Before Taking a Hit (1)
Over the weekend, we met up with the team members and hashed out various plans. Supplies were the main focus—what to bring, how many potions for detox and stamina recovery, what to pack for emergency rations, and so on. We chatted about other things here and there, but it was mostly practical training talk. A pretty solid gathering, all things considered.
Even with me around, personal issues could crop up for anyone, and we'd need to rotate night watches too. In truth, Grace had mapped out all those fine details on her own. Lee Yeonju only musters real enthusiasm in special circumstances. My role? Just pitch in from the sidelines. That's probably what Grace wanted anyway.
"Everyone, take these. Stamina potions and detox ones. I couldn't make a ton since materials were scarce, but this should be plenty."
On the last day of the weekend, Ellie divvied up the potions among us. It was one of her traits kicking in while she was still alive—her alive, that is. Early-game potions fetch a hefty price. Most folks hunt or forage herbs every weekend just for one or two. But as I've said before, with Ellie around, potions are the least of our worries. And the quality only gets better over time, enough to throw the game's balance off-kilter.
"You sure it's okay to give these to us? You'd make a killing supplying them to shops."
Luna, who'd just received her share from Ellie, asked with a concerned look. Free potions probably felt a bit guilty for her. Handing these over to a shop would've netted Ellie a nice profit, but she'd given them to us instead.
"Nah, it's fine. They're not shop-worthy anyway. You've more than paid me back by foraging herbs with me every weekend."
"I didn't go though? Should I pay you or something?"
That was Kara chiming in. Unlike Luna, she'd gotten hers for free. Coming from the money-savvy Tatar people, taking them empty-handed probably stung a little. She'd want to pay up.
"Then come foraging with me next time, sis. Sound good?"
"Hmm... yeah, sure. Not a bad deal."
"Me too."
I chimed in that I wanted to tag along. Knowing Ellie's personality, she'd donate potions whenever we needed them. But now that I'd received some, it felt awkward. I knew how much effort she'd poured into brewing them. Heading out every weekend to forage herbs—and hunt for extra cash—didn't sound half bad.
"Sivar's good. You're busy with training every weekend, right? Focus on that for now."
But Ellie waved me off. Her smiling face told me she really didn't need it. Soon enough, I should head out with Porori and snag some top-shelf herbs as a gift. She'd love that. Lord might chew me out, but with Porori along, no worries. Besides, good intentions, right?
"Alright, everyone—good luck tomorrow! It's a competition, but surviving comes first, yeah? No fighting if we can help it. Let's all get along."
"Hope our team thinks the same."
"......"
Kara smirked at Ellie's pep talk, while Luna stayed silent, subtly glancing my way. Depending on how I played it—and whether I survived—the training's difficulty could vary wildly.
I'm not planning to go all out anyway.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't just me—our whole team would play it low-key. Charging in blindly could put other teams on high alert, leading to pointless losses. Better to bide our time. Plus, the longer it dragged on, the better for us. The activity zone would shrink bit by bit.
"Oh yeah, Luna—what'd your team pack?"
"Basic meds and emergency rations. Probably sleeping bags too."
"Sleeping bags? Not bad. Maybe I should grab one."
No need to sweat the specifics on what to bring.
"Everyone assembled? Before we start, drop all gear except the belt pouches. You can't take any of it into the practical."
"Pardon?"
"What do you mean?"
Everything but the small pouches was off-limits. Marlboro dropped that bombshell right in front of the forest where the practical would unfold. For students who'd prepped meticulously, it was beyond bewildering—straight-up absurd.
"Not like this is a picnic. What's with all the baggage? Forgotten the theme already?"
"But sir, you said to bring potions..."
"Potions'll fit in the pouches. I told you before—keep wearing those light pouches habitually."
The students traded dumbfounded looks at Marlboro's explanation. Must've been from week one; I hadn't heard it. In the game, inventory started with a tiny pouch too, expanding with upgrades.
Grousing under their breath, the students dumped their stuff anyway. Not a picnic, after all—some had even shown up with massive backpacks. This much grumbling was tolerable. But his next words sparked a barrage of protests.
"Also, the practical's been revised. Originally 12 hours, now it's 36 hours. Starts 7 a.m., ends next day at 7 p.m. Survival required."
"What?!"
"That's insane! Why change it now?"
"If you're gonna do that, don't announce it at all!"
Protests erupted as expected. The United Academy drew talent from around the world—naturally full of strong egos who might see this as professors toying with them. Amid the ugly mood, Marlboro and the instructors didn't flinch. Like it was routine.
As tempers flared, Marlboro glared and bellowed.
"Quiet!!"
"......"
One shout, and the clamor died instantly. They sensed his aura wasn't ordinary. No matter how elite the students, they couldn't match a grizzled veteran.
Kara alone grinned like she was having fun. Thrived in this chaos, apparently.
"As I said last week, the theme is survival. Don't know what that means?"
"......"
"Survival means pulling every trick in the worst conditions. Prepped survival isn't survival. We were gonna send you in naked otherwise. Time would've been way longer too."
This is us going easy—shut up and deal. That was the subtext. Logical enough; protests tapered off.
I survived in a single sackcloth. This is luxury.
Emergency rations? Check. Fire starters? Check. Potions? Check. Danger beasts weren't that dense, and only 36 hours. Drop out, and you could rest easy.
"This is way out of left field..."
As I mulled my inner boomer thoughts, Grace muttered beside me, looking conflicted. Glancing over, she was gnawing her thumbnail—her tell for distress.
"W-what do we do now? Will we be okay?"
Lee Yeonju already looked mentally checked out. Difficulty had spiked, so fair enough. But surprisingly—all an act. Her true self wasn't that fragile or timid. That's why I found her such an intriguing character: the gap was huge. Her real side only emerged rarely—like when tied to her nation... or...
"Alright, everyone. Time to apply the first aid I taught you. Best not to get hurt, but hang in there!"
...her big sis Yeonhwa, whom she saw as a traitor. Lee Yeonju's face turned downright eerie watching Yeonhwa speak with that smile. The fragile facade vanished, replaced by cold indifference. No one else, Grace included, noticed amid the chaos—but I clocked it fine.
The Hwan Empire... what a headache of a nation.
Hwan Empire's original name: Dongbang. A Soviet-style union of states. And their antics mirrored it. Concept alone screamed "China that swallowed East Asia." Superpower USSR meets China dominating Asia. A Frankenstein state, but real: the Hwan Empire. Lee Yeonju hailed from one of its vassals, modeled after South Korea. Professor Yeonhwa too.
Showing up as Hwan Empire rep? Traitor fits.
Dig deeper, and it's not so simple—but impossible to know now. Like its inspirations, Hwan obsessed over censorship, info lockdown extreme. Cultural suppression worst of all; they were gobbling it up bit by bit. Yeonhwa's outfit? Pure Hwan Empire style. No wonder Lee Yeonju seethed inside.
"Time to move out. Groups from 1 onward—professors and TAs will lead. Blindfolds for safety; make a note."
With Marlboro's cue, groups donned blindfolds and shuffled off one by one. Tough to track position that way. Shrinking zone marked visibly, I recalled. Would see soon enough.
"Hello, Sivar. I'll take you myself. Blindfold okay?"
Unlike others, Godin fetched me. Apt choice. I complied meekly, slipping it on. Blind or not, I knew what I needed. Once badly injured my eyes, survived on hearing and smell alone. Learned quick how vital sight was.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Godin gripped my arm, guiding slowly—worried I'd trip. Suspicious looks aside, kindness ran deep. Too deep; they called him a pushover.
"Alright, remove blindfolds."
About 10 minutes in, Godin instructed. My team and I obliged. Trees packed dense filled our view. Deep forest.
"Turn around, please?"
Godin pointed behind as we blinked. A towering blue barrier loomed.
"It'll shrink over time. Step out, no instant DQ—but auto-elim after 10 minutes."
"Just stay in 10 minutes?"
Grace's question. Barrier alone offered strategic plays aplenty.
"Yes. No recharge, though—recommend coming inside. Shrinks at night too; heads up."
"Can't even sleep properly. Or rest."
"Ugh, brutal..."
It did shrink at night. For real rest, push deep inside—raising clash odds, fights inevitable. Unavoidable.
"But it'll show final shrink zone. Up to you. Here—bracelets."
Godin handed them over. Adjustable, snug on wrists. Like sparring ones, but tighter.
"Remove or major damage? DQ. You know."
"Feels a bit tight."
"Yes. Can't be easily removed by others."
"I see..."
Grace started to reply, then trailed off—eyes widening in alarm.
"S-Sivar! Don't take it off now!"
She'd mistaken my fiddling for removal. Just curiosity.
"Haha, no worries. Still five minutes till start."
Godin calmed her with the timer, then explained removal. Tricky for others—subdue and pry, or break it.
"Time soon. I'll head out. Good luck."
Godin bowed politely and exited the barrier. As he left, its glow intensified. Start signal. Grace caught it, turning to us.
"Here we go. Move first? Check shrink range."
"M-maybe hug the barrier instead?"
Grace and Lee Yeonju debated turtling vs. shrinking zone as practical kicked off. I headed for a tree—not towering ones, but a fallen log. Slung Ragnarok off my back, swung hard.
Crack!
"...Sivar?"
"W-what are you... doing...?"
They gawked at my sudden axe work. But not random. Rotten logs teem with nutrients—not for me, for critters inside.
Wriggle. Wriggle.
Bingo. A few chops, and fat white grubs squirmed out. Prime eating, depending on roast or raw—grubs.
I scooped one, eyed the team. Faces pale with disgust.
"W-why grab that!? T-throw it away!"
"Ewww... gross..."
Grace recoiled; even Lee Yeonju backed up, her acting cracking into real horror. But I held firm. They needed to see this firsthand—what lay ahead. Barely any rations; starving wasn't an option. And "emergency" food? Candy and chocolate scraps from pouches.
"This. Food."
"...Food? You mean that's dinner?"
"Yeah."
"N-no way! Even for survival, bugs are too much...!"
Crunch!
Talky bunch. Ignoring Grace's babble, I popped the grub in. Should've detached head for safety, but I swallowed whole.
Crunch crunch! Nom nom!
Shoulda roasted. Brief regret at the earthy burst. Edible, though. Only carrion made me hurl.
"Urk...!"
Grace clamped her mouth, queasy from sight alone. Lee Yeonju fared better—pale but no panic.
I chewed thoroughly, swallowed. Prime protein ahead.
More around.
Ripping bark post-grub, I found tiny bugs. Smaller than before, but starter fare for newbies. Pincer-grabbed one, approached the girls—who retreated.
Marlboro harped on it: theme was survival. Foes unknown; meals essential.
"Win."
"...Pardon?"
"Win."
Eat this, odds go up. Wouldn't bother if solo. Safe raw too. I held it out to the flustered pair.
"Eat."
"N-no! I'd rather die!"
"C-can't we later? No need now...!"
Greenhouse flowers, clear as day. Fierce refusal screamed disgust. Wasn't expecting much. But to curb hunger, bugs it was. Their no? I ate mine.
Practical hadn't sunk in yet. Time to ease 'em in.
Not bad taste.
Cockroaches? This was candy.