Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer

Chapter 99

A magic arrow, shining dimly green, passed by Tenji's cheek.

He had sensed an unnatural sound of wind coming from behind in advance, so he was able to avoid it just in time, but it was a trajectory that could have gouged out his cheek if he had made a mistake by even a step.

[Dangerous!?]

Avoiding such a close call surprise attack, Tenji immediately crouched down in place and drew out his iron sword.

He turned around and looked in the direction the arrow was fired, having sensed the strange sound of wind coming from behind.

"Tch, don't dodge it. You Swordsman," said a young man who emerged from behind a tree, clicking his tongue.

It was Demilia Garcia, one of America's two greatest treasures, who had enrolled in Mallorca Escuela along with George from America.

He had left his straight hair down only on the left side and combed it back on the right side. He held a functional bow in his hands decorated with luxurious decorations, similar to archery.

"... Demilia, what do you want?"

"The Swordsman dodged it like a pro. Just quietly let me restrain you. Besides, you don't stand a chance against me."

"Obviously not. Besides, I'm confident that I'm as good as anyone at running away!"

At that moment, Tenji reduced his presence to as small as possible and jumped into a nearby bush. He then started running zigzagging and without making any noise to escape from Demilia.

"What!? The real Swordsman is here!"

In the distance, Demilia's surprised voice could be heard.

He seemed to be good at reducing his presence as well, and soon Tenji also lost track of where he was. Moreover, Demilia seemed to be knowledgeable about survival skills in such a forest, and the sound of stones hitting and trees breaking could be heard from all directions.

[Are you trying to disrupt me with that ultra-precision bow and arrow? I have no idea where you're coming from... He has self-taught techniques similar to Chigo-chan's... Impressive.]

While admiring Demilia's skills, Tenji ran towards the summit, trying not to be chased after.

Of course, Tenji did not intend to lose in this chase game, so he ran tirelessly, choosing irregular routes. He had been running away for about three kilometers since then.

Tenji had lost track of where he was and was taking a break, sitting on the wall of a strangely new warehouse he had found nearby.

"Phew, looks like I got away."

From midway, Tenji had put a little tension into his whole body and tried to escape from Demilia in earnest.

He didn't really want to use the benefits of his status, but it was impossible to run away from a first-grade calling like Demilia without them.

After running for about two kilometers, Demilia had completely lost track of Tenji, and the sound of branches and stones breaking could be heard from the direction far away..

[Why was I targeted?... Is this also a "role"? He did say something about restraining me.] Tenji thought.

When he wondered why he was being targeted, it was clear that it was Demilia's role. He had to target somebody or a commoner at the least.

Whether he wanted to restrain Tenji personally or anyone else, it was not clear, but there would be a significant increase in points for restraining someone.

[This is troublesome... I was almost at the goal, but now it seems to be further away.]

As he thought about it, Tenji looked towards the summit.

[I had a feeling, but there were quite a few ambushes around the summit. Obviously, Demilia was hiding somewhere, waiting for an opportunity to attack me.]

Even Tenji, who was still immature, noticed his presence if Demilia, who was not a professional, had approached. He had trained rigorously with Chigo to that extent.

However, he could not actually sense any presence.

The only possibilities were that Demilia was an expert in hiding techniques or that he had been waiting for an ambush in that location from the beginning.

[Well, most likely... I was ambushed,] he thought, considering how he should aim for the goal.

Probably, Tenji moving alone would be considered a sucker and would be ambushed again.

Of course, if he used the full potential of his awakening, others would be an easy strategy, but as a swordsman, Tenji could not rely on that kind of brute force.

"...I guess I have no choice but to propose a collaboration."

In this situation, Tenji had no choice but to form a group and aim for the goal together with someone else.

However, there was one big problem with that.

"But who can I trust? Pyne, Chaewon-san, and Mina-san are probably people with safe 'roles.'"

To Tenji, who was in a desperate situation, there were only three people who could bring a glimmer of hope.

Pyne, a "commoner" he stumbled upon by chance.

Mina, who was identified as a "carrier" by overhearing a conversation. And Chaewon, a self-proclaimed "Caring Village Girl" who was with her.

They were unlikely to be Black Explorers.

Then, Tenji looked at his watch.

"Exactly one hour left until the end of the test. I have no choice but to reach the goal as a swordsman to pass the test."

If the time limit expired like this, Tenji would receive a significant deduction and would not be able to pass the examination.

On the contrary, if he were to consider the deduction and defeat monsters repeatedly, he would be regarded with suspicion by teachers and students alike as to whether he was really a swordsman.

In that case, there is only one way to pass.

"...I have no choice but to join up with one of the three and request cooperation."

Now, the current situation of Demilia Garcia.

"Hmph, you're really a nimble Swordsman."

He rested on a large gray rock near the stream, clicking his tongue.

Beside him lay the body of a second-grade monster, a mineralization of a magic ore, that he had started to kill as he ran while using bow and arrow technique, which required precise shooting.

"I thought I had found a good target."

The role given to Demilia when the test began was "torturer".

If he captures one of the students - putting the handcuffs provided on both hands - he would receive a reward with a good multiplier added to his scored points.

It was a reward that made it possible to earn a moderate amount of points, and it was not a dream to become first place by earning points and then restraining someone, with a multiplier of 1.5 for one person, 2.0 for two people, and 2.5 for three people.

Demilia is a golden egg born from America that is on par with George.

Originally, he was an ordinary boy who grew corn in the countryside and went hunting with his father as a hobby.

However, his talent was discovered during his time at the Elementary School, and he obtained a long-distance-oriented calling called "Hawk Ranger" as a first-grade calling..

And along with George, he used two of the Mallorca Esquela enrollment slots that America holds to enroll here.

Since they receive support from the country, corresponding results are required.

It was a pressure that Demilia could not avoid that he had to struggle hard in this test.

"Well, there's no help for it... I'll look for others."

Demilia, who stood up with a sigh, took a deep breath to gather himself.

.

And at that moment...

"Hey, Demilia,"

A familiar, sturdy face appeared from the bushes on the opposite bank.

He was Demilia's friend, comrade, and rival...

"Hey, George. How are you doing? I've already defeated over 50 monsters for my quota."

"I can't compete with you and your long-range attacks. I'm a close-range fighter."

"Hahaha, you still haven't met your quota yet?"

"Shut up, I'm about to surpass it soon. Anyway, what's Demilia's role? I have no intention of trying to capture Demilia, of course. I want to defeat fair and square."

"Thanks for saying that. Well, my role is the 'Torturer.' Apparently, I'm supposed to capture any student I can for a significant bonus multiplier on my score."

George listened to Demilia's story and thoughtfully put his hand on his chin.

Then he slowly raised his head, "That's an unusual vocabulary that even Demilia wouldn't come up with. But it seems like he's not lying."

"Wait, are you saying you confirmed the lie with my vocabulary skills!?"

"Actually, yes. Demilia, you hate studying, after all. Even when trained in America, you would sneak out of the facility whenever you could and go hunting."

"Shut up! Don't bring up my past like that!"

"Hahaha, just kidding, just kidding."

"So, what's your role, George?"

"I'm the 'Avenger.' I can earn a significant bonus by either making the Swordsman unable to fight or isolating them in the warehouse building near the goal. However, I don't count on it too much since I don't even know where they are."

"The Swordsman, huh? He just escaped from me a while ago. Must be hiding somewhere nearby."

"Oh, really? Did you chase after? Or did you get weaker now that you are here? You were invincible in the forests of America."

George was a little impressed and said so.

Seeing his rival's face, Demilia thought of Tenji's hateful face and clicked his tongue.

"He's also a swordsman who can come here. It's not like an ordinary swordsman could come here. In the first place, the idea of being a swordsman is a suspicious story."

"Well, that's true... There's no way a 5th grade swordsman could enroll here. Anyway, thanks for the information. Let's hunt around this area until it's time."

"Sure, make sure you don't disgrace America."

"You too, Demilia. Don't get beaten."

Acknowledging each other and respecting each other, they spoke frankly about their roles and turned their backs to each other.

The two grew up in the same facility since they were little and came to Mallorca together.

These two excellent people are targeting Tenji for some reason.

Or, was it Illonka's dark plan?