episode_0225

“Greetings once again, Reti-nim.”

Reti, entering the broadcast booth, flinched at something. There was nothing unusual on the broadcast screen. Everything was proceeding normally. It being evening, most parties were resting in the safe zones, while a few others were trying to score points by exploiting gaps in the hunting grounds.

She was startled by a single cadet in the center of the training ground.

“Sh… Shuti-nim. Over there…”

“Oh? What is it, Reti? Ah… hoho… you mean ‘that person’?”

Shuti smiled faintly, comfortably propping her chin on her hand. Her body posture accentuated her ample bosom, causing it to gently sway.

What startled Reti was Narias Philbrog. She was the only cadet acting as an ‘observer,’ stationed outside the mock dungeon, in the training ground. All cadets who had exited through the exit zone had been subdued and forced to forfeit by her. They had realized there was nothing they could do.

Narias, having monopolized the observer zone, should have been watching the broadcast screen and giving instructions to her allied party. That was her job.

“……”

But she was asleep. Inside a round barrier resembling a soap bubble, she slept soundly, her hands folded neatly beneath her head.

“That? Hoho, it seems to be a protective barrier made of magic. The commentators were diligently analyzing the magic’s principle and meaning, but I knew the moment I saw it.”

“What is it? Why is Cadet Narias like that…?”

“Well, she’s sleeping because she’s tired-!”

Reti let out a short sigh followed by a long one. Why were two out of the three sisters like this? Couldn’t they think things through a little? With both her older and younger sisters acting this way, Reti, the middle child, always had a hard time.

But she couldn’t just stand idly by. She was the brains of the broadcasting trio sisters. The fans didn’t know that; they only remembered her as a ‘cool beauty,’ but she couldn’t help it. The rigid and earnest Reti prioritized the essence of her job over showmanship.

Flicker-

Reti’s two eyes shone brightly. Proof that she was using her special ability, the ‘Mystic Eye.’ The Mystic Eye allowed her to observe the flow of mana and magical incantations in greater detail. She peered intently at Narias’s soap bubble through her Mystic Eye.

“Ugh…”

But it was difficult to read. No, the attribute itself was so mysterious that it was unreadable. She had never seen magic of this color before. White was a pure color that was difficult to achieve even by mixing multiple attribute manas. Even with ordinary eyes, not the Mystic Eye, it was, quite literally, magic she’d never seen before.

It was perhaps only natural. What Narias was enveloped in was a sleep-inducing sensory-blocking barrier made of attributeless mana, Aether.

“Ss… huu… ss… huuh…”

She slept soundly in the center of the training ground. There were no other spirit clones monitoring the broadcast screen. She was sleeping peacefully without the slightest vigilance.

“Heehee… Nix, give me boob…”

But it wasn’t a completely sound sleep, it seemed. Though it didn’t seep outside the barrier, a black mist was slowly rising around Nari.

. . .

Day 3.

Morning dawned. Approximately 44 hours had passed since the start of the exam. Many changes had taken place in the training ground during that time.

The audience’s main points of interest were Yuri and the 1-A party. Despite being first-years, they had withstood concentrated attacks from upperclassmen head-on, securing the undisputed first place. The point difference with second place was more than double; it was impossible to catch up with ordinary methods.

But the tension remained. The 1-A party’s performance was breaking new records every day. Narias’s recapture of the exit zone, Ivna and Andrew’s fierce monster hunts, and Yuri’s hunting of upperclassmen—everyone eagerly anticipated what they would do today at the stadium.

The crowds usually swelled during the day. 1-A, having a comfortable lead in points, didn’t bother scoring points at night or in the early morning. They prioritized a work-rest balance. This allowed the audience to go home and sleep well on the nights when 1-A took a break.

“Hey, but…” “Yeah… something’s off today.” “Why aren’t they moving yet?”

The sun rose. It was usually around the time when 1-A would begin their activities. They rested properly when it was dark, so they moved properly when it was light.

But were they oversleeping? Everyone in 1-A was leisurely resting in the safe zone. They weren’t hunting monsters, searching for treasures, or—needless to say—eliminating powerful boss monsters.

Some dipped their feet in a stream and chatted. Some were flat-out sleeping in sleeping bags. Some others, restless, were playing with magically-created orbs. They had plenty of energy to go outside, yet there was no sign of them leaving the safe zone.

“Reti-nim! What’s going on…!! Why isn’t 1-A moving?!”

Mety, having returned to the broadcast booth, fussed. She, like the cadets playing ball games, seemed restless. She wanted the 1-A party to move and show something immediately. She stamped her feet, eager to unleash her outspoken commentary.

It would have been fine to switch to another party’s broadcast, but Mety had become addicted to 1-A’s intense performance. Focusing on a single party might be considered biased broadcasting, but given that the audience felt the same, there was no problem.

“Rest… they’re probably resting. I can’t think of any other reason. Cadet Narias probably instructed everyone to rest on Day 3. In fact, she’s…”

Reti subtly rolled her eyes, looking down at the training ground. Narias in the observer zone had been sleeping in that same position since last night. Inside the soap bubble-like magic sphere she’d created, that is.

Reti couldn’t understand. Was it a strategy of enjoying the high score they’d secured? No, showing a passive attitude during the exam would result in a deduction of points. Given the exam’s context of being inside a dungeon, it made sense.

“But… it looks super comfy-! Should I ask her to make one for me later?”

“An advertisement from a bedding company…? No, such indirect advertising wouldn’t be allowed… Why on earth…?”

“Ah, everyone, when Reti gets like this, she’ll get lost in thought for a while. I don’t understand those difficult and complicated things, so let’s take a look at other parties!”

Mety was a professional after all. She switched to other active parties on the broadcast.

The screen showing 1-A was relegated to a corner. Beyond the screen, outside the safe zone, the nearby grass rustled slightly.

Rustle-

No one noticed.

. . .

Rustle-

“Truly… just as the scout reported. They’re playing around without a care in the world, even though we’ve gotten this close…”

“Leader, now’s our chance. This is the perfect timing to strike 1-A—”

“You fool!! How can we possibly… wait a minute. There’s a way.”

“Right. We can use that. The same thing happened last year, didn’t it? Even if you just stay put, you accumulate ‘survival points,’ it’s impossible that the exam administration created an ‘absolutely safe zone’ like this.”

The 3-A party leader fell silent, lost in thought.

The Nifrantz Academy exam had no loopholes. If there was a loophole, it was a trap. Either the means to exploit it was limited or the act of exploiting it itself was problematic.

Safe zone.

It sounds truly safe. And it is indeed safe. No monsters or other cadets were allowed to enter except for the parties who owned the respective zones.

Survival points.

Points that continuously accumulate as long as you don’t fail, even if you don’t do anything. They are awarded every 3 hours. If you accumulate them throughout the 72-hour exam, it becomes a significant amount.

Combine the two, and it looks like you earn points even if you just idly remain in the safe zone. This is the loophole. A loophole that looks comfortable and safe to anyone.

And it’s a trap.

Among the magical tools located in the treasure area of the mock dungeon, some could ‘destroy’ barriers. However, they were quite difficult to obtain, discouraging even upperclassmen who knew of their existence from casually attempting to acquire them.

Conversely, if you take it seriously and prepare thoroughly, acquiring it isn’t that difficult.

“Right, let’s revise the plan. Immediately relay it to the alliance. Tell them to stop all monster hunting today and focus only on acquiring the barrier-breaking magical tool. Ah…no.”

The 3-A leader continued his thoughts, then let out a sinister chuckle.

“These guys seem to be taking the day off… this is our chance to gain points. Once we get the magical tool, we’ll close the gap with first place.”

Everyone present nodded.

“Disperse.”

Whoosh-

They moved according to their individual objectives. Scouting 1-A; relaying the new plan to the alliance; hunting to score points; searching for the crucial barrier-breaking magical tool.

Everyone acted simultaneously and organically.

. . .

At the same time.

Rustle-

‘Only two or three people left for reconnaissance…?’

Yuri had already spotted those lurking around 1-A’s safe zone. Pretending not to notice, she prepared her lunch—fish she’d caught from the river, skewered on wooden sticks.

And occasionally, she placed her hand to her ear, relaying information.

「Are you sure it’s alright to do this?」

「Don’t worry. Everything’s going according to plan.」

On Day 3, Nari deliberately instructed everyone not to do anything. Meaning, no outside activities. They could do anything inside the safe zone.

Specifically, she told them to comfortably enjoy the forest. After two days of intense combat and monster hunting, it was natural for mental fatigue to accumulate.

So, she told them to rest without thinking. They happily enjoyed their rest surrounded by the river, forest, and cool air. And if possible… in a place easily seen from outside.

The plan worked well. Since 1-A wasn’t moving, the overall progress of point acquisition increased. From now on, they would diligently rest while simultaneously helping to locate the barrier-breaking magical tool.

Nari also vaguely anticipated the existence of the said magical tool.

“Everyone, come and get it. It’s grilled fish.” “Wow—It smells amazing! Thank you, Yurias-yan!” “Mhmm—Wow… it’s so savory—!! Guys, come quick and try this—!!”

Even the cadets who were training mana absorption inside the forest, far from view, emerged, having released their tension. They were only visibly playing around. They were all preparing thoroughly for the final day.

Mainly mana absorption. They thoroughly relieved the accumulated fatigue, drawing out energy through mana circulation within their bodies. Activating their mana beforehand would prevent strain even if a sudden situation occurred.

How much they’d suffered while learning from Nari. To make up for it, they diligently activated their mana.

Of course, while hidden in the surrounding bushes. Some did mana absorption training in sleeping bags. From the outside, it would simply look like rest. Those in easily visible places were busy playing and eating.

Another night passed, and the morning of the final day dawned.

Finally, the Anti-Narias Alliance gathered in front of 1-A. Composed of various grade levels, they had been tirelessly scoring points until the early morning. Few parties only needed to gain a certain amount more points to overtake the top-ranked 1-A.

That’s right. If they eliminated the cadets of 1-A and got additional combat points, first place would change.

They reached 1-A’s safe zone. They had slept soundly, exhausted from playing and eating late last night. The scouts had checked several times. Apparently, lulled into a false sense of security by the safe zone, they were oversleeping. Such a carefree attitude.

“This is the difference experience makes, you rookies… kkk—”

The alliance leader, the head of the 3-A party, stood in the center, holding the barrier-breaking magical tool high.

The alliance’s momentum blazed. Brightly and intensely, they were emitting every bit of light.

Like the sun just before sunset.