Chapter 29

The countless cameras set up in the forest, along with high-performance drone cameras that pursued the examinees, captured every detail of the situation.

Even so, the footage was fragmented, showing only the results of the events.

In the stands, there was only a confused murmur, screams, cries, and shouts of anger.

“W-what… is this…!”

“So… who exactly were you planning to use as bargaining material, Director Suzakuyama?”

“This… this is a high school student…? You say she’s your disciple?!”

On the massive screen, only shadows were visible.

The participants ran weaving through the trees, leaving no time for screams, instantly becoming incapacitated and collapsing to the ground.

Normally, the defense field value set in their armor is reduced to zero, and a “dropout” signal is sent to the venue, displayed on monitors.

Of course, attacks through the armor are non-lethal, with minimal impact. Even when hit, a single strike would never incapacitate them.

Yet, because the test is designed to simulate near-real combat, exceptions exist.

“If a strong attack hits a vital point, the field drops to zero in a single strike.”

Naturally. The same strike could have drastically different effects depending on whether it hits the back of the hand or the neck.

And… Akira struck with a precision and speed so high that even visual tracking was nearly impossible, hitting every participant with the force of cutting off their necks, instantly causing them to fail and leaving them unconscious from the shock.

In the stands were the examinees’ parents, children, friends, seniors—numerous people close to them.

Before their eyes, Akira mercilessly incapacitated examinees one by one, with an intensity and malice as if he were actually killing them.

There was no escape. Even if someone tried to hide, Akira already possessed the skill to sense them, the experience of combat, the ability to read their presence.

In this natural setting, the extraordinary experience of hunting humans accumulated.

Thanks to the “10× experience points” effect, Akira was gaining knowledge of “predatory experience” that no ordinary human could know.

“Aaaah!! Daddy!!!”

“Don’t cry. It’ll be okay, okay? You…”

“Toshihiko! That… in just an instant…!”

“Why? They worked so hard for today!”

“What is this… what the hell is this! This isn’t a test!”

“Hey, organizers! What the hell is going on!”

Despair. Fear. The test venue, which should have been ordinary, had become a sort of torture chamber meant to make spectators watch a public execution.

“Now… this is my disciple. Some of you may have doubted my skills… but how is it? At least my disciple can do this. Please take this fact with you and continue building a good relationship, Director Suzakuyama.”

Arnie, alone in this hellish venue, smiled slyly, using even this situation as a bargaining chip.

It was almost a kind of threat to the country itself, a truly extraordinary act of intimidation.

Yet at the same time—

“Rest assured. My disciple… unlike me, seems to care about the country. Heh, that’s good, isn’t it?”

“I-I see… I’d very much like to speak with him sometime…”

As the remaining exam time approached two hours, the buzzer signaling the end of the test rang.

“Phew… almost exactly an hour. Wow… in just this one hour, I’ve gained a lot of field experience… moving around trees and obstacles has gotten much easier.”

Also, the ability to detect hidden prey, to sense presence…

Honestly, this was a pleasant surprise. I never imagined I’d accumulate experience that could be so useful in actual combat.

The announcement instructed examinees to exit the test area. I ran through the forest and exited the gate I had entered. Many exam staff were carrying examinees out of the forest.

…I had tried to be careful, but perhaps the strike to the neck had still caused their brains to shake.

However, the exam required signing a pledge beforehand.

Unless I intentionally killed someone, I wouldn’t be punished.

I had also been careful not to attack unnecessarily in dangerous situations.

In fact, if I had aimed anywhere but the neck, I might have caused fractures or worse injuries.

“Phew… this must be what they call ‘sitting on a bed of needles.’”

Waiting for me outside the venue were the judging eyes, hostility, and some cries of grief from the examinees’ relatives in the stands.

…I accepted it. I had come prepared for this.

I had broken the rules, but it was unavoidable. I had already steeled myself.

Then, from the stands, an older sister figure approached… and, wow, someone I knew.

The woman, whom the older sister had said was “a government official in this country,” walked toward me.

The older sister greeted me with an expression that completely ignored the emotions of those around me. The official looked toward me with slight fear.

“Akira, good work. Almost exactly one hour. If you hadn’t considered the environment, you might have done a bit more, right?”

“No, environmental damage isn’t necessary for the exam. We have to respect nature, sis.”

“…Very well. Akira, this is Director Suzakuyama. Greet her.”

I hid my inner tension and greeted her as naturally as possible… She was the head of the government’s dungeon division. My hands were almost shaking.

“Nice to meet you, Director Suzakuyama. I’ve seen you on TV. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Y-yes. Nice to meet you, Higashiyama-kun. How is your mother?”

Ah, she asked about my mother.

She’s still alive and working as a researcher related to dungeons.

Actually, she had gone overseas to work in a new lab built inside the American branch dungeon.

In other words… she’s using her abilities for America, not Japan.

Though our countries are allies, all nations are rivals in terms of dungeons.

So perhaps even my sister and I are considered… influenced by America.

“She’s fine. She went to America recently, but I wanted to stay here. I hope I can safely become an explorer here.”

“Heh, I see… I guarantee you will pass. Though there will still be a written exam, and possibly even direct interpersonal tests afterward.”

“Right. I’ll do my best.”

“Yes, definitely. …Now, I will take my leave. Arnie-san, we will meet again another day.”

“Yes. Thank you, Director Suzakuyama.”

As Director Suzakuyama departed, I thought I saw her expression soften slightly—was it just my imagination?

Then, the older sister leaned in and whispered.

“Akira, Akira! Total success! Director Suzakuyama was completely freaked out, but seeing you are pro-Japanese, she was visibly relieved! Great! That was a huge display, absolutely perfect.”

“Oh, that’s good. The exam was broadcast, right? Did I appear on screen?”

“Perfectly. Everyone called you a ‘murderer’ and ‘inhuman.’ I almost drank to everyone’s lament, but there were too many eyes watching, so I restrained myself today.”

…Director, please note: this is the true nature of this maid.

Thus, I successfully completed the survival exam and headed to a nearby hotel to take the written exam.

…How did I do? Let’s just say my pen wouldn’t stop. I remembered all the content.