Arc 1 Chapter 35 : Fort Raidel

[Raul POV]

The following day, we finally arrived at a fortified city known as Fort Raidel.

The city had originally been nothing more than a marketplace where caravans stopped to rest and sell their goods after enduring the exhausting journey across the arid desert.

However, as time passed, the resting area gradually became more crowded, and many merchants eventually established settlements around it.

The problem was that the region was inhabited by numerous desert monsters. With more and more humans settling here, the threat of monster attacks became increasingly severe.

That was why the Empire established a garrison and fortress here—to protect the civilians who lived and traded in Fort Raidel.

In truth, this was not originally territory belonging to the Aragonian Empire.

We acquired this region after a civil war broke out in the neighboring Kuwalid and brought down its former ruling dynasty, the El-Arami Dynasty.

The leaders of the clans had rebelled against the Sultan, accusing his government of tyranny.

Seven clans eventually joined forces and launched a rebellion to overthrow him.

However, their strength was nowhere near enough to defeat the armies of the ruling El-Arami Dynasty.

The rebels then requested assistance from the Empire, offering several territories in exchange if the Empire helped them overthrow their opponents.

The Empire accepted the agreement.

They trained the rebels and provided them with magical artifacts, allowing them to fight against the forces of the El-Arami Dynasty.

Eventually, the rebels emerged victorious.

The entire El-Arami Dynasty was subsequently executed as punishment for their alleged crimes.

Kuwalid then adopted a rotating system of government in which the leader of each clan would take turns becoming Sultan every five years, supposedly to create a fairer and more balanced government.

But as the developer of this game, I knew the conspiracy behind the rebellion.

The truth was that the Empire had deliberately framed one of the El-Arami royal families, turning the people of Kuwalid against them.

And the person who planned this conspiracy was none other than my father—Duke Alvaro de Garcia.

Thanks to his achievement, he was appointed Head of the Imperial Intelligence Agency by the previous Emperor, Victor de Aragon.

After entering Fort Raidel, we stopped at a field not far from the barracks where the soldiers stationed here lived.

Instructor Torun stepped forward, seemingly preparing to explain the rules and procedures for the second stage of the examination.

"We will now begin the second stage of the Survival Examination," the instructor announced loudly. "You will be divided into teams of two. Your task is to survive and cross the desert without either member of your team being eliminated."

The instructor then proceeded to explain the remaining rules of the second stage.

The examination would last for only five days.

If the students failed to reach the eastern edge of the desert within that time limit, they would be considered eliminated.

Unlike the first stage, there was no limit on the number of participants who could be eliminated.

Participants were also allowed to attack one another.

However, considering that the primary objective of this examination was survival and reaching the finish line as quickly as possible, I doubted the battles between participants would be as intense as they had been during the first stage.

Only students who successfully reached the eastern edge of the desert would be allowed to advance to the third stage.

"Those are all the official rules for the second stage," the instructor said after finishing his explanation. "Does anyone have any questions?"

A blonde-haired woman raised her hand.

"Are we allowed to form alliances?" Elena asked.

An alliance?

I didn't think that was a good idea.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on NovelPhoenix, not stolen versions.

Forming an alliance would only slow their movements, and they would have to share their logistics with everyone else.

Speed and food and water supplies would be crucial during this stage of the examination.

"Yes, you may," the instructor replied. "This time, you are allowed to bring your own weapons."

"This is because there are quite a number of monsters living in this desert. But don't worry. Most of the monsters in this area range from Level 0 to Level 3. There are only a few monsters above that level."

The instructor was telling the truth.

In this desert, monsters between Level 0 and Level 3 were the ones most commonly encountered.

The students of the academy were generally capable of defeating monsters between Level 0 and Level 3.

Anything above that would become extremely difficult for them.

A Level 5 monster or higher could easily kill them.

"But don't worry. Even if you're unlucky enough to encounter a high-level monster, your Limiter Artifact will activate once your body reaches its physical limit, and you will be teleported out."

At first glance, this artifact seemed extremely useful.

However, the artifact ring would be destroyed if it was struck by a medium-level spell or higher.

That was why this artifact was only used for student training and could not be relied upon in actual combat.

"Any other questions?"

This time, a short man raised his hand.

"Are we allowed to bring food and water supplies from here?"

"You can bring as many supplies as you want, as long as you don't bring a Pocket Dimension artifact," Instructor Torun answered.

As I said earlier, carrying too many supplies would only slow you down during the journey.

It would also make you a target for other teams in need of food and water.

The journey from the western edge of the desert to the eastern edge was approximately 200 kilometers.

That meant the students had to cover roughly 40 kilometers every day.

If everything went smoothly, such a distance would not be particularly difficult.

But the numerous monsters and scorching weather would make the journey considerably harder.

"Any other questions?"

After hearing the instructor's words, the students remained silent, indicating that they understood the regulations for the second stage.

"Very well. You may now purchase your supplies. Afterward, draw a number from this box to determine your partner."

The instructor pointed toward a box beside him.

"First student, step forward and draw your number!"

---

[Valeria POV]

Ugh...

It's unbearably hot here.

I had to take off my academy uniform just to endure the heat.

After drawing our participant numbers according to Instructor Torun's instructions, the students began purchasing everything they would need for the second examination.

I was doing the same, walking through the marketplace while looking at the camping equipment I would need later.

However, my mood was terrible.

The reason was simple.

A black-haired man was following me around while I shopped.

"Why do I have to be teamed up with a pervert like you?"

I turned around.

The man's expression was completely flat, as if nothing in the world particularly interested him.

For some reason, that only irritated me even more.

"Hey, it's not my fault you drew the same number as me," he replied casually.

Yeah...

Somehow, I had ended up being incredibly unlucky today.

I stopped in front of a camping equipment shop.

Several tents made from high-quality materials were displayed inside. They looked perfect for resting in and protecting ourselves from the desert storms.

"How much are these supplies, sir?" I asked the shopkeeper.

"Ah, excellent choice, young lady. All of these are the finest camping equipment available," the man proudly said. "The price is one Gulden and sixty Silver."

I took out my wallet and handed him two gold coins.

The shopkeeper then packed the camping equipment together so that I could carry it in a backpack.

After leaving the store, I continued walking through the marketplace in search of other necessities.

"Aren't you going to buy equipment like I did?" I asked the black-haired man walking beside me.

"Carrying that much luggage will only slow me down," he replied flatly. "I'll find somewhere to rest and take shelter from the sandstorms."

I looked at his face.

He was staring at me with what looked like pity.

What was that perverted man thinking?

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

He turned his gaze forward.

"You've never gone shopping before, have you?" he asked instead.

He was right.

I had never gone shopping by myself in my entire life.

All of my daily necessities had always been taken care of by the servants working for my father.

I had barely even left the academy except for important events.

"The merchant cheated you," the black-haired man said.

"The equipment you bought isn't worth more than eighty Silver."

I immediately stopped walking.

"What!?"

I glared at him.

"Why didn't you tell me!? Now I look like an idiot for letting that merchant rip me off!"

"Hey, what's the difference between eighty Silver and one and a half Gulden? Money like that isn't a problem for nobles as wealthy as us, is it?"

Ugh...

I hated this man.

Why did he always manage to irritate me?

Did he have some kind of personal grudge against me?

Well...

Come to think of it, I had slapped him several times whenever we happened to cross paths.

That was because seeing his face reminded me of that humiliating incident during magic class.

"Ugh... Whatever!"

After purchasing the equipment we would need for the journey, we went on to buy food for the trip.

The perverted man only bought a few bottles of water and carried very little food.

"Don't expect me to share my food or water supplies with you once the examination begins," I warned him firmly.

If he ran out of supplies later, that would be his own fault for failing to prepare properly.

You should always be prepared for the worst possible situation.

"I bet you'll lose all of your supplies and equipment within a single day," he replied confidently.

Cih.

He was underestimating me.

I really couldn't understand what was going through his mind.

"Are you all ready?" Instructor Torun asked.

After preparing everything they would need for the journey, the students returned to the field to begin the second stage of the Survival Examination.

"All right!"

"Teams 1 through 20 will leave through the southern gate!"

"Teams 21 through 40 will leave through the northern gate!"

"Teams 41 through 60 will leave through the western gate!"

"And finally, Teams 61 through 70 will leave through the eastern gate!"

"Do you understand!?" Instructor Torun shouted as he directed all the participating groups.

The black-haired man and I were in **Team 35**, which meant we would begin the examination by leaving through the northern gate.

"Yes, Instructor!" all the students answered simultaneously.

"Very well!"

"With that, the second stage of the Survival Examination officially begins!"

All of the teams then began making their way toward their respective gates.

This time, I wouldn't lose.

I would be the first person to reach the finish line—with or without that perverted man.