Chapter 54

Over the weekend, I met up with my team members to plot out various plans, especially what supplies we’d need.

We discussed what items to bring, how many antidotes and stamina potions would be necessary, and what kind of emergency food we should stock up on.

There were other discussions sprinkled in, but overall, it was mostly about our practice. I’d say it was quite a productive gathering.

Even if I were present, there could be personal issues arising, and we’d need to assign tasks like watches too.

Basically, Grace came up with those intricate plans all by herself. Lee Yeon-joo only gets motivated during special circumstances.

I’m just here to lend a hand. Grace probably expects just that.

“All three of you, make sure to take these with you: stamina potions and antidotes. I couldn’t make too many since the materials are scarce, but these should be enough.”

On the last day of the weekend, Eli handed out various potions to us. This was a trait activated when she’s alive.

In the early stages, potions tend to be pretty pricey. Most weekends, people are either hunting or gathering herbs just to afford one potion.

However, as I’ve said consistently, if Eli is alive, I don’t have to worry about potions. Plus, as time goes by, their quality improves so much that it even messes with the balance.

“Is it really okay for you to give these to us? If you supplied these to a store, wouldn’t you make a decent amount of money?”

Luna, who received the potions from Eli, asked with a concerned expression. She probably felt a tinge of guilt receiving free potions.

If Eli were to simply supply these to a shop, she could definitely rake in some good profits. But she chose to give them to us instead.

“Oh, it’s fine. They aren’t good enough to be sold to a shop anyway. Just the fact that you’ve been helping me gather herbs every weekend makes it more than enough.”

“I didn’t go with you, though! Should I at least give you some money?”

That was Kara speaking. Unlike Luna, she was essentially getting potions for free.

As someone from the Tartar ethnicity, which is sensitive about currency, it must feel a bit awkward to receive them empty-handed. She probably wants to offer some cash.

“Then why don’t you come with me to gather herbs later? That should make it alright, right?”

“Hmm… Sure, that doesn’t sound bad.”

“Me too.”

I chimed in, expressing my desire to join. Given Eli’s personality, she would probably donate potions whenever I need them.

But after actually receiving them, I felt a bit guilty. I knew how much effort she had poured into creating these potions.

So, going hunting to earn some money while gathering herbs every weekend doesn’t seem like a bad idea.

“Shivar is fine. He’s been training every weekend, right? Let’s focus on that for now.”

“…”

But Eli stopped me. Judging by her smile, she clearly didn’t think it was necessary.

Looks like I’ll have to team up with Porori soon and gift her some quality herbs. That should make her happy.

I might get scolded by Rod, but as long as Porori is around, I shouldn’t worry too much. After all, my intentions are good.

“Well then, everyone, give it your all tomorrow! Even if it’s a competition, surviving is the most important thing, right? Let’s all get along and not fight.”

“I wish that would be the case for us too.”

“…”

At Eli’s encouragement, Kara chuckled in response while Luna remained silent, subtly gauging my reaction.

Depending on how I play my cards and whether I survive or not, the difficulty of the exercise could change drastically.

‘I’m not going to actively take the lead either.’

To be precise, our team won’t be taking the initiative.

If I stick my neck out unnecessarily, other teams might get suspicious, leading to losses on our side. It’s best to wait quietly.

Moreover, with time, things will become more advantageous for us. The range of our activities will gradually shrink.

“By the way, Luna. What items did your team prepare?”

“We packed some simple medicines and emergency food. We probably need to grab sleeping bags too.”

“Sleeping bags? Not a bad idea. Should I pack one myself?”

I didn’t need to worry too much about what to bring.

“Is everyone here? Then, before we begin, let’s leave all our bags except the one we wear on our hips. Everything else can’t be taken into the practice.”

“Pardon?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Other than small bags, we won’t be able to carry anything else. This was something Malboro mentioned right before we reached the forest where the exercise would take place.

Students, well-prepared for the exercise, were left dumbfounded.

“Are we not on a picnic? Why did you pack so much? Have you forgotten what the theme is?”

“But the professor told us to bring potions…”

“Potions can fit in pouch bags. As I mentioned before, it’s best to always carry a light pouch bag.”

Students were left speechless by Malboro’s explanation. From what I gathered, he must have mentioned this in the first week.

In the actual game, the inventory starts with a tiny pouch bag. It gradually increases in size the more you upgrade it.

Despite their displeasure towards Malboro’s explanation, students willingly placed their gear down.

Some even came with large backpacks as if they were on a day trip.

At this point, they might just grumble a bit. However, what was said next was guaranteed to ignite protests.

“And the details of the exercise have changed a bit. Originally, the exercise duration was 12 hours, but now it’s 36 hours. That means you’ll need to survive from 7 AM to 7 PM the next day.”

“Wait?!”

“That doesn’t make any sense! Why the sudden change?!”

“If you were going to change it, you could’ve said something beforehand!”

As expected, various complaints erupted. The United Academy is an institution where talents from all around the world gather.

Naturally, many would have strong pride, and professors might be seen as toying with them.

Even in that tense atmosphere, the professors, including Malboro, didn’t bat an eye, treating it all like routine.

As the situation began to heat up, Malboro glared and shouted firmly.

“Silence!!”

“…”

With that one word, the noisy crowd fell silent in an instant. They sensed Malboro’s intimidating presence.

Even though geniuses had gathered, they couldn’t compare to someone who has braved countless challenges.

Only Kara remained smiling. She seemed to be enjoying the situation.

“As I mentioned last week, this theme is survival. It seems you don’t understand what survival means.”

“…”

“Survival requires utilizing all available means in the worst circumstances. Prepared survival cannot truly be survival. In a normal scenario, you would have gone in unarmed. The time would have been much longer too.”

This was a clear hint that they should just follow along without complaint.

Since it wasn’t entirely unreasonable, the students kept their mouths shut.

‘I survived with just a rag on, and this is more than enough.’

I had emergency food, tools for fire-making, and potions. What’s not to like?

Furthermore, there aren’t many dangerous animals around, plus we have 36 hours. If someone drops out, they can rest comfortably.

“I didn’t see this coming…”

As I held onto my inner ‘cranky elder’ mindset, Grace murmured gloomily next to me.

When I glanced at her, she was nervously biting her thumbnail, a habit she displayed when anxious.

“What… what do we do now? Are we going to be okay?”

Lee Yeon-joo looked like her mental state had already shattered. The difficulty had spiked compared to earlier, which was understandable.

But surprisingly, all this is just ‘acting.’ Her true nature isn’t that feeble or timid.

The reason she’s labeled as an interesting character is precisely due to her acting skills. The contrast is striking.

Those instances when her real self shows up are rare and usually tied to her country…

“Alright, everyone. It seems like the day has come to put the first aid methods I taught you into practice. While not getting injured is the most important thing, do your best!”

This could be related to her elder sister, who she thinks of as a ‘traitor.’

Seeing Lee Yeon-joo’s expression after hearing her sister’s cheerful words would undoubtedly be quite chilling.

That once-timid appearance had vanished entirely, replaced by an unnervingly indifferent demeanor.

While others, including Grace, were too focused on the changed exercise to notice, I caught on.

‘The Hwan Empire is… quite the crazy nation.’

The official name of the Hwan Empire is ‘Dongbang.’ It’s a federation formed like the ‘Soviet Union’ on Earth, made up of various nations.

The problem is their behavior resembles that of the Soviet Union. The very concept is akin to a China that has consumed the entire East Asia.

The combination of a superpower like the Soviet Union with a country dominating East Asia like China – what kind of hybrid is that? But that nation is the Hwan Empire.

And Lee Yeon-joo hails from one of the vassal states of the Hwan Empire, modeled after South Korea. One of the professors, Yeon-hwa, is similarly from there.

‘So, given she’s here for the Hwan Empire, it’s fair to call her a traitor.’

If I dug deeper, I’d know that wasn’t accurate, but right now it’s impossible to ascertain that.

Moreover, the Hwan Empire is super sensitive to ‘censorship,’ much like the real-life Soviet Union or China, with severe information control.

Cultural censorship is the harshest aspect. I know they’re subtly dominating culture even now.

Even the outfit that Yeon-hwa is wearing is native to the Hwan Empire. Lee Yeon-joo must be boiling with frustration inside.

“Alright, I think it’s time for us to move. Group 1 will be led by professors and assistants. Just in case, your eyes will be covered with blindfolds.”

With Malboro’s words, we began moving as each group wore blindfolds. It would make it hard to pinpoint our locations.

I believe the increasingly shrinking space will be marked visibly too. I’ll know when I see it.

“Hello, Shivar. I’ll be personally leading you. Can you put on this blindfold for me?”

Unlike others, my designated leader was Godin. A fitting choice, I’d say.

I complied with his words and put on the blindfold. Honestly, even with my eyes covered, I already knew everything, so it wasn’t a big deal.

I had once severely injured my eyes, relying only on my hearing and sense of smell. Because of that, I learned just how vital sight is.

Step by step, Godin held onto my arm as we cautiously moved, clearly worried I might trip and fall.

Despite his alarming appearance, kindness was second nature to him. So much so, he could be seen as a bit of a softy.

“Alright, everyone, you can take off your blindfolds now.”

After about ten minutes, Godin gave the signal. My team members, including me, removed our blindfolds.

Once the blindfolds came off, dense trees filled my vision. It seemed we had arrived in the heart of the forest.

“Would you all turn around for me?”

Godin pointed behind us as we removed our blindfolds. When I spun around, a green curtain had risen high.

“As time passes, this curtain will gradually narrow. While you won’t be instantly eliminated just by stepping outside, you should know that after about ten minutes, automatic elimination will occur.”

“So we just need to stay inside for ten minutes?”

That was Grace questioning. The existence of the curtain allows for quite a bit of strategic play.

“Yes, but it won’t re-charge, so it’s better to move inward. Just so you know, it also reduces during the night, so keep that in mind.”

“Looks like we won’t be able to sleep properly. Not to mention taking breaks.”

“Ugh, that’s cruel…”

Indeed, this curtain diminishes even during the night. To really get some rest, we’ll need to venture deep inside.

Doing so increases the likelihood of encountering other teams and inevitably leads to combat. It’s unavoidable.

“However, the curtain will show how far it’s narrowing. It’s up to you to take advantage of that. I’m giving you these bracelets.”

Godin said that as he handed us wristbands, which can be adjusted to fit snugly.

They felt similar yet different from what I wore during the dueling exercises. The ones for duels were looser, while this felt tighter.

“If these bracelets are removed or severely damaged, you’ll be eliminated. Keep that in mind.”

“But it feels a bit tight.”

“Yes. This was done so that others can’t easily take them off.”

“Right…”

Grace started to respond but trailed off. Then, her voice rose in panic.

“Sh-Shivar! Don’t take it off now!”

Apparently, she mistook my fidgeting with the bracelet as me trying to remove it. I was just curious, playing with it.

“Haha. Don’t worry too much. We still have some time before the exercise starts.”

Godin reassured her by mentioning we still had about five minutes before the practice would commence.

He then explained how to remove the bracelets. They were indeed structured in a way that made it difficult for anyone else to take off.

So, we’d have to either defeat someone to take their bracelet or damage it otherwise.

“Looks like time is running out. I’ll take my leave now. Good luck to all of you!”

Godin politely bowed before stepping outside the curtain. As soon as he left, the curtain’s glow intensified.

This signaled that the practical exercise had started. Grace seemed to have caught on and said to us,

“Alright, it’s starting. Should we move? We need to see how much the curtain shrinks.”

“Uhh, how about sticking close to the curtain instead of moving too far?”

Grace and Lee Yeon-joo exchanged thoughts as the exercise began, debating whether it was better to wait or advance slowly.

Meanwhile, I shifted my steps toward the trees. Not the high-up trees, but those lying on the ground.

I pulled out my axe, Ragnarok, and swung down with force.

Crash!

“…Shivar?”

“W-What are you doing…?”

Seeing me suddenly swing the axe at a tree startled them. But I wasn’t just mindlessly chopping wood.

Typically, rotten wood is rich in nutrients. Not that it means I’ll get a fair share of the nutrients, but for creatures living here, there’s plenty.

Wiggle-wiggle—

As expected, after striking the wood a few times with the axe, a large worm was squirming inside.

A plump white worm, the type that could be quite tasty depending on whether it’s cooked or not.

I picked it up and glanced over at my teammates. They looked pale as if they’d seen a ghost.

“W-Why did you pick that up!? Put it away, quickly!”

“Ugh… so gross…”

Even Grace, as well as Lee Yeon-joo, took a step back in trepidation. Even Lee Yeon-joo, known for her acting skills, genuinely looked nauseated.

But I didn’t plan on letting go of the worm. I needed to show them firsthand what kind of ordeals were waiting for us.

With nearly no emergency food left, it’s not an option to starve aimlessly. And that worm isn’t even true emergency food.

The food was originally packed in a large bag, and I couldn’t carry it all. Right now, all I have are some candies and chocolates.

“This is food.”

“…Food? You can’t be serious that’s a meal?”

“Yep.”

“N-No way am I eating a worm! Even for survival, this is too much!”

Crunch!

Goodness, they’re really chatty. I popped the worm into my mouth before Grace could finish her complaints.

I need to remove my jaw off it to chew, but I didn’t care and just swallowed it whole.

Gulp! Gulp!

In hindsight, I should’ve cooked it. The aroma and flavor started filling my mouth, and for a moment, I regretted it.

But it wasn’t so terrible that I couldn’t eat it. The only thing that tastes awful enough to make you want to puke is rotting animal flesh.

“Ugh…!”

However, Grace looked like she would throw up just watching. She was ready to hurl any second.

At least Lee Yeon-joo was coping better. Her face was pale, but she only looked shocked.

I chewed down on the worm and sucked it down my throat. This would serve me as good nourishment in the future.

‘There must be more around.’

After swallowing the worm, I started peeling off the bark to search for other bugs. Not long after, I spotted a tiny insect.

It was quite a bit smaller than the worm I had just eaten, but for a beginner, it was a decent start.

I pinched the insect between my fingers and approached Grace and Lee Yeon-joo. As I drew near, they backed away nervously.

As Malboro had mentioned repeatedly, the theme of this exercise is survival. Moreover, with no idea where the enemies are, eating is essential.

“This is food.”

“…Huh?”

“This is food.”

So, I told them. Eating this would increase our chances of winning.

If it were just me, I wouldn’t even share. Plus, the bug I grabbed could be eaten raw without any issues.

I extended my hand with the insect while quietly opening my mouth.

“Eat it.”

“N-No way! I’d rather die!”

“Can’t we save this for later? We don’t have to eat it right now…!”

It’s clear they’ve been sheltered like greenhouse flowers.

The intensity of their rejection showed just how revolted they were.

Honestly, I didn’t expect much from them. But to cut down on hunger, they still needed to eat bugs.

Not wanting to go unappreciated, I popped the already grabbed worm into my mouth. They might catch on eventually that this is serious business.

‘It’s not bad, though.’

Having eaten cockroaches, this is child’s play.

---