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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Performance Evaluation (2)
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"What's the problem?"
When Camel asked back, Rachel beat her small, unmoving chest in frustration and replied.
"Everything's a problem! Everything! It's a group performance evaluation, and what? You're going to plant the flag alone? You don't need us, so we should just wait here? If that's not a problem, what is?"
After her screeching stopped, Camel retorted to Rachel with a displeased expression.
"Wouldn't it be the answer, not the problem?"
"What?"
"It's a way to get the highest score without any damage. If you wait here, you won't be attacked by other students, right? Besides, this evaluation doesn't even include cooperation as a grading criterion."
"Ha, do you even know who's standing on that peak before you blabber?"
"How would I know who's standing there?"
"You really didn't prepare at all. Right, if you don't know, maybe that's how it is. Listen carefully. Waiting for us up there is one of the Combat Department's teaching assistants. They are third and fourth-year seniors who have never once missed excellent grades during their enrollment!"
Rachel even yelled, badgering Camel.
Watching her, my brow furrowed involuntarily. Why is that girl getting so angry?
Of course, that's not to say Rachel's opinion was entirely wrong.
The teaching assistants guarding the mountaintop were TAs in name only; they were monsters who had never dropped out of the top ranks in the Combat Department.
I could understand Rachel's feelings, arguing that it made no sense for one person to face those TAs alone.
In fact, going to the mountaintop alone was also a problem.
That's because the mountain was teeming with various magic dolls, and stronger dolls were positioned closer to the summit.
I'd heard that many magic dolls equivalent to high-ranking magical beasts were also stationed there.
"Rachel, this time, let me ask you something."
"What?"
"Seriously, do you think I'll lose to the TAs or the magic dolls?"
"Even you, though..."
"I'll never lose. So this is the best option. Listen carefully, the reason it's a strategy for you to wait here is..."
I saw Lord Camel beginning to persuade Rachel again with a rather serious expression.
He looked utterly arrogant.
In other words, he was brimming with confidence.
Perhaps it's because I know his true nature.
Naturally, no doubt crossed my mind.
Lord Camel is the Hero I chose and even made a contract with, isn't he?
So, there's no way he'd be defeated by academy TAs or magic dolls.
'But why am I annoyed...?'
Is it because he's bickering over something trivial right in front of me?
Or is it because the expression Lord Camel is making is so different from the one he had after kissing Rose?
I didn't know why, but I wasn't in a good mood.
Even seeing Lord Camel's displeased expression right in front of me, instead of feeling scared, annoyance welled up, and my cheeks puffed out with petulance.
"Daisy, you're the closest to him, try talking some sense into him. He's absolutely impossible to reason with."
Seeing that, I shrugged and replied.
"Wouldn't it be fine to do as Lord Camel says?"
"What?"
"Ah, you wouldn't know how strong Lord Camel is, since you're in subspace."
Was it because I wasn't in a good mood? Words much sharper than intended slipped out.
"Ha!"
Was that what upset her?
Rachel, her face bright red, sighed heavily and started spouting nonsense.
"Honestly, you two have been sticking together lately, did something happen between you? Did you even kiss? Why are you taking his side here..."
"Hey."
"Hey?"
Hearing that nonsense, I finally let my emotions, which had been on the verge of exploding, burst forth.
"You mouthy brat. Stop screeching, it's annoying. Before I shove your big mouth into subspace."
Only then did Rachel's irritating lips tightly close.
****
After parting ways with my group members, I headed towards the mountaintop.
I climbed the mountain at a fast pace, recalling Daisy's appearance from just moments ago.
-"You mouthy brat. Stop screeching, it's annoying. Before I shove your big mouth into subspace."
The venomous words felt as refreshing as ice water in midsummer.
Those scathing remarks were Daisy's, the Daisy whom I had not just liked, but loved in the original story.
'Daisy was Daisy, after all.'
I was deeply moved. Not only had I directly heard Daisy's scathing remarks, which I thought I would never hear again, but I had also received her help.
'She seemed to be in a bad mood, though.'
Did she not like the gift? It seems I'll have to find time to talk to Daisy separately.
As I climbed the mountain, thinking such thoughts, magic dolls one by one blocked my path.
I saw dolls resembling lower-ranking magical beasts like goblins, orcs, and selobs, as well as dolls resembling high-ranking magical beasts like trolls and ogres.
-*Swoosh!*
Naturally, each time I swung my sword, those dolls fell, dropping score-marked orbs onto the ground.
I didn't bother picking up the orbs. After all, if I just planted the flag on the mountaintop, the score would naturally follow.
More than that, even the time spent picking up orbs felt precious to me.
'Because it's almost time for him to awaken.'
The demon I had been secretly monitoring all this time, who was originally supposed to awaken on the day of the midterm exam.
He was showing signs of waking up.
The reason for the accelerated timing wasn't clear.
I merely assumed it might be due to the demonic energy of Grid, who was likely targeting my life somewhere in Adenia.
'I can't tell you how grateful I am that he's waking up today.'
That wasn't the only reason I was rushing.
'Randel Krantzck.'
I wanted to show Randel, the TA waiting for the students up there, the sight of the demon awakening.
Because Randel was one of the high-ranking executives of the revolutionary organization, 'Wings of Freedom.'
What if I told Randel that the one he trusted and followed was trying to use a demon?
'Randel would postpone the planned terror attack.'
This was a situation I couldn't help but welcome, as I already had plenty to worry about.
"Finally, an opportunity to cross swords."
Just then, a serious voice suddenly came from beside me.
I turned my gaze to see Fran taking a stance, his sword pointed at me, while the other group members, including Sage, sighed deeply.
'Did I come this far while bickering with Rachel?'
It seemed so. Judging by the dirt caked all over Fran's clothes, who was usually known for his neatness.
'If I'm going to use him even a little later, I do need to train him.'
But I'm busy today.
Thinking that, I didn't reply. I lightly deceived the Scales first, then immediately pushed off the ground and leaped.
Fran's forehead instantly drew closer.
-*Crack!*
I struck his forehead with the pommel, then without looking back, started running towards the summit again.
There was no need to look back.
Because.
"Ha, he was knocked out in one hit."
"What is he? Scary..."
"Sage, what do we do now?"
I could hear the conversation of the other group members, excluding Sage.
How long did I run, cutting down the magic dolls that blocked my path?
"Huh?"
Upon reaching the mountaintop, a man tilting his head in puzzlement came into view.
"I never dreamed a junior would come straight here."
The man, who had been sitting on a tree stump, rose with an annoyed expression.
Well-groomed brown hair,
Gold-rimmed glasses that perfectly suited his cold eyes.
As I expected, the teaching assistant waiting for the students on the mountaintop was Randel.
"Ah, seeing your black hair, you must be that famous top-ranking freshman these days."
"You're Senior Randel, aren't you? It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Greetings? Whatever. Well, you know the rules, right? If you want to get points, you just need to plant the flag over there. And I just need to stop you."
As I greeted him cheerfully, Randel shrugged and replied, gesturing with his eyes towards his back.
Following his gaze, I saw a large rock with several holes drilled into it, just big enough for a flag pole.
"Easy."
"Easy?"
"Ah, my apologies, Senior. I just had a sudden, absurd thought."
"Absurd thought?"
"I suddenly thought that this is much easier than starting a revolution. Haha."
Answering Randel's re-question, I stared intently into his eyes.
'Seeing him in person, he really is an impressive person.'
Given that his gaze didn't waver even when I spoke with such sarcasm.
"You tell interesting stories."
"I've been feeling quite unsettled lately, having heard some strange rumors just recently. Please understand."
"Strange rumors? What might they be?"
"I heard there's a group planning a terror attack on the academy. What was it again...? Oh, right! They said they plan to abolish the class system and kill innocent children to create an equal society."
"If that's true, then that group would be utterly senseless. Rumors are certainly interesting, aren't they?"
I had expected him to show some reaction when I spoke so openly.
But Randel was far calmer and more skilled at concealing himself than I had imagined.
'Well, the outcome will be the same anyway.'
Thinking that, I drew my sword from its sheath and politely spoke.
"Senior, then I shall proceed first."
"Be my guest."
Was he perhaps wary of me?
Randel instantly raised his mana, and simultaneously with drawing his sword, he unfurled five magic circles in the air.
-*Grrr.*
-*Kii-eek.*
In addition, two intermediate spirits were instantly summoned.
The provocation certainly seemed to have worked.
Unlike how he appeared in the game, Randel was clearly intending to engage in this fight with his full strength.
Much to my delight.