Episodes 96. A Servant who Take a Lead Pt.2

"What are they discussing?" I asked myself, staring at my own monitor.

Ryan, who was also focused on his screen, would surely notice soon enough. By the way, our setup allows us to see what's happening with each other's teams.

"From what I can see, they seem to be planning something," Ryan replied.

Planning?

"I feel like I already gave them a plan before?"

Was my plan so bad that they didn't think it would work? Working in groups isn't really my forte. But when it comes to infiltration, at least I can manage.

Maybe it's just my delivery that's lacking? They didn't seem to trust my decisions back in the waiting room.

Anyway, I'll just take it as constructive criticism. Whether they follow my plan or not is up to them. As long as they win, that's enough to prove themselves.

"It seems like your students don't believe in you..."

"It's quite obvious, but it's okay. As long as they win, that's all that matters."

I said something strange. Even Ryan immediately looked at me with a look of disbelief.

"You say that again?"

I often say that? But when?

"Huh?"

"Never mind.... Not... nothing."

From his behavior, I could tell he was hiding something from me. For now, I'll just play dumb.

"I don't know if you're playing dumb to fool me during the exam or something else. I'll remind you once again, that I won't fall for your acting tricks."

But it seems like my acting was immediately caught. Sometimes I forget he's my cousin. He used to be my playmate when we were in elementary school to middle school. It's no wonder he'd notice any oddities in my behavior.

"..."

"..."

Silence fell between us. He could read my acting and it made me go silent. He, too, realized he was onto something and remained silent out of guilt.

It seems...

He's easily guilt-tripped. Understandable, since he was bullied as a kid.

***

Point of View: Hakam Surya

The exam was about to begin.

The students in my class had gathered. They surrounded me. Some of them even formed their own groups.

"So, what's we gonna do?" Rizal asked amidst the crowd.

My decision was firm. If I had to say, right now, it's about believing in oneself, not in others.

So, the right choice is...

"First, we'll follow Rizal's plan. That is to melt down the main steel gate."

Upon hearing that, Rizal immediately curved his mouth into a satisfied smile. He was pleased that I chose his plan over the teacher's.

But...

"Are you really choosing this...?" Stevent whispered beside me.

"Yes..."

"I don't mind this. But be prepared if this plan fails then we'll ha—"

I cut Stevent off. He relied too much on the teacher. Yet he used to mock him a lot.

"No, this plan is enough for me."

I had to choose. If not, I wouldn't succeed like them.

See, sooner or later, I'll prove that I can do it without relying on the teacher.

He helped me, and I'm grateful. But if I keep being pampered with ease, I won't grow.

So, I'll try without being pitied by him.

"You finally see it, how great the strategy I've devised is!" Rizal's arrogant smile was evident on his face.

The exam was about to start, and Rizal's strategy would be what they'd use in the initial phase.

For the second phase, as long as someone could defeat the defense force, it would be enough. After all, the most important thing here is to attack secretly.

.......

3....

2....

1....

The exam time had started.

There were 4 students standing on the tower near the gate we had to destroy.

From their positions, they must be using long-range weapons like bows or firearms.

"Everyone! Attack?" I gave the command to everyone.

I pushed my whole class forward.

Some students with ice or earth magic created a shield to protect themselves from the shots of the 4 students up there.

But...

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

The shield might be resistant to arrow attacks, but when dealing with firearms like assault rifles, they were clearly outmatched.

The rifles quickly destroyed their shields.

"Everyone, thicken the shield! Layer your ice and earth magic!" Moka took command.

Why did she take command?!

"Moka, why are you taking over?!" I said in frustration.

"What else can we do?! We're being shot at continuously! While those towers protect them from our attacks! If this continues, we'll lose even before destroying the initial gate!" She rebuked me.

For some reason, when she said that, my eyes instantly spotted 2-4 students who fell because they were shot by bullets and arrows from those guards. My mood to lead instantly shattered.

Was I not quick enough to respond to this?

Should I just hand it over?

No, this isn't right!

The teacher chose me because he thought I was the weakest among us five. If that's the case, I'll show him. All my abilities.

"Please, trust me! I at least want to try!" I pleaded with my class president.

Moka looked at me with labored breaths. Her eyes pierced into mine.

Does she trust me, or not?!

"Fine, but I'll take over some tasks if you're slow to respond!" With that trust, Moka left me and moved to the battlefield.

"Thank you..." I held onto my chest.

She is like an angel who fights to help her friend. For some reason, my heart started beating faster when I saw her.

"Relax, we're friends! I'll trust you! We have to get through this together, right?!" She smiled as she walked backward.

That smile, I'll protect it.

My trust returned. I looked back at the steel gate.

The towers that kept shooting at us, I analyzed them. Those towers seemed to have everything. Protection, height advantage, and open sight.

Just from there, all the students from our class were visible.

If that's the case...

"Everyone! Those of you with earth magic and long-range weapons, raise the ground where the long-range fighters stand! As soon as that happens, those above, shoot them from the elevated ground!" I shouted loudly.

They listened to me. They believed in me.

I won't waste it!

Soon, the students armed with bows and firearms stood near those with earth magic. Some even did it themselves because they had both (earth magic and long-range weapons).

"A wise choice, Hakam!" Gita gave me a thumbs-up before climbing up.

Now there were several simple towers in our area. There were about 10 students with long-range weapons here.

They gave serious looks that pierced the eyes of those tower guards.

They waited for my signal.

Wait... (Someone is still reloading)

Wait... (Someone is still preparing)

Wait... (The final step, alignment)

"Now!" I shouted loudly.

The shots, like falling stars, flew toward the tower guards.

Those above couldn't fight back. Their positions were reversed; my classmates stood on higher ground than them. With this, they could only wait to be knocked out.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

TACK! TACK! TACK! 

From bullets to arrows, they kept hitting the roof of the tower. Little by little, the roof was crumbling, revealing the 4 guards.

"Argh!"

"Ow!"

"Damn it!"

"That is cheating!"

With the number of shots, it became impossible to fight back.

The enemies were defeated. Now, only the gate remained.

I immediately looked at the students with fire magic.

But...

Almost half of them were above.

"Hakam, what about this?! We lack fire magic to melt it!" One of my classmates asked.

Actually, it's okay; it takes quite a while to melt it. The guards are already gone. But something bothered me.

Isn't this going to make the other classes wait for us to finish?

Does this exam have a time limit?

Isn't it just for a day?

At that moment, I realized...

Even though there's no time for completion. But making other classes wait because we're slow. Then that moral score will be included.

As far as I remember, making people wait is contrary to morality.

So...

Whether I like it or not!

My eyes scanned around, searching for her. The one forgotten by the class.

Got it!

"Sophia! I need your help!" I shouted as I ran towards her.

"What kind of help that you need?" Her response was empty, like a dead person.

It's not the time to think about that; she's the only one who can do it.

Only she can break that gate!

"Make a ram and break the gate!" At the same time, I realized it.

My teacher advised me to use this strategy not because it sounded sensible or anything else. He suggested me to use this strategy because it could be done quickly even by just one person.

"Alright..." She was still like an ice princess.

In an instant, ice particles merged and formed a wooden branch-like object.

From a distance, the object was ready to launch.

"Everyone, move away from the gate's path!" I warned them.

They were surprised by my sudden change of plan.

Even Rizal, who seemed to support me earlier, now looked at me angrily. "Hey, why the plan changed?!"

But just after he finished his words.

The ice that looks like wood launches quickly towards the gate. At that instant, the gate opened with just one strike.

Their clothes and hair were blown away by the wind caused by the effect of standing near the ice's path.

Rizal, who was about to reprimand me further, was now silent. He forgot that the person I sent to do this was the strongest in this class.

She's Sophia, after all.

***

Point of View: Rasyid Londerik.

"Found out, huh?!"

"What is found out?" (Ryan)

"No, it's nothing."

In front of this monitor, I smiled thinly. I didn't expect him to notice. Even all the intentions behind my previous words.

Maybe his training as a servant enhanced that sensitivity. I thought it was just a joke.

***

Remaining students from 1st year Physic 1: 26 students (out of 30)

Remaining students from 1st year Magic 4: 27 students (out of 31)