The party is generally composed of two front-liners, one damage dealer, and one supporter.
This is a fact noted in the tournament’s party recommendations.
And I naturally chose Charlotte as the wizard and Skolla as the supporter among them.
As a front-liner, I must fend off enemies approaching these two.
However, after hearing about Yoon Si-woo’s team composition, the gap was way too large.
It was to the extent that the option of merely “holding on” was impossible.
“This is a big problem.”
Under the premise that Yoon Si-woo’s team structure will not change, his composition can be described as a defensive strategy consisting of three front-liners and one rear guard, unlike a typical team.
Therefore, it is usually correct to employ a strategy where only the wizard, the sole ranged attacker in the team, is protected while drawing out a long battle.
However, there were two peculiarities in this party.
One is that the wizard is a highly competent one who can freely wield healing, buffs, and various spells.
The magic of Helisia in the game possesses such power that it’s hard to even gauge whether a typical student could penetrate its shield with full force.
Additionally, while it is common knowledge that a warrior generally wins in a fight against a wizard of the same caliber, there are hardly any knights of similar level to Helisia at this academy.
That alone is a problem, but the other issue is that the front-liners who defend such a wizard are too strong.
In a situation where I cannot even estimate whether I could hold my own against Yoon Si-woo with all my strength, the other front-liners all possess overwhelming stats as well.
“Puhah~.”
Thus, I gulp down some cheap alcohol and recall numerous characters I know in my head.
I reminisce about the optimal configurations that could break through their party.
[Arhel Meriana]
[Parma Gael]
[Shirokumo Hana]
.
.
.
[Iske Yato]
Countless names I could choose from appear in front of me.
I filter out those that cannot be associated with the current situation.
For reasons pertaining to status, mental health, various traumas, and each person’s story.
I remove those whom I could never persuade and sift through my memories to select characters that might be helpful in the current situation.
Originally, there were three candidates I had decided upon beforehand, but I must change my strategy in this situation.
Otherwise, we cannot win.
Ultimately, the final candidates are…
Nonexistent.
“This won’t do…”
Judging the probability of winning against Yoon Si-woo’s party in the current situation is akin to a nightmare.
In fact, it doesn’t exist at all.
Even if another party buys some time by fighting Yoon Si-woo, it’s certain that other parties will be annihilated sooner than expected, making it meaningless to devise any further strategies.
So, is there a character who can buy us some time?
There was.
However, since that person wasn’t someone I could persuade at the moment, they are unusable.
Therefore, what I need right now is, as always, just one thing.
“Maybe later… it will work out.”
Only time; I believe that it will solve everything.
Initially, the maximum number of participants in a party can be four, but there’s no need to fill all four.
That doesn’t mean I won’t do anything at all.
At the very least, I must do my best in whatever position I can.
After that, my actions were nothing special.
I attended classes as usual, tackled assignments and problems from school, struggling with headaches, and suffered from the daily hangover as I went back to school.
An unchanged routine.
However, when I think back to the past where I spent all day cooped up at home, not talking to anyone and living like a dead person, I realized that I was slowly moving forward.
No, my conduct might actually be worse now than back then…
“It’s not bad.”
Somewhat enjoyable emotions fill each day.
The frog in the well does not know the existence outside because it stays inside.
Yet through the hole in the sky, it yearns for and sings about the flowing clouds and landscapes.
The existence of “surrounding people” that I have only seen on the internet.
Despite being afraid of it, I have longed for it, making this situation a small step for others but a significant leap for me.
However, I cannot remain in the academy until the end.
This place is undeniably a safe fortress, a strategic point guarded by many strong individuals, but that also means that enemies will try even harder to bring it down.
The existence of the strongest pillar is like that.
While it stands firm, it can fend off any danger, but if it ever falls, everything will come crashing down.
I cannot gauge whether I can survive through this process.
Perhaps Yoon Si-woo, like a protagonist, can, but I might… no, I would probably die.
I hope that time does not come, but I know I must leave someday.
“Charlotte, here’s the repaired staff. I heard ink comes out from the end?”
“Ah, th… thank you…”
Going beyond just healing my initial illness,
“Senpai, I heard a new liquor shop has opened!”
“Yeah, seems like they negotiated well with the district.”
To save those I’ve become close to and liked,
“The bracelet is almost finished! I think it will be ready before the tournament!”
“Oh, I’m looking forward to it!”
At least until I leave this place, to ensure that these people can survive.
“Oh, I heard the last time you were with Si-woo…?”
“You’re not thinking something strange, are you?”
“Th… that’s not it!”
I’ll do my best.
That is my plan.
—
And time passed, and finally, the day of the tournament dawned.
The morning scenery was like any other.
Just birds chirping and blooming flowers on an ordinary morning.
However, on the road leading to the academy, I saw countless broadcasting stations and people already bustling around.
The scale was so enormous that it was hard to believe such a population could gather in one place.
After being momentarily awed by the grandeur, I regained my composure and headed towards the various marketplaces that were already selling various goods and food.
Naturally, what I planned to buy today was alcohol.
Specifically, a vast quantity of it.
“120,000 won.”
“Ugh.”
After purchasing as many as ten bottles of alcohol at once, my bank balance plummeted in an instant.
Why is it so hard to earn money yet so easy to spend it?
Knowing that I had spent that much only makes me angrier.
Why!!! Why on earth am I spending this much money?
But this time there was a reason.
‘It’s because outside alcohol is not allowed…’
General outside alcohol cannot be brought into the academy at this moment.
Only alcohol sold by vendors during the festival is allowed.
In other words, it means this is the only alcohol I can drink during the tournament period.
If I cannot maintain my intoxication during that time… it might be a matter of life and death, so I must prepare enough to prevent that.
“Aesha?”
“Ah, Yoon Si-woo.”
“Uh… can I just call you by your name now? Other people seem to call each other by their names normally.”
“I find it psychologically difficult to do so right now. I’ll speak informally when the time comes.”
“Well… I can’t force you.”
While passing through a shop, I ran into Yoon Si-woo, who came over to talk to me.
Strangely, although most of the misunderstandings have been cleared since that time, it still feels difficult for him to speak informally.
I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a bad person, or if there’s something else, but his name, Yoon Si-woo, feels oddly familiar yet creates a sense of discomfort.
“But is that alcohol?”
“Ah, yes. It’s for the academy festival, but the low alcohol content is a downside…”
“Why alcohol…?”
“Ah, that’s…”
What would he think if I mentioned a curse related to alcohol?
It’s more likely he’d think I’m just lying because I want to drink.
So, I answered straightforwardly.
“I like alcohol.”
“Ah, come to think of it, you had bought alcohol before.”
“Did you see that?”
“I have a good memory.”
It’s already been over a month, and although we briefly met, the fact that he remembers that gives me chills, so I opened a bottle I was holding and took a sip to gather my thoughts.
“Anyway, I’ll head out first. Later… No, let’s avoid meeting if possible!”
“Uh? W… why…?”
Why else? It’s obvious we’d be eliminated right away if we met.
I awkwardly moved the many bottles to safely carry them into the academy, while many students’ gazes were focused on me, but I shrugged it off and moved all the bottles into Skolla’s workshop.
“Goodness, what is all this?”
“Alcohol.”
“I know that, but… why suddenly bring alcohol to my workshop?”
“I’ll use this in the tournament. So, I need a place to hide it.”
“Eh? I don’t have such space…”
“Come on, you have that one space pocket, right?”
“Uh… how did you know?”
I retrieved a red bag from Skolla’s desk, who looked flustered.
A miniature space pocket; this was an item he temporarily developed that maximizes the space compression often depicted in many novels and comics.
“It’s still a bit unstable, and I’m planning to use it for reporting data…”
“You’re Skolla, you’ve probably already made it perfectly. Are you doubting yourself?”
“Not really! I’m a superior inventor above anyone else…”
“Then it’s okay to use?”
“Hmmm… yes, go ahead…”
After reluctantly nodding, I stuffed all my alcohol into Skolla’s bag and set off straight to the library.
I had to take action myself to bring out Charlotte, who practically lived in the library.
Then, Skolla called out to me from behind with a question.
“You know the time to come to the waiting room, right?”
“I know, but I still don’t understand why you haven’t told me about the fourth member…”
“Ah… that person?”
I was slightly taken aback, but I hid my feelings and calmly told him.
“I’ll meet that person during the tournament…”
“During… the tournament?”
“Of course!”
It’s a plan, so it’s not a lie.
That person was originally meant to be eliminated along with another party.
“Then I’ll head out first!”
“……”
I dashed out of the workshop, evading Skolla’s slightly doubtful gaze.
