1-Second Invincible Player in the Game

41. Third Trial (1)

The joint examination was conducted by forming teams of three.

Only the first 70 who passed the previous test early could choose a tag, and the person with a tag became the leader.

Of course, those who didn’t make it into the 70 teams were out.

With about 300 qualifiers for the second trial in my memory, it meant more than 90 people would be eliminated without even a chance to try.

Having secured a tag, I leisurely checked the time.

40 minutes remained until the start of the third trial.

A few candidates began to arrive, among them was Eruzel.

Eruzel grumbled abruptly.

“Even after washing my eyes, I couldn’t find you. You should’ve waited at the second trial site if it was over. You just stood there blankly!”

He still seemed unaware that I belonged to the magic division.

Well, with so many candidates, it’s likely that the knights’ division also split up the personnel for the tests.

“Quit the chatter and pick up a tag.”

“A tag? What is this?”

“…You’ll find out soon enough.”

As Eruzel grasped a tag, I faintly curled up the corners of my mouth.

With this, he became the leader of another team.

Since we’re not on the same team, I guess there’s no chance for any real mischief.

“The show is about to start soon.”

I was vigilantly watching the people coming in when I locked eyes with a woman who was glaring fiercely at me.

“…”

Feeling the discomfort, I kept my mouth shut, and she turned her head swiftly and disappeared.

Erucel, who was next to me, blurted out without a clue.

“Oh, now that I think about it, we met by chance during the test. Your brother’s-“

“Shut up and focus on the exam.”

As time passed, all the examinees filled the examination hall.

When everyone was waiting with puzzled faces, Professor Rockefeller appeared and surveyed the crowd.

“Is everyone here?”

His gaze was still sharp as he forced a smile.

The examinees, mistaking his demeanor for friendliness, showered him with moderate praise.

Little did they know they would soon be unmasking themselves.

“Those who arrived earlier have received a badge numbered from 1 to 70. Congratulations. You’ve earned the right to form a unit. Each team will have three members. Those with badges may recruit two members and are then permitted to take the third exam.”

More than half of the examinees began to murmur among themselves.

Their expressions clearly showed they didn’t understand what was being said.

A female examinee raised her hand and asked Rockefeller a question.

“What about those who didn’t get a badge?”

“Find someone with a badge and beg if you must. That’s the only way for someone empty-handed like you to take the third exam.”

“But, there are only 70 teams, right? And with only three members per team, can we really accommodate everyone here?”

Rockefeller sighed deeply, as if in disdain, and answered.

“323 passed the second round. Only 210 will take the third exam. The 113 not chosen by a leader will simply be eliminated.”

Then a male examinee raised his hand and began to protest to Rockefeller.

“Wait a minute, Professor! Is it really fair to give such an advantage just for arriving first?”

Rockefeller’s previously gentle eyes began to sharpen at the bold question.

“Is there a problem with that?”

“Of course, there is. No one was late, and everyone arrived right on time. This isn’t fair!”

His expression then completely transformed into that of a fierce fox.

“I’m sick and tired of answering such idiotic questions.”

Was it the irritable expression and voice that had given such a shock?

Those who mistook him for a congenial professor wore perplexed expressions.

“Yes, yes?”

“Right, good. As teaching is my profession, I’ll kindly explain. But first, let me ask. Do you arrive at the battlefield, where life and death intertwine, utterly unprepared and just in time?”

Rockefeller created a chair with conjuration magic and sank into the backrest.

“Of course, a soldier might. All that’s needed is a head to accept orders and a body to carry out the mission. That’s sufficient. But you’re not a leader.”

Rockefeller continued his explanation.

“A leader should investigate and prepare in advance what lies ahead at the destination, whether there are any dangers, and devise a strategy. Those who hold the cards have shown their worth by arriving before the likes of you.”

“But, if you had given me a hint in advance, I too would have held a card…”

“Really? If this doesn’t answer your question, then let me ask.”

Rockefeller glared at the examinee menacingly and spoke sarcastically.

“You don’t think that now, by holding a card, you’ll do well, do you? While they were getting their cards, you were probably chattering away inside a warm building and barely crawled out in time, didn’t you?”

The examinee flinched as if struck by conscience.

“I wonder if there are any subordinates who would follow a superior who lazily crawls out onto a life-threatening battlefield without a plan. No, rather, I wouldn’t want someone like you as a subordinate. A typical whiner like you, who only complains to others, only serves to ruin the mood.”

Those holding the cards cast cold glances at the questioned examinee.

Watching the scene, I thought Rockefeller was incredibly cruel.

Rockefeller had just declared, in front of many people, that the one who opposed him was lacking not only as a leader but even as a soldier.

After going this far, there would be no leader who would want to team up with that examinee.

In the midst of this, Erusel spoke to me.

“Brother, I’m going to throw away this card, so will you accept me?”

“Why should I?”

“No, isn’t it right for brothers to take the test together?”

I scoffed at the transparent man.

“Why? So you can follow me around and cause me to fail too?”

“…”

He wore an expression as if his world had crumbled.

It must have been a shock.

Whether it was the first or second round, he must have planned to sabotage and induce failure, but now, even the last chance he thought he had, the third exam, had turned out like this.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know? You really are a fool.”

I turned my gaze away from my floundering younger brother, who was gasping like a goldfish, and listened more closely to what Rockefeller had to say.

“Then, from now on, you have 1 hour and 40 minutes to form a team. Once the team is complete, request guidance from the professor and follow.”

As soon as the announcement ended, examinees began to gather around those who held the cards.

However, even after 30 minutes, no one had gathered in front of me.

Those who showed a brief interest either made disgusted faces or avoided eye contact with a look of fear.

Still, I was confident.

As time passed, the seats would fill up, and eventually, those desperate for hope would turn to me.

I only needed to find one useful person among them.

The remaining spot would be filled by him, the one I had subtly marked.

With that plan in mind, an hour passed.

‘…Why can’t I see even a single ant?’

‘It seems they’d rather fail than join you.’

Only 5 minutes remained.

Anxious, I started to scout for team members myself.

Reluctantly, because there was someone I had thought of.

He was a playable character, one I had avoided recruiting for fear of ruining the narrative.

“Hmm.”

There should be no problem.

If the user didn’t play or choose him, he would drop out on his own.

Even if he died, it wouldn’t matter much to the main scenario.

“Still, I really don’t want to meet him. Should I give up?”

Tick-tock-

Cruelly, the second hand of the pocket watch sounded unusually loud.

* * *

The guy I was looking for was a short fellow named Limberton.

Finding him wasn’t difficult.

Sure enough, there he was, sleazily hovering around a woman.

“Looks like we’re both out of the third exam. How about joining me for a cup of tea instead?”

“…I have a boyfriend.”

“That’s a lie women often use to play hard to get. I’m not falling for it anymore.”

The woman made a face that was close to disgust.

Suddenly, a man approached and kicked Limberton in the head.

He seemed to be a lover, perhaps.

“Can hear that disgusting noise all the way from here.”

“Don’t know, it’s revolting. Let’s just ignore it and go.”

After they left, I approached Limberton.

“Get up.”

“Huh!”

“Are you conscious?”

“Argh! My head!”

I reached out to the guy clutching his head in pain and spoke gently.

“Let me help you up.”

But then he spat out something so vile that it made me want to retract my hand.

“Only 73 women left to hit on.”

I tried to be merciful, to serve with a benevolent heart, laying the bait personally for the despicable one.

It was because he had not too shabby skills in the third test.

“It’s a pity. Actually, I have some expensive information I bought; the better your score in the third test, the nicer the dormitory you get to stay in, right? There will be many beautiful women too. Especially this time, a lot of capable women applied.”

I just laid the groundwork subtly and turned my back.

True to his woman-crazed nature, Limberton bit the bait hard.

“Cough, given the situation, I have no choice but to dislike it. Hassel, I’ll accept your offer. If that’s the only way to pass the test.”

He tried to look serious, yet his lips twitched as he continued.

“But remember one thing. I still can’t forgive you. I’ll only tolerate you for a short while. Got it?”

Reaching the limits of my patience, I narrowed my eyes and shot back.

“How dare you say you’re tolerating me?”

This one is hopeless.

I moved to look for someone else, leaving him behind.

Then Limberton came running after me, buzzing like a fly.

“Hey, don’t be so harsh just because I tried to show off a little.”

“Get lost.”

“Alright. I admit I was presumptuous, so just let it slide this time, Hassel!”

“This is your last chance. If you make another remark that gets on my nerves, you’re out. Understand?”

Limberton clenched his mouth shut and nodded vigorously.

Still, he was an easy one to handle, which was a plus.

“Fine, just follow me for now.”

“…But are we the only two?”

“Don’t worry about that. I’m about to head to the guy I’ve got my eye on.”

I took Limberton with me and approached a large man standing alone in the corner, cloaked in a full-length robe.

* * *

Recruiting the last person wasn’t too difficult.

When I showed him the badge, he nodded in agreement.

Having formed the team, I followed the professor’s lead to a steel door marked with the number 7.

“Go on in.”

As we crossed the threshold, the steel door shut firmly behind us.

Bang!

Trapped in a darkness devoid of light, Limberton’s voice squeezed out, tinged with fear.

“Uh, Hersel? I can’t see anything here?”

“Stay quiet.”

At that moment, Professor Rockefeller’s voice echoed from all around.

-You’ve kept me waiting for quite some time. Squad 7, you guys are dead last.

Ugh, was there a need to point that out so specifically?

-Well, that doesn’t matter. I will explain the third test only once, so listen carefully.

Even though they knew it well, they listened intently to awaken their vigilance.

-What you guys need to do from now on is to escape from this place within three days. And, during that process, collect the hidden coins. The speed of your escape will also be added to your score. Of course, the number of coins collected will count as well.

Because the place I was in was.

-Then, I wish you good luck. Survive without dying in the dungeon.

It was a real ‘dungeon’ where one could die from monster attacks and traps if not careful.

Whoosh!

Flames burst forth from the torches on every wall.

Simultaneously, a high-pitched scream reverberated off the walls.