Harsh Winter Survival Training (1)
Early morning at Arsen Academy's annex. Amidst the cadets still unconscious in the hospital beds, Arsen's dedicated physician was having a private consultation with a patient slated for full recovery.
"No issues at all?"
"...I think I'm okay."
"Nothing like seeing strange things, hearing ringing in your ears, or anything like that? Including drawing runes in your sleep without realizing it."
"Yes. Not recently."
"In that case..."
A underline appeared next to the name. The mark signaling full recovery.
"Then, for now, you're free to go."
"Is this really the end of it all?"
"Yes. Still, come in for outpatient checkups for about a week. Once possessed, the chances of it happening again are higher. Keep a close eye on your condition, and come straight back if anything feels off."
"Thank you, Professor."
She bowed her head in gratitude.
The long treatment was finally over. Lara Steelhiden stepped out of the hospital room with light footsteps.
But even fresh out of the hospital, she couldn't relax just yet. Even if Arsen was lenient, she'd already missed far too many classes. At this rate, the gap with the other cadets would only widen.
Fortunately, Arsen had promised special tutoring for those affected by the dormitory incident. But that didn't mean she could get complacent.
Let's see, the class schedule...
The highest-credit course was Professor Biern's Fundamentals of Magic Understanding. To graduate from Arsen, you had to complete all of his lectures. And snagging a letter of recommendation from him? That opened doors wide after graduation—straight to the Magic Tower or the Hunter Association. With experience, you could set up your own lab, teach as an instructor in retirement, or run a magic tool shop.
But Lara Steelhiden shook her head. Her goal was elsewhere.
...The Ivory Tower.
Just as Arsen was the pinnacle among the continent's three great academies, the Ivory Tower stood supreme among magic towers scattered across the lands. Most mages were thrilled just to visit, boasting of it as their life's greatest achievement.
But Lara's ambitions went beyond a mere tour. If she was aiming high, why not a key position there—or even the tower lord's seat itself? The Ivory Tower housed lost ancient magic and sealed runes. Reasons to reach its peak overflowed.
No. More thoughts bubbled up, but Lara swallowed them down, forcing them aside. Not the time to dwell. She was barely keeping up with credits as it was.
As she exited the annex, Lara Steelhiden spotted a blue bird perched on her shoulder.
"Oh... you've manifested?"
The creature, made entirely of water, was one of the spirits she'd contracted with before. Lara gently scooped it into her hand.
Elphin, the water spirit. Once a mere droplet, now resembling an elegant peacock after their formal contract supplied it with mana, allowing it to take physical form.
"Tell me what's up."
-......
But no matter how she coaxed, no reply came. The peacock-like Elphin just shook its head and folded its wings.
Well... it'll get better with time.
She glanced at the watch on her left hand. Alarms from Arsen flooded in. She checked the most recent one first.
[Arsen A.C: Harsh Winter Survival Training is scheduled.]
[Arsen A.C: All cadets are strongly encouraged to participate. Please review the attached file for details.]
[1 Attachment: Arsen_First_Semester_Training_Plan_Harsh_Winter_Survival_Pre-Notice]
"As announced in advance, today we'll cover the plans for the harsh winter survival training, the highlight of this semester's curriculum."
Isabella Gaston's calm explanation drew sighs from every corner of the classroom—unmistakably negative ones. She remained expressionless, as always. Getting swept up in such reactions wouldn't do for a homeroom teacher. Sometimes you guided cadets gently, other times you pushed hard. That was the job.
Of course, some cadets resisted both approaches. Like Kyle Ivanstair, who shot his hand up.
"Kyle Ivanstair from Class A! If this is the flower of the first semester, what's the flower of the second?"
"Second-semester plans will be announced in due time via pre-notice."
"So after this harsh winter training, no more for the first semester?"
"......"
Isabella Gaston sighed. Only Kyle Ivanstair could pull that off. But the other cadets didn't seem displeased—probably shared his curiosity, and he'd voiced it for them. They exchanged glances and whispers, trying (and failing) to be subtle.
...Too bad my Telescopic Vision caught it all. Ignoring what I saw took real effort.
"Unfortunately, no."
"Ah......"
"Ahem......"
Expectations deflated. As if Arsen would go easy. Its curriculum was brutal and rigorous. Only the strong survived—and even the weak emerged strong by graduation. Most cadets would one day realize Arsen was right. But to newbies, it felt like endless mountains.
And this training? They'd be dropped right in the heart of those mountains. It was just training, not real combat, so they could call for reverse summon. But repeating that meant falling behind, delaying graduation—like Edel Di Bison, stuck for years. In the original story, missing credits just meant penalties in the game. Here? Reality. No credits, no diploma.
Wait...
The thought crept in, one I shouldn't entertain. First names: Iri de Sugamond. Rian von Hildegaard. Esperand targets. Step off Arsen grounds, and assassins would come.
Iri had three years to graduation—assuming steady credits. But what if...?
What if Iri doesn't graduate and stays like Edel Di Bison?
Maybe dodge the assassins that way. Theoretically possible, focusing only on Esperand's trigger conditions.
No. I shook it off. Absurd. Tormenting Iri with false hope? Risky—could backfire big. And I'd have to stick around Arsen too. Ultimate time sink. Better grind main quests, boost stats. Rewards didn't lie.
"Huh......?"
"......"
I turned by chance and locked eyes with Iri. An oddly intense stare-down.
Pre-notice out, homeroom teachers elaborated. Classes ended after morning session—time to prep for survival training. Just one day, as usual. Tight schedule. But that's Arsen: forging combat-ready hunters.
Cadets' options? Adapt or drop. Adapters soared on Arsen's prestige. Failures? Credit slaves till graduation or quit.
"Where is it? Here?"
"Dorm B, Titania Hall, right?"
The buzz filled Titania Hall's first floor. No Georged Hall this time—closed after the mock dungeon fiasco, Hunter Association investigators swarming. Instead, a gate in the Grand Saint Hall beyond the grand corridor.
"Called cadets, enter the gate in order."
Unlike last time, everyone lugged massive packs. Panic over the sudden drill showed—backpacks stuffed, hands clutching bundles like movers.
Experience said: pack light. Destination? Snowy wasteland. Survival meant constant motion, scavenging caves or building shelters. Heavy loads hindered—too much to carry, ditched in monster fights anyway.
Isabella Gaston's calls sent cadets through one by one. Some even waved goodbyes. But the premise? Solo survival. Longest, safest survivor scores highest.
"See you alive, friends."
"I'll catch up soon—don't talk like we'll never meet."
"Yeah, yeah. Got it."
Kyle seemed unfazed. Tough survivor, teamed loosely with Serin Anette, Essili Silvergaden types. That unbreakable Will? Even I couldn't match it. Protagonist gonna protagonist.
"Next cadet, Sion Illeionhart."
"Yes, Professor."
I closed my eyes, stepped through. Minimal gear tugged slightly, no big deal. Grabbing Arsen's basic supplies, I strode in.
......
I opened my eyes to a snowy expanse. Overcast sky, eternal snow on distant peaks—true frozen wilds.
We cadets would spend a week here. Real monsters lurked—not scripted dungeon mobs—so extra caution.
Watch's reverse summon prevents death, at least.
Still jarring. Game? Meh. Reality? Whole new shock.
I looked up at the snowcapped range. Sheer cliffs like carved blades.
Hold on.
Very—make that intensely—familiar.
...Where is this?
Déjà vu hit. Tied to my Sense, not imagination. I'd seen this vista. Fought to survive here.
Wait—don't tell me...
I checked my watch. Location tracking standard. Real-time ping anywhere.
But the name flashing up hit like a hammer.
[Current Location: Forgotten Archipelago. North. Nilbania Mountain]
Yeah, not imagination. I'd climbed this peak before—not alone, with Esperand folks long ago. Original story just called it "snowy zone." Who knew it gated to Nilbania Mountain—
Nilbania Mountain, capped in eternal snow.
To survive a week, scavenge winter gear or materials to build shelter.
Main academy trusts your judgment.
Sense never lied. Déjà vu had reason.
"......"
Speechless, I stared at the mountain.
...For real?