Chapter 146: Akensom (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 146: Akensom (4)
The Academy. Is it really okay like this…?
To think dark mages would infiltrate even a remote island.
“But why are they only targeting me?”
At first, I thought I had just happened to run into some of the dark mages who were after Daisy.
Back then, I was too busy running around like a madman to escape those Magic Spammers.
However, this place was a good spot to set up a base. It was a rugged corner of the island where people were unlikely to visit.
And thinking back to what the second dark mage said, it felt like they were clearly aiming for me...
“What’s the problem?”
The Magic Spammers at the Academy have their reasons, but why would a dark mage be after me?
“…A hostage?”
For now, I am officially Daisy’s lover.
Usually, the role of the hostage belongs to the RoFan female lead…
But the current Daisy isn't some fragile RoFan heroine who needs protection.
…If anything, she’s more like a growth-type protagonist.
So, in order to take down a Daisy like that, perhaps they need a classic RoFan-style hostage!
“Otherwise, there’s no reason to target me.”
It’s not like I come from an incredible family or hold great power like the other RoFan male lead candidates.
Of course, if you look at my unofficial capabilities, I’m better than most students at the Academy.
Even so, from a dark mage’s perspective, I shouldn't be that attractive of a target.
“Surely they aren't angry just because I’m technically a mage too.”
The dark mages in my mind weren't that petty. They weren't the type of slackers who would ruin a mission over such trivial emotions.
“Well then. Time to get ready for some fishing.”
The problem is that the ones biting the bait keep being from the Swordsmanship Department instead of the Magic Department.
Still, I have to be prepared.
I woke up at dawn, repaired the traps that were broken yesterday, and added a few more.
After a light warm-up and finishing breakfast, what greeted me was…
“I’ll definitely kill you this time, Adam Smith…”
“My life for magic!”
“……?”
It was a horde of zombies.
It was during a peaceful moment after breakfast.
It was a typical morning, and I was just starting to wonder what to have for lunch.
—This is McGregor, Head Professor of the Magic Department.
Professor McGregor’s voice echoed across Aken Island.
—As explained previously, on the third day, an opportunity is given to those who were previously eliminated.
—If you defeat the person who eliminated you and reclaim your Badge of Survival, you will be given another chance.
—Those who took victory through luck or petty tricks rather than skill must ‘prove’ themselves this time.
—Those who have already proven themselves through their own strength will face an even more difficult ‘ordeal.’
—However, it is not strictly necessary to steal a Badge of Survival.
—Lastly, if the eliminated participants lose their ‘Badge of Life’ instead of a Badge of Survival, they will be unable to participate in the losers' revival match on the fifth day. Choose your actions wisely.
Right. So this is that losers' revival match.
Releasing the 'dead' and letting them reclaim their stolen Badges of Survival.
It was a decent idea.
Losing a Badge of Survival means elimination, but it’s true that not everyone loses them through pure skill.
Some might have sniped people from behind while they were fighting others, playing the opportunist.
Others might have pretended to form an alliance only to betray and steal.
I suppose this gives those victims a chance for revenge and provides a somewhat fair opportunity.
On the other hand, those who lost through pure skill could team up to target their opponent.
This might make it seem like those who won through skill are at a disadvantage.
But Professor McGregor clearly stated that there was no absolute need to steal a Badge of Survival.
That meant the badges could be used as bargaining chips.
Since the eliminated players supposedly have 'Badges of Life' now, and losing those means losing the chance to revive entirely, those who were genuinely outmatched would likely choose negotiation over combat.
…Or so I briefly and naively thought.
“I’ll kill you, Adam Smith…”
“I’ll take you down and restore the prestige of the Magic Department!”
“My life for magic!”
I momentarily flinched at the sight of the Magic Department students crawling toward me like half-zombies.
As if it were a handicap, the 'Badge of Life' looked about three times larger than the Badge of Survival.
But what did that matter?
“Execute Adam Smith!”
There were about three times as many people as yesterday.
“Typical Magic Spammers, being so damn cheap!”
At the very rear, Demacia—the former strongest of the Magic Department—shouted the command, and the mages marched forward.
With their numbers nearing a hundred, no matter how much of a 'Magic Department's Strongest' someone might be, how could they possibly win against those cheap, despicable Magic Spammers?
Even if Prince Ellen or our Ancestor showed up, it would be impossible.
That’s why I tried to run away immediately, but…
“Ugh…”
“We’ve been waiting for you, Adam Smith.”
“This is your grave!”
They weren't idiots; they had anticipated my previous tactics and deployed a Heaven's Net Formation.
However.
“The thing about the Heaven's Net Formation…”
“……?”
“It gets broken every single time.”
“Gah!”
The main force is scary, but a few individual Magic Spammers aren't.
I broke through easily and made my escape.
Despite the grand explanation, the Heaven's Net Formation is synonymous with being broken every time.
But there’s a reason for that.
First of all, you don't use a Heaven's Net Formation on some nobody.
It’s literally a total mobilization order; you wouldn't waste that much manpower to catch a petty thief.
In wuxia terms, it’s something used for a Public Enemy of the Martial Arts World.
The problem is that the Central Plains, the setting for wuxia, is essentially China.
It’s a country with a massive population and an absurdly large landmass.
So, no matter how many people you deploy, it’s difficult to cover every single area.
As you spread your forces thin, the 'Public Enemy,' who is currently the strongest, inevitably runs into 'Martial Alliance Warrior 1 and 2.'
Of course it’s going to get broken.
However, the Heaven's Net Formation isn't famous for nothing.
Even if it’s easy to break through, it’s incredibly annoying for the person being hunted.
“It’s Adam Smith! Adam Smith is here!”
The moment they see me, they fire a signal flare and go down in a blaze of glory.
“Aaaaagh!”
Even though they know losing again means failing this exam, they risk their lives trying to hold me down.
“…Ugh!”
Fortunately, the monster who swings a flail while crying and chanting "Namu Amitabha" wasn't chasing me.
But in this moment, I couldn't help but empathize with how that Master Mu-X must have felt back then.
“The Magic Department… these psychotic bastards.”
I know I bruised their pride a bit, but does it really make sense to chase me like this?
“Seriously.”
I kept breaking through, and through, and through again, but mages just kept popping up.
At this rate, they’ll be shaking hands with the dark mages next.
There was no end to just running away.
Surviving a whole day against this zombie horde was going to be difficult.
And even if I succeeded, I’d surely be picked off by the Magic Spammers who were still 'alive' in the exam.
I needed allies.
First, the club members… pass.
Uncle Aeryun had to work, and the others didn't have that kind of loyalty.
Besides, if I accidentally ran into a Fire Spammer, I might get eliminated right then and there.
In that sense, Prince Ellen was the same.
If I went and begged for my life, he’d help, but he was surrounded by other RoFan male lead candidates, including Magic Spammers.
It would be a net loss if I gained one ally only to make everyone else my enemy.
If he had a conscience, the Minor Sword Emperor would side with me, but you can't expect a conscience from RoFan male leads.
In that regard, there were only two people I could choose.
One possessed overwhelming power and a tool that was the natural enemy of mages.
She had a reason to help me, and since she was the reason it was hard for me to ask the other RoFan male leads for help, I didn't feel guilty at all…
“Mr. Adam?”
“Save me!”
It was none other than the RoFan heroine and my official lover, Daisy.
“Block those guys!”
“Hey!”
And my legal slave, Boradori.
#Boradori - You son of a bitch!
“…Are we going to fail the exam at this rate?”
“…Probably.”
Morning of the third day.
Daisy and I, who still hadn't run into anyone today, were starting to feel the pressure regarding our grades.
Even though the exam lasted a full week, I never imagined we wouldn't see a single person for three days.
“Did we set up our base too far in the corner?”
“I don't think that’s it…”
We had built our base on terrain that was good for defense, but it shouldn't have been so remote that we wouldn't see anyone.
“……”
This was dangerous.
The look in Daisy’s eyes as she glanced at my Badge of Survival was starting to get unsettling.
To think Daisy, whom I thought was my most trusted ally, would change like this.
Before entering the Academy, she was definitely a naive little rabbit.
As soon as the RoFan plot started, she became a golden capybara, and in the brief moment I looked away, she had turned into a lion with golden fur.
…What kind of evolution route is this? Why did a herbivore become a super-carnivore!
“Sh-should we try moving around?”
Feeling a threat to my survival, I suggested we give up our defensive advantage and become the hunters.
“Hmm… I guess we should?”
Fortunately, the look in Daisy’s eyes returned to normal.
“Phew. But Daisy, you don't really need to worry about your grades that much, do you?”
Originally, her setting was that her family wasn't very well-off, so she was aiming for a scholarship.
But she had skipped several steps and was already a Saintess.
The dignity maintenance funds sent by the Holy Kingdom should be substantial.
“Ah, that… I feel bad. I know the situation the Holy Kingdom is in.”
“Hmm…”
True, the Holy Kingdom’s finances weren't in great shape.
Actually, to be precise, the finances should have been fine, but the corrupt faction of Cardinals had embezzled so much that the budget was full of holes.
They were currently recovering funds by seizing all their assets, but the amount squandered was immense.
I heard they had hidden it so well that a significant portion of the wealth still hadn't been found.
“So I’m sending back as much as I can.”
“……”
Considering the Pope and the rest of Daisy’s faction back in the Holy Kingdom, they’re probably saving all of that for her.
Well, she’ll figure it out.
“Then I guess it can't be helped.”
I’m receiving plenty from Leon, but Daisy is still getting an allowance from her family.
…Of course, after Daisy became a Saintess, people trying to build connections have been pestering her family, so I heard their income has increased significantly.
But Daisy doesn't know that yet.
For the sake of Daisy, who is working hard for a scholarship, I should help out!
It’s definitely not because I’m scared of being hunted by her!
“Save me!”
The moment we stood up, a desperate voice, like a deer fleeing from a hunter, reached our ears.
“……”
The person who appeared didn't look like a deer at all, but it wasn't a bad development.
“This works out.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah.”
Considering what happened on the first day, he’s probably still being chased by mages.
“The enemies are coming to us, aren't they?”
Back then, the pursuers numbered a little over ten.
Even if more had been added, considering the number that guy probably took out, it should be roughly the same.
If you combine me, Daisy, and that guy Adam…
“That much will be easy.”
At my confident words, Daisy nodded.
And a moment later.
“…Easy?”
Looking at the massive army unfolding before her eyes, even the great Daisy was breaking into a cold sweat.
“You son of a bitch!”
I couldn't hold back the curse that flew out of my mouth.