Chapter 93

Chapter 93

HEL SCANS

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Shortly after the start of the exam.

The defense team fell into confusion.

“Where the heck are these arrows coming from!”

“No, they keep changing positions! It’s not a flying squirrel, it’s above and then below...”

“Can someone take a look!”

“...I’ll check.”

Amidst the screams of the students heard through the short-range communication devices, Meian, a second-year student hiding near the third-floor window, decided to step forward.

...Squeak!

Meian aimed at the training arrow that had fallen to the ground after hitting the acupoint.

It was right after he raised his head.

‘...In that moment?’

Could that freshman see beyond the wall?

It was utterly incomprehensible to him.

Meian declared with bitterness.

“...Hit area, head. Meian is out.”

“What?”

“Wait... does that make sense?”

The place they were ambushing was right in front of the stronghold.

From the attackers’ perspective, it was the quickest route to plant the flag on the stronghold if they could break through.

But the defense team boldly reduced the number of personnel.

It was only a firepower unit consisting of archers.

“It’s a straight path. If we ambush a few archers, how are they going to break through?”

“Yeah. The rest of us will be flexible and focus on marking Luke or her.”

It seemed like a reasonable strategy at first glance.

The road was structurally the key point of defense that could withstand over a dozen troops in two or three rows.

But an unforeseen situation unfolded.

‘One building to the northeast on the second floor, one on the rooftop, and one in front of the stronghold’s platform. The rest...’

Evergreen squinted, hiding in the shadow of the bell tower, surveying the exam venue.

A battle song.

She had experienced facing real monsters in Solintale, her hometown.

She had practiced simulated battles countless times.

To pass a difficult written exam, she thoroughly studied the patterns of historical battles recorded in history.

Thanks to that, Evergreen could roughly sketch out the defense team’s strategy, where they set traps, and where they might be ambushing, just by looking at the terrain of the exam venue.

With a slow and extended sensory detection, she could completely pinpoint their locations.

Her calmness, quick judgment, and decisiveness to seize opportunities that the hero had emphasized so much were now ingrained in her through the hellish training she underwent, elevating her skills to a whole new level.

Taking down the defense team, who had become complacent one by one was not a challenging task for her in the face of her leap in skills.

“....”

“....”

Only four defenders remained on the road now.

They muttered into their communication devices with expressions of frustration.

“No, it’s just one person. Why should we be stuck like this?”

“Stay calm. You roughly got the positions, right? Over there, by the bell tower.”

“Darn it, how did they get up there?”

The one who seemed like their leader opened his mouth with determination.

“We have no choice but to go out at once. While one person is engaging, the other three will identify the positions and intercept.”

“What if we don’t reveal ourselves?”

“That’s even better. We can reposition while maintaining the encircling formation.”

“Just waiting...”

“Didn’t they already figure out our positions? If the main force comes, it’s over. It would be quite embarrassing to be wiped out by a freshman. Agree?”

Any opposing opinions were immediately silenced.

“Counting to three. One.”

...Two.

...Three.

They rushed forward, all aiming their bows towards the bell tower, where Evergreen was presumed to be.

However, there was no one there.

Rustle-

The only sensed presence was directly in front of them.

‘Oh, when did she come down?’

Evergreen, leaning diagonally against the platform on the road, drew her bow.

The four arrows attached to the bowstring glowed ominously.

...

“Ah, I wish all exams were like this.”

There was no malice in that mutter.

* * *

The anonymous bulletin board was buzzing with discussions about the midterm exams, specifically about the ‘Extreme’ students who were making headlines.The initial posting of this chapter occurred via Ñøv€l-B!n.

– No, are they a different breed? How can they improve so rapidly? It doesn’t make sense logically.

He opened his mouth.

“...Mom.”

In reality, there weren’t many ways for Ban to reminisce about his mother.

In his family, all traces of her had been erased for a long time.

His father no longer mentioned her.

Even when he tried to delve into his memories, the time they spent together was so long ago that it remained blurry.

It wasn’t for no reason that he wandered in the Library of Memories.

However, occasionally, very ordinary and everyday memories would unexpectedly surface.

A tender touch that used to wake him up, a supportive voice that resonated every time he practiced swordsmanship in the training ground.

In the bedroom, lips that touched his forehead.

When he turned his gaze away from a book in concentration, there would inevitably be a fruit plate on the desk.

The absence of those small and trivial moments felt immensely significant, sharp, and poignant from the moment he became aware of it.

It was as if there was no shortage of memories tearing up his childhood.

“....”

The dream was short.

Ban gazed at his mother’s fading face.

There were many things he wanted to say.

But before that, there was one thing he had to say.

He moved his stiff tongue and managed to utter it.

“...I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

That was the end.

“...Ah.”

Ban opened his eyes.

The view was entirely blurry.

As if momentarily vacating reality, the vividness of his long-standing memory faded.

Where was this?

What time was it now?

When did he fall asleep?

He had no idea.

His head throbbed.

In contrast, the desk felt cool.

With his head resting quietly, Ban surveyed his surroundings to understand the situation.

Thick books filled the shelves, a neatly arranged desk and chairs, a dark window, and the sound of a pen scratching... faint snoring.

That must be Cuculli.

And...

“......”

“......?”

“......”

“...Huh?!”

Gray eyes?

Ban abruptly sat up.

The hero was standing right in front of him, staring at him with calm gray eyes.

Ban was shocked to the point that his heart seemed to jump out.

‘What’s this? Why is the professor here?’

His mind quickly regained its composure after the unexpected appearance.

Right.

This was the study room attached to the freshman dormitory.

For the past few days, he had been stuck here studying for exams.

Today, too, he must have come here right after training and fallen asleep without realizing it.

‘Then what about the professor?’

Only belatedly did Ban notice the badge on the left arm of the hero’s formal attire.

He seemed to have been patrolling.

Ban quickly bowed his head and spoke in a hushed voice.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

However, the hero’s gaze didn’t leave Ban’s face.

He stood there silently, looking at him with calm gray eyes.

‘Did I talk in my sleep or something?’

Ban wondered, feeling a bit flustered.

He absentmindedly raised his hand, and at that moment, the hero spoke.

“Ban.”

The hero opened his mouth, and his low voice resonated in the quiet study room.

Ban, in the midst of lifting his hand, stopped and turned his attention to the hero.

“Uhh, I can’t eat this anymore... please pack it for me.”

Cuculli, sitting right behind, mumbled in her sleep with her head buried.

The hero, after releasing a small sigh, spoke with determination.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

It was a firm voice that didn’t seem to allow any disagreement.

HEL SCANS

Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2

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