The Nameless Extra: I Proofread This World

[’The Endseeker’ has devoured a soul and grew stronger...]

With a sharp motion, Ruvian pulled his katana free from the beast’s mangled flesh. Dark blood splashed across the ground as the massive corpse collapsed with a heavy thud.

The announcement had certainly thrown the entire examination into chaos, but it changed very little for Ruvian himself. As far as he was concerned, he simply returned to what he had been doing all along.

For several minutes, only the sounds of distant rustling trees accompanied his walk.

Then, Morvayne’s gentle voice echoed once more within the depths of his soul.

[Anyway, every scholar on this island has now turned their eyes toward you. Wherever you go, they will surely follow. Still, you didn’t seem to panic... I wonder, what is your plan?]

Ruvian casually flicked the black blood from his katana before resting it over his shoulder.

”Well... it’s still only the sixth day. So I’ll just stick to the original plan and spend the rest of today hunting down as many Lesser Voidspawns as I can with this blade.”

He briefly looked at [The Endseeker].

”After all, the more souls this sword devours, the stronger the boost it gives me whenever I channel my mana through it.”

[Will that be enough?]

Ruvian smiled in response.

”Of course not. But if it were just one squad... I’m confident I could handle them. Still, I doubt it’ll be only one squad coming after me, though.”

Even now, he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was already watching him. Maybe it was just his paranoia because of the situation. Either way, there was no harm in assuming the worst.

’I wonder if Morvayne could do something about it...’

[If that isn’t enough, then what are you going to do? You seem very calm about it.] Morvayne spoke like a worried mother.

Ruvian smirked, already thinking far ahead.

”Don’t worry. I have a skill I want to test. Or maybe I should call it an unnatural ability. It is very strong and can make my whole body stronger for five minutes.”

[You can do such a thing?]

”Yes, I can.”

On the seventh day, Ruvian intended to thoroughly test just how valuable and devastatingly effective his [Assimilation] skill could truly become.

At the same time, he needed to determine the full severity of its repercussions and whether his body could withstand them.

If he managed to adapt to the skill and master its unnatural power, it would become an invaluable trump card in his inevitable confrontation with Julian.

However, Ruvian was not really worried about Julian himself. He was more worried about the demon hiding inside him. If it was a higher-ranked demon, then it would become a very serious problem.

’Anyway, it’s not like I’m planning to confront them all at once. That would be a foolish thing to do. Still, the best part is... I also know how to use this Bounty to my advantage.’

Ruvian sighed, and stopped himself from getting carried away.

”Oh, right, Morvayne... could you help me with something?” He asked while slowly scanning the distant trees and hills.

[Speak, child. What is it that you need?]

”If it isn’t too much trouble, could you help me sense any scholars nearby? I would also like to know what they are doing and how far away they are.”

[My child... there is no need for you to ask. I have already been watching the surroundings for you.]

Morvayne paused briefly before continuing.

[Firstly, yes, there are already a few squads nearby. They have been watching you from a distance. But one of them, in particular, is looking at you with great hatred and clear killing intent.]

Ruvian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

A few squads were already watching him? And one of them hated him enough to reveal such strong killing intent?

’Huh? Who could it be? I don’t remember making such enemies.’

Furthermore, he already noted down Julian’s location. He is still far away from him. So it couldn’t be him.

But whoever they are, Ruvian was sure they would be nothing more than a ’small potato’ as of now.

[There is also another person upon the great mountain to the north. They are watching you from a very great distance and since afternoon. It seems they are using some kind of artifact to observe you. However, their gaze does not feel hostile.]

From that description alone, Ruvian already knew who the person was. Honestly, who else could afford such an artifact and would use it to watch him for that long?

Ruvian sighed before a small smile appeared on his face.

’Haa... that sly woman.’

”Anyway, just keep tracking, and let all the hunters come,” He cracked his neck with a wide smile. ”Because tonight, this prey will bite them first.”

*****

[Ardyn’s POV]

From the cover of a rocky slope, Ardyn quietly watched Ruvian’s every move through the thick forest below.

His four teammates stayed hidden beside him while keeping their voices low. None of them dared to take their eyes off their target.

”...He’s by himself?”

One of the boys frowned as he looked around the area again.

He expected to find the rest of Ruvian’s squad hiding somewhere nearby. Yet no matter how carefully he searched, he could not find anyone else.

”I thought he would be moving with his teammates after that announcement,” another girl whispered. ”Why would he wander around alone when the whole island is looking for him?”

A tall boy slowly shook his head.

”Could this be a trap?”

Ardyn let out a low chuckle.

”No, this is not a trap. And honestly, it doesn’t surprise me either.”

His teammates turned toward him.

”It seemed like he already expected this would happen the moment he made Julian lose his temper in the cafeteria.”

Ardyn said with a grin.

”Honestly, I think it was a very smart move.”

The others looked at each other in confusion.

”...Smart?”

”Of course,” Ardyn replied. ”If Julian is looking for him, then dragging his squad along would only put them in danger. Separating from them gives the others a chance to survive until the end of the test.”

He rested his chin on his hand while watching Ruvian continue deeper into the forest.

”But there is no way that decision came from him alone.”

A slow smile spread across Ardyn’s face.

”My guess is that his own squad threw him away after the bounty was announced, or maybe they had already decided to abandon him before that.”

The moment those words left his mouth, Ardyn suddenly burst into loud laughter.

”Hahaha...!”

He covered part of his face while trying to hold it back, but another laugh escaped anyway.

”Let’s be realistic here,” Ardyn said as the corners of his mouth curled upward. ”He’s only an E-Class. Someone like him has no right to make decisions for an entire squad.”

His teammates slowly nodded.

The more they thought about it, the more reasonable that explanation sounded.

After all, nobody wanted to become Julian’s enemy just because of one disposable teammate.

Ardyn’s grin slowly faded.

”I was planning to beat that bastard during the dungeon expedition,” he said. ”Too bad we ended up in different expedition sessions, then I even hoped we would be assigned to the same squad for this island test, but that didn’t happen either.”

He clicked his tongue.

”But then, ha... he actually dared to insult Julian in front of everyone. What a complete fool.”

”Hahaha, yeah, he really doesn’t know his place, right?”

”Agree, I can’t wait to see him get beaten to death.”

Laughter quietly spread among the five of them, even though some of them were fake laughs. Ardyn slowly raised his hand, and the laughter immediately died down.

”Anyway, Julian already did me a favor. It’s a good thing he used that bounty first, because I was planning to place one on that fool myself tomorrow.”

A cruel smile slowly appeared on his face.

”The more bounties hanging over his head, the more enemies he will attract.”

His fingers slowly tightened around the handle of his broadsword. A faint cracking sound came from his clenched jaw.

”But before any other squad can kill him—”

His expression gradually darkened.

”—I’ll make sure I get to him first.”

The rest of his squad gulped as the air around Ardyn turned strangely cold.

”And not even Julian is taking my prey away from me.” (+1,000PP)

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[Chapter 292: All the Hunters Are Here (1)]

Plot Points= 63,750 PP