Surviving as the Third-rate Extra: I Can Plunder Talents
Chapter 47: The Island Exam [1]

Chapter 47: The Island Exam [1]

Eshu County.

Old man Wilfred Fergus, the one in charge of administrative tasks of the recovering territory, arrived at the renovated training ground for soldiers, seeing Kaya and some of the squad leaders—Yusbel and Azrabel.

Seeing his presence, Kaya approached him and asked, "What brings you here, butler?"

Butler Wilfred was old enough to retire. However, even with his seemingly worn-out physique, having forged his body through countless battles during his younger days was enough to keep him going to serve these two young blood left behind by the former Patriarch.

"Ah, Young Miss. I am looking for Young Master. Where is he?" His gaze passed the numerous soldiers in formation, all silent and disciplined. But if there’s one thing noticeable, the number of soldiers significantly dwindled.

It was because Lugh temporarily stationed them in the underground castle owned by the White Princess, especially when he returned through Maya’s warping ability.

It’s to at least show the Golden Crown’s master that he had suffered inevitable losses throughout the expedition, which aimed to divert her attention from suspicion.

"Brother left this early morning..." Kaya said reluctantly.

Receive a questioning gaze from the butler, she continued,

"He says that he’ll personally fetch some talents? I don’t know where, but he also brought with him Beatrice, and the three squad leaders, Breskan, Rudgar, and Drevan... along with Miss Yuridika herself."

"Sigh..." Butler Wilfred let out an exasperated sigh, prompting Kaya to ask,

"Why? Is there something wrong?"

Taking a deep breath for a moment, then letting out, he replied,

"I was about to ask Young Master what we should do with the remains of everyone who lost their lives through Count Othenwald’s siege..."

The Eshu County was incredibly vast, and the main fortress was what remained at the center of it all. It meant that the entire territory consisted of numerous fortresses tens of kilometers away from one another, which had been left behind all this time.

It could only mean that each stronghold that was abandoned had certainly had dead bodies scattered around.

And if Lugh planned to clean everything up and expand the renovations using the gold he had amassed, at least paying respects to the dead was the first thing they could do.

Hearing his solemn voice, Kaya said, "Ah... about that, my brother also mentioned it to me recently. He said that we should let go of it for now and that you should focus on catering to the arriving slaves. If necessary, he also gave you full authority to find talents in them that could help you in managing the territory..."

Old man Wilfred looked at Kaya with a questioning gaze before saying with uncertainty,

"What do you mean? Why does it sound like Young Master wouldn’t come back for some time...?"

Kaya smiled and awkwardly avoided his gaze.

"Ah. Young Master! H-how can I do this?!"

During the expedition, he was left with managing everything, and the problem he dealt with the most was the anxiety of the people due to the absence of their master, who brought their sons and daughters.

"Don’t worry, old man. We’re here, aren’t we? We’ll help you with the screening process of the new slaves." Azrabel casually interjected from a distance.

But it only triggered a stronger reaction from the butler, who scratched his head from the accumulating stress.

"J-just how can a lord be absent from his own territory most of the time!?"

*

Through the strenuous horse riding, passing through a forested mountain range, cold rivers, and barren plains, six men and women arrived in the eerie village filled with nothing but remnants of tragedy.

It was the same village where Count Othenwald’s abandoned army ruthlessly conquered, massacring the lives of every villager regardless of their gender and age.

"This would have been easy if we just warped using Miss Yuridika’s magic, my lord." Beatrice openly complained.

Yuridika chuckled.

Since that night after the Golden Crown’s visitation, she had learned of the major changes that transpired throughout all these years.

She told me to abolish her royal title as a princess since it was now irrelevant in this era, and that it would only bring unwanted memories. In addition, being curious about what an unknown element would think of the [Hero - Demon King] eternal conflict, I was surprised to hear her response.

Based on the original story, even if it was vague, it was recorded that during the Divinity Era, the Demon God was in a seemingly eternal slumber.

That’s why all "He" could do was appoint a Demon King one at a time for the demonkind.

But what was the status of the demonkind during this era, where deities could walk the land?

- "The demonkind were in hiding for thousands of years. They are shrewd and deceitful, more disciplined than one could think of. That’s why they perhaps hid until the deities extinguished themselves after fighting one another endlessly. Do you know about the Spirit World and the Glorious Star?"

Similar to the wisdom she possessed, it was surmised that the demonkind—or probably the First Demon King—gained extraordinary power by consuming the lingering divinities of the dead deities, resulting in the creation and separation of the Abyss Lands.

’The Spirit World, I can understand... but to mention the Glorious Star...’ I mumbled, seeing Yuridika laughing with Beatrice, who seemed to continue to persuade her to just warp them inside the Dark Forest.

"Miss Yuridika, come on. What’s the point of riding horses?"

"You don’t have any patience, do you? Should I instill in you a lesson you should never forget?"

"I understand that you haven’t seen the sun for heaven knows how long, but is it really necessary to see the forest, the plains, and the barren lands?"

Retracting my gaze from these two bickering women, I glanced behind, seeing the three squad leadersw with crumbling composure.

They knew why we were here.

But the tension in their expressions was palpable.

After all, it’s an exclusive training.

At the same time, it’s to fulfill the [Exclusive Plundering] quest I’ve gained by slaying an Iris Ent Queen... before I fetch some people... that might be unwilling.

[Satisfy a certain condition to be bestowed a Talent Card based on the talents the Iris Ent Queen possessed.]

[Exclusive Plundering]

Plundering Condition: [Hunt and eliminate twelve Iris Ent Queens.]

Current Progress: 0/12

*

A week had passed.

The major practical exam for the first semester of first and second year students of the Hero Academy was about to begin—the Island Exam to be conducted in the Ranaya Island of the Atlan Sea.

It would cover the subjects: Hero Physical Education II, Survival Guide II, Dungeon Raid II, and Monster Anatomy II—all of which are necessary for the basic expedition requirements.

"Look at those trash, if it’s not mandatory, I bet they would just be running like the worthless they are."

"Pfft! Hey, they can hear you, you know."

"Hahaha! What are they going to do? Target me? Fuck them."

"That’s true. Their families are probably ashamed of them, having such untalented bastards. What a pity."

Zion von Agnus, one of the sons of the Agnus Patriarch of the Four Elemental Families, the one who used to bully Lugh before he left the academy, gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

Meanwhile, standing by his side, in the line of female students of Class Mu hanging their heads low, Morgan, donning her silver-framed eyeglasses over her deep blue eyes, chuckled at the insults their class was receiving.

"It’s funny you’re getting affected by those feeling powerful just because they’re assigned in a different, considered higher class. Why? Because they’re being backed by the Crown Prince? Come on. You can do better than that, red-head brute. With your childish demeanor, it seems the pervert who dropped out of the class is better than you." Morgan mused.

"Wh-what did you say?!"

A pervert who dropped out of the class.

Only one person came to mind—Lugh of Eshu.

"Don’t you dare line me up with that son of a bitch, whose father dared to foolishly go against Count Othenwald. It’s a well-known stupidity among the noble circles, isn’t it?"

"Pfft. You’re a funny guy.. I can’t even take you seriously."

Zion was momentarily at a loss for words, seeing Morgan’s gaze fixated in front, heeding him no mind.

"I don’t know why your family seems to have disowned you, causing you to land in Class Mu of all classes, but it seems it’s really just because of your talent..."

"...?"

Was there any possible reason? Zion thought hardly.

Morgan then gazed at him coldly.

"...not due to your undying principle as an individual."

’My family’s a piece of trash, there’s no need to lump and sacrifice my inner peace just to be with them, who sternly refused to explore other variations of magic... I mean, isn’t magic the invitation to adventure and experiments? Why stick to the Water Element? Retard fuckers.’ Morgan thought, her heart burning with unspoken desire to learn.

"Attention everyone!"

It was at that moment that a scarred man’s voice echoed, garnering everyone’s attention.

He was a well-known professor throughout the academy.

Ragnar of Cetera.

A fallen noble of the Cetera Family.

Lugh... No, Kang Jiho’s one of the favorite and respected characters in the original story.

"We will now travel to the Kingdom of Grisha."