Chapter 42
The summit of Mount Grace wasn't particularly high.
However, due to its long ridgeline, one had to travel up a gentle slope for a long time.
Do we really have to do all this?
Cecil harbored considerable dissatisfaction with Eternia's testing methods.
She thought the test itself was unfairly biased in favor of the Combat and Magic Departments, who excelled in combat ability.
The Magic Engineering and Alchemy Departments, who were relatively less equipped to deal with Planteras, had to trail behind others.
They should just give different tests for each department.
Right now, Cecil was also trailing behind someone.
A few steps ahead of her was a masked man.
Their paths had merely overlapped by chance. Like passing strangers on the street, they hadn't exchanged greetings or introductions.
However, they weren't completely ignoring each other, as they partially cooperated by each handling their own area when Planteras appeared.
The vanguard ahead was minimal, and even they were scattered in all directions avoiding groups of Planteras.
So it was better not to work with anyone you might’ve met. Since they seemed to be applying for different departments, there was no particular reason to compete.
Thus began their quiet companionship.
Cecil had watched his back as he fought the Planteras.
Even when multiple Planteras rushed at him, he handled them skillfully, though his method was quite unique.
He would thrust his wooden sword into their joints and twist to dislocate them.
It felt more like dismantling than cutting.
More of a technician... than a swordsman. Not stylish, but efficient in its own way.
In any case, thanks to the man, she could save her magic bombs and magic stones.
Occasionally, the man would turn his head to check on Cecil. As if making sure she was following well.
Whatever the man's thoughts might be, Cecil had no plans to stay with him until the end.
She had no intention of forming a friendship either. She was just accompanying him to the first checkpoint marked on the map for convenience.
As they proceeded, the masked man sat on a rock to request a brief rest.
Cecil also stopped about ten paces away, reading the atmosphere.
While resting, she planned to sort out what had been bothering her.
Cecil hung her conical hat on a tree branch and drew her dagger.
Then, she roughly cut the hem of her dirty black linen dress up to her thighs and added side slits.
Finally, she felt relieved.
Now it'll be easier to climb.
After disposing of the cut cloth pieces, she took out tobacco from her bag, put it in her mouth, and lit it.
The man was watching intently as Cecil puffed out smoke.
What's his deal...
With his mask and silence, he wasn't someone she could readily trust.
Coming to the entrance exam with a wooden sword suggested something different about his mental state.
Since he might be strange, I should probe a bit.
Breaking the silence, at last, Cecil spoke first, "Hey, you."
The man reacted.
"What are you staring at? Never seen a woman's thighs before?"
"..."
No answer.
"Are you a pervert? Why are you wearing that mask?"
Again, no reaction.
Cecil threw away her burning tobacco and put a new one in her mouth.
"Why are so quiet? Are you deaf?"
He didn't respond to her provocative questions.
Because his face was covered, she couldn't read his thoughts either.
I can't figure out what he's thinking.
Rather, Cecil felt like she was getting caught up in the man's pace.
The man, who had been quietly observing her face, suddenly stood up and started approaching Cecil.
"...Hmm?"
As the distance closed, a startled Cecil took a slightly defensive stance.
Since he'd left his wooden sword on the rock, it didn't seem like he intended to threaten her.
Still, just in case, Cecil kept one hand on her bag ready to pull out a magic bomb.
The man facing Cecil rummaged through his pocket and handed something over.
"...What's this."
As Cecil cautiously held out her palm, a nicely wrapped candy dropped onto it.
"Candy?"
She spoke with a suspicious expression, "Is there poison in it? Didn't your mother ever tell you not to take candy from strangers?"
"..."
At this, the man took back the candy and slightly lifted his mask to put it in his own mouth.
It seemed he intended to prove there was nothing wrong with it.
Suddenly, a subtle gardenia scent wafted from the man's body.
What's with this sudden fragrance?
He took out another candy from his pocket and placed it in Cecil's hand.
Then, he walked off, leaving her behind.
Cecil stubbed out her tobacco with her foot and put the candy in her mouth.
The stale, harsh aftertaste of tobacco was replaced by the scent of lilac flowers.
Cecil pondered for a moment while moving her mouth.
It didn't take long to reach a conclusion.
"...Guess he's not that strange after all."
Cecil gathered her conical hat and followed after the man who had left.
***
About three hundred people had entered Mount Grace.
Some remaining applicants at the exam site tried to force their way in again after recovering with potions and magic, only to be thrown back.
Lilith stared at the now-dark mountain entrance with a dejected face.
Just getting in wouldn't solve everything.
Of the vanguard who entered first, about forty were carried back on the shoulders of Planteras and thrown back into the exam site.
Would you return to the starting point if you failed even after getting in?
After witnessing this, the once peaceful Mount Grace now felt like a huge labyrinth or dungeon.
The applicants seemed to have finally realize it. Simply pushing through with numbers wouldn't work.
It was impossible to break through to the summit without careful strategy and systematic teamwork.
Perhaps because of this, the movement to find groups became active among the remaining applicants at the exam site.
Information was closely shared by the vanguard members who had entered first and been spat back out.
They all said similar things.
"Follow the path cleared by those who went ahead."
They meant to follow the paths opened by people like Luna, Sion, and Gale.
The vanguard's progress would be very slow because they were drawing Planteras along.
For this reason, those following behind could catch up quickly.
Lilith also discovered something while carefully observing other applicants.
Namely, that Planteras didn't react aggressively to those who were exhausted or depleted of mana. It seemed like a mechanism implemented to prevent casualties.
This could be used strategically, but no one else had caught on to it.
I should keep this to myself.
There were quite a few people who approached Lilith to propose joining their group.
"There you are. Lilith, we have a mage spot open so join our group."
A man grabbed her wrist and tried to pull her along forcefully without even waiting for her answer.
It was Jerome, an old acquaintance of Lilith's and one of those who constantly sent her letters and pursued her.
She yanked her hand away and said, "Let me think about it."
"Come on, why are you like this? Won't it be too late if you think about it? Everyone has already formed their own groups and are planning to leave at dawn?"
"Thanks for considering me. I'll handle it myself."
He frowned slightly, looking dissatisfied, and said, "Tch, fine. I'll wait until night, so let me know when you've made up your mind. Don't regret it later when it's too late."
Lilith responded coldly, "Yeah. Thanks."
As a woman, she would have to camp in the mountains at night. She couldn't be with a man who gave her lecherous looks and pestered her in such a situation.
A teammate needed to be either a woman or a man who had no interest in her.
Those remaining here were unreliable in both ability and intentions.
As she thought quietly, someone's image kept flickering in Lilith's mind.
The sight of him handling three thieves alone.
A cunning man who had some skill as a vanguard and showed no interest in Lilith.
Though it gave her an unpleasant feeling and she tried to shake it off, it was no use.
Even closing her eyes tightly and shaking her head, the answer remained the same.
That man must be breaking through alone. That's just how his personality is.
Other vanguard members would already have formed groups.
Among the vanguard, he was the only one suitable as a teammate.
If she left now, she could join up when about half the vanguard reached the first checkpoint.
She finally made up her mind and moved far away from the group of applicants.
Then she concentrated. She released all but a tiny particle of her mana into the air.
Soon after, extreme fatigue swept over her.
She had brought plenty of vitality potions in preparation for physical issues.
Lilith drank twice the recommended daily amount of potion in one go.
Then she painfully made her way toward the mountain foot where not a single ray of light reached.
The Planteras quietly let her pass, but no one witnessed this.
***
After lighting a campfire and finishing preparations for camping,
Cecil brazenly held out her hand to the masked man who was grilling fish nearby.
"Hey, hey, give me one more."
The man seemed to hesitate for a moment.
"Hurry! If you give me one more, I'll give you some important information."
He reluctantly took out a candy from his pocket and handed it over.
Cecil had become something like a companion to this man with whom she hadn't even exchanged names.
At least until they reached the checkpoint, she planned to move completely as one team with him.
Cecil checked the letter while sucking on the candy.
Four Stitches were hovering around the campfire.
She had finally made contact with her companions who had scattered in the chaos, and was receiving updates on the situation.
"Those who reached the checkpoint tried to go further, but were all blocked by the Plantera gatekeeper."
There was a ravine halfway up the mountain path to the summit. That was the first checkpoint marked on the map and a safe zone.
"Are you listening?"
He nodded.
"The gatekeeper seems really big and strong. They're each holding firm at different detours including the ravine."
Cecil received and opened another letter from another Stitch.
"And... Gale, Victor, Iris, Luna, and other notable figures have failed to break through and are staying at the checkpoint?"
Those people were all skilled enough to aim for the top position in their respective departments.
When she finished speaking, the man quietly took out a candy from his pocket and handed it to her.
As if rewarding her for the information.