Chapter 9: The Assessment

“You’re the members of Team 043?”

A boy in Avalon Academy uniform with messy short hair approached Via.

“That’s right, we’re Team 043,” Mary responded. “Hank, looks like you’ve been assigned to our team.”

“Mary? You actually teamed up with Via?” Hank was baffled.

“I had no other choice.”

“Guess we’re both unlucky then.” Hank sighed.

Via observed Hank; the slightly chubby boy carried a massive metal shield on his back, his sturdy build showing no strain despite the weight.

If she remembered correctly, Hank was a frontline shield warrior.

“Hank, didn’t you team up with others?” Mary asked.

“I flopped a recent exam, so no one wanted me,” Hank said glumly. “If I fail this assessment, I’m really screwed.”

“Let’s aim to pass.”

“Aim? With this deadweight, can we?” Hank doubted.

He had no team offers, forced into random assignment.

He expected peers of similar skill, but Team 043 had Via—this big shot?

That was random matching’s flaw—who knew what teammates you’d get?

“All assessment participants, read the handbook carefully. Departure in fifteen minutes!” Anima announced to everyone. “You may now discuss your action plans!”

Today was Avalon’s assessment day; teachers had brought students near the site.

Hank kept grumbling.

Via opened the handbook and read.

The area was the Evergreen Mountains, infested with monsters.

Teams faced the dangers lurking there, hunted monsters for cores, and reached designated safe zones.

The academy graded based on core count.

A practical combat test examining all-around abilities.

“This assessment differs from last year—why the Evergreen Mountains? The intel I paid seniors for is useless!”

“This won’t end quickly; it’s a war of attrition.”

“Shouldn’t have gone triple frontline!”

Students’ voices rose and fell.

To test on-site adaptability, the academy let teams form first, keeping details secret until the day.

“Ten-minute prep time over,” Anima declared loudly. “Assessment begins—enter the field!”

…

…

After a flash of white light, Via felt dizzy; the teleport crystal in her hand dissipated upon use.

Looking up, she found herself in a silent mountain forest, with Mary and Hank beside her.

Once started, students were teleported via academy crystals to different Evergreen Mountain zones.

Exact locations unknown; exploration was up to them.

“Via, can you heal?” Hank asked. “This is long-term combat—we don’t have endless potions!”

“I… can’t yet.”

“Purification then?”

“Can’t do that either.” Via shook her head.

“Nothing? Why join then? Why not quit from the start—this is just sabotaging!”

Hank’s fat trembled with anger; he truly feared failing.

“What can you do?”

“I know a little… magic.”

Via was embarrassed.

Unable to cast holy arts, she had considered switching, learning some magic.

But her innate magic was scarce, mastery limited—only entry-level spells.

“Then use magic detection—scan the surroundings now!” Hank urged.

Magic detection covered an area with mana to map terrain, determine direction, sense danger.

Basic but demanding; duration, range, info all tied to mana quantity.

With Via’s mana… useless anyway.

“Um, well…”

Via stammered.

As Hank prepared to explode, Mary stopped him.

“Hank, I’ll handle detection,” Mary raised her staff. “I major in magic; leave it to me.”

“…Fine, at least we have a mage,” Hank replied impatiently. “We’ll avoid strong monsters, target Bronze-level ones, collect cores fast before others snatch the weak ones!”

…

“Howl—”

With a wail, a boar with spike-like fur collapsed, lifeless.

“Ugh, nearly gored me…”

Hank, shield raised, panted heavily, spitting bloodied foam.

Team 043 had finally killed the Madspike Boar.

Mary lowered her staff, wiping her forehead.

Battle over, Via relaxed.

But she noticed a strange detail, unease rising.

The fight was intense—Hank nearly buckled—yet Mary, the main attacker, breathed steadily, not a drop of sweat?

“…”

Mary seemed to sense Via’s gaze, glancing her way.

Meeting Mary’s eyes, Via felt unfounded chills, quickly looking away, trying to ease awkwardness.

“We’re amazing—another Bronze-level monster down!”

“Hmph, besides two fireballs at the start, what did you do? Just watched! Without me, that boar would’ve crushed you!”

Hank ran to the boar.

“I did the most—this core’s mine first! Yours from later monsters!”

“…”

Mary said nothing, just watched Hank gleefully pocket the core.

It affected grades, yet Mary yielded without protest, as if uncaring.

“When’s my turn…”

Via was anxious; at this pace, they couldn’t kill many Bronze monsters.

“Hank.”

Mary smiled mildly as usual.

“Before the fight, I sensed a lone Bronze monster southeast—unstable aura, likely injured. Easy pickings. Pursue?”

“Oh?”

Hank was surprised—such luck?

He calculated: Mary seemed fresh.

Once he got his last core, during team rest, he could “patrol” and slip toward the safe zone…

These burdens’ fate? Not his problem.

Rare chance.

“No delay—let’s go now!”