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The Paper User: Exiled for a ‘Trash Skill,’ Awakens True Power and Rises with Two Unique Skills - Chapter 16

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 Chapter 16 : Promotion Exam 2

“The promotion exam will begin in five minutes.”

I heard Landon’s voice.

“Those who have obtained materials worth at least one gold coin, please return to this location. Also, if anyone needs to retire due to injury, please inform the staff in the forest. We have magical doctors on standby.”

Hearing those words, the adventurers tightened their expressions.

I lowered my head and looked at the special clothes Almine had made for me. The magic pockets contained various types of paper, and by using them according to the situation, I could conserve my basic magic power.

If I can’t pass the exam with this, it means I’m hopeless.

I absolutely have to clear the promotion exam!

◇　◇　◇

At the signal to start, over a hundred adventurers moved at once.

I started walking south, a little behind them.

I had already bought a map of the surrounding forest area when I learned this was the exam venue. There are many water areas to the south, so there’s a high chance monsters will be there.

Several adventurers, thinking the same way, overtook me.

Monsters target the adventurer who attacks first, so nearby monsters will be fought over.

I slipped through the trees and climbed a slope covered with fallen leaves.

After some time, I reached a spot overlooking the vast southern forest.

A river flowed on the right, and a small lake was visible on the left.

“So, which way should I go?”

I crossed my arms and thought.

If I go to the lake, the chance of encountering other adventurers is higher. The river seems better.

At that moment, I spotted a forest jellyfish floating above the bushes.

The forest jellyfish was about 30 centimeters long and glowed pale blue all over.

It’s a harmless monster native to the forest, and its materials can’t be obtained.

“It looks pretty, though.”

I poked the forest jellyfish with my index finger.

It floated softly away from me.

“Alright! Let’s go.”

Gripping my demon-devouring dagger tightly, I ran along a narrow animal trail.

Pushing aside grass vines hanging from tree branches, I spotted a teenage girl fighting a silver wolf near the riverbank.

She looked around mid-teens with a slender build.

Her hair was short and blue, and she had rabbit ears growing on her head—apparently an ajin (demi-human).

The girl dodged the silver wolf’s charge and stabbed with a dagger.

The silver blade pierced the wolf’s chest, but the beast seemed unfazed and kept attacking her.

The silver wolf… If she defeats it and skins it, the materials would be worth over two gold coins—enough to clear the exam. But the question is whether she can win.

The silver wolf is fast, and its front claws are long and sharp.

“Woooooon!”

The wolf raised its fur and leapt at the girl.

She failed to avoid the attack. The blue claw ripped her shoulder, staining her green clothes red.

This is bad! At this rate, she’ll be killed.

At this distance, I can’t help yet… I need to get closer…

The wolf swung a front paw down.

The girl’s dagger struck the blue claw and was knocked away.

“Woooooon!”

The wolf jumped toward the girl’s pale face.

“Magic Defense Wall Strength 3!”

Three sheets of white paper materialized, layered to form a wall, stopping the wolf’s attack.

“Pick up your dagger now!”

Hearing my voice, the girl hurried to grab her dagger and circled to the wolf’s side.

Then she thrust the dagger into the wolf’s neck, almost colliding with it.

“Woo…oon…”

Still, the wolf opened its mouth wide, trying to bite her.

Its white teeth clacked loudly.

The girl held the wolf’s head with her left hand and pressed the dagger harder with her right.

After a few seconds, the wolf’s movement stopped.

It swayed and collapsed on its side.

Alright! Looks like she defeated it.

I approached the girl.

“Do you have any healing potions?”

“Ah, y-yes.”

She took a healing potion from a pouch on her waist and gulped it down.

The wound on her shoulder slowly closed and stopped bleeding.

She had a fairly high-grade healing potion. Her dagger also seemed magical—unusual for an F-rank adventurer.

This looks manageable. I need to find a monster to gather materials from too.

“Well then.”

As I started walking, the girl grabbed my arm.

“Wait!”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Can I keep this?”

She pointed at the fallen silver wolf.

“Of course. You fought it, so it’s yours.”

“But if you hadn’t helped me, I would have died.”

“I only helped a little.”

I met her gaze.

“You’re the one who defeated the silver wolf.”

“…Thank you. I’m Mirufa. What’s your name?”

“I’m Yakumo.”

“Yakumo, huh. Do you have a unique skill?”

“Yeah. The ability to manipulate paper.”

“Hmm, paper? That’s an interesting skill.”

Mirufa looked at me with her blue eyes.

“Good luck. I’m rooting for your promotion.”

“You should do your best skinning the wolf too.”

Saying that, I ran upstream.

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Translator’s Notes:

  • Ajin (亜人): A demi-human or non-human race, often with animal traits, common in fantasy settings.

  • Magic Defense Wall Strength 3 (魔防壁強度三): A spell where multiple sheets of magical paper form a layered defensive barrier.

  • Gold coin value: The exam requires adventurers to collect materials worth at least one gold coin to pass.

  • Unique Skill: A special, rare skill individual adventurers may possess, often critical in these stories.

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