna realized that Daike was chasing after her.
A blatant pursuit that even the tactless Luna noticed.
'Is he trying to ambush me?'
She intentionally showed gaps in between, but Daike showed no particular reaction.
Swish-.
"...!"
When Luna turned her head, Daike flinched and tapped on the stone wall, pretending to be nonchalant.
"Ahem, solid stone."
"Of course the stone is solid, would it be squishy?"
"Is that so? What a surprising fact."
"Why don't you just be honest? Say you followed me because you like me."
"...?"
Luna raised her index finger and pointed it at Daike, shouting.
"Stalkers aren't popular! No matter how charming I am!"
"...Don't worry, it's not like that."
"Are you saying I'm not charming? That makes me angry in its own way!"
"...I apologize."
"Hmph! Be careful from now on! This is why being too pretty is a problem!"
The advance and pursuit continued after that.
Only then did Luna realize.
Could this guy be...
"Did you get lost?"
"......"
That's right. Daike was no less directionally challenged than Luna.
Teron knew this fact all too well, so he earnestly instructed Daike right before the test.
-Daike, there might be a labyrinth like the entrance exam. In that case, follow another kid. Then you'll be able to pass easily.
And the kid Daike happened to meet.
It was none other than Luna, the directionally challenged among the directionally challenged.
"But I got lost too, you know?"
"...?"
The unofficial rank 1 Daike, Luna who is practically confirmed for the advanced class due to Caron's existence.
But those two.
Found themselves on the verge of dropping out in the labyrinth test.
--TL Notes--
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