Chapter 85. Entrance Exam (7)

Weekly Chapter (7/7)

***

“Hey, Candy.”

The man thought she had asked him for a candy, so he rummaged in his pocket.

“You never told me your name, so I don’t know what to call you.”

It seemed a bit childish, but she decided to call him Candy.

The man continued his nonchalant attitude.

When he headed toward the creek to prepare breakfast, Cecil followed him.

“I want to accompany you.”

The creek was less than three minutes from where they camped.

The man, who rolled up his pants sleeves, entered the creek.

He used his wooden sword as a harpoon.

Cecil slowly dipped her foot, but immediately pulled back.

“Geez, it’s so cold.”

It was so cold she was afraid to even wash her face.

She had sweated all day, but was unable to change her clothes or wash.

“This is exhausting.”

She stopped washing the dishes to watch him.

She couldn’t understand what this man was doing.

She sighed.

“Candy, come here.”

She motioned for the man to come closer.

Cecil pulled a magic bomb out of her bag.

“Use this.”

The man looked puzzled at the magic bomb.

“I’ll show you.”

Boom!

When the loud explosion happened, white frost scattered in all directions.

And all the water nearby froze.

“You don’t know, right? It’s an icy wind bomb. I guess I don’t have to explain the effect. Now you just have to look for the frozen fish.”

The man looked astonished.

“Now we can prepare meals with this. I don’t want to use any more magic bombs until we get to the base, so I expect you to clear the road, right?”

The man nodded.

Cecil smiled.

They would probably arrive at the base at sunset, where they would split up.

“This is important. You must promise this.”

The man, who stared at Cecil for a moment, ignored her request.

He headed to the creek to retrieve the fish.

Cecil become angry.

“Geez! Why won’t you let me hear your voice?”

***

When they finished eating, they headed back to base.

She became accustomed to the man’s company.

“Why are you covering your face? Are you shy? Or is it because you’re so ugly? Are you the Empire’s secret human weapon?”

“……”

“Hey, I can’t help my curiosity.”

“……”

“I want to sleep.”

The fatigue built up as they faced the Planteras.

She would have liked to lie down, but the man did not look tired.

Cecil, who was sitting on the body of a limbless Plantera, took a puff on the cigarette in her mouth.

“Aren’t you tired? What have you done all your life to have so much stamina? Did you carry bricks to build a wall in some town?”

He silently stood.

Cecil groaned.

“Can’t we rest?”

After a few hours, they came to a wide road.

It was only a short time before they would reach the base.

The man reached out his arm to stop Cecil.

Soon, a rustling sound was heard in the bushes in the distance.

A group appeared.

There were five people. Four carried swords, the other wore a tunic.

They should feel relieved because they met other applicants, but not in this case. They looked hostile as they looked at Cecil.

But she thought it wouldn’t hurt to join them because she was tired.

“Let’s join them.”

She grabbed the masked man’s wrist and pulled him towards them.

As they approached, the group unsheathed their swords.

This group blocked the road to the base.

Cecil said,

“What?”

The leader said,

“Do you want to use this road?”

Although they dressed like a knight, they looked like mountain bandits who wanted to collect tolls.

She replied,

“Why? Does this road belong to you?”

“Take the other road. This one is ours.”

She frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“You can’t use it because we cleared it.”

Cecil laughed.

It was a really stupid idea.

Cecil guessed they were trying to cut down the competitors.

She folded her arms.

“So, you plan to kill us?”