Jobless Transmigration: I'm the only one who loves monsters.-Chapter 120
Chapter 120:
"Well then, as per the rules and requirements of this examination, all of you have successfully been promoted to the second stage of the Witchers Academy entrance exams. Congratulations are in order, I suppose, though I would not get too comfortable if I were you. The next test will not be nearly so forgiving as this one."
Every eye in the hall turned toward the speaker, and in that moment of collective attention, Lucuis’s group, along with the stout old man who had trusted him, and the princess who could not decide whether she wanted to thank him or kill him, all vanished from sight, leaving behind nothing but fading light and the stunned silence of those who remained behind to continue their own struggles.
Just as quickly as they had been transported before, in that same disorienting blink of an eye, Lucuis and the others found themselves emerging into a completely different environment from the ancient hall they had just occupied.
Gone were the stone pillars and wooden boxes, as well as the frustrated murmurs of struggling examinees. In their place stretched a luscious open space.
A clearing of vibrant green grass dotted with wildflowers that swayed gently in a breeze, surrounded the lot of them.
And not too far away from where they now stood, so close that its presence dominated the entire landscape and made everything else seem small by comparison, rose a mountain of such imposing grandeur that more than a few of them caught their breath at the mere sight of it.
Its peak pierced into the clouds as if attempting to scratch the very heavens themselves, disappearing into layers of white that made it impossible to determine just how high the summit actually lay.
The slopes were steep and treacherous looking, covered in patches of rock and snow as well as what might have been vegetation at the lower elevations before giving way to something far more dangerous as the altitude increased.
"I’m guessing that’s where the second test is going to take place, isn’t it?" Gunter’s voice emerged, sounding nervous, his earlier gratitude at passing the first stage now giving way to the very real realization that whatever came next was almost certainly going to be far more dangerous than solving puzzles had been.
His eyes remained fixed on that distant peak. His heart palpating within his chest.
Lucuis followed his gaze and allowed a light chuckle to escape his lips despite the circumstances. First they had been required to solve a seemingly impossible puzzle that had driven countless examinees to the edge of madness with frustration, and now they were faced with a mountain so tall that its summit vanished into the clouds. He could not help but wonder what sort of trick this stage of the examinations would have in store for them this time.
What hidden obstacles or unexpected challenges could possibly be waiting on those slopes for those brave or foolish enough to attempt the climb.
After passing the first test, he knew that while the mountain itself looked dangerous, just the mountain alone wouldn’t be the second stage of the exams, there had to be something hidden breaths it’s surface that would truly challenge the lot of them.
His gaze shifted from the mountain to survey the others who had been transported along with him, and he noticed immediately that one figure had already separated herself from their loose grouping.
The third princess had walked some distance away, placing herself firmly apart from the rest of them before stopping and crossing her arms in front of her chest in a posture that radiated waiting, it was clear from her stance that she was a tad impatient and couldn’t wait for this exam to continue.
Even now, after everything that had happened, after he had essentially carried her through the first test and ensured her passage to this stage, it appeared she wanted to make it absolutely clear that she was no member of their silly group of peasants.
It seemed she associated with them only when circumstances forced such association and would resume her proper distance the moment that force was removed.
Lucuis observed this for a moment, and then he simply looked away without a comment. There was no point in engaging with her pride, nor would there be any sort of benefits to be gained from trying to force a connection with her when it was visible that she clearly wanted none.
He would leave her to her own devices if that was what she truly wanted. Her actions would change nothing about his own plans or intentions. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
Not bothering with her, he glanced around the clearing until his eyes settled on a large rock positioned near the edge of the tree line, a weathered outcropping that had clearly been sitting in that same spot for longer than anyone present had been alive.
Without a word of explanation to the others, he walked over to it, ascended its surface with minimal effort, and settled himself atop it in a comfortable position with his legs crossed beneath him. One hand came up to support his chin while his elbow rested on his lap, and he simply sat there, waiting until this stage of the exams began.
The others seemed to understand intuitively what was required of them, for they too fell into their own versions of waiting without needing to be told.
They had all gotten their fair share of the first stage to realise that without the presence of the examiner, this stage of the exam had not yet officially begun.
They would need to wait for the examiner to arrive, as well as wait for whatever instructions or revelations he would provide.
In a way, this waiting period was a sort of blessing, an unexpected gift of time that allowed them to rest and gather their thoughts after the mental strain of completing the first stage of the examination.
The stout old man who had trusted Lucuis with his pieces, seemingly ready to give up back then, seemed less interested in ceremony or positioning than the others.
