Chapter 16: The Unseen Affinity Farming Is the Scariest
Translated by Vine
For the latest updates, visit: ArcaneTranslations.com
Join our Discord for release updates: https://discord.gg/tkguRmvJC9
Declaring a vacation in the middle of the reassignment test. Bringing a mountain of supplies despite the point penalty. It was like volunteering to be a treasure goblin.
The other cadets, pretending not to care, were subtly eyeing his tempting baggage, wondering how to get their hands on it.
“Stay close to me.”
“…Should I tell you if I get hurt?”
Sensing the dangerous atmosphere, Mars and Juno surrounded me protectively. It’s appreciated, and it feels good, but
“There’s no need for that.”
“Shut up! I’ve decided!”
“This time, it’s our turn to help Chrono!”
No.
That’s not what I meant…
“Disembark in order. The test begins at 12:00 AM sharp, and your starting locations will be randomly assigned at the teacher’s discretion.”
“”……….””
The starting points are random.
**********
“Hmm….”
I sat alone. I couldn’t see anything.
The teacher had blindfolded me before we landed on the island, saying it would disappear automatically at 12:00 AM, and then left. What if I get attacked by wild animals while I’m like this? When you try to bring game mechanics into reality, something always goes wrong.
I’m sure there’s some explanation or background setting for this, but──it’s not relevant to me.
“….Ah.”
My vision suddenly cleared. The blindfold was gone. I stood up and looked around.
“My location is… roughly southwest?”
How do I know just by looking around? This is a place you have to visit at least once every playthrough to finish the tutorial. I can easily figure out the terrain just by looking at the mountain peaks.
“What should I do now….?”
Others would probably look for water, find other cadets to form alliances, hunt, or scout the terrain, but….
“….Hmm.”
I already have the entire island’s terrain memorized. I know where to find drinking water and food. Of course, I don’t know the locations of randomly spawning herbs or antidotes, but if I knew everything, why would I even play this game? If I could calculate random number generation in my head, I’d be in graduate school, not here.
“I think I understand the teacher’s intention.”
The southwest area of the island is practically barren. There’s a dense forest, so firewood is easy to find, but food is extremely scarce. The reason they placed me, the self-proclaimed treasure goblin with all the supplies, in the southwest is probably──to make me realize my arrogance?
‘…Is that too much?’
Even so, placing the literal treasure goblin with the lowest stats in the most difficult area…
They’re really mean.
…Well, it doesn’t really matter.
“Let’s see…. first, should I get some food?”
I slowly started walking. This is the first event without a quest. I should enjoy it to the fullest.
“Cadet Mars immediately engaged in combat.”
“Cadet Minerva is gathering other cadets.”
“Cadet Ter is going with a small elite group… it’s interesting to see their personalities.”
Outside the island, on the ship that transported the cadets, the teachers were observing the students’ progress. Some were on the scene, while others were on the ship, ready to intervene if any cadets were in danger or exhausted.
“Teacher Ivy… weren’t you in charge of Cadet Chrono?”
“Yes, he’s my student.”
Chrono was, of course, one of the observation targets. Ivy, the apostle of Hebe, the goddess of youth, and the instructor for morning exercises, observed Chrono with a pleased smile.
“Of all places, the southwest… they must really hate him.”
“No, they don’t hate him. He’s a student I’m quite fond of.”
“…You’re fond of him, but you sent him to the southwest?”
The southwest is a wasteland with nothing but trees. It’s not even the season for edible fruits, so there’s literally nothing but trees and firewood. Cadets placed there have to escape first and struggle to find food.
Limited resources.
Limited food.
Cadet Chrono, with his abundant resources, will surely be targeted…
….Is she confident in ‘that’?
“He did show some promise during the dungeon practicum, but… is he really that reliable?”
Dungeon practicum.
A mock dungeon created by the academy. He was part of the team that defeated the final boss, the ‘Champion,’ but──aren’t they expecting too much?
“Yes, I can guarantee it.”
“Hmm… but his stats are so low….”
A guarantee? But still, no. It’s not possible.
‘His stats are almost at the level of an ordinary person…’
Stats are only revealed with mutual consent between cadets, but teachers have the authority to view them without permission. Therefore, Chrono‘s weak stats are public knowledge. Although the effects of blessings, favors, and equipped items aren’t shown, it’s still enough to gauge his level.
“Stats are merely a representation of ‘physical strength.’ That child, Cadet Chrono, has more than that.”
Since the effects of blessings, favors, and possessed items are unknown,
and since the ‘pride’ and ‘tenacity’ within him cannot be quantified,
Ivy was even more fond of Cadet Chrono.
“That child comes to the training grounds every day. He arrives earlier than anyone else and always finishes his run.”
“Anyone with diligence can do that, can’t they?”
“If his stats are that low, as you said──would he even bother coming in the morning? Even if he did, he’d give up after a day or two.”
“……….Hmm.”
You need to see some potential to put in effort. Who would tirelessly water a barren land, unsure if there are even seeds planted, saying “It’ll sprout someday!”? Some would call him a fool, while others would pity his futile efforts. Moreover, if the process is so difficult that it makes him vomit every time, there’s nothing more to say.
“That child, that cadet, will definitely show us.”
Ivy had no doubt about it.
“…He certainly is showing us something.”
A 100-point penalty before the test even started.
An unprecedented move.
Was he planning to leech off someone stronger and become a merchant?
“It’s only been 3 hours since the test began….”
But what’s this?
He completely overturned all expectations.
[Meat… so good! Fuck! This is the life!]
“What’s that?”
He had somehow hunted a rabbit. He even skinned it and butchered the meat. If he just grilled and ate it, it would have been understandable, but
[I’m glad I brought these. The salt and pepper are amazing. So amazing.]
Enjoying the translation? Stay updated with the latest chapters at ArcaneTranslations.com.
“…A vacation?”
Salt and pepper.
He even made a frying pan and added some gathered vegetables, preparing a proper meal. He even accurately determined his direction and left the southwest area faster than anyone else, settling down by a small lake in the southeast.
“First… let’s calculate the points.”
Gathering points and hunting points.
After assigning points according to the criteria, she turned her attention back to the screen.
[Looks delicious… can I have some?]
[Munch, munch…. huh?]
“………..”
Drawn by the smell, Cadet Chrono encountered another cadet. He chewed and swallowed the meat in his mouth, then
[──Bang!]
[…..Uh….?]
“….Wow.”
He shot without warning. The bullet was lodged in the cadet’s right thigh. Since he had a blessing and didn’t attack seriously, it wasn’t a critical injury, but──the sudden attack incapacitated the other cadet. Cadet Chrono approached the cadet, who was clutching his leg, and said,
[If it were Mars or Juno, I might have hesitated──]
[…W-wait. I won’t come back! I’ll give you everything, my points and all!]
[──Am I weak enough to be underestimated by you?]
[Ah……!]
“EN -3, Cadet 14.”
Ivy picked up her radio and contacted the teachers on the field. They would take care of the injured cadet. She put down the radio and turned to the teacher next to her, whose previously cheerful face was now grim.
“…He didn’t hesitate.”
“If he hesitated, he would have already failed the mock battle before entering the academy.”
His opponent was Mars, the only daughter of the ‘Ares Guild.’ Cadet Chrono, on the other hand, had no backing and became a cadet by chance. He achieved victory against all odds, defying everyone’s expectations. Was it because of his blessing?
His divinity seemed on par with an average C-rank. He was a cadet who awakened by chance, with a mediocre blessing. What choices did such a cadet have to make to survive amongst other predators?
“Teacher, I believe this.”
Ivy said, clasping her hands together as if moved.
“Youth is about shining brightly.”
“Even when it’s dark, difficult, and everyone seems to be against you.”
“It’s the power to shine brilliantly despite all that.”
In that sense──Cadet Chrono was perfect.
The weakest talent.
The worst conditions.
But he had tenacity and determination. A heart that never gives up in crucial moments.
[Affinity Rank──1 (New)]
“Yes, I know I shouldn’t, but──I seem to be fond of Cadet Chrono.”
Ivy smiled brightly at the teacher next to her.
“My, my… he’s got a mean teacher, doesn’t he?”
“Oh my, that’s a bit harsh, isn’t it?”
[Condition: Attend morning exercises for a certain period.]
Even in Chrono‘s absence, he was diligently farming affinity.
For the latest updates, visit ArcaneTranslations.com.
Join our Discord for release updates: https://discord.gg/tkguRmvJC9.
Chrono is suffering from success.
Well, the bad translation and weird beginning were a bit hard, but it was worth it!
He rizzed his gym teacher without trying