LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 86
Day 3 of the year-end evaluation.
“Haaah~”
Baek Hana, who had just finished washing up, let out a long yawn as she shook her head dry. Lee Nayoung, who was having breakfast at the table and watching her, swallowed the bread she was chewing and asked, “Aren’t you nervous, Hana?”
“Hmm?”
“You know, today’s the sparring evaluation.”
The first day was the monster hunt, the second day was the crisis management test, and today was the tournament-style sparring evaluation.
Baek Hana, lightly drying her hair, replied, “I’ll probably be in the lower ranks anyway.”
“Lower ranks? You?”
“Hmm? Didn’t I tell you?”
Baek Hana informed Lee Nayoung that, due to the Disciplinary Committee’s decision, her grades for this evaluation would be fixed in the lower ranks, regardless of her actual performance.
“Oh, I see. I thought you were just banned from going out and staying out overnight.”
“Well, that’s why I’m just going to do it half-heartedly.”
“But… you’ll do your best tomorrow, right?”
“Tomorrow? Oh, yes. I’ll do my best tomorrow.”
Even if she didn’t care about the other tests, she had to take the final test, which was prepared by that person, seriously.
“I’ll do my best too…!!”
“You should get some sleep. You seemed fine for a few months, but your dark circles are coming back.”
“Waaah……”
Lee Nayoung squirmed in her chair, her legs dangling beneath the table, as Baek Hana pinched her cheeks and pressed down on the skin under her eyes.
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door, and Baek Hana let go of Lee Nayoung’s cheeks, took a bite of her bread, and went to the door.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.”
Nam Seo-hee, who had finished getting ready, came inside.
“Hi.”
“You look tired today too.”
“Really?”
“Y-Yeah.”
“Waaah……”
Baek Hana chewed on her bread and pressed on Lee Nayoung’s undereye area again. Nam Seo-hee, who had been watching quietly, sat down in a chair and said, “Hana, I feel a little tired too.”
“Hmm?”
“My shoulders feel a bit tense.”
“Mmm… Okay, I’ll rub them for you.”
Baek Hana, without a hint of suspicion, went behind Nam Seo-hee and started massaging her shoulders. A slight smile formed on Nam Seo-hee’s lips, but Lee Nayoung, sitting across from them, had her eyes closed and didn’t notice.
“Do your best today.”
“I will. Just trust me. I’ll make sure I get the top rank.”
Top rank. Due to the disciplinary action, Baek Hana was no longer in contention for the top rank, so she had asked Nam Seo-hee, the next closest person to the top rank, to take that position for the sake of peace during the vacation.
Of course, Nam Seo-hee, who had been waiting for a chance to gain Baek Hana’s favor, accepted the request without hesitation.
“Hana, I think it’s time for us to go.”
“Yeah, just a minute.”
Baek Hana stood in front of the mirror and tied her hair up.
“Do you need help?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Nam Seo-hee showed a hint of disappointment as she watched Baek Hana’s hair being neatly gathered.
It was one of the forbidden areas that Baek Hana rarely allowed anyone to touch.
She secretly hoped that one day she would be able to stroke that hair and fluffy ears.
“I’ll be back later.”
“Okay. Be careful.”
Baek Hana and Nam Seo-hee left Lee Nayoung behind and headed towards the auditorium.
“You’re here.”
“We barely made it on time.”
At the back of the auditorium, Maria and Edyn were waiting for them at the entrance connected to the waiting room.
“Are you done with the test?”
“Yeah, sort of.”
“It was more like torture than a test……”
Edyn hugged herself and shivered.
“I’m here as a priest today.”
“I’m a guard……”
“That’s why you’re armed.”
Baek Hana’s eyes sparkled as she noticed Edyn’s silver armor, which was different from her usual attire.
“It suits you, Edyn.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah. It looks cool. Your hair is nicely tied up too.”
“……Is that so?”
“Oh my, look at her blushing.”
Maria frowned at Edyn, who was blushing at Baek Hana’s praise, something she didn’t do when Maria complimented her.
“When I praise you, you don’t care, but when Hana does, you’re over the moon?”
“What are you talking about? Come on, we’re running out of time. Let’s go.”
“Yeah. Let’s leave Edyn here and go in by ourselves. Come on, Hana.”
Maria grabbed Baek Hana’s arm and pulled her into the waiting room.
“We’ll be cheering for both of you. Do your best and don’t get hurt.”
“Okay. See you later.”
Maria, who had accompanied them to the waiting room, returned to where the other priests were gathered.
“Baek Hana.”
“……?”
Baek Hana, who had been sitting with Nam Seo-hee, playing with her hands and waiting for the test to start, turned at the sound of her name being called.
“Ahem.”
“What is it?”
Baek Hana looked at Kang Seok-ho, who had approached her, with a detached gaze.
“Umm, today……”
“Just say it.”
As Baek Hana’s gaze turned cold, Kang Seok-ho quickly lowered his head and whispered, “Please, please don’t hit my face… I’m begging you!!”
“……?”
Baek Hana blinked in confusion at Kang Seok-ho’s action of pressing his hands together and bowing his head.
“So, you want me to not hit your face?”
“Yeah. I mean, usually it’s fine, but today there are people from outside watching. Please, just spare my face. Please save my reputation.”
“But won’t the rumors spread during the vacation anyway? What’s the point of saving your face now?”
“……”
Kang Seok-ho glared at Nam Seo-hee, but she stared right back at him without blinking. Baek Hana, witnessing their silent confrontation, gently took Nam Seo-hee’s hand and stepped between them.
“Okay, if we meet, I’ll do that.”
“……Thanks.”
Kang Seok-ho glared at Nam Seo-hee one last time before leaving.
“Hana, if we meet, we’ll do what we talked about yesterday, right?”
“Hmm… Can’t you just hit me lightly?”
“No.”
Nam Seo-hee leaned in closer, her expression serious, and Baek Hana nodded reluctantly.
“Okay, fine… Let’s do that.”
“Yeah. Just trust me. I’ll make sure I get the top rank.”
Soon after, an announcement rang out in the waiting room.
[Students, please proceed to your designated areas. The evaluation will begin in 5 minutes.]
The students who had been gathered and chatting started to leave the waiting room one by one, and Baek Hana and Nam Seo-hee also got up from their seats.
“See you later.”
“Yeah, see you.”
The two bid each other farewell and headed to their respective areas.
Baek Hana climbed onto the stage and greeted the male student who was already waiting there with a nod.
‘I was told to show some effort…’
Baek Hana hesitated for a moment as she noticed the male student fidgeting with the sword at his waist, clearly nervous.
[The supervisors will now enter. Please follow their instructions.]
Gang Hanna climbed onto the stage where Baek Hana was standing.
She glanced at Baek Hana and the male student before speaking.
“We’ll start in 30 seconds.”
She began counting down on her wristwatch.
“10 seconds.”
The male student channeled his magic and gripped the hilt of his sword.
“5, 4, 3…”
Sssswwish.
Baek Hana’s pure white tail swayed beneath her feet.
“Begin!”
A white predator dashed across the stage.
**
[Nam Seo-hee and Kang Seok-ho, please come up to the stage.]
The fragmented stages were quickly merged into one large stage by the intruding magic professors.
“It’s a battle between the master of the bow and the iron knight.”
-Piuuung.
Claire, holding my hand, fed the fairy in her pocket some chocolate as she watched the stage.
“I’ve heard from the students that Nam Seo-hee’s skills are comparable to Baek Hana’s.”
“What do you think?”
“I’m certain that Baek Hana will subdue her within 20 exchanges.”
Claire was confident in Baek Hana’s victory without a shred of doubt.
-Begin!
The supervisor’s voice echoed throughout the auditorium, and the two students on the stage rushed towards each other.
‘Not only is Nam Seo-hee more skilled, but she also has the advantage in terms of attributes.’
Even though they had only exchanged a few blows, Kang Seok-ho was gradually being pushed back off the stage. If it weren’t for his awakened ‘Iron’ ability, he would have been knocked off long ago.
However, as Nam Seo-hee began to emit electricity, Kang Seok-ho’s stance quickly crumbled as the electricity accumulated in his body.
‘Starting next year, she’ll be attracting a lot of attention.’
Baek Hana had overwhelmed Na Joo-hee in the round of 32, and now Nam Seo-hee was dominating Kang Seok-ho, who was also a child of a top guild.
After this match, the final match would be next.
Only the match between Baek Hana and Nam Seo-hee remained.
Regardless of the outcome of their match, the news about Baek Hana would start spreading outside through the mouths of those who had attended today’s evaluation.
-Nam Seo-hee wins!!
Kang Seok-ho, overwhelmed by Nam Seo-hee’s speed, ended up being pushed off the stage without landing a single proper attack.
[The final match will begin in 10 minutes.]
The professors went up to rearrange the slightly disheveled stage and then descended.
-Pii!!
The fairy, who had been quietly sitting in Claire’s pocket, jumped out and perched on her shoulder as soon as she saw Baek Hana’s face.
[Baek Hana and Nam Seo-hee, please come up to the stage.]
The two students climbed onto the stage as the announcement rang out.
-Piak! Piak!
As Baek Hana stepped onto the stage, the fairy flapped her tiny arms and chirped incessantly.
“Claire.”
“……Yes.”
Claire took out a piece of chocolate from her pocket and fed it to the fairy.
-Piuuung, uung.
Even with the chocolate in her mouth, the fairy continued to chirp something, but Claire ignored her and turned her attention back to the stage.
As the countdown ticked away, Baek Hana swayed her pure white tail and slowly lowered her stance, while Nam Seo-hee channeled her magic, ready to draw her sword at any moment.
‘This is strange.’
The two were surrounded by the gazes of those filled with anticipation and tension. However, contrary to the atmosphere, the two of them were experiencing emotions unrelated to the upcoming battle.
Baek Hana seemed embarrassed for some reason, while Nam Seo-hee was brimming with expectation.
I waited for the countdown to end, curious to see what would unfold.
-Begin!
The supervisor’s voice reverberated throughout the auditorium.
Kaang―!!
Baek Hana’s fist and Nam Seo-hee’s sword clashed, creating a small electric spark.
If it were any other student, they would have dodged the spark by backing away. However, Baek Hana, with her abundant magic, enveloped her body in magic and used her strength to press down on Nam Seo-hee.
Just then.
Paaaak―!!
A blue flash engulfed the entire stage, causing the onlookers to cry out in surprise and shield their eyes from the intense light.
-Piak?
I listened to the small sound of the fairy, protected by Claire, as I focused on the stage filled with electricity.
“Haa…”
A sigh escaped my lips involuntarily.
The intense light gradually diminished, and those who had turned away or covered their eyes cautiously turned their gazes back to the stage.
-Umm……
The supervisor’s voice, sounding dazed, came through the speakers.
Not just the supervisor, but most of those who witnessed the flash of light reacted similarly.
On the stage, where the flash had disappeared.
Baek Hana was lying face down, trembling, with Nam Seo-hee on top of her, tightly holding onto her tail.
-Anti-magic jade……
Baek Hana’s voice could be faintly heard through the supervisor’s microphone.
And then.
-Nam Seo-hee wins.
The 3-day year-end evaluation came to an end.