Chapter 71: These Guys are F*cked

Rowan Ashtear was the son of a duke in the far north. A large, brutish-looking fellow who was taller than even Solomon. His axe was easily the size of Everett.

Elowen McAllister was a young noble lady who had been studying swordplay since she was young. Her talent for swordplay was only overshadowed by her immense cruelty.

Carver Ishatar’s family were prominent slavers. Their family art was a style of fencing that focused on paralyzing the opponent.

Joseph Au Varrick came from a long line of huntsmen. He could shoot the eye out of a sparrow from a hundred yards away and was more than just a little competent in the use of dagger arts.

It was already established that these four would give Solomon’s group the most trouble.

Nila was a berserker who had difficulty in combat against anyone who thought before they swung, or anyone who could overpower her.

Due to Everett’s large wingspan, he was at a disadvantage against anyone who was extremely proficient at attacking from a distance.

Dakota was light on her feet and had good reflexes, but her current lack of experience in swordplay meant that she was easily outclassed by anyone who could limit her movements and force her into situations where she had to adapt.

Solomon, while confident in his physical body and intellect, had a natural apprehension of opponents who thought three or four steps ahead.

This group was their natural enemy. Though the reverse was also true.

This exercise would be won by the team that most accurately pinpointed the other’s weakness and matched opponents accordingly.

The approaching group stares at Solomon warily.

His reputation around the school has grown steadily since beating Declan. The opposing team’s suspicion of him is only heightened by the memory of his physical examinations.

He was a certifiable monster. And as of now, the only yellow core in their entire year.

On paper, he was a tremendously large obstacle.

Abel suddenly brandished a gold coin from his sleeve. “Call it in the air.”

He tosses the coin up, and both team captains call out a different side.

When the piece of metal hits the ground, it is the tail that is face up.

Abel turns to Elowen. Unlike the days before, he exudes quite a noble, dignified aura.

Elowen responds without waiting for master Abel to get his words out.

“We choose…”

–

“Make sure you kids protect me, alright? Last thing I want is one of your grubby little classmates putting their hands on me.” Jiaoying folded her arms.

“””Yes ma’am!””” Nila, Dakota, and Everett responded at once.

Jiaoying picked out a rocking chair on a hastily constructed patio. It was the last building of the twenty-five built for this specific test.

Dozens upon dozens of wooden cutouts stood in place upwards of ten feet apart.

Underneath her rocking chair, there was a book already waiting for her. On the nightstand next to the chair, there sat a glass and an entire pitcher of lemonade.

“Alright, kiddos. I’ll let you get started with-”

The ice cubes in Jiaoying’s pitcher began to rumble.

Out of the corner of her eye, Jiaoying saw a large creature carrying two sharpened tree-trunks on it’s shoulders.

It let one drop with an audible thud before it got to work jamming the other into the ground like a great spear.

“…As I was saying, I guess you’ve all got work to do.” Jiaoying finished. “Make the most of your prep time.”

The trio nodded and prepared to turn away when Jiaoying called out to them again.

“Oh, and… be prepared for surprises, kiddos. Kekekeke…”

Nila and Everett suppressed their chills.

“Yes, ma’am, we’ll do our best.” Dakota held up her thumb with a neutral expression.

“A+ for the positivity, kid!”

Dakota seems a bit happier than usual as she waltzes into the forest to look for things to stab her classmates with.

Clouds begin to cover the sky as the day goes by.

In the hours of preparation, Jiaoying has hardly taken her eyes off Solomon even once.

The large minotaur stomps across the ground, ripping trees out of the forest and sharpening them into fearsome points.

He hasn’t bothered to look up from his task often. Nor has he talked to any of his teammates aside from the occasional grunt.

Jiaoying wants to scold him, but she has yet to find a reason.

If ever the other students have questions about the setup, they rush to him, and he confirms their ideas with a nod of his massive head.

But then again, that hardly ever happens.

The team is surprisingly all on the same page, and they work together like a well-oiled machine. Jiaoying could almost swear that they had this all pre-planned.

She finds their efforts rather impressive.

When the wall around the town is finished with construction, Jiaoying is only halfway through with her book.

She hears footsteps approaching her and looks over the pages to find Solomon stalking towards her.

A light rain has started to fall over the exam site. The deep grey color of the world is briefly overwritten by Solomon’s deep orange eyes.

He sits down on the porch at her feet, still pulling on his shirt and re-fastening his chestplate.

Once he’s done, he stares back and forth between her and the pitcher of lemonade.

“…Use your words, big guy.”

“I thought it might be rude.”

“As opposed to staring at me until I caved and offered you a drink out of pity?”

“Would it help if I poked my lip out?”

Jiaoying finds herself biting back a laugh as she hands him the entire pitcher. “Knock yourself out, big man.”

Solomon doesn’t stand on ceremony.

Jiaoying watches him as he puts away the last drop of the relatively untouched lemonade.

“Lord. Thirsty, aren’t we?”

Solomon was. He hadn’t drunk anything in weeks now. Being deathless was strange…

“I guess moving those trees around was hard work. Though I must admit…”

Jiaoying sweeps her gaze over the wall protecting the town.

It’s shoddy. Incredibly so.

Some parts are closer to being gates rather than a wall. And the fortress is not bound with wire or any kind of wrapping to hold it in place.

Jiaoying was pretty sure she could knock this whole thing down just by brushing against it.

Solomon seemingly knows what she is thinking as he returns the empty pitcher to the stand.

“It’s supposed to look like that.”

“Shitty?”

“Yes. Are you going to be more confident in rushing a poorly constructed wall or a hastily made one?” Solomon turns his gaze toward the sky.

“…I take it that your goal is to bait engagement?”

“You’d be right.”

Jiaoying seems impressed for a moment, even though she doesn’t say anything. Solomon’s plan has yet to bear any actual fruit after all.

“….You seem to be in a better mood now.”

“What gave you the impression I was in a bad one?”

Now, it is Jiaoying’s turn to stare at him while waiting for him to speak.

Solomon pretends not to notice her, frustrating her.

“Look, if this is about me rejecting you, then-”

“It’s no-” Solomon furrows his brow. “Wait, rejecting me?”

“Indeed. You’re handsome, I’ll give you that, but what are you, 21? You’re a little too young for my blood, though. And you should probably develop some better taste in-”

“I did not confess to you.”

“…Pardon?”

“I told you that I was attracted to you, but I would not say that was a confession.”

Jiaoying stares at Solomon for a long time, blinking.

Slowly, she hides her face behind the pages of her book and doesn’t say another word.

Solomon, on the other hand, is mildly offended. Though he can’t say why.

“..If I were to confess to you, you would reject me, then?”

Jiaoying pulls her book even closer to her face.

“Course I would. I’m twenty years older than you.”

“So?”

“So, don’t ask me silly questions.” She sighs. “It’s impossible.”

“Scared of someone half your age? I never thought you so timid.”

At that, Jiaoying tips down her book so that her eyes can be seen.

There is an odd glow in them. It’s not human.

“Careful, boy. You wouldn’t know the first thing to do with me.”

Solomon feels something swirl in his chest. A flair of excitement momentarily appears, only to be blotted by guilt a second later.

He remembers the face of another out of nowhere.

He starts to stand up and walk away.

But then, he remembers the push.

He closes his eyes. Lowers his head.

He lets go.

“…I think that’s something you should let me find out for myself.”

Jiaoying snorts, but Solomon does not hear disgust in her tone.

At that moment, a bell rings from somewhere in the distance.

The sound makes Solomon stand up and begin stretching as his members return to base.

He starts to walk away and bid Jiaoying goodbye when he hears her slightly mocking voice come from behind.

“…Alright. You want a chance to court me? Here’s your chance…”

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