Transmigrated as the Novel's Final Boss-Chapter 122:Antique Excursion [3]

Pausing for a moment, the president waited for the excitement to die down before suddenly dropping a bomb.

"Unfortunately, the magical elevator up the mountain only reaches about half the height of the mountain range."

"To reach the summit, all of you will have to make the climb."

"..."

As silence overtook the previously exhilarated crowd, students shouted out in the opposite direction and raised their hands.

"YOU WANT US TO CLIMB IN THIS HEAT!?"

"WHAT IF WE FALL!"

This trip was supposed to be a vacation and a break from school for students, so many were furious upon hearing they actually needed to work.

However, that anger disappeared a moment later when the president hurriedly continued.

"This climb to the summit is not required at all! If you wish, you may simply remain in the area of the middle of the rank."

Letting a dry cough, the president then made eye contact with the group of students to the left of the crowd, which included Charlotte, Evangel, Mira, Zeke, Nico, and me.

"Imperial students...your elemental professor has asked me to leave a message for you all."

"To claim the extra credit point for your exam, you must climb to the summit of the mountain range."

At that moment, all the Worldly students shifted their attention to us, with their chins raised and eyes looking downward.

"Haha, thank GOD, I’m not in that shit class!"

"You know, I might just climb the mountain, so I can slow them down the entire time!"

With the president’s speech coming to an end, the crowd dispersed with Mira, Evangel, and the other Imperial students splitting off, leaving me.

In the distance, I could spot Coal’s group of Worldly students approaching Evangel with smiles, and past them, Charlotte was chatting with Scarlet.

Beside me, Sage surprisingly remained alone.

With her extroverted and unfearing personality, I’d assume she would have an abundance of friends.

Noticing my gaze, she tilted her head and smiled before announcing.

"You know, I’m actually the number one ranked Worldly student in the class. Won’t be too long until we’re classmates!"

With Evangel no longer in the Worldly class, the number one spot in the class was left empty, so I assumed one of the people within Coal’s group would claim it.

As the president began leading us rightward, around the circular fence on the island, I sarcastically asked.

"And, all of that is because of...?"

Looking up at the sky and pretending to think with a confused expression, Sage muttered a few inaudible words before saying.

"Because of OUR hard work!"

"Yeah, yeah, good luck on the midterm without me."

Cupping her palms and rubbing them against her cheeks, pretending she was wiping her tears, Sage dramatically sighed and responded.

"A-are you saying you won’t help me...?"

Although it had been three weeks since our first and only interaction, there were no awkward or silent moments between us.

I had completely forgotten about my anger toward her in the past, instead focusing on the current moment.

Glancing behind me, I spotted Zeke lagging behind the group, chatting with some Worldly students I did know.

While the practical exam had placed us in a competitive and haresh environment, it had allowed for connections to form over the far-arpart Imperial and Worldly classes.

If not for the exam, I and many other Imperial students would not have met, let alone talked to, any Worldly students.

Arriving at the portal, we all formed into one single line and walked through the light-purple screen, a large city street forming in front of us.

Reluctantly strolling past all the artifact stores in the city, we headed toward the base of the mountain, where an elevator, seemingly attached to nothing, sat on the ground.

The walls of the elevator were completely made of glass, allowing us to see right through it, and no menu or buttons to select a floor or open the door were visible.

Halting before the glass elevator, the president turned to face us, counting all forty of us, and then said.

"Groups will head up in the elevator in groups of five."

"The elevator will require about five minutes to head all the way and then another three to go back down, and as you can see, there is only one."

"I will remain at the mountain’s base until all students are up, so once you arrive on the mountain, you are free to start exploring."

"Please, keep in mind that all students are required to report to the middle of the mountain by 1 pm tomorrow."

"It is recommended that you head back down and set up camp at Middle Mountain, but we understand many of you won’t be able to make it back before darkness descends."

Pausing for a moment and hearing no questions, the president opened the glass door of the elevator and announced.

"Since Imperial students are on a bit of a time-crunch to climb to the mountain’s peaks, they will have priority."

"The first five of you that arrived may enter."

At those words, a sudden whisper sounded through my right ear.

"Wait for me at the top."

It wasn’t a question or statement in her normal sarcastic tone, but a command.

Walking through the crowd of Worldly students, I tried my best to ignore their condescending words and chuckles.

"Have fun climbing eight hours to the peak!?"

"Go get your extra credit point, dipshit!"

"Awww, go fetch your extra credit point like a good dog."

Envy really was a powerful emotion.

Since I was at the very back of the crowd, when I arrived at the elevator, seven other Imperial students were already there.

Charlotte was already in the elevator while Scarlett, Evangel, Mira, Nico, Zeke, and Mira stood outside.

Even though I was at the back of those students, the president simply pointed at me and said before gesturing for me to enter.

"You were here early, right? Go on in."

It seemed...that for better or worse, my performance with Sage had made the president remember me.