I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life

part 8

Is accepting this offer greed? Or is refusing it greed? My throat is dry.

“…Give me some time. I’ll think about it.”

“You don’t have to decide now. Think about it, even during the exam. Whenever.”

Watching Chris bow his head, Dayven’s lips curled up on one side.

‘He’ll pretend to ponder, but in the end, he can’t refuse.’

To Dayven, a commoner is someone who would break rules and betray their team for money. Dayven watched Chris with a cold gaze.

‘Predictable.’

Two men under the streetlight, and their dilemma.

The moon did not wait for them and continued to wane.

On the day of the exam.

Before entering the virtual gate, students have a 30-minute strategy time in the waiting room. Most students spend this time discussing each other’s magical tool abilities and strategies for conquering the gate.

Of course, Gian also wanted to ask about his teammates’ magical tools.

But…

“Ugh, it’s all ruined. Monster hunting with these losers? Heh, heheh. Heheh. What a masterpiece,” Eria cackled unpleasantly, as if she had lost her mind.

“Hoo…”

With a look of having lost his country, Chris continued to sigh, as if pondering something deeply.

‘Well… it’s understandable.’

Gian looked at the tournament bracket on the wall.

＜ The Starving Crow Team ＞

Chris [Rank 144th / 162]

Gian [Rank 162nd / 162]

Eria [Rank 44th / 162]

Event: Monster Hunting.

Zone 1 Virtual Gate.

＜ The Seagull Team by the River ＞

Isabel [Rank 5th / 162]

Lake [Rank 31st / 162]

Rita [Rank 22nd / 162]

Who would dare predict the victory of the Starving Crow Team? Moreover, upon investigation, it turned out that the entire opposing team had combat-type magical tools advantageous for monster hunting.

“It’s too early to give up.”

Gian’s casual remark elicited a fierce response from Eria.

“What?”

“Monster hunting involves a lot of luck, depending on the grade of monsters you encounter, weapon compatibility, and strategy. It’s better than the team battle gates.”

As Gian explained calmly, Eria let out a scornful laugh.

She was already in a bad mood because of the matchup and couldn’t take Gian’s words kindly.

“Weapon compatibility? That’s only relevant when the skills are comparable. You know you two add up to rank 300, right? Besides, monster hunting is a relative evaluation.”

As Eria snapped back, Chris scratched his ear.

“Ah~ I really can’t stand it, stop grumbling if you don’t have a plan, and if you really don’t like it, just forfeit. We’ll do it without you.”

“Hey… squirt.”

Eria gritted her teeth.

Jien mediated between the two.

“Calm down. Can both of you write down the features of your magical tools here?”

As Jien pulled out the prepared A4 paper, Eria accepted it with a displeased expression.

“I don’t like the idea of the loser playing leader but…”

Still, sharing information was more helpful. She grumbled but meticulously wrote down the characteristics of her magical tool.

“Sigh… Might as well do this to score even one more point.”

Jien looked at Chris, who was silent.

“And you?”

“I’ll just tell you. My magical tool is an eye. The stigma’s name is ‘Eye.’ The magical skill is ‘Clairvoyance.’ It can see through walls and see far away.”

“No need for the name, though.”

Chris chuckled at Jien’s joke.

“I’m done.”

Eria handed over the densely written A4 paper to Jien. Her petulance seemed to stem from her competitive spirit.

Jien carefully read the paper she handed over.

“Hmm, Chris is for scouting, and Eria is…”

In Jien’s view, Eria was a true dark horse. To summarize the content written on the paper…

Magical Tool: Pen

Ability: Materializes objects drawn with the pen within the limits allowed by mana. The more mana bestowed, the greater the effect.

‘With the right strategy, it’s a really useful magical tool.’

Jien was confident. When it came to strategy, he believed no one in the academy could match him.

“I’ll explain the strategy as simply as possible…”

As Jien began to explain, both the grumbling Eria and the indifferent-looking Chris moved closer.

‘Is it because they’re students?’

“Hmph,” Eria perked up her ears while grumbling, and Chris, though looking elsewhere, memorized what he said well.

‘Whatever they do, they’re cute.’

* * *

The so-called ‘Portal Room’ where the virtual gate test takes place is an auditorium of 400 pyeong.

10 portals, each 3 meters high.

162 first-year participants.

About 300 second and third-year students came to cheer.

With the addition of broadcasters, guild managers, and corporate headhunters, the vast size of the Portal Room seemed diminished.

– Ho-ho, esteemed guests and proud Arcana students gathered here to grace this occasion!

The person holding the microphone was Selfis, dressed to the nines in a white suit. Who would think of this auditorium as a mere test site?

– Today is the day of the first-year virtual gate test. It’s one of the few events attended by external parties.

The crowd, nearly a thousand strong, fell silent as death, and a hush enveloped the auditorium.

– The virtual gate doesn’t cause injury or casualties like a real gate. If you’re out, you’re simply expelled from the portal.

Indeed. The artificially created virtual gate is a thoroughly manipulated space. Unlike a real gate, it’s equipped with various systems.

In such a virtual gate, students do not actually get hurt. The real danger begins with the real gate tests from the second year onwards.

– However, this is a test to prove the skills you’ve honed. A Saber does not take comfort in the process. It only responds with results. Because there is no halfway in clearing a gate.

Seriousness flickered in Selfis’s eyes. For the moment, he had the fierce gaze of his days as an active 6th-grade Saber.

– The outcome of the gate is either success or failure. Nothing in between. Prove your efforts with this test.

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

As Selfis put down the microphone, restrained applause burst forth. Among them was Zien, with a bitter expression.

‘It’s true. There’s no halfway in a gate. Fail, and you bear the penalty; succeed, and you become a hero.’

A cheerful female voice echoed through the auditorium’s speakers.

– The hungry Crow team and the Gull team living by the river, please move to Gate 1.

The content of the tests at the 10 gates is broadcasted through screens installed in the auditorium.

Although the camera’s viewpoint is random, hundreds of spectators monitor the students’ tests.

– The rules of the virtual gate will be displayed on the screen before entry. Participants, please check the type of gate and the rules for the last time.

As the announcer said, Zien looked at the screen. Ding-dong—letters appeared on Screen 1.

[Zone 1 – Everline Lake Park]

Event – Monster Hunting

Victory Condition – Earn points based on the types of monsters you defeat. The team with more points wins.

[Rules]

1. Use of magical tools and machines is allowed.

2. Attacks between students are permitted.

3. Eliminated (deceased) students are expelled outside the portal.

Since the school had already notified them, the participants were aware of the gate’s events and rules. The information being displayed now was actually for the spectators watching.

– The portal will activate in one minute.

Creak, creak.

As Lake loosened his fists, a chilling sound echoed.

“Two white tigers? This is too much of a slaughter.”

“What are you talking about? We couldn’t even sleep, feeling sorry for thinking about plundering your scores.”

Chris, who was a good two heads shorter than Lake, retorted.

“Remember those words. You know the rules, right? Better to run away. If we meet, I’ll make sure to eliminate you myself.”

* * *

In a corner of the portal room.

Romina spoke while looking at the gate.

“Cashen. Isn’t that the student you mentioned at gate number one?”

“That’s right.”

“The team distribution is no joke…”

With a click of her tongue, Romina expressed her agreement. Even Cashen agreed with her opinion. To match the top ranker with the last place, the random draw seemed too malicious. But…

“As sorry as I am for Gian, it’s a good thing. If the opponent is Isabelle…”

He would have to bring out all his skills for this test. Ever since the Dayben incident, Cashen had been curious.

‘The true extent of that guy’s abilities…’

Ziiing.

As the portal activated, a blue membrane rippled at its threshold. Beautifully dancing, transparent mana.

One by one, the students began to pass through the portal.

Upon crossing, the surroundings changed in an instant. It was always a marvelous experience. Gian calmly surveyed the terrain around him.

‘Before me is…’

A vast lake shrouded in mist, its visibility fading into the distance, and behind, a forest so dense with trees that hardly any light penetrated, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Roooar!

Moreover, from the water’s edge came a chilling cry, like that of a whale—’something’ ominous.

– This is Gate [Everline Lake Park] in Sector 1. Once a famous tourist spot, the park was closed due to the appearance of monsters following the gate’s manifestation.

The guide for Gian right now was Heukhyang.

Thus, the Stigmata also serve as guides at the gates.

– Jian’s role is that of a [Hunter]. Hired to subdue monsters, he must hunt them for high pay and promotion.

‘Hunter, huh.’

Jian wasn’t curious about the trivial settings and roles of the Gate. After all, such details only become important in the higher Gates.

‘I don’t see the enemy team. Looks like the entire area up to that forest is the test zone.’

“Wow, a lake out of nowhere.”

A bewildered Eria.

In fact, this was a normal reaction. The worn-out Jian remained calm, but for Eria and Chris, this was their first Gate. Their surprise was to be expected.

“Hey, about that strategy earlier… were you serious?”

Chris asked with concern.

“Considering our magical tools, this is the best we can do.”

“I hate being the leader when I’m the worst, but well…”

Eria pulled out a pen, a magical tool, with a dissatisfied expression. It meant she acknowledged the strategy Jian had explained in the waiting room.

A pen with wings sliced through the air, and three birds were drawn.

“Huh? Birds all of a sudden?”

When Chris asked, Eria replied proudly.

“They’re birds powered by mana. If they find an opponent, they’ll keep circling overhead.”

Eria drew as Jian had instructed. What she drew wasn’t just birds. The test was a relative evaluation.

Jian assumed that the enemy would definitely come, and Eria thought the same.

“While Eria works, follow me, Chris.”

Chris followed Jian without a word. It wasn’t out of trust for Jian; he simply lacked motivation. They strolled leisurely around the lake.

“Do we not have to run?”