Chapter 10 : Backstab

“Mary, did you lead us the wrong way? Where’s that injured Bronze beast you mentioned?”

Hank questioned.

Team 043 had followed Mary for quite a while—far beyond “nearby.”

“No mistake, Hank,” Mary explained. “I’ve been using magic sensing the whole time. The path is correct.”

“It’s getting foggy.” Via reminded.

“Hm? Why fog in Evergreen Mountains?”

Hank scanned around.

The area was damp, dense with plants; thin mist covered the ground, sun obscured overhead, visibility dropping sharply.

He recalled the handbook—Evergreen had no such zone.

But Mary was using sensing; even if dumb, she wouldn’t lose the way.

Swish swish swish—

Something darted through the vegetation.

“A beast!?”

Hank entered combat stance, swiftly unhooking his shield and raising it.

Clang!

Next moment, a massive figure charged, slamming the shield; Hank’s bones creaked from the impact.

Team 043 saw clearly—a large lizard with green horns atop its head, a Silver-rank beast called Giant Horn Lizard, aggressive, attacking any intruder in its territory.

“A Giant Horn Lizard? That’s Silver-rank!”

Hank’s face changed.

He and Mary were Bronze; facing Silver was extremely dangerous.

“What are you waiting for—attack!”

“O-Okay…!”

Via quickly chanted, releasing Fireball.

A fist-sized fireball flew, smacking the lizard’s scales—ineffective.

“Useless!”

Hank poured everything into resisting the lizard’s relentless charges with his shield.

“Mary, support me! If I fall, you’re next!”

“Got it, Hank. Hold on a bit.”

Mary nodded, stepping toward Hank.

Via was helpless here—her fireballs, as in prior fights, did nothing; she could only watch Mary and Hank coordinate.

She wisely retreated, not wanting to hinder teammates.

But then she spotted something abnormal.

Mary, the mage, had dropped her staff; her smile lost its usual gentleness, turning sinister.

Approaching Hank, she swiftly brushed her thigh; a thin blade appeared between fingers, flung forward.

“Mary, what are you doing!”

Hank’s shield warrior instincts screamed danger behind; he shifted instinctively.

Too close to fully dodge—his arm was slashed, numbed; shield dropped.

The lizard raised its head, smashing down with its horn.

“Ah!!!”

Unprotected, Hank couldn’t block; his left leg was mangled, bloody.

Pain nearly knocked him out, but his sturdy build held; gritting teeth, he recalled the shield with his good arm, blocking follow-ups, roaring furiously.

“Mary, are you insane? Do you know what you’re doing!”

“Nothing much—just planning to kill you.”

Mary undid her braids; she was transformed, murderous—no trace of her usual self.

“Mary attacking a teammate?”

Via’s heart contracted; her earlier unease turned to terror.

Mary was no longer the considerate roommate.

Hank couldn’t fathom the betrayal.

Thinking fast, he decided to use the teleport crystal to escape.

Per handbook, candidates could activate special crystals anytime to exit—abandoning scores.

Better no score than death.

“Shield Impact!”

Driven by survival, Hank roared; shield glowed intensely, shockwave repelling the lizard, stunning it briefly.

He dropped the shield, pulled the crystal from his pocket.

“Teleport!!”

Hank crushed it, planning to report Mary upon return, send her to prison.

But seconds passed—no teleport.

His pupils shook; heart nearly stopped.

“Useless, Hank. Teleport crystals only work in designated Evergreen zones. We’re outside assessment range,” Mary sneered. “Crushing it won’t take you to safety.”

“Ah!”

Hank trembled.

He understood—Mary deliberately led Team 043 beyond Evergreen, out of crystal range.

“Soon, a rare assessment ‘accident’—students dying from overconfidence, killed by beasts,” Mary said coldly. “Blame your bad luck. For what’s next, I can’t have witnesses.”

“Mary!!!”

Hank roared, but before finishing, the recovered lizard raised its horn, shattering his body.

In his final moment, he glared at Mary with utmost resentment.

Death’s blood splattered her cold face.

The lizard excitedly tore into the intruder, executing judgment.

“Annoying pest gone. Now, time to slowly prepare the main dish—”

Mary turned.

She spotted Via’s back fleeing.

The little pink-hair had escaped during their talk.

“Wah wah!”

Instinct drove Via from dangerous Mary.

She hadn’t gone far when her ankle chilled; balance lost, she fell onto damp grass.

Crimson blood seeped from the wound, staining white stockings.

She hugged her leg; a dagger lay beside her.

Thrown by Mary.

“Via, you’re the main course. How dare you run without my permission?”

Mary approached, bent, picked up the dagger.

She licked the blood on the blade, eyes gleaming with sick light.

“So this is the taste of defiling Lady Sylvia’s bloodline~”