Why Is Everyone in This Dating Sim Trying to Kill Me?!

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Midterm Evaluation (3)

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Thrum—

For a moment, a dizzy spell washed over me, as if my body were floating in the air.

In an instant, the scenery before my eyes completely changed.

Thud—

I lowered my body and landed on the ground.

"..."

Lap—lap—

Amidst the silence, the sound of waves lapped at my ears.

It was still deep dawn, and the surroundings were dark.

I slowly rose to my feet and looked around.

It seemed I had been dropped near the coastline.

Behind me was the sea, and in front, a forest.

The forest, in particular, was densely packed with massive trees, opening up like a pitch-black cave where not a single speck of light could penetrate.

"...Tsk, they dropped me off in the furthest corner."

I clicked my tongue.

The placement felt like the petty malice of a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum in a toy store.

'Everyone will probably start moving once it gets light.'

It was a situation where I had been dropped onto a deserted island with virtually no preparations, completely bare.

No matter how robust a hunter's body was compared to an average person, wandering through the forest in the dead of night was not a good option.

Especially now, when nocturnal monsters would be drooling, it was natural to be even more cautious.

However, I curled the corners of my lips into a grin.

'This ability comes in handy at times like this.'

Open Eye.

It was a name that sounded grand, but in reality, it was just a plain ability that allowed me to see objects even in darkness.

Thanks to it, I could clearly distinguish my surroundings despite the dim visibility.

And this difference would create a gap between me and the other students, allowing me to secure a more advantageous position as time went on.

Being able to operate at night as if it were day in a place like this was a huge advantage.

With a satisfying stretch—

I stretched my body upward.

"First, I should find a base camp."

I readjusted the sturdy backpack on my back and, without delay, strode purposefully into the dark forest.

* * *

"...Ugh, this is so embarrassing."

Shin Sehee, who had been dropped onto the deserted island after Jin Yuha, mumbled with a flushed face.

The situation had been so sudden that she hadn't realized it, but she had just shown him her completely unkempt, disheveled self.

She hugged the black puppy plushie that had come with her.

"...How unfair."

Shin Sehee grumbled in a sulky tone.

No matter how she thought about it, it was unfair.

While all the other students were bewildered, he alone remained calm.

Jin Yuha, carrying a large backpack, put on an awkward act that no one would fall for.

Recalling him, Shin Sehee's lips protruded in a pout.

'Mr. Jin Yuha knew all about this situation beforehand and could prepare for it! Because he can see the future!'

This was why, in novels, regressor characters hid their identities, she thought.

Even she, who was closest to him and trusted him, suddenly felt it was unfair, so what about others?

Of course, separate from her feelings, she understood why he hadn't told her beforehand.

This was something no one should know.

Even she, who had thoroughly researched how the midterm evaluation was conducted last year, never dreamed it would begin so abruptly like this.

If he had informed her beforehand and others had prepared with them, his ability to see the future might have been exposed.

So, it was only natural for him to be cautious.

However, she couldn't help but secretly wish he could have at least told her.

Tsk.

'Even if I had known beforehand, I could have just pretended not to know.'

Really?

Then, her inner thoughts quickly shook their head.

Even so, it was an exam with Jin Yuha.

There was no way she would have wanted to show him her raw, unadorned self.

If she had known this beforehand,

...she wouldn't have come hugging this subtly Jin Yuha-like black puppy body pillow, nor would she have come with all her makeup off.

She would have applied makeup that looked natural, yet enhanced.

Anyone observant might have found that subtle awkwardness suspicious.

"...Maybe I shouldn't have pretended to know from the start."

Sigh—

She let out a soft sigh.

There was no use regretting what had already been done.

What was important now was how she would conduct herself moving forward.

Shin Sehee erased thoughts of Jin Yuha and focused on the details of the current examination.

"First of all... the important thing is coins."

On the chest of her changed attire, the number of coins she currently possessed was recorded.

[ 500 coins ]

As a special position holder, she had received 500 coins as her basic allocation.

'At least I'm lucky.'

She wields magic that summons fire.

Considering that some special position holders have no distinct offensive abilities, this was quite positive.

Moreover, Jin Yuha had drilled his party members relentlessly whenever he had the chance, so she was fairly confident in her stamina.

Even so, the fact that casting skills required time and her defense wasn't high remained an unchanging weakness.

Teaming up with a tank or a damage dealer was not a need, but a necessity.

"Hmm, it would be great if I could team up with Mr. Jin Yuha, but..."

There was nothing better than going with him, who knew the future.

Shin Sehee was already thoroughly enjoying the smooth ride he provided, so it was hard for her to think of anyone else.

"First, I'll prioritize Mr. Jin Yuha as a party member... Next, the shop."

The existence of a shop where one could acquire necessities for island life was arguably the most important element in this midterm evaluation.

However, simply spending coins indiscriminately to buy items wasn't a brilliant idea either.

"After all, our grades will be determined by the number of coins we have left at the end."

In other words, she had to use her coins as efficiently as possible.

Calculating such things was her area of expertise.

"Then, first I need to find the shop and check the types of items and their prices. Hmm, but would it be possible for individuals to exchange coins with each other?"

If so, she might be able to do something even more interesting.

For example, monopolizing a single essential item and selling it at an exorbitant price.

Shin Sehee's eyes gleamed as she planned some mischief after a long time.

But all of this could only be done once she found the shop.

Cuckoo—

Somewhere, a cuckoo's call echoed.

"...For now, I can't move."

She was currently left alone in the dark forest.

It was a dangerous situation where she could be attacked by nocturnal monsters, but

Shin Sehee calmly laid her pillow on the ground and plopped down.

"The initial summoning location must be a safe zone. Otherwise, students with insufficient combat abilities would be eliminated as soon as the midterm evaluation began."

And so, she sat on her pillow, waiting for morning to come.

* * *

Rustle—

'...One of the three party slots needs to go to her, and then filling the remaining spot with one of my kids would be perfect.'

I pushed through the dark undergrowth, thinking to myself.

In this midterm evaluation, my party members definitely had a high chance of scoring well.

First, in Gukbap's case, her adaptability in survival situations like this is quite good.

Familiar with making do with what she has, she's skilled at crafting things from natural resources and and quite adept at camping.

As for Shin Sehee, her original skill specializes in area-of-effect fire attacks, making her optimized for mass hunting in a forest like this.

And Poppy... honestly, this midterm evaluation feels almost designed for Kang Dohee, that's how advantageous it is for her.

While other damage dealers struggle to acquire coins to buy weapons from the shop,

she, who fights with her fists and feet, doesn't need separate weapons in the first place.

In other words, she's the only one who doesn't receive the penalty everyone else does.

'Overpowered...'

Honestly, even if you overlook Gukbap and Shin Sehee, isn't Kang Dohee a bit too much?

'Tsk, I just need to do well. Just me.'

Rustle—

Activating my detection ability, I muffled my footsteps and continued to walk.

'...So, it *is* possible to learn skills through training.'

To be honest, I had been half-doubtful.

Shadow Step.

The footwork I had learned from Instructor Baek Seolhee.

Back then, I had only managed to take a single successful step.

Now, I was walking, performing Shadow Step with complete naturalness.

It was only natural, when you thought about it.

I had always performed this technique while carrying a massive chunk of iron on my back, but now I was only carrying a backpack that weighed less than a sixteenth of that.

My body was incomparably lighter than during training, so it would have been strange if I couldn't use Shadow Step as smoothly as flowing water.

That's when it happened.

—Grrr...

A monster's sound caught my ear from a short distance away.

It was a violent growl, clearly suppressed for hunting, but not entirely hidden.

I suppressed my presence and sharpened my gaze.

Then, I spotted a monster in front of me: a small, hairless monkey-like creature with purple skin.

'Gremlin...'

It was a nimble and annoying monster.

But, in that moment.

I broke into a triumphant smile.

Because I had seen what the creature was holding in its hand.

A small, worn-out dagger.