“Lady Esme, Saintess Monica, Lady Torlin, thank you ever so much for your assistance!”
Super maid Vesta was impressive as always.
No one knows how Professor Malea was persuaded, but she managed to borrow an automaton and recreate the Softy Trio Trial convincingly.
Practicing the entire exam at once is definitely more helpful than doing each of the three events separately!
“Anyway, I had to practice seriously for this exam too.”
“This is my first time, but I’m really looking forward to it!”
“Um… Can I join in as well?!”
Gathering like this for Murmur’s sake is touching me a little.
I wanted Nicasia and Citrine to join too, but they had things to do.
Especially Citrine even asked cutely if we could do it tomorrow instead.
“Murmur is happy to be able to practice with Torlin.”
“Uh, uhh… I’m just a dwarf who isn’t good at anything…”
“What does being a dwarf have to do with anything? Let’s just try our best together!”
Torlin, who was carefully reading the atmosphere, nodded enthusiastically after realizing her cheering helped.
Yeah, yeah! I’m Murmur, a demon race softy, and if I can do it, what does being a dwarf matter?
“If everyone is ready, please take your positions at the starting line.”
At Vesta’s words, everyone quickly lined up at the start and got into position.
“Three, two, one!”
The practice trial began with Vesta clapping loudly and shouting “Pang!”
To get a good score in the Softy Trio Trial, time is the most important factor.
While extra points could be earned in the final archery event, if the set time limit is exceeded by far, it all becomes meaningless.
“Hiiyaah…!”
That’s why Esme immediately yelled a battle cry while gripping her wooden sword and charging at the automaton.
─ Clang!
“Zo, zoom! Just hit me already, I say!”
Esme’s flashy stab was blocked by the automaton’s light parry.
“Tch!”
On the other hand, Monica swung her clearly heavy wooden mace.
And surprisingly, it worked on the first try, with the automaton ringing happily to indicate a pass.
Monica really has unexpectedly good athletic sense.
“Uwaaah… What should I do… How should I…!”
“Stay calm and fight!”
In front of trembling Torlin, I, Murmur, took a deep breath.
Considering our stats, directly attacking the automaton is pointless.
─ Creak creak!
Timing is key!
We need to counterattack when the automaton makes a large move.
“Uuugh…!”
I lightly stepped on the swinging sword with my soft feet and swung my wooden sword.
─ Ring ring ring!
Great! The counterattack worked perfectly!
Once you memorize the timing, it’s nothing at all!
“Next is…!”
I put down my wooden sword and quickly moved to prepare for the second event, running.
“Ugh…”
Monica and Esme, who started earlier, were already far ahead.
“Murrmur-sama! Put forth your strength!”
Monica even stopped running to turn back and cheer me on.
… Do I really look like I can’t run that badly?!
“Chit…!”
I tightly gripped my legs and started moving my body.
I’m not completely unable to run, I just lack stamina!
If I properly decide to do this, I can do it easily!
“Huff, huff… Huff!”
“Mu, Murmur! Are you, are you okay?”
Didn’t Torrin start later than me?
Why is she suddenly standing next to me patting my back?
“Mu, Murmur is fine…”
“Sh, sh, shall I help you?”
“No… Murmur…! You have to try on your own! You have to finish on your own!”
I clenched both fists and started moving my legs again.
Ah! Seriously! No matter how hard I try, how come these pathetic stats of Strength 7 Agility 6 Health 6 don’t improve?!
Isn’t it supposed to raise at least one stat as a taste when putting in this much effort?!
Magic gave me one during a date with Citrine! Why is martial arts so stingy?!
“Huff… Huff, huff…!”
“Murrmur, are you alright? You always seem exhausted when running.”
“You can’t even arm wrestle at all? I won!”
“… Monica, aren’t you surprisingly healthy?!”
With Esme gasping in shock and Monica smiling brightly, I, Murmur, kept running.
“Huff…!”
Though I almost fell once in the middle, and became a sweat-soaked softy, I somehow made it to the archery event.
… Is this difficulty because of the horns?
“Good job, Murrmur-sama.”
“Gulp, gulp…!”
I quickly drank the cold water Vesta handed me and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
It was incredibly tiring and took a long time, but I somehow did it!
“Ugh… There was no point in running so fast. If it ends like this.”
“Yes! Chit! Yeaah!”
Luckily, neither Esme nor Monica did well in archery, so no one finished the Softy Trio Trial yet.
Torlin was seriously aiming her bow with a determined look, but hasn’t scored any hits yet.
“Huh…”
Though running was tough, now it’s my time, Murmur’s time!
Though my strength feels like it’s leaking out like jelly, I can still calmly grab the bow with both hands, aim, and pull the string!
“Ah! Murrmur-sama! Try hard! Try hard!”
Citrine appeared perfectly timed to wave her arms wildly in support.
It’s embarrassing sometimes because her voice is so loud, but it really helps!
Anyway! For the final archery event, hitting the target three times finishes it.
While there are bonus points for getting closer to the center, if you exceed the time limit significantly, it doesn’t matter much.
“Chit!”
─ Fwoosh! Thud!
“Why is Murmur weird? Can’t run but why is she good at archery?!”
Are you jealous about that?
Esme shot her arrow with a look of complete confusion.
Her flashy arrow flew past above the target.
Of course! My, Murmur’s arrow accurately hit the center.
“Great job! As expected of Murrmur-sama!!!”
Citrine jumped around waving her hands where she stood.
… She’s not going to do that during the actual exam, right?
“Huff…”
─ Thud!
I deeply inhaled and quickly shot the bow twice more.
Even though I wasn’t particularly good at FPS games, since my body moves exactly how I want and aims the bow, I can’t miss the center!
“Murrmur-sama is the best!!!”
Citrine enthusiastically clapped and cheered.
Anyone watching would think I passed the exam today!
“Murrmur-sama is amazing!”
Looking at Monica who smiled late, I saw three arrows perilously hanging on the edge of the target.
Judging from her wild and reckless hits all around, top, bottom, and sides, I shouldn’t rely on Monica for ranged attacks in the future.
“J, jeez, Murmur really shoots arrows w, well!”
Despite saying that, Torrin, who sweated profusely like me, Murmur, had pretty good results.
Though she didn’t hit the center every time, unlike Esme who completely missed, her arrows were closely grouped together.
“Good job.”
While I, Murmur, was surrounded by friends receiving lots of compliments, Vesta approached clapping.
“Ugh… Then how many points did Murmur get?”
“Let’s assume it’s out of 100 points!”
No way, that seems difficult.
It took some time in the running event.
Vesta smiled receiving everyone’s gaze.
“Zero points due to time over. You need to work harder, Murrmur-sama.”
“Eek…”
“After showing excellent performance in sparring and archery, focusing on running will suffice.”
Wait a minute, what’s this flow?
“In the future, concentrating on running shouldn’t be a problem. Murrmur-sama.”
“Mu, Murmur…”
“Practicing ten laps a day will soon make you a good runner.”
Gulp!
“Murrmur dislikes such exercise friends ooooh!”
Running ten laps a day isn’t too crude a method?!
*
“Murrmur-sama, Murrmur-sama. Good morning!”
My body swayed with Vesta’s warm voice as morning arrived.
“Uuum…”
《Complete Professor Malea’s Trio Trial!》
《Reward: Professor Malea’s favor, Cosmos Academy reputation, Martial Arts skill》
I rubbed and turned off the annoying status window floating in front of my eyes.
I know today’s the day for the Softy Trio Trial.
“Today is the day for Murrmur-sama’s examination by Professor Malea, so I shall assist with your grooming.”
“Murrmur thinks there’s no need to go that far.”
Though I said that, Vesta was already leading me to the bathroom by holding my hand.
Before I knew it, my pajamas were stripped away, and Vesta lathered up plenty of white foam in her hands before rubbing it on my, Murmur’s, body.
“After showering, I’ll have you wear gym clothes instead of the uniform.”
Since it’s an all-day exam day, wearing sportswear is definitely more convenient, right?
“If you achieve good results today, I’ll grant Murrmur-sama one wish.”
“Murrmur will do well without such incentives.”
Vesta softly chuckled.
Too much! Really!
“I hope Murrmur-sama achieves good results. You’ve worked hard until now.”
Vesta spoke while thoroughly drying my, Murmur’s, body with a towel.
Honestly, my running speed improved a bit, so I think I can naturally get decent scores.
Even though the status window didn’t notify me of increased stats, I’m sure my speed improved!
“Uum…”
For some reason, my horns feel hot since this morning.
It’s not dizzying or anything.
Still, since it’s the day for Professor Malea’s Softy Trio Trial, nothing unusual should happen, right?
If anything, maybe just a small mishap like falling badly while running!
“Uuum…!”
I stretched in the morning by raising both hands high in a victory pose.
My body is still soft, but I can definitely pass the trio trial narrowly!
“Murrmur will…! Brilliantly pass the exam today!”
“I’ll cheer for you, Murrmur-sama!”
Vesta and Bianca clapped their hands while cheering for me, Murmur.
… They won’t do that during the exam, right? Having Citrine and three people cheering would be super embarrassing!
