Chapter 92. Entrance Exam (14)

Joyce advanced through the valley with companions from the Wiesel knights.

Jullien said,

“This is the right place, right?”

“Wait.”

Joyce pulled out a map. The map in his hand was different from the one the Eternia assistant professors had distributed.

This map, which he had looked up in Rigveda, showed a secret route that went directly to the second base without going through the first.

That is why they were in a place that the other applicants did not know about.

“But you said there might be Planteras here too?”

They would find fewer Planteras here than on the other routes.

The valley was very silent, unlike what the seller had said.

“Never mind.”

They took the road marked on the unofficial map.

After they had advanced for a while, a certain place caught Jullien’s attention.

“Aah!”

He grabbed Joyce’s arm.

“Shit. There was a Guardian Plantera here too!”

Jullien pointed to a spot in the valley.

A Plantera partially appeared in the valley.

The Guardian, which could only be seen after the first base, blocked the unofficial route.

It seemed that Eternia expected the applicants to take this route.

When Jullien tried to flee with the others, Joyce stopped them.

“Wait.”

Joyce felt there was something unnatural.

“Wait! It’s not moving.”

It looked at Wiesel’s knights, but remained motionless.

“…It’s true.”

The knights gulped.

When Joyce beckoned, they started walking in another direction. After they passed through an area where there were many trees, an open space appeared.

They were stunned.

Someone had been here before.

Most impressive was the Plantera Guardian.

The Guardian had his upper body partially severed.

“What the hell is this…?”

A blue glow smoked from the cut surface of the Guardian’s upper body.

Joyce said,

“…It looks like other applicants were here first.”

Jullien nodded in disbelief.

“…I don’t think an applicant could do this.”

“……”

“…Tsk, a monster did this. He’s on a different level than us.”

Joyce watched the Guardian Plantera silently.

He had heard rumors that the sword left a bright blue light.

“There is only one person who can do this.”

There were quite a few adjectives to describe the person. Master of the magic sword Sivelin. A hundred years of talent. Disciple of the Sword Master.

The rumors were true. No applicant could match it.

“Zion, just Zion.”

***

The masked man caught a deer. Lilith gathered some mushrooms and twigs.

It began to rain just as they entered a cave.

As he tried to light the campfire, Lilith said,

“Step aside. It is not necessary.”

As soon as she recited a spell, the fire appeared.

“……”

Quietly, the man began to skewer meat and mushrooms.

Lilith dabbed her handkerchief with the rainwater. It was stained black due to blood.

“I like this handkerchief.”

She placed the handkerchief on a rock in the cave and sat down in front of the man.

Then, she also made a skewer and started grilling it on the fire.

Even though they did not speak, she felt they were in harmony.

It was a poor environment compared to her lifestyle, but it felt strangely good.

As she gazed at the campfire’s skewer, she said,

“Hey…”

“……”

“We’re teammates now, right?”

The man shook his head.

“Huh.”

She accompanied him all day, she personally healed his wounds, they shared the food she had found and camped together in a cave.

Despite facing many hardships together, he did not regard her as his companion.

This meant he could abandon Lilith at any time.

She wanted to cry.

She felt a sense of disappointment.

She could not believe his response.

Lilith said,

“You’re so bad.”