I Became the Daughter of the Academy’s Villain

<28 - Complicated Consideration>

The examinees think.

The first side task feels too daunting to challenge recklessly.

The second side task still seems a bit sketchy.

But the third side task was different.

In the uncertain situation of NPC examinees, where the goal’s proximity and the number of remaining side tasks are unknown, none could afford to give up on the third one.

“Wow, there are a ton of people here.”

“Isn’t this too much?”

“Well, it can’t be helped. Everyone thinks it’s about time to take a gamble, or it’ll get really tricky.”

It’s the same for us—no room to breathe.

We’ve only earned a measly 10 points.

That’s significantly insufficient for the minimum passing score of 50 points.

Third side task: Game of Tag.

This task was perfectly timed to release a massive amount of points.

“Alright, everyone willing to take on the third task, gather here.”

The Red Hat Instructor tapped the sign in front of him with his fingertips.

1. Just participating in the Game of Tag gives everyone 20 points.
2. The Tagger loses 1 point every minute.
3. The Runner gains 1 point every minute.
4. If the Tagger touches a Runner, they steal the Runner’s points, become the Runner, and a new Tagger starts pursuing based on the ticket clock’s signal after 30 seconds.
5. You must find the Black Hat Instructor and touch them to end the Game of Tag at any time.
6. You must end the Game of Tag to reach the exit.
7. Once ended, reattempting is impossible.

In front of the Blue Hat Instructor, a rescue tent and a stall were conspicuously placed.

“Step right up! If any examinees are low on supplies, need a place to sleep, or need healing, come this way! Anything can be exchanged as long as you have points.”

Methods to earn points and ways to use them appeared simultaneously.

“This is draining.”

“Hey, haven’t you earned those 10 points for nothing?”

“The value of the points has hit rock bottom.”

Everyone was despondent, but my thoughts were different.

Veteran Players always have a plan.

“I’ve earned points beforehand, so there must be something I can do!”

“Really? Would that even work?”

Even Jezel was skeptical.

I dashed over to the Blue Hat Instructor.

“Excuse me, Instructor.”

“Do you want to buy any services or items?”

“Could you lower your head for a moment?”

I tugged at his clothes quickly; I didn’t want anyone overhearing. The instructor was grinning ear to ear.

“Sure thing, little examinee. What do you need?”

“Do you happen to sell this?”

Whisper, whisper.

The instructor was startled at the whispered words and asked me to wait a moment.

After a bit, he returned with a serious expression and handed me an earphone.

“This is from the Second Gate’s Chief Examiner. They want to speak with you directly. Just attach it to your ear; communication magic is enabled.”

As I shoved the large earphone into my ear, I felt a pop, and something connected.

“Hello?”

“…Oknodie examinee. Have you ever used communication magic? That’s quite rare, isn’t it?”

“Ah.”

I inadvertently answered as if I was on a phone call.

But is this really such a rare experience?

“A phone call is something a noble could do.”

“…Right, nobles could indeed.”

The Second Gate’s Examiner, Minerva, answered in a somewhat ambiguous tone.

She got straight to the point.

“I thought this in the first task too, but Oknodie examinee, your creativity is astounding.”

“Hehe. I’m pretty great, huh?”

“If only your humility matched that level, it would’ve been better. To answer your request, it’s generally impossible. It’s not a product for sale.”

“Really?”

“However, this is the first time I’ve received such a proposal. A groundbreaking idea from nature is a powerful weapon.”

It would be great if it worked; if not, no harm done. Luckily, luck was on my side.

“Out of respect for your creativity, I’ll make an exception and sell you one single-use Black Hat for 10 points.”

Jezel praised tirelessly.

“Buying a cheat key—the one-time authority to become a Black Hat Instructor—to end the exam anywhere, is impressive!”

“Is that really something to brag about?”

“Think about it. This Game of Tag forces you to keep playing unless you find the Black Hat Instructor. If Ohchun becomes the Tagger, where would he be?”

“Probably near the instructor. Those little kiddos will come looking on their own.”

“Exactly. No matter how many points you lose, in the end, you can seize points and touch the instructor while the new Tagger is stuck.”

Thus, any Tagger with a brain will loiter around the Black Hat Instructor, forcing Runners to risk getting caught to approach the instructor.

It’s basically a game of breaking through the Taggers clustering around the instructor.

“In that structure, Oknodie has bought the authority to become a Black Hat Instructor and devised a way to escape the game at will.”

“Oooh, that little one is amazing, huh?”

“Hehe. Now you see how great I am?”

As I struck a pose with my arms crossed at my waist, Isabel pet my messy hair.

Hehe… Getting petted by Isabel feels too good.

I brought her along to make me dinner like a slave, yet here I am being tamed.

“Still, it’s not an all-powerful cheat key. If any Tagger appears among us, the Tagger must find other Runners somehow.”

“True. So we still have to compete against other Runners in the Game of Tag.”

Just as I was moving to buy the instructor’s authority and approach the red-haired instructor, a group of four Swordsmen blocked our way.

“You there, are you Oknodie?”

“Who are you?”

“I am Maximus Montblanc, Max’s older brother.”

“…Who?”

“Hah, did he really not even register? Poor little brother.”

A blonde Swordsman with hair resembling my golden locks lamented, saying his little brother had it tough.

“Didn’t you take a Non-fair Flight on the way here?”

“Ah! I did!”

“There was a boy with bad manners at the Kids Zone’s playground, caring for a child?”

“That’s right! My hair got yanked a ton…”

That hurt so much back then.

“That boy is Max.”

“Ah, I see. Why does Max’s brother approach me?”

“I was asked for a favor. He requested that if you meet Oknodie at the exam venue, you’d help her.”

“I’m not that weak, you know.”

“I know. You passed the First Gate as the top candidate; there’s no way you could be weak.”

Saying that, Maximus exchanged glances with Jezel before nodding lightly.

I see.

Approaching me in the name of my friend was a mere excuse.

They likely came to help because of a personal connection with Jezel.

If it’s someone as thorough as Jezel, she could have pre-recruited helpers like this.

Didn’t she pass the ticket exam that way?

Scratch, scratch.

However, it seems she didn’t prepare for mosquitoes.

The way he scratched his hand looks pitiful.

“There’s an absurd trap in this task.”

“Mosquitoes?”

“…Mosquitoes are a trap, sure. But not just that.”

“Hmm… I don’t know!”

Of course, I know everything.

I’m just playing coy.

“Think well. They’ve set up a generous scoring system, and while points can be earned and used, the chance to utilize them is astonishingly low. They’re all pie in the sky.”

Son Ohchun burst into a hearty laugh, clapping Maximus on the back.

“Hey, Mr. Blonde, why the fuss? Just accumulate plenty of points, meet the instructor, buy the stuff you need, and follow the examiner to the exit. Easy peasy.”

“Meeting the instructor is the problem. Where’s the guarantee that the Black Hat Instructor is nearby? Do you even know where he is?”

“Huh?”

“Oknodie, you’re in the same boat. Rule 6. You can only reach the exit after ending the Game of Tag. With that clause, you’re essentially trapped in this forest.”

That’s right.

This is both the trap and the essence of the side task Game of Tag.

It’s not just about the Tagger and the Runner.

It’s a battle between the examinees and the Black Hat Instructor.

If you don’t find the Black Hat Instructor, no matter how many points you accumulate, you can’t escape this forest due to Rule 6.

And if I remember correctly, the Black Hat Instructor moves in opposition to the examiners, pivoting around the center.

The solid strategy contains two choices.

Either gather this hint from the center of the forest, touch the Black Hat Instructor, and then courageously cross to the exit, or provoke the examiner Minerva into a frenzy, so the disgruntled Minerva can be touched while evading her summoned creature.

‘When I used to handle muscle-bound creatures, I’d usually opt for the latter.’

I would attract a horde of monsters, tossing them at the examinees near the exit, hoping Minerva would charge in for a rescue, and strike her when she was distracted.

The summoning magic automatically retrieves its master when they’re in danger; this method was the best route to swiftly gather points without wasting movements.

Ah, those times were nice.

It was so easy.

But with my current body, I wasn’t confident, so I tried Plan B, and luckily, it worked.

“Hmmm… Is that so?”

“Haha. This is complicated now.”

Both Son Ohchun and Jezel are wearing awkward smiles.

“Oknodie. If you understood, give up quickly and try to earn points through legitimate methods instead of gambling…”

“Could you stretch out your wrist towards the mana board?”

“Here’s the ticket clock.”

“Oknodie, Son Ohchun, Jezel, Isabel. Hide-and-seek challenge accepted! Your personal ticket watch has immediately awarded you 20 points, so check it.”

“Hey!! Did you hear me? You definitely heard, right?! You did it even though you heard me?!”

Sorry, Maximus.

Thanks for the consideration, but for us, who can become instructors anytime, that was just unnecessary meddling.

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