Episode 44 – This is sh*t.
44. It’s a mess.
The evening of the first day of group evaluation.
A quiet corner of a cafe in Ellaim.
If it is secret, it can be called secret.
A secret meeting was taking place.
“So.”
Class C representative, Frisia Raipen opened her mouth.
“I think I can roughly guess the reason why we gathered like this.”
Class D representative, Goren Waldwien, crossed her legs and received those words.
“Well, do I really need to say it?”
Now, all the representatives of the martial arts club were gathered here.
Only one person.
Except for class A.
Goren shrugged her shoulders and spat, making eye contact with each of her cadets.
“Wouldn’t it be better to form an alliance, at least temporarily? “I think there’s no one here who doesn’t know that it’s better for everyone.”
“······You use a really annoying way of speaking.”
Class J representative, Jeniel Sovereign, clenched his fists as if he was craving a sweet night.
But regardless of the harsh tone, it was true.
Class A’s scores were at a phenomenal level.
The gap with second place was more than three times, so there was no need to mention the other classes that were worse than that.
Group evaluation is a relative evaluation, not an absolute evaluation.
And it occupies the highest score in the overall evaluation.
If things continue like this, we could see all the top-performing students in Class A.
Even considering the skills of Class A that I have seen so far, it seems like there will be no problem at all in taking first place in the next event.
The cadets had no choice but to band together to survive.
“So, even if we encounter each other before Class A is wiped out, we won’t attack each other?”
Class H representative, Bessel Hammond asked.
“That’s right. “If you don’t know the rules yet, you can’t just make grand plans.”
Detailed rules for the mock field battle will be available the next day, when the evaluation begins.
Still, as the name Mock Field Battle suggests.
The basic goal is to fight against each other in a wide field.
A promise of mutual non-aggression would be enough, Goren said, waving his hands lazily.
Not a single cadet thought it was a particularly petty or unfair act.
It is natural for the weak to join forces to deal with a strong enemy.
Probably the instructors also tolerated this situation and kept it in mind.
Even if we didn’t meet separately like we do now.
They would have formed an alliance on the spot later on in the field.
“Wait a minute. “Is that enough?”
Celia, the representative of Class G, tapped the table.
“Is there a class where you can compete with the kids in Class A and win? Don’t touch each other? “If you just do that much, I think you’ll be destroyed by them.”
She said each detail in a haughty tone.
Of course, there is Leon in class A.
Regardless of my liking for him, the competition was competition.
Celia was also trying her best to win the fight.
It would be rather uncharacteristic of her to deliberately act against her own team for his sake.
Anyway, her words were correct.
The cadets fell silent for a moment.
“Hmm, then. Are you saying we should join forces and attack?”
Goren asked, touching her chin.
Celia, who had only pointed out her weaknesses and had no particular solution, shrugged her shoulders.
“I’m not sure if it’s possible to contact other teams within it…”
“It is a means of communication… Well, I don’t think there’s anything like that.”
Of course, there are many magic tools that function as walkie-talkies.
During the mock field evaluation, it was announced that, except for personal weapons, bringing in special items was not permitted.
Otherwise, rich guys with lots of artifacts will have an overwhelming advantage.
It was a natural thing to do.
“Then, how are we going to meet? “We would all start separately.”
“Let’s just meet in the center. “I think that would be the most convenient.”
Goren quickly put an end to Frisia’s doubts.
“Over there…”
Lucen, the representative of Class I, cautiously raised his hand.
He was a bit intimidated as he was the only commoner among high-ranking nobles.
“How about doing it like this?”
“Hmm?”
All eyes were on Lucerne.
He shrugged his shoulders slightly, but continued speaking steadily.
“No matter how much you are in class A, you can’t deal with two classes at the same time, right? “At the beginning, we gather in one place and then move around in groups of two or three.”
“······ That’s okay, but what about the means of contact?”
Lucerne quickly added his words as if he had expected it.
“As you know, our class can use a variety of special arrows. “You can use glowing arrows.”
The cadets let out a small exclamation.
Special arrows are treated as personal weapons and can be brought in.
This means sending a signal by shooting an arrow that scatters light into the sky, like a flare.
Of course, in a situation where there was nothing, there was no better means than that.
“Hmm, I guess it’s not that bad.”
“Me too.”
“Okay, let’s do that. “There are no major differences of opinion, right?”
“We can discuss it again after we meet.”
Roughly in line with Lucerne’s opinion, there was an atmosphere of integration.
“······.”
I haven’t said a word so far.
Esabel, who was quietly sipping tea, smiled to herself.
‘That’s a mess.’
Compared to the snakes they met in the system, they were still bad at hiding their thoughts.
Just by looking at their eyes, you could clearly see that they were shaking their heads furiously.
An alliance formed in such a sloppy manner is bound to collapse.
It’s good to get to class A, but what about after that?
In the end, we never know when we might have to point our swords at each other.
We can only think about stabbing each other in the back.
“Hmm…”
Esabel’s eyes, like ruby gems, were strange.
* · * *
The warm early summer sunlight announced the morning.
As the evaluation start time approached, Leon led Class A towards the Tower of Illusion.
The other cadets who had arrived in advance were waiting around with nervous expressions.
Today is the day of the group field trip, which marks the end of the evaluation.
The battle in which all 10 classes gathered together could be called the highlight of the evaluation.
It is natural for each class to have strategies, tactics, and teamwork.
In an actual battle, you can evaluate each individual’s skills and judgment.
It was an evaluation item that had the highest points and attracted the most attention.
The cadets couldn’t help but show their strength today.
‘Hmm, these bastards…’
Leon narrowed his eyes and looked at the other class’ faces.
Because I felt something suspicious from a while ago.
In particular, the glances toward Class A were unusual.
A sneer appeared on Leon’s face.
‘It’s obvious what you guys are planning to do, right?’
At most, it would have been an agreement made in advance to take Class A first.
Of course.
I had fully considered that possibility.
This is something we have to deal with from the moment Class A takes the lead.
Wooow!
As I was lost in thought for a moment, Tower 1 began to emit magical power with a roar.
Magic power was condensed at the top of the tall tower.
Soon, it flew to one place, emitting multi-colored brilliance.
Jiiiiing!
The light merged with another light coming from the south, forming a thick line in the air.
From Noble mtl dot com
Tower No. 1, Located on the east side of the academy site, and Tower No. 4, Located on the south side, are connected.
This time, unlike before, a large number of people had to use the tower at once.
In order for all 250 people to enter one field, there was no way to fit just one tower.
“Let the evaluation begin! “Everyone please come inside!”
The instructor announced the start in front of the tower entrance.
“······.”
Before entering, Leon made eye contact with all of the Class A cadets once.
“······.”
“······.”
“······.”
Everyone had a needlessly solemn look on their faces, like soldiers going to war.
Leon smiled once and took his steps.
The blue sky wrapped around his shoulders.
* · * *
Paaat!
[On the second day of group evaluation, we will begin a mock battle.]
[The operation meeting time is 30 minutes.]
[Cadets must fully understand the given guidance and rules and participate in the evaluation.]
The Class A cadets arrived at a basin terrain with green grass under a clear sky.
The cadets were only armed with one weapon each.
The attire given is basic sportswear.
To distinguish the teams, a red rectangular mark was drawn on the left chest.
Other classes are assigned rectangles of different colors.
“Guys, gather together.”
Leon gathered the cadets, waving a large map and rulebook.
The map and rulebook were given to your hands as soon as they were transferred to the field.
Chrrr!
As Leon spread the map out on the floor, the cadets huddled together and stuck their heads in.
The name of the field used this time is Eledor.
Approximately 1.5 Times the size of the city of Elaim.
It is a place where various terrains such as mountains, fields, rivers, forests, and swamps are mixed.
“Okay, I’m going to read the rules, so everyone concentrate. “Don’t ask me again later.”
Leon lifted up the rulebook and began reading the rules in a voice filled with mana.
＜ Mock Field Battle – Eledor ＞
1. The field, Eledor, is divided into three levels and consists of a total of 51 areas. There are 30 Grade 3 places, 15 Grade 2 places, and 6 Grade 1 places.
2. Grade 3 is awarded 2 points per minute, Grade 2 is awarded 5 points per minute, and Grade 1 is awarded 10 points per minute. Additionally, the higher the grade, the higher the geographical value and the higher quality weapons it has.
3. Field monsters are stationed in each area. To occupy an area, you must kill field monsters. When field monsters are killed, they drop flags and weapons. +50 Points when occupying the first area.
4. You can recapture the area occupied by the opposing team. When you place your hand on the opposing team’s flag, the flag changes color and the owner of the area changes. Recapture is the same.
5. The evaluation lasts a total of 10 hours. After 6 hours, the time zone changes to night.
6. +50 Points for killing an enemy cadet, +200 points for killing an enemy commander (class representative).
A type of occupation war in which you occupy an area, obtain weapons, and kill your opponents.
The evaluation ranking will be determined by scores.
“Everyone understood, right?”
The cadets focused their attention on Leon and nodded his head.
The look in his eyes telling him to come up with a plan quickly.
I have never made a mistake by doing as he said, so it was a natural attitude.
A devilish smile was drawn on Leon’s face.
“So, what is the plan…”