Walk-In-The-Park-Like Practical Test(Side: Somni Barrel)

『A~A~』

The human-shaped monsters approaching with unsteady steps were called zombies.

Zombies' teeth and claws were endowed with a powerful curse, unless they receive treatment to dispel the curse, one might die once bitten. And then, their corpse would turn into a new zombie. That was the danger of the undead known as zombies.

And yet, a youth bravely closed into these so-called zombies.

「HA!」

Somni Barrel unleashed a sword strike at the head of a zombie. The zombie's head was severed and fell to the ground, melting like candle.

He didn't stop, pointing his left palm toward the another zombie approaching toward them and chanted,

「Fireball!」

A blazing sphere came to being and collided with the zombie, burning its body to black dust.

「AS EXPECTED OF SOMNI-SAN! TO BE ABLE TO BEAT TWO ZOMBIES IN QUICK SUCCESSION, TRULY WORTHY OF BEING THE YOUNGEST GUARDIAN KNIGHT OF HIS HIGHNESS GILBERT!」

A black-haired young with a lean body, Egg, clapped upon seeing Somni's action. Egg was also a graduate of the kingdom's knight institute like Somni. He also participated in Babel exam and had teamed together with the youngest guardian knight.

「Honestly, it was way too easy.」

The zombies' movements were slow, they're not a big deal as long as anyone is very careful when approaching them. Was this truly the infamous test of Babel? I've been preparing myself to be forced to go against other test-takers in tournament-like test and yet, this kind of test is such a let-down.

「I can't use fire magic, so I can only beat them one by one. Slaughtering two of them in one strike like Somni-san is out of question for someone like me.」

Egg shook his head as he praised Somni. Though not as much as the guardian knight, Egg himself was a skilled swordsman. Egg's gift was specialized in swordcraft and he had no talent whatsoever for magic.

Surely, Somni who was endowed with talent to use both sword and magic, the infamous difficult test of Babel appeared like a walk in the park for him. He was convinced to take the top spot in the entrance examination.

「Moreover, are you sure that you'll let that girl act on her own?」

Egg muttered so while looking at his other teammates, a beautiful girl with wavy, long blonde-hair, Lyla Hellner.

「Well, she's quite a beauty, no doubt about it but…」

Somni did recognize Lyla's beauty. However, apart from the other girls, Lyla didn't even show a shred of interest in Somni. The biggest factor that made Somni take some distance from Lyla was the fact that the latter was Kai Heineman's friend.

Kai Heineman, another participant of sacred martial arts tournament, just like Somni. The common evaluation of Kai Heineman in that tournament was "Just a cowardly incompetent". Strangely enough, the evaluation he received from a part of swordsmen was the exact opposite of the general evaluation.

When Somni asked the swordsman who beat him in that tournament about the latter's goal, that swordsman said that he wants to become someone like Zack and someday, gain a chance to challenge Kai Heineman. Seeing swordsman's passion, Somni knew that the former was serious. It was rather unbelievable for him.

And as if that wasn't enough, that swordsman wasn't the only one with the opinion. One of Somni's noble friend who always hung out with him cried non-stop after he saw Kai Heineman and Zack's match, he then returned to his hometown and without wasting time, kept swinging his sword like a madman. He, who never trained seriously was completely absorbed in his training. And the reason for that was none other than the match between Kai Heineman and Zack.

Kai Heineman's gift was [The Most Incompetent in This World]. It was obvious by its name that it was by no mean powerful gift. Thus, he was convinced that his father, Lunpa Barrel was right about Kai Heineman winning by cheating.

Those swordsmen were just idiots who couldn't see through Kei Heineman's trickery. Somni had expected that since those swordsmen were just talentless peasants, unlike gifted ones like him.

—Kai Heineman is nothing more than a cheater. He should be condemned for that.

That's why no matter how beautiful Lyla was, Somni didn't feel a shred of charm in her who had favorable impressions for Kai Heineman. Rather, he pitied her since the latter had no eyes to judge someone's character.

「How about we have a match to invite her? Somni-san should be able to do that in a try, right?」

Seeing Egg staring at Lyla with lecherous eyes of a youth trying to woo girl in the street,

「I refuse. Why do I've to become the bait when you're the one who want to woo her?」

Somni rejected Egg's request immediately. Egg was a known philanderer; everyone knew he had different woman every time he walks in the street. There was a rumor about him sleeping with a girl after he forced her drunk. Naturally, he thought it just a slander towards Egg but, Somni was still Gilbert's guardian knight. Thus, he minded his action in public.

Moreover, even if Lyla invited Somni to drink with her, he had no intention to drink with the stupid woman who got tricked easily by Kai Heineman.

「I see. Then, I guess I've to invite her myself.」

Maybe because Somni refused to cooperate with him, Egg didn't try to hide his intentions anymore. He had already imagined the scene of him walking along with Lyla in the main street at night.

「Egg, stop acting like a lowlife.」

""

「Oka~y.」

Egg waved his hand slovenly.

Egg started to insistently invite Lyla for a drink after the practical test.

At first, Lyla, who was irritated by Egg's attitude refused the latter's invitation politely, but Somni knew that she was actually quite irritated. Thus, just when he was about to call Egg to stop as it might affect the entire team――

「Please stop acting slovenly here!」

Lyla finally lost her patience, grabbed Egg's right-arm, and twisted it.

「GA!AAAAH! RELEASE ME!」

As Lyla let go of Egg's arm, the latter fell on the ground, face first.

「HOW DARE YOUU!!!」

He stood up immediately and tried to grab Lyla by her collar, but got easily flung away by the latter.

「This is my final warning. Stop.」

Egg had no choice but to grit his teeth in frustration on his failure; he never tried to woo Lyla again.

A while later, they found group of girls being surrounded by zombies and went to save them at Egg's proposal.

Zombie would die as long as they were beheaded. Moreover, they're also weak to fire attribute, so they're a literal sitting duck for Somni.

After he get rid of the grime on his sword's blade,

「Thank you very much for saving us, Somni-sama!」

The girls they rescued rushed at Somni, raising cheers.

「Aah, thanks god you're saved.」

The way he replied to the girls with his usual refreshing smile made the girls scream even louder. Yes, those girls' attitude was normal for Somni as he was used to see it.

「Somni-san, there's no rule that prohibit us from working together with another team, right? Shall we take them along?」

Upon hearing Egg's suggestion,

「Eh? Seriously? We're allowed to work together with Somni-sama!?」

「By all means please!」

「We're really scared after all.」

The girls drew closer to the two. Surely, there was no rule prohibiting two teams from joining hands. Thus, forming alliances was allowed.

The undead released in 1st area had been specially prepared by the Babel's management side. It was fairly obvious that the owner of the badge would receive additional points whenever they beat undead. They were team battles but, in the end, it was nothing more than individual battles during the test.

With that kind of system, there was no problem even if an alliance was formed. Or rather, the alliance with most people had numerical advantage.

「I don't mind. You don't mind either, right Lyla?」

「Yeah」

Lyla observed those girls from side before turning away.

「Things will get simpler. Where are you girls come from?」

Egg approached the girls with his usual overly-familiar attitude.

But, Somni ended up letting his guard down and forgetting about the most important fact in this test. This test was a live combat test in its truest sense. His opponent wouldn't even give a shit about rules or consideration to him and his party. And lastly, the fact that undead wasn't their only opponent.

But, Somni and co had yet to realize the true meaning of this test and treated it like a picnic, would soon be dragged into the depths of hell.