The Retired Hero is an Extra

The timer was decreasing, and the screen displayed the final location: a small stone platform marked with the Solarnelle Academy insignia.

Yet, a groove on the platform suggested it was designed to hold something before the Entrance Test concluded.

"That, everyone, is the final place! Only after defeating the boss monster would it appear," Rui commented with excitement.

The audience cheered wildly at the sight of that platform sinking into the earth as if it was never there to begin with.

"On to the boss monster," Rui gesticulated before the figure of a blue snake-like creature sleeping underwater appeared.

"For a twist this year, the boss monster needs to be found before engaging it," Rui grinned as he announced the change.

Loud gasps resonated from the stands as the audience gaped at the sight of the imoogi-like creature.

Two horns jutted out from right above its eyebrows as they extended horizontally to the front in a curved manner before rising up.

The horns were silverish in color, appearing like a check mark '✓' as they inclined at a slight angle to its head.

However, its blue-green scales around its neck and head were the most shocking to the audience.

After all, it was already an (E+)-Rank monster, and being in its favored territory, it could even give trouble to a D-Rank hunter.

Yet the academy expected the examinees to take care of it!?

Preposterous!

Unfortunately, the academy predicted that only the top 5 will be able to defeat it after teaming up, but that's no good.

So, they hid the fact that the monster was actually injured in its core, its rank dropping to (E)-Rank or even (E-)-Rank.

Meanwhile, the one who knew the truth was resting peacefully, waiting for the final moment.

—Rumble!

And as if to wake him up, loud rumbling echoed across the island as the participants were forcefully pulled closer.

It was the same for both—males and females.

They were on the same island yet couldn't see or meet each other and even had the same monster as their enemy.

It was a stimulated monster, after all.

"Now, let's see what the participants are doing," Rui said with a wild smile, drawing the audience back in.

At this time, everyone who had arrived on the first day when the Entrance Test started had already returned.

This was the climax they all were waiting for, so no one wanted to miss it.

Or maybe they wanted to see their progeny raise their name in front of the masses and secure the first rank.

Alas, it was just a pipe dream with all the geniuses they'd heard about.

Of course, there were no less idiots leaving it all to luck, hoping for their progeny to win it by a stroke of luck.

While the participants got engaged into sudden fights after being yanked closer to each other, Jash was startled awake.

"Urgh," he groaned in displeasure before he composed himself a subtle smile graced his lips.

'It's already that time,' he realized and stretched before walking to the entry of the cave.

Feeling the cool wind blow and refresh him, he sat at the side, dangling his legs from the cave entrance.

"So peaceful, this is what life is all about," he mumbled in relaxation, taking in the sight of the gorge and small stream of water within.

—ROAAR!

A sudden roar stole his attention as he cursed, "Damn it! Did I just jinx it!?"

However, he didn't move, just turning his head to look in the direction of the voice, already knowing what it was.

"So, that's the place?" he wondered aloud, pinpointing the boss monster's location by the devastation it had caused.

Meanwhile, the group that had stumbled upon the boss monster considered themselves lucky—until they got disqualified within seconds.

Its sight was no less flashy and attention-grabbing, immediately telling everyone, "I am the boss monster."

"Well, this will be interesting," Jash muttered, not moving an inch despite the obvious events occurring next.

Lots of groups or even lone examinees rushed in at the area, hoping to win or at least show off their skills.

Naturally, the screen for the audience showed the rushing examinees as some unleashed their hidden cards and instantly took down their opponents.

Shifting across the fighting and dwindling participants, it stopped on Jash as the last one, showing his relaxed and observant attitude.

Yet no one in the audience disparaged him due to the sense of confidence his smile exuded, unlike those who were merely hiding.

Sadly, the academy didn't favor cowards, so many hiders were pitted against other examinees after the forceful closure, eliminating most of them.

Only a few hiders turned out to be actually strong, turning the tide on the unsuspecting opponents.

"What a contrast," Rui muttered in the speaker, showing Jash's confident attitude and at the same time the boss monster.

At the exact moment, the boss monster turned its eyes, seemingly in Jash's direction and they supposedly met gazes.

Of course it was just a stimulated monster so it was done to make an effect and give a vivid sense of rivalry for the audience to anticipate.

They could see Amael, Avon, Helios, Yirox, Grunghin, Zaos, Sylvie Ziva, Caera, Ava, Vivia, and many more rushing at the boss monster.

However, the way Jash looked dismissively at the ground from high up in the cave gave a cool look to him.

Just that he himself didn't know he was being used as such, and he would hate to know it.

No one knew then that this clip would actually go viral as a thumbnail due to the final fight commencing soon.

Jash watched with mild amusement as examinees scrambled, eager to fight the boss and become the Year Representative.

Alas, there was no cover to hide and attack the boss monster.

So, there was no use in hiding, and Jash was aware of this, choosing not to rush blindly like an idiot.

As it meant that the only way to attack the boss monster was to do it without any cover.

It seemed like whoever thought of this wanted many confrontations at the same time.

'It might as well result in people teaming up to fight against each other instead of the boss,' Jash mused before tilting his head.

—Bam!

An arrow passed by his head as he straightened up, and an angry look appeared on his face.

'Which idiot disturbed my mood?' he cursed inwardly, pursing his lips silently.

"Hah! Look, you missed such an easy shot! Should've let me shoot a spell!"

A barely audible mocking voice reached Jash as he saw two elves, one with a bow and one with a staff.

But the bow elf remained quiet, his arms trembling slightly as his lips quivered, "H-he... mo-mov...ed..."

"Huh? What nonsense?"

However, it seemed the elven mage found it too hard to believe and thought his friend was making excuses and lectured him.

"We are elves, what if you missed? There's no need to lie–"

—Swish!

—Swish!

Sadly, he never got to complete his words as two arrows arrived next to their heads, activating the barrier and teleporting them out.

Their shocked expressions came into view before the audience as the point of view shifted to an aerial one.

It turned out they were standing more than a hundred meters away from Jash with tons of cover in between.

Yet the archer's ability to target Jash and miss it slightly astounded many until they saw Jash take the two of them out in one go!