Ch.119118. Empty Seat (3)

# 118. Empty Seat (3)

As scheduled, when the clock struck twelve, the trumpet signaling the start of the Survival event echoed throughout the Academy.

And we—or more precisely, all students of the Academy—were instantly teleported into the set where the Survival would take place.

“Where… are we?”

I expected to see the same scene we had witnessed during the midterm exam, but it was different.

Not just slightly different, but an entirely different space.

The tropical rainforest we had seen during the midterm was nowhere to be found. Instead, there was a highly advanced civilization’s city.

“This is different from Lucerne… where exactly are we?”

We were standing in a city reminiscent of the imperial capital, Lucerne.

However, the buildings in this city seemed to have weathered long years of hardship, with green moss growing on their walls.

Some buildings had completely collapsed, unable to withstand the ravages of time.

Shocked by this unexpected sight, I asked them in confusion.

“Is it always like this?”

“The set changing isn’t rare… but such a drastic change is a first…”

Even those who had spent years at the Academy found this scene unfamiliar and fascinating, continuing to observe the city.

Judging by the reactions of those who had been at the Academy since middle school, such a radical change seemed to be unprecedented.

“But we don’t have time to worry about that.”

Unlike them, instead of focusing on the city before us, I checked the map using the wristwatch we had been given.

Naturally, the map had also changed to match the set, and our current location was marked.

We were positioned not in the center of the city, but near its outskirts.

“But… what’s this? These dots?”

Something strange had been added to the map.

At the center of the map—the center of the city—was a large blue dot.

And surrounding that blue dot were small red dots forming a circle.

“Stop sightseeing and check your maps.”

“The map? Suddenly?”

“Just look.”

Following my words, the others looked at their wristwatches and showed the same reaction I had earlier.

“What is this? These dots? There are red ones and a blue one.”

“I guess there’s something if we go there, but it’s annoying they made something like this.”

“I actually think it’s good. It was too boring before. The set seems smaller overall too.”

Raicle seemed displeased with the sudden change, but Reina felt the opposite.

And as Reina mentioned, the size of the set itself had been reduced.

It seemed they were trying to shorten the duration of the Survival by reducing the size and adding these additional elements.

“What do you want to do? Should we just go? There will probably be a lot of people.”

With these features in place, students would naturally be curious to check out what these dots represented.

And those dots could potentially offer tremendous advantages.

‘Maybe reaching that blue dot means victory… no, that would be too much.’

Even if not to that extent, there could be advantages like the set shrinking around that center point over time.

‘It would be stranger if there was nothing there.’

Given that they marked it, there must be something.

Everyone who checked the map would know this, and that “something” was tempting people by its mere existence.

Of course, there would certainly be people who wouldn’t fall for the temptation.

But we had no reason to avoid it.

“Let’s go. Everyone agrees, right?”

“Do whatever you want…”

“I’m in!”

“Fine, I want to finish quickly and rest.”

“Let’s just hurry up and go.”

Everyone seemed ready to face the temptation head-on.

I couldn’t help but feel proud.

“Alright, let’s go. Want to bet on who gets there first?”

“You always suggest things that favor you.”

“I’m pretty confident, but I’d have to use all my magic.”

“Just shut up and walk.”

We maintained a cheerful atmosphere as we strode through the city.

We talked about various topics, occasionally bickered, and sometimes destroyed nearby buildings when bored—it was a series of quite enjoyable situations.

‘When you look at it this way, it’s actually pretty nice.’

Of course, I didn’t know how that thought might change once combat began in earnest, but for now, it wasn’t bad.

So I intended to savor this moment and feeling as much as possible.

‘Before it changes…’

***

While one side was relatively free and cheerful, the other side was not.

The team she belonged to was already serious and facing a situation worthy of the title “Survival.”

“Riel, please maintain at least 500 meters distance from the main unit, and when we signal, immediately climb to a high building to cover us. If you see other enemies, let us know.”

It was a scene that would make Albert say, “Isn’t that the right way to do it? Aren’t we being too casual?”

Team 47, to which she belonged, was approaching the Survival with more seriousness than any other team.

“In the main unit, Briton and Chris will take the lead, and Rachel, Elin, and I will follow.”

In a situation like this, matching positions as seriously as this team was doing was indeed most important.

Even with basic skill deficiencies, well-matched positions could exert power beyond original capabilities.

However, not many teams actually did this.

“Since we have plenty of magic users, Chris, please continuously buff yourself and fight at the front as much as possible, but avoid serious injuries.”

As she said, this team was overflowing with mages.

But that was both an advantage and a disadvantage.

With only magic, it would be somewhat difficult to deal with warriors who had high magic resistance.

Therefore, the roles of people like Riel and Chris, who could inflict physical damage, were extremely important in this team.

Of course, she was also quite skilled with a sword, but not to the extent of using it in the current situation.

‘Especially if the opponent is Albert… even more so.’

In fact, having only magic wasn’t really a problem.

Even people with high magic resistance were still students, so their resistance wouldn’t be extraordinarily high, meaning magic alone could resolve the situation.

But the problem was “that team.”

That team was the opposite of hers in terms of offensive capabilities.

Except for Leo, they were all warriors who inflicted physical damage.

“But if we face Albert’s team, Chris must give buffs to Briton without fail, and close the distance with us. Riel, please keep Eve, who might be hiding somewhere, in check.”

If they weren’t picked off one by one, they could block the attacks and win by stalling for time.

And if they defeated that team, first place would be practically guaranteed.

However, there were still variables.

‘Those dots are a bit troubling…’

They were unexpected variables.

Not only were they suddenly introduced, but since this was the first time such things had appeared, they had no idea what they were or what influence they would have.

But she felt that Albert wouldn’t avoid these variables.

Rather, he would likely play with them skillfully and turn the situation to his advantage.

Therefore, she couldn’t ignore these variables.

“I have something to ask all of you.”

The team members listened attentively, and she declared to them:

“I don’t know where they are now, but that team will definitely head toward those dots.”

“That’s certainly true.”

“What do you think we should do? Stay put and observe the situation, or head to the center like them and face those variables directly. Which will you choose?”

She didn’t make the choice alone but left it to her team members.

And given the choice, the team members replied without hesitation:

“We’ll leave it to you, Princess.”

They returned the choice to her.

They believed.

They believed that even in this chaotic situation, she would make a wise decision.

But that trust must have been a burden to her.

This way, she alone would bear the responsibility for any foolish judgment.

But she wasn’t crushed by that burden.

“Then let’s head to the center.”

Instead, she lifted that burden and pushed forward according to her conviction.

No one knows whether that judgment is right or wrong right now.

But at this moment, they and she believed.

They believed that the judgment she made—that they made—would be correct.

“As I said earlier, Chris and Briton, please take the lead.”

They moved forward with that belief.

Cautiously, step by step, they approached a world full of unpredictable variables.