Most of what the Instructor said went in one ear and went out the other.
Rian already knew pretty much everything that was said, as the content of his explanation was largely the same as before.
Each group needed ten verified cores from 2-Star monsters in order to pass. Once they reached that minimum, every additional core would contribute toward their ranking. Naturally, higher-ranked monsters awarded more points.
However, Instructor Klein did mention that there would be diminishing returns. If someone turned in a bunch of 1-Star cores in hopes of getting first place, the cores themselves would score less.
Which, well...completely ruined Rian’s whole plan. Still, not all was lost. All he needed to do was just put in a bit more effort than usual.
Looking at the examination purely through its difficulty, however, Rian could tell that its standards were considerably higher than usual.
Monsters and combatants followed roughly the same Star ranking, although an equal-ranked monster generally possessed the advantage. Their bodies were naturally stronger, and many had abilities that humans couldn’t reproduce.
As a general rule, defeating a 1-Star monster required a 2-Star Mage or Knight. Defeating a 2-Star monster required someone at 3-Star.
This estimate scaled all the way up. Of course, special cases like monster characteristics as well as the power of the Mage or Knight could flip the power dynamic, but that was why this was an estimate in the first place.
In other words, the Academy expected each group to defeat at least ten monsters that normally required a 3-Star combatant.
For ordinary people, reaching that level was already the accomplishment of a lifetime.
Most never became Star-ranked at all. Even among those who did, the majority remained within the Low Stage, the 1 to 3 Star range, for their entire lives. Only a small percentage ever entered the Intermediate Stage at 4 to 6 Stars.
As for the High Stage...
Rian could count nearly every 7-Star to 9-Star figure in the kingdom on his fingers.
That scarcity was precisely why Eidelgard Academy’s students were so highly valued. Most entered at 3-Star and possessed the potential to reach 5-Star or even 6-Star later in life.
Potential, however, was all it was.
Right now, most of the candidates gathered around the campfire were pampered students who had never fought a real monster before.
Rian looked toward the other students around the campfire, most of whom were eager to finally get a chance to show what they were worth.
But none of them knew really—
That they were all going to die right here.
Why?
Because this was the first major incident that Orion faced in the original plot. The camp would suddenly be overrun with monsters, and there would be no way out.
A traitor was here.
He turned toward the blue-haired girl to his right.
Marie Bell, who was looking toward the campfire with excitement in her golden eyes, would eventually be blamed by Orion as the traitor.
But as a reader of the original novel, Rian felt like that just didn’t make sense. That was why he decided to let her join the team, to figure out who was behind this all along.
He had always intended to investigate her eventually. Being placed on the same team merely gave him the perfect opportunity to do it sooner.
With a soft cough, Instructor Klein managed to catch the attention of everyone in the camp once more. "Now, despite what the Headmaster may have led you to believe, the Academy is not completely heartless."
At that moment, a pleasant aroma suddenly drifted across the campfire.
Several large cooking pots had been placed over a separate fire nearby. Steam rose from under their lids, carrying the smell of a rich stew being cooked.
A tall man stood behind them, dressed in a spotless white shirt beneath a dark vest. His black hair had been combed neatly backward, and a pair of white gloves covered his hands despite the heat coming from the flames.
"Declan’s butler?" Rian accidentally muttered in surprise.
The man seemed to have caught what he said, appearing to have heard him. "I’m surprised you know me, Young Master. But yes, I am Master Declan’s butler."
Instructor Klein stepped in to explain a second later. "Mr. Martin here is a certified field chef. He was contracted by the Academy to handle meals and supplies for Base Camp D."
"For the next three days, he is an Academy employee," Klein added. "He will not carry equipment, collect cores, or provide special assistance to any candidate."
"I had hoped Master Declan would be assigned here," Martin admitted while stirring the stew. "However, that changes nothing. I will fulfill my duties and ensure every candidate is properly fed."
The rest of the candidates seemed pleased by the arrangement, including Rian himself. Not having to worry about other chores and being able to focus on his objective was great.
The Instructor nodded calmly. "With that, orientation is over. We’ll officially begin hunting tomorrow, so get a good night’s sleep."
Everyone received a bowl of hot stew before going back to their tents to call it a night. Rian, though, made sure to remember every single face as well as pay attention to weird mannerisms.
And as he curled up in his sheets, listening to Julius snore from the top bunk, Rian thought to himself.
’This isn’t going to be easy, is it?’
Winning Liquid Fate was still his ultimate goal. But if he wanted to leave the Graveyard with it, he had three things to accomplish first:
1) Gather enough monster cores to replenish his lifespan.
2) Secure his entrance into Eidelgard Academy.
3) And uncover the person planning to trap them all inside the Graveyard.
Three days and three objectives.
Yet unlike Orion, Rian had no intention of waiting for the traitor to make the first move. And after confirming that everyone was asleep, Rian quickly slipped out of his bed and began making his way toward the tent’s entrance.
But just as he was about to open the tent’s flap, a voice emerged from the darkness behind him.
"Where are you going?"
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