Chapter 54: Uninhabited Island Survival Training (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 54: Uninhabited Island Survival Training (1)
The weekend arrived after the written exams ended. Normally, I would have slept in, sprawled out on my bed until crawling out around midnight, but today I opened my eyes at the same time as a weekday.
The reason was that I planned to drop by the library for the first time in a while to prepare for the upcoming Uninhabited Island Survival Training in a few days.
Of course, in this day and age overflowing with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Neotube would be more than enough for preliminary research, but for some reason, I find physical paper books more comfortable.
"Let's see, the books I need to borrow... Surviving on an Uninhabited Island, How to Identify Poisonous Plants, Star Instructor Bear Garlics' Survival Guide, and... will this be enough?"
I muttered the list of books to borrow that I had noted down on my phone as I made my way there.
The Uninhabited Island Survival Training was scheduled to take place on Avallon Island for three days and two nights starting next Wednesday.
Because it had the words "Survival Training" in it, one might think of it as a life-or-death, blood-splattering survival event at first glance, but it was actually an event-style training closer to camping.
It was meant to give the academic-weary teenage cadets a breather—simply put, it was like a school field trip.
The fact that group composition was left to our discretion, from one to a maximum of four people, and that the detailed training schedule was announced to all cadets beforehand, was proof of this.
However, the word "survival" also had a double meaning; although it was a short period of three days and two nights, it also carried the intention of assessing each cadet's self-sufficiency.
Furthermore, it was an event that received quite a bit of spotlight in the game's story. It was where the protagonist, Leon, would obtain the hilt of Balmung, which would become his main armament, and it was also where a series of events would occur that would spark romantic feelings between Leon and the main heroine, Abel.
"They're finally getting together."
Honestly, I wasn't particularly envious of that part.
Since entering this academy, I had become somewhat cynical about romance, and when Abel had visited the Wolf Class with Rachel earlier, she had made it very obvious that she was on guard against me. It seemed I had gotten on her bad side.
My situation was already like a candle in the wind, so no matter how pretty someone was, it was hard for feelings to blossom. No matter who they were.
An elder of the Academy was targeting me, there was an unidentified instructor, and I still had to recruit the rest of the club members. The situation was too harsh to enjoy the warm early summer vibes.
Thinking about it made my nose tingle a bit.
"Youth... in the next life..."
Not only that, but as a swordsman, I couldn't help but have my eyes drawn to Balmung.
As a user of 'Miracle Blessing M', I knew the location of Balmung and was well aware of its performance, which made me covet it even more.
Balmung. The only unmeasurable-rank armament in the game. Finding the shattered pieces of Balmung was one of the core narratives of the story.
The condition to be chosen by Balmung, which was both a holy sword and a demonic sword, was to manifest the 'Miracle Blessing'. In short, it was a weapon exclusive to the protagonist.
According to the description in the game, if you stuck it into the ground, the earth would collapse, and if you swung it, mountains would be cut. Later on, it was a cheat-like armament that allowed Leon to solo-carry everything.
On the other hand, my armament was E-rank. No, was it D-rank now? Anyway, a tiny sashimi knife that looked ridiculous compared to Balmung.
In addition, just in case, I was still carrying a Daixo Sashimi as a spare.
"...Can Balmung be forged into a sashimi knife too?"
Smacking my lips in regret, I found myself in front of the library before I knew it. As soon as I entered, I used the computer provided to search for books to read all day.
As someone who was a Japanese food chef in my past life but didn't even have a hobby like fishing, it would be hard to survive in a wasteland without any survival knowledge, even if it was only for three days and two nights.
The tools we could bring were also limited to a minimum, so we had to be self-sufficient.
Fortunately, it wasn't a place where magical beasts lived. I just had to focus on the keyword of survival, in line with the original purpose of the training.
Of course, thinking back to the midterm exam, other variables could arise. However, this training was said to have instructors accompanying the cadets. Naturally, the situation was different from when I played the game.
In addition, whether it was a special order from the Academy Principal, the Sword Emperor, who was currently serving as the temporary instructor of the Wolf Class, was also included in the leading instructors.
The strongest hero of humanity leading a field trip for first-year cadets...
It was a development that deviated slightly from the official history, but at least I could feel safe regarding security.
Therefore, what I had to do was acquire enough knowledge to handle camping, survival, and distinguishing poisonous plants. That was exactly my preparation for the training on the 'surface'.
I took down the books related to Avallon Island that were placed in the legend category and read them quickly.
「Avallon is an island located in the far western sea, a mysterious place whose terrain changes from moment to moment. In the very center, there is an ancient lake called the 'Queen's Lake' that has existed since the mythical age... (omitted)... Although it is called the 'Land of Beginning' or 'Paradise' by some minority tribes, it is currently an uninhabited island.」
"Hmm, it's roughly similar to the setting."
Although some details were added, it was almost identical to what I knew.
It was the same in that it was treated as an uninhabited island, and that there was no separate map because the terrain changed constantly.
However, there was another reason why I visited the library, even giving up my weekend morning sleep. I busily flipped through a few more books, researching Avallon Island to find a clue to 'that' which I absolutely wanted to find on the island.
Perhaps because it was information I already knew, the details seemed to seep effortlessly into my brain. My eyes scanned the text rapidly.
Perhaps because I had a purpose, the time spent in the library passed quickly. Before I knew it, the sunset leaking through the gaps in the window was bathing the interior in a golden light.
"Oh, Geomma, you were here too?"
An intelligent voice called out from behind. Since it was a familiar voice, I naturally turned my head.
"……."
Burning blonde hair that seemed to swallow the golden sunset, clear blue eyes.
"Long time no see."
Leon von Reinhardt was waving at me warmly.
* * *
Even in the quiet library, Leon in front of me was brilliantly showing off his presence.
Looking around the room, some female cadets were hiding behind the bookshelves, peeking at him and giggling among themselves, only to be scolded by the librarian.
Even the librarian, who was harshly scolding them, was glancing at Leon out of the corner of her eye, making me realize the truth of the saying, "his face is the ultimate justification."
'He's damn handsome. His dick must be small, right?'
...But the books in his hands. Looking at the titles, they were magic-related books.
'Why is he looking at books like that?'
Dumbfounded, I stared at Leon, then let out a deep sigh. No, seeing the guy who was supposed to be the protagonist holding an introduction to magic book wasn't very pleasant.
Still, to give him some credit, he probably wanted to learn about Majin and magic, using the midterm exam as a lesson.
But, with a mountain of things to do in the future, he was digging into magic in the library. I could feel my trust in him eroding in real-time.
When I narrowed my eyes, Leon made an embarrassed expression and hid them behind his back.
"……."
An uncomfortable silence flowed for a moment. Leon smiled and spoke.
"What book were you reading?"
"I was just researching Avallon Island, where we're having training next week."
He seemed to be trying to lighten the chilly atmosphere, and since I didn't want to rain on his parade, I replied casually.
"Geomma, you're really diligent."
Well, I couldn't deny it. I could boast that my current daily routine was more diligent than anyone else's. I was spending my days packed with exercise, dungeon exploration, and studying magical beasts.
But what could I do? Knowing the dark future ahead, I had no choice but to do my best in my own way for the remaining three years.
"I have to look out for myself."
"Looking out for yourself..."
When I said that, Leon muttered with a bitter face.
"...You're different from me. And I'm different from you."
What was different? I recalled the words he had casually thrown at me when we first met, which were full of meaning.
—Geomma, where did you come from?
A single sentence whose true meaning I couldn't fathom. The way he had greeted me warmly, as if he had found someone from his hometown.
No matter how much I thought about it, it was different from the protagonist Leon I knew from my playing experience. There was a sad shadow on his brilliant face, and he showed a strangely anguished attitude.
Yet, his actions didn't deviate significantly from the Leon in the game. I didn't know how to take his personality.
I shook my head, brushing off my thoughts. Regardless of my trust in Leon, he and I had completely different directions.
"...Then work hard, and since it's almost closing time, get home safely."
"Yeah, thanks. You too, Leon."
Leon waved and turned around. I stared at his back with thoughtful eyes.
In contrast to the admiring gazes in the room, his shadow stretched out ominously in the sunset. It felt as if light and darkness were weighing down on his shoulders like heavy weights.
Was it the burden of a hero carrying the survival of humanity?
"……."
But I had no intention of coddling or comforting him. I took my eyes off him and resumed reading.
There was something I absolutely had to find before going home.
* * *
...Monday morning, back in the Wolf Class after spending the entire weekend cooped up in the library flipping through books.
I was staring blankly out the window, resting my chin on my hand. Finding clues and leads to an unprecedented power that had not yet been revealed in this world was not as easy as expected, but...
As I stretched, a proud smile spread across my lips.
"It was worth the hard work."
Still, there was definitely a gain from investing my precious weekend. I was able to roughly pinpoint the location of the 'Blessing' hidden on Avallon Island.
Now that my primary goal was set, after finding the Blessing, I planned to enjoy camping leisurely, in line with the original purpose of the uninhabited island survival training.
Staring at the campfire, catching fish with a handline, and slicing some sashimi for the first time in a while.
"In my past life, I rarely had the leisure to enjoy things like that because of work."
While spinning my happy circuit, Leon's face suddenly flashed through my mind, sticking like a thorn in my throat. Leon's behavior, which exuded a sense of incongruity.
"……."
But only for a moment, I scratched my chin and tried to ignore the rising thoughts.
I have my own problems to worry about, so worrying about a guy favored by the world is just meddling. Watching Leon from a distance as long as the official history doesn't deviate too much is the most I can do.
"...Should I sleep a bit?"
Since I had been looking at letters until late last night, fatigue had settled deeply under my eyes. I shouldn't be short on sleep before a big event.