POV: Yato.

As I stood there, I could sense an intense aura emanating from somewhere within the room. It felt suffocating, as if I was being crushed by an unseen force. It didn't take long for me to realize that it was the presence of the grandmaster, one of the eight great mages. It was an overwhelming sensation, to say the least.

Suddenly, the grandmaster cleared his throat and addressed the room full of aspiring mages.

"Welcome, my students. Today, you will have the chance to prove your worth as magicians. However, to make things easier for you, we have decided to give you only one task this year - find the traitor. You will be divided into different groups, and one of the groups will have a traitor among them. Your task is to find the traitor within two days. If you succeed, you will be accepted into our esteemed academy. If you fail, well, let's just say that you won't be continuing your magical education here."

I could feel the tension in the air as the grandmaster's words sank in. This was no ordinary task, and the stakes were high. To succeed, we would have to use our wits, our intuition, and our magical abilities.

As the grandmaster continued speaking, he emphasized the importance of thinking before speaking and reading before thinking. These were not just empty words, but a subtle reminder that in the world of magic, one misstep could be disastrous.

One of the students in the back of the room spoke up.

"So, all we have to do is find the traitor, right? Nothing more, nothing less?"

"Yes, that's correct. If you find the traitor, you will have passed the entrance exam." 

The mood in the room shifted, and I could sense a mixture of fear and determination. This was a daunting task, but it was also an opportunity to prove ourselves.

As I thought more about the task at hand, I realized that it was a strange one indeed.

How could we find a traitor among us, especially when they were also taking the entrance exam. 

The only way for them to pass would be to avoid detection, but surely there had to be more to it than that.

The grandmaster's words echoed in my mind - this task was not about physical strength, but about perception and understanding. It was about seeing beyond the surface, and using our magical abilities to uncover the truth.

As the grandmaster finished speaking, I felt a surge of determination within me. I may not know what lay ahead, but I knew that I was ready for whatever came my way.

POV: Najin.

As I stood there, my eyes fixated on the dwindling numbers of participants, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. It was almost as if they had lost their drive, their ambition fizzling out like a flame in a gust of wind.

The groups had been predetermined, and to my dismay, I found myself separated from my friend Yato. The lack of choice left me feeling apprehensive, uncertain of the challenges that lay ahead.

With a quick glance at Yato, I spoke.

"Let's make sure we don't fail, alright?"

Yato met my gaze and nodded resolutely.

"You're right, we can't let ourselves down. We'll give it our all."

And so we parted ways, each of us determined to conquer the obstacles that lay before us. As I made my way towards my assigned group, I couldn't help but feel a sense of determination welling up inside of me, urging me forward.

The sight of the dwindling participants had a profound effect on me. It was as if their lack of ambition had spread, infecting others with its lethargic spirit. But I refused to let that happen to me. I was driven, motivated, and ready to give it my all.

As Yato and I went our separate ways, I knew that we were both committed to achieving our goals. The journey ahead would be challenging, but with the right mindset and a steadfast determination, I knew we could overcome anything. 

In a resolute tone, I called out to Yato.

"We've got this, my friend. Let's show them what we're made of."

And with that, we both set out on our respective paths, fueled by the fire of ambition and the desire to succeed.

Notes:

The map before us reveals a terrain partitioned into three distinct sections, each with its own unique features and potential hazards. Gazing northward from the viewpoint, the eyes are drawn to a magnificent waterfall, its cascading torrents forming a river that flows towards the central portion of the landscape where we currently find ourselves. Here, nestled amongst the rugged terrain, lies an old, abandoned building - a sanctuary for the weary traveler seeking respite from the elements.

However, as we shift our attention towards the southernmost extremity of the terrain, a dense forest looms into view, its thick canopy providing ample cover for those who wish to explore its mysteries. Yet, one must proceed with caution, for such a venture into the unknown carries with it inherent risks - particularly when venturing into uncharted territory with strangers in tow. And, if the rumors of a traitor amongst us hold any truth, then the prospect of exploring this uncharted wilderness becomes all the more daunting.

End.

As I approached the meeting point, I couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive. I had never met any of the four strangers who would become my companions for the day. My eyes scanned the area, and I spotted two girls and two guys standing awkwardly, waiting for the last member of our group.

One of the girls caught my attention. With her arms crossed and her gaze piercing, she emanated a tsundere energy that made me chuckle inwardly. Her long hair swayed in the breeze, and her hands trembled ever so slightly, indicating that her hostility might just be a cover-up for her nervousness.

Just as I was about to join the group, a voice with a hint of annoyance cut through the air. 

"Finally! Where were you? We've been waiting for ages."

I turned to face the speaker and found myself face-to-face with a girl who, I assumed, was the one with the trembling hands. I decided to address her with a level-headed response.

"I'm not late, ma'am. The meeting time was set from 10 to 11, and it's only three minutes until 11, which means I'm not late."

The tsundere girl glared at me. 

"Don't get smart, mister. You could've arrived earlier."

I noticed the trembling girl standing next to her, and decided to ease the tension.

"Anyway, nice to meet you all. My name is Kyushu. And what are your names?"

As if on cue, a cheerful boy stepped forward.

"Kyushu! What an exotic name! I'm Hirata Satoshi, but you can call me Hirata."

I grinned at his enthusiasm, "Nice to meet you, Hirata."

The only girl who hadn't spoken up until this point finally introduced herself, "I'm Kojima Rika."

I couldn't help but tease her, "Ah, another shy one. This is going to be funny."

Turning my attention to the last member of the group, a young man with glasses, I shot him a playful look. 

"And what about you, Mr. Spectacles? Don't be shy, what's your name?" 

He smiled politely, "Oh, I thought I was invisible for a second there. My name is Takahashi Hiro."

I chuckled, "Well, you're not invisible. It's nice to meet you, Hiro."

As we got to know each other, I observed the tsundere girl's demeanor soften. Her previously trembling hands now appeared more at ease, and she even let out a small smile.

However, our lighthearted chatter was cut short when Hirata interjected with a pressing question.

"What's your plan, Kyushu?" He asked, his tone hinting at a growing sense of unease among us. 

The gravity of the situation was not lost on me. We were on a “mission” to uncover the traitor among us, and failure was not an option. I took a deep breath before responding, my mind racing with possible strategies.

"We need to identify the traitor hiding among us, and to do that, we need to split up.” 

The tsundere girl's eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. 

"Why would splitting up increase our chances of finding the traitor?"

"Think about it," I explained, "If we all stick together, the traitor can easily blend in and hide their true intentions. But if we split up, we can create opportunities for them to slip up or reveal their true nature." 

Hirata nodded thoughtfully.

"That makes sense, but how do we decide who goes with whom?"

"I suggest I team up with the Tsundere girl," I replied, gesturing towards her, "And the rest of you can form your own groups. And if anything happens, we'll regroup at the hut in the center of the map." 

The Tsundere girl scowled, "Don't get any ideas, Kyushu. I'll be keeping a close eye on you." 

As we set out on our mission to uncover the traitor, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. The dense forest terrain made it difficult to move quickly and quietly. Still, we pressed on, each group determined to succeed. 

A feeling of nausea overcame me in the course of the walk. I couldn't tell exactly what was causing it, but why did it matter? Was it because of her?

"May I ask who you truly are?" she inquired with a genuine desire to comprehend my identity.

"Pardon me?"

"Everything about you - your appearance, your facial expressions, even your diction - all seem meticulously calculated to avoid any complexity. Are you really new to this?"

"To be frank, yes. This is my first time taking the exam, just like everyone else. I just understand what to say and how to say it in order to get ahead without jeopardizing my standing. The key, however, is to be able to read the situation and act accordingly. Perhaps you should try it, ufufu." I retorted with a hint of condescension.

"But what if I'm the traitor, the guilty one? Wouldn't that put you in peril?"

She's not entirely incorrect, but... 

"No, it wouldn't. I know you're a traitor."

"I'm the traitor? Don't make me laugh!” 

"I am not mistaken. You don't have to confess or worry - I won't divulge your secret. That would be dreadfully boring.”

"So you genuinely believe it's me?" she inquired, genuinely perplexed.

Well, yes…

"You misconstrued my intent. I don't believe it's you; I know it's you. There's a difference." I corrected her with an air of superiority. 

"Why do you believe it's me and not someone else?"

"An astute query. I deduced that you were the traitor when we shook hands. Your pulse was exceedingly high for a typical individual in such a situation. You were exceedingly nervous and avoided eye contact. Initially, I assumed you were just shy, but it turned out you were a pain in the ass. Interestingly enough, your anxiety disappeared once you believed you were safe, didn't it? And rather oddly, you asked about my name without giving yours. I don't understand why - don't you trust your team members~” 

For a moment, silence reigned supreme, and she appeared to be in a state of shock. Her facial expression betrayed her, and her trembling was rather unusual. 

"Who are you, really? Are you certain that you're not a grandmaster concealed in someone else's body? The exam hasn't even started, and you've already identified the culprit...who on earth are you!? TELL ME NOW!!”

"Please don't scream. As I said before, I won't divulge your secret to anyone else. Simply do as required of you." I reassured her calmly. 

"What could someone like you possibly need?" 

"Presumably, you are aware of the identities of the traitors in the other groups, correct?" I inquired. 

"W-what do you mean?" 

"Don't feign ignorance. You must know who the traitors are in the other groups, don't you?" I probed again, my patience wearing thin. 

"You want me to reveal their names, don't you?" she asked, her voice trembling. 

"Yes, that's exactly what it is." 

At the start of the second day, with the woods as our sole witness and a campfire as our only source of light, my companion and I braced ourselves for what lay ahead. As the night grew darker, I couldn't help but wonder how I could get the traitors to reveal themselves without being too conspicuous. I knew that information was the key to victory, but the question remained: how could I obtain it without alerting the traitors? 

"Nameless girl, forgive me for pressing you on this matter, but if we encounter other groups, do you think you'll be able to identify the traitors among them?" I asked, maintaining eye contact.

"I believe I can.” 

I pondered her response for a moment. It was a good start, but it wasn't enough. I needed to know more. 

"But how do the traitors mark themselves?" 

Her eyes narrowed as she considered my question. 

"Each traitor has a small red mark on their upper arm. They keep it hidden, otherwise they risk being exposed," she explained, her voice low and conspiratorial. 

It was a valuable piece of information, but it still left me with the task of identifying the traitors without being too conspicuous. I couldn't just walk up to them and demand that they reveal themselves. No, I needed to be more subtle. As I lay awake, pondering my options, I heard strange noises coming from the woods. It sounded like laughter and the clinking of cups, and it was coming from a campfire in the distance.

I decided to investigate, taking only a torch with me. I knew that I would be easy to spot in the dark, but that was exactly my intention. I wanted to attract attention, to lure out the traitors. 

As I drew closer to the campfire, the noises grew louder and clearer. I could hear the sound of people chatting and laughing, completely oblivious to my presence. I hid in a nearby bush and watched as they settled around the campfire. To my surprise, the group consisted of seven members, which was odd since each group was supposed to have a maximum of five members, including the traitor. 

While standing there contemplating my next move, a voice interrupted my thoughts. Without warning, a little boy appeared next to me. I had not even noticed his approach. 

"Excuse me, sir," he said, "you're probably wondering why this team is made up of seven people." 

I turned to face him, surprised by his sudden appearance. The boy had strange green, curly hair that covered his forehead. He was of average build for his age, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was lost. 

"Who are you?" I asked, trying to maintain my composure. 

"My name is Kitani Dayu," he replied with a smile. "I'm not an enemy, I just wanted to find some food. But when I saw you here, I thought I could join you." 

I couldn't help but be taken aback by the boy's boldness. Was he not afraid to approach a stranger like this? 

"You're a funny kid," I said, trying to lighten the mood. "My name is Najin Kyushu. Nice to meet you." 

The boy's curiosity got the best of him, and he asked me what I was doing there. 

"I'm trying to find the traitors in this competition," I explained. "I need to expose them before it's too late." 

The boy, Kitani, offered to help me. At first, I was hesitant. How could I trust a complete stranger? 

"If you want to help me," I said, "you'll have to gain my trust. And to do that, you'll have to do something specific." 

Kitani looked eager to please. "What do you want me to do?" he asked. 

"Tell me," I said, "who is the traitor in your team?" 

I knew that even if he did reveal the traitor's identity, I would still need to keep my guard up. But if Kitani could earn my trust, he could be a valuable asset to my cause. 

"My team has already passed," Kitani replied. "The traitor has been exposed and dragged to the finish line. So there's no point in telling you this." 

What…? 

I found it odd that Kitani was still lingering around the competition, despite his team having completed it. But for the moment, I decided to keep my suspicions to myself.  

The rustling of leaves and twigs could be heard as the young man and I hid in the bush, observing our surroundings. 

"I'm sure you're curious about why I'm here," he began, breaking the silence. 

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. 

"Go on." 

"I'm looking for other traitors like you," he replied with a calm and collected demeanor. 

"The only problem is that there must be two traitors on this team, because my team had teamed up with another team that had only three members. But in the end, there was only one traitor, and he was from us. So I believe that both missing persons are here and one of them is also a traitor." 

I nodded slowly, processing the information, that's why this group consists of seven people. Now everything makes sense… 

"Okay, that's enough. You have my trust.” 

"But how are you going to expose them?"  

"Every traitor has a red spot somewhere on his upper arm, which means that they must cover that exact spot in order not to be noticed. This is the weak point of a traitor.” 

"I see." He replied, nodding his head in understanding. 

"We should leave before it gets light, otherwise it will end up stupid for us.” 

"Just follow me and don't screw up, you hear me?" I added, as we emerged from the bush.

As I showed myself to the group, a smile played at the corners of my mouth as I said in an smooth voice. "Hey guys, do you have two seats left for us? I would really appreciate it if you would take us."