Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The week passed in the blink of an eye.

Theron trained and ate just like usual.

The only differences were that his food portions had increased and he constantly felt an instructor's gaze on him.

So Berton has already made his move.

Berton was extremely careful.

Since he had said he would watch Theron, Theron had to remain aware of other people's eyes at all times.

Still...

It doesn't matter.

Theron was not someone who would be intimidated by something like that.

There had also been another change after the incident with Palcoat.

The atmosphere in Section Five had shifted slightly.

More trainees had begun watching Theron's reactions before doing anything.

However...

Theron looked toward a table a short distance away.

Palcoat sat there.

He glared at Theron as if he wanted to kill him.

He clearly hated the new atmosphere.

But if he caused another disturbance while instructors were nearby, he would also be punished.

So he was forcing himself to stay quiet.

Still, he looked ready to explode at any moment.

Not my problem.

Right now, Theron needed to pretend to be an obedient trainee.

Hell Island was every bit as dangerous as its name suggested.

But looking back now, Theron realized something else.

The island held just as many opportunities as dangers.

Back then, I only thought of this place as hell. I never imagined there were so many things here that could help me grow.

One of them was the Blood Jade Fruit that had completely changed Theron's body.

It was a spiritual fruit that removed impurities from the body and widened the mana circuits.

In his previous life, Theron had neither understood its true value nor absorbed it properly.

Even then, it completely changed me.

If he could properly absorb the Blood Jade Fruit's full power this time...

It would not merely remove impurities and widen his mana circuits.

It could also provide him with an enormous amount of mana.

There was a reason mages risked their lives searching for it.

Even more importantly, the Blood Jade Fruit possessed such intense heat that it could even destroy the Death Sigil living inside his heart.

The difficult part is reaching the place where the Blood Jade Fruit grows.

Still, Theron had already completed his plan.

He returned his empty bowl and glanced toward the instructors.

Not long afterward...

"Everyone, assemble!"

Bengle, the instructor responsible for Section Five, entered the lobby and gathered the trainees.

Tomorrow was finally the day.

The final briefing before the real "test" began.

"...What's with the atmosphere?"

"It's terrifying."

The instructors standing beside Bengle looked at the trainees differently from usual.

Naturally, tension filled the lobby.

The trainees' expressions stiffened.

Then Bengle spoke.

"As all of you know, the real test begins tomorrow."

Several trainees nervously swallowed.

Bengle continued.

"It won't be easy. Some of you may die."

His gaze sharpened.

"But remember this. If you lose to the other sections and come in last, I'll personally kill half of the survivors."

Fight.

Struggle.

Take what you need with your lives on the line.

"If you embarrass me, don't expect to live comfortably here afterward."

Several trainees went pale.

Considering Bengle's usual behavior, everyone knew he was fully capable of doing exactly what he threatened.

Perka spoke quietly.

"I don't know what the test is... but if that bastard is warning us this seriously... it must really be dangerous."

"Do you think the part about dying... is real?"

Renil looked frightened.

Tioren shook his head.

"No. I think it's real. Think about it. He barely beat anyone during the last few days. If a bastard like him is holding himself back... then this test must actually be dangerous."

It was surprisingly reasonable logic.

Theron silently listened.

Then...

"First, we need to find out what the test is. After that... if there's anything we can do to help each other, let's do it."

Tioren and Renil stared at Perka.

Normally, they would have avoided giving a clear answer.

But...

"Fine. I'll do that."

"I'll help too."

Tioren and Renil agreed.

Perka's suggestion itself was surprising.

But their answers were even more surprising.

Perhaps it was because of what had happened recently.

The incident with Palcoat seemed to have brought the three boys closer together.

And at the center of it...

"You'll help too, right?"

"Theron?"

Perka and Tioren looked toward him.

Renil only stared at Theron with a guilty expression.

Theron unconsciously smiled.

"I will."

It was a short answer.

But all three boys brightened.

Then the instructor began explaining the test.

Theron listened.

It's exactly the same as before.

Of course it was.

The test was being conducted exactly as it had been in his previous life.

The location was the Shadow Forest on Hell Island.

The trees were so thick that sunlight could barely reach the ground.

Day or night, the inside of the forest remained dark.

That was how it earned its name.

The forest itself was not especially large.

The real problem was what lived inside.

Poisonous insects.

Wild beasts with sharp teeth.

And near the far end of the forest, there was a fairly deep cliff.

Theron knew every corner of Hell Island.

If he closed his eyes, he could almost see it.

That was only natural.

He had lived here for ten long years.

"...Your task is to collect a flower that looks like this."

"...A flower?"

Bengle held up a flower with black petals covered in small white spots.

Its colors made it look strangely sinister.

Theron merely nodded.

Moltir Flower.

The early tests at the training facility were all related to the trainees' growth.

The Moltir Flower was also known as the Flower of the Dark Heart.

If it was briefly boiled and crushed, its properties became much stronger.

It helped mana circulate more smoothly during Mana Method training.

It also slightly increased the amount of mana a person could accumulate.

Unfortunately, the process also strengthened the flower's poison.

That poison could cause severe damage to the liver.

We used it without knowing anything in the beginning. Some trainees even died because of it.

The instructors claimed that surviving the poison was also part of the training.

As long as it helped achieve their goal... they never cared what happened to us.

Theron's expression hardened.

"The test lasts five days. Anyone who doesn't return within five days will fail and receive severe punishment."

Bengle smiled coldly.

"As for what that punishment will be... I'll leave that to your imagination."

With that, the trainees of Section Five were dismissed.

Everyone returned to their rooms with grim expressions.

Renil lay down and muttered,

"...Do you think we'll be okay tomorrow?"

From the way the instructors had spoken, it felt like something terrible was definitely going to happen.

No one answered.

Perka and Tioren were just as anxious.

Then Theron spoke.

"Don't worry too much. You only need to be careful about a few things."

"...What?"

"What do you mean?"

"Theron?"

The three looked at him.

Theron sat down and gestured for them to get up.

Once they sat upright, Theron continued.

"Moltir Flowers are poisonous. If you pick one with your bare hands, you can be poisoned."

It was not an extremely powerful poison.

At first, the skin would only itch.

But in severe cases, the skin could peel away and the flesh underneath could begin to rot.

"More importantly, there's something that always lives near these flowers."

"What?"

"An insect called a Silen Nak. It's about the length of your index finger."

Silen Naks looked similar to caterpillars.

They folded their bodies and then released them like springs, launching themselves toward humans with tremendous force.

"If one bites you, your body will start becoming paralyzed. A single bite probably won't completely paralyze you immediately... but if you can't escape quickly, more Silen Naks will gather. Then you could die."

"..."

Their expressions slowly became serious.

Perka carefully asked,

"Theron... how do you know all this?"

"They existed near the place where I lived when I was young. My father taught me."

Children brought to Hell Island were usually between six and ten years old.

Although there were differences, all of them still had memories from before they came here.

Theron's three roommates looked surprised.

"You actually... remember things like that?"

"...Seriously."

Theron lay down.

There was a limit to how much he could explain with words.

Once they entered the Shadow Forest...

The atmosphere will completely change.

Some trainees could not even properly enter because of the pressure created by the forest.

In the end, they would have to experience it themselves.

And so, each of them went to sleep carrying fear and worry.

Eventually, the morning they did not want arrived.

The trainees of Section Five left the training building and traveled with the instructors toward the Shadow Forest.

Normally, the only time they left the building was for morning runs.

Going this far outside felt both fascinating and terrifying.

Then...

"This is the Shadow Forest."

The moment they saw it, every trainee froze.

Beyond the high outer wall stood a watchtower overlooking Hell Island.

Berton normally remained inside his office.

But whenever a test began, he always came here.

He stood with his arms crossed, looking over Hell Island.

"Has the test begun?"

A junior instructor standing behind him immediately answered.

"Yes. Trainees from every section have entered their assigned areas."

Berton exhaled quietly.

He looked away for a moment.

Then one trainee suddenly came to mind.

"Where did Section Five enter?"

"The Shadow Forest."

Berton's gaze stopped.

The Shadow Forest.

"They're gathering Moltir Flowers."

It sounded almost like he was talking to himself.

The junior instructor lowered his voice.

"Yes. From the first day alone... quite a few trainees may die."

Berton did not even move an eyebrow.

"Then that simply means their lives were only worth that much."

Short.

Cold.

Without sympathy.

To Berton, trainees were divided into only two groups.

Those who survived.

And those who died.

He looked toward the distant direction of the Shadow Forest.

The junior instructor carefully asked,

"Section Five... Are you thinking about that trainee named Theron?"

Berton was not normally someone who entertained questions like that.

But he had called Theron separately.

And now this.

Why does he care so much about an insignificant trainee?

Berton did not answer.

He merely raised his chin slightly and looked over the island.

"Who knows."

That was all he said.

Then...

Berton turned without hesitation.

The test had already begun.

In a few days, they would know the result.

Whether his strange feeling had been unnecessary or not...

I'll know then.

Berton walked away without slowing down