episode_0045

It was a moment when there were only a few hours left until the end of Geunsin, but without hesitation, I jumped out of the dormitory window to prepare for the main scenario in advance.

Later, if the staff member comes to inform me that Geunsin has ended and finds that I am not in my room, they may immediately report it and I could receive additional punishment, but on the last day, it should be fine.

I should be able to clear this scenario without any harm, but some of the professors will notice the situation and come running, so I will have to be their witness.

Regarding the incident I caused last time, I may not be able to restore my damaged reputation completely, but I should be able to redeem it to some extent, and I might even ask for a good sword from the Academy warehouse.

As I casually took out the training sword I had been using, it looked fine on the outside, but during the process of sharpening it, I realized that it was still somewhat unskilled and not such a good sword, as there were tiny cracks inside.

“I need to get a few swords or so.”

At this rate, it will definitely break after a few swings. It should be fine to take two or three in good condition.

Even though I haven’t acquired stealth-related skills yet, with high stats, physical enhancement, and heightened senses activated, students wouldn’t notice me moving at night.

There were night walks, personal training, and secret meetings among couples happening, but I managed to pass by them all lightly.

Finally, I succeeded in arriving at the Swordsmanship Department training ground. The door was locked, but I easily cut it open with the sword.

Inside the training ground, I searched for a decent training sword, but unfortunately, there wasn’t one as good as the one Victor gave me back then.

Disappointed, I grabbed three suitable ones and quickly made my way out.

“Thanks to the quick preparation, there’s still about 8 hours left.”

Luckily, if completing the Ora Blade had been delayed a bit, I would have rushed to the starting point of the scenario without that skill, but I probably wouldn’t have prepared separately.

Main Scenario #1 involves lower demons invading the Ardent Academy, and the location is always predetermined.

If my current prediction is correct, Iris will emerge from the outskirts of the forest where she was swept away by high magic during a clash with Cineria in the past.

After infiltrating with her monsters and leaving the forest, they will attack students indiscriminately, causing many casualties before the professors can respond if the players don’t act properly.

‘As long as the players don’t step up.’

The location where the lower demons and monsters appear has never changed, so there shouldn’t be any need to worry.

Even if it’s not my spec right now, as long as I confront them first with a character that has been reasonably well developed so far, I can handle it here and slowly retreat, buying time for success.

However, at this moment, it’s not just about buying time; I need to deal with the situation myself, so to block any potential variables, I must ensure that the monsters do not escape as much as possible.

To prevent the monsters’ advance, it will definitely be helpful to dig holes and create pits around the spawning locations within the given time.

Blindly charging into the defense under the orders of the lower demons, they will keep trying to break through, but eventually, if I fill all the pits I dug, the same monsters will stumble over them.

‘But I have enough time for that.’

If I quickly handle the lower demons, there will be a gap in commands, so while the monsters are in chaos, I can slice through them.

Today, I won’t send any monsters to harm the students of the Ardent Academy in this place.

By the time I made my resolution internally, I arrived at the forest. Carefully surveying the surroundings and activating my heightened senses, as Claire had said, I couldn’t confirm the presence of the professors.

Fortunately, it seemed that the restoration of the area where all mana had evaporated due to the use of high-level magic weapons had been completed, and the professors were no longer guarding it, so there was no need to cautiously enter through heightened senses.

“It must have been blocked out of concern that students with low mana and weak magical control might get hurt if they entered.”

After ensuring safety, I started digging a trench with a height enough to easily withstand a few monsters at a rapid pace, whether the restoration project for the ruined forest had begun, with saplings planted and a few shovels lying around.

I had forgotten to bring a shovel, but luckily there was one here, so with a sense of relief, I quickly began digging a trench with a height sufficient to withstand several monsters without flinching.

*

“Is it almost done?”

Although I arrived early, I only managed to complete about 1/3 of the trench surrounding the area where demons and monsters spawn due to lack of time to fully enclose it towards the direction of the academy.

Nevertheless, as long as I can hinder the monsters from leaving until the lower demons are dealt with, it should be sufficient.

【Time remaining: 0 days, 0 hours, 4 minutes, 53 seconds】

There’s less than 5 minutes left now. It’s my first time preparing Main Scenario #1 so perfectly, and if I’m not excited, it would be a lie.

“Still, starting from this point, I’ll try to save everyone.”

With an unexpected fusion leading to a unique ability change, along with scenario alterations and various challenges arising from becoming reality, despite facing numerous difficulties, I was closer to success than ever before, allowing myself to believe in my abilities.

“Only 11 seconds left now.”

I raised my sword slowly, ready to contain the moment the lower demons appeared, ready to deal with them at any time.

With a slight sense of tension, although 11 seconds had passed… nothing happened.

“What? The spawn location is fixed for both the lower demons and monsters at a set time.”

In my confusion at the unexpected turn of events, a foreboding alert tone that I had heard only once before rang out.

【※Scenario difficulty judged to be ‘Easy’ or below. Adjusting scenario.】

【The main boss has changed from a lower demon to two intermediate demons.】

【The number and strength of monsters will increase.】

【The spawn locations of the main boss and monsters will change randomly.】

Hastily checking the scenario window, I saw the scenario window forcibly changed just like last time.

【Main Scenario #1-1】

【You have successfully overcome difficult trials and safely arrived at the Ardent Academy to take the entrance exam and pass. Intruders seeking to damage the Ardent Academy will attack students. Prove that your efforts have not been in vain. But isn’t it too easy to catch a chicken with a small knife? We have readjusted the trial to the appropriate difficulty level for you. Instead of cursing me, wouldn’t it be more helpful to move immediately and struggle a bit? Saving all students is a dilemma, and it’s up to you to choose who to save. If two people close to you fall into the water, whom would you try to rescue?】

【Success: Defeat or kill the intruders】

【Failure: Divine punishment】

【Remaining time: ???】

‘Last time, I immediately went into scenario adjustment.’

I thought I would judge and adjust the difficulty only when the scenario came down, but now I see that I can hit me like this.

This won’t do. If it continues like this, although the professors and Iris may notice the change faster due to random spawns, students could die.

If it goes as he said, even though it’s a random spawn, it’s obvious where the intermediate demons will fall.

‘It will probably fall to two out of Claire, Rachel, or Victor.’

Considering the strange hostility in the first scenario when I left residual stat points, it will be even more certain.

While checking the scenario window, I am heading back towards the academy at full speed, but facing reinforced enemies alone without a single casualty is impossible.

Enduring a headache almost bursting out of my head, I expanded my sensory range to the limit in an instant, dripping with sweat, and confirmed where the two demons were in my detection range. In the end, I had no choice but to make the decision I didn’t want to make until the end.

“Laika!! I know that you and your subordinates are still watching me! I will deal with Cineria later, so protect the students from the attacking demons and monsters at the Ardent Academy now.”