Chapter 95

EP.95 Joint Practical Evaluation (4)

Before the joint practical evaluation began.

Near the gorge, behind a rock, I secretly called out Kaya and briefed her on the situation.

Powerful individuals were stationed throughout the testing grounds, and there was a demon beyond a certain point.

I asked her to proceed with the test as quickly as possible and to secure a location that leads to the demon. It was easy to point out since it was in a high position visible from the starting line.

Without a moment's hesitation, Kaya replied that she understood.

"And I think you'll need your other power."

"I'm sorry, Isaac-sama. That's…."

However, there was a variable.

Aksik's personality had hidden deep within Kaya's heart.

Aksik's last words the night before were that Kaya should take the test on her own to gain Isaac-sama's recognition.

'Why?'

I thought Aksik would naturally step forward…. Is he absent to allow Kaya to grow?

This never happened in *The Magic Knight of Merchen*.

It was ominous. Even a minor change in Aksik would surely affect Kaya. I examined her body carefully.

Kaya, embarrassed by my thorough inspection, turned bright red and stiffened, but I had no time to pay attention to that.

"Kaya, has anything changed for you lately?"

"U-U-Um, no…! Well, I feel like my appetite has increased a bit recently…. But no matter what I eat, I don't feel satisfied."

"……."

"…Do I look a bit plumper? Is that why you asked…?"

"I was just checking to see if there's anything wrong with your body."

After all, Kaya and Aksik share memories, emotions, and sensations. They are essentially one and the same.

That's why it was puzzling that Kaya couldn't figure out why Aksik had hidden himself.

…No amount of pondering would change anything. The joint practical evaluation was approaching, so I had to put aside the unresolved questions and focus on the immediate task at hand.

It would be difficult to pass the fourth gate with just the original Kaya. So, I had no choice but to bring a companion….

'The atmosphere is tense.'

Currently.

At the top of the limestone cliff leading to the fourth gate, Kaya was glaring at Rizetta with a fierce expression.

I had explained why I was carrying Rizetta princess-style, saying it was necessary to climb the cliff quickly. However, Kaya still looked displeased.

Soon, Kaya's gaze shifted from Rizetta to me. Her usually bright, puppy-like eyes now filled with a wistful look.

[ Kaya Astraing ]

Psychology: [ She wants to be carried princess-style by you. ]

…I'll have to do that when the right time comes.

"Hey."

Suddenly, Rizetta covered her mouth with her hand and whispered in my ear.

Kaya, blushing furiously, tried to stop us, waving her hands in the air and saying, "S-S-Sir! We're too close!"

She fidgeted and stiffened, but was too worried about offending me to fully intervene. All she could do was pout with her cute face.

Rizetta ignored her and continued.

"Aren't you dating the top student?"

"I'm not, idiot."

"Really, I feel like hitting a dog…. So what? Is the rumor that you flirt with every girl true? Come to think of it, how did I end up in that rumor?"

"I wouldn't do that…."

"Then, why do I get such a look from the second-in-command? It's so awkward…!"

What can I do if Kaya keeps liking me?

Rizetta sighed and stepped away from me.

"That's why you're a lucky bastard…."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing much."

Kaya glared at her with a pouting face, and Rizetta replied dismissively.

"Let's go, no more wasting time here."

"Ah, yes!"

I led Kaya and Rizetta into the cave entrance.

The only light came from the glowing lamps installed on the walls. Inside the cave, a staircase leading downward was visible. It was carved by the academy.

We started descending the stairs.

"By the way."

Rizetta's husky voice echoed through the cave.

"Assuming your situation is as you say, why is the fourth gate so difficult that even the second-in-command can't pass it? This is just a test, right? If a second-in-command can't pass, what's the point?"

Kaya turned her puppy-like eyes to me, clearly curious.

By the way, I had already told Kaya that I had confided my secret to Rizetta. So, she didn't question Rizetta's words.

"Because there's someone stronger than you two down there."

"What?"

The fourth gate of the joint practical evaluation involves passing through a door guarded by a gatekeeper.

And that gatekeeper is a 'professor.'

There was no need to knock the gatekeeper out. If the gatekeeper acknowledged the students as 'adequate,' they would usually be allowed to pass. In *The Magic Knight of Merchen*, passing the fourth gate only required enduring for a certain amount of time.

However, the professor we would face is different.

Professor Philip Meltren, in charge of the A class, doesn't easily let anyone pass.

In the game, failing to defeat Professor Philip meant you couldn't proceed to fight the frog demon. That's why forming a strong party was essential.

'He was a pedantic guy.'

'He doesn't give anyone a break in battle.' This was Professor Philip Meltren's principle.

Even if the opponent was a noble he favored or a still-naive student.

Once a battle was set, he would try to win at all costs. For students, this path was practically a dead end.

A scene from the game where Ian was eliminated with the words, 'If this were a real battle, you'd be dead. Consider yourself lucky to just be eliminated,' flashed through my mind.

This guy… a professor? He was a complete prick.

A man with a strong competitive spirit, who had thrown out any sense of flexibility. A man who wouldn't tolerate defeat in any competition. That was Professor Philip.

"Kaya, Rizetta, listen carefully."

I discussed with them how we would fight.

The stairs spiraled downward. When we reached the end and passed through a narrow passage, we saw a high ceiling and an open cave interior.

In the center was a wide arena, and on the opposite side was an arched iron door. It felt like entering a dome-shaped Colosseum.

In the middle of the spacious area, illuminated by a large glowing lamp on the ceiling, a familiar middle-aged man with red hair sat in a chair, looking at us arrogantly.

Kaya and Rizetta's eyes widened.

"You're here."

One of the judges from the first-semester combat evaluation.

A class professor and a classist who looked down on commoners.

Professor Philip.

[ Philip Meltren ]

Level: 112

Race: Human

Attribute: Fire, Rock

Danger Level: X

Psychology: [ He is displeased to see a commoner like you among A class students. ]

"Professor Philip…?"

I understand why Kaya and Rizetta were surprised.

They probably never imagined they would have to fight their own class professor.

* * *

Ib Ropenheim quickly defeated ten monsters and passed the third gate.

From a distance, I confirmed that Isaac had left with a girl with an orange ponytail as his companion.

"That wimp…?"

Ib couldn't believe it.

The timid guy who had always been shy around girls, suddenly hugging a beautiful girl and chatting smoothly, was truly shocking.

─ "Big sister, hug me."

─ "Sure, okay."

─ "Big sister, hug me."

─ "Here, come here."

─ "Big sister, let's sleep together…. I'm scared of thunder…."

─ "Sigh…. Okay, Illu, come here."

Images of the young Isaac, who always asked for hugs, faintly surfaced in Ib's mind.

He was a guy who only knew how to deal with Ib. He was once called a big sister lover in his hometown….

Is this really the same Isaac?

His magical skills, his evident masculinity, and his bold personality around pretty girls were all different from the Isaac Ib knew. It was as if he were a different person.

Ib moved in the direction Isaac had gone. She started climbing the limestone cliff using wind magic, but had to walk up the stairs halfway due to almost depleted mana.

"Huff, huff…."

Despite the cool wind, Ib's body was drenched in sweat. If she hadn't used wind magic to reach the halfway point, she would have been exhausted halfway through.

But, panting, Ib finally reached the top.

She knelt and bent forward to catch her breath.

"The cave…."

A small cave entrance leading underground was visible. Isaac's group must have entered this cave.

As her breathing gradually stabilized,

Ib entered the cave and carefully descended the stairs.