After the Bomb, Nothing Much Happened
After the bomb incident, nothing much happened.
"Zeto... hello..." Yuri greeted me in the classroom, looking visibly exhausted.
"..." Beside her, Eisel was staring intently at me.
Despite what had transpired, everything was flowing normally, as if nothing had happened at all. Yuri's hair was neatly braided as always, and Eisel wore her usual indifferent expression.
Sitting next to me, Yuri leaned forward to look past me at Eisel and spoke. "Eisel, do you want to go to a cafe together after class?"
"...Sure," Eisel replied in a small voice, unable to resist Yuri's bright smile.
If there was one change, it was that Eisel and Yuri seemed to have gotten a bit closer. Had they shared an intimate conversation at Priscilla's house last night? Priscilla, Eisel, and Yuri—since there were only women, perhaps they had engaged in typical girl talk. Though, for me, it was hard to imagine Priscilla or Eisel gossiping like that.
Sitting between Eisel and Yuri, I organized my plans while waiting for Edward.
Three seconds. That was the maximum amount of time I could utilize Chapter 2: Time of the Reverse Heaven style without coughing up blood and losing consciousness.
While training to make my body sturdier would be ideal, time was of the essence. To build a body capable of enduring Chapter 2 for an extended period in a short span of time, an elixir was absolutely essential.
Where to obtain one is the problem...
Before long, the first-years would be going on a field trip to the North.
Could I acquire an elixir there as well?
I still had some money left, so purchasing an elixir with it wasn't a bad option either. It was best to consume as many elixirs as possible. While some might have side effects, with my knowledge and information, it wouldn't pose a major issue.
Clap!
Edward, who had arrived in the classroom at some point, clapped his hands to draw the attention of the chatting cadets. Soon, all eyes gathered on him, and he began to speak.
"Everyone, I have brought some good news."
At Edward's words, delivered with a wide grin, the cadets grew curious. Yuri's eyes, sitting next to me, were also sparkling. Eisel and I, however, showed little reaction, as we already knew what was coming.
"Our first-year cadets will be going on a field trip! Come on, let's hear some applause!"
At Edward's announcement, the cadets reflexively began to clap.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Even while clapping, the cadets whispered among themselves.
"But isn't the destination the most important part?"
"I heard from a senior that they were suddenly thrown into a martial arts tournament as a group."
"Ah, I heard about that. Didn't they make the mages participate without exception?"
At the mention of mages being forced into a martial arts tournament, some cadets burst into laughter. The destination of the field trip was decided based on the opinions of the instructors and the principal, so it seemed to vary every year.
"The destination for our field trip... has been decided as Fort Polrwin in the North! Exciting, isn't it?"
Edward paused dramatically before revealing the location. He waved his arms to pump up the energy, but at the word "fortress," the cadets' spirits instantly plummeted.
Humans and demons were currently in a state of truce. Fort Polrwin was located just below the demon territory. Simply put, they were going on a field trip to a military base.
"So, you had better prepare some extra warm clothes. The northern cold is quite fierce," Edward said, raising his index finger.
One of the cadets, who had been quietly listening to Edward's explanation, raised their hand. Edward pointed at the cadet and asked, "Yes? Go ahead with your question."
"The North is quite far... We aren't traveling by carriage, are we...?"
"What a foolish question. This is Innocence Academy, after all. We wouldn't use something as mundane as carriages."
"Then what?"
"Have you ever heard of... an airship?"
At the mention of an 'airship' from Edward's mouth, the cadets' energy began to surge once more. Edward wore an expression as if he had built the airship himself, before clearing his throat and continuing.
"Ahem, we plan to travel by airship. With an airship, the North will be reached in no time."
Looking at the cadets' reactions, they seemed to have decided that the airship, rather than the fortress, was the main event.
The airships in this fantasy world possessed quite a fascinating appearance. To be precise, they looked like sailing ships. It was a means of transportation rare across the entire continent, yet the Academy owned one outright. This was a testament to the sheer majesty of the Graham family, who held the position of Chairman.
Excited about the airship, the cadets ignored Edward and began chatting with their friends.
"An airship... I've always wanted to ride one." Yuri was equally thrilled, staring blankly into space with wide eyes, as if she could see the airship floating right there.
Well, technically, it's my first time too...
But why wasn't I excited? It wasn't because I had already experienced modern conveniences like airplanes or subways in my past life. This was fantasy, so it would surely be far more romantic. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to look forward to it. Because...
...I had Sierra. It seemed I would have to carry Sierra on my back the entire time we were on the airship.
What's the point of a luxury cabin...
It couldn't be helped. It was the penalty for being able to converse with her. If push came to shove, I might have to ask her to temporarily reside inside the Demon Blade.
"Before that... I have even better news. We plan to conduct a special class before we depart for the field trip."
Edward spoke after waiting for the cadets to quiet down.
A special class?
My eyes sharpened beneath my blindfold. A special class meant there was a high probability of a special reward.
"We will be holding a small-scale mock battle. Since this is a class for our section, I have put extra care into the illusion magic."
A small-scale mock battle. I remembered experiencing this in the game. To put it simply, it was a team deathmatch. I recalled it being a notoriously frustrating piece of content among players.
In short, it was heavily reliant on luck. As is often the case in games, there were far too many players who ignored their teammates and tried to solo everything. I had been one of them when I first played the game.
However, fighting multiple opponents alone was no easy task. Furthermore, the opponents were generally from Class A, meaning their overall skill level was exceptionally high.
Once a player experienced being ganged up on by multiple enemies for the first time... only then would they realize something was terribly wrong.
The small-scale mock battle required strategic coordination with teammates. And coordination wasn't everything; the individual abilities of the teammates were also crucial. Thus, if you were blessed with good teammates, securing first place was a breeze.
Consequently, many players would repeatedly save and load until they rolled a good team to secure the top spot. Of course, I was the type who preferred to struggle and squeeze out a victory even with terrible luck.
Why obsess over the ranking? Because the small-scale mock battle always offered a reward. Most of the time, it was an item of great utility to the player.
Right on cue, Edward spoke with a sly smile.
"To encourage active participation, there are rewards for this mock battle! With four people per team, we will have a total of four teams. Unfortunately, fourth place receives no reward. The same goes for third place."
Not many cadets were expecting much. Whispers spread among them that even if it was Innocence Academy, what could a class reward possibly be?
"...Now, let's start with first place. The team that claims the glorious first place will be granted the opportunity to choose a single weapon from the Academy's Armory."
At Edward's shocking announcement, the eyes of most cadets widened in surprise.
The Academy's Armory was not just a simple warehouse where weapons were gathered. Innocence Academy boasted a tradition spanning hundreds of years. Graduates often donated their weapons upon their deaths, and absurdly powerful armaments were occasionally discovered within the Labyrinth. All sorts of mystical weapons lay slumbering inside that armory.
He must have managed to persuade Julius somehow...
It was a reward so exceptional that it was rare even in the game. However, it didn't appeal to me. I had Sierra. To utilize Ghost Swordsmanship, a Demon Blade was mandatory. Even without Ghost Swordsmanship, Sierra's quality rivaled that of any legendary sword. After all, it was a blade crafted by the Gold Dragon Deidros, who had opened his personal vault for its creation.
But unlike me, the eyes of the other cadets were burning with desire.
At least I don't see anyone who won't try their best.
Eisel was the only other one who looked indifferent, likely for the same reason as me. Mages could equip a wide variety of weapons, from staves to bracers, as long as they aided their magic. Judging by Eisel's expression, she had already obtained her exclusive weapon.
Was it a staff that doubled as a spear?
I recalled that she rarely drew it normally, only bringing it out during crucial battles. The beautifully designed golden spear remained in the form of a small rod until it was deployed, clicking and transforming into a spear. It was so stylish that players often asked if they could use Eisel's weapon.
The reason it was called an exclusive weapon was because the method to acquire it made it virtually impossible for anyone other than Eisel to obtain.
"Of course, second place has a reward as well. It may be small compared to the armory, but... during my recent travels, I noticed a Mandragora being sold at an auction."
As Edward continued his explanation, he pulled a Mandragora from his robes to show the cadets.
A Mandragora. A root plant with a humanoid shape. It was widely known that the scream it unleashed when pulled from the earth could deafen a person. Extremely difficult to cultivate and harvest, this Mandragora was a genuine elixir that permanently increased maximum health and mana.
However, it didn't increase them by a massive amount. It was a tier below other famous elixirs. Still, an elixir was an elixir. No matter how one looked at it, its price was bound to be exorbitant. I was almost worried about Edward's wallet, considering he had purchased four of them with his own funds.
...Indeed. Mandragoras were infamous for their horrific taste. But I couldn't afford not to eat it. Now, I had a reason to aim for second place instead of first.
Edward wrapped the Mandragora back in its cloth, tucked it away, and announced that he had already balanced the teams. He then suddenly conjured four tents in the middle of the classroom.
"When fighting alongside comrades, you must formulate a strategy first. These tents will serve as your war rooms. Please enter your designated team's tent as your names are called."
...It had been quite a while since Edward offered such excellent rewards for a class. Furthermore, I had no intention of giving up on the Mandragora. Now, I just needed a good team.
I was assigned to Team 2. Following Edward's guidance, I was the first to enter the Team 2 tent. According to him, I was the leader of Team 2.
The interior of the tent was surprisingly spacious. Perhaps due to a soundproofing spell, Edward's voice calling out other cadets' names couldn't be heard from inside.
Befitting a war room, there was a table with a map and various chess-like pieces. It was the exact same setup as in the game. Thanks to that, old memories came flooding back.
For strategic purposes, the map included information such as where each team would spawn and the layout of the terrain. However, since I was wearing a blindfold... I would have to leave the planning to my teammates. Unless it was commanding during the battle itself, analyzing the map to formulate a strategy seemed out of the question.
I wonder who my teammates will be...
Since Edward had personally balanced the teams, Eisel and Yuri were naturally excluded.
Aside from those two, I don't really have a deep connection with anyone else.
Focusing on my own growth had made it difficult to look after others.
As I was thinking this, a leg belonging to an unidentified person suddenly pushed through the tent flap.
Thud.
The footstep that landed inside the tent was heavy.
...I suppose you could say I have a connection with him, in a way.
The Caligus family of Earth magic, one of the Four Great Elemental Families of the continent. The son of the current head, Maxim Caligus.
Amon Caligus.
"..."
Without a word, Amon walked into the war room and slumped into a chair. He then sat with his legs wide apart, crossed his arms, and began to stare at me silently.
Sierra said, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Amon.
Indeed, Amon wasn't weak. However, I didn't have particularly fond memories of him from the small-scale mock battles in the game.
Disobeying the player's commands and acting on his own whim was practically a passive trait for him, and he would constantly say things that lowered team morale. Because of this, Amon was treated as a total "bomb" by players during the mock battles. Many players would save and load the moment his face appeared, citing reasons like "he doesn't listen" or "just because he's a guy."
Interestingly, if you held the mock battle after he went down his redemption route, the evaluation changed. The post-redemption Amon was highly praised as a reliable, rock-solid tank.
But I hadn't even touched Amon's redemption route, let alone spoken much with him. And unlike the game, I couldn't save and load.
Well, if it's Amon, maybe it's not entirely terrible.
There was no denying his strength. If I could manage him properly, perhaps he could become a reliable tank.
I turned my head toward Amon, who was glaring at me, and spoke. "It has been a while since we spoke like this, not since the Labyrinth, right?"
"...I do not wish to speak of that," Amon replied curtly, ending the conversation.
As expected, he won't cooperate easily...
With the conversation abruptly cut short, an icy, awkward silence filled the war room.
Rustle.
Breaking the silence that felt agonizingly long, the next teammate made her entrance.
As she carefully stepped into the war room, her eyes were squeezed shut.
"P-Please... t-take care of me...!"
She immediately bowed in greeting out of nowhere. She hadn't even looked at Amon or me yet.
Watching this, Amon let out a deep sigh. "Haa..."
"Ugh... Amon...?"
Amon and she knew each other. They had to.
The girl trembling like a leaf, her light blue hair swaying, was Lucia Windris.
She was a member of the Windris family of Wind magic, just like Amon and Yuri were from the other Great Elemental Families.
The Windris family of Wind magic, and the Caligus family of Earth magic. Two of the Four Great Elemental Families had gathered.
Despite this, I had to barely suppress a sigh.
Lucia's standing within the Windris family was terrible. And for good reason...
"Of all people, her..." Amon grumbled.
"Amon... p-please don't be... so angry... huff..." Lucia murmured in a trembling voice. Her eyes were already welling with tears.
...She was simply far too timid. While her magical talent itself was exceptional, her extreme cowardice prevented her from utilizing it properly. As a result, Lucia received very poor treatment even within her own family.
In the game, the moment Lucia spotted an enemy, she would randomly inflict herself with the 'Fear' status effect, or panic and attack her own allies. Thus, setting aside the fact that she was female, players considered her an even worse "bomb" than Amon.
Following Amon, she was the second bomb.
I might have to carry this to second place all by myself...
Since Eisel probably wouldn't try her best in this mock battle, considering the power of Reverse Heaven, soloing wouldn't be impossible.
But seeing two blatant bombs gathered in one place sparked a strange sense of competitiveness. It was a feeling I hadn't felt in a long time, reminiscent of my gaming days. I suddenly wanted to make these bombs useful, to make them play their roles.
"Now, let's not be so cold. We are comrades who must fight together from now on, aren't we?" I said in a gentle tone, stepping between Amon and Lucia.
"Hey, give up on the armory. With someone like her, it's hopeless," Amon said, glaring at Lucia.
At Amon's words, Lucia looked as if she was about to cry. But I did not back down from Amon's grumbling.
"No, we can do it."
"You must be out of your mind. You clearly don't know who Lucia Windris is. She's the type to stand still and shoot magic at her own allies," Amon sneered.
He wasn't wrong. I knew it firsthand from the game. If Amon was a water balloon, Lucia was a literal live bomb.
"..."
Nonetheless, I simply stared at Amon in silence.
A quiet tension settled between us.
The final teammate, who had entered at some point, was looking back and forth between Lucia, Amon, and me, trying to gauge the situation.
Eventually, unable to bear the silence, Amon spoke.
"Are you... seriously trying to get first place?"
"...Yes."
At my immediate, firm reply, Amon clicked his tongue. However, a spark of life began to return to his eyes.
Naturally, Amon would want to go to the armory too. He would want to obtain a good weapon.
"Fine, I hate to admit it... but with you and me, we might just be the ultimate duo..." Amon turned his head away from me and suddenly began to spout nonsense.
"Let's do this! The armory... let's take it! We have Zeto and me, Amon Caligus!"
In the end, Amon stood up, raised his fist, and shouted in a booming voice.
Swept up by Amon's sudden outburst, the unnamed final cadet quickly read the room and shouted, "Yeah! Let's do it!"
"Y-Yes... let's do it...!" Seeing this, Lucia also squeezed her eyes shut, raised her arm, and chimed in.
It was all according to plan. Though perhaps... a bit more enthusiastic than I had anticipated.
Despite what I had said, I had absolutely no intention of going to the armory or taking first place. This was all an act to secure Amon's active cooperation. To ensure a smooth run, Amon had to follow my commands.
I'll let the winning team survive, die convincingly, and aim for second place.