Chapter 381

The final battle was kicked off with Reina’s spirited sneak attack (or whatever it was).

I was already aware that there were other students around, and since I had informed Kara, I wasn’t flustered or anything.

However, Kara looked stunned at the weapon in Reina’s hands.

“What, what’s going on? Why is she wielding Ragnarok?”

“Chaos.”

“He chose her?”

“Yep.”

“I can’t believe…”

Kara scratched her head in disbelief, showing signs of discomfort.

It was a bit annoying to think that even Chaos could be this reckless. The fact that she was ‘using’ it directly seemed to bother her even more.

So far, the followers of Chaos certified by Ragnarok had only been observed, not utilized.

“I’ll have to offer a prayer to Gulrak later. This is just unacceptable.”

“Why’s that?”

“Why do you think? That weapon…”

Kara seemed about to criticize further but then stared at me blankly. I genuinely had no idea what she was upset about.

Then she shook her head and said in a somewhat complicated tone.

“No, it’s still meaningless for you to talk about honor or pride. Anyway, do you understand it’s a historic artifact?”

“Yeah.”

“My father ‘lent’ that artifact to you for a while. Imagine someone else using the Usuk Blade you gifted to me.”

“Ah.”

So that’s what it felt like. I could understand that feeling now.

It must have been for the sake of entertainment that Chaos handed over Ragnarok.

However, since the excuse was provided by me, I had some degree of responsibility.

“I’ll bring it back.”

“No way. I’ll handle her myself.”

-Thud!

Kara relaxed her stance and slowly approached Reina, who was charging over here.

Before long, she was holding the Usuk Blade, clearly showing that she was not pleased with the situation.

‘They seemed to have been a perfect match in the Soul World…’

I was a bit worried they wouldn’t get into a feud over this. If that was the case, I would step in to mediate because, as I said before, I provided the excuse.

“I’ll give you the treasure. She wants to fight barehanded.”

“Okay.”

“Then I’m going ahead.”

Kara handed me the red treasure before approaching Reina.

Reina, perhaps realizing Kara was her opponent, broke into a smile.

-Clang!

“Another meeting!”

“Yeah. By the way, do you know who the owner of that axe is?”

“Senior Sivar?”

“It’s my father’s, you brat.”

“Four?! Gulp?!”

-Bam!

Seizing on Reina’s surprise, Kara’s punch landed squarely on her face.

Reina went flying while Kara hurried after her, and their fight began.

Now, my job was simple. I just needed to keep watch until their battle wrapped up.

So I slowly walked over, silently clenching my right fist and raising it slowly.

-Creep!

The house was lifted straight up from the ground. Not just a metaphor, but literally.

Inside that house, students had been waiting for the ambush, and their expressions were quite a sight.

Naturally, no one would be unfazed by the literal uprooting of the building.

-Thud! Thud!

My right hand moved like I was kneading clay, as the house began to compress slowly.

Dust poured down on the students’ heads, and they snapped back to reality.

“Ch-charge!”

“B-but we are the reinforcements!”

“Shut up and get in there!”

I didn’t care anymore. That’s what happens when plans go awry.

The students seemed to realize from the very first step that they had already messed up.

It wasn’t just the students inside the house – students who had been waiting in other houses came rushing in.

From front to back and side to side. Even diagonally, they swarmed in with the intent to surround me.

The most surprising part was that Namgoong Seokdae was at the forefront. It felt like he was all in with this one strike.

‘Not bad at all.’

It seemed he had realized just how advantageous this would be in a prolonged fight.

Even though I had disregarded the help of wheel tactics, it looked like they figured something out.

But no matter how many rabbits there are, they’re still rabbits. I raised my arms high above my head.

I was ready to slam the ground and sweep everything away.

“Now!”

“Throw!”

Throw? What are we throwing?

Before I could even think about that, Namgoong Seokdae, leading the charge, threw something.

And it wasn’t just him. All the shouting students in the front hurled something at me.

Before long, the items had tightly bound my arms.

It was a rope that had formed like a noose.

“Pull! Don’t let him grab!”

“Ahhhhh!”

“Ugh!”

The rope tightening around my arms had suddenly stretched menacingly wide, spreading them out to the sides.

But that wasn’t all. After binding my arms, some students clung to my legs.

It was as if they were using their entire bodies to ensure I wouldn’t escape.

-Thud!

“Ugh! Ugh ugh!”

“Yes! We did it! We succeeded!”

Finally, a student who had climbed onto my back threw a cloth over my head.

My vision was completely blocked. At least they made sure there was some room to breathe.

“Don’t let his right hand be free!”

“Quick, take off the bracelet!”

Thinking they had completely bound me, I could hear their panicked voices filtering into my ears.

However, there was one thing they didn’t know: even though my whole body was tied up, I wasn’t even swaying.

My strength was far beyond what they imagined.

-Thwack!

“Ugh!”

First, I dealt with the student clinging to my back by throwing my head back to knock him off.

-Pow! Thwack!

Then I send the students clinging to my legs flying away.

Just then, it seemed I collided with someone who was rushing forward to remove the bracelet.

With my legs now free, all that remained were my arms tied with rope, and I immediately twisted my wrist to grab the rope.

“U-uh?”

“W-wait, what’s going on? Is he really pulling back?”

And I started dragging them along. The students’ shocked reactions came pouring into my ears.

They had no idea how many were pulling on me, completely obscured by the cloth over my face. But I was certain there were at least five or more for each arm.

Unless it’s Rize or Hector, nobody in the world could overpower me.

Moreover, I was the owner of Red Magic. If I used my magic too, this was easy peasy.

“Huuh… Cha!”

“Ugh!”

I stomped down, swinging my right arm forward with all my might. The students went “Huh?” as they stumbled back.

Their balance was lost, which freed my right arm. Some still hung on, but it wasn’t a big deal.

-Thwack!

“Aaaagh!”

I also dispatched a student stealthily approaching from behind with a kick.

No matter how sneakily you approach, you can’t fool my senses. I’ve always been sensitive about what’s behind me.

I then vigorously shook my right arm up and down, throwing off the remaining students.

Now only the students binding my left arm remained. First, I tore off the cloth covering my face.

-Riiip!

With my sight now cleared, all that remained was my left arm. I turned my head to look at the students pulling it.

Their faces were all clearly showing thoughts of ‘We’re screwed.’ Namgoong Seokdae’s expression was particularly noteworthy.

He looked utterly baffled as if he had seen something that defied belief. I could understand his feeling.

‘Was I that expression when I saw Rize?’

Anyway, that’s that. I gripped the rope with both hands.

One student, sensing something was off, released the rope, but it was already too late.

I smirked and started spinning in place.

-Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

“Aaaahhh!”

“Ahhhhh!”

“Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!”

At first, it was just my legs lifting off as I turned. But as I picked up speed…

-Boom! Boom! Boom!

“Ugh! Guh! Grrrgh!”

The students screamed in panic, pleading for their lives.

A few of them accidentally let go of the rope and flew away, but they would probably be fine.

I was careful to spin them at a speed that wouldn’t injure their bodies, after all.

But that didn’t mean the ones who held on until the end would be unscathed.

“Ughhh…”

“Ughhhh…”

Students were complaining of dizziness and nausea. They must have felt like the world was spinning around them.

It was clear from their pale, almost white faces that they would be out of combat for a while.

-Ding!

Then, I felt a strange sensation on my back. I turned my head to see a student staring at me with a dazed expression.

In their hand was a broken sword. It seemed they’d tried to ambush me from behind and got their sword shattered.

The student’s face showed disbelief as they glanced from the sword to me, and they mumbled something in their native tongue.

“Wow. Is that a human?”

A mix of awe and fear was evident in their expression. I understood it perfectly, so there’s no need for that.

‘Come to think of it, maybe the first years don’t know?’

Anyway, any student who curses in front of me is out. I clenched my fist.

-Smack!

With a punch like a hammer to the top of their head, they fell over with their eyes rolling back.

After confirming that a shield was placed over the student, I surveyed the surrounding area.

Everyone seemed occupied trying to regroup after the chaotic ruckus.

So, I needed to wake them up. I pulled rings out of my pocket, one by one.

I took out three rings in total. I slipped them onto my left fingers.

Now my fingers were colorful. I should put on the rest too.

“You all have two, right? The green one goes to Reina.”

“Uuhhh…”

Namgoong Seokdae, still recovering from motion sickness, wobbled to his feet.

I confirmed that the green treasure was worn around Reina’s neck. Kara would probably hand it over if she knocked her out.

The remaining treasures were blue and orange. I determined the location of the blue treasure that was on my middle finger.

-Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

A loud notification emerged from the blue ring. It was signaling that the treasure was nearby.

Not just one either. I glanced at Namgoong Seokdae and nodded.

“You have two on you, huh?”

“……”

“Are you going to hit me or just give them?”

A time-honored threat. I directed this to Namgoong Seokdae.

But the resolve in this guy was commendable. He gave a brief chuckle and stood up.

Without the Usuk Blade, he was just wielding an ordinary sword, but his spirit was remarkable.

He faced me, still pale, and opened his mouth.

“I can give you something other than treasures.”

“What is it?”

“It’s candy.”

“……Huh.”

I chuckled. Was he always this eloquent?

Regardless, since he chose the option of handing it over, there was no need to go easy on him.

Just as I took a step forward, Namgoong Seokdae shouted with a serious face.

“I’ll execute the next mission!”

And while saying so, he pulled something out of his pocket. An orange treasure shining brightly.

The orange treasure was only useful for communication. Which meant it wasn’t exactly needed at the moment.

But he threw that treasure somewhere. I watched as it flew through the air in an arc.

The student who caught the treasure swiftly slipped it onto their finger and then…

-Tak tak!

Fled without looking back.

‘……What’s going on?’

And it didn’t stop there.

“Everyone, buy time however you can!”

Namgoong Seokdae ran off in a hurry too.

In my flustered state, I hastily stretched out my right hand. I aimed to forcibly pull it back.

“Charge!”

“Block him!”

But students who seemed to have synchronized their plans sprang at me.

I scowled and easily shook them off. Still, they clung to me till the end.

-Beep!

[30 minutes left until the exam ends.]

I got blindsided good.

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