Finally Caught

It didn’t take long to enter the ruined city.

All that was needed was to check for any abnormalities in each cadet’s health, confirm that the protective gear was properly worn, and review the rules of engagement and safety precautions once again.

After all those procedures were finished,

“Are you Yena Freud?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Get off here. No movement until the announcement comes through the broadcast. Be careful, if you move you’ll be disqualified.”

“Understood.”

Finally, I could leave the truck and reach a specific location in the training ground, the full-scale start of the individual duel was right around the corner.

“Whew…”

I took a deep breath to calm my trembling heart, filled with various emotions like excitement and anticipation.

‘It can’t help but be thrilling.’

Isn’t this finally encountering the last class in the Sevirpol training ground that I’ve been longing for, and the educational course expected to have a significant impact on the subsequent qualification screening!

A smile formed on my lips.

My shoulders kept twitching.

As someone who always sought something stimulating, my level of emotion was much greater than other cadets.

Moreover, since the surrounding scenery entering my view was very pleasing, the degree of that emotion and joy couldn’t help but be high.

Doesn’t it give an appreciation completely different from the training locations I’ve experienced so far? I looked around, rolling my eyes here and there with my chin raised.

An exclamation immediately burst out.

The high-rise buildings that had collapsed as if hit by bombing were chaotically intertwined, and the sight of acrid smoke rising here and there, whether staged by the military academy or not,

Reminded me of the battlefield during the past Great War.

Even the object I was holding in my hand,

Click─!

Wasn’t it a rifle that made this cold metallic sound?

As the surrounding scenery and the shape of this weapon overlapped, it felt as if I had become a soldier experiencing the Great War.

It didn’t feel like just a passing training.

If the survival training, shooting and diving education, monster resistance training, etc. that I had experienced so far felt like simple education, this time it approached as a kind of test that officers must overcome.

‘That means I can immerse myself better.’

There’s no place that looks crudely staged at all, right? It meant that the Federation and the Empire cooperated to create a good environment.

That’s why I conveyed sincere thanks to the instructors, including Gartel. I gently closed my eyelids, softly folded my hands together and held them to my chest.

‘Other cadets must be feeling this same emotion right now.’

That means they must also be gaining the desire to take the lead in such a large-scale battle, just like me.

What does that mean─

There was a high possibility that most students would roam the battlefield with their own convictions, and properly show the sincerity they couldn’t fully express until now in today’s individual duel training.

‘That means the joy of taking out cadets will increase as well.’

Isn’t it much more fun to catch someone trying hard to overcome a crisis than someone who doesn’t show any reaction, resigned to elimination? The sense of accomplishment would be greater accordingly?

“It’s about to start…”

For that reason, I waited only for the moment I could move, standing by in my place as per the driver’s order I had encountered just before.

Crackle, crackle─!

And not long after, the moment I heard the radio sound filling the city,

“It’s here.”

I straightened my back abruptly and opened my ears wide.

“Ahem─, broadcasting to all Astrakhan Military Academy trainees. Before implementing the individual duel, there will be a brief guidance, so please stand by.”

Then I focused on the young woman’s voice resonating through the loudspeaker.

“This training is a large-scale activity conducted over a total of 3 days, and cadets can acquire points by subduing other cadets using the firearms distributed to each of them.”

“Also, from the day after tomorrow, restricted areas will be activated to more easily select the final winner. Automatic disqualification will occur upon entering restricted areas afterwards.”

“The final winner selection for the training is determined by aggregating the score obtained from subduing other students and the survival period.”

The subsequent broadcast didn’t contain any special information, it just summarized the existing training rules and informed only the important points.

However, regardless of what it was, that broadcast was still welcome.

“Then we will now begin the individual duel. From this moment on, cadets’ actions are autonomous. Run hard towards victory, I wish you good luck.”

There was no need to stay still anymore after this voice.

Patter─!

As soon as the movement restriction was lifted, I left the space I had been in for a long time. At the same time, I ran incessantly, targeting an abandoned building suitable for hiding my body.

I moved my feet to the extent that the rifle slung over my shoulder with a strap swayed up and down.

‘I can’t get sniped, right?’

I muttered while looking back at the path I had come.

Except for a few sparsely planted trees, there were no objects to protect my body, and the terrain was flat so there was no suitable space for concealment.

The view was too open.

Isn’t it a place perfectly suited for getting shot? It was an action decided to prevent any possible incidents in advance.

‘My body condition isn’t very good either.’

Moreover, didn’t Manfred manipulate the degree to which abilities are restricted by the mana suppression device? Even for an awakened person, dodging bullets is burdensome, and my body has become worse than an ordinary person’s.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I can’t dodge bullets. However, there’s no reason to take unnecessary risks, is there?

At least until I solved the above problem, I shouldn’t expose my body to other cadets.

“This should be good enough.”

Therefore, as soon as I arrived at the ruins, I put down my gun and took off my coat. Then I unbuttoned my shirt, and,

Click, clatter─!

Tore off the circuit board of the protective gear.

More precisely, I ripped off the outer surface with as much force as possible near the left shoulder where the mana suppression device circuit would be built in.

It was for the purpose of normalizing the function that Manfred had manipulated.

‘I need to eliminate the threat.’

Isn’t it better to solve the problem faced before encountering cadets? As mentioned earlier, even for me, it was uncomfortable to meet enemies in this state.

Won’t I be unable to exert my full strength while my body is heavy to handle?

I was determined to deal with the cadets sincerely in this training, and that was absolutely unacceptable. Because it would reduce the fun I could feel.

That was also the reason for hiding in these ruins. As I said earlier, it was true that I moved to secure safety by leaving the vast plain,

But the main purpose was to hide in a place where no one would come, quickly reverse the function manipulated by the maintenance officer, and neutralize the pressure that was immediately constricting my whole body.

That’s why I ran here so quickly.

Anyway, having successfully revealed the appearance of various mechanical devices hidden in the exterior of the protective gear,

I wiped away the beads of sweat formed on my forehead while moving my hands without delay.

Tap, click!

Sparks visible even to the eye rose from the circuit board, and although it might have been uncomfortable to touch the appearance of colorful wires not even the size of a finger,

I didn’t mind at all.

Rather, I moved my hands with a relaxed smile as if this situation was familiar.

It wouldn’t be wrong to see it as the touch of a veteran with decades of experience.

‘It’s complicated.’

But it’s easy, my body is naturally responding to what needs to be done to achieve the goal…

I continued my actions while letting out a shallow chuckle.

It was all thanks to past experience.

Even for an item with such a detailed composition that the internal design could barely be seen with wide open eyes, even for a structure difficult for non-majors to understand, the reason I could show such skillful technique,

Was all thanks to the memories accumulated from my previous life when I enjoyed this world as a game.

‘How many times have I taken apart and put together something similar to this.’

Could I not handle a single piece of equipment used for training? Moreover, it boasts an outdated circuit and operation method that’s a full ten years older when compared to the time of the Great War’s outbreak?

That wasn’t the case.

If I had time, I could disassemble and reassemble the equipment all by myself, so this level of work was a piece of cake.

I could be confident as I had gone through equipment structure theory classes and practical training well over a thousand times, combining my time as a cadet and after officially being commissioned as a mage officer.

If asked why on earth I took such classes,

I could answer that it was to properly respond when there was a risk of our country’s equipment falling into enemy hands, by understanding the Empire’s weapons better than anyone else.

‘At least for a mage officer.’

If you have to leave protective gear in enemy-occupied territory, shouldn’t you have the ability to take appropriate action according to the reality faced, such as the skill to install bombs inside, or to separate only the core circuit board to take away or smash it so no one can use it?

That’s why I received in-depth education on the form and function of items as they were developed in the Empire, and accordingly, my knowledge and skills increased naturally.

However, that doesn’t mean,

Fizz──!

That I could easily handle the mana sparks flying in all directions like this.

Education was just an act of increasing knowledge, controlling the mana runaway reaction that could lead to death if mishandled required a separate skill.

And I was in a state of possessing that skill as well.

That’s why I’m adjusting the circuit board without dying even at this time. If not, wouldn’t I have floated up to that sky long ago, electrocuted by mana sparks?

‘If it’s electrocution due to mana runaway reaction, I would have died.’

I frowned and recalled a piece of knowledge about mana that I had learned in the past.

“Handling circuit boards mixed with mana stones requires mana control at the level of a mage officer instructor. Imperial soldiers below that rank must be accompanied by special equipment.”

According to this information that I seem to have seen in the middle pages of a tactics manual somewhere, unless you’re a cadet with excellent mana utilization comparable to Gartel, you should avoid touching operating mana circuit boards as much as possible.

Because you could lose your life.

That meant that cadets who hadn’t even graduated from the military academy yet shouldn’t mess around.

It’s not like an ordinary student would have power comparable to an instructor, right?

If cadets with still clumsy strength and skills carelessly tried to control mana, they could get seriously injured or faint instantly as the energy in their body becomes wild.

But I didn’t fall into that category.

‘I have the proper nothingness, don’t I?’

Generally, it was impossible for a child who hadn’t even received the qualification screening yet to possess capabilities surpassing an instructor.

Of course, that was only in normal cases.

I, who had mastered all the theories that must be acquired as a mage officer without exception and internalized most of the combat techniques that existed in the world, did not fall under the above at all.

Didn’t I already prove it once before?

During the duel with Wolf at the beginning of the semester, I figured out the weakness of the equipment in less than a moment and used it in combat, right?

There was already a precedent. It was the same principle as lightly ignoring the suppression device currently in operation and manifesting the mana inside my body to tear apart and fix the circuit.

What does this mean in the end?

It meant that because I was not other children without any skills, but someone who operated mana innovatively based on lessons from the past, I could easily neutralize Manfred’s plot,

And that the researchers under Gartel couldn’t find the problem.

‘That’s why the instructor said there was nothing wrong.’

I shook my head while looking at the fully exposed circuit diagram.

If it weren’t for me who possessed mana operation methods that would only appear years later, I wouldn’t have been able to find the problem in the first place. Because that guy Manfred changed the structure meticulously, whether he’s really skilled or not.

Didn’t Gartel clearly say he conducted the investigation without any help from the military academy?

Probably his subordinates examined this object in an inadequate environment where they couldn’t even research in depth, so in a way it was natural that the instructor couldn’t find any suspicious points.

However, it couldn’t escape my eyes.

“…Done.”

After long contemplation, I finally succeeded in restoring the circuit. Sparks no longer flew from the protective gear, and the heat that had been subtly rising stopped at some point.

I finally nullified what Manfred had done.

A stronger sense of accomplishment than ever rose up. I was glad and happy. Didn’t I make the result that Wolf and that maintenance officer came up with after racking their brains for days futile?

‘Although my body feels a bit uncomfortable…’

Although I sweated to the point where my shirt stuck to my skin due to the high concentration, what does it matter?

Didn’t I utterly shatter Manfred’s scheme? No matter what discomfort follows, it’s more than enough to endure right now.

‘Now I can move my body comfortably too.’

I carefully put down the rifle slung over my shoulder on the ground.

Whoosh, whish─!

Then I raised the corners of my mouth while spinning my arms around.

As the pressure that had long suppressed my body disappeared, my body became light. By regaining my usual strength, the vitality I had so wanted spread throughout my whole body.

I raised my head to the extent that my ponytail swayed, and stretched both hands clenched into fists towards the sky.

‘This is what I wanted!’

As expected, being the last schedule of the military academy, it fulfilled my expectations. Even though it can’t be called a proper start yet, I already felt a proper thrill, didn’t I?

Emotions welled up from inside.

How could it not be? Compared to when I first put on the equipment, I’ve made holy progress!

For that reason, in the abandoned building without a single sign of life, I expressed my satisfied feelings in various ways, such as smiling while looking at the sky, or showing eye smiles while appreciating the beautiful rifle’s appearance.

After some time had passed like that,

‘So what is this thing…’

I calmly gathered my thoughts and looked down at my palm, then a small electronic device came into view.

It was really small, about the size of a fingernail, but the design looked quite complex, and the intermittent flashing of bright red lights kept drawing my eyes.

It was quite a peculiar device, as it was still operating even when separated from the protective gear. However, what I was focusing on was not about the appearance of this thing.

‘What is it used for?’

What on earth is the use of this thing, I focused more on that question.

I had never seen an item like this before.

I hadn’t encountered it even in my previous life when I played games. Moreover, isn’t it a tiny component that keeps flashing as if emitting some kind of signal?

I became increasingly curious about what exactly it was.

‘The only thing I can tell is that it looks similar to the position transmitter used by the mage special forces during the Great War.’

But would the function be the same too? I couldn’t guarantee that.

Therefore, I pondered for quite a long time.

This thing of unknown identity came out of my equipment, should I throw it away, or is it best to crush it into pieces so it can’t fulfill its role,

“Hmm…”

I chewed my lips and racked my brain to devise a perfect solution.

And finally, I reached one conclusion.

‘Let’s carry it around.’

There’s only one reason why such a component would be in the equipment, right? It must be part of the components Manfred inserted. If so, rather than destroying it needlessly, it’s better to use it to my advantage.

Swish─

Thinking that, I put the mechanical device in the pocket on my chest.

Then, deciding to figure out the true nature of this thing while moving,

“…Now I should get some points.”

I resolved to leave these boring ruins and catch the cadets rampant in the city one by one, while retrieving the rifle I had put down on the ground and running towards the city center.

Rustle, rustle!

Along with my hair fluttering in the wind, and the collar and sleeves of my unbuttoned shirt flying.

---

I thought it would pass without any incident, I guessed that all that remained in the schedule was to receive the balance payment, pay off debts and draw a new starting line for life.

But the goddess of fortune did not take my side.

The peaceful life I was certain I would spend in Sevirpol was shattered miserably from this moment on this day, and the future I had dreamed of happiness also fell into pitch-black darkness.

‘Damn it.’

Who would have expected that a prominent figure from the military academy was digging into my background?

As a result, at a time when I should have been peacefully resting while drinking warm coffee in my quarters, I never imagined I would be interrogated in a closed room where a single fluorescent light was the only illumination.

‘I thought it would end as just a simple witness investigation.’

The voices of the investigators from the administration department, which I still clearly remembered claiming it was just a nominal procedure to determine the cause of damage to Yena’s diving equipment, at some point I had become a prime suspect.

I was at ease, but now I’m being summoned to the military academy and receiving this kind of investigation.

Can you even grasp how great the sense of loss is?

“Haah.”

Manfred covered his face with his hands, feeling a despair as if he had fallen into a sticky swamp.

“Maintenance Officer Manfred von Eckart.”

He slightly raised his eyes at the sudden call.

“I have exactly two points to notify you of.”

“…”

“One is that your office is being searched thoroughly with the principal’s official permission.”

“What?”

“I already know that you’re the main culprit who damaged Yena’s diving equipment. Probably when we analyze all the items that came out of your room, evidence will come out too.”

It was bad enough being branded a suspect, but now investigators have raided my office?

‘So-Something’s gone wrong.’

Manfred tried hard to act expressionless in front of the man before him, but perhaps due to his burning inner feelings, he couldn’t hide the trembling of his shoulders.

‘Did I really get caught?’

Even though he was branded a suspect, he judged it was just a situation due to suspicion. He had acted so thoroughly that he never even thought his plot would be detected by anyone.

But look at the man in front of him now.

It seemed strange for him to be acting based on just subjective opinions. It wasn’t to the extent that it couldn’t be denied, but it looked like there was some evidence pointing to me as the culprit.

His heart pounded as if it would burst and his lips trembled.

‘I can’t help but be anxious!’

If I make a mistake, I might spend the rest of my life in prison after receiving a court-martial, beyond just being dishonorably discharged!

“The other is that the sooner you confess, the less your punishment will be.”

“…”

“Of course, I’m not very patient, so I don’t think you’ll have much time to organize your thoughts.”

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about! Suddenly calling me a suspect! You know how loyal I’ve been to the military academy!”

Manfred desperately tried to escape this crisis somehow.

Like before, he loudly proclaimed his innocence and frantically expounded logic to erase the charges against him.

But unfortunately, it had no effect.

Rather, such brazen behavior by Manfred,

Bang!

“I hope you keep in mind that it won’t be good at all if you come out like that. It’s an act that dares to tarnish the name of mage officer of the Bern Empire!”

Provoked the anger of the man in front of him to slam the desk and raise his voice.

‘Wh-What should I do?’

And so Manfred was discouraged. No matter what words he uttered, the other party didn’t even pretend to listen, and seemed to only want my confession.

So he just stared with dazed eyes.

“Why are you already losing strength? If you committed evil acts, you should be prepared for the possibility that karma might return.”

The man interrogating him and the administrator of the military academy,

“You should feel honored. Among mere maintenance officers, you’re the first to have a one-on-one interview with me.”

“…”

Gartel, puffing on his pipe.