12. Cast Away? (1)

After two days of long written exams, I went straight home.

Since the practical evaluations started right from the next day, there was no time to enjoy the leisure of finishing the exam with a drink.

“I’m home…?”

As I opened the front door and stepped inside, Seol-ah-sunbaenim greeted me happily.

“You’re home early. Where are you going for the practical tomorrow, sunbaenim?”

“They said we’re going to the Forest of Chaos. I think the first years traditionally go to an island…? It’ll be tough because you can’t shower there.”

Yoo Seol-ah’s words seemed emotionless at first glance, but they were full of concern for me.

It feels really reassuring to have someone by my side who cares about me like this.

But… now that I think about it, why is sunbaenim still at our house?

I clearly remember coming back to Korea right after being kidnapped that day, immediately recovering the tentacle demon, and getting confirmation from Ellis that there were no other demons.

Did I not tell her that it’s safe for me to go back now?

I guess I was so busy studying for the exam that I completely forgot.

It’s awkward to tell her to leave right now, so I should politely tell her after I come back from the practical.

If I stay with Yoo Seol-ah any longer, I might really end up dying from exhaustion after being drained of my essence every night.

“I’m just going to do one last check of my luggage, so if sunbaenim is tired, please go to sleep first.”

It was a bit earlier than usual to go to sleep, but I had to gather in front of the Academy from dawn tomorrow, so it was better to sleep as early as possible.

Yoo Seol-ah nodded slightly at my words, waved her hand at me, and went into the bedroom.

“Huu… let’s see. Emergency rations, a lantern, a torch, a sleeping bag, and a small tent… I guess that’s enough.”

The amount of luggage that individuals could bring was limited to one bag of the size specified by the Academy, so I packed my luggage as tightly as possible.

Who the team members are, what kind of environment the island is in.

Since nothing has been revealed yet, as if they don’t want to give even that information, I think it’s right to bring items that are as versatile as possible.

“If I have to wake up at 5 a.m. tomorrow… I need to sleep now.”

After completely checking my bag and finishing the preparations for departure, I looked at the clock and it was already close to 9 p.m.

Since tough days will continue from tomorrow, I need to sleep at least 8 hours today to be able to endure it.

I went into the bedroom and carefully lay down next to Yoo Seol-ah, who was already fast asleep.

With a mix of anticipation and worry about what would happen in the practical, I slowly fell asleep.

* * *

5 a.m., I barely woke up from the loud alarm sound.

It was still before sunrise, but I quickly washed my face, packed my luggage, and barely managed to leave the house.

I couldn’t stop yawning and felt extremely sleepy while going to school, but I still managed to arrive in front of the Academy.

“Ugh… I’m tired. Why doesn’t it feel like I’ve slept even after sleeping for so long?”

“Well, that’s because your lifestyle, haaah…! has changed.”

Who is it… It’s Sang-ho-gun.

I waved my hand to greet Sang-ho-gun and headed to the 1st stadium, which was the pre-announced waiting area.

There was still some time left until 7 a.m., the departure time, so I decided to just space out.

“We’re going to the West Sea, right?”

“Hey, how can you forget that on the day of?.”

Some students were chattering away from the morning, not even tired.

I listened to their conversation while slowly thinking in my head.

An island in the West Sea…

It can be said to be the most different part from reality in the Korean Peninsula of this world.

After the appearance of the monster [Sea Dragon], the coastline of the West Sea became more complex.

The existing number of islands, which totaled nearly a thousand when including both large and small ones, were split or newly created by the power of the Sea Dragon.

“But the Sea Dragon won’t attack, right? I heard the sea fog is getting worse these days.”

“Puhahat, it hasn’t been sighted since the 2000s, so how could that happen? You should worry more about how to survive for 3 days.”

“Hey, still… I can worry, can’t I?”

Thanks to the sea fog created by the Sea Dragon, the impact of yellow dust from China has been drastically reduced, but the West Sea is still trapped in thick fog for nearly half of the day because there is no way to deal with the Sea Dragon.

And today, we are going into one of those archipelagos.

The harsh terrain, the thick fog that makes it impossible to see even an inch ahead, and the intentionally occurring Sudden Breaks made it the worst environment to survive in.

Furthermore, it takes too long to travel by car or boat from Mujeong City, where Arvadellin is located, to the uninhabited island we are heading to.

It is also somewhat difficult to use airplanes because the areas close to the land are less affected, but the areas facing the sea are very dangerous due to the lack of visibility caused by the fog.

“Activating the Quantum Transporter. Students, please come forward when your name is called.”

Therefore, we will be using the ‘Quantum Transporter,’ a means of transportation that is strictly controlled by the state.

The name is grand, but simply put, it’s similar to teleportation.

By pre-arranging one Quantum Transporter on each uninhabited island and changing the coordinates by team through the Quantum Transporter in Arvadellin, a tremendous amount of time can be saved.

Of course, it only has enough magic power to transmit one batch at a time, so it also prevents students from using tricks.

“Jihoo-gun, do well. I’ll be watching, so if it seems too much, request a rescue at any time.”

I was waiting for my name to be called with a nervous feeling, when Professor Siana approached me and greeted me.

“Thank you for your concern… I’ll visit your room when I get back.”

“Yes, y-yes… Be careful.”

“Team 12, Lee Jihoo. Enter the portal.”

Leaving Siana, whose face turned red and stammered at my words, I headed to the huge portal in front of me.

I felt a slight fear at the strangely shimmering blue light, but I closed my eyes tightly and threw myself into the portal.

* * *

Feeling a subtly different sensation from Seo Ju-hana and Ellis’s space movement, I slowly opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw was a thick fog that made it impossible to see even an inch ahead.

A strange stench, a mixture of the salty smell of the sea, the fragrant smell of grass, and the bloody smell of monsters, rushed into my nose.

As I stepped out of the portal, which had already been deactivated and the shimmering light had disappeared, I saw a small book that seemed to have been prepared in advance lying on the ground.

“Let’s see. Survival rules…?”

It was difficult to recognize the letters because of the fog that covered the view even if I tried to read only a few letters, but I somehow brought the book close to my eyes and read it little by little.

[Survival Rules: Team 12]

Teams were formed based on the combined results of the last sparring and performance evaluation, and Team 12 consists of a total of three people: Go Ryushin, Lee Jihoo, and Pira Hyun.

For the practical evaluation, 3-4 randomly assigned teams will enter one island to compete, depending on the size of the island.

At this time, the members of other teams entering the island cannot be known until direct contact is made, and cooperation or combat with other teams can be determined at each team’s own discretion.

The goal of this task is to survive on the island for 3 days, a total of 72 hours, and students may also receive additional points by completing additional tasks.

Specific explanations for additional tasks will be automatically added to the rules one day later for the students’ adaptation, and it is okay to finish adapting in advance and look for additional tasks before that.

However, students will bear all additional risks associated with this, and the Academy will not intervene unless life is in danger.

“Even if I’m included, Go Ryushin and Pira Hyun are on the same team…?”

Even if the teams were rationally arranged by considering all the scores of sparring and various evaluations, Go Ryushin and Pira Hyun are both quite strong, so I’m curious about the professors’ intention to put the two of them on the same team.

However, there was nothing to lose in our team, so I decided to just ride on the two of them and take a comfortable bus.

Thinking about it, it was a pretty good situation for me that Pira Hyun was on the same team.

Even though Pira Hyun has a personality that is not interested in others, she seemed to have goodwill towards me, as she spoke to me first last time, so I think I can get close enough if there is any opportunity.

While I was holding the manual and lost in thought, the appearance of another person began to appear from the portal with a buzzing sound.

“Oh, Jihoo-ya! We’re on the same team.”

Is it because he’s basically a physical type that he can see well?

Go Ryushin quickly recognized where I was standing and ran straight to me.

“Well, that’s how it turned out. Let’s get along well for 3 days. I’ll leave the strength-using to you.”

“Haha, okay. But who’s the other person?”

“You probably don’t know her well because you’ve hardly ever talked to her, but it’s Pira Hyun…”

“Hello, Jihoo-ya.”

At that time, I didn’t even hear the sound of the portal being activated, but a woman’s voice was quietly heard from the front.

I can’t see well because of the fog, but judging from the black hair that is faintly revealed, it seems to be Pira Hyun.

“I came early and was looking around a bit. Just a moment. I’ll clear the fog a bit.”

As Pira Hyun muttered something, the thick fog slowly began to clear.

No, rather than clearing… it feels like it’s being quickly sucked into her palm.

“Can you see a bit now? Anyway, it’s too stuffy.”

Only after the fog disappeared could I gradually see the scenery of the island.

Lush forests and long, overgrown weeds, and various creatures that are not at all friendly to humans.

Only now could I realize the reality that I had fallen on a deserted island.