Chapter 30: The Academy Exchange Meet – Beginning (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 30: The Academy Exchange Meet – Beginning (2)
When the sun illuminated Joaquin’s grounds, the moon took its place over Parsi. That was because of the roughly eight-hour time difference between them.
Even that seemed to reflect the contrast in temperature—or the divide in ethos—between the two academies.
The two institutions pursued such drastically different directions, a discrepancy clearly felt in every aspect.
The buildings, uniforms, space, and time.
Everything was unfamiliar.
Yet for that very reason, everything seen and felt here would be fresh. We hadn't made this precious journey with the cadets simply to stage a competition.
Whatever the official pretext, the true purpose of this event was clear.
Parsi’s intentions might differ from ours, but Joaquin Academy had only one objective.
Episode: The Academy Exchange Meet
After the preliminary meeting concluded...
Guided by Parsi staff, we headed toward the Grand Auditorium. We descended underground and boarded a train.
I didn't misspeak.
There were actual train tracks laid beneath Parsi. No matter how expansive their grounds were, a subway system beneath an academy?
And it wasn't even arranged like any subway we were used to. Every single seat put airplane first-class to shame. Each spot came equipped with its own TV, premium bottled water...
‘...’
Let’s just stop looking.
“Woah...”
All throughout the ride, Ji Chang-hyuk, the second-year representative, let out a continuous string of marveling gasps. Even though the faculty and cadets sat on opposite sides of the aisle, he was perfectly audible.
Abel, his mentor, glared at him with clear displeasure, but Ji Chang-hyuk still seemed completely oblivious.
As her lips parted to scold him, I intervened.
“He’s just a kid. Besides, we’re the only ones in this car anyway.”
“I know, but... sigh...”
Letting out a deep sigh, Abel shook her head.
“You’re right. Getting upset over petty details like this is as good as admitting defeat before we even begin.”
That wasn't quite what I meant, but I understood her point. Showing off their subway was undoubtedly Parsi's subtle attempt at psychological warfare.
Well, as long as Abel calmed down, that was fine.
Despite her image as an icy beauty, Abel possessed a fiery competitiveness fiercer than anyone I knew. She was, in essence, the incarnation of competitive spirit.
You know how legendary sports icons often turn out to be petty sore losers when it comes to winning? Abel was pretty much that type. She simply hated losing.
Which meant she believed Ji Chang-hyuk, whom she was mentoring, couldn't lose either. Though to be fair, Leon and I shared that same sentiment.
“How’s the princess?”
“Skill-wise, she’s flawless. Unless I’m completely blind, I don’t think anyone in her age group could defeat her.”
“Hmm...”
Abel still seemed uneasy.
She seemed to judge that Ji Chang-hyuk, whom she had selected, wasn't quite on the same tier as Chae Lina or Princess Victoria. While Ji Chang-hyuk was exceptional as a second-year representative, the first- and third-year representatives were simply on another level.
Abel didn't doubt Joaquin's victory overall.
Rather, she was terrified that her student might be the only one among the three of us to lose.
When I nudged her lightly, she stopped staring directly at him. Instead, she kept a constant eye on Ji Chang-hyuk using the blacked-out subway window as a mirror.
‘The ancients really were right about everything.’
Blood runs thicker than water.
Her grandfather, the Sword Emperor, was a man whose competitive fire burned bright even against a seventeen-year-old me.
Her father, Orion von Nibelung, had stepped into the Catacombs out of a desire to surpass the Sword Emperor's grand feats.
And today...
Their granddaughter and daughter had grown into the very same combative warrior. Looking at Abel, I occasionally caught myself thinking: heroes truly are born with different genes from normal people.
And I'm not just talking about Blessings. But since everyone already knows this fact, I'll leave it at that.
[You have arrived at your destination.]
Right on cue, the announcement rang out.
One by one, we stood up and stepped off the train.
As soon as the tedious opening ceremony—as dull as a principal's speech—concluded, the first match would begin immediately.
That was far better than killing the momentum with unnecessary delays.
For the audience around the world, for the cadets, and for us faculty members alike.
This lingering, simmering tension made it the perfect moment.
* * *
Stepping into Parsi Academy's arena, my lips parted slightly in surprise.
‘Even I have to admit, this is impressive.’
The arena was modeled after a temple from Greek mythology, except scaled up by about ten times.
The open ceiling offered a full view of the clear Swiss night sky. High above, several floating islands drifted leisurely along the Milky Way. Those floating islands were state-of-the-art marvels born from a combination of Blessings and immense capital. And there wasn't just one, but several of them. Seven, by my rough estimate.
Thanks to Weapon tipping me off about the past exams for the first match, I was already familiar with the general concept.
However, I never imagined they would use floating islands for it. Even Weapon probably hadn't known about this.
“Just how much money are they spending on a student exchange meet?”
Ryozo tilted her head back and let out a dry laugh.
“Parsi was already loaded, but combined with American capital? Good grief, they’ve advanced by centuries. At this rate, who knows if they’ll start mass-producing Blessings with money next.”
I couldn't even counter her cynical murmur.
Because it actually sounded plausible.
‘Though in reality, the chances of that are practically zero.’
Under the night sky completely swallowed by dusk, the temple flickering with artificial torches like lanterns evoked an avant-garde sensation through its sheer presence.
‘We declared Joaquin wouldn't lose to Parsi, but...’
Tsk.
We lost this one.
Joaquin didn't have the confidence to pull off stage production on this level.
Not due to a lack of capability, but because burning hundreds of billions of won on a one-off event was simply insane.
‘And Parsi actually went and did it.’
Fair play to them.
“There isn't a single spectator,” Leon remarked, scanning the vast space.
“Parsi doesn't have a Subspace. If spectators get caught in the crossfire, it could turn into a mass casualty incident.”
“Ah, right. That’s true. They don’t have a Subspace here.”
Leon scratched his cheek awkwardly at my words.
The Subspace was so second-nature to us that we sometimes forgot.
More than anything else, Subspace was what allowed Joaquin to remain at the absolute top even as other academies challenged its supremacy. Through it, our students honed real combat instincts and erased fear from their hearts. This was a realm that science and money could never touch—a unique legacy left behind for future generations by the Boss himself, Balor Joaquin.
[Will the representatives please step onto the stage up front?]
Just as in the preliminary meeting, we lined up on the right wing of the platform. Shortly after, the Parsi delegation lined up on the left wing, and the announcement rang out once more.
[The first event is the ‘Flag War’.]
The next instant, a large grid-patterned hologram materialized in midair.
□
□ □
■
□
□ □
The announcement explained by displaying the seven floating islands as a 3D structural diagram.
[The first event is a team match.]
[The rules are as follows.]
At that moment, I inadvertently caught Victoria’s brow furrowing at the words 'team match.'
When her eyes met mine, she quickly composed her expression.
The announcement continued alongside the display board. The classic calligraphic font and Roman numerals glowed vividly. Trying to look stylish in the most unnecessary ways.
======================
Ⅰ. Each team will be provided with one flag. The match ends when that flag is planted into the flagpole located on the central Black Island (■).
Ⅱ. Passage between floating islands is only possible when connected by the rainbow bridge, Bifröst (↔).
Ⅲ. Each Bifröst connection lasts for a limit of 180 seconds, with a total of 9 uses available. Please use them carefully.
Ⅳ. Additionally, the number of Bifröst uses varies depending on each team member's position.
♟: 1 use, ♞: 3 uses, ♛: 5 uses
*Pawn (♟) is the position with the lowest mobility. Recommended for team members confident in defense. However, in exchange for Bifröst uses, an eliminated team member can be resurrected ‘exactly once.’
Knight (♞) can skip one island and enter the next island ‘exactly once.’ Recommended for team members confident in creating variables.
*Queen (♛) enjoys the greatest freedom of mobility. Recommended position for the team leader.
Ⅴ. There is no time limit for the match; victory is determined solely by planting the flag in the flagpole.
Ⅵ. Teams have 15 minutes for position assignment and strategy discussion. Consulting with faculty members during this time is prohibited.
======================
With that, the announcement requested all faculty members from both sides to step back. Judging by the neutral demeanor, the voice likely belonged to someone from the Association.
‘Sounds kind of familiar...’
Anyway.
Ryozo, Abel, Leon, and I moved away from the cadets. I deliberately feigned ignorance as Victoria stole a subtle glance at me. Chae Lina was looking at me too.
Once the adults retreated, the three cadets—Chae Lina, Ji Chang-hyuk, and Victoria—scanned one another with wary eyes.
Eventually, forced by circumstance, they began their strategy session amidst an uncooperative atmosphere.
* * *
“P-Princess Victoria...”
“‘Senior’ is fine.”
After a bit of back-and-forth over how to address her, Ji Chang-hyuk naturally conceded.
“I think it’s best if you take the Queen position, Senior.”
“No.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed sharply. Ji Chang-hyuk flinched.
“If we play predictably, we will lose this match.”
“Then...”
“I will...”
At her following words, Ji Chang-hyuk gasped in surprise, while Chae Lina stared blankly.
“T-That’s far too risky, isn’t it?!”
“Our goal is not merely victory.”
“Pardon?”
Victoria didn't look at Ji Chang-hyuk. Her gaze was fixed solely on the spot where Kang Geomma was seated.
“It is total victory.”
* * *
“It’s basically territory capture mixed with a bit of chess rules.”
Seated in the faculty section, Ryozo summarized the rules in a single sentence.
“The key to this match seems to be assigning the right positions to leverage each person's individual capabilities to the fullest.”
“The most important position must be the Queen, right?” Abel asked.
Ryozo thought for a moment, then shook her head.
“There’s no such thing as a single most important position. Connecting the bridges looks crucial, but in the end, all that matters is planting the flag. If you get bogged down in position or bridge counts, you lose.”
In her younger days, Ryozo had been just as much of an avid gamer as Yoo Se-in. A strategy blueprint was probably drawing itself in her head, given her extensive experience across various game genres.
“Still, it’s true that each position carries different weight. The Pawn's mobility is terrible, so whoever takes it gets tied down.”
Ryozo rested her cheek on her fist, casting a subtle glance at the side of my face.
“Normally, the third-year student as the leader should guide them well in a situation like this. After all, it is a team match.”
“...”
You’re subtly putting pressure on me, Principal.
“The cadets will figure it out on their own. That aside, Parsi might be our opponent, but they really are something else. Did you guys hear? Word is the Americans created a ‘Pseudo-Subspace’ and are actually putting it to practical use for this competition,” Leon said.
“Though its flaw is that it leaves no physical trauma as long as there’s no fatal accident. Still, even that is a remarkable breakthrough. I wondered why the US kept dispatching personnel to Gehenna so often—turns out it was for this.”
“Meaning Parsi isn’t an opponent to be taken lightly either.”
I crossed my arms, throwing a glance toward the Parsi faculty before looking back down at the cadets.
On the surface, there didn't seem to be any noticeable conflict or friction between the three. Yet calling it a purely positive sign felt ambiguous.
Knowing Yoo Se-in, she must have hidden a hidden motive within this game.
‘Besides, she wouldn't have designed a game that guaranteed an easy win for Joaquin.’
This wasn't just a test for the cadets. The prophecy left to me and Ildo by Saintess Yoo Se-in... Prophecies are naturally abstract and packed with hidden meanings, making them a pain to decipher.
After sinking into thought for a moment...
The cadets had roughly wrapped up their meeting.
The announcement loudly relayed what it received from the cadets to us faculty members as well.
[Announcing Parsi’s positions. (...)]
It was fairly standard. Starting from the third-year, it went Queen, Knight, and Pawn in sequence. Even so, as the saying goes, simple is best; the setup itself was solid.
[Announcing Joaquin’s positions.]
A moment later, the news regarding our academy’s cadets echoed off the marble.
[1st-year Chae Lina: Knight (♞)]
[2nd-year Ji Chang-hyuk: Queen (♛). Consequently, 3rd-year Victoria has been assigned to Pawn (♟).]
The silence stretched on for quite some time.
Confusion washed over everyone’s faces.
And as if by silent agreement, they all turned their heads.
Toward me.
‘Why are you looking at me?’
I seriously didn't say a single word.