It was five in the morning when I see some movements. I saw many people split up into groups of three to five and left the Governor’s house. None of them goes to the same direction, so I just followed the one that went near me.

The gate was still not opened. That’s how it was supposed to be, but somehow, all the gates opened early. Either the gatekeepers are colluded with them, or the governor requested them to open the gate early.

After the people I also get to the gate. I approached the gatekeeper five minutes later.

“Excuse me! Why is the gates opened so early?” I asked the gatekeepers.

“Who are you?!”

One of the gatekeepers shouted at me with hostility.

“I’m Roy. A student. Yesterday I can’t go back to the village early so I was stuck in the city.”

“Then just leave! Don’t ask any questions!” the other gatekeepers told me to leave quickly.

“Okay, okay!”

None of them has a face I recognized. They must be one of the cult members. I don’t know where the real gatekeepers are, so I need to proceed carefully. Who knows if they would kill me after I left?

I went through the gate and find some place to hide. I waited for a while, and there’s no one following me. Seems like they won’t kill people unnecessarily.

after another minute passed, there’s another group leaving. So I followed them.

Despite being early in the morning, they are extremely vigilant to the surrounding. If I can’t sense their presence from afar, they would have find me already. It’s good that I have both Aura and air element magic. Thanks to my air element, I can sense people breath and follow them.

They went into the forest while checking the surrounding. I also checked my surrounding and I found some people going this way. They might be from the cult as well. I need to hide.

Both group encounter each other, and they are having a conversation. I tried to eavesdrop on them on my own. I need to save Victoria’s time because maybe she will be useful later.

As I got closer without getting noticed by them, I heard what they’re talking about.

“…we only need to wait for one more group before we go.”

“Let’s rest here. Does anyone know about the test?”

“No. The priests never told us a thing about the damn test.”

“Maybe they will tell us to kill each other and the winner will be recruited.”

“Maybe. Should I kill everyone here then?”

“No, don’t do that. Even if we must kill each other, let’s wait until they told us to do it. There’s no way a secret organization like this will allow anyone who can’t obey order.”

“Hah! You’re right about that! Don’t worry about anything! It’s because I will kill everyone!”

Hmm… the tests seems to be hidden even from the new recruits. I thought as I heard them saying some barbaric stuffs.

The cult must have recruited some people who has criminal records. But not all of them has criminal records. Some must have agree with the cult’s ideology and decide to join them. Those guys are much more dangerous than these low-life criminals. That’s why I think for those guys, they will be accepted without any tests.

As for these ruffians, they must have promised them some wealth or freedom to do anything they want if they join. That’s why the cult told them their plans to attack the city to show how serious they are to these ruffians.

I waited for a while and then I see another group of four people coming. Now combined with the group from before, it’s thirteen people gathering here.

As soon as they came, the two previous group moves without letting the new group taking a rest. It’s in case their speculation are correct in which they will fight each other, so the previous groups won’t let the newcomers take a breather.

And of course I followed them.

They pass through the forest, crossing the river and now to a place I’ve never been to.

There’s a cave under a hill. Seems like it was their destination and where they will take the test since there are many people gathering there. There are even some whose faces I seen in my previous life. They are the ones who joined their forces and attacked Melk City.

It’s confirmed that these new recruits of them are the ones who will be responsible for the attack on Melk City and the surrounding villages. Those with face I recognized, are the ones who passes the test. Which means I have to kill them all.

The cult might ended up attacking the city with much stronger forces. At that time, I will also become much stronger and kill them all as well… hopefully.

In front of the cave, there are about 80 people. And two of them who are standing in front of the others are the two who Victoria followed. One of them is the one who killed the most during the attack on Melk City. An advanced Lightning Mage.

In my current strength, I can’t sense the strength of my enemies, but I think there are several advanced mage here with intermediate mage being the most among them.

The lightning mage began to speak.

“The exam will start inside the cave. There will be a wide area inside which all of you will enter, and we will release monsters there. All of you have to fight them all and those who survive will be rewarded!”

“”OOOOOH!!””

So that’s the test. Maybe I could disguise myself as one of them and stab them all from behind. Then I can blame the monsters for it.

“I wish that all eighty three of you will survive and join our rank.”

Ahhhh. I can’t use that plan if they had already counted the numbers of participants. Maybe I could replace one of them?

“Now I will take attendance and when I called your name, you will enter the cave and wait for the rest of us there.”

They even have attendance? Is this school? Can’t you please make it easier for me?

As I was looking for a chance, I overheard someone’s talking.

“Hey, Black Hood! You wanna team up with me inside?”

Black Hood? Is that his alias? Maybe I can kill him and disguise myself as that guy. He’s wearing a hood so no one can see my appearance if I disguised myself as him.

As I thought of that, the lightning mage called a name.

“Jo! Jo!”

“I’m coming!”

His name is Jo? Why not just signed yourself as Black Hood?

AAAAAH!!

There’s no way I can enter if it like this! I have to think of a way!

So I left that place. There are about 83 of them, 85 if I included the two examiner. And now it’s still the 7th person to be called. I might have some time to lure some monsters here to distract them all and enter the cave. That’s the only way I can think of.

I run as fast as I can to find a group of monsters and soon I stumble upon a group of orcs.

Good. I will use them as distraction.

I attacked one of them lightly so it won’t have any visible wound. It got angry and all of them also shows their rage to me. Now I only need to run to the cave’s direction.

I run with a speed that the orcs can chase. If I run too fast, they will give up chasing me.

When I was about to reach the cave, while still away from the people’s sight, I increased my speed and hide in a place the orcs and the cult can’t see.

And now they fight!

It was the people closest to the forest that notices something coming. And when they saw a group of orcs, they warned everyone.

“A group of orcs is attacking!”

That’s good enough. That’s the signal for me to enter the cave.

As soon as everyone’s attention is toward the orcs, I entered the cave.

The inside of the cave looks fancy. Seems like this cave is a manmade one. Or at least the inside parts are manmade. As I walked through the cave, I see a door to a room. Must be the wide area that lightning mage talking about. If I entered like this, the people who entered first will found out about me.

Luckily, the wall next to the door is black. I can just ask Blobby to cover me and some parts of the area while transforming her to a flat board like the wall. Now I can wait for everyone to enter the room and I will act after the monsters has been called out.

I waited for a while but still no one is coming. They must have been busy with the orcs.

After another fifteen minute, finally the next person has entered. The orcs must have been defeated.

Hmm? Then there are groups of people coming in. Maybe I can blend in with them?

“Some people died because of the orcs so they just counted those who died and let everyone else in. it’s nice since I don’t have to wait anymore.”

The guy who has just entered the room explained to those who entered early. I overheard them and know that this is my chance to blend in!

As soon as there are nobody looking my way, I transformed Blobby back into my wristband and pretended I’m one of them. I joined the group that has just entered from behind them. Now everyone will think that I’m one of the new recruits.

And just I expected, one of them think I’m also a new recruit and talked to me.

“Those orcs are easy prey, right? My Fire Spell can defeat them easily. Those who died are too weak and shouldn’t even think of entering. Aren’t I right?”

“Maybe. I don’t know how strong those orcs are since I didn’t join the fight.”

Then I whispered to him alone so only he can hear me.

“That will be my plan for this test. We can just rest while everyone fighting the monsters. They only told us that only survivors will pass the test, not the one who killed the most monsters. This way we can save our energy. And if some of them said we are not supposed to pass the test because of our cowardly act, we can just kill them since they’re already spent their strength, while we are still in perfect condition. How about it? Wanna join up with me?”

“Kukuku… that’s one good plan. I’m in. My name is Bob. What’s yours?”

You shouldn’t have believed someone you met for the first time, Bob. This will be the end of your life.

Obviously, I can’t give him my real name in case I failed to kill everyone. So I gave him a fake name.

“Alejandro.”