111. Timwoon Mangem (3)
“Guys! come in!”
Moina exclaimed. From the sky, Hoya’s wide-area skill, ‘Frost Thorns’ poured down brutally.
Papa Parbat!
“Ugh!”
Moina struggled to hold up her shield and protected her teammates. The frost spikes could not pierce her shield and shattered. Instead, the shock Moina received was considerable.
“phew. They shoot really scary.”
Moina, who blocked Hoya’s technique, said while stealing a sweat.
“Nice work, Moina. I lived thanks to you.”
“Let’s move on! I-I will go that way.”
“… … Isn’t it a very good place to see?”
Aylmed hesitated. They are deliberately moving on a clear path for Hoya to snipe.
It was because of Aren’s operation.
Aren listened to each person’s strengths, thought them over, and quickly came up with a strategy on the spot.
It was a really excellent and efficient tactic even for Pep, who is a tactical geek to the extent that he originally wanted to be a practical commanding officer.
I couldn’t believe it was pulled out on the spot.
But there was one problem.
The theory is sufficient, but what number is it to execute?
The core of Aren’s team operation lies in Moina’s tanking ability.
Her special skill, “Rear Shield”, increases the defensive power rapidly as the distance of the attack increases. It is natural that any attack loses its power as the distance increases, but her specialty compensates for this.
Her specialty is that her defense increases in proportion to the distance she is away from her opponent.
At this distance, it boasts such strong defense that even Hoya’s special skill, “Jingu”, becomes ineffective.
Although holding a shield had no advantage in melee combat, it seemed like a half attribute, but it was truly the strongest specialty in team battles or siege battles like now.
The operation was simple.
Moina, Pep, and Aylmed intentionally expose their location. At the same time, he advances to the opposing camp little by little, but he deliberately appears occasionally to attract Hoya’s attention.
Of course, the defense side is unlikely to come first, so the only means of attack is Hoya’s arrow.
But even that is easily blocked by Moina’s specialty.
While Hoya concentrates on shooting Moina, Aren prepares an ambush.
You have to move secretly so that Hoya doesn’t notice. You have to avoid unnecessary friction with Hoya’s teammates who are spread out somewhere in the jungle.
If you do, Hoya will notice, and if Hoya really decides to shoot at a long distance, it will be difficult to approach.
Even ‘Eight Tree Shield’ has been entrusted with repairs, so it must not be discovered.
“What is Aren thinking?”
“They said they would break through enemy lines and pull out the flag by themselves without being noticed, is that possible?”
As the team members questioned, the problem was the method.
You must be undetected by a single enemy to gain access. Aren was confident, but it was hard to believe.
Pep and Aylemed carried on in disbelief, unsteadily.
Moina had no time to think about anything else because of the arrows flying wildly.
To become a bait, you must advance unconditionally. The closer the distance is, the more difficult it becomes to block Hoya’s arrows.
Moina’s magical power was not much left. Hoya’s arrows did more damage than she thought.
“Ahh! please! I can’t stand it any longer!”
To make matters worse, while on the way to Hoyane’s camp, he bumped into one of the other members. Right where Aren predicted.
“Hup.”
“Kuh! Are you really here as Aren said!?”
“No, why are you doing this correctly!”
Pep shrugged and stepped forward. While Moina blocked Hoya’s arrows and Aylmed provided cover, he was the only person who could buy time by facing opponents.
The opponent is the top of class B. On the other hand, Pep and Ailmed have unmatched grades among C and D classes. Victory was obvious.
As soon as the battle began, the charter flowed as expected. Pep couldn’t stand the opponent’s attack.
“Gwa, are you okay!?”
If it hadn’t been for Moina’s help, Pep and Aylmed would have gone out of their way.
“I don’t like my opponent. sh*t!”
Pep struggled to escape the sword, twisting his body. Then Ailmed’s arrow of wind, which curves and falls on the wind. However, in its visible state, it was not threatening.
The opponent rushed in as it was. Pep and Aylmed were so flustered that they couldn’t even properly defend themselves.
Hoya’s arrow was also shot with magic power. It was difficult for Moina to protect both of them. It was a crisis of desperation. If this continues, the decoy group will be annihilated by one person, and the remaining Aren will be wiped out, and the game will end.
“OMG! Aren! I don’t know what you’re doing, but if you’re going to do it, do it quickly!”
It was the moment when Moina closed her eyes and let go of Aren and cried out.
Jiing –
Current passed through the entire field. Everyone stopped moving like a lie. The magic power to keep the field working.
“Well?”
-stop. The match was won.
Gilliot’s voice echoed across the field.
“What?”
“suddenly!?”
The cadets’ eyes widened. I was just fighting like crazy, but I couldn’t believe it was a winner. I couldn’t believe it.
“Conclusion, what is the result?”
Moina lowered her shield and asked. Sweaty hair stuck to Moina’s cheeks. It was a cross section that showed how fierce the death struggle was for her.
―Aren’s team won. Let’s all gather in the center of the field.
“Eh?”
As soon as Gilliot finished speaking, the jungle that filled the field disappeared. I could see the flat arena and the cadets watching the fight from the second floor. I was so immersed in it that I couldn’t believe that all of this was an illusion.
“… … ?”
As the jungle dispersed like a mirage, the cadets hiding in their respective seats were able to identify each other.
The defending side was on guard at each separate spot. The spacing was quite tight, so you had to know your opponent’s position like the palm of your hand to sneak through it.
Aren’s teammates checked the flag of the defending camp.
“uh.”
“It’s Aren!”
Surprisingly, Aren was approaching calmly, carrying a flag over his shoulder.
It really did the hard work.
.
.
.
.
.
“no! uh, what did you do?”
Moina asked, making a fuss. Pep and Ilmed were both excited, but one Moina was enough to make a fuss. They surrounded Aren and waited for an answer.
“Thanks to you guys.”
Aren replied humbly. I was able to win easily because my teammates sacrificed themselves and acted as bait.
“we?”
“You guys stole my attention. Meanwhile, I was able to sneak up on you.”
“Even though. How did you go undetected?”
Moina scratched the back of her head. I tilted my head, not understanding.
After Aren figured out the opponent’s location with his shadow, he attacked Hoya. Breaking through the Hoya team’s defense and ambush was an easy task for Aren.
Naturally, the team members couldn’t believe Aren’s attitude that nothing was wrong.
“Please elaborate… … !”
“Stop, stop. Small talk later.”
Gilliot interrupted Moina. He held up the list of cadets and swung his pen around.
“The record is 8 minutes and 47 seconds. That’s a good grade.”
He said as he stuffed his pocket watch, which did not fit his bulky frame, into his breast pocket.
“As for the evaluation items, winning and losing are basic, and teamwork is the top priority. Then the strategy tactics. It is the spirit of sacrifice for the sake of one’s comrades.”
“Yes.”
Gilliott added.
“Of course, personal evaluation is also included. So don’t be too obsessed with the team’s win or loss. For example, Naseb who completely blocked Aren’s teammates 3:1 is awarded an extra point. It was great defense. The tactic of boldly using team members as bait in the Aren team is also highly appreciated. Who planned the plan?”
“… … .”
Of course, it was Aren who came up with the plan, but he didn’t open his mouth. Humility and consideration have always been good virtues.
Aren knows that someone will tell her even if she stays still.
“… … This is Aren.”
Of course, the person who answered was completely unexpected. It was Ailmed.
Aren looked at Ailmed, thinking it was unexpected. Ailmed avoided Aren’s gaze in embarrassment.
Ailmed was ashamed of himself for not trusting the leader. Aren led to an unbelievably clean victory.
I reluctantly teamed up with him, but Aylmed’s attitude was neither manly nor cadet.
Pep felt the same way. He realized firsthand that his idealism would not work at all in this kind of practice. Rather, he wanted to learn tactics from Aren.
Everyone, including Moina, looked at Aren differently.
“Hmm. Right. Points for tactics are shared among all who fulfill them. Will there be any objections?”
“yes.”
This time, Aren was the first to answer. It was an appropriate hit and run.
‘A guy like a fox.’
Gilliott smiled faintly and gave Aren a generous score.
* * *
“ha-“
He let out a short sigh and lay down on the bed. My body feels refreshed from just taking a shower, and I feel as if my eyes will close at any moment.
It was a much more tiring day than I thought. What relieved my fatigue was a new dorm room and a warm shower that I had become accustomed to.
I closed my eyes and reviewed the first round of the midterm exam.
It was enough for me to do my job well. It was easy to figure out the location of the enemy with the shadow and attack Hoya while avoiding the opponent’s line of sight.
The problem is that he is worried about the rest of the team and consumes too much mental energy to care. It felt a bit overkill.
I haven’t been in a good shape lately, so it’s better not to waste my energy as much as possible, but since it’s an exam, there’s nothing I can do about it.
‘It’s fortunate that Moina is here.’
Even though Moina was missing a screw, she was able to finish the first test without difficulty by becoming a counter to Hoya for one of her special skills.
When the team members gathered for a while after the first test, the eyes of the team members who didn’t trust me changed a lot.
Moina, who brazenly admits to believing it from the beginning, and Pep, who smiles shyly and says, ‘You were right!’ And Ailmed, who said he was sorry for not trusting me.
After twists and turns, he won the trust of his teammates, so it was not a bad business.
Even if I didn’t want to be acknowledged by the people around me, I didn’t feel bad because it was nice to receive it.
I closed my eyes and checked the next opponent.
The next opponent is Team Cain. The last is Ackerman’s team.
Damn, only picky opponents got into trouble. I tried to roll my head hard, but the breakthrough did not come easily.
In particular, Cain’s team is considered the strongest member. From my point of view, each and every one of the members was gathered together, so it was an overwhelming level in terms of absolute power.
It felt like dealing with Hang-woo, who broke through all by force alone, no matter how ingeniously he tried.
Ackerman’s team wasn’t easy either. The members themselves had a lot of potential, but the opponent was a ‘protagonist’.
It would be easy to defeat Ackerman in the days when he was distracted, but unfortunately, he was in a state of alertness now, so he could not expect to win easily.
Besides, he must have been sharpening his knife since he broke up with me last time. He’s a tenacious guy who, once defeated, works like crazy to finally defeat him.
‘Hmm.’
It wasn’t easy either way. It was safe to say that all the chess pieces he had were ‘pawns’, so there were limits to the strategies he could create.
The surprise attack only worked for a leopard like Hoya, and it was a way that Cain and Ackerman couldn’t even begin to use.
‘It’s not easy.’
There are some big pictures. The problem is whether or not you can master it enough because the preparation period is only one day.
Starting tomorrow, I’ll have to increase the intensity of my training a bit.
sleep comes slowly Are there any after-effects of being contaminated by demonic energy? It felt like the threshold of mental strength had been lowered a little.
Healing is needed, healing.
As I was spitting out such helpless words, my roommate Jade came out of the shower.
“Senior, are you sleeping already?”
“Ugh.”
“It’s a big deal.”
“what.”
Jade brushed her hair, sat on the edge of the bed and said.
“Senior, don’t you always read books at this time? You only lie down when you are sleeping.”
“I used to lie down well, but you didn’t see it.”
“is that so?”
“And I’m a little tired today.”
As if Jade remembered something, ‘Ah!’ He added a choo-im-sae and raised his voice.
“Didn’t you say today was the midterm exam!?”
“yes. Did you say you would hit the day after tomorrow?”
“Yes Yes. Thanks to your tips, preparation is going well.”
Jade laughed, showing her dry teeth. I’ve given him some useful tips, so I haven’t bothered to stick to him lately.
“okay. cheer up.”
“haha! thank you I hope you do well in the exam, too.”
Jade clenched her fist vigorously. When I see a guy full of fighting spirit like that, I feel strangely tired.
I turned my head to the ceiling again and closed my eyes. My body is tired. I really need to give my brain a break. Let’s worry about tomorrow
“Ah, senior!”
oh really!
“… … why.”
Feeling the sunken eyes in real time, I glared at Jade. It’s because I’m going to sleep now, but he keeps talking to me, making my planting uncomfortable. The guy earned a hawk.
“Well, you don’t look very well, I don’t know if I should talk about this.”
“What are you talking about already? tell me quickly.”
What else are you going to talk about? I kept calming myself down and waited for his words.
“Well. Bad rumors from seniors.”
“… … rumor?”
“Yes. That rumor that is spreading viciously these days.”
I was raising my upper body before I knew it.
“Why is that?”
“Well, one of my friends said he heard some bad rumors about you.”
“Isn’t it common?”
“no.”
Jade’s expression was very serious. Even I was nervous and swallowed my saliva.
“It seems that people outside the academy spread it on purpose.”
“who?”
“That is it. … … He said.”
Hearing the name, a fact I had forgotten flashed through my mind.
I thought it was simply a pile of negative images about me that were distorted and brought to this point, but that wasn’t the case.
Someone was intentionally hitting me.
“… … Senior, why are you laughing?”
Jade asked with her eyes wide open.
“just. A little funny.”
I had no choice but to answer that.
* * *
“miss. Is it tomorrow?”
“yes? what?”
Cain sniffed the night air and ended the day with hot tea with Hina, her lady-in-waiting.
Cain, who used to have a lot of training, recently raised his fever even more.
“I know it’s a midterm match with Master Aren.”
“Ahh. it. Did I say something?”
Cain asked while smelling the scent of herbs.
“I know everything about the lady’s school schedule.”
Very businesslike tone. Hina replied as if it was nothing, and sipped the last cup of tea she had left.
“Especially, I’m checking things related to Master Aren.”
“Kek—!”
Aren. It is now a taboo word in front of Cain.
“miss? Why is your face so red?”
That’s why Hina teased Cain even more. Pretending not to be, subtly.
“Mo, I don’t know! I’m just excited about winning against Aren tomorrow. Hehe!”
Cain covered his face wide, pretending to drink tea. Her face was so small that the cup covered her entire face.
“Anyway, separate public and private life… … .”
“Oh, I know! Stop it, Hina.”
Cain put down his glass and said.
“sorry. You have been presumptuous.”
“Nope. It’s not like that.”
It wasn’t that I was angry. I just did it because I was ashamed.
“If you want to participate in the great festival next semester, you must win.”
“yes. Then, all the way to the Royal Knights.”
“Hina!”
“Yes Yes. sorry. miss.”
Hina had fun teasing Cain.