madnovel Chapter 97 : Chapter 97
Chapter 97 : Chapter 97
Chapter 97: Final Exam (6)
"This is interesting. I did not expect the exam to unfold this way."
It was the evening of the second day of the exam.
These were the words that came from one of the instructors who were watching the cadets perform in the exam.
However, no one refuted that statement.
No, rather, it would be more accurate to say that they were nodding their heads in agreement.
"Indeed. I never imagined they would take the exam in this manner."
"I agree as well. Being young certainly has its advantages."
Beyond just nodding, several instructors were adding their own words of agreement.
Just who were the cadets they were watching that caused such a reaction?
That question was resolved faster than expected.
"Ah, now that I think about it, are these cadets not all in the same club?"
This was because one instructor spoke up with an expression as if they had just remembered.
At those words, the other instructors added to the conversation as if they had recalled it as well.
"Now that you mention it, that is true. I heard a rumor that a new club was established consisting only of first-years..."
"It received quite a bit of attention since it includes both the top and the second-ranked cadets of the year."
To whom would the top and second-ranked cadets refer?
The instructors were talking about none other than Choi Yu-seong and the other cadets.
"It is no wonder their coordination seemed so seamless; that was the reason."
"There seems to be a significant amount of trust between them. This is a tactic that can only be executed under the premise that no one will betray the others."
The praise was so high that one might suspect they were intentionally over-hyping the students.
However, these conversations were all based on facts.
That was because while they were eye-catching as individuals, they were showing a performance of a completely different caliber once they united.
Ju Ha-yeon. Can you send a signal with an arrow? I think it would be best to give them a little breathing room for a moment.
Understood. I will pass that along.
The voices of Choi Yu-seong and Ju Ha-yeon came through the drones deployed to monitor the exam situation.
It was a fragmentary conversation, but one could learn many things from just this.
Specifically, how meticulously this plan had been prepared.
Creating a method to exchange signals on an island without any communication functions carried that much weight.
"Exchanging signals by lighting arrows on fire... it is an old-fashioned method, but simultaneously an excellent one."
"It is also impressive how they increased the variety of signals they could send by using the number of arrows and other factors."
"That is true. Moving during the night when the signals would be clearly visible... well, there is nothing about it that does not deserve praise."
"Yes. To be honest, I was wondering what they were doing until the afternoon, but to think they would show something like this."
At that sight, the instructors did not hold back their constant praise.
Of course, the praise was not all directed at the same person.
Some praised Kim Su-hyeok, while others focused on Ryu Jin-oh.
In this way, they mainly praised the cadets they had been personally keeping an eye on.
However, there was a common point in the direction of their praise.
"...But for now, Cadet Choi Yu-seong seems to be the most impressive."
It was the praise directed toward Choi Yu-seong.
At the words of one instructor, even the others—who had been debating that the cadet they were watching was superior—could not deny that fact.
"...That is true. In the first place, he was the one who planned this tactic, was he not?"
"To be honest, I scoffed at first. I thought it was an impossible plan."
Those were not wrong words.
Truthfully, it was a plan that belonged to the category of having a very low probability of realization.
Think about it.
A group of fewer than ten people in a situation where even communication was difficult.
In such a poor state, to control that vast island and perform a herding hunt?
Normally, it would be strange to think that was realistically possible.
"And yet, they pulled it off."
However, Choi Yu-seong and his group had achieved it.
With Choi Yu-seong at the lead, along with Kim Su-hyeok, Ryu Jin-oh, Ju Ha-yeon, and Oh Jin-eon.
And even Do Gang-ho and Ha Eun-ha, who had joined them after a chance encounter.
A mere seven people had accomplished it.
Therefore, none of the instructors gathered there could deny Choi Yu-seong's achievement.
Of course, that did not mean only praise was being exchanged.
"However, his individual combat power seems a bit lacking, does it not?"
"It certainly appears that way. Although what he has shown so far is already impressive."
Individual combat power.
That was the part where the instructors expressed their regret.
Unlike Kim Su-hyeok or Ryu Jin-oh, who were moving alone, or Ha Eun-ha, who was accompanied by Do Gang-ho due to her position, Choi Yu-seong was moving in a group of three.
Of course, if that were all, such words would not have come out.
"He is trying to use as little strength as possible."
"Yes. He leaves most of the work to the other two and keeps his movements to a minimum."
"Well, in fact, even that is impressive... but it is still a bit disappointing."
"Haha, indeed. I suppose because our expectations have grown, the disappointment is bound to be greater as well."
What the instructors were talking about were the actions Choi Yu-seong was showing within that group.
Of course, looking at the combat itself, there was no deficiency.
Leading the flow of battle without using much strength was something that should rather be called impressive.
However, it was also unavoidable that a sense of disappointment would arise.
Conserving strength to such an extreme could be interpreted to mean that his available combat power was insufficient.
It was during the time they were discussing the cadet named Choi Yu-seong for a while.
"Ah! Now that I think about it, everyone except Cadet Do Gang-ho was in Instructor Im's class, right?"
One instructor spoke up, clapping his hands as if the thought had just occurred to him.
That instructor then addressed Im Seong-cheol, who had been quietly watching the cadets, as if it were a good opportunity.
"Instructor Im, what do you think of Cadet Choi Yu-seong?"
"I am not sure what you are asking."
"I mean the cadet's potential. Do you not know him best, Instructor Im?"
Perhaps he was naturally talkative, as the instructor continued to speak without stopping.
"Honestly, I am curious. Seeing as Player Shin Yu-hwan seemed interested during the midterm exams... I was wondering if he is a cadet who is worth that much attention."
"..."
"His combat sense and such seem very outstanding, but does his strength not seem a bit weak?"
At those words, although no one noticed it, Im Seong-cheol's brow furrowed ever so slightly.
They say that the heart leans toward one's own.
It felt exactly like that.
Though he cherished all his students, his own were naturally the most precious to him.
So, having someone question their worth inevitably caused a bit of irritation.
"..."
But what could he do?
Evaluating a cadet as an instructor was a natural duty.
Therefore, Im Seong-cheol suppressed his emotions and slowly opened his mouth.
"First of all, I am not sure if my assessment will be accurate."
"What do you mean by that, Instructor Im?"
"Because I will be speaking based purely on my subjective view."
"Ah, that is perfectly fine! Do you not always show an objective side, Instructor Im?"
Objective, indeed.
Even though I was feeling irritated just a moment ago.
However, there was no need to say that out loud.
Thus, Im Seong-cheol tucked those emotions away and spoke.
"First, in my view, he is not a cadet who lacks talent or physical ability itself."
"Is that so?"
"Rather, I think he can be seen as a cadet with a very high ceiling."
"What does that mean...?"
The instructor wore an expression of confusion at Im Seong-cheol's words.
It was a natural reaction.
The image Choi Yu-seong had shown until now was not like that.
In fact, it was closer to the opposite.
However, the instructor soon understood the meaning of Im Seong-cheol's words as he continued.
"I suspect it might be a talent accompanied by a penalty."
"Ah..."
A talent accompanied by a penalty.
It was not a common type of talent, but it was not entirely unheard of either.
And this kind of talent certainly...
"If that is true, then his ceiling must be incredibly high."
As Im Seong-cheol said, it possessed an enormous ceiling.
In most cases, if a talent required a price to be paid, the ability itself was outstanding.
This was a fact proven by history.
Therefore, even the instructor who had been expressing disappointment until now could not help but nod in agreement.
"It is purely my own speculation."
"Still, it would not be a groundless speculation, would it?"
"...That is true."
The reason Im Seong-cheol speculated this was simple.
It was because of what happened during the Lee Ho-jae incident a while ago.
'A level of skill that is unthinkable for someone in 899th place. And fainting immediately as soon as the incident ended.'
The testimonies of the other cadets who were there at the time.
This speculation was based precisely on that.
Well, unfortunately, it was a speculation that was only half-correct.
While it was true that Choi Yu-seong's ability had a penalty, it was ultimately based on using points.
And his ceiling, if considered, was high enough to be called the very peak.
However, no one here knew that.
"Good grief. There was a reason why Shin Yu-hwan was interested in him."
"I heard he also has a connection with the Horizon Guild; the future of the academy is truly bright. Haha!"
They could only believe what they saw.
Still, it was a good thing regardless, as it would not result in any loss for Choi Yu-seong.
***
[Influence Points...]
[Influ...]
'What is this?'
System alarms popped up while I was diligently continuing the herding hunt operation.
Why were Influence Points suddenly flooding in all at once?
Of course, it was a good thing, but...
'It feels a bit unsettling because I do not know the reason.'
However, I soon stopped thinking about it.
It is not as if I am losing anything.
Therefore, it was right to focus on the task at hand for now.
It was then.
"I think it is about time to loosen the pressure, do you not think?"
Ju Ha-yeon spoke to me in a calm voice.
She was talking about the pursuit we were currently maintaining.
Since it was not a wrong point, I expressed my agreement.
"You are right. I think we should send a signal."
If we just keep pushing them, they will eventually fight back with their lives on the line.
It was also important to give them some breathing room.
'It certainly is good to have more leeway.'
Originally, this was a plan I intended to execute with only four people: Ju Ha-yeon, Kim Su-hyeok, Ryu Jin-oh, and myself.
Because of that, I had honestly planned to give up on the cadets we could not fit into the encirclement.
However, after Oh Jin-eon joined, and even Do Gang-ho and Ha Eun-ha joined by chance, the situation had improved quite a bit.
'Everyone's skills are also solid.'
I had worried that their growth might be slowed because I intervened to stop incidents.
But contrary to my concerns, everyone was the definition of perfection itself.
Should I say it feels as though their growth rate is even faster?
In particular, the growth rates of Do Gang-ho and Oh Jin-eon were nothing short of surprising.
'I am not sure why, but it is a good thing.'
As long as things flow in a positive direction, it is fine.
It would be great if their current performance continued during real combat, but...
'I should not expect too much on that front.'
Except for Ryu Jin-oh, they have no experience in a bloodbath against other people.
If they enter real combat, they will likely not reach their current level of skill.
Even so, considering the situation in the original work, this was a hundred times better.
'So, if we do not let our guard down until the end, we can definitely pull it off.'
According to the original story, the villains' intervention happens on the evening of the third day of the final exam.
It is the timing when their guard will be the most relaxed, as the exam is almost over.
'One more day.'
If we can just endure that one day, the future will become even brighter.
Thinking that, I slowly moved my feet.