Chapter 91: Final Exam (2)

Before the final exam.

“…It tastes even worse than I expected.”

I was chewing on an incredibly dry piece of bread.

Every bite left my mouth completely parched, forcing me to moisten my lips with water. I repeated this process over and over.

The texture was so tough that my jaw hurt. I frowned but didn’t stop chewing.

“You have to eat to live.”

I said this to convince myself, but eating this bread was pure torture.

I had bought it thinking I’d fill myself up before the exam. There was plenty of it, but the taste was terrible.

I knew the saying “you get what you pay for,” but I didn’t think it applied to bread as well. I regretted being swayed by the low price while shopping yesterday.

To be honest, my financial situation wasn’t even that bad at the moment.

Thanks to the success of the kimchi stew stall at the festival, I had earned a decent amount of money, enough to eliminate immediate concerns about food.

After deducting the cost of materials and splitting the profits with the other club members, the amount left for me was no less than:

“Five million won.”

The number five followed by six zeros was immensely satisfying. Sure, I still had some of the money I’d gotten from the blacksmith, but you could never have too much financial security.

The fact that I was eating such a miserable breakfast was purely to avoid unnecessary expenses from draining my bank account. Saving money is never a bad idea.

In a world where I had no parents to support me, and with almost no opportunities to earn money, every penny saved was a step closer to survival.

At this rate, I could probably make it until the second year. By then, I might even manage to get a part-time job and have a steady income.

“Damn it.”

This brought back memories of my previous life. At this age, I had been living exactly the same way. Letting out a melancholy sigh, I bit down harder on the piece of bread.

As I worked my jaw relentlessly, I glanced at my phone. I read the words displayed on the screen over and over.

== ==

[Announcement of the Practical Exam for Semester 1, 2034]

It is hereby announced that, due to specific circumstances, the content of the final semester practical exam has been modified as follows:

◉ Change: External Dungeon Strategy ▶ Team Competition.

Exam Period:06/02/2034 (Tuesday) ~ 06/06/2034 (Wednesday).

Exam Location: Joaquin Academy Special Building.

Team Composition: One second-year student, two first-year students (randomly selected).

[※ Team compositions will be sent via message the day before the exam.]

[※ The exact content of the exam will be communicated verbally just before it begins.]

== ==

It was an announcement as short and simple as my breakfast.

It didn’t even explain how the exam would be conducted.

Speedweapon had complained that they might as well have sent out a blank sheet of paper.

‘He’s right.’

However, thanks to my experience as a player, I could deduce something from this limited information.

One keyword stood out in this brief announcement—the location of the exam, the Joaquin Academy Special Building.

I almost forgot about this detail because Rachel’s name had left me dazed, but the location of the exam was no less shocking.

Unless something had changed in the game’s setup, this building was exclusively reserved for third-year students.

Located in the northernmost part of the academy’s expansive grounds, the Special Building was a symbol of Joaquin Academy’s hands-on learning philosophy.

Calling it a “building” was generous. It was more like a dungeon—no, something even scarier than that.

“…What the hell is this Special Building?”

I let out a sigh. The Joaquin Academy Special Building was essentially a compressed representation of Gehenna Hell, the domain of demons.

It was said to have been recreated based on Balor Joaquin’s twenty years of experience living in Gehenna Hell.

He put so much effort into its construction that he even brought stones, gravel, and plants directly from Gehenna to create an independent ecosystem within the building.

He even replicated the disorientation peculiar to Gehenna Hell.

This building wasn’t just a simple training facility. It was literally a hellish labyrinth disguised as an educational facility.

If I were to compare it to my original profession, it’d be like building an aquarium inside a sushi restaurant to work with more authenticity—with seawater and sand brought straight from the ocean, of course.

‘Balor Joaquin… that guy wasn’t sane either.’

The only silver lining is that he didn’t bring demonic beasts into the place. It’s almost ironic to feel relieved by that.

In any case, the fact that a team competition was being held in that Special Building carried significant implications for me.

‘As far as I know, the Special Building doesn’t allow the deployment of subspace barriers…’

While subspace barriers are typically applied on a large scale, the Special Building is the one place where they don’t work.

Subspace and Hell are like light and darkness, water and oil—completely opposite natures that cannot mix.

Analyzing the circumstances, it’s likely that lethal confrontations between students would be prohibited. In subspace, there are no physical consequences because reality isn’t involved, but the Special Building doesn’t fall under that jurisdiction.

So, what will determine victory in this tournament? That’s still a mystery, but I’ll probably find out soon enough.

‘I’m not used to not knowing the structure or rewards of the exam…’

Until now, I had relied on the memories of my days as a player. But now, I didn’t have that support.

That’s why this uncertain future feels so utterly strange to me.

But if I think about it, isn’t this what a normal life should be? I’m not a fortune-teller; how could I predict the future so blatantly?

In fantasy novels and webtoons, when someone ends up in another world, everything falls into place as if by magic. But, at least for me, that’s not how it works.

After all, I wasn’t even a professional player. From the moment I ended up in this game, my situation was already different.

Plus, I don’t even know the plot of the later parts of the story, so it’s best to treat this as a simulation.

…Anyway.

I spat the remaining piece of bread into a bag and washed my mouth out with water. My gums felt sore.

“There’s no way I can keep eating this.”

I grabbed my bag and wallet. If I was going to eat, I’d rather go to a convenience store and buy instant ramen than keep chewing on that dry bread.

Muttering to myself, I left the room.

***

After filling my stomach with a large instant ramen from a convenience store, I arrived at the Special Building.

The first thing I saw, of course, was the building itself.

Unlike the other majestic and ornate structures of the academy, the Special Building had a simple and sturdy exterior, devoid of any unnecessary decorations.

The human-shaped stone statues attached to the outer walls seemed to scream just how bizarre this place was.

However, one thing was certain—it exuded an aura of intimidation that could unsettle anyone who looked at it.

“…It feels very different from when I saw it in the game.”

Back then, I thought it had a certain charm. Amidst an academy filled with modern buildings, its fantasy-like appearance was appealing… But seeing it in person, it sent chills down my spine.

‘Well, it is inspired by Hell…’

I looked around. The area was crowded with students chatting as they gathered with their respective teams.

One odd detail was that the number of instructors was proportional to the number of students.

There were easily at least a hundred of them.

“Kang Geom-Ma!”

A shrill, clear voice pierced my ears. So loud that even if I were deaf, I would’ve heard it. Turning my head, I saw two girls heading toward me.

They were Rachel and Senior Ha-na, my teammates for the final exam. Since photos of team members had been sent along with the message, they had quickly grouped up.

“Kang Geom-Ma! I missed youuu~!”

Rachel ran toward me, stomping against the ground. She carried her polearm slung over her shoulder, her energy reminiscent of a charging rhinoceros with its horn raised high.

I reached into my pocket.

“…!”

Rachel came to an abrupt stop in front of me. The stone pavement beneath her feet cracked from the sheer force of her halt. I felt a mix of awe and fear at her ability to so thoroughly ignore the laws of physics.

“W-Wait! Pulling out a weapon like that out of nowhere is cheating!”

“……”

It seemed Rachel quickly understood my expression.

“Still, that bluntness of yours is part of your charm, Kang Geom-Ma~”

I reached into my pocket again.

“It’s a joke, it’s a joke! You’re as serious as ever, just like during the midterm exam!”

“…Haa.”

I let out a sigh, but Rachel just grinned widely. I ignored her and turned my attention to Senior Ha-na.

She remained calm, even amidst all the commotion.

‘…More than that.’

I noticed a red metal bar hanging from her waist. What was that called back on Earth? A crowbar? Yes, something like that—a construction tool. Why was she carrying something like that?

“Is that your weapon, Senior?”

“Yes! What do you think?”

She smiled brightly as she nodded.

“…It’s impressive.”

“Right? Even though it doesn’t look like much, it’s a Grade B weapon!”

Grade B? Like Speedweapon’s flute, it seemed that in this world, the appearance of a weapon didn’t directly correlate with its performance.

While blocking Rachel with my gaze as she tried to get closer to me, an authoritative voice echoed across the area.

“Now that everyone’s gathered, I’ll explain the exam system.”

A middle-aged instructor, who appeared to be the most senior, stepped forward and spoke firmly.

“This year’s first-year final exam will take place in the Special Building, an unusual venue. As stated in the message, the test will be a team competition. However, your idea of a competition is likely different from what we’ve planned.”

The instructor gestured with his chin, and the other instructors standing in a line stepped forward in unison. Then, he turned his gaze back to the students and spoke gravely.

“For this final exam, the use of weapons is prohibited. Each of you must hand over your weapons to the instructors up front.”

The announcement caused an uproar among the students, their faces showing not just surprise but also confusion. I felt the same, but upon reflecting a bit more, it made sense.

There was no explicit notice instructing us to bring weapons. But we weren’t told not to bring them either. It was likely a tactic to prevent us from predicting the test format.

‘This is much fairer than the group assignment exam.’

Noticing the commotion, the instructor calmly continued explaining.

“The interior of the Special Building has an ecosystem similar to that of Hell. This means it is outside the reach of subspace barriers. For third-year students, who have more combat experience, this wouldn’t be a problem. But for you, as mere novices, having weapons would be a recipe for disaster.”

The instructor had a point. If inexperienced students started wielding weapons in such a dangerous environment, the result would be a bloodbath.

As the uproar began to subside, the instructor continued.

“The exam format is simple. You will enter the Special Building and reach designated checkpoints within a one-hour time limit. Teams that reach on time will advance to the next stage. Those who fail will be disqualified.”

‘…Hmm, this sounds like a group race.’

Listening to the explanation, it seemed like some sort of team marathon inside a labyrinth. At first glance, it didn’t seem like a complicated test.

The real challenge lay in the location—a subspace-free environment inspired by Hell, where it was easy to get lost.

‘The system seems fair.’

It was a test that required endurance and teamwork. There wouldn’t be much violence, and the danger was limited as long as we followed the rules.

However, one question lingered—how would they evaluate our performance without using a subspace barrier?

The instructor answered just in time.

“Each team will be assigned an instructor who will accompany them. This instructor will evaluate your performance and prevent any dangerous situations. If anyone wishes to surrender, they can inform the assigned instructor directly. That’s all. Good luck.”

With that brief farewell, a group of instructors began moving to collect weapons. They carried standard spatial bags, different from the more sophisticated ones I’d seen before.

“Ah~ how boring. An exam without weapons isn’t fun. Teenagers should settle things with their fists!”

Rachel clicked her tongue in disappointment. Senior Ha-na, however, simply smiled gently. Unlike Rachel, she had no complaints.

Gradually, the instructors approached us.

“Students, hand over your weapons!”

A familiar feminine voice rang out. It was sweet, with a playful tone.

Turning around, I came face-to-face with someone I knew.

“…Oh, no… Kang Geom-Ma…?”

The Villain Choi Seol-Ah’s face turned pale.

…You?