Chapter 95

[Attention. From this moment, Sivar will be granted the right to attack. Students, please ensure your plans are not disrupted…]

The announcement blared while I busied myself making various things with bombs. I can’t believe they’re giving me the power to attack.

It seems that even the professors can’t stand my flamboyant attack antics. They probably wish they could just eliminate me directly instead.

You might think I should just let the professors handle it directly, huh? Well, I can firmly respond to that.

“Sivar, you can attack now. Isn’t it better to clean that up?”

“Not a chance.”

No way, José.

If this were last time, I would have been jumping for joy the moment I got the attack rights, but not today.

This time, I plan to use the opportunity given to create difficulties for the opposing team or push them close to elimination.

Just that alone is bringing me immense joy, and how could I give that up?

Especially since I had fun crafting stone axes and spears while living in the forest, making various weapons is a blast.

I’ll have to ask Eli later to create some herbs together as well. Each result is so fulfilling.

“…It should be fine. We’re all in the same boat anyway. Can I see the map first?”

As I contemplated what to create this time, Grace called out to me. I have to respond to the team leader’s call, even if everything else is fine.

So I stood next to Grace and looked at the map. This was after I caused a mess and relocated.

Currently, we were hiding on the outskirts of a bustling area crowded with houses. Thankfully, no one had come by.

“It’s about time we start paying attention to the existence of artifacts as well. Considering the magic barriers so far…”

Grace started drawing a circle on the map with a pen. This represented the reduced size of the magic barrier.

It had started as a large circle but had gradually shrunk down to our current position.

Once the magic barrier shrunk to its current size, I could notice something.

“It feels like it’s shrinking from a point, right?”

As Lee Yeon-joo said, the magic barrier was indeed gradually decreasing from a specific point.

When it was a huge circle, it was hard to notice, but as it shrunk, it became quite noticeable.

“That’s right? But even that isn’t certain. It’s based on the magic barrier you saw, so we can’t confirm if it’s the center.”

“Still, the probability is high that it’s here.”

“Yeah. If it really is here, we have to move, and inevitably the chances of facing another team will increase.”

The reference point Grace indicated was towards the bustling area. It wasn’t the center but a place with many buildings.

However, that’s just a high possibility; it’s not guaranteed. At the very least, we’d need to search through three or more buildings.

More importantly, depending on where the next magic barrier shrinks to, the number of buildings we need to check could change. In the worst case, we might have to investigate more than five buildings.

“We can make two immediate plans. One is for Sivar to obstruct the other teams while we search for the artifacts. The other is to search together and confront them head-on. What do you think, Yeon-joo?”

“Hmm… both methods have their own pros and cons. It’d be hard for one person to check all the buildings on their own.”

Whether I’m attracting attention or not, Grace and Yeon-joo shouldn’t separate. It’d take too long and if we got ambushed, we’d be at a loss.

It seemed Grace understood that point as she nodded. From the beginning, our numbers were small, leading to many restrictions.

“Our team relies on you, Sivar, but ironically, that becomes a weakness too. If you disappear, our combat power will drop sharply. So, we have to use you wisely…”

Even with the attack rights granted to me, the dilemma doesn’t disappear. Having the strongest spear and shield still depends on who wields them.

If I move away, Grace and Yeon-joo will be in danger, but if I stay close, it reduces efficiency.

It’s like debating whether to use a fine sword for defense or to cut up some fruit.

“The best method would be to stop anyone from approaching around here… but even if you’re strong, Sivar, you can’t be in two places at once, so that’s difficult.”

Grace pointed to where she guessed the artifact would be housed. I would need to check the next magic barrier to know, but blocking access is a good strategy.

“Hmm… huh?”

Just when I thought it might be hard to stop them with bombs, I looked around for something suitable, and there it was, a jar on the shelf.

I stared at the jar on the shelf and quietly put it down, then opened the lid to check its contents.

Inside was something black. It looked like a common liquid, gently sloshing around.

“What are you doing… ah, that’s oil.”

“Oil?”

“Yeah. It seems every household has it. But since it’s not particularly useful and is in large quantities, they left it untouched.”

After hearing Yeon-joo’s explanation, I looked at the oil. Indeed, the jar was too large to carry easily.

I peered into the jar and casually spilled a bit on the floor to confirm if it really was oil.

“Yeon-joo.”

“Yes?”

“Do you have fire?”

“If you mean a lighter…”

Yeon-joo handed me a lighter, one of their collectibles. You see, we had cigarettes in the collection, but since there was no smoker, we threw them all away except for the lighter. You never know when it might come in handy.

Fwoosh!

I lit the oil I spilled on the floor with the lighter. So it really was oil as it flared up wildly.

I watched the roaring flames created by the oil and tried to stomp it out with my foot. However, it didn’t extinguish as easily as I’d hoped.

A bit flustered, I used my other hand to press it down and finally extinguished it.

“Okay.”

A brilliant idea struck me. I left the jar of oil and began searching around the house.

The first thing I needed was a glass bottle. Not exactly a glass bottle, but a container made of breakable material.

I emptied the contents of it and filled it with oil. Finally, sealing the top with paper completed my task.

“…What are you making? Something weird?”

As I started to create something strange, Grace teased me. Now she was just letting it happen, looking resigned.

I diligently pushed a wick into the neck of the bottle and assessed my finished product. The oil inside was sloshing around.

“Hmm.”

I liked it. I wore a satisfied expression and tucked the bottle into my bag.

“Grace.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I’ll handle blocking them. You guys just focus on finding the artifacts.”

Me blocking other teams while they hunt for artifacts.

Grace seemed to understand this well, raising an eyebrow in skepticism. She looked as if she was wondering if I could pull it off.

“That’s not a bomb, how’s that going to work?”


“Sure it will.”

I confidently answered. This is completely doable.

Beep!

[The magic barrier is shrinking.]

Shortly after, the announcement blared that the magic barrier would decrease. Grace immediately walked over to a window to look outside, trying to figure out the magic barrier’s location.

“…This is the worst. I guess we’ll need to check at least five houses.”

It seemed the worst situation had occurred. Searching through even one house takes time, and now we have to check five or more?

But it’s okay. Like a golden goblin, I stuffed my completed product into my backpack and stood up.

The only thing left was to use this.

“I’ll go ahead.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Grace asked, ensuring that I was certain. I nodded and replied.

“Yeah.”

Every animal fears fire.

“It’ll work.”

People are animals too, so they’ll fear it as well.

******

After Sivar’s public nudity, the teams scattered in all directions. With that, we barely knew where everyone was located.

Thanks to that, Luna had no choice but to engage in various battles as she headed to the bustling area. Unfortunately, one member got eliminated.

The silver lining was that she didn’t encounter Kara’s team along the way. Had she run into Kara, chances are she would have been eliminated too.

‘They’re giving an attack right to Sivar… this is going to be tough.’

Sivar being granted attack rights was already known. That made it necessary to be more cautious.

If it were up to her, she’d wish to avoid conflict altogether, but with all the noise, their positions were entirely revealed.

Moreover, the magic barrier was shrinking to a minimum, resulting in further escalated conflicts.

“Is everyone alright?”

“Yeah… for now…”

The only surviving team member gasped for breath as he barely answered. While his physical strength was okay, he was on the brink of exhaustion due to zero magic power.

Under normal circumstances, they would’ve given him a potion to restore his magic. However, they’d just lost their backpack in the previous battle.

Two team members were eliminated, and the remaining one was in poor condition with no secrets left.

Getting this far could be termed a miracle, but there was no guarantee another miracle would occur next time.

“For now, let’s go to that house and rest. We need to take a breather right now.”

“Right. Got it… huh?”

Luna’s team member started to respond but then stopped, his eyes widening in shock, as if he thought he was seeing things.

Luna followed his gaze. The teammate’s eyes were staring exactly upwards.

“…Sivar?”

It was Sivar. Sivar was waiting nonchalantly on top of the building’s roof.

They had originally planned to enter and rest in that building. The mere presence of another team was frustrating enough, but it was Sivar.

Realizing he had the right to attack, Luna frowned. It seemed like the end of the line.

‘I guess the only option is to run…’

For now, that seemed to be the best course of action. Even if you’re pulled into a tiger’s den, as long as you stay alert, you’ll manage, but if you get bitten by the tiger, it’s curtains.

She gritted her teeth and waited for Sivar to make a move. She began revolving her magic just in case she had to escape.

Meanwhile, Sivar looked down on Luna and placed his hand inside his pocket. Subsequently, he produced a glass jar.

Clink!

As Luna looked on with a puzzled expression, Sivar ignited the wick with a lighter.

The wick burned vigorously. It looked like it had been dipped in oil as it visibly blazed.

Then he pulled back his arm and shouted.

“Fire!”

“…?”

At that shout, Luna tilted her head in confusion. She didn’t understand why Sivar shouted like that.

But the next words were enough to send her into a panic.

“Burn!”

“Y-you can’t be…?!”

Is that magic?! Sivar can use magic?! When did he learn that?!

As Luna was panicking, Sivar thrust his outstretched arm forward.

And the glass jar left his hand, spinning gently as the flame attached to the wick seemed to twirl along with it.

Whatever else was the case, Sivar’s throwing ability was exceptional. He threw it at such speed that Luna barely managed to follow its trajectory with her perceptive vision.

Clang!

However, Sivar’s target wasn’t Luna. More accurately, it was just in front of her.

Fwoosh!

“Ugh?!”

The glass jar shattered, unleashing flames that were definitely not small. It wasn’t just a mere burst; the raging fire surged toward Luna.

As the fire suddenly approached, Luna grimaced and dodged to the side. She barely escaped, but she could still feel a touch of heat.

What on earth had he done to produce such a dramatic fire? With a startled expression, she turned her head towards Sivar.

“Magic!”

One thing was certain.

“Fire Magic!”

Sivar had begun committing crazy acts again.

“Burn!”

Clang!

A pyromaniac had emerged in the examination ground.

“No! Just attack already, you idiot! That’s what you were given to do!!”

“How do we clear all that up?”

“…I have no idea.”

The professors clutched their necks in despair as a pyromaniac appeared right after a terrorist.

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