Chapter 47
Chapter 47
This damn academy makes us take the practical exam before the written one.
Why the hell is the order like this?
If I mess up the practical, does that mean I don’t even get to take the written?
Well, I guess it makes sense.
If you fail the practical after acing the written, that’d be a total waste of time!
“Ah… I really hate this.”
I feel like crying.
Why won’t the world leave me alone?
Maybe this is just the price I have to pay for coasting along for the past year.
“Yohan, this side’s ready.”
“…You guys have no complaints about the plan I came up with?”
“Nope!”
“……I see.”
If there had at least been some conflict, I could’ve used it as an excuse to step down from my squad leader position. But no, that’s not happening.
Why do people who barely know me trust me so easily?
Why do they follow my plan without hesitation?
Have I ever given them a reason to trust me?
I don’t know… Still, since they’re following my orders, I’ll do my best.
If I fail alone, fine, but this is a team battle. And this is the normal daily life I wanted, so giving it my all seems fair enough.
“So, no need to brief anyone separately, right?”
“Of course not. If someone can’t even memorize that, what good are they?”
“That’s true.”
The point of this exam is to see what strategy you employ.
Each team member’s abilities are balanced, and their specialties have been thoughtfully assigned.
The key isn’t just defeating the opponent, but destroying the enemy’s fortifications and breaking the flag.
How much of the fort is constructed, where the opponent’s fort is, and how you plan to attack it—all of that is evaluated.
It’s basically a mock war.
“Ha, is there even a team that can use all this material?”
I clicked my tongue, looking at the fort-building materials we were given in advance.
With this much, five people could build a proper fortress, not just a fort.
A strategy like that could actually work—forming an impenetrable defense while gradually wearing down the opponent before attacking.
The real decision is how much to focus on offense versus defense.
“What time did they say the exam starts?”
“Exactly at ten. Be careful. Don’t touch the materials until then.”
Each team has five members.
How should they be allocated?
First, we need scouts to cross this wide forest and locate the opponent’s fort.
Second, infantry to attack the fort once it’s located.
Third, defenders to guard our fort.
Fourth, engineers to strengthen our fortifications.
And finally, of course, a commander to coordinate everything.
Surprisingly, I’m the one playing the commander.
How you assign the five roles is the key. It’ll probably require flexibility, but…
“Yohan.”
“Ah, right. Time to start?”
Our plan is simple.
“Everyone ready?”
Four scouts, four infantry, and me handling engineers, defenders, and command. Overwhelming them with numbers—that’s the core of our strategy.
A battle to break the opponent’s flag.
If the fort isn’t properly built, the attackers have the advantage.
That’s the strategy we came up with after careful thought (well, about ten minutes of thought, really).
“Operation Four-Drone, start.”
The point of this exam is balancing offense and defense.
But what if there’s no fort to defend?
Send everyone to attack and break the opponent’s fort before it’s even completed.
Of course, building a fort is mandatory according to the rules. You must plant a flag within ten minutes of starting.
“Alright, this should do.”
A fort doesn’t have to look like a fort.
I stacked nearby stones to make a structure.
“Haam…”
Now all I can do is wait for the victory signal.
The important part is time—how quickly we locate the opponent’s fort.
This tactic has one obvious flaw: the enemy scouts. They’ll probably take one person early to locate our fort.
Even if they meet our scouts as a group, that’s fine—we’ll show them the power of numbers.
If they don’t meet our scouts…
“Found you! Huh? Alone? Where’d the others go?”
The enemy scout is inevitably heading straight for me.
Hmm, maybe I was a bit too slow.
I glared at the approaching opponent.
“Your base is about to be wiped out.”
“Ah! I see!”
He flinched at my words, trying to turn, but eventually stopped and headed straight toward me. Not stupid at all.
“So, if I subdue just you, it’s a victory for you guys?”
“Maybe.”
And since it’s well known that my combat power is low, subduing me first is naturally faster.
But…
“If I can actually subdue you.”
I drew my sword.
The longsword revealed itself, wrapped in a blue aura.
The blade was fully covered in the blue energy.
“That is…”
“I’ve been growing, you know.”
Before, I couldn’t fully imbue my sword with energy. It wavered like an unstable flame.
So in combat, I would enhance the sword’s power with the energy and exploit gaps with illusion magic.
But now it’s different.
“I see you’ve really worked hard.”
“Of course.”
I now have a magical item.
Did I secretly train to master sword energy? Not a chance—I’d have gone straight to bed if I had the time.
This was Emily’s invention.
The scabbard and cross guard are equipped with a mechanism that automatically imbues the sword with energy when drawn.
Using Ex Machina’s tech is risky, but I focused on items that wouldn’t draw suspicion.
Emily specializes in magical engineering, particularly battery tech that stores mana.
The sword energy I’m now projecting comes from a mana-storing battery, so no one can suspect a thing.
“Phew…”
Gripping the sword, I assumed my stance. Using my concentration for the sword energy elsewhere lets me handle the fight well.
And I can still use magic simultaneously.
“You wouldn’t believe how busy I’ve been,” I said.
“Sounds fun. Tell me later. For now…”
Kraaa!
A fierce energy bursts from the enemy’s sword.
“Let’s prioritize the exam.”
“Tsk…”
I tried stalling with conversation, but it didn’t work.
The opponent seems stronger than me at first glance. Why are the academy students this strong?
“Hup!”
Krakagak!
I block the attack. It’s almost invisible.
I feel the weight—this is the heft that academy students sense during duels.
The opponent channels mana into their body while generating energy from the sword, sustaining that power.
Good thing I have Emily’s invention—without it, this attack could’ve taken me out.
“Oh, not bad, Yohan.”
“Thanks…! But I don’t even know your name!”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“You’ve got a good personality…!”
Bang!
I push him back once. Technically, he moved to match my strength.
Keeping swords clashing isn’t good—my energy-enhancing battery depletes with every clash.
To recharge, I’d have to sheath the sword and draw it again. No time for that.
“Time to speed things up.”
In a flash, he closes the distance again. Faster than expected.
“Where do you think you’re going…!”
But I can still see the sword’s trajectory and respond.
Pow!
Could this be the difference in combat experience? Mid-swing, he spins and kicks toward my abdomen.
Even with armor, the impact shakes me inside.
“Ugh!”
I feel like I’m about to vomit, but I endure.
Showing weakness now could mean my neck next time.
He won’t actually decapitate me, but academy students are strong enough that armor won’t fully protect me.
He’s much stronger, but will stop attacks at a reasonable point.
“Persistent, huh!”
He’s smiling as I fight with all my might.
These guys really enjoy this.
“Sorry, Yohan. Let’s stop here.”
Whoosh!
He swings again, sword visible.
I have to watch for other attacks too—can’t take the same hit multiple times.
Kick? Punch? Shoulder ram?
Eyes wide, I calculate how to defend.
This attack comes straight.
Thud.
No impact.
I’m puzzled. This guy… matched his strength with mine? Why?
Answer comes quickly.
Swish!
His sword slides, tangles with my cross guard.
Flick!
My sword flies into the air.
Weapon taken. Truly masterful.
I can’t even understand it visually.
“…Such a huge gap?”
I hadn’t focused my energy on the sword either.
And this level of skill is from an F-class underperformer.
“The pity, Yohan.”
His sword slips under my neck.
Luckily, no energy flows through it.
I raise my hands, admitting defeat.
This isn’t a life-or-death fight—it’s just an exam.
“…Since I surrendered, don’t overdo it.”
“Don’t worry.”
He smiles and pulls a rope from his pants.
Better to be tied up than knocked unconscious—it buys time. He knows this, and he’s genuinely a nice person.
“Alright. Comfortable?”
“Yeah, this is fine.”
I’m bound by arms and legs, even tied to trees.
Just arms would’ve been enough to immobilize me—he’s cautious.
Or maybe he thinks I’d try a sneak attack? Either way, more time gained.
“Wow… Did you really call this a fort?”
“Practical, right?”
“Don’t have a conscience, huh?”
He examines my fort, impressed. Innovative and simple design.
“Maybe your strategy wasn’t bad. If only this weren’t a mock war.”
True. My fort doesn’t actually function as one—it would collapse if kicked.
He scratches his cheek and kicks the fort. Stones tumble, the flag falls.
But…
“Huh?”
When the pile collapsed, the flag disappeared.
I had said it would fall if kicked.
But do you need to fight near the fort? Only the flag matters, and I can fight while using magic.
“My bad, wrong spot.”
My specialty is illusion magic. The flag was hidden out of sight from the start.