The Retired Hero is an Extra

In the audience, only a few people who were free or had their immediate wards participating stayed while the busy folks left.

Naturally, the ruling class of all three races left, unwilling to leave their domains unprotected for three long days.

Even if the elves could dismiss it and stay, they had no reason to, as the test was really long, and a few messengers were left in place.

For example, if someone stumbled upon the location before the third day, the ruling class would be alerted by their remaining servants.

Of course, the Academy wasn't formed by a bunch of idiots who'd allow such an incident to tarnish their prestige.

That's why the final location was nothing short of a lie that would only show up on the third day, preventing anyone from finding it.

Obviously, the ones who graduated from Solarnelle Academy were long aware of their methods to get their decided results.

In the end, only the commoners and nary a rich spectator were left, watching with great gusto every single thing.

Fortunately, the Academy would play the highlights of the three days on the last day before the boss monster appears.

Oh well, it wasn't known if someone would discover it or would it have to be unleashed by the Academy for some fun.

'I mean, where's the fun in a plain boring test without some twists?' Jash thought in dersion, privy to everything.

Shaking off his thoughts, he unsheathed his sword and swung it.

—Slice!

The sword easily sliced off a small rabbit attacking him from his left as it stopped right after the body divided into two.

Jash glanced casually at the falling body before moving on, shaking off the blood from his sword.

'I can't let it become scrap when I don't even have a spare weapon,' he mused, aware of the consequences of such carelessness.

"Hm?" Jash hummed, hearing some muffled noises around him right after taking down an unranked creature.

Without any hesitation whatsoever in his steps, he dashed towards the direction of the noise.

"Shh... I heard something," whispered a man in a black suit to his companion.

He whispered but his sneaky movements revealed his inexperience in walking in such terrains as his steps made noises.

The two looked ahead, trying to find the source of the disturbance but only saw a silver sheen of a sword stained in red.

"Wha...t?" the first man stammered before a barrier suddenly activated, transforming him into motes of white light.

As if enraged, the second guy didn't think and directly raised his spear at the coming sword.

"Don't you think I am an easy target!" he shouted as he tried to block the coming attack with all his might.

Jash, looking at the pitiful attempt of a block, could only maintain an indifferent expression while his gaze flickered with great disappointment.

"Haa..." Jash sighed, noticing more than ten openings in the boy's stance with a single glance.

"Pathetic," he uttered under his breath before kicking the ground to increase his speed for a split second.

'They'll have to do better if they want to keep up,' he mused inwardly in disregard of the boy opposite him.

"AAAAAHHHHHH," the boy shouted as he did a wild stab at Jash.

—Thrust!

Unfortunately, all it met was nothing but air, exclaiming in disbelief, "What!?"

By the time he noticed, Jash had already increased his speed, dodging the poor thrust after easily seeing its obvious trajectory.

Looking at the wide-open right side of the boy, Jash side-stepped and directly slashed once more, but this time the barrier didn't activate.

—Clang!

"Hm?" Jash hummed in confusion as his sword was repelled before noticing the silver armor on the boy.

"Ah-hah...haha" the boy chuckled nervously, feeling proud of his armor as it saved his life.

"I see," Jash muttered before swinging his sword in a downward arc, cutting a deep gash into the boy's leg.

"AAAARRRGGHHH,"

He instantly fell down while screaming in pain, but Jash ignored the wails, taking the spear and armor before pointing the spear at his neck.

That action was enough for the barrier to activate and take the boy to the healing area prepared for the injured by the academy, free of cost.

'I can't stay here any longer,' Jash thought, immediately donning the poor quality armor and keeping the spear at his back.

Though the increased weight slowed him down, it wasn't sufficient to force him to face the monsters and examinees gathering at the wail.

All they saw were a few splash marks of blood and nothing else before they left due to the numerous beasts coming by.

Meanwhile, Jash was complaining about the entire idea of taking the stuff before eliminating the examinee from them.

'It was a good idea to straight away eliminate one so that it seems I guessed that the equipment will disappear as well.'

Despite his inner thoughts, he really wanted to know what kind of idiot designed that no amounts of equipment will drop after elimination.

The only way to get it was—pure looting—taking it off the body before they get eliminated.

Thankfully, Jash played it safe or his actions would seem too convenient for a test he ought to have no information about.

Praising himself inwardly, he ended up glancing at his glowing wrist and a curse almost slept his lips.

"Just why couldn't they use the bracelet as a scorer and make a darned leaderboard!" He exclaimed while running away.

His voice leaked and someone tried giving chase but ended up losing Jash due to his crazy speed.

Utterly unaware, he was busy thinking of ways to get on the planning committee and make such an obvious, needed change.

'If only they added it in numbers instead of this freaking increasing glow!' Jash thought inwardly, taking note to not yell again.

Due to the increasing glow, he would become a target at night, just like those with higher scores.

Of course, his score couldn't possibly be even in the top 1000, let alone bright enough to be easily noticeable.

It was just that the Academy planned to use the glow not only as a score but also as a beacon of location, enticing fights among the talented examinees.

Currently, the most glowing one was of Avon as he was trying his best to show that he was better than Amael.

While Amael was busy helping others and maintaining his image as a good guy despite his inner shrewdness.

Though no one betrayed him because he warned them with a smile after taking care of the first traitor, something he allowed himself.

Sadly, Jash didn't have time to know all that, his focus on lasting till the last day with minimum effort and taking care of the "boss monster".

'Anyways, that guy was too weak, I really hope the last day is some fun,' he thought with a predatory smile.

It seemed his father's battle freak nature had rubbed on him after training with him for so long.

If only someone had seen him right at this moment, they'd be surprised to know that Jash was actually itching for a good fight.

He didn't know it himself, but it wasn't just Carcel's presence and nature influencing him, but Jash himself deep down... or his past life, to be precise.