The Retired Hero is an Extra

As the mist swirled around them and the instructing voice ended, many youngsters were filled with confidence.

They were proud of the training and equipment their family had given them.

However, they soon realized that they hadn't brought anything with them.

Obviously, the Imperial Family would truly be a bunch of fools if they allowed the guests to bring weapons with them.

There were runes scanning everything about an attendee when they entered, including their storage rings, so there were no loopholes.

Downcast, the youngsters began to make sense of their new surroundings.

Some attempted to navigate the dense foliage, their wary movements betraying the sense of confusion along with their rising frustration.

A selected few took a more measured approach, studying the illusion's features with detached curiosity, staying alert about their surroundings.

Amael, in particular, wasn't fazed in the least as he moved with calculated steps, trying to locate either other participants or the exit.

Whatever he could find first, however, his cold smile indicated that he had no plans to leave without causing a mess.

As he navigated the illusory forest, it felt real to him—the sensation of rough bark, smell of gritty soil and dead leaves, the howling wind.

"This is going to be fun, you were right," Amael mumbled to no one in particular as he vanished from his place.

Meanwhile, Caera was in another area, trying to fight her way through the numerous bat-like flying monsters.

"So annoying!" she yelled in frustration, and moved on to cast a fire spell to throw them into disarray.

Luckily, her little gimmick worked.

However, when the monsters regained their senses, they found their target had long escaped, causing them to screech in anger.

—Kieeeeek!

Just then, another participant stumbled upon them and got immediately killed—disqualified, to be precise.

Naturally, it was just an illusion, so the most it could do was fool one's brain into believing the situation to be real.

Fortunately, there were healers present to take care of the disqualified participants, to tend to any mental damage suffered.

"You need not worry, the illusion is aimed to not impact anyone's mental strength, it's made just for the purpose of the event."

One of the healers explained to the distressed nobles' who tried their best to hide their feelings.

Some did outright choose not to consider the losers as their family, but they knew when to stop as the Emperor was observing.

Unbothered by the chaos outside and inside the mist, the high-ranking nobles were giving stares to Sera and Carcel with strange expressions.

Looking at their daughter impressed them as she decisively chose to retreat, but their son?

He was literally resting inside the illusion!

Oblivious to the second hand embarrassment he caused his parents, Jash had found a tree to recline his back against.

His skepticism was unwavering as he kept his eyes closed, ignoring the situation indifferently.

Unlike other participants, he was busy recalling the events that happened here, trying to remember the point of exit.

Unfortunately, the protagonist wasn't here, so the author ended this arc vaguely, prompting Jash into putting in some effort.

'The illusory forest was an elaborate setup, designed to test more than just physical prowess,' he recalled the forest's description.

'...meant to provoke responses, reveal hidden traits, and observe how participants handled unexpected challenges...'

The words of the novel replayed in his mind as he continued to mull over it.

His impassive and indifferent expression stirred the observing nobles in the halls, especially those whose kids were still in the mist.

In the hall, whispers and speculations grew louder as the guests debated the purpose and implications of the trial.

The unrelated nobles, though silent, were visibly intrigued. They had anticipated a spectacle, but this—this was a test of a different kind.

The Imperial Guards' expressions were carefully neutral, their practiced facades hiding their own evaluations of the participants.

Excluding them, the Emperor and high-ranking nobles watched from the sidelines, their roles undefined as they stood before the holographic screen.

The Emperor's smile was as enigmatic as the illusion itself, masking the underlying strategy of his scheme.

The real objective was concealed beneath layers of spectacle and deception, a game where only the perceptive would find the truth.

As time passed, his smile grew wider and so did the more perceptive nobles start to grasp at the intent of the event.

As the initial panic gave way to a more calculated approach among the participants.

Inside the illusion, some participants began to work together, forming alliances as they tackled obstacles.

Similarly, some chose to eliminate other participants, hoping they'd be the last one standing and win the Emperor's grace.

Unlike others, Ava and Avon treaded their paths carefully, aware of their father's usually complex schemations.

The siblings hadn't doubted for a second that they must perform better than others, to prove the pride of the Imperial Family.

In another part of the forest, Caera had met quite a few nobles, teaming with a few and taking down those with malicious intent.

Still, the one who garnered the most attention was Amael as had found an illusory sword, usable only in the illusion.

While Avon had a golden spear, Ava with a katana, Caera with a magic staff, Levi with a rapier, and many others who had weapons.

The one who commanded every guest's and disqualified youngsters' attention was Amael as he swiftly dealt with any monsters with a few swings.

The forest became a stage for their individual strategies, each move a reflection of their understanding of the game.

Despite everything happening around him with every single participant trying their best to stand out, Jash, however, remained a solitary figure.

He was busy contemplating a deeper understanding of the evening's true nature.

'The real challenge is not merely escaping the illusion but navigating the layers of deception,' he mused.

Jash's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the growing determination of others, his strategic patience setting him apart from the crowd.

Though, the unwise labeled him as stupid and losing the advantage he could've easily gained.

However, the night was far from over, and the true significance of the event was still shrouded in mystery for most.

Only twenty minutes had passed outside, but more than four hours had passed for those inside the illusion.

Yet the illusion remained an intricate puzzle, its complexity designed to test more than just brute strength or wisdom.

Amidst the growing tensions and anticipation at the final outcome, Jash frowned. 'So noisy,' he complained inwardly.

He could hear the distant rustling of the other participants as they scrambled to explore the terrain and find an exit.

Each movement, each whispered strategy, was a part of the larger game unfolding around him.

'Damn! It's that annoying thing!' He berated his luck inwardly, trying to cover his ears.

A sudden burst of laughter pierced through the forest, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.

It was clear that some participants had already begun to falter, their composure cracking under the pressure of the illusion.

Despite his dissatisfaction, Jash's lips curved into a faint smirk; their reactions only confirmed his suspicions about the true nature...

"The forest is meticulously crafted, every detail designed to provoke specific responses," he murmured softly, reiterating the lines from the novel.

Jash's calm demeanor was both an advantage and a strategy.

While others were busy reacting to the apparent obstacles, he was observing the subtler signs of the world's tale.

Right then the mist began to dissipate, revealing more of the forest's artificial terrain.

Jash's eyes remained closed for a moment longer, allowing him to center his thoughts accordingly.

When he finally opened them, he rose with a deliberate slowness, his posture relaxed but alert.