Transmigrated as the Cuck.... WTF!!!-Chapter 52. It’s poisonous, isn’t it?

Eventually, the rest of the group began to calm down.

Freya and I explained the situation—how it was just harmless joking, a little friendly banter between two idiots who didn’t know when to quit. There was no need for anyone to be on guard.

Most of them laughed it off, shaking their heads or smiling awkwardly at our antics. Some even made jokes of their own, easing the tension even further.

But the lover boys?

They weren’t as easily convinced.

Their glares persisted, sharp enough to cut through steel. If looks could kill, I’d be a corpse seven times over by now.

I could practically feel the laser beams boring into my skull.

’Persistent little shits,’ I thought, rolling my shoulders lazily. ’Annoying.’

Still, I ignored them. No point picking a fight over something so petty.

As promised, Freya formally introduced me to the group.

There were more faces than I had expected—but I knew none of those. A surprising number of commoners had joined up as well, standing shoulder to shoulder with noble scions.

It was... unexpected.

In a setting like this, where status often dictated survival, I would have assumed the nobles would’ve long since "accidentally" trimmed the group down.

But no—they were actually working together. No insults. No sneering.

Maybe these nobles had some level of modesty left in them. Or maybe they just understood that survival trumped pride in this hellish exam.

Either way, I wasn’t complaining.

The day dragged on and, as the sun dipped below the fractured mountains, the sky was painted in a burnt orange hue, eventually darkening into a deep black.

Night arrived quietly, creeping across the land like a thick, heavy blanket.

The group, with some effort, found a place to stay for the night—a battered cave half-hidden behind a collapsed ridge.

From the outside, it looked like little more than a hole in the wall.

But once we stepped inside—

Holy shit.

The place was huge.

The main cavern alone could easily fit a couple dozen people with room to spare, and there were multiple smaller entrances branching off into deeper tunnels.

A real labyrinth.

Naturally, anyone with two brain cells to rub together knew not to venture deeper. God knew what kind of death sentence was lurking down there.

Maybe a nest of acid-spitting spiders.

Or a magma wyrm.

Or something even worse.

Better to stay put, keep watch, and not tempt fate.

The group’s fire element users worked together to light up the cavern, creating a soft, flickering warmth that danced across the rocky walls.

Meanwhile, the water and ice users decided to... cool the already cool cavern.

Why?

No clue.

Some sick fetish for temperature control maybe.

Honestly, it was like watching a bunch of toddlers competing over a thermostat.

Rolling my eyes at their nonsense, I slipped away from the group, stepping back outside.

The night air greeted me with a soft whisper, cool and fresh despite the harsh landscape around us.

Even with the cracked, broken ground, the molten rivers of lava cutting across distant cliffs, the night still managed to feel serene.

For a few minutes, I just stood there.

Letting the breeze wash over me, brushing against my skin like a gentle caress.

I closed my eyes and breathed in deep. The scent of burnt earth mixed with something... oddly sweet.

Peaceful. Calming.

A rare moment of silence.

Then, faint footsteps reached my ears, soft and deliberate.

I opened my eyes and turned my head slightly—already having a good guess at who it was.

Sure enough, there she was.

Freya.

She approached quietly, her hands clasped in front of her, holding a small basket brimming with colorful fruits. Reds, blues, oranges—a wild assortment that looked suspiciously vibrant.

My first thought upon seeing them was instinctive.

’That’s poisonous, isn’t it?’

But then I caught a glimpse of her face—calm, innocent, sincere.

And just like that, the suspicion faded.

Freya joined me without a word, settling down beside me on the rocky ground. She set the basket between us and, without ceremony, plucked a small blue berry from the pile.

Absentmindedly, she nibbled at it, her gaze distant, watching the fractured terrain stretch into the night.

There was something peaceful about her at that moment.

I couldn’t help it—a soft chuckle escaped my lips.

"You look like a rat," I said, grinning mischievously.

She froze mid-bite, turning her head to glare at me.

But instead of firing back immediately, she just huffed quietly and continued nibbling on her berry, feigning indifference.

Her cheeks puffed slightly from the bite she took, making her look even more like a sulky hamster trying to act tough.

I leaned back on my hands, still grinning.

"Seriously," I teased, "all you need now is a tiny cape and a miniature sword, and you’d be the hero of the rat kingdom."

Freya finally snapped, lightly smacking my shoulder with the back of her hand.

It was weak. Playful.

"You’re insufferable," she muttered under her breath.

I grinned wider. "You love it."

She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye—half annoyed, half amused.

Maybe a little bit fond.

Neither of us said anything after that.

We just sat there, the two of us sharing the silence, the night air, and the simple comfort of not being alone.

...

The day arrived sooner than I expected—probably because I had slept like a log last night, sprawled out under the open sky like some homeless vagrant.

Unlike the ragtag group inside the cave, I had opted to stay outside.

Even Freya, after nibbling her fill of berries and sitting with me for a while, eventually retreated back inside for the night.

Guess even the strongest minds have a limit when it comes to "embracing nature."

Stretching my arms over my head, I let out a long yawn, feeling my muscles groan in protest.

They were sore. Tight. But nothing serious enough to justify lazing around.

After a few more moments of slow, half-hearted stretching, the cave entrance rustled softly—and out walked Freya.

She looked... immaculate.

Perfectly rested.

Not a hair out of place.

It was honestly kind of offensive.

’Did she bring a miniature castle with her or something?’

Because there was absolutely no way a normal human being—let alone a pampered marquis’ daughter—should look that fresh after sleeping in a damn cave.

And yet, here she was. Radiating noble dignity as naturally as breathing.

It felt like an insult to reality itself.

After stepping out, she immediately drifted toward her group, engaging them in a discussion. I, on the other hand, lingered further back.

Sure, I had socialized with them yesterday. Smiled. Talked. Did the whole "being a normal human" thing.

But that was it.

My social battery? Running on fumes.

At this point, I was a ticking time bomb.

One more conversation, one more awkward smile, and I would detonate in the middle of the camp like a lunatic.

Knowing that, I wisely decided to keep my distance while they chatted, plotted, and bonded over whatever friendship rituals examinees did.

Meanwhile, I wandered.

The surrounding area was the same as always—cracked earth, jagged rocks, rivers of slow-moving lava carving scars through the terrain.

Not exactly the prettiest place for a morning stroll.

Still, it beat small talk.

Aside from the usual clitter-clatter of stones shifting under my boots, the place was eerily quiet.

No monsters.

No roars or distant shrieks.

Nothing.

Honestly?

It was annoying.

If I remembered correctly then to reach rank one, I’d need around 1000 points.

And right now?

I was sitting at... what, 120? Maybe 130 points?

Pathetic.

I could’ve checked the exact number through the system window, but honestly?

I didn’t have the heart to witness my own incompetence firsthand so early in the morning.

After a while, I gave up on wandering and headed back toward the cave.

Fortunately, the group meeting seemed to be over by the time I returned.

Everyone was scattered around in their own little cliques, chatting or prepping their gear.

Just as I stepped inside, Freya spotted me and immediately walked over.

Her expression was serious.

"Follow me," she said simply.

With a shrug, I complied.

She led me deeper into the cave, to a central area where a rough but surprisingly well-crafted table stood.

It looked like it had been shaped directly from the stone floor—a smooth pedestal-like slab.

’Earth element user. Nice work.’

Having a team definitely had its perks.

On the table lay a map—hand-drawn, sketched in broad strokes, but still impressively detailed for something made in the field.

Freya gestured toward it. "This is a speculated map of the zone. It’s not one hundred percent accurate, but it’s reliable enough."

I crossed my arms over my chest, eyeing the scribbled landmarks and danger zones.

"What’s the point of all this?" I asked bluntly.

Freya sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "This map marks the hotspot locations where monsters are most likely to appear in a group. I’m planning to launch a campaign there—to rack up enough points so everyone in the group can pass the entrance exam."

I nodded slowly, taking in the information.

"And," I drawled, "what’s the catch? You didn’t call me over just to show off your arts-and-crafts project."

She smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck.

"The thing is..." she began, "since the map isn’t completely accurate, there’s a high chance we’ll encounter monsters that are either ★★ rank or possibly higher. And most of the group... well, they’re barely ★ rank."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Meaning," I completed for her, "you need someone to play bodyguard and make sure nobody dies. Because you haven’t exactly told them about this little tiny, insignificant death trap detail."

Freya winced, guilt flashing across her face. "It’s for their own good," she mumbled defensively.

I shook my head with a tired sigh. "Freya, you can’t protect people by lying to them."

Her eyes widened slightly at my bluntness, like she hadn’t expected me to call her out so directly.

Good.

She needed to hear this.

"You’re thinking about their well-being, I get it," I continued. "But forcing them into a situation they’re not prepared for? That’s not kindness. That’s a death sentence."

Freya flinched slightly, looking down at the map with troubled eyes.

"Let them choose their own paths," I said firmly. "If they don’t have the guts to fight now, they won’t magically grow a spine inside Rose Academy.

Better they know their limits before someone’s life is on the line."

For a long moment, Freya said nothing.

She just stared at the map, shoulders tense, jaw clenched.

Finally, she exhaled—a slow, shaky breath—and looked up at me with a resigned smile.

"I didn’t expect you to be so blunt," she said quietly. "But... you’re right.

It’s their life. It should be their choice."

I nodded once.

"That’s the burden of leadership," I said. "You don’t get to pick their battles for them. You just have to trust them to fight... or fall."

Freya’s smile grew a little sad.

"And if any of them dies?" she asked softly.

"You’ll blame yourself for the rest of your life," I said without hesitation. "Even if most of them rise to become the strongest person alive—it won’t erase the guilt."

The cave was silent for a while after that.

Freya stared at the map.

I stared at her.

’Sometimes I can’t help but be amazed by myself... I’m such a smooth talker.’

If I could, I would have very definitely given myself a pat on the back.