The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound
chapter-192

Chapter 192 Attack Exam (3)

“……”

Vikir just stood there with an expressionless face.

And then, a female student with white hair walked out from behind him.

Sinclaire of the Hot Department

She slowly walked towards the examination ground.

“Hot Department Class A, Number 69, Sinclaire, right?”

Around that time, Professor Sadi’s voice calling Sinclaire could be heard.

It was a line filled with profound interest.

Despite being a commoner, Sinclaire’s practical and written grades were outstanding, surpassing anyone else.

Not only that, but in the remaining time, she managed to participate in various liberal arts classes, clubs, and volunteer activities and even worked part-time, earning her the reputation of an alpha girl.

Perhaps that’s why? Professor Sadi had a peculiar focus on Sinclaire.

Dolores approached Sinclaire with a worried expression.

“Sinclaire, it might be better to give up the exam if things get tough. Professor Sadi isn’t just an academy professor; she also serves as an advisor to the Royal Guard’s arrest team and the torture advisory committee. Rumor has it she’s quite capable. And, considering that, she tends to bother talented students more than anyone else, there’s a high possibility she’ll make things difficult for you.”

However, Sinclaire, with a determined expression unseen before, shook her head.

“I anticipated it.”

“…What?”

“I’ve been expecting it since Professor Sadi became responsible for my exam.”

Sinclaire raised her head, her sparkling gaze directed at Dolores.

“Thank you for your concern, President. But I need to perform well in this exam. I need to receive a scholarship to pay my tuition.”

“…I understand what you’re saying. But Professor Sadi’s case is not typical. Even if you give up this exam, other professors in different subjects will find a way to supplement your score. They’ll give you extra points or special scores, whatever it takes.”

“…But.”

Sinclaire turned her head.

There, many students were groaning and writhing in pain.

The damage to the students in the Hot Department, who generally had lower stamina compared to the Cold Department, was severe.

Seeing that, Sinclaire bit her lip tightly.

“I can’t avoid someone who dared to make my friends like that.”

“……”

“I want to take the exam under the same conditions as my friends, President.”

Sinclaire’s earnestness was conveyed to Dolores.

Why should it not be? After all, Dolores was once as thick as thieves with her peers during her freshman year.

“…I see. They say there’s a proverb about love for one’s peers and love for one’s country.”

“Thank you, President!”

“Sure, whatever. However, if the situation is extremely dangerous, you must withdraw from the exam immediately. Please come to me right away. I will heal you.”

“Yes!”

Sinclaire confidently responded and leapt onto the examination ground.

Professor Sadi’s curious gaze eventually turned to Sinclaire.

As if looking at an insect she is about to crush.

“Oh~ So, you’re ‘that’ Sinclaire. Good grades, excellent combat sense, a kind personality, and on top of that, you’re involved in various liberal arts classes, volunteer activities, and clubs. Is there anything you can’t do?”

“Thank you for your kind words, Professor.”

“Oh my, your voice is lovely too. And your face is really pretty…”

Professor Sadi began to flirt.

“It would be worth destroying it~”

If only it weren’t for the last part, the atmosphere would have been quite warm.

Tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu…

Eventually, Professor Sadi’s aura began to spread gradually.

Professor Sadi’s avatar, a mud golem with a figure identical to hers, stood up with a slender body.

In its hands was a long vine whip.

The golem’s mouth moved, transmitting Professor Sadi’s voice.

“Recently, there’s a ridiculous rumor spreading around the school. Me, bothering talented students?”

Sinclaire flinched at those words.

A rumor? Could it be that Professor Sadi’s intentions were not fueled by jealousy or inferiority?

Sinclaire was momentarily confused by the thought that she might have misunderstood.

But. Professor Sadi’s following words clearly indicated that she was even more insane than what Sinclaire thought.

“That’s a real misunderstanding. Because… I bother both talented and untalented students without discrimination. Hohoho!”

At the same time, the whip wielded by the golem flew.

Crack-

With a loud noise, the stone ground split open.

Sinclaire quickly dodged, but the whip moved as if alive, relentlessly chasing after Sinclaire’s heels.

Kiri-lick-

Like a venomous dance resembling a mosquito.

“It’s just the talented ones struggle a bit longer, ending up more battered. Hohoho!”

“……”

“Was it Sancho earlier? I had some expectations for him. The academy’s standards have fallen.”

Professor Sadi continued whipping the air, licking her dry lips with her tongue.

“How about you? Show us what the ace of the Hot Department can do~”

At the same time, the whip created numerous folds and knots, exploding the surrounding air.

Puff-puff-puff-puff! Crack- crack! Snap- crack-

The nearby stone floor exploded into pieces.

Sinclaire quickly cast a wind magic to enhance her agility.

“Haste!”

With increased agility, Sinclaire skillfully avoided the whip’s intricate movements and moved to the outskirts of the examination ground.

Truly, a speed like the wind.

However.

“Haste? Was that the speed you get with Haste? Hey, if you do this in a real fight, you’ll die on the spot~”

Professor Sadi’s golem effortlessly caught up with Sinclaire’s movements.

“Huh!?”

This sound of frustration not only came from Sinclaire’s mouth but simultaneously erupted from the mouths of all the students and professors watching the exam.

Sadi controlled the golem with surprising ease. Even other professors were astonished by her skill.

Ordinary professors, even if they were combat pros, couldn’t perfectly synchronize a golem located far away from their bodies. The body synchronized with the golem becomes slightly sluggish when moving, and there is a momentary delay in synchronization during the avatarization process.

Furthermore, dealing with a distant opponent creates a distance disparity, making calculating the length and thickness difference between one’s limbs and the golem’s limbs difficult, resulting in unavoidable minor errors.

But.

“Hohoho- Just running away won’t earn you any points, you know?”

Sadi had none of those problems.

Her incredible focus and physical prowess flowed as smoothly as water as if she were engaging in close combat with the opponent right in front of her.

“Just running away won’t earn you any points. Thank you for the advice, professor!”

Sinclaire stood firm and cast a spell, quickly aiding her body with a wind magic that enhanced her reflexes.

Multiple spell casting.

Three circles, nine mana circles in total, appeared with intricate patterns.

Qua-qua-qua-quack!

Three class spells erupted.

The songs of fire, ice, and storm.

An incredible talent rarely seen among her peers. In terms of mana affinity alone, she was comparable to or even surpassed the magicians of the Morg family, the masters of magic.

But.

“Hohoho-”

The raining spears of fire, ice, and wind only made Sadi laugh uproariously.

“The ace of the Hot Department isn’t anything special, huh?”

Sadi lost interest and mumbled.

Then.

Boom-thud!

With just one sweep, Sadi’s golem nullified all of Sinclaire’s spells.

“Kuk!?”

As the magic was forcefully canceled, mana surged back, causing blood to flow from Sinclaire’s eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. She staggered backward, and above her head, the golem’s fists and kicks mercilessly descended.

Qua-qua-qua-quack!

Sadi’s controlled golem’s physical prowess was astounding. Sadi efficiently selected motions that demonstrated optimal efficiency with the limited mana that could be infused into the golem despite the limited amount of mana that could be infused into the golem. The end result was incomprehensible golem control combined with explosively manipulated mana usage.

The golem moved as if it were a single whip, crazy in its flexibility, eerie in its contortions, incomprehensibly swift—like a monster.

“Kyaaah!”

Sinclaire involuntarily screamed. Avoiding the raining fists and kicks of the golem, she retreated in confusion. Then, the voice, like a reaper’s whisper, reached her ears.

“Oh? Did you forget something, dear? Have you forgotten about my whip?”

For a moment, Sinclaire who was focusing on the terrifying fists and kicks of the golem, forgot that Sadi’s main weapon was the whip.

“……!?”

When Sinclaire regained her composure, she saw the whip tendrils widely entwined around her body.

…Squelch!

In an instant, the tightened noose bound Sinclaire’s entire body in one breath.

“……! ……! ……!”

Unable to move, Sinclaire, her head turned helplessly.

Just then Sadi’s golem threw a kick with astonishing speed.

Spurt!

Sinclaire quickly tilted her head back to avoid Sadi’s sweeping kick, but she couldn’t dodge the second kick that followed.

…Crunch!

A solid mid-kick. Even without seeing it, it was evident that all her ribs had been shattered, puncturing her internal organs.

Sinclaire flew through the air as if the string had been cut, landing outside the examination ground.

Simultaneously, a status window appeared.

<hot department,="" class="" a="" -="" student="" no.="" 69="" 'sinclaire'="">

Effective Hits: 3 times (1 point each)

Effective Evasions: 16 times (1 point each)

Effective Defense: 0 times (1 point each)

Critical Hits: 0 times (10 points each)

= Total Score: 19 points

The best talent in the Hot Department, she had never missed the top spot, but her total score was merely 19 points—barely reaching the average.

“Sinclaire!!!!!”

Dolores, who had been terrified, caught Sinclaire as she fell.

A healing magic was cast on Sinclaire, who was coughing up blood.

Latecoming professors also hurriedly began treating Sinclaire.

Meanwhile, Sinclaire looked up at Dolores and faintly smiled.

“I’m sorry, President….”

“Don’t say anything, Sinclaire! It’ll take time for your internal injuries to heal!”

“Cough! Kuk! I won’t be able to receive the scholarship….”

Upon hearing that, Dolores held Sinclaire’s hand tightly with a tearful expression.

Honestly, Dolores could cover Sinclaire’s tuition fee herself. She came from a prestigious family of Quovadis, and her financial situation was quite comfortable.

However,

To overcome everything with her own strength, whether it be exams or tuition, without relying on anyone.

For Sinclaire, that self-reliance was crucial.

At that moment,

“Ho ho ho ho-”

Laughter echoed through the now silent arena. Professor Sadi, smiling broadly, looked at Sinclaire’s tears.

“Crying because you won’t get the scholarship? Hey cutie, this teacher will pay for it, so don’t cry. Why cry over something like that? It’s not like you’re a beggar.”

These weren’t words spoken out of ignorance but a deliberate attempt to overturn Sinclaire’s emotions.

Sadi’s words, like thorns on the tip of her tongue, caused the expressions of students and professors alike to freeze.

…However,

Even in such a situation, there was one person who showed no change in expression.

“…”

Vikir. He looked at Professor Sadi with his characteristic poker face, showing no reaction.

However,

When Professor Sadi opened her mouth to shout, even Vikir’s expression finally had a ripple.

“…”

“Alright, let’s get on with it. The next turn is Cold Department, Class B…”

Her lively eyeballs, like they were rolling around, turned in Vikir’s direction.

And then, without delay, her pale skin contrasted against her bright red lips, forming a gentle smile.

“Our cute and fat Figgy. Are you ready to come up?”

“Ho Ho Ho”