Chapter 126: Survival Test (19)

Chapter 126: Survival Test (19)

Survival Test (19)

In this world, elves fall far from the picturesque image people often associate with beauty. They manifest as unhinged creatures reveling in the sadistic pleasure of hunting humans. They possess intelligence, but due to a different language, communication is impossible.

The High Elf is likely under magical control; therefore, even if communication were an option, it remains voiceless. This final boss serves as a mechanism designed to address students who opt for inaction until the final day of the academy’s survival test. By actively hunting monsters and uncovering treasures during the week-long survival test can easily result in around 200 points.

The High Elf has a policy against allowing those who avoid combat and choose to run and hide to survive until the test’s conclusion. Merely enduring until the final day still garners a significant points, as the challenges of hiding and surviving are no simple tasks.

Anyway, In the original game, only a few students were dealt with, and the protagonist confronted it. But now, things have changed significantly.

“What the hell?!”

“Aaaargh!”

Kim Younghan’s group, as they came closer, found themselves under assault from the High Elf’s arrows, which capable of striking across the entire island.

The team’s large size, with 80 members, proved to be more of a drawback than an advantage. Having a considerable number of people doesn’t always equate to a strategic benefit.

Had only around 20 students remained after battling and claiming each other’s points, they wouldn’t have been the elf’s primary targets. The ones genuinely concealing themselves and surviving would have been the focus and faced elimination.

However, an excessive number of students managed to survive. The fixed point distribution system meant that, with an increased participant count, the points had to be dispersed among them. Naturally, this isn’t Kim Younghan’s fault, as predicting such a scenario is unreasonable.

Actually, there was a hint given yesterday on the 6th day.

[The names and locations of all students will be displayed in real-time on the mini-map. Students who are just running away to survive, take note.]

This served as a clue about the High Elf’s presence. I’m uncertain whether it was deliberately placed for players to comprehend. I learned the details by reading explanations circulating on the internet.

I turned on the point ranking, hoping that no students would die due to accidents.

———————–

Current point ranking on the island.

1. Lee Hoyeon. 1210p

2. Kim Younghan. 452p

3. Alice. 434p

4. Lucy. 210p

.

.

.

———————-

There are only five students on the island with scores surpassing 200 points at the moment. This implies that everything will be handled automatically, even if you choose not to intervene. It’s that simple.

I successfully distanced myself from Kim Younghan’s perplexed team, courtesy of the arrows, and proceeded towards the coordinates of the twins and Alice on the map.

I need to go share points with Lumi.

***

In the academy meeting room, professors were engrossed in the final day of the survival test.

“Shouldn’t we tweak this a bit...?” A professor cautiously brought up the situation in the test where, with each shot from the High Elf’s arrow, students teleported one or two at a time.

“The initial 200-point calculation has changed too much now. If we continue like this, everyone except for five will be eliminated.”

“Why does that matter? Elimination doesn’t equal disqualification; it’s a relative evaluation. The only difference is the order.”

“That may be true, but... sudden mass eliminations on the last day due to a point limit could raise fairness concerns.” Another professor sighed.

Fairness. It’s always the new professors raising that topic. They hadn’t fully adapted to Victoria Academy yet.

“Fairness? Since when did we care about that... You know. Academy policy. Developing those damn situational adaptability skills.”

Situational adaptability.

Getting accustomed to unexpected and sudden events, a characteristic of professions with a lot of unpredictability. Victoria Academy emphasized situational adaptability as an educational institution.

“Still, fairness is...”

“If you’re going to rant about fairness, there are more than a couple of things to pick on. It’s a fact that mages have the upper hand in survival. They can easily light a fire to cook and maintain at least minimal cleanliness with magic; some students even created makeshift beds with magic. Why didn’t you say anything about those?”

“No, using magic is unavoidable for mages. I’m not talking about that. I think we should have stopped Lee Hoyeon from bringing in the food in the first place.”

Current Status: He’s a good guy... definitely.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Lumi]

[Affection: 92] (+0.3)

[Lust: 63]

[Appetite: 25]

[Fatigue: 39]

Current Status: Being a secret friend is tough...

★ Heroine Status Window

[Alice]

[Affection: 42]

[Lust: 38]

[Appetite: 25]

[Fatigue: 45]

Current Status: Not keen on learning infiltration techniques...

Seeing these incomprehensible thoughts made it even more confusing. No, now’s not the time to worry about this.

“Lumi, where did you get the points?” I checked the rankings, and Lumi’s points magically hit 200. I ran like crazy here to share points.

“Oh, I got them by defeating a monster together.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

Well, the process isn’t that important now that the points are secured.

“Let’s go right away.”

“To where?”

“Where else? Elf-hunting time.”

“The elf? Do we really need to?”

“After the elf deals with those bullet sponges, we’re next.”

It was stated that the elf would prioritize students with less than 200 points, not that he wouldn’t target those above.

Enduring those long-range arrows for a whole day doesn’t make sense. In the original work, the protagonist happened to be located around the center of the island, so he managed to deal with the elf somehow. So, for the sake of the hidden piece, I have to handle it according to the original plan.

I initially planned to confront the elf alone. However, fighting with Nam Daeun left me with insufficient mana at the moment. I ran and filled up my mana as much as possible, but I didn’t want to risk it. If we hunt together, I can still collect the hidden piece alone. I just need to prepare for it after defeating the elf. Alice and Lucy will handle the actual task.

“Alright.”

“Okay. Let’s go quickly.”

When even Alice was on board, Lucy and Lumi were sure to tag along.

Off we went, sprinting toward the island’s center. The arrows didn’t even bother glancing our way, as the elf was preoccupied with Kim Younghan’s team which boasted around 80 members. Checking the point rankings, there were now only about 30 survivors.

We need to run quickly before those bullet sponges run out.

A large tree stood at the island’s core. Up top, the High Elf kept shooting arrows. I prepped my magic, Ignition, a straightforward flame-spurting spell, but its simplicity made it effective.

The target is that tree.

Set the World Tree ablaze.

Fwoosh!

A magic circle was drawn rapidly from my hand, and everything, including the tree and the elf standing on it, was engulfed in flames.

“Gaaaaaargh!”

The High Elf dropped its bow and clutched its head as the flames consumed it.

What the heck? Did I bring the trio along for no reason? Looks like I miscalculated my firepower.