Chapter 173: Game of Pawns
“Isn’t Night Spirit coming?” asked another young lady sitting on a cushion. She had long sea-blue hair and wore a sheer veil. Although her face was obscured, one could guess she was an unparalleled beauty from her clear, flowing voice and azure eyes.
Indeed, among the new female students at Emanas this year, there were more top-tier beauties and figures compared to previous years. If this young lady removed her veil, it would surely cause quite a stir.
“I’ll go check,” Bumansa said, then opened the door to the adjacent bedroom. It wasn’t lit inside, and she came out after a short while.
“Night Spirit says she wants to sleep and doesn’t want to get up.”
“Is Night Spirit not coming?”
“Since she wants to sleep, let her rest well,” Bumansa shook her head.
“Never mind that, let’s start quickly.” Lily said excitedly at this point and began explaining the rules.
The first step was choosing a race. Each character had three attributes: Attack, Life, and Charm, along with four skills: Mathematics, Writing, Codex, and Combat. The initial bonuses varied by race, and different races would react differently to events later on.
Human—Attack 5-Life 5-Charm 5, Mathematics +10, Writing +10, Codex +15
Beastfolk—Attack 7-Life 8-Charm 4, Combat +30
Elf—Attack 6-Life 6-Charm 7, Writing +20, Codex +5, Combat +15
“Looking at this, humans seem to have a disadvantage at the beginning,” Alena looked through the introduction book.
“But humans have greater potential for development later on, so choosing a human isn’t bad,” Lily explained.
“Do Beastfolk have subcategories?” Nia whispered.
“There are indeed subcategories. Let me find it for you.” After saying this, Lily handed Nia a chart.
“In the end, I think I’ll choose a human. I like them better,” Lolan Hill thought for a moment before saying. She wanted to play the late game and have more possibilities.
After discussing, they all filled out their character cards and submitted them to host Bumansa.
“Alright, now everyone’s characters are set. We’ll immediately enter the academy map. After walking five laps around the academy map, there will be a graduation exam. To pass steadily, all four skills need to be above 30; otherwise, there’s a chance of failing and having to repeat.”
Alena—Silver Elf, Attack 6-Life 6-Charm 7, Mathematics 0, Writing 10, Codex 15, Combat +15 (Silver Elf Writing -10, Codex +10)
Lily—Ice Elf, Attack 6-Life 6-Charm 7, Mathematics 0, Writing 30, Codex 0, Combat +15 (Ice Elf Writing +10, Codex -5, Combat -5)
Lolan Hill—Human, Attack 5-Life 5-Charm 5, Mathematics 10, Writing 10, Codex 15, Combat 0
Nia—Beastfolk (Tigerhead Clan), Attack 8-Life 8-Charm 3, Mathematics 0, Writing 0, Codex 0, Combat +35 (Tigerhead Clan Attack +1, Charm -1, Combat +5)
Letis — Human, Attack 5 – Life 5 – Charm 5, Mathematics 10, Literature 10, Codex 15, Combat 0
Vimya — Special Race, Attack 4 – Life 4, Charm 9, Mathematics 0, Literature 20, Codex 10, Combat 5
“What’s up with this special race?” Alena asked curiously.
“This is because it’s a rare race from other origins. According to the game rules, it must remain confidential, and will be revealed later,” Bumansa explained while blinking her glasses. The veiled blue-haired girl was Vimya.
“Is that so.” Alena nodded.
“Why did you choose to become a silver elf?” Letis asked nearby.
“Because this starting position seems quite powerful,” Alena said frankly.
“Hehehe, you’ll regret it later,” Letis said with ill intent.
“But elves are really beautiful,” Lily said beside her, expressing her own opinion.
“Alright, let’s start now,” Bumansa announced.
—
Alena rolled the dice. [3]
Alena moved 3 steps, entering the classroom grid. Please select a skill and roll a dice for judgment. (If d100 > 50, it counts as passing.)
“I choose Literature.”
The dice result [71], the judgment was successful, Literature +5. Bumansa announced this beside her.
—
Next was Lily, who rolled the dice [2]. She moved 2 steps, landing on an event grid, encountering someone being bullied [Help/Not Help].
“Of course help, there must be benefits,” Lily replied, then rolled the dice. (If d100 > 50, it passes.)
The dice result [47], the judgment failed, and Lily was also beaten, losing 1 Life.
“Sigh, so weak?”
—
Then it was Lolan Hill, who rolled the dice. [2], moved 2 steps, landing on an event grid, encountering someone being bullied [Help/Not Help].
“This, better help,” Lolan chose with interest. (Since Combat is 0, d100 > 65 counts as passing.)
The dice result [88], the judgment succeeded, Lolan saved her classmate and reprimanded the others, gaining Fame +5, Combat Skill +5.
“Why can’t I do that?” Lily muttered to herself, holding her face.
—
Next was Nia, who rolled the dice. [5], moved 5 steps, landing on a duel grid. You had a conflict with a classmate, and he wants to duel you [Fight/Not Fight].
“Let’s fight?” Nia curiously looked at Bumansa. (Since Combat is 35, d100 > 15 counts as passing.)
The dice result [17], the judgment succeeded, Nia took her opponent by surprise and knocked him out with a punch, looted 20 coins, and gained Fame +5.
“Woah, can you get money too?” Nia cheered a little, then Bumansa handed her two paper rolls representing the coins.
—
It was Letis’ turn, who rolled the dice. [4], moved 4 steps, landing on the dining hall grid. Do you want to buy something? You have 10 coins initially.
“I’ll buy a bread.” Gained [Bread, HP +1]
—
Finally, it was Vimya, who rolled the dice. [1], moved 1 step, landing on an opportunity grid, drew a card. You found a magical seed.
—
Gained
Obtained [Magical Seed, can be planted after leaving the school.]
—
Then it was a continuous cycle of rolling dice, moving forward, encountering events, having adventures, and making choices.
After advancing several rounds this way.
Alena entered an event grid and, due to a dispute with her classmates, chose to duel, injuring her classmate and gaining reputation. She was confined for two rounds, missed classes, and lost 5 points in the Codex skill.
“Haha, Alena, just wait there.”
As the game progressed, everyone had already gone through more than four rounds. At present, Lolan Hill, Letis, Vimya, and Lily were likely to graduate without issue, but Alena and Nia were in a more precarious position.
Nia was too specialized; other skills improved slowly, while her combat skill had already reached 75.
Nia rolled the dice and entered the opportunity grid, earning the title ‘Campus Overlord’ due to her reputation > 30 and combat > 80. She would gain 5 coins per round and receive extra rewards upon leaving the school.
“Wow, Nia is so amazing,” Lily said enviously.
“But I want to graduate properly,” Nia said, bending down helplessly to continue moving the character marker.
“It’s my turn!” Letis seemed to be addicted and called out happily before rolling the dice.
Letis passed through the starting grid, as all requirements were met, allowing her to graduate and obtain 200 coins and 150 followers.
Bumansa announced this and moved the character marker to the adjacent world map.
Next, the blue-haired girl Vimya rolled the dice and advanced. In the event grid, Vimya participated in the graduation party and sang (passing if the roll is d100 > 30).
The dice result was [75], a successful judgment, exceeding twice the required amount. Vimya performed brilliantly, earning the title ‘Songstress,’ and gaining 20 additional followers per round upon leaving the school.
Then came Lolan Hill, who rolled the dice and advanced. In the classroom grid, because her writing, mathematics, and codex skills all reached 80, she earned the title ‘Sage,’ and gained 5 reputation every two rounds upon leaving the school.
After a few more rounds, only Alena and Nia remained on the school map.
Nia made her third graduation determination (requiring a roll of d100 > 80 for two failed skills).
The dice result was [55], a failed determination. Nia did not graduate normally and left the school map, unable to obtain graduation rewards, but received 300 followers due to the title ‘Campus Overlord.’
Alena made her third graduation determination (requiring a roll of d100 > 60 for one failed skill).
The dice result was [63], a successful determination. Alena graduated and obtained 200 coins and 150 followers.
“Now everyone has entered the world map,” Bumansa announced.
“Alena, you’re too slow. I’ve already walked a full circle on the world map and even bought a house,” Letis said proudly, looking at her roommate across from her.
—
Thank you to the readers Big Card from ’98, Cat Who Doesn’t Like Melons, Strongest Bionic Person, Reader 160608052524735, Reader 20190806184249324, I Want…, and Han Yang Ma for your support.
Interesting play