*Screeech—!*

A sharp shadow cut through the air, its sleek, pitch-black edge slicing cleanly, leaving a delicate line and graceful trail behind. The blade swiftly cut through flesh.

*Slash.*

The creature's head, charging forward, split in two. Without even a final scream, the beast collapsed, lifeless, into pieces on the ground. Black, rotting blood spattered around.

The narrow-eyed boy observed the death in silence.

"Hm."

A low murmur escaped him.

Around him lay the remains of wolf creatures, each shredded into pieces. The brutal efficiency of his attacks was evident.

He shook off the remnants clinging to his sword. Although the lab was drenched in blood, not a speck had marred the snake’s clothes. It was an overwhelming scene, exuding a chilling sense of killing intent.

"Well, well… Have they lost their nerve?"

The creatures hesitated to attack, swaying uncertainly. Observing their nervous movements, the boy smiled in amusement, a predator toying with his prey.

*Shriek!*

Provoked by his taunt, a few creatures at the front lunged, brandishing their tentacles, but before they could close the distance, a swift, dark slash cut through them.

With a soft splattering sound, gaping holes appeared in their chests—clean, targeted strikes, each ripping out a heart.

The beasts, robbed of their life force, collapsed like discarded toys.

"As expected of failures; their durability leaves much to be desired."

These chimeras, created with beasts as their base, usually had heightened resilience, designed to survive even decapitation. The goal was to create monsters that wouldn’t die easily.

But these wolves were different.

They had ferocious strength, yes, but their resilience was noticeably weaker. It was as if someone had pieced them together without regard for proper process, like a casual experiment.

"Couldn’t they just read a book if they’re that bored… cultists are beyond my understanding."

The snake clicked his tongue quietly.

After a moment, he looked over to where the girls were battling the mutants.

*Boom! Thud, crack!*

The clash echoed with ferocity.

Emilia held back the advancing creatures while Rezia launched basic magic attacks. The strategy worked, though there was one glaring issue.

"Hey, commoner! Can’t you summon that impressive familiar of yours this time?"

"S-sorry! I keep trying, but…!"

"Ugh, you’re completely useless!"

"I-I’m sorry!"

"Forget it! Just stay out of my way!"

Once again, Rezia’s summoning spell had faltered, likely from the surprise attack that shook her concentration. In the end, she abandoned it and resorted to basic magic.

"Do you really think those attacks will do anything…!"

Emilia, deeming Rezia’s efforts worthless, scolded her harshly while casting her own mana. Cold flakes of ice blossomed in the air.

Watching the scene, the boy gave a faint, bitter smile.

“…Seems she’s still got a long way to go.”

The path to awakening was still far off.

The snake moved calmly, snapping his fingers at the mutants threatening the girls. With a brief, cracking sound—

*Snap!*

“Now.”

The wolves, baring their teeth, were suddenly lifted off the ground. As they squirmed, dripping with slime, an ice arrow pierced through their bodies.

The snake and the haughty young lady exchanged glances. Emilia breathed heavily, exhausted.

“Hah… hah… They just keep coming…”

“You seem to be struggling.”

“I get that you want to provoke, but could you save it for another time?”

“I was sincerely concerned.”

“Yeah, right.”

She scowled, a look of irritation darkening her blue eyes.

“Those monsters… they were created here, right?”

“It would seem so.”

“Chimera experiments… we’re in over our heads here.”

“Knowledge of such experiments has been banned in the Empire for ages. It seems they’ve been carrying out research here in secret.”

“It’s the worst in every way.”

The situation was troublesome, but not entirely hopeless.

“Still, this level of threat is manageable.”

“With capable people like you here, Rezia seems to be adjusting too.”

“Hmm.”

Despite their numbers, the wolves weren’t individually powerful. Any well-trained student from Galimar could handle them with composure. Emilia gathered mana at her fingertips.

“We should wrap this up and find the exit.”

“I’ll draw the wolves’ attention.”

“I’ll support from a distance with the commoner; direct confrontation doesn’t seem efficient here.”

“Much appreciated.”

With a light laugh, the snake leapt forward, diving into the midst of the mutants while the girls cast spells from afar.

Then—

*Boom!*

Suddenly, a powerful tremor shook the basement.

“…?!”

The ground shuddered so violently, it was hard to keep balance. A deafening rumble filled the space.

*Boom! Boom!*

The sound came from the lab ceiling, as if something was collapsing. Startled, the girls looked up.

Then—

*Crash!*

With an intense impact, part of the ceiling caved in, revealing a massive hole through which something large fell.

A huge silhouette loomed over the mutants.

“Oh.”

Standing right below it was the narrow-eyed boy, with no time to react before it crushed everything in its path.

*Boom!*

Dust rose thickly, broken debris flying everywhere.

In the blink of an eye, it was over.

The girls, frozen in shock, let out gasps of horror as they looked toward the spot where the boy had been.

“My lord…?!”

“What just… happened?!”

They gazed at the spot, their minds clouded with confusion.

Desperately searching for the boy, the two girls finally locked eyes with the “thing” looming over them.

Their breath hitched.

“….”

They fell silent, feeling a pressure around their throats as if an invisible force were suffocating them. Their breaths trembled involuntarily.

*<Uwaaa… Aaah>*  

The monster’s body wriggled, its movements like those of a jellyfish. Its surface was covered in pale pink flesh, stitched together like the innards of various beasts.

It stood over fifteen meters tall, with countless tentacles stretching out, its body bristling with dozens of eyes.

*<Aaa…>*

In the center of its body was a mouth, opening into five sections lined with rows of jagged teeth. A sickening stench of decay filled the lab as it exhaled.

The creature twisted and convulsed, emitting a low, disturbing moan.

*<Aaah… Aah!!!>*

The entire lab shook with its scream.

**[EP5. Midterm Exam]**  
- *The Abandoned Laboratory, The Monster That Cannot Laugh*

This was the boss monster.

Emilia stood frozen, her gaze locked on the countless eyes staring back at her and the writhing tentacles.

*<Aaah… Aah!!!>*

The creature screamed, baring its teeth in its gaping mouth, ready to devour everything. Emilia found herself paralyzed, unable to move.

“….”

The mere sight of it sent her mind spiraling into terror. It was an overwhelming presence, a force so powerful that even a moment’s lapse could crush her entirely.

Rezia, standing beside her, was similarly affected, her face pale and body frozen. They sensed death looming close.

*<Aaah… Ooh?>*

Perhaps by some stroke of luck, the creature’s attention shifted.

Its gaze fell to the mutants lying on the ground, now little more than chunks of flesh, and it seemed fixated.

Tentacles reached out.

*Schrrrk, schrrk—!*

One by one, the creature grabbed the wolves and shoved them into its enormous maw, devouring the barely intact corpses whole.

*Crunch, crunch!*

Bones cracked and splintered with a sickening sound, making even the thought of it nauseating.

*<Aaah… Aaah>*

Had the boy’s body been among the corpses? They couldn’t tell. Amid the mangled bodies, spotting him was nearly impossible.

There was no hope of survival.

With something like that falling directly onto him, he probably didn’t feel any pain.

Emilia’s dazed eyes lingered, watching the creature’s grotesque feast.

Her terror-stricken mind clung to a single thought.

*“I have to escape.”*

Her survival instinct had kicked in.

Blue eyes darted around, searching for a way out.

*“If I run quickly, I can reach the hallway.”*

Emilia glanced at the exit nearby. The monster’s body was too massive; it would likely get stuck in the hallway. It was her best chance.

*“The only issue is…”*

She doubted the creature would just let her go.

From where she stood, it would take her about ten seconds to reach the door—enough time to be caught by one of its tentacles.

She needed a decoy.

“….”

Emilia’s gaze shifted to the right, where a pink-haired girl stood, shoulders trembling in fear.

The girl who had held her back this entire time.

*A decoy.*

If Emilia froze Rezia’s legs, she could leave her here, and the monster might be distracted just long enough for Emilia to escape. It was risky, but worth a shot.

Survival always came first.

*“I don’t have a choice.”*

Green eyes wavered, half-filled with tears. Emilia ignored the pang of guilt and murmured to herself as if in hypnosis.

*“Someone has to be sacrificed.”*

Someone had to act as bait.

Naturally, the role should fall to someone less useful, a more ordinary person.

Emilia bit her lip.

*“I am special.”*

She was different from some lowly commoner.

She had been born with the favor of the Beniti family, a person of noble blood, worthy of praise. There was an undeniable gap in status that couldn't be bridged.

*“I am special… I am worthy, and I will survive.”*

The girl rationalized her cruelty, convincing herself of her right to survive by elevating herself and belittling others. She gathered mana at her fingertips.

*“Miss Emilia, why do you strive so hard for the top rank… I wonder?”*

Why was it that, at this moment, she remembered the question posed by the Snake-eyed Young Master?

Emilia’s answer then had been clear.

*"Because I am exceptional."*  
*"Unlike unworthy idiots like you, I deserve to be there."*

Her thoughts had not changed.

Emilia believed herself worthy.

Her blue eyes flared with a fierce, poisonous light.

*“I will survive.”*

She prepared her spell, the temperature dropping as a deadly frost bloomed in her hand.

Rezia turned to her, eyes wide with fear.

*"Emilia.”*  
*"Please, young lady?”*

So why was it, Emilia wondered, that she couldn’t follow through with her plan?

*"Run for the door.”*

The young noble ordered with a grim expression.

*"I’ll hold it off. You escape.”*

“W-what?”

“I won’t last long.”

Her voice was steady. The harsh tone disguised a faint tremor as she spoke.

With a cold gleam, a spear of ice appeared in her hand. Emilia spun it, taking a bold step toward the creature, a faint scent of winter lingering behind her.

“It’s alright.”

Once again, she muttered to herself, as though convincing herself.

“Because I am… special.”

And then, gripping the spear tightly, Emilia charged at the monster.