Cornflower Witch

Chapter 92 The assessment begins

"drive--"

The cavalrymen, clad in light black armor, took the lead and charged onto the road in the wilderness, followed by several carriages, heading towards Shuigou Town.

Inside the vehicle, the young trainees either closed their eyes to rest or checked their weapons and equipment. Because it was an extremely crucial assessment, everyone was somewhat nervous and cautious.

At 5 p.m., the convoy arrived at Shuigou Town and rested there for the night. The next morning, they would head to a place about 15 miles outside Shuigou Town for the assessment.

The lobby on the first floor of the hotel.

Hilti, Mike, Komia, Karen, and Ray sat at one table, while the other tables were also occupied by students. They were enjoying a sumptuous dinner and discussing the situation for the next day.

Even trainees who were unaware of the assessment content now have a general understanding of the process.

"Our first goal tomorrow will definitely be to find something," Komia explained while sipping her sweet honey water.

"The second objective is probably to kill a level 1 monster."

"As for the third goal, it is said to be very difficult, and very few people have accomplished it."

“It doesn’t sound too difficult,” Mick mumbled, biting into his bread.

"A first-tier monster, isn't that difficult?" Komia tilted her head and looked at the boy.

"Don't you remember that day? We were chased all over the forest by that big wild boar and almost got into an accident."

"Back then, I hadn't reached the first level, so I couldn't beat him." Mick swallowed his bread, his speech becoming clearer. He gripped the steel sword on the table, feeling his own strength.

"Things are different now." His voice carried a hint of composure and confidence.

"Phew, never mind, I won't talk to you about this." Komia shook her head; she was probably quite satisfied with having achieved her first goal.

At this stage, she is still in great danger when facing first-tier monsters. If the 'Illusionary Eye' doesn't work, she doesn't have the physical ability of Tia to escape.

Where is Karen?

“I’ll probably try the second target,” Karen replied after a moment’s thought.

“Sister Karen is a hunter, that’s true.” Hunters are experienced in dealing with wild monsters. Even if they can’t defeat them head-on, they can find ways to deal with them by using traps and their familiarity with monsters’ weaknesses.

"Ray." Komia glanced at her companion who was eating silently beside her, realizing that asking her wouldn't yield any interesting answers.

"Forget it, just keep up the good work, Lei."

"Tia, what about you?" Finally, when Hirutia, who was quietly eating, was called by name, she reacted and looked up.

"I'll first see which three goals they are, and if I can achieve them, I'll try my best to accomplish them." She had just been thinking about how to choose if she were to face Iona.

Through these days of conversation, she gradually understood the importance of this assessment to Iona. If she wanted to revive her family and rescue her loved ones, entering the Hidden Forest was the most likely way, though it was also a very dangerous one.

Should we give the opportunity to the other party? But then where would we place our own pursuits and expectations?

“In my heart, Tia is the most amazing.” Komia raised her finger, but her words were overheard by people at the next table, who sneered at her.

The other party didn't make loud sarcastic remarks, but their whispered discussions and disdainful glances still made the group somewhat uncomfortable.

Komia immediately wanted to run over and argue, but Karen held her back.

"Forget it, we'll know the answer tomorrow. Let's save our energy and effort."

"Hmm, okay." Komia lowered her small fist. Actually, she didn't really want to fight these people. After all, she couldn't beat them all by herself. But to just swallow her anger like this was really not like her.

While Mick was eating, he met Thorin's gaze at the table next to him. The two looked at each other for a while, exchanging a few words without actually speaking.

This is the time for the two to settle their differences.

At the last table, Iona wore a dark red short hunting outfit with a bright fabric and sturdy leather underneath. It was a light armor that combined good looks and practicality without affecting her agility. In addition, Iona had two swords hanging at her waist, giving her a capable and swift appearance.

She wasn't in the mood to talk to the other students at the table tonight. After dinner, she held a small glass of red wine, seemingly lost in thought.

The students, each with their own thoughts, finished their last meal before the exam and then went back to their rooms to rest. ...

The next day, several carriages passed through the morning mist and arrived at a forest. The carriages then stopped, and people got off one after another.

"Is this the place?" Viscount Xue Feng was dressed in a proper silk suit today. He stood still and gazed into the distance at the misty mountains and forests.

“Yes, sir.” A second-tier professional hunter came to him and reported. A sharp-eyed gray falcon was perched on the hunter’s shoulder.

“After you sent me the information the day before yesterday, I gathered the nearby villagers and temporarily sealed off this forest to prevent outsiders from entering.”

"However, according to the villagers, an adventure team went into the forest a few days ago and hasn't come out yet."

“It’s no trouble at all, thank you for your hard work, Dean.” Viscount Schefeng raised his hand in thanks, and then the hunter stepped back to continue observing the situation from the side.

Soon, servants set up a platform on the grass and placed tables and chairs there for Viscount Scheerfon and Maester Hyde to sit down.

Around eight o'clock in the morning, the mountain mist dissipated somewhat, and a black stork flew out from it, circled above the group for a while, and dropped a scroll.

The servant picked up the scroll and then presented it to Viscount Schefeng.

Soon after, the accompanying instructors gathered all the trainees, explained the various rules of the assessment, and then began to read out the objectives.

"This assessment is of utmost importance and is extremely dangerous. Anyone who is afraid may withdraw early." The trainees looked at each other, but none of them spoke or withdrew.

Having come this far, I had already made up my mind.

"Very good, then I will announce the three objectives for this assessment."

"Your first objective is to obtain the water from a hidden spring in the mountain forest. It is a sweet spring, shrouded in mist, with a faint 'mist shadow' quality."

"Your second objective is to kill the alien monsters in the forest, at least one 'Tier 1' monster."

"The third target is a 'Blood Flower' blooming on a cliff in the forest. Pick it and bring it back, but be warned that the flower is in a very dangerous location, is highly poisonous, and may be guarded by other alien creatures."

"Bringing the assessment target back is considered as completing the task; if you fail to return midway, it is still not considered as completing the task."

"Completing a goal will earn you a reward from the Viscount. Do what you can, because there will be no one to help you in the forest. Even if you are injured and unable to move, you will have to wait until three days later, after the assessment, before anyone will go in to look for you."

"Alright, that concludes the explanation. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask now." After the instructor finished speaking, the crowd began to chatter amongst themselves.

"Instructor, can we team up to complete the task during the assessment?"

"You can team up, but your starting positions will be determined by drawing lots, so you won't necessarily be together from the start."

"Instructor, does killing a monster count as the entire squad completing its objective?"

"No, killing one only counts as one person completing the objective. Also, I must remind you that this forest is vast and shrouded in mist. Finding even one of them will not be an easy task."

"Instructor, for the third target, is it possible to encounter monsters higher than 'Tier 1'?"

"I can't make any guarantees," the instructor shook his head.

"In other words, we might encounter exceptionally dangerous enemies," the trainees discussed in hushed tones.

"One last question, Instructor: what would happen if we had a conflict in the forest, or even attacked each other?" someone asked cautiously.

"As long as no one reports it, no one will investigate." The instructor gave them a meaningful look.

"This kind of assessment has been going on for over a thousand years. The problems you can think of and will encounter now have countless precedents."

"I want to tell you that the world is cruel, and not all environments are as stable and peaceful as Jiaoshi City. Even if you don't encounter it during the assessment, you will eventually meet it in the future."

"Protect yourself, make choices carefully, and find the right path in a complex and ever-changing environment."

"This will be a challenge you will face throughout your lives."

"Alright, the assessment will now begin. Everyone, please draw lots to choose your location."

(End of this chapter)