I Broke Off My Engagement and Got a Job at the Academy

41 – To Survive

It rustles. The air seemed to constrict around her.

However, the sensation on her cheek brought her back to reality. It stung. And it was hot. Above all, it was painting the world with that vivid color of red.

There are two things to consider. First, what is the ‘elimination list’ they mentioned. And second, why the protective shield disappeared, and why teleportation isn’t working.

Vanessa swung her sword. However, there were multiple opponents. And they were skilled. Their skills and seasoned experience were unbelievable for sixteen-year-olds.

Moreover, above all, the opponent was accustomed to coordinated attacks. It’s not a matter of talent. The opponent was ‘manufactured’ for this purpose.

Realizing this, Vanessa injected power into her sword. At this rate, it would be a protracted battle, and if that happened, there was a high possibility that the opponent would get what they wanted.

So, the idea of finishing it in the short term wasn’t particularly special.

But even if the idea wasn’t special, her presence itself was extraordinary. A genius who ascended to the position of an expert at the age of fifteen. In practical experience, she doesn’t lag behind.

Knowing this, those gathered hurriedly tried to block her.

The woman who had been sitting and doing something attacked Vanessa at the same time, saying, “Enough.”

In the meantime, what exactly did she do? Is there a connection between the current situation and that consciousness-like thing?

In Vanessa’s mind, numerous possibilities swirled.

For now, if she doesn’t subdue them all—

However, the woman who blocked Vanessa’s sword at that moment spoke.

“For now, we retreat. We can’t stop Vanessa Delphius with just us.”

“Who knows they might slip away…!”

Vanessa rushed towards them. However, when a magical barrier rose beneath their feet, she could do nothing but be astonished.

A magician as well? Such a thing couldn’t be commonplace in a mere criminal organization. There had to be something, a mastermind behind it—

Before Vanessa could stop them, they disappeared in an instant, leaving no trace.

“…Well, that’s unfortunate.”

Realizing she had been outsmarted, Vanessa grimaced, staring at the empty air.

But there was nothing she could do just by frowning and expressing annoyance.

As soon as possible, she had to inform the professors, the magician, or whoever about this.

However, the mountain in the middle of the field seemed to be surrounded by a barrier. It must be a barrier that one couldn’t pass without scoring above 50 points.

Gritting her teeth, Vanessa widened her sensory perception.

More. Wider. More extensive.

A drop of sweat fell from her nose. It felt like her brain was screaming.

But if not her, who could stop this situation?

She couldn’t attack humans. It was hard to believe their intent was solely to break through her defense.

Perhaps, it was more reasonable to assume that all the students’ defenses had disappeared.

In that case, as quickly as possible—after defeating a monster, she would climb the mountain and inform the professors or the magician about the situation.

Finally, as the shape of the monster became clear in Vanessa’s senses, she began to run towards it.

Pouring magic into her legs, she jumped nearly 5 meters, and her running speed was at a level where she could cover 100 meters in 2 seconds.

“There!”

Over there. Over there, where the monster was.

Vanessa found the monster: a White Snake. In a situation where only 10 points were needed, unfortunately, it was a 30-point monster.

A wrong move could lead to death, especially now when her defense was gone.

But that was a story for another examinee, not Vanessa.

She focused all her magical power into her legs and sword. Swift as an arrow, she surged forward, slashing the White Snake in half with her sword filled with determination.

“Faster. Faster.”

Her heart felt on the verge of bursting, blood coursing too quickly, making her head spin.

“There’s Vanessa Delfier!”

A voice echoed intermittently, but she paid it no mind. Such voices would vanish in an instant anyway.

She ran. Ran and ran again. She needed to spread this news as quickly as possible.

The mountains beyond the barrier were filled with various obstacles.

She overcame them all.

Finally reaching the summit, Vanessa could reunite with the ‘Wizard.’

However, what escaped her lips wasn’t a joyous greeting or a declaration of missing someone.

“The barrier… the barrier is…”

Even as she spoke, she gasped for breath, sensing something amiss. Eden, feeling the abnormality, questioned her.

“What are you saying? Why is the barrier gone?”

Summoning the last of her strength, Vanessa Delfier shouted.

“The barrier disappeared! Someone, someone removed the barrier!”

Eden Kainus, with a surprised expression, rushed to Vanessa’s side. Urgently, he assessed her condition.

No life-threatening injuries, but she had expended every ounce of her strength—magical power, vitality, everything.

And, unmistakably… the barrier that should have been there was nowhere to be found.

Eden Kainus contacted Professor Codelia urgently.

“Urgent situation!”

Professor Codelia responded languidly.

[Why, what’s going on?]

“The barrier is gone! It seems someone tampered with it. All available faculty members need to come to the testing area immediately!”

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Professor Codelia responded.

[… Alright, I’ll quickly send the professors.]

Eden Kainus bit his lip. There couldn’t be any flaws in the bracelet used for the Academy’s entrance exam. The professors had meticulously inspected it until the day before.

That meant… someone had tampered with it, telling the story of the bracelet’s functions being disabled.

And the one who did such a thing wouldn’t simply end it by making the protective barrier absent.

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…Something was about to happen.

Eden Kainus, confirming the professors’ arrival at the exam area, swiftly began heading towards the mountains beyond.

…

It began with the death of one examinee.

No matter how vast the exam area was, it wasn’t particularly strange for a situation to escalate into a large-scale conflict where outsiders invaded the place where a fight had broken out.

A considerable number of examinees had gathered in a specific location, engaging in combat with swords, arrows, and magic. In that chaos, one examinee was engulfed in flames and died.

As soon as it was confirmed, pandemonium ensued. In the process, another person, unknown to what was happening, was shot through with an arrow and killed, as if it were a bonus.

A situation of unprecedented magnitude where the protective barrier that should have been there had disappeared.

In that situation, one person took charge of the students.

“For now, stop attacking others because we don’t know what’s happening. Of course, the exam is important, but your lives are much more important. Keep an eye on your surroundings.”

Jisel Ircalli. In this exam area, she was one of the two most conspicuous figures.

The authority of Hugesa, a prominent family in the Empire, instantly made her a leader. Examinees were confused and guarded their surroundings.

And in front of those examinees, monsters appeared.

No, let me correct that. Monsters ‘appeared.’

Their eyes all turned red, and the remnants of devoured mages felt eerie just by looking at them.

“…Get ready for battle. Inspectors, block the front, and archers and wizards, prepare to defend in advance.”

Just by hearing her words, the arrangement to face the monsters was instantly established.

The monsters rushed towards the examinees in an instant. Jisel unleashed flames at the forefront against the Crimson Wolves charging at her.

However, even as the Crimson Wolf burned all over, it charged without feeling fear or pain.

Of course, it turned into ashes before its teeth or claws could reach the examinees…

‘It’s not normal.’

The actions of the Crimson Wolf were of a kind that could hardly be considered normal.

Monsters are also living beings. Even though their primary focus is aggression and hatred towards humans, they possess a survival instinct to some extent.

However, the monsters before them rushed at them with crimson gleaming eyes, like something out of a nightmare.

…Can I endure this? No, I must endure.

If I can’t endure, I’ll die. If I die, there will be nothing left. I will simply turn into cold ashes and dust.

The monsters began to charge all at once. The warriors raised their swords and shields, archers nocked their arrows, and wizards chanted incantations.

Bang! A collision occurred simultaneously, and the battle began.

They didn’t know when reinforcements would arrive. They didn’t even know how many monsters there were. But the students had started to fight.

To survive.