Chapter 406 (Patreon)

The man in charge of the battlefield had one responsibility above everything else: to make sure the students survived the competition. His awakened ability, the passive skill [Knowing Eyes], made him particularly suited for the position. Whenever he looked at someone, he could perceive their general outline and read certain aspects of their condition, though the skill did not allow him to see through their bodies or understand everything happening inside them. It was not perfect, but it was enough to tell him when a battle had crossed the line between competition and danger.

His raised hand remained suspended beside him as he hesitated.

The barrage of fireballs continued to fall toward the students, each impact sending another tremor through the arena. From what his [Knowing Eyes] could tell him, they were still alive, and the defensive skill formation was somehow holding together, but that answer was becoming less comforting with every passing second. If he waited too long before calling for the support team, there was a very real possibility that ten students could be seriously injured. Worse, if the next attack broke through completely, some of them might not even leave the arena alive.

He had watched countless student competitions over the years, and most of them followed a familiar pattern. Students showed off their strongest abilities, a few clever strategies appeared, and occasionally someone surprised the audience with a new technique. This year, however, the rumors had been different. People had been saying that the student competition would be unlike anything the academy had held before.

Now, as he watched the opening match unfold, he finally understood what they meant.

If he had not known this was the first battle of the tournament, he might have mistaken it for the finals.

Only a few fireballs remained in the sky.

The ice dome protecting the gorgeous’ team had already been reduced to a fraction of its original thickness. Misty Sea had poured an enormous amount of mana into maintaining it, while Dana's wooden barriers had been shattered one after another before the flames even reached the ice. Serene was still slowing the descending projectiles whenever she could, but even her efforts were beginning to reach their limit.

Another fireball descended.

The impact shook the arena, and the remaining ice cracked from top to bottom. A section of the dome collapsed inward, sending fragments of ice scattering across the ground.

That was enough.

The man immediately began raising his hand, ready to signal the support teams to enter the arena and pull the students out before the next attack could land.

Then one of the girls stepped forward. She raised her staff. There was no dramatic explosion of light. No enormous barrier suddenly appeared around her. For a brief moment, there was almost nothing to see at all.

Then the next fireball struck.

The invisible barrier caught it.

The official's eyes widened. The enormous sphere of flame stopped in midair as though it had slammed into an unseen wall. The force spread outward, disturbing the air around the barrier, but the girl standing beneath it did not even take a step backward.

He quickly focused his [Knowing Eyes] on her.

He remembered her profile. She was not a barrier specialist. At least, she had not been listed as one.

Then what in the world is that?

His hesitation returned, but this time it was not because he was wondering whether to stop the battle.

It was because he was trying to understand what he was witnessing. Did she learn a new skill?

The next fireball came.

The invisible barrier stopped it.

Then another.

And another.

Each impact should have forced the girl to spend more mana. Each attack should have pushed her closer to exhaustion, yet she remained perfectly motionless, her staff firmly planted in her hands as though she had been standing there for hours.

There was no visible sign of strain.

No trembling.

No staggering.

Not even the slightest indication that her mana was running dangerously low. The official's expression slowly changed. The ice wall had been their final obvious defense.

It was gone now. Yet the students were still protected. And the girl responsible for that protection looked as though she could continue doing it for much longer.

He slowly lifted his gaze toward the other side of the arena.

His stomach tightened.

There was something else happening now.

Above Valdis' team, the sky was no longer filled with fire.

Instead, countless swords were beginning to appear.

They floated silently above the opposing team, dozens becoming hundreds as more blades materialized in the air, their edges catching the afternoon sunlight as they pointed downward.

The official's throat suddenly felt dry.

He stared upward.

Then he looked back at the students below.

For the first time since the battle began, he wondered whether the fireballs had ever been the most dangerous part of this fight.

Why the heck are swords falling now?

…

After a few minutes of walking through the crowded streets, Kana finally reached Jevo’s Inn, the place where the Adventurer Guild had instructed her to meet the rest of the party. The building immediately stood out among everything surrounding it. It was easily the largest inn Kana had ever seen, more comparable to a wealthy noble’s mansion than an ordinary place for travelers to sleep, and its three stories rose above the neighboring buildings like it had been built specifically to make everyone else look small. Several carriages bearing different banners were parked outside, along with horses of varying sizes and breeds, while adventurers, merchants, nobles, and travelers constantly passed through the entrance. The sheer number of people coming and going made the place feel less like an inn and more like a small marketplace that happened to have beds.

Kana stepped inside and was immediately swallowed by the noise. Conversations overlapped from every direction, dishes clattered against tables, chairs scraped against the floor, and the occasional burst of laughter rose above the crowd before disappearing beneath another wave of voices. Nobody paid much attention to the young girl who had just entered, which was exactly what Kana preferred. She quietly made her way toward what appeared to be the reception counter and stopped in front of the woman managing it, briefly wondering how she was supposed to explain herself without revealing too much.

“I’m Kana from Saltrain Village,” she said. “My friends should be waiting for me here.”

The receptionist looked at her for a moment, then chuckled as if she had misunderstood something. “I thought you meant your parents when you said friends. Come with me.”

Kana blinked but decided there was no point correcting her. She followed the woman through the crowded inn, up one flight of stairs and then another, until they finally reached the third floor. The noise from downstairs gradually faded behind them, replaced by the quieter sounds of footsteps and muffled conversations coming from behind several doors. The receptionist stopped in front of one of them, knocked twice, and then simply walked away without another word.

Kana stared after her for a moment before turning back toward the door. She already knew someone was inside because of [Night Awareness], but knowing that and actually meeting the people waiting for her were two very different things. She took a slow breath and waited.

The door opened.

Kana's heart nearly skipped a beat.

She had expected someone intimidating, considering it came from Stolz, but she hadn't expected the man standing in front of her. He had thick white hair covering most of his head, a sharp nose, piercing blue eyes, and canine teeth that protruded slightly from his mouth, giving him an appearance that was somewhere between a human and a beast. He looked down at Kana for several seconds before his expression became one of complete confusion.

“We didn't order anything.”

Kana stared at him.

The man stared back.

His eyes traveled over her once more, as if checking whether she had somehow been sent to the wrong room. Then his expression changed. “Are you the new member?”

Kana nodded. “Sir Stolz told me to come here.”

The man's ears twitched. Then, without another word, he closed the door directly in Kana's face.

Kana stood there for a moment.

Behind the door, however, she could hear everything.

“Are you serious? She's just a kid!” the wolf-faced man shouted. “I heard there was only one passer this year. She must be that one!”

Another voice answered him, colder and raspier. “Open the door and let her enter. Master Stolz wouldn't send someone incapable. Perhaps she also has a skill that makes her appearance younger.”

There was a short silence. Then a woman's voice answered from somewhere inside.

“Why are you looking at me? This is my natural appearance. I looked like this fifty years ago.”

Kana's mouth twitched.

The door opened again. The wolf-faced man coughed awkwardly and stepped aside. “Please enter.”

Kana walked inside, expecting to find a cramped room with a few chairs and beds, but the moment she entered, she realized she had completely underestimated the place. What appeared to be a single room from outside was actually connected to a spacious living area, with several other doors leading deeper into the suite. There was enough space for an entire party to stay comfortably, and the furnishings were far better than what Kana had expected from an ordinary inn.

Her eyes moved across the room.

Three people.

Kana's expression remained calm, but her instincts were screaming. All three were evolved classes. That alone told her this wasn't an ordinary quest.

“Have a seat,” the wolf-headed man said.

He was bare-chested, his body covered in thick fur that ran from his shoulders down his arms and torso. Despite his intimidating appearance, his voice was surprisingly thin and almost casual.

“I’m Zaa’rd of the great White Wolf Clan from the southern kingdom. Class, [Night Stalker]. My role is scout.”

Kana nodded politely.

“Finally, another girl.”

Kana turned toward the voice.

A woman with long, straight red hair was sitting nearby. Her lips were artificially coated in red, contrasting sharply against her pale skin, while her large brown eyes watched Kana with obvious curiosity. She wore a long black gown that covered nearly every part of her body, though the way it fitted her figure made it clear that it had been designed for elegance rather than practicality.

She smiled. “I’m Telia of House Flamenal from the Empire. Class, [Great Sorcerer]. My role is a long-range damage dealer, though I can provide some little support when necessary.”

She clasped her hands together and leaned slightly forward. “And remember, believe what you see rather than what you hear. Depending on your real age, you can call me Sister Telia.”

Kana paused.

There was something strange about the way she emphasized real age.

Before Kana could answer, the final member spoke.

The man was sitting quietly in the corner, watching her with an expression that revealed almost nothing. He had short, neatly trimmed black hair, a sharp jawline, and brown eyes that seemed almost unnaturally focused. Even while sitting, his height suggested that he was probably close to Boris's size, although his build was considerably leaner. Several scars crossed his face and neck, the kind that didn't look like accidents or training injuries.

His voice was cold and rasping when he finally spoke. “I’m Prime, from the Lawless City. Class, [Dark Knight]. I'm the leader of this party.”

He leaned forward slightly. “Your turn. Who are you?”

Kana took a breath. “I’m Kana of Saltrain Village, from the Northern Kingdom. Class, [Nightblade Ranger]. My primary role is melee damage, but I can switch to long-range attacks when necessary.”

Zaa’rd clicked his tongue. “A hybrid class.”

His eyes squinted slightly. “Our damage output will probably be lower compared before.”

Kana understood what he meant. Hybrid classes usually sacrificed specialization for versatility, and in a party that depended heavily on dealing damage, that could become a serious problem. A character who could perform several roles was useful, but they were rarely as powerful in one role as someone who had devoted their entire class to it.

Kana didn't bother explaining that nighttime changed the equation for her. There was no reason to reveal everything before the mission had even started.

Telia, however, seemed far more interested in something else.

She clasped her hands beneath her chin and leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “So, Kana…”

Kana looked at her.

“How old are you?”

“Sixteen this year.”

Telia blinked.

Then she laughed softly. “I mean your real age.”

Kana scratched the back of her head. “It is my real age.”

Telia's smile slowly disappeared.

Her eyes widened.

For the first time since Kana had entered the room, the woman looked genuinely shocked. “Don't tell me…”

Telia stared at her for another few seconds before her expression suddenly changed into recognition.

“You're that Kana, aren't you?”

Kana remained silent.

Telia's eyes widened even further. “The student from the Northern Academy?”

Kana simply nodded.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Zaa’rd's ears twitched.

And Telia slowly leaned back in her chair, looking at Kana as though the person standing in front of them had suddenly become a completely different individual.

“I told you. She’s just a kid!”

Post note:

Due to subject: Grind, most of the students in the academy are now over lvl 10(upgraded+1 new skill).

Sixth chap of the week.

Hope you enjoy the chap! 🙂

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