Chapter: 07
Marina and I entered the waiting room alone.
I sat down on the sofa while Marina remained standing, glaring at me.
“You’re shameless. Do you really think you’ll be allowed to take the test?”
“I have a sponsor. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“That’s exactly the problem.”
The Vice Commander was the chief supervisor of this examination.
He was responsible for creating the test and choosing the final winner.
Since someone like him had personally recommended me, people would inevitably question the fairness of the competition.
Marina sneered.
“Go beg them right now and say you can’t do it. An idiot like you can’t even imagine how important this test is…”
“It’s your future and your uncle’s future that’s on the line.”
I was trying to think about the assignment, but she kept buzzing beside me like a fly, making it impossible to concentrate.
Marina’s eyebrows shot up.
“What an idiot. You actually think a single test could affect my uncle’s future?”
She tried to sound confident, but panic flickered in her eyes.
She’s getting annoying. Better make sure she stops talking.
“You ran to your uncle for help after I caught you bringing in the Gold Sorcerer, didn’t you?”
“…!”
“But before he could help you, the Vice Commander discovered he’d been embezzling military funds.”
“…!”
“And because he thought he’d be thrown out if things continued like this, he resorted to kidnapping the candidates.”
“…!”
Marina’s face turned deathly pale.
She looked at me as if asking how I knew all of that.
I may not have known about the kidnapping, but I was involved in the first two incidents.
Putting those together, it wasn’t hard to figure out why a kidnapping—something that never happened in the original game’s story—had occurred.
“N-No! My uncle and I…”
Even after I’d laid everything out for her, Marina kept shouting.
I sighed.
“Enough with the excuses. More importantly, if you don’t keep quiet…”
I slowly raised my clenched fist.
Marina, who still remembered being thrown over my shoulder and bursting into tears afterward, flinched.
At last, she fell silent.
Good. Now I can think without interruptions.
The important thing now was the examination.
If I failed, I wouldn’t be able to remain in this castle any longer.
No… not just the castle. I’d probably have to leave this entire city.
I’d already provoked Baron San Miguel.
That meant I absolutely had to pass this test.
I’ve played this game before, so I know what the original exam was.
But that was the exam prepared by the Vice Commander.
Now that he’d personally recommended me, there was a high chance the contents would be changed in the name of fairness.
Especially if Baron San Miguel had already won over the retainers.
If that happened, the test would naturally favor Marina.
If I were the Vice Commander, what kind of test would I suggest?
And what kind of condition would Baron San Miguel eagerly accept?
As I pondered, my fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of my skirt.
If I’m right… then this exam is unwinnable.
It was a game I was destined to lose.
The coliseum inside San Miguel Castle.
When the appointed time arrived, Marina and I were summoned and looked toward the raised platform.
Standing there side by side were Baron San Miguel and the Vice Commander.
The terraced seats surrounding the coliseum were packed with retainers and members of the order.
The Baron spoke first.
“Marina Galvan.”
“Yes!”
“Yustea… the nameless.”
“Yes.”
He deliberately emphasized the fact that I had no family name.
The retainers, who believed this was a selection test for the Crown Prince’s attendant, looked displeased.
Sending a commoner to serve the Crown Prince was, after all, absurd.
The original candidates—who had now been kidnapped—might have come from lesser noble houses, but they were still noble young ladies.
Which also meant their disappearance couldn’t simply be ignored.
Given all those conditions, the only possible test would be…
“The one who finds the kidnapped girls shall be declared the winner of this examination.”
I shut my eyes tightly.
I knew it.
Unlike me, Marina was barely suppressing her excitement.
Of course she was.
The one responsible for kidnapping the girls was her own uncle.
She practically already knew the answer.
Baron San Miguel continued.
“Marina Galvan and Yustea the Nameless will each select seven soldiers from San Miguel’s forces to form a search party.”
For the first time, Marina frowned.
The elite soldiers of San Miguel were all Irregulars.
That meant I, as the Vice Commander’s recommendation, could potentially assemble the superior search team.
“This examination will be broadcast through the Magic Mirror.”
With that, Baron San Miguel took his seat.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
As synchronized footsteps echoed through the coliseum, the soldiers who had been lined up behind it marched forward and stood before us.
Antonio glared at Baron San Miguel with unconcealed fury.
One of his subordinates spoke through gritted teeth.
“Should we kill him?”
“If I give the signal…”
At that moment, the Vice Commander, seated beside Antonio, spoke.
“Don’t kill him. Don’t give the signal.”
The subordinate, who had already drawn his weapon, reluctantly shoved it back into its sheath.
Antonio still looked dissatisfied.
“Does this even qualify as a fair test?”
“Write that down.”
“Damn it.”
The Vice Commander smacked Antonio on the back of the head.
“If it weren’t at least this favorable, Yustea wouldn’t even have been allowed to participate. It’s just as ridiculous that I, the chief examiner, personally recommended a contestant.”
“But you already agreed to step down from judging.”
“So no one can complain about fairness if Yustea somehow passes.”
Antonio frowned.
He said ‘somehow.’
Even the Vice Commander never expected Yustea to succeed.
“So you don’t believe she’ll win. Then why let her take the test?”
“…”
“Why throw a child into a battle she’s destined to lose and just sit here watching?”
As a former gladiator, Antonio knew better than anyone how cruel hope could be.
If you win this match, you’ll finally be free.
Countless gladiators had slaughtered parents, siblings, and comrades alike while clinging to that single hope.
Antonio glared at the silent Vice Commander.
One of the Vice Commander’s subordinates spoke awkwardly.
“There was no other choice.”
“Turning someone desperate into a circus animal is your idea of no choice?”
“This examination couldn’t be avoided. The Baron was targeting Sir Antonio.”
“…”
“The Vice Commander had to choose between the two of you.”
He had chosen Antonio.
And if one sacrifice was unavoidable, he intended to gain something from it.
That was why he proposed this outrageous test.
Bring back the kidnapped girls.
Baron San Miguel had eagerly accepted.
Antonio spoke with a stiff expression.
“What impressive calculations. Too bad the only one suffering is Little Teacher.”
The subordinate looked back and forth between Antonio and the Vice Commander.
“The Vice Commander still tried to give her the best conditions possible.”
“You mean letting her choose members from among the order.”
“Yes. Little Teacher gets along well with everyone, so surely that would help in this test… Huh?”
He stopped mid-sentence.
His eyes had landed on the soldiers Yustea was selecting one by one.
Those choices…
Antonio stared coldly at him.
“How exactly is that helping?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Yustea pointed at soldier after soldier.
“That really big guy first. Then the even bigger guy behind him. Oh, and the even, even bigger one at the back. And that biggest one over there too.”
“Why are you only picking the biggest guys?!”
The subordinate turned toward the Vice Commander in confusion.
The Vice Commander, who had been frowning ever since Yustea started making her selections, covered his eyes with one hand.
Yustea was personally destroying the only advantage she had in this test.
The subordinate swallowed nervously.
Does she not understand what’s happening?
Baron San Miguel had kidnapped the girls.
Naturally, he’d already told Marina where they were.
In a situation like this, she shouldn’t be choosing “big guys.”
She should be choosing soldiers skilled in stealth.
All she had to do was secretly follow Marina’s search party until they reached the girls.
But those “big guys”…
Antonio’s squad muttered blankly.
“They’re all tanks.”
“Guys who charge straight in.”
“Stealth isn’t even in their vocabulary.”
“Is she expecting a fight after finding the girls?”
“But finding them comes first, doesn’t it? They’re all over two meters tall. How are they supposed to sneak around?”
“They can’t.”
“So that means…”
“Ah…”
Everyone watching Yustea wore bittersweet smiles.
Little Teacher… she just picked whoever looked strongest…
She could teach people to read.
But apparently she had no clue about things like this.
Marina, who had been nervous that Yustea might actually build a competent team, let out a mocking laugh.
Baron San Miguel slapped his knee, chuckling.
Then he subtly tapped his waist.
It was a signal.
He was telling Marina to choose the soldiers wearing red undergarments beneath their armor.
They’re all professional scouts who can use messenger birds.
Messenger birds.
Special birds capable of transmitting information over specific magical frequencies.
They were invaluable for long-distance reconnaissance.
Following the Baron’s signal, Marina selected those soldiers.
Every one of them was secretly loyal to Baron San Miguel rather than the Vice Commander or Antonio.
Thus, Yustea’s oversized search party and Marina’s scouting unit were complete.
Someone on the platform blew a loud whistle.
The examination had begun.
“Then let’s do our best.”
Yustea’s cheerful voice echoed from within the Magic Mirror.
The giant men she had selected looked uncertain.
“Little Teacher… are you sure we’re enough?”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you changed your mind while there’s still time?”
Even they lacked confidence.
The audience watching through the Magic Mirror burst into laughter.
“This is entertaining.”
“Someone acted so confidently that I thought she’d have some incredible ability.”
“Exactly.”
Several retainers allied with Baron San Miguel mocked the Vice Commander.
Antonio’s squad grumbled among themselves.
“They’ve never even tasted Little Teacher’s braised ribs.”
“She might love picking big guys, but her braised ribs are incredible.”
“And she’s a great brewer.”
“That’s right.”
Inside the Magic Mirror, Yustea smiled brightly.
“I think it’d be best if we all stay together.”
Split them up!
Divide all seven men and cover as much ground as possible!
The Vice Commander’s subordinate grabbed his head with both hands.
While Yustea continued making baffling decisions, Marina was carrying out the test flawlessly.
Near San Miguel Castle, in the forest.
Marina recalled what Baron San Miguel had told her.
“The mountain villagers live near the dry stream on Beech Mountain. That’s where the carriage carrying the girls is hidden.”
Uncle really is impressive.
He had chosen that location so the crime could be blamed on the mountain settlers.
One of the soldiers handed Marina a map.
She glanced briefly at the broadcasting magic tool recording everything.
“The moment the young ladies were kidnapped, the search parties must have combed the nearby area.”
“Yes.”
“And yet they found nothing. That means whoever did this knew San Miguel’s territory inside and out.”
“Where do you suspect?”
Marina pointed to two places on the map.
“The mining village with its underground tunnels… and the mountain settlers who know Beech Mountain better than anyone.”
She couldn’t act like she already knew the answer.
Appearances mattered.
I’ll give you one fake lead, Yustea.
Whether those oversized soldiers could actually sneak around was another matter.
“Let’s split into two groups of four.”
“Yes.”
“You four head to the mining village. The three of you come with me to Beech Mountain.”
The knights stamped their feet in unison.
Back in the castle coliseum, where the Magic Mirror continued broadcasting—
Antonio’s squad groaned.
Marina’s search party moved with perfect coordination.
The retainers nodded approvingly.
“The mining village and the settlers’ camp. A logical conclusion.”
“Those two places have always been the most hostile toward the lord’s domain.”
“This shows Lady Marina has remarkable judgment.”
Smiling proudly, Baron San Miguel replied,
“She has always treated San Miguel’s affairs as her own. I hesitated to recommend my own niece, but I knew she would devote herself to this land.”
“A wise decision indeed.”
As the Baron and his retainers exchanged satisfied smiles, Antonio’s group’s expressions darkened.
The only reason Marina could act so confidently…
…was because she already knew the answer.
And she’d deliberately selected soldiers who specialized in reconnaissance.
“[Mining village. Nearby. Arrived.]”
“[Mountain entrance. Arrived.]”
“They’re using messenger birds.”
The Vice Commander’s subordinate frowned.
“If one group finds something, the other can regroup immediately.”
“A team made entirely of messenger bird handlers… Baron San Miguel really prepared for this.”
Antonio’s men clenched their fists.
There didn’t seem to be any way for Yustea to turn things around.
At this point, maybe finding the girls at all should be enough…
The subordinate sighed regretfully.
Yustea was talented in many ways.
Had she never entered this test, she might at least have remained with the order.
Knowing she’d only entered for Charlie’s and Antonio’s sake made it hurt even more.
Then—
“Huh?”
The subordinate suddenly froze while staring at the Magic Mirror.
“[Mining village. Nearby. Girl found.]”
The messenger bird perched on a soldier’s shoulder chirped those words.
Baron San Miguel’s smile instantly vanished.
What?
The girls weren’t in the mining village.
They were hidden in the mountain settlers’ camp.
So why was the messenger bird reporting the mining village?
Inside the Magic Mirror, Marina also looked shocked.
“That’s impossible. They’re not at the mining village—!”
She abruptly noticed the broadcasting magic device and clamped her mouth shut.
She stiffened, brushing back her hair as she desperately tried to understand why the report had come from the mining village.
Baron San Miguel immediately looked toward his adjutant.
The man hurried over and whispered,
“They were never moved from the settlers’ camp.”
“Then why is the messenger bird…?!”
Just then, Antonio—resting his hand against his forehead while watching the Magic Mirror—spoke.
“Isn’t that Little Teacher up in that tree?”
A young girl sat on a thick branch, quietly playing a tiny flute.
The melody couldn’t be heard.
But every time her fingers changed notes—
“[Mining village. Nearby. Girl found.]”
The messenger bird repeated the false report.
Antonio and several of his squad members suddenly remembered how Yustea had introduced herself when they first met in that cave.
“My name’s Yustea Andres, fifteen years old! Daughter of Marquis Andres, kicked out three years ago! Since then I’ve worked washing dishes at restaurants, spreading misinformation, and collecting debts at the market…”
That’s it.
Misinformation…!
Antonio and his squad leapt to their feet.
“Wooooooah!”
“Wooooooah!!”
Their thunderous cheers echoed throughout the coliseum.
