Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Maritime Train (2)
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“Simulation commencing.”
“Video team, fully operational.”
“Artificial magi-beast team, fully operational.”
“Safety measures team, fully operational—”
Hatan Woo-Jool nodded as the reports rolled in one after another from around the command center.
“Well done. They built it right.”
A satisfied murmur escaped his lips.
From the perspective of someone who’d hunted real giant magi-beasts firsthand, not a single person in that group would spot it as fake.
Of course, it might feel a tad harsh against greenhorns who likely had zero real combat experience.
‘True talent only shines when pushed to the brink.’
The event’s very name, Crucible of Struggle, was chosen to reflect the intent of exposing students to the harshest environments imaginable, over and over.
Iron only grows stronger the more you hammer it, after all.
In that sense, this virtual simulation was more than enough to draw a grin of approval from Hatan.
“Man, I still can’t get used to this every time I see it.”
But the voice from beside him wiped that grin right off his face.
A woman squinting with a perpetual smile.
The area around her was packed with people in the wild, barbaric garb typical of the Tribal Federation, but she stood out in civilized attire that screamed refinement.
And the words that followed only highlighted the contrast.
“People like that handling cutting-edge tech you’d expect from a mage tower? The Tribal Federation gets weirder the more you look at it.”
“...High Priestess Tatiana.”
Hatan sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“Look, if you’re just here to observe, could you keep quiet and watch?”
“Oh my.”
She stuck out her tongue and raised her hands in mock innocence at his sharp retort—a sight infuriating enough to make him want to deck her.
“You’re too much. What did I even do wrong?”
Hatan’s expression darkened further.
“Then let me spell it out right here.”
Compared to before, his words now carried half a measure of killing intent.
“I can’t stand you, Priestess. Considering what you did to Allan, count yourself lucky you’re still breathing.”
“...”
“That guy was my friend. Dumb as a rock then and now, but he was a brave warrior who knew honor and fought fair.”
“...”
Hatan’s voice, cold as frost, poured out toward Tatiana, who offered no reply and kept smiling.
“He wasn’t the type to suddenly challenge a great chieftain who ruled the Federation well, chop off three of her limbs, and wipe out her entire clan.”
And that was true.
Kasa Garda had earned the respect of every warrior. Yet despite everyone’s opposition, this woman had dueled her and severed all three of her limbs. All of it.
Every incident happened after this woman was appointed high priestess of that tribe.
And the ‘process’ of that duel itself...
‘...It was horrific.’
Hatan ground his teeth at the memory.
It hadn’t been a fair duel by any stretch.
More like a shameful ‘massacre’ unfit to even call a duel.
Most of Kasa Garda’s clan—everyone except the duelists—had been slaughtered that day.
“Great Chieftain Allan rose to lead the Tribal Federation through an honorable duel. He has the authority and legitimacy for it, doesn’t he?”
“...”
That was why hearing her spout this nonsense so casually was a test of his patience’s limits.
Instead of responding, Hatan turned to the command center staff and issued the next orders.
“...Track the vital signs of everyone on the train.”
“Affirmative!”
For the Tribal Federation’s tech level, pulling that data from everyone inside was child’s play.
It was essential, too. Vital signs revealed a ton of info.
It prevented accidents easily and let them gauge how cool-headed each person stayed under pressure.
Low heart rates, minimal emotional fluctuation, quickest to judge.
And by those metrics, the standouts were...
“...”
Liru Garda and Kasa Garda.
A wry smile crossed Hatan’s face at the familiar names.
Given their grasp of Tribal Federation ways, it made sense they’d stay calm and assess the situation right away.
‘...I don’t want to stop them from setting foot on their homeland again.’
But entering the Crucible of Struggle like this would be suicidal in more ways than one.
He should probably pull them aside for a word of advice before they dove in.
Excluding those two...
“...Dawood Campbell?”
Hatan smirked at the man crawling along the top of the train like a sluggish turtle.
Ah, right.
That guy.
He remembered.
The way he’d stood up to the Pontiff left a deep impression.
Fitting for such a bold type—he seemed the coolest head in the crisis.
No clue why he looked so ridiculous doing it, though.
“...”
But unlike Hatan’s amusement...
Tatiana’s face twisted beside him.
Subtle, hard to catch on her ever-smiling, squinting features.
“Ah, Chief Hatan.”
And that feeling lingered in her following words.
“Shouldn’t we crank up the difficulty now?”
“...What?”
Hatan’s baffled voice echoed softly through the command center.
“What nonsense is that, Priestess? Crank what diffi—”
Before he could finish, Tatiana snapped her fingers.
Onscreen, Liru was charging the giant magi-beast.
And at that exact moment...
A yellow aura began erupting from the beast.
Hatan’s eyes widened.
“...Priestess. What did you do to the artificial magi-beast?!”
“Oh, just slotted a real giant magi-beast ‘Thunderbird’s’ heart into the finished model. It should pack about half the power of the real thing.”
The command center staff paled at her words.
That was ‘special mana’—something untamable without it being a true magi-beast.
Even mid-tier beasts took regular knights to fell, and they couldn’t touch a giant’s claw tip for a reason. Giant magi-beasts wielding special mana rivaled natural disasters.
Half power was still way beyond what a bunch of students could handle.
“We can’t greet Empire guests half-heartedly, can we? They deserve this much.”
“Have you lost your mind?! Those are all Empire students down there. No combat experience! If any die...!”
“They die? Does being students mean we baby them?”
Hatan was speechless at her casual reply.
“...Sold your last shred of conscience, you mad bitch. Ignoring students’ lives in an educational event?”
“The weak die anyway, this way or that. Better to weed them out quick, no?”
Tatiana’s face remained unchanged as she said it.
Squinting eyes, smiling as always.
As if it meant nothing to her at all.
“It was the Great Chieftain’s orders. Take it up with him if you’ve got beef.”
Even shoving the blame off without a second thought.
Eyes bloodshot, Hatan ground his teeth.
Political fallout this, intentions that—no point talking to someone like her.
“Prep gear now! I’m going in myself!”
With a real magi-beast heart embedded, remote shutdown was off the table.
Only way: dive into the sim site and take it down personally.
But casualties were inevitable while he got there.
As that grim thought twisted Hatan’s face...
“Wait, Chief! Something’s wrong!”
“What?”
“Massive energy surge detected!”
Someone shouted in the command center.
“Massive energy? What—”
Before Hatan could press...
-!
-!
-!!
‘Gray’ energy.
Erupted from inside the train like an explosion.
Through gaps in the shattered cars, it looked like two sword-wielding women unleashing slashes right there.
“What the...!”
Someone screamed it out just as...
The screen went black.
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“...You alright?”
First things first—check.
Liru nodded dazedly in my arms. She seemed fine.
I’d only just thought up the plan.
The ‘Stigma’ skill, beefed up with every durability buff I had, had blocked even Kasa’s strike before.
Spawn it in the right spot to ‘cushion’ Liru’s impact, catch her falling body, and pull us out of the magi-beast’s path.
Best way to protect someone midair with no maneuverability.
Didn’t know about slaying the beast, but for safeguarding her? Perfect. And it worked.
“...”
Yeah.
Too well.
Cold sweat dripping, I turn toward the footsteps approaching—heavy, with Liru still in my arms.
“...I heard your voice from above, so I came.”
Elnor said it as she sheathed her sword.
I glance between the blade sliding smoothly into its scabbard and the aftermath of her ‘strike.’
The train ceiling, hit first by the slash, was cut cleaner than expected.
Not that a metal panel sliced clean off by a mere sword was ‘fine,’ but compared to what followed.
The slash rocketed through the train interior, carving it like tofu, kept going.
Shredded the giant magi-beast in its path to dust.
Surged onward, smashing through the dome-shaped ‘outer wall’ encasing the sim set.
Now the real sky was visible. Seagulls wheeled past sparks from exposed wires in the breached wall.
“In this dire situation, I thought I needed to rescue you quickly.”
And.
I’d nearly eaten an attack of that caliber.
Elnor spoke, her tone chill.
“Who’s that woman?”
Staring at the window popping up with her words.
[System Message]
[ Target ‘Elnor’s’ corruption level increases by 50%! ]
[ Target enters ‘Suspicion’ state! ]
[ Corruption gain doubles during ‘Suspicion’ state! ]
“...”
Whoever said I wouldn’t face death threats till academy days started—where are they? I wanna kill ‘em.
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