“Charlotte, it’s time to go.”
“Ugh… what, already…?”
Of course, it’s not allowed to bring items that can directly affect the match, such as magic scrolls.
So, the only thing I need to carry now is the single staff that Charlotte will use during the tournament.
Skolla proudly claimed that it contained enough mana ink to draw for nearly dozens of days, so it should be trustworthy.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been outside…”
The cool outside air and bright sunlight made Charlotte’s chestnut hair flutter and shine.
“Now, shall we get up?”
“Yes… yes!!”
Like a newly born giraffe taking its first steps, Charlotte slowly started to walk out of the equipment room, one step at a time.
“Alright, slowly.”
Charlotte’s stamina is far worse than mine when I first possessed this body.
She hardly ever walks and spends most of her day in the library.
It’s only natural that her body wouldn’t be in good shape.
To soothe her like a child and to prevent her from being too surprised by the outside world, I guided her toward the waiting room, ensuring she only remembered and read the bare minimum of information.
“Oh, this must be that person!”
“Didn’t we meet last time?”
“Ah, that’s true, but since we couldn’t have a proper conversation, I couldn’t remember their face well.”
By the time we reached the waiting room, Skolla was already there, waiting, and I could see the bag I had placed there earlier.
“I’ve put my things here as well. It was impossible to bring items from other workshops, though…”
Skolla’s equipment, like Charlotte’s, had such great power that only basic workshop tools were placed in the space.
“Oh, then let me greet you for a moment…”
“Eek…!”
As Skolla reached out to Charlotte, she held her breath and hid behind me.
It didn’t help much, as I was much smaller, so Charlotte ended up crouching behind a small rock, looking like a frightened animal.
“…Why is she doing this?”
“Charlotte, it’s okay. This person has agreed to fight alongside us in this tournament. They are the one who mentioned fixing your tools last time.”
“Oh, you’re right…”
She nodded as if she understood, but she still wouldn’t reach out her hand.
“I’m just overwhelmed… there’s too much information in my head… maybe just a little longer.”
“That’s how it is.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. It wouldn’t be polite to force a handshake on someone who is refusing!”
Fortunately, Skolla smiled brightly and withdrew his hand graciously.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
Skolla’s hand delved into the space, and from the extended end, a bracelet was retrieved.
However, two bracelets appeared.
“I thought it might be better to have two instead as I continued making them!”
“…You didn’t add any other functions to them, did you?”
“…W-well, just try putting it on your wrist!”
As I averted my eyes and slipped the bracelet on, a rather interesting thing happened.
The bracelet smoothly wrapped around my wrist, merging instantly with my gloves.
“…?”
“I read a story about a material that repairs itself automatically not too long ago. I was inspired by that and decided to make this! It will absorb all shocks during battle, as well as from the everyday impacts.”
“…This is.”
I glanced at Skolla for a moment and then gave a positive response.
“Not bad.”
“Ah…ah ha! I knew you would like it!”
He looked visibly tense, but this feature was definitely more useful than I had initially imagined.
As I extended my fist, it moved smoothly without hindrance, and the impact from striking was greatly reduced compared to before.
Moreover, according to Skolla, it even has an automatic repair function.
“Is there any other function?”
“Don’t say that! Please don’t look at me with such a narrow-minded view, as if I am a selfish inventor consumed by personal desires.”
“Oh, okay.”
Well, the result is good, so it works for me.
Just as I was thinking this, the broadcast finally rang out.
[All participants, please exit the waiting room.]
“I really have to go…”
“It’s time to show my masterpiece!!”
“….”
Looking at the two with such contrasting reactions, I took out another bottle of alcohol from my pocket and drank.
“Let’s go.”
***
Welcome everyone to the Academy’s Festival.
That announcement echoed through the screen and into the city vividly.
The overwhelming sensation of so many people staring out from beyond the dome was truly massive, and it felt like I might lose my mind, but there was someone beside me who seemed to be in an even worse state.
“Ugh… ugh…”
“Charlotte, maybe drink this… no, not this.”
I considered offering her alcohol, as she looked like she was about to lose her mind, but thought it might lead to an even worse outcome, so I tucked it away again.
Honestly, I wasn’t doing too well either.
Feeling all those eyes on us from outside the barrier created by the Academy’s magic was quite strange.
It wasn’t a good sensation at all.
“You can bear it a little longer. Probably…”
“Ugh… yes… yes…”
In a hurry, I covered Charlotte’s head with the outer clothing I had considered for the situation and started listening to the announcements being made.
[We have confirmed the entry of all participants.]
[We will start the tournament soon.]
Cheers filled the air as those words rose into the sky.
Although spectators were not allowed into the arena due to the recent terrorist incident, the people in this waiting area could watch everything we did on the screen.
And finally, information about this tournament started to flow out.
[This tournament will be held as a solo competition, but a joint victory is possible for up to 4 people.]
[Let me show you the rewards for this tournament’s winner.]
The reward list unfolded from first place downwards.
The reward given to the winner contained the information I had shared with Skolla.
Everyone started murmuring as they read its contents.
Naturally, this was a reward that no one could easily imagine until now, one that could only be obtained at this particular moment.
[1st Place: Entrance Ticket to the Academy’s Old Library]
[2nd Place: Choice of Rare Grade Equipment]
…
“….”
I was aware of Skolla’s gaze, but I resisted and focused on the next details.
[The tournament will last a total of 5 days.]
[The tournament area is divided into safe zones and danger zones.]
[In the danger zone, any acts that involve killing or severely infringing upon human rights are prohibited, while other acts are allowed.]
[In the safe zone, any attack or looting will be prohibited from 6 PM to 10 PM.]
[Additionally, you can take food and items related to rest that are prepared in the safe zone.]
[However, attacks are permitted in the safe zone outside of those hours.]
Safe zones and danger zones.
Yet even the safe zone is not always safe.
[All participants will be assigned random scores, which will later affect their rankings.]
[Scores can be willingly given to others or forcefully taken away.]
[There are two methods for taking scores: one is whether the opponent is conscious or not.]
[The other is if the opponent is forced out of the tournament area.]
Scores are randomly assigned to each player, and you can take or give scores.
This aligns perfectly with the information I already knew as it hadn’t changed.
The problem starts from here.
[The student with the highest score will have their location disclosed to all students, and in case of a one-on-one situation, both participants’ locations will be revealed.]
I had been worried that the top-ranked location would be shared randomly every time, but it seems it has been decided to be shared instead.
Naturally, it appeared that Yoon Si-woo’s party would collect the scores, so for us trying to avoid them, this was an exceedingly necessary condition.
[Lastly, until noon on the first day, attacking is prohibited.]
[Now, please do your best to survive.]
Once that announcement concluded, our bodies shimmered and were transported somewhere instantly.
Fortunately, it seemed that the surrounding people were moving together, so I was not separated from Charlotte and Skolla.
“Everything is as expected.”
The structures surrounding us were exactly as anticipated, filled with concrete and collapsed metal buildings in a vast space spanning dozens of kilometers.
I marveled once more at their financial power to construct an entire island as a set.
Of course, given the huge number of participants and the evident presence of people nearby, it didn’t seem like fights could be avoided, but for now, it was still 11 AM, so no one would be attacking.
“First, let’s gather some supplies in the safe zone. We need to find a place to hide.”
“Oh, by the way, what’s our strategy?”
“Haven’t I told you?”
“No.”
There’s a necessary strategy to achieve at least 2nd place in numerous games.
It is simply called “zoning.”
An abbreviation for “survive as long as possible.”
“We’re going to hold out until the 5th day without being discovered by anyone.”
“Well, that makes sense.”
“E-Esha…?”
At that moment, a slightly anxious voice came from Charlotte.
Looking toward her, she showed me the score she had been assigned.
“This is…”
[1,000,000 points]
“…Uh oh.”
One million points.
That was proudly shining above her head, revealing her location.