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Chapter: 11
Largo fled far from the monstrous boy before finally setting Karina down in a relatively safe place.
“Are you all right, Cult Leader?”
“How did you get here?”
“I was waiting with Sasu at the final checkpoint when I suddenly felt a powerful surge of your presence, so I came running. But… who was that monster?”
“I don’t know.”
Karina snapped irritably. Ever since her body had weakened, nothing seemed to go right.
As if the Duke of Vatius weren’t enough, there had to be another monster like that.
“More importantly, is it really okay for you to come down here like this?”
At Karina’s question, Largo clutched his head and groaned in despair.
“Because of you, I’m a dead man now…”
She had expected as much.
“Go back quickly. And don’t get beaten to a pulp by Sasu.”
At Karina’s sigh-like remark, Largo’s face lit up and he jerked his head up.
“R-Really? I can go?”
At his suddenly cheerful question, Karina shrugged while glancing back in the direction they had fled from.
“It doesn’t look like he plans to follow us. If he did, he wouldn’t have just let us go so easily.”
Why did he let them go?
Karina’s gaze shifted to Largo’s profile.
Could it be because of Largo?
During the trial, killing competitors was tolerated—but harming retainers, attendants, or examiners affiliated with the ducal house was strictly forbidden.
If that was the case… and considering he knew the trial rules so well…
Perhaps that monster also—
Lost in thought, Karina let out a deep sigh as she looked at Largo, who was fidgeting like a puppy that desperately needed to relieve itself.
“If we get caught wandering around like this, it won’t end well for either of us. Go back.”
“Y-You’re really sure?”
When Karina waved him off as if it were nothing, Largo’s face brightened completely.
“Then I’ll be waiting at the summit!”
Watching Largo disappear in a hurry, Karina clicked her tongue.
Both of us really go through a lot.
Only after Largo vanished from sight did Karina check her condition.
Fortunately, her internal injuries weren’t severe.
A brief session of circulating her energy would be enough to recover.
If that boy had attacked seriously, things wouldn’t have ended this cleanly.
After finishing her breathing and energy control, Karina forced the thoughts from her mind and returned to the camp.
However, only Denian sat there blankly by himself.
Not seeing Ariel or Adolf, Karina looked at him in confusion.
“What’s going on? Why are you alone?”
“……”
“Where are Ariel and Adolf?”
There was no response.
Then Denian slowly raised a finger and pointed toward the mountain summit.
Only then did Karina exhale sharply, as if she’d figured it out.
“Ha—”
So that sly bastard finally showed his true colors.
With his own abilities, he could reach the summit in two days anyway—having dead weight must’ve been annoying.
Ariel helped with stamina recovery, so he probably took only her and ran.
A crooked smile spread across Karina’s lips as she let out a dry laugh.
This actually works out better.
That was what she wanted anyway.
Karina instantly drew internal energy up from her dantian and circulated it through her meridians.
She still had three days to reach the summit, so there was no rush—but with the dead weight gone, she was actually freer.
Good. She’d go straight to the summit in one push.
Just as she was about to leave, she met Denian’s blank stare as he looked up at her.
“……”
“……”
“What. What do you want.”
She tried to ignore him and walk away, but Denian suddenly grabbed the hem of her clothes.
Staring up at her with an emotionless expression, he held on tightly, making Karina let out an annoyed sigh.
“If you’re thinking I’ll carry you on my back, you’re sorely mistaken.”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“Damn it…”
In the end, despite her irritation, Karina turned Denian around and made him sit down.
Watching him comply obediently despite his confusion, she began pressing along his meridians.
Feeling the surge of energy flowing into his body, Denian’s eyes widened.
She was forcibly injecting her internal energy into his meridians.
Of course, unless he circulated it using his own dantian, the effect would only be temporary.
Whether he could keep up with her during that short window depended entirely on him.
“I’ve done all I’m going to do. Keep up if you can. If you fall behind, I won’t wait.”
With that, Karina leapt effortlessly up into the trees.
As she vanished among the branches, Denian hurriedly followed.
Unlike Karina, who moved smoothly from branch to branch, Denian—ignorant of lightness techniques or footwork—ended up dangling awkwardly.
Karina glanced back briefly, then continued moving through the trees without slowing.
She clearly didn’t care whether Denian followed or not.
Watching her blankly, Denian soon clenched his jaw and leapt toward the next branch.
Crack— snap!
Branches scraped and snapped as he followed noisily, prompting Karina to glance back again.
For a brat, he’s got some grit.
Still nowhere near the subordinates she once commanded in the Heavenly Demon Cult—but not bad.
With that thought, Karina deliberately increased her speed, darting even faster between the branches.
* * *
“Just how far did you go to take a dump?”
Eric smacked Largo on the head, making Largo grin sheepishly.
“Hehe, please forgive me. I’m constipated.”
“That’s not something to brag about! Stand five steps away—you stink!”
“Yes, yes.”
Isaac, already seated on a rock at the summit, watched them with boredom.
Eric spoke indifferently, clearly annoyed by Isaac’s presence.
“The successful candidates may descend now.”
Isaac lazily lay back on the rock.
“It’s fine. I’ve got plenty of time.”
His attitude was borderline insolent, but Eric ignored it.
Largo, however, studied Isaac closely.
He didn’t even look twelve, yet his aura was comparable to Largo’s.
At the Cult Leader’s current strength… she might actually struggle against that kid.
Largo’s gaze drifted toward the forest below the summit.
Would the Cult Leader arrive tomorrow?
Just then, light began creeping in beyond the horizon as darkness retreated.
The sky turned orange as the morning sun rose.
At that moment, a familiar silhouette appeared beneath the rising sun.
“Hey—Sasu! Another successful candidate is coming!”
At Largo’s shout, Eric turned his head.
Someone was walking up leisurely from below.
Black hair. Purple eyes.
Karina.
And behind her followed a small, brown-haired boy.
“Oh? The second set of successful candidates?”
Isaac’s bored gaze shifted toward Karina and Denian.
His face brimmed with mischievous interest.
He’d expected Karina to pass.
But Denian? That was unexpected.
As they climbed, Denian followed Karina with eyes full of trust.
That kind of look—toward a competitor?
Snorting softly, Isaac flopped back down on the rock.
* * *
“Huff—huff! What the hell?! How are you two here?!”
Seeing Adolf panting like he was about to collapse, Karina smiled leisurely.
“Who knows?”
On Adolf’s back was Ariel, visibly thinner than before.
“Waaah! Karinaaa! Deniaaaan!”
Ariel practically jumped off Adolf’s back and ran to Karina.
“I’m so glad you’re okay! Adolf dragged me along by force—it was scary! He even made me use my powers against my will! Sob—!”
As Ariel clung to her and cried loudly, Karina patted her shoulder halfheartedly.
“There, there. You must’ve had it rough.”
“Only you worry about me, Karinaaa—waaah!”
You really never change.
Breaking the sentimental moment, Eric’s voice rang out.
“Looks like you’re the final successful candidates. Then we’ll—”
Just as he was about to conclude and head down, a shrill shout cut through the air.
“Waaait!”
Everyone turned toward the slope below.
A girl was staggering upward, clutching a wooden staff.
It was Isabella—looking like an absolute beggar.
She’s got insane willpower, I’ll give her that.
“S-So… I passed too, right?!”
Even as she wobbled like she might collapse any second, Isabella demanded confirmation.
Eric replied with a weary expression.
“Yes. You passed.”
Thud—
Upon hearing that, Isabella immediately collapsed and fainted.
Watching her, Karina clicked her tongue in disapproval.
“Tsk.”
