Chapter 28: The Final Assessment

Time flowed on, and the second exam concluded, but the third exam did not immediately follow.

The reason was simple: the danger level of this third exam was on a completely different scale from the previous two.

The final exam venue was set within the infamous, monster-infested Blood Burial Forest, located near the academy.

Here, the candidates would face real, life-or-death battles. A single mistake would mean instant death.

After a few days of much-needed rest, the third exam of Kantaier Academy finally commenced.

At that moment, the periphery of the Blood Burial Forest was packed with candidates.

Even though they had mentally prepared themselves, when they actually stood at the entrance of the dark forest, which exuded a thick, bloody stench, panic inevitably spread through the crowd.

“Ahem, everyone, silence!”

Chief Examiner Kennisi’s cool, clear voice, amplified by her magic, reached every candidate’s ears. Facing this notoriously strict Dean of Discipline, the candidates quickly ceased their discussions, showing her due respect.

“Good. Now I will announce the rules for this final exam.” Kennisi adjusted her glasses and pointed coldly at the Blood Burial Forest behind her.

“I hope you all listen carefully and engrave every single word into your minds. Because this doesn’t just determine whether you can successfully enter the academy; it directly decides if you can walk out of this forest alive.”

Hearing this warning, the candidates tensed up, all of them desperately memorizing every word she was about to say. Sevitis was no exception.

This was the final exam. If she passed it with a good score, that wager spanning five years would end in her victory.

She had been waiting for this day for a long time. All the humiliation she had suffered from Eulalia over the years, she would pay back with interest!

How should she properly deal with that scheming woman when the time came?

“Heh heh heh…” Lost in her satisfying daydreams, the dark-haired girl lowered her head and let out a sinister chuckle.

Several nearby candidates who had recognized her and were thinking of saying hello were frightened off by her creepy laugh.

Her already somewhat improved reputation took a nosedive once again.

“The exam rules are simple. All you need to do is defeat as many and as powerful monsters as possible, and take their Magic Cores. The exam lasts for three days. Your final score will be calculated based on the number and tier of Magic Cores you bring out alive.”

“Of course, there’s no need to worry too much. The exam area has been pre-marked by a Magic Barrier on the periphery of the Blood Burial Forest. In theory, the highest-level monster you’ll encounter inside is a Tier 5.” Kennisi adjusted her glasses and stated.

But this did not reassure everyone. Immediately, a timid candidate raised his hand and questioned:

“Excuse me, Chief Examiner, how can the academy be so sure that only monsters Tier 5 and below are inside? What if… what if we run into a Tier 6 monster? What should we do then?”

Sevitis was also curious about the answer to this question.

For the candidates present, including her, encountering a Tier 5 monster meant they could at least try to run away if they couldn’t fight.

But meeting a Tier 6 monster would basically mean waiting for death.

Kennisi glanced at the candidate and “generously” gave the answer:

“Do I even need to ask? What should you do if you really encounter one? Either stand your ground, fight it with all your might, and become its lunch; or run away with all your might. In that case, you might…”

Kennisi paused deliberately. All the candidates held their breath instantly, hoping to hear some secret survival technique.

“—You might live just a little bit longer, and then become its dinner.”

“…”

Seriously? What the hell was the difference? So no matter what, they were dead anyway?

The entire venue erupted into chaos. The candidates started shouting, demanding an explanation from the academy.

They were here to take an exam, not to feed the monsters.

“Silence!”

A wave of magical pressure from a Tier 7 powerhouse swept across the scene.

The terrifying force pressed down on everyone’s chest like a massive boulder, immediately silencing the clamoring candidates.

At the center of the magical storm, Kennisi’s stern face and sharp eyes stared them down.

“Do you think I’m joking? If you’re unlucky enough to run into a Tier 6 monster, being swallowed whole is the best outcome you could pray for. Some cruel monsters won’t let their prey die so easily.”

“They’ll skin you alive, listen to your screams for entertainment, hang you out in the sun, and drain the last drop of blood from you before slowly savoring their meal!”

Hearing her vivid description, the candidates’ minds conjured up bloody images, and they all gulped in fear.

Of course, a few bold ones thought Kennisi was just exaggerating to intimidate them.

But Sevitis knew she was telling the truth. In the knowledge about monsters she had studied, there were indeed many with such sadistic preferences.

After catching their prey, they wouldn’t eat them right away.

Instead, they would treat the prey’s fear and despair as a pre-dinner show, savoring it before finally consuming them.

This was why no one on the continent tried to tame monsters or coexist with them.

Intelligent races who valued order and civilization could never reach an understanding with brutal, wild monsters.

In a way… the same logic applied to the Demon Race, who were hated by the continent.

“The academy won’t clear this exam site for your convenience. If you really encounter such a monster, count yourself unlucky and pray for a better reincarnation.”

Frightened by Kennisi’s words, the crowd began to stir.

A few candidates even started to have second thoughts.

After all, the entrance exam could be retaken next year, but you only had one life.

However, with Kennisi’s Tier 7 magical pressure looming over them, no one dared to voice their withdrawal.

They could only brace themselves and listen.

From her elevated position, Kennisi calmly swept her gaze across the crowd, taking in all their reactions. Everything was going according to her plan.

Her purpose in saying all this was to give these arrogant geniuses a harsh reality check.

Otherwise, they would think the Kantaier exam was a sightseeing trip.

Speaking the ugly truth upfront was for their own good.

If they entered this forest with wishful thinking, they would have to bear the consequences themselves.

Kennisi was very satisfied with the intimidation effect.

However, when her peripheral vision caught a certain dark-haired brat at the corner smiling slyly at her, she struggled to maintain her aloof expression.

Ignore her! Just ignore her!

This damn girl simply couldn’t be judged by normal standards. With a personality like that, maybe she wasn’t even human.

Yeah, that must be it.

Realizing her friendly gesture was being rejected, Sevitis sheepishly withdrew her smile and awkwardly scratched her cheek.

She had only thought that she might have misjudged this Chief Examiner before.

She just wanted to give a polite smile as an apology and leave a good impression.

But why was that woman looking at her like she was some kind of plague? Did she really see her as something dirty? Was she really that annoying?

Sevitis pouted in annoyance.

Well, whatever. The academy she applied for wasn’t even under this woman’s jurisdiction anyway.

Once this exam was over, she probably wouldn’t have to see that old lady’s sour face again until graduation.

Forcing her gaze away from that dangerous individual, Kennisi cleared her throat and continued.

“What the academy wants are never just flashy ornaments full of magic. Wisdom, courage, experience, adaptability, and even luck are all parts of one’s comprehensive strength.”

“Of course, the academy isn’t completely heartless. We have arranged examiners and Surveillance Magic Tools within the forest. Once it’s determined that you’re facing a life-threatening danger you can’t overcome, rescue personnel will intervene immediately.”

“However, once rescue is involved, you will immediately lose your qualification to continue the exam. Your final score will be calculated based on the Magic Cores you collected at the moment you were rescued.”

“By the way, you can also voluntarily forfeit at any time. Voluntary forfeiture also preserves your current score. So, if you truly encounter an opponent you cannot defeat, don’t stubbornly hold on for the sake of pride. It’s your life. Only the living have a future.”

Kennisi’s stern gaze swept across the entire crowd once more.

“Let me emphasize this one last time: the academy will not be responsible for anyone’s death. Even if you are the prince or princess of some great nation, dying inside will only turn you into monster excrement!”

Seeing the thoroughly serious expressions on the candidates’ faces, Kennisi stated the final points.

“A few more things to emphasize: this exam prohibits malicious fighting and attacks among candidates. Anyone caught will be immediately disqualified, their scores reset to zero, with zero tolerance!”

Hearing this rule, Sevitis, hidden in the crowd, let out a disappointed “tsk” and silently abandoned a certain dangerous idea that had just popped into her head.

She had originally been thinking, if she didn’t have enough Magic Cores by the end, she could try robbing a few rich kids to help the poor.

As for who was “rich” and who was “poor”… well, that wasn’t for anyone else to know.

“Furthermore—” Kennisi’s sharp eyes swept around.

“I know some of you found out the exam content in advance through certain channels and secretly brought a few Magic Cores. I advise you to drop those opportunistic little schemes. The academy’s foundation is beyond your imagination. We have plenty of ways to determine whether the Magic Cores you finally submit were hunted within the exam grounds or brought in from outside.”

“If you’re caught, it won’t just be a matter of canceling your scores. You will be directly blacklisted by the academy and barred from stepping foot in Kantaier for the rest of your life!”

Kennisi’s voice was firm and resolute, carrying an undeniable authority.

“No matter how powerful your background or strength, Kantaier does not welcome students of poor moral character! This has been the academy’s bottom line since its founding!”