At exactly nine-thirty, all the teams assigned by Selena stepped into the artificial portal simultaneously.
"Everyone, get ready. We're entering the portal now," said Frisa, the confident leader of Group C.
Andress followed behind calmly, observing his surroundings.
'Let's see… how good she really is at leading. Hope she doesn't disappoint.'
『You have entered the artificial portal』
『Danger Level: E』
『Monster Type: Golem』
This portal was a low-level training ground, suitable for four people. Inside, the students would face off against mini golems—a smaller variant of regular golems. Their task was to eliminate all monsters within two hours and thirty minutes. If time ran out, the instructors would forcibly end the simulation.
As Andress stepped inside, he was momentarily speechless.
'A place this beautiful... is actually a monster lair?' he thought, awestruck.
Even though he had read about this place in books, seeing it with his own eyes was an entirely different experience. The portal looked more like a tourist destination than a battlefield—let alone a monster-infested zone.
"Focus, Andress. Don't let it distract you,"he mumbled, forcing himself to refocus on the task.
Meanwhile, Frisa began giving orders to her team. Standing at the front, her voice was firm and clear.
"Listen up. I'm assigning your positions."
"Winie, you're at the front. Your katana makes you perfect for the vanguard."
"Brian, you'll be right behind Winie. Your daggers are great for close-range support."
"Andress and I will stay at the back, providing long-range support."
Andress glanced at her and asked in a flat tone, "Why am I placed at the back?"
There was no protest in his voice—just curiosity. It was a subtle way of probing her reasoning as a leader.
"You're an archer, aren't you? It'd be too risky to put you up front without enough close-combat experience. This is the safest choice," Frisa replied without hesitation.
Andress nodded, satisfied with the explanation.
"Makes sense."
"Any questions?" Frisa asked the group.
"Nope. Let's get started," Andress replied for everyone.
"Alright, let's finish this training as fast as possible," Frisa said with enthusiasm.
Those words made Andress pause. 'Finish quickly, huh? Just as I thought… Frisa's aiming for the top rank—even if it's just a training drill.'
『Map Activated』
『Group of mini golems detected: 500 meters ahead』
Andress glanced at the system screen showing the map. 'This ability is crazy… I can track enemy positions with just a glance.'
They sprinted across the grassy plain. The wind slammed into their faces, and their footsteps pounded against the ground. Four hundred meters flew by in seconds. In the distance, silhouettes of stone began to appear—moving slowly, lazily, completely unaware of their presence.
Roughly twenty mini golems stood scattered about, motionless like living statues, their stone bodies tough as steel.
Frisa raised her hand. "Combat formation! Attack now!" she shouted.
Andress frowned. 'What? Attacking without any analysis? No scouting? This is reckless...'
But he said nothing. He wasn't the leader here. For now, he was just a supporting player.
'Then again… this is how Frisa behaved in the early-to-mid story anyway.'
Winie dashed into the center of the golem swarm. Her katana gleamed under the portal's light. In one beautiful and deadly spinning motion, she slashed through five golems in a single swing.
Her body moved effortlessly—almost like she was dancing among monsters.
'She's… incredible…' thought Andress, mesmerized.
'Her movements—too fast for a normal human to follow. It's like the laws of physics don't apply to her.'
Tsing!
Brian appeared from behind Winie's shadow, his daggers slicing toward a golem that tried to strike her from behind. His movements were sharp and deadly, like a silent gust of wind.
"Thanks for having my back!" Winie called out mid-battle.
"No problem!" Brian replied, sweat pouring down his face but eyes still focused.
Andress kept watching them in awe.
'Brian's not as fast as Winie, but his strikes are incredibly efficient. Every slash hits a vital spot with pinpoint accuracy. This guy… he's no amateur.'
Dor! Dor! Dor!
Suddenly, gunfire echoed. Frisa unleashed three rapid shots in under two seconds. Three mini golems dropped almost simultaneously.
Then she spun lightly, pulled the trigger again—and seven more collapsed, unable to move.
'Ten golems in seven seconds… and every shot hit a moving target…'
Andress clenched his jaw.
'I hate her attitude… but her combat skills are top-tier. Frisa really is a true heroine.-
Something began to stir in Andress's chest. He took a deep breath and raised his hand. The bracelet on his wrist glowed faintly, and from within, a radiant bow materialized.
Without hesitation, he pulled the string. Five energy arrows appeared at once.
'This body… it remembers how to fight, even if my mind's not used to it yet.'
He aimed.
Jleb! Jleb! Jleb!
Five arrows shot out in a wide formation. Each pierced through the stone plates on the golems' chests—causing them to crumble instantly into piles of shattered rock.
Frisa, still firing, glanced at Andress and said,
"You really are the best archer in NFS Academy. Guess the rumors weren't exaggerated."
Andress replied coolly, "So they say."
"But I still don't get it… Why would someone with skills like yours want to switch to swordsmanship?" Frisa asked.
Andress went quiet for a moment, his gaze drifting. "Maybe… just a gut feeling."
Frisa let out a breath. "Following your instincts like that could get you killed."
Andress shot her a sharp look. "I know. Mind your own business."
For the first time, Frisa was at a loss for words. Andress's cold response left her unsure of how to react.
'What's with Andress? He was normal during the team meeting, but now he's so… cold.'
Frisa felt awkward. "But… why didn't you use your sword earlier?"
"Because I was placed in the rear. In that position, a bow is far more effective."
"Right… Fighting with a sword from the back line would be difficult," Frisa muttered.
— — —
Onedayearlier
Andress stood alone in the training arena, holding a longsword in his hand, but his thoughts kept drifting.
'Come to think of it… I've never used a bow before. But this body should know how, right?'
He opened his status screen.
『Andress Soniel』
『Master Archer』
『Wielder of the Legendary Bow: Shooting Without Arrows』
The bow appeared in his hand—sleek, elegant, and surprisingly light.
He pulled the string, and a soft blue glow formed into an energy arrow.
'All right, focus…'
Jleb!
Bullseye.
'First try? Seriously? This muscle memory… is insane.'
He kept practicing.
『Active Skill: Fivefold Shot』
Jleb! Jleb! Jleb! Jleb! Jleb!
Andress went silent. Five targets fell all at once—even though it was his first attempt.
'This efficiency is crazy… This body is no ordinary one. Why wasn't a character like this ever mentioned in 'Bad End'?'
He decided to try one more shot—this time, using the ultimate skill at his disposal.
『Active Skill: Arrow Bomb』
Swusshhh!
DUAR!!
A massive explosion struck the target—obliterating not just the target itself, but half the training arena as well.
'O-okay… Note to self: never use that skill recklessly. It could kill teammates just as easily…'
Backtothepresent
— — —
『Stamina remaining: 40%』
Forty minutes had passed since the battle began. Brian's breathing had grown uneven. Winie, usually silent, was now even quieter—her movements noticeably slower. Even Andress could feel his calves getting heavier, though his expression remained calm.
They kept walking, until Andress came to a stop. "Hold up."
Frisa turned to him quickly. "What is it?"
"We need a break. At least fifteen minutes."
Frisa frowned. "A break? Now? We still have plenty of mini golems to take down."
Andress didn't answer right away. He glanced at Winie—her grip on her katana was loosening. Brian was starting to drag his feet slightly as he walked.
"Frisa," he said, turning toward her. "I know you've still got energy, but the others don't."
Frisa crossed her arms.
"We're not here to relax. You know this is an evaluation, right? If we're too slow, we'll be the last-ranked team."
"So what if we are?" Andress's question wasn't confrontational—it was designed to make her think.
Frisa scoffed softly in response.
"I know what you're getting at. But this isn't the time to act like some 'wise hero.' Stay focused on the goal."
Andress remained calm. He didn't reply right away. Instead, he stepped forward, past Frisa, and stood with his back to the group.
"Then let me ask you this… What's the main goal of this test?"
Frisa paused, then answered, "To eliminate all the golems."
Andress turned to her. "Exactly. But it doesn't say we have to be fast. There's no rule saying we should push ourselves past our limits just for the sake of time."
His tone softened, almost like he was offering advice rather than criticism.
"Frisa… You're strong. I know that. But you're not the only one on this team."
"As the leader, you should know that a team is more important than any individual."
"Don't be foolish just for the sake of a ranking."
Frisa opened her mouth to respond… but said nothing.
"Look, I'm not telling you to give up. But look at them." Andress pointed to Brian and Winie.
"You really think they'll last until the golem boss if we keep this up?"
Brian looked down and admitted, "Honestly… I've been struggling just to stay on my feet."
Winie nodded slowly. Her expression showed she was just as drained.
Frisa bit her lip, her fists clenched. "You said fifteen minutes?"
"Yeah. Just enough to regain some energy," Andress replied.
Silence followed for a few seconds. Then slowly, Frisa said, "…Fine. Let's take a break."
Andress didn't show any sign of triumph. He simply sat under a tree and closed his eyes. One by one, the rest of the team sat down too—including Frisa, though she moved reluctantly.
'Why am I even listening to someone like him? I'm the captain… I should be leading. But… his reasoning makes too much sense.'
Frisa looked at Andress, who rested quietly with his eyes closed, not saying a single word after getting his way.
'He's not just smart. He reads the situation better than I do. And that… pisses me off.'
Fifteen minutes passed by quickly—but it was enough to restore some of their strength.
Andress stood up, dusted off his uniform pants, and faced the rest of the team.
"Before we move on to the Big Golem zone, I want to suggest a change in formation."
Frisa raised an eyebrow. "Andress, our current formation is still working well."
"For mini golems, yes. But against a Big Golem… it'll only drain our stamina faster without any real advantage."
"So what's your proposal?"
"You and I will be in the front. Brian and Winie stay in the rear. The goal is to conserve their energy for the boss fight."
Frisa narrowed her eyes. "You're starting to sound like the captain, Andress."
Andress remained composed. "That's not my intention. I just think… this team needs a strategy, not just ambition."
Brian and Winie nodded right away.
"I agree. Big golems are slow but strong. Saving energy is the right call," said Winie.
"Same here," Brian added.
Frisa looked away.
"…Fine. We'll do it your way."
And so, Andress's team moved forward once again—this time with a steadier pace. No rushing. No reckless charges. A clear plan was in place, and everyone understood their role.
They entered a new zone within the portal—one that felt distinctly different. The ground was firmer. The air heavier. And in the distance, deep, rhythmic thuds echoed.
Thump… Thump… Thump…
『Target Detected』
『Type: Big Golem』
『Count: 6 Units』
The team hid behind bushes and large rocks, spying on the stone giants standing still like living towers. They were massive—three meters tall. Slow in movement, but devastating in power. A single strike from them could crush a student in an instant.
"This is our enemy," Andress said calmly.
"Stay alert. They're slow, but one hit is all it takes."
Frisa took a deep breath, locking eyes with one of the monsters.
"Bring it on," she muttered, trying to mask her nervousness.
Andress turned toward her. "Then stop talking and stick to the plan."
Frisa glanced at him with a soft growl. "Yeah, yeah…"
Execution Begins
"Brian, Winie—stay in the back. Watch our surroundings. If any surprise attacks or stray monsters show up, let us know immediately," Andress ordered.
"Got it!" they responded in unison.
"Come on, Frisa. Time to get to work."
Andress and Frisa moved out together. They flanked from the right, circling around to find an opening—carefully staying out of reach of the golem's massive, crushing arms.
One of the Big Golems noticed them. Its giant stone body creaked as it moved. Its eyes lit up red.
SWOOSH!!
The massive arm swung toward Frisa.
With lightning reflexes, Frisa dove low to the ground, dodging the strike while simultaneously firing a bullet at the golem's right knee.
CRAAACK!!
The shot shattered the golem's joint, sending the massive creature crashing down, shaking the ground as it fell.
"Now!" shouted Frisa.
Andress was already ready. He pulled back his bowstring, aiming at the golem's head from mid-range.
JLEB!
The energy arrow pierced through the golem's skull, instantly reducing it to crumbling stone.
The first monster was down.
Frisa turned to Andress, panting slightly, her eyes gleaming just a bit. "Nice— I mean… not a bad plan."
Andress replied flatly, "Of course. I made it."
Several minutes later, in the observation room, a large screen displayed the real-time actions of each team inside the artificial portal. The instructors stood by, watching closely—taking notes, evaluating.
Selena stood at the front, eyes fixed on the screen showing Andress's team.
"Impressive…" she murmured, half in awe.
"That boy, Andress—he never wanted to be a captain from the start. But now? Every decision is in his hands."
Another teacher turned to look at the same screen. "Frisa… isn't even putting up a fight against him. She's usually one of the most stubborn students we've had."
Selena nodded slowly. "Frisa's talented. But her overly competitive nature often gets in the way. And look… she's being guided—subtly—by someone who isn't even her official leader."
"What about Leonil?" asked one of the exam supervisors.
"He's talented too," Selena replied, glancing toward Leonil's screen. "Leonil is flawless in individual combat. But he's too solitary—not suited to leading a team."
Her gaze returned to Andress's screen.
"Andress is the opposite. He avoids the spotlight, but he knows exactly how to influence the people around him. He doesn't declare himself a leader—but people follow him anyway."
"I've noticed it since the start. He's never in a rush. Always weighing risks. He's not swayed by ego."
"Out of all the teams, only two haven't taken any injuries so far—Leonil's and Andress's. But the way they achieved that is completely different."
"Leonil protects his team through sheer strength. Andress protects his team through strategy."
The room fell silent. The impression was so strong that it made the instructors quietly question how they had been defining 'leadership' all this time.
"If this training were a real selection for becoming a true Knight…" Selena closed the folder in her hands, "...then Andress would be the only one who truly passed—at least in terms of leadership."
Forty minutes later, one by one, the Big Golems fell. The formation Andress had crafted allowed them to maintain distance and strike at weak points without wasting movement. Brian and Winie offered backup only when absolutely necessary—saving their strength.
『You have defeated all Big Golems』
『Third Zone Unlocked: Boss Golem』
Frisa collapsed to the ground, sitting with a heavy breath.
Andress wiped the sweat from his temple. Even he was starting to feel exhausted.
"Just because they're slow doesn't mean they're easy," he muttered.
Brian and Winie approached. "Sorry… we didn't help much," Brian said, guilt evident on his face.
Andress turned toward them, leaning against a rock.
"It's fine. That was the plan anyway."
"So what are we waiting for? Let's go fight the boss!" Frisa said eagerly.
Andress shot her a sharp look.
"…Are you serious?"
"Of course. This is the moment—"
"I'm not moving an inch in this state."
Andress lay down beneath a tree, eyes closed, not saying another word—unbothered by whatever Frisa's reaction might be.
Frisa stood frozen. "Hey! We're not done yet! Why are you—"
"You're the captain, aren't you?" Andress cut her off, still with his eyes shut.
"If you truly care about your team's survival, you'd let them rest before taking on the most dangerous enemy."
Frisa clenched her fists. She wanted to argue… but Andress's words made too much sense.
"Damn it… you're so annoying…"
But this time, there was no anger. Only the lingering sting of realization—that none of the critical decisions had come from her.
Fifteen minutes of rest passed by in silence, yet it was enough to recover part of their strength.
Andress stood up, brushed the dust off his uniform. "Time to move."
Frisa rose without protest. She no longer insisted. No longer gave orders first. This time, she followed.
The final zone lay ahead—darker, with deep cracks like the aftermath of an earthquake. The air was thick with magical pressure, making it hard to breathe. And in the center of the field stood a towering stone giant, five meters tall.
The Boss Golem.
Its glowing red eyes flickered with aggression. Its movements were fast—unnatural for something so massive. Around it, forty mini golems moved in formation, like royal guards surrounding their king.
『Target: Boss Golem』
『Danger Level: High』
Before the battle began, Andress looked at each team member in turn.
"We only have one shot at this. If we mess up, we'll burn out and lose."
"Brian, Winie—go for the knee joints. Bring him down."
"Frisa, handle the mini golems. Lure them away. Don't let them reach us."
"I'll wait for the right moment to use my ultimate skill. But I can only fire it once."
"What if that fails?" Winie asked quickly.
"Then we keep fighting until either we or the boss drops. But we're not letting it come to that."
Everyone nodded. No hesitation. This was their only shot—and they were ready.
The Battle Begins
The Boss Golem rose and let out a thunderous roar.
RRRRAAAAAAGGGGHHHH!!
A tremor shook the ground. Stones flew into the air. Four mini golems broke formation and rushed toward Frisa.
Frisa immediately fired at one of them.
BANG!
The golem staggered but didn't fall. It took two more shots to finally bring it down.
Brian and Winie darted toward the Boss Golem from opposite directions. Their target: the right knee joint.
The Boss Golem swung its arm toward Brian.
SWOOSH!!
Brian rolled to the side, narrowly dodging. Meanwhile, Winie leaped in and slashed at the back of the golem's knee.
CLAAANK!!
Her blade struck hard—but only left a crack.
'My slash barely left a mark,' she thought, stunned.
Brian moved in again, driving his dagger into the same spot.
ZRAAK!!
A few stone fragments chipped off.
But the Boss Golem responded swiftly. It slammed the ground with both hands—creating a shockwave.
BOOOM!!
Brian was thrown back, and Winie dropped to one knee.
"Damn… that strength is insane…" Brian muttered, trying to stand, but stumbling.
"Don't give up!" Frisa shouted from afar, still firing at the mini golems.
The Boss Golem advanced, its footsteps crushing the earth. Brian and Winie kept circling, looking for a new opening. But the boss had caught on to their plan. It began guarding its knees with its arms.
"He's figured out our tactic!" Winie yelled.
"We need to move fast!"
"Right!" Brian replied.
Winie faked a move to the left, then darted right. Brian came from the opposite direction.
CLANG!!
Brian's dagger pierced the knee joint—deep enough to make the golem stagger.
Andress watched from a distance, eyes sharp as the giant slowly lost its balance.
'Come on… fall…'
Winie gathered all her strength, jumped, and delivered a spinning kick to the side of the golem's knee.
BRRAAK!!
The Boss Golem dropped to one knee. But it wasn't down yet. Its hand still raised, ready to strike. Its glowing red eyes burned even brighter.
"Andress! Now!" Brian shouted.
Andress had been preparing his shot all along. The arrow this time shone with a dense blue glow—like condensed, volatile magma.
'Arrow Bomb… aim for the head.'
『Active Skill: Arrow Bomb』
『All IPR will be consumed』
SWUSSHH!!
The arrow flew like a lightning bolt.
DUUUUUAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!!!!
A massive explosion rocked the entire area. The earth split. Stone shards blasted in all directions. A blinding flash lit up the portal sky. The explosion consumed the Boss Golem—and the surrounding mini golems were vaporized in the blast.
Dust clouds surged, blocking everyone's vision. No one said a word.
And when the smoke finally cleared… the Boss Golem's body lay motionless. Cracks stretched from its head to chest. One shot… had ended it all.
『Boss Golem Defeated』
『Portal Cleared. All enemies eliminated』
Brian stood frozen. "W-What… was that…"
Winie turned to look at Andress. She could barely stand but was still holding herself upright. 'Amazing…'
Andress stored his bow away. His face pale. His eyes heavy.
"That… was my strongest skill. And now, I'm completely spent," he thought.
Frisa stood at the edge of the battlefield, staring at the shattered remains of the Boss Golem.
Her hands trembled.
'Everything went exactly as planned… every step, just as he said.'
She looked at Andress from a distance. He stood, barely, but even at his most exhausted, he was still watching over his team—making sure everyone was safe.
'I was the one who insisted on being the leader. I was the one confident in managing this team.'
'But what did I actually do? Ignored their stamina. Forced the pace. Made decisions driven by ego, not the situation.'
Frisa closed her eyes. Her chest burned—but not from anger. From shame.
'Andress never asked to be the captain. But every important decision came from him. Every strategy was his. And even… the spirit of this team came from him.'
She remembered the look in Andress's eyes when he said, "As the leader, you should know that a team matters more than any individual."
Those words weren't just criticism. They were truth.
'I'm not fit to lead… not yet.'
Slowly, Frisa followed the others—but this time, not in front. She walked behind Andress.
— — —
Once they exited the portal, Andress immediately slumped into one of the metal chairs by the testing chamber. Cold sweat still trickled down his face, but his eyes remained alert. He opened his personal system screen to check his stats.
『Status: Andress Soniel』
• Strength: 30
• Endurance: 20
• Speed: 25
• Magic: 15
• Reflex: 20
• Stamina: 15
'Ugh… so tired. But yeah, it makes sense. My stamina's the lowest.'
Andress wiped his face with a towel and took a drink from a small water bottle.
'Guess I really need to start training stamina. Otherwise, I'll die someday just from running out of breath.'
Not long after the last student exited, a giant screen displayed the completion time of each team.
Completion Times:
Team Leonil: 45 minutes (Rank 1)
Average Teams: ~1 hour 30 minutes
Team Frisa (Andress): 2 hours (Last Place)
Frisa stared at the screen silently.
-We… finished last?'
She bit her lip. Their completion time was double that of the top team.
Meanwhile, Selena still stood in front of the display, reviewing all the final team results.
One of the teachers asked,
"Selena, only two teams made it out unscathed—Leonil's and Andress's. But they did it in completely different ways."
Selena nodded slightly.
"Leonil protected his team with brute strength. He took every hit himself—like a living shield."
"But Andress… protected his team through strategy and smart decision-making. He knew when to fight, when to fall back, and when to share responsibility."
Another teacher added,
"Ironically, Leonil was the appointed leader. But Andress… even refused to be one."
Selena smiled faintly.
"And that's exactly why he became the true leader. His team wasn't ordered around… they were guided."
"He didn't need to shout to be heard. His decisions and attitude alone were enough to make others follow."
— — —
All students were gathered on the main field. Selena stood at the front, holding a finalized list.
"Starting today, team assignments will be permanent. I've organized these teams based on skill balance and… team dynamics observed during the trial."
Permanent Teams:
Team A (Leonil): Leonil, Raon, and four others
Team B (Andress): Andress, Frisa, Brian, Winie, Saman, and Ariel
Team C (Tengli): Tengli, Zelen, and four others
Teams D and E were not announced—they weren't the main focus.
Andress heard his name and his team members announced. He didn't show much reaction, but inside…
'Damn it… everything's changed... Shit.'
After the announcement, Frisa remained in place. She didn't move immediately—her eyes scanned the other teams slowly leaving the field.
Some students limped. Others had their arms in slings. One was even in a wheelchair, surrounded by medical staff.
Frisa's face tightened.
'Why… are they so badly injured?'
She glanced at her own team—Brian, Winie… and Andress.
Not a single one of them was hurt. Tired, sure. But physically unharmed.
Frisa clenched her jaw.
'Andress… planned all of it this way.'
Her thoughts raced back. Every decision she'd fought against: resting, rotating positions, keeping Brian and Winie out of direct combat with the Big Golems. Back then, she thought Andress was trying to control her.
But now… it was clear.
'He saw it from the beginning. He calculated risks I never even noticed.'
'While I… was only thinking about being number one.'
Her legs gave out. Frisa sat in the corner of the field, hugging her knees tightly. Her eyes were blank, but her mind was full. Echoes of the battle—explosions and shouting—still rang in her ears.
She wanted to deny everything.
To tell herself it was just a mistake. That she just needed more time.
But Andress's words repeated in her mind again:
"As the leader, you should know that a team matters more than any individual."
Frisa closed her eyes, her face tense.
Her lips trembled as if trying to defend herself—but no words came out.
Not because she couldn't.
But because, for the first time… she realized she was wrong. Completely wrong.
She remembered how she dismissed Winie, ignored Brian, and rejected all of Andress's suggestions. She was too busy proving herself… to see who was beside her.
'If it weren't for Andress, we might have died in that portal…'
She lowered her head even more.
'Why… is he so calm?'
'Why… does he know exactly what to do, when I don't even know what I'm doing?'
Frisa clutched her chest.
It wasn't envy.
It wasn't even shame.
It was regret.
A word she had never allowed to enter her heart.
'From now on… I'll try to listen.'
— — —
After the event, Selena sat with the other teachers, sipping warm coffee.
"Why did you assign Frisa to stay on Andress's team?" one teacher asked.
Selena answered casually.
"For Brian, Winie, Saman, and Ariel, it was just about matching abilities."
"But Frisa… I wanted to see if Andress could temper that excessive competitiveness in her."
"Frisa has great potential. But if left unchecked… she could destroy herself."
The other teacher nodded.
"And it looks like Andress managed to keep that in check."
Selena smiled, watching the students begin to leave the field outside the window.
"Not just managed. He made Frisa learn something… without ever needing to humiliate her."