Part 1.

We made a quick stop at the Waterway after our venture in the desert in order to cool down a little bit. Saitou and Takeshi happily refreshed their bodies in the cold water but I stood with my back near the entrance as I thought of some things in regard of what might come.

I looked down on the glacial-tempered floor as they both continued to swim under water. I argue that it's alright to rest because we are tired but there is something that I cannot ignore.

As such, I cast out a small glance at Saitou from afar and spoke out loud with my arms down.

"Saitou! Mind if I ask you something?"

He started to swim over my direction but I quickly urged him the necessity of not to.

"It's alright! You can keep at it! You deserve to relax."

Saitou spat some water on the air before speaking to me whilst continuing to swim over the Waterway. Midst that, Takeshi approached Saitou. It wasn't as if I was trying to keep Takeshi out of this; I was simply preserving their time for relaxing. But, it appears that they are well aware that whenever I want to speak with them in a more serious tone that it's urgent.

So, I spoke once again, now to Saitou and Takeshi.

"Are you two tired?"

They didn't hesitate to answer the question itself as it was obvious from the start.

"Well, duh! Of course I am!"

"Sorta. But why ask anyways? And why aren't you in the water too? Are you too inhuman to feel physically tired? Haha!"

Though Saitou was joking around, he knew that I was quite tired but simply relaxing like this was enough for me. Nevertheless, knowing that they are both tired is enough for me to know that what I want to do right now shouldn't be the plan of action.

I can't help but shake it off though. This feeling of unease; as if we are supposed to do something to stop Hajime yet I don't formerly know what to do exactly.

"No way. I was just checking something. I'm fine like this, thank you."

But even with that, Saitou was clever enough to tell that I was hiding something; so he spoke his mind right away.

"Uh... Dude---No, Daku, I may be a idiot for falling too much into this whole prank of yours, but supposedly, if not, I can tell when you are trying to insinuate something and you are doing that..."

He scratched the back of his wet hair before speaking yet again, almost in full skeptical.

"What I am saying is... If... you are too worried about our condition and you have a goal in mind, then, by all means, put the goal in the first place."

"That would just be like Master!"

Takeshi smirked alongside Saitou. In addition to all this, I couldn't help but feel slightly bad for what I am about to do, as they both deserve more rest.

Resolved; I firmly said the truth.

"I want to stop someone and I need your help in order to do so."

Both confused, they looked at each other; while in the midst, I got up and sterched. In order to not further their confusion, I elaborated.

"Does the name "Hajime" ring a bell to any of you?"

"Hajime?" x2.

I didn't expect their sudden confusion once again as I thought that they would immediately identify him, but to my trouble, that didn't seem to be the case.

Takeshi began to ascend the degrees of the beginning of the Waterway in order to meet up with me; ultimately delivering his final response.

"I can't say it does..."

"I see..."

Meanwhile, Saitou was in deep thought and then, he made a shocked expression as if he remembered something.

"Saitou?"

Saitou was fairly quick in replying nonetheless.

"You are probably referring to Hajime Hyunda. He's our classmate!"

Subsequently, Takeshi placed the bottom of his right fist onto his plain left palm in agreement.

"You're right! I forgot that was his first name! Everyone just calls him Hyunda."

Just like Takeshi, Saitou was closer to me right now and I didn't hesitate on asking my questions.

"First of all... Have you all met him before in this exam?"

"Nope!"

Rapid like a bullet, Takeshi showed no slow verbal motion in answering, but Saitou delivered a different type of answer though slower.

"If all you've said is true, Daku, then something here doesn't add up."

"What do you mean, Saitou?"

He took around two seconds to answer that as he was analyzing my facial expression firstly. If I had to say, this was the last time that he remained skeptical towards my circumstance and finally began to believe that I was not Ryousuke Kawahara but truly Izayoi Daku.

"Kawahara has some grudge against the dude, but he never really explained why. Isn't that right, Kuzan?"

"You said it... Though, what does that have to do with anything?"

I allowed them to talk to each other and waited for my potential turn.

"If he has a grudge against him, then isn't it natural for Kawahara to seek Hyunda out? I am saying that all this time, he might've been hyper aware of him, for reasons unknown. It's confusing to me though... Daku, there's something you should know about this program."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing all that, I was curious about what Saitou had to say; eagerly.

"There are special exams every month and you essentially can only screw up three times."

"And Hyunda has screwed up three times!"

Takeshi added the last piece of information and I asked something in return to Takeshi and Saitou.

"Say, what happens if you screw up more than three times?"

This piece of information that they provided me sufficed my knowledge even more.

"Execution, huh? Well, I won't argue how unrealistic that probably is and how it's most likely a lie, so I will instead assure of the most important piece here----- Does Hajime not want to pass the exam?"

Saitou answered very skeptical here for some reason.

"He should... I don't see why he wouldn't... I mean, if he doesn't then he's screwed..."

"Yeah..."

I placed my right hand on my chin whilst the tension grew larger. There are some things that don't match here. Wouldn't one want to seek cooperation in a circumstance such as this? The end goal here is to pass the exam and get everyone out of this island. That is the successful route on paper.

Therefore, how come you essentially refused that, Hajime?

"Hold on. Why did he fail the other exams?"

He doesn't strike me as an incompetent individual, so it's out of the question that he failed the other exams due to incompetence. If it's not incompetence, then it's something else. As such, I am making sure if there isn't someone who knows the roots behind his behavior.

Takeshi was left clueless.

"I don't know. Maybe he just doesn't take it serious enough?"

"You're joking, right, Kuzan? How can he not? His life is on the line here..."

"Hmm, that's true... What then?"

"Hell if I know..."

Ultimately, they placed their looks on me as if I had the answer to their doubts, but...

"Sorry, I was asking you two because I don't know."

Saitou this time around further stretched his head once more; furiously this time.

"Ahhhh! I don't understand this topic at all! What is the point here?"

"I met him, back in the ruins."

This shocked them plenty; to the point of shaking my body with a minimal brute force over and over.

"What?!" x2.

"Now, hold on. Don't get all excited..."

"But wait a second... Wasn't that the fifth section...?"

It appears that Saitou has reached a conclusion that any person in this exam would and soon, Takeshi reached the main point too.

"How is that possible?! We had to walk through each section to get to the fifth one but he... was already there...? That doesn't make sense!"

"I don't mean to doubt you, but are you sure you didn't hallucinate the whole thing by any chance?"

Realizing through my serious gaze that such was not the case, Saitou apologized and continued.

"Okay, my bad! I trust you... Though, what happened there?"

I then further explained the whole situation although I already knew that it would bring them stress along the way.

Takeshi might've not thought about this as much as Saitou, because Saitou began to wildly speculate something.

"T---There's just... Hold on... Was this all a...."

"Set up? Most likely."

"Uhhh... I am not the smartest creature here, so can someone explain for simple creatures like me?"

Smiling a bit forcefully, Takeshi demanded an explanation. Saitou looked ready to explain but as no wind came through and only the satisfying balanced temperatures, I took the chance to elaborate even further.

"Our advancements so far might've sounded genuine due to our approach. In other words, the more we seeked out and completed everything, the more we discovered. However, there's a vast possibility that maybe advancing towards the other sections might not be restricted to our approaches only."

"Uuuuuuuuuuhhhhhh..."

Takeshi looked extremely confused by what I just said and here I thought that I was doing a good example in explaining things. Essentially speaking, I just said that our approach was all but something that was already taken into consideration from the start and that someone who is aware of how we would approach most likely set this thing up with Hajime. But I didn't get to that point because Saitou intervened, saving my skin.

"What he's saying is that it's a whole facade. That gathering the words, perhaps isn't even the slightest ultimate goal here."

"Well, what is it then?! Wasn't Master always bringing up the importance of the words and how they were the key to passing this exam?"

"It's just a huntch, Kuzan! Maybe I am wrong her---"

Before Saitou couldn't go back on his word, I reinforced the importance of the point he had just made.

"You're not wrong. But you're also not right at the same time."

"Huh?!"

"Remember what he said? How the exam was all about gathering the words and it's done?"

"Didn't we just argue about how that's not the case at all, Daku? Plus, how the hell does he know that?! He lied to you for sure."

That is a possibility, but my rationality tells me that he wasn't lying back there.

"I am saying, there's more to the gathering of words. There might be something up ahead beyond the exam and we have to figure it out before it's too late..."

My whole point led to this end. Unaware of what Hajime is planning, it's hard to think that the cloud reactor in our possession alongside the flasks and the destructive component that he gave me in the ruins, are not connected. In the first place, why would he go out of his way to give it all to me? It's absurdly obvious what he is aiming for.

He wants Ryousuke back. There's something that he planned for Ryousuke in specific and nothing so far clicks in.

"And you think Hyunda is the key behind the chaos that's supposedly coming up?"

"Undoubtely, Saitou."

"....I just don't get any of this... If you are truly right, then what's his objective here...? We can't kill each other or else we are screwed. Daku, he's bluffing, right?"

"I don't think so. You are free to dismiss my take on this if you don't trust me, Saitou, but I'll stick to this."

"Damn it, man! Just say that you want us to trust you and we will!"

This time around, I was the one who scratched the back of his head. It's a nice feeling, the one Saitou gives. He dislikes slightly meek people and their weak attitudes. Perhaps I was too reluctant?

That can change then.

"I didn't wanna force you, but I would like you two to stick with my take here."

"There we go! Alright!"

But just as Saitou was happily exclaiming that, Takeshi spoke his mind since he was thinking this whole time for a while. I didn't expect much, but what he said was oddly surprising.

"I don't mean to drag this conversation on, but... from what you said to us, didn't you say that Hyunda said that he wasn't planning on taking action? So, how can he be the key to this "chaos" then?"

This question of Takeshi left me and Saitou on the hang for a while, but Saitou was capable of drawing a plausible conclusion faster than I could.

"Sagasuga! He can't be trusted!"

"Are you saying they are working together?!"

I am sensing a pattern here... Essentially, through one question, two questions are raised and if there are two answers, then four questions should be followed. To make us lose time, then? However, isn't his aim to make us not lose time?

"Hold on a second, you two. Sagasuga, who is he?"

Saitou facepalmed for a while but he conclusively delivered the answer that I was looking for shortly.

"A classmate of ours... Kuzan is implying that he's working together with Hyunda. But, what the hell? Since when have they been close enough to even "work" together, Kuzan?! That's so far fetched..."

"Oh yeah... Now that you mention it..."

It's hard to keep up but from what I understand, Takeshi just thought that Sagasuga and Hajime are working together. I have yet to meet this Sagasuga.

"Say, have we encountered Sagasuga?"

To this, Saitou let out a burst of laughter out of nowhere.

"Oh, we sure HAVE! Daku, you might not remember this, but Kawahara sure does. According to Kawahara, he put Sagasuga hanging on a cliff!"

..........

Dissappointed, I facepalmed for a while. Ryousuke... What were you thinking exactly?

"But, don't get me wrong. I approve of Kawahara's decision. Sagasuga is dangerous. He's the type of guy who wears the same expression every time and can easily fake a smile. I wouldn't trust someone like him."

"I see."

All in all, this little chat before we headed out towards our next stop was beyond helpful as now I have someone else in mind to keep a track off. Surely, we will encounter Sagasuga along the way and perhaps Hajime too? I highly doubt that we won't.

However, before we could conclude this conversation, I asked Saitou one last question.

"Say, Saitou, is Sagasuga the only one who you think isn't trust-worthy?"

"No, it's really hard to trust anyone from our classroom."

"I didn't mean it that way. Someone who could be working alongside Hajime."

Saitou thought for a while and he seemed to have hit the jackpot but after rechecking his own thought he held his own thought on that.

"Uh, no. I don't think there is. Look, I trust you, but I really don't believe in this whole circumstance. I think we are slowly going insane and making way too many things up. But, hey! That's just my opinion!"

"No... You could... be right..."

Without saying another word, we exited the Waterway and resumed our march towards the next section.

Part 2.

Unlike the desert, this new environment offered something that wasn't entirely contrasting but we could not examine what it had to offer because the elevator towards the section down didn't have transpeancy whatsoever. It was fully stelled thus covering our vision until it stopped.

Saitou was holding the tablet this whole time and the moment the elevator door opened; instead of paying attention to the scenario ahead of us, we focused on the tablet's readings on the area.

"It's as you said, Daku. This is "Capella". The sixth brightest star in the sky, correct?"

"It really is according to the ten brightest stars in the sky."

And then, a reading in the tablet was formed. A red icon popped in the middle of the map and upon noticing that, Takeshi didn't hesitate to click it; to which Saitou didn't mind at all.

"Sacred Mountain of Capella... And--- Woahhh!"

"It's so long! Look, look!"

Takeshi pushed me into the outside scenery as he further saw with his own eyes the large entrance of the mountain. The entirety of the mountain was visible from the start, but before we could focus on the mountain, there was the entrance gate which was unnecessarily extensive or so I thought.

There weren't any large wide areas to our left but only a very straight forward wooden bridge that looked stable. Below it, however, were clouds, which implied the enormous height from such a fall, if it were to occur. The bridge itself aside from being wooden also had computer entries every ten steps of the way.

I already thought that the fact that there are ten visible computer entries, couldn't be a coincidence. What I was already referring to was not the computer entries, but the number of entries. No doubt about it, it looked as if it was meant for ten words in specific.

Despite the weather being relatively warm, it wasn't like the desert, but the sun wasn't very high either. If anything, this was the weather of dawn; as the sun kept peeking through the left side of the mountain, which was covered in beautiful white snow at the top.

We continued to further walk until we reached a computer entry on the right side of the bridge. The entries were just a tad little leaner to the edge of the bridge in order to contrast the linear structure of the bridge as a whole.

Ready to decipher the gimmick here, Takeshi spoke his mind out loud first.

"I may not enjoy the harsh conditions, but the gimmicks of each location are what keeps me going, honestly!"

In agreement, Saitou couldn't help but show happiness in his facial expression as he carried the tablet in his hands; ultimately simulatenously unraveling the map of the location.

"I gotta say, I completely agree. Though, we didn't really see any of the ruins' gimmick, huh? What was it like?"

That question was meant to me, to which I answered.

"Looking back into it, I didn't have to go through anything because Hajime gave me the components of the ruin."

"So he completed the whole thing by himself? I don't really get him. Right, Kuzan?"

"He's weird! Anyway, let's start!"

We three looked ready to decipher anything that comes our way and although I didn't confirm with them whether or not they were on the same length of thought process as me regarding the ten words potentially colliding with the entries, I nevertheless didn't care much and just attempted to give all the opportunities to them because they looked ready to enjoy this.

However, with our eyes permanently glued onto the screen, we captured a message in the screen of the computer that destroyed our expectations.

"Password... entry... successful....?!"

"But we didn't insert any password!"

"..."

Saitou and Takeshi were both fuming, but I took my eyes off the computer and looked towards the ground. More specifically towards the root of the structure of the computer. Although there weren't cables leaking out of the root, there was a magnetic silver trace within the wood logs that would then turn towards the left side of the bridge.

I then kneeled down up ahead and caught the small glimpse of a minimal gap between the intersection where we stand and the one up ahead.

In other words, inserting the password correctly here allows the upcoming intersection to come forth, which would enable us to pass successfully. Furthermore, shouldn't we be successful, I am afraid to theorize that it wouldn't be possible to achieve anything here, at all. Because there isn't anything linking the initial intersection with anything else except the clouds below. But one would have to be insane to go through that.

Conclusion here being; inserting the password correctly grants one the passage to go forward and that's why we were met with the full bridge from the start; because the password from the first entry was successfully put. Which further means that if that's the case, then all the other password entries from up ahead are...

"Whenever you enter a state of silence, it usually means you found something, Daku."

"Perceptive, Saitou."

They are both now looking at me, hoping for an answer, but I rather show them the true answer instead of telling them preemptively.

"Let's keep it going, shall we?"

After I said that, we continued to walk over the computer entries that were adjoined in the bridge; both being left to right numerically.

Not a single entry was asking for a password as the password itself had been successfully input previously. Not by us, of course.

On the tenth computer entry and the last one, Saitou expressed himself vividly, but not to the point where he smashed the tablet onto the ground.

"Am I missing something HERE?! Don't you need all the ten passwords to get this shit right?! Are you telling me that SOMEONE had all the passwords just like that?! What the fuck!"

To this, Takeshi offered another alternative to consulate Saitou. But first, he lightly touched Saitou's right shoulder with his left hand at a distance.

"Hey! Maybe they all required the same password! You know how in the Waterway you could only get somewhere with a single password only? Why should this one be any different?"

"That's... You know what... Maybe you are really right, Kuzan."

"...."

I opted to not say anything in order to not further anything to Saitou's stress. Truth told: although the password entries were already input successfully, the intersections were shaped differently. For example, each intersection had different outputs in the outlining in-between the edges of their intranets. In essence, their different shapes are nowhere random. As a matter of fact, I daresay that they differ because something else supposedly also differs.

The passwords.

Regardless, what's important to capitalize is that our work that we would have trouble with; the mighty gimmick, was cleared...

One might think that someone else was here along the way and they were successful therefore we got lucky, but...

"The entrance to the mountain is clear. Let's move. Takeshi. Saitou."

Takeshi was already feeling dismotivated over the fact that the gimmick of the bridge remained unknown for us since someone else had already done the job for us.

In any other occasion, this would be motive to celebrate, but there's clearly something going on here. No doubt about it, this is Hajime's work, or at least I think so...

No other choice but to advance.

As such, we encountered the entrance to the mountain which symbolized the end of the wooden bridge. A grand total of six pillar made out of artificial white steel were present before we could get to the long stairway that would go all the way to the top of the mountain---preassumably--- yet before we could further advance, we caught the glimpse of a smaller pillar in the middle of the road.

Amidst that elaborated ground filled with diagonal mosaic patterns; just alike in the Waterway, except it didn't emerge this time, the primary key component of the section was there.

"Hey, wait.... It didn't erupt out of nowhere! I love that, what gives?!"

"That's not what's wrong here, Kuzan..."

"So you've noticed, Saitou."

I traded glances with Saitou as Takeshi remained clueless but not for long. In a matter of seconds, I approached the small silver althar and captured the first component of the Capella's sacred mountain. It was lying on the silver base linked to a glass that descended into the base of the structure of the althar once my right hand approached it.

"Aside from the annoying fact that this was CONVENIENTLY awaiting us, what are we going to do with a single horn?"

To this, Takeshi answered Saitou's question rather laxly.

"Don't we just have to advance and find out? We'll probably find another piece that links to that horn automatically!"

Saitou wasn't exactly pleased with the fact that Takeshi was swallowing this whole circumstance with ease.

"Kuzan?! Are you joking?! Where's the fun in something automatic?! There's no room for victory like this because we are being conspired against!"

"Ehhhh?! But this doesn't feel like a conspiracy at all..."

"Bullshit! This is total conspiracy! And----"

Both Saitou and Takeshi quickly stopped arguing once they saw the ravine gap in-between the left pillars. It wasn't there until the component got taken out of its initial place. Usually, if a place erupts out of nowhere, then it's a signal that the secondary component is at sight.

However, this activation didn't make sense for any of us because, usually, you'd have to do something first before you could get an access to this sort of event.

In other words, if this is truly the secret passage then there is only one way for this event to be occurring. Whoever has been orchestrating this event did this in the reverse order.

Enough evidence lacks, nonetheless.

"That will most likely take us to the top. We should ride it instead of going through the whole mountain trail."

As I said this, I reflected on yet another possibility. There's no doubt that this mountain trail is intended with some sort of gimmick behind it which would permit whoever is successful in deciphering the ability to capture the component that's at the top.

If so, then the person behind this went through such a length of work just for this simple outcome...

Whilst riding the elevator to the top; since the secret passage was ultimately a dark elevator with only the way up to the top, Saitou spoke his mind as the elevator accelerated at a very rapid inhuman pace.

"This feels wrong. We aren't doing anything. This is the equivalent of being spoon fed! Say, Daku, why did this elevator appear out of nowhere? It's one thing for a component to show out of nowhere when we are successful in putting everything in its place. I think the component was already there because of all the passwords being correct, but this elevator?! What gives?"

To answer this question, I started with something factual.

"The elevator showed up the moment the component---the horn--- got taken out of its place."

"Yeah, I get that! But this is leading us to the top! You can see the bridge from up here!"

Unlike the elevator we rode on our way to this section, this elevator's glass is transparent. We can see everything from up here. Still, it's nothing more than clouds covering the bottom of our view and a crystal clear cerulean morning sky adjoined to the scenery.

"That's true. I have a hunch, but we'll soon see the truth. We're here."

What followed was nothing more than an extremely linear however thin rocky road to a cubic-shaped tower. That tower was about twenty meters up ahead but we were already hyper-conscious about the thinness of the road and how easy it is to fall.

On the other hand, Takeshi noticed something on our right side, from afar.

"Look over there! Afar! Isn't that a tower just like ours?!"

"It is! But, look. From where we stand, we aren't exactly fully connected with the mountain."

"No, Saitou, we are. This way simply leads us to an edge which strays from the mountain but not entirely. Meanwhile, that other tower is most likely the destination of the mountain trail. In other words, without the elevator, we would have to climb all the way to go there."

We still had not yet made a single move from the elevator's entrance into the massively thin roadway.

There was also nothing connecting this path to the other one. Left with no choice but to go forward, I said something to Saitou and Takeshi before setting out towards the tower up ahead.

"I will go on the front. Should the ground crack and I fall, I want you two to run back as fast as possible."

Saitou wanted to immediately say something but I spoke before he could; one more time.

"Don't get the wrong idea, should the ground crack, I will get something done on my own. For example, I could jump forward and sprint to the whole path while you two go back."

"....Don't die on us, man. If we die, we all die together."

"That's wrong. I'm the leader. Your lives are my top priority. As such, I will never prioritize something like a collective death over a chance of saving another life."

Without saying anything else, I began to confidently walk forward without blinking the whole way. Thankfully, the ground did not collapse and just like that, we were inside the cubic tower, which was about ten meters tall.

Plus, it wasn't massive or anything, as the size all went into its height, not horizontal dimension.

Abandoning the exterior of the corruptive black tower, we entered and found a computer password entry right in the middle.

The secondary component was already visible as it was in the center; ahead of the computer.

This time... there was something different about the computer password entry. It required three password entries; to which they were already successfully input.

Depending on how many chances one gets at inserting the correct password, the level of difficulty here can be either absurdly easy or extremely challenging.

"How shocking..."

Saitou really wasn't in the mood for this so he started this out with sarcasm. Meanwhile, Takeshi was firmly holding the secondary component, which was yet another horn.

As I approached Takeshi, alongside Saitou, I spoke about what the horns might be referring to.

"Capella is often associated with the figure of a goat, hence the horns, in case you are wondering."

"I see! No wonder they look really like a goat's horns! But... Huh... What do we do with these horns?"

I was about to speak my mind, but Saitou spoke mine instead.

"I'm pretty sure we are going to have to go to the other tower in order to find what the horns are for. The bad news is that we are going to have to go back to the entrance AND climb the mountain properly!"

Saitou looked to be on the jackpot and I was ready to admit that I was wrong about theorizing about this whole event being done in the reverse order, until we stepped out of the tower and saw that a new path had been erupted from right side of the tower's rock pits which connected all the way to the other tower.

"Yup, this really wasn't the secret passage. Man, this wasn't hard at all! I'm so disappointed!"

"Yeah, I thought that this would be way harder too!"

Takeshi and Saitou both let out their complaints while I observed the path that was ahead of us. Instead of being rocky, it was a stelled bridge which provided extreme safety unlike the previous rocky fragile roadway.

Would a really safer path emerge into the secret passage like that?

"Hm..."

There's something missing here.

Ultimately, we safely walked all the way to the other cubic tower whilst holding onto the horns. In my right hand, I had one of the horns while Takeshi had the other one.

Something crucial happened once we entered the end of the bridge as we entered the mountain's peak.

"It shrinked! Literally, all the way back to the tower!"

Neither Takeshi or Saitou were the one who spoke out loud like that, as it was I. To further examinate, I went forward right into the edge but that bridge didn't come back, which could only mean that the bridge can only be extended from the other side.

If such is the case, then it's highly likely that the ravine from the pillar's entrance also shrinked. Thus, the components being in place affect the whole process.

"Yeah, but what about it?"

"Yeah, what of it?"

Both clueless as they are, I was left with no choice but to enlighten them on the subject. It's a bad habit of mine, but I don't do it as often as I used to, so I don't really feel bad about it.

"First of all, Saitou, that was the secret passage. Here's why: Let's suppose that you'd have climbed the entire mountain and you'd reach the summit. As I have done a few seconds ago, even if I put myself on the edge the bridge won't be called forth. In other words, there is no way to access that tower without the elevator. Speaking of the elevator, I am fairly sure that inside the tower that we are about to enter, there will be password entry computer that already has the passwords deciphered. Someone went here and through that action of deciphering the passwords on their own which triggered the appearance of the elevator. I am also certain that this tower will lead us out of this mountain just like in the desert. So, knowing that there is already an exit, no one would bother to go all the way back to the beginning of the mountain when they can just advance. However, the truth is, at the beginning of the mountain, there is a ravine gap with an elevator in it and it could not be unlocked unless this was done in the reverse order. Rather, that's wrong... We were forced to go through this trial in the reverse order which is coincidentally the easy way. Otherwise, we would be losing more time and couldn't potentially be on our way. Furthermore, the way the secret passage's thin roadway is fragily shaped in comparison outstandinly wide composed bridge towards here. An---"

"Holy fuck, there's a limit! Stop, I get it!"

"Huh, I didn't get anything, but yeah, it's probably better to stop that..."

A bit embarrassed, I scratched the back of my head and I apologized.

"Haha, sorry... Old habits die hard."

"It's odd, because so far, you and Kawahara had nothing in common, but now, you two have one thing in common. You both go through extreme lengths in order to express your own points."

"........"

Just how many personality traits did you incorporate from me exactly, Ryousuke?

"That was refreshing, Daku."

"Yeah, you said it, Rayazaki! I saw Master in his full form there for a second."

"I mean, that's technically him. God, I look so fucking stupid actually agreeing with all this..."

Before they could extend this conversation, I brought to the table yet another point of importance as we walked into the tower.

"All this aside, it's not a coincidence that we are being handled over all these freebies."

"No kidding, huh? Daku, if you are truly right, then that means someone really did our work and didn't take the components on purpose. Just who the hell are we dealing with here..."

"Psychopaths."

They both got the chills as soon as I said that, but we quickly focused our attention into the inside of the tower. Though dark in there, the lights automatically turned on as soon as we walked into the parimeter.

We could have focused on the computer, but instead we placed our undivided attention into the head of the hornless goat stuck onto the steeled wall. The head itself wasn't big at all, but it looked extremely realistic.

It also wasn't a coincidence that it was hornless.

Regardless, I took a simple glance at the computer and to no one's surprise, everything was done for us.

Our success is not only expected, calculated, but manufactured.

This is a horrible feeling...

"We just gotta put the horns in the head, right?"

"For sure we do. Once we do that, something will happen, I am certain."

It was at this moment that I realized that I was wrong when I earlier claimed that anyone could have just taken the exit out of here by inserting the right password. That's not the case because even with the correct password, there isn't an exit. Alternatively speaking, the only real way out would be to go through the secret passage and grab the other horn.

The moment Takeshi and I inserted both the goat's horns on its head, a red pressing switch with a large blue button on its center came out of the goat's mouth.

At first it appeared to be an average switch, but as Saitou took ahold of it, I noticed that there were instructions on the back of it; therefore I alerted Saitou.

"On the back."

"Hm?"

He looked confused for a second but was quick on the uptake.

Takeshi, on the other hand, joined his side as he was immensely curious as to what the back of the switch had to say.

I already had gotten a fast read on it previously and I tried to hide my happiness because I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise.

Yet, there was one other reason as to why I didn't bother to speak. I was profoundly thinking as to why anyone would pass their chances to get their hands on this...

"Holy shit, what!? Are you joking?!"

"Is this a dream?! This is practically a win button!"

To be more specific, the back of the switch has one line incorporated to it. It doesn't get more simple than this line on its back: "Pressing this switch will grant you passage on the exam".

In other words, if we wanted to, one of us could leave the island and be done with the exam. As such, I looked at Saitou and Takeshi and asked the question.

"Do any of you want to win the exam? If so, you can press the switch."

However, they both know that only one person can get the victory pass here. Henceforth, I will speak my mind right here and now in order to avoid potential inner conflict.

"I won't do it. I was thinking of allowing someone who has a three exam losing streak press it. I believe it would make more sense to help someone out instead of selfishly pressing the button in order to win. And, I would like you two to help my cause. Please. Takeshi. Saitou."

With a serious glance, I yield their earnest supports, even expecting a genuine selfish reply as a response, fully knowing that was entirely possible and understandable.

However...

"That's all you have to say. You are our leader! Plus, Kawahara said he would make us pass the exam and he hasn't let us down so far."

"What Rayazaki just said! We don't need the button for us because we will pass the exam anyways!"

I must say, Ryousuke, your efforts may not collide well with your attitude, but it's not the worst thing in the world.

Be proud you have such good friends.

"Thank you. Let's give someone who needs this switch in order to avoid casualties. We will make this work!"

"Hell yeah!" x2.

We three high-fived simultaneously whilst stepping outside afterwards; ultimately witnessing a newborn cubic-shaped tower in the middle of the bridge that had reappeared. It appears that once the horns were put and the component was finally acquired, everything was in its place.

Ergo, that tower that would have the elevator to the next section was in our reach.

Sacred Mountain of Capella: Cleared.