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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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“Commoner, what are you scheming now?”
“Huh?”
Just before the first competition, as everyone was preparing, Bellos approached Lee Seok-hyun.
Bellos wore a knowing expression.
“The commoner who usually wouldn’t be caught dead near a Mirinae Special Deluxe Burger…”
““Ah, I just had a sudden craving…””
“…is what you would have said, but I don’t buy it. Do you think I don’t know you by now?”
Bellos cut him off, accurately predicting what Lee Seok-hyun would have said.
It was clear what he wanted to hear.
But Bellos wasn’t the only one curious.
The surrounding students were clearly eavesdropping, straining to hear their conversation.
‘Seriously? If anyone heard this, they’d think I’m some mastermind, constantly plotting.’
Lee Seok-hyun felt a pang of annoyance. It was hardly a grand scheme. He was simply trying to survive, leveraging his limited resources and knowledge.
“There’s really nothing going on. I just suggested we all hang out more often, you know, even outside of these competitions.”
“Hang out? What do you mean?”
“Haven’t you heard of sisterhood agreements?”
“What’s that?”
–Hmm, this concept isn’t common here, I guess.
While the world mimicked modern society, it wasn’t an exact replica. Some concepts didn’t translate.
Lee Seok-hyun briefly explained the general idea of a sisterhood agreement to Bellos and the others, then stood up.
“Seok-hyun, where are you going?”
“Just need to take care of something in my room.”
“Don’t be late. If you’re late, it’s a disgrace to all first-years.”
“Alright, I’ll be right back.”
A month had passed. Much had changed, not just internally, but externally as well.
With Meiri seeing him off, Lee Seok-hyun headed to his dorm room.
Or, more accurately, to Pephais, who was nearing the moment of evolution.
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The difference between a low-rank spirit and a mid-rank spirit was substantial.
Firstly, firepower doubled, maneuverability increased, and the time a spirit could remain in the earthly realm extended significantly.
This translated to a greater range of tactical options.
‘Good, very good.’
Crackle, crackle, pop!
The sound of the egg cracking, three times per second, resembled the sizzling of potatoes frying in a pan.
While others had spent the last month diligently training, he’d felt limited, only able to utilize half his potential without the Manaplate Armor and a fully evolved spirit.
Now, that limitation was about to be lifted.
‘I didn’t even consider the Manaplate Armor. It’s not meant for situations like this anyway.’
While the Manaplate Armor, designed for battling Greater Demons, was impractical for students to use regularly, spirits were different.
They provided immediate combat support, a crucial advantage he’d lacked for the past month. If he’d faced another disaster during that time, the consequences could have been dire.
[The Explosive Spirit Pephais has leveled up!]
The long-awaited message appeared, and the egg cracked open.
Crack!
With a sound like popcorn popping, a bright light erupted from the egg, and Pephais emerged.
Bouncing slightly in the air like someone on a trampoline, Pephais slowly contained the radiant light and opened its eyes.
[It has been a while, Master.]
“It has. I missed you.”
[My mind feels strangely muddled. Is it your influence, Master? Do you always think about two things at once?]
“Huh? Ah… well…”
Lee Seok-hyun deflected Pephais’s observation with a noncommittal response and immediately checked the spirit’s status window.
[Name] Pephais
[Description] A former low-rank fire spirit that has undergone a unique evolution. Now a mid-rank explosive spirit, blazing a trail no other has walked.
While less efficient at sustaining flames than ordinary fire spirits, its ability to focus firepower is unmatched.
Can condense energy to create bombs, with a maximum delay of 30 seconds before detonation.
Can exert minor influence over objects associated with “explosions.”
[Contract Effects] Wields explosive power with increased intensity. Can still access fire abilities, but their power is reduced.
Fire resistance increased by 20%. Damage received from explosions reduced by 50%.
Damage dealt with explosives increased by 50%.
Can now use [Fuse].
[Fuse] :: When creating bombs at mid-to-long range, a fuse can be attached for remote detonation. The user can customize the fuse path. If the fuse is severed, detonation is disabled.
Perfect, just perfect.
‘An incredible outcome.’
While still not a high-rank spirit, lacking the ability for remote detonation without a fuse, this was more than enough.
The 50% reduction in explosion damage received and the 50% increase in explosive damage dealt were invaluable.
‘With this, I shouldn’t have to worry about dying from explosions.’
Demons were known for their ruthless tactics, often resorting to terrorism to achieve their objectives.
They would plant bombs to create chaos and use wide-area explosive magic for mass slaughter.
This meant he now had a viable countermeasure against their primary attacks.
While the Rival skill also provided a boost, mitigating damage directly was far more effective in the long run.
Moreover, with increased firepower, he no longer needed to rely solely on tricks and traps.
Weakness Designation, Flash of Insight, and a well-placed bomb—that was his new ultimate combo.
‘I’ve acquired everything I need right now.’
The rest depended on winning the exchange competition and collecting his winnings from the other academies.
What they called an “exchange competition” was, for him, a celebration, a festival of profit.
‘Time to get this party started.’
Lee Seok-hyun headed towards the others, ready to set his plan in motion. It was time to make some serious money.
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Mirinae Academy Coliseum.
“Let the first competition begin—the Territory Capture event!”
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
The coliseum roared with even greater excitement than during the opening ceremony.
As Gainard had explained, the Territory Capture event was the main attraction.
“The Territory Capture event begins with four academies, each occupying one of four divided territories.”
A large hologram displayed above the arena, visually demonstrating Gainard’s explanation.
Four divided territories, four academies—even those unfamiliar with the rules could easily grasp the concept.
“The event begins the moment all students enter the four designated portals. It takes place in a virtual space, eliminating the risk of outside interference. Any injuries sustained will result in immediate return to the coliseum, so parents need not worry about their children’s safety. Of course, some minor injuries are inevitable.”
This event borrowed heavily from Mirinae Academy’s traditional first-year survival exercise.
It was essentially a larger-scale version with one additional rule.
Unlike the survival exercise, where the last survivor won, the Territory Capture event required an academy to control all territories for victory.
In an extreme scenario, an academy could win even if all their students were eliminated, as long as they held all territories at the moment of their final student’s elimination.
“Furthermore, terrain advantages are assigned based on last year’s first-year rankings! Therefore, the academy with first pick this year is… Velutos!”
“Velutos! Velutos! Velutos! Velutos!”
Elua, basking in the cheers and applause, chose the mountainous terrain without hesitation.
A terrain offering defensive advantages, strategic high ground, and difficult access for invaders—it was a predictable, yet logical, choice.
The Territory Capture event took place on an island divided into four quadrants, each with distinct terrain advantages and disadvantages.
To use a coordinate plane analogy, the first quadrant was mountainous, the second was forested, the third was a mix of forest and plains, and the fourth was purely plains.
Traditionally, the flat plains of the fourth quadrant were considered the most disadvantageous.
Lacking cover for defense and offering no clear paths for attack, it was a difficult terrain to control.
Therefore, in past exchange competitions, first-year representatives almost unanimously avoided the plains.
“Next, the academy with second pick is… Mirinae!”
“Mirinae is the best! Mirinae! Amazing! Show them what you’ve got!”
Lee Seok-hyun, still dressed in his drill instructor uniform, appeared to bask in the cheers, extending his arms to draw attention, and then…
“Huh?”
“Hmm?”
“This crazy…”
…calmly chose the plains.
“Student Lee Seok-hyun, did you select the plains terrain?”
Gainard, so taken aback by this unexpected choice, momentarily forgot his duties and asked for confirmation.
The coliseum, buzzing with excitement just moments before, was now filled with confused murmurs. Lee Seok-hyun had, in a single move, shifted the entire atmosphere.
He simply smiled brightly, seemingly oblivious to the sudden shift in mood.
“Yes, Mirinae Academy will take the plains.”
You can’t spit in a smiling face? Not always. Sometimes, a smiling face is the most infuriating.
“Hey, you crazy bastard! Are you kidding me?! What are you doing?! Who are you to choose?!”
“…I thought he was someone special, but is he just an idiot?”
Arak regretted ever thinking highly of Lee Seok-hyun, and Raymay felt similarly misled.
Having viewed Lee Seok-hyun with suspicion, believing him to be some schemer, Raymay now felt a flush of embarrassment creep up his neck.
‘He was just an idiot…’
Lee Seok-hyun had, in a single move, alienated Mirinae Academy’s supporters and plummeted in everyone’s estimation.
Yet, he continued to smile cheerfully.
“Next… Ruamos Academy, you have the next pick.”
The remaining academies quickly selected their territories.
As expected, Ruamos chose the forest, and Tanteroi, the mixed forest and plains terrain.
“Change it! Change it! This isn’t fair! How can that idiot represent Mirinae?! Who is he?! Who is he?!”
“Shut up! Do you know how much I bet on this?!”
“Velutos! Total victory!”
“Ruamos! Show them! We can do this!”
“Tanteroi, fighting!!!”
Every academy except Mirinae received enthusiastic support.
“Now, let the Territory Capture event begin!”
Amidst a cacophony of boos and cheers, the Territory Capture event, already marred by controversy before it even began, commenced.
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Pure explosive damage is just concussive damage. But it has a secondary effect of hurling things at you be it sharp or blunt. That’s why even with the bomb suit on, when a bomb goes off, even if the suit is barely scratched, the human inside can still turn into meat paste.