Chapter 49


    The battle that had begun at dawn finished as the sun fully rose into the morning sky.


    The result was aplete victory


    Are you sure they all escaped?


    Yeah. Im pretty sure.


    Hah. These bastards. They ended up running the whole time.


    Our team had no casualties and the 15-person team waspletely dissolved.


    Dn Marken and Sherki.


    Other than these two magicians, the other nine had beenpletely eliminated.


    Then how many are left now?


    I dont know for certain, but theres probably less than ten.


    The ranks of the event started to take shape.


    Just under 24 hours after the game had started, over twenty people had already been eliminated.


    If my predictions were correct, the current survivor count was just around ten people.


    Dn and Sherki had just barely escaped the encirclement and hidden somewhere after juking the pursuit group.


    The 3 survivors that had fought with us had also hidden themselves away when attention was taken off of them.


    The same was true for Doom Prime.


    When the hunt came to a close, he silently disappeared into the brush once more.


    As he said to me before, it seemed as if he didnt want to end it just then.


    In any case, hes really a self-centered guy.


    Hm? Did you say something?


    No. Its nothing.


    Kuaaaaah Im tired! I want to stretch my legs and take a nap.


    Seta just flopped back onto the ground and Irene clearly looked quite tired as well.


    The surroundings were dead silent.


    Maybe this was what they meant by the quiet after the storm.


    This state of lull would probably continue until soon before noon.


    In these sorts of times, you needed to take a rest.


    I kicked off the ground and stood up.


    Aite! Rather than being out here, lets find a ce to take a rest. Well get some sleep and eat some meat.


    What? Meat?


    At the word meat, Seta showed a big reaction and abruptly stood up.


    What? Really?


    Of course. Lets go.


    * * *


    Seta, how long does it take?


    Its nearly done, so wait a second.


    Sizzle


    It had only been a day since I hadnt had meat but why did I miss the sound of it cooking so much?


    My tummy was making a ruckus, saying it was hungry.


    My eyes were fixated on the piece of meat being flipped by Seta.


    My mouth kept asking Seta, like it was a broken record,


    Seta, are you done yet?


    Ah, dude! I said its nearly done.


    Ha I cant stand still when it smells so good.


    It wasnt that long ago when you said we shouldnt cook because the smell would spread Stop disturbing me, and if you have nothing better to do, go fetch me some water.


    Sure.


    Ok, ok.


    The assistant chef should listen to the chefs orders.


    We had left the western area and moved a little towards the center of the ind.


    It was the B base that was a little ways away from Central Vige.


    Thanks to therge trees thatpletely surrounded it and the small stream that flowed right in front, it made for an ideal ce to rest.


    When we first found this ce, there were traces of human activity, but they seemed to have been eliminated as there was no presence of humans.


    That was why we just bunkered down.


    As soon as we arrived at the base, Seta prepared our brunch, I was tasked with misceneous jobs, and Irene, who had dered that even three days without sleep meant nothing to her


    I should wake her up, right?


    Well separate her portion, so lets just leave her to rest for now.


    Hm Thats probably for the best.


    She had copsed on the sofa and fallen asleep as soon as we arrived.


    Even if it didnt show, she was probably the most tired of the three of us.


    Unlike us, who had at least 1 hour of sleep while doing the night shift, she hadnt been able to sleep at all.


    Ok! Well eat first!


    Then, thanks for the food!


    I separated Irenes portion and took a bite of the meat that Seta had cooked.


    Nom.


    Nom nom Oh! Its so tasty!


    There was no need for a special sauce or ingredient.


    With salt and hunger as the seasoning, it was as delicious as a steak made in a professional kitchen.


    We finished the 2 chunks of meat in an instant and fell back onto the ground while clutching our full bellies.


    Hah Im full.


    So am I. It makes me want to just sleep. Who cares about the game?


    Go take a nap. Well need to fight at full strengthter.


    Hm, sure. How about you, Ruin? Arent you tired?


    Ill sleepter. Im fine, so go first.


    Seta stood up and walked toward the bed, but he suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    Then, he turned to face me, an uncharacteristic expression on his face.


    Ruin.


    What?


    I wanted to tell you this before but thank you. For being in a team with me.


    My original goals werent this high. But thanks to you, I was able to be a top 10 survivor. Its an honour.


    Hey. Im cringing a little, so please


    Hmhm Sure. Then, Im going to sleep.


    Seta also looked inexperienced saying these things and went into the room, scratching the back of his head.


    I smiled, even though I had goosebumps all over my arms.


    That guy. Hes a total child.


    For me to hear something like a teenage girls confession from that tough-looking guy.


    Well, it wasnt that bad.


    Except for one thing.


    Kuaaaah! Phoooo! Kuaaaah! Phooo!


    As soon as Seta went into the room, he started to snore like a thunderstorm.


    To get away from this noise, I came out to the front yard of the lodging.


    I did some stretches to warm up my tired body.


    Hoooo Then, should I do some quests that I skipped out on?


    To stop my tiredness, and maybe for digestion too.


    It was to do the quests that I couldnt do yesterday and today.


    Kicking.


    Spin Kicking.


    Punching.


    For the running, I reced it with just running circles around the area.


    And after finishing up this quest and drinking some cold water to quench my thirst, the door to the base opened.


    It was Irene Prius.


    * * *


    * * *


    Have you woken up?


    Ah, yes.


    Looking at my sweaty appearance, she narrowed her eyes.


    You. Did you exercise?


    Yes. My body was getting itchy.


    Even after fighting like that in the morning?


    Hmm. Now that I thought about it, it was a weird excuse.


    Rather than answering her, I just lightly smiled and pointed to the separated portion of food.


    Please eat. We left your share.


    Ah. Yes. Thank you.


    Ill go and wash up.


    I gave my sweaty body a light wash in the stream and walked into the base.


    Irene was chewing on a piece of meat and looked at me vacantly.


    Is it good?


    Ah. Yes. I apologize for going off and sleeping first without saying anything before.


    You wouldve been the most tired. And, thanks to you, Ill be able to go take a rest tool. Its fine, right?


    Ah. Sure.


    Rather than going into the room, I chose the sofa in the living room.


    The room was still


    Kuaaaah! Phoooo! Kuaaaah! Phooo!


    It was filled with Setas thunderous snores.


    Also, that Kuaaah.


    It was nearly enough to make me worried.


    That Seta We shouldnt need to take him to the med bay, right?


    Pft.


    As I lightly joked about our situation, Irene ended up bursting intoughter.


    It would be pretty loud trying to sleep next to him.


    Yeah, so Ill be sleeping here.


    An excellent choice.


    Would you like some tea? I went and picked some leaves from herbs while I was exercising before.


    Thatd be nice.


    I boiled some hot water and gently poured it into the teacup with herbs.


    Hmm Its nd.


    Well, its still good since its rxing.


    There wasnt any special taste, but just as Irene said, the warm tea slowly rxed my tired and bloated body.


    And in that period where we were both silently sipping on our tea, Irene asked me something.


    So, Ruin.


    Yeah?


    I had a question I wanted to ask you before as well If you think its impolite, you can choose not to answer.


    What is it?


    After you graduate, what are you thinking of doing?


    Graduation


    It was an unexpected question.


    We usually only talked about public matters, such as events or strategies.


    That was why I jokingly asked back,


    Why are you curious about that?


    Its just personal curiosity. Your steps looked exceptionally unique so I thought that you wouldnt take the normal path.


    The 32 students that had gathered here.


    Ignoring the rankings in thispetition, they were all elites that were recognised by society.


    They werepeting here, but as soon as they graduated, they would live a symbiotic life.


    All for one purpose.


    Maybe for a knight order in a territory, or maybe protecting the nation under the imperial army.


    Maybe bing a member of the Magic Tower.


    Some would join a special, magician-only group and earn money that way.


    These were the normal paths.


    But what about me?


    I dont really know. I havent thought about it yet.


    Really?


    I dont know if you know, but just untilst year, I was a failing student. The worst failure that couldnt even be a magician. That was why I didnt have the leisure to think about my future. Rather than, What kind of magician will I be? I was more concerned about if I could even be a magician.


    I apologize, for asking something unnecessary.


    No, dont worry.


    I was smiling on the outside, but it was a rather sorrowful thing to say.


    To call me a failure of a student myself.


    I tried to brighten the mood by smiling.


    After thispetition ends, wouldnt I get some idea of things I want to do after I return to school?


    Thatll happen for sure. The Ruin of now has changed a lot from the Ruin ofst year.


    But how about you, Irene?


    Me?


    Yeah What type of magician do you want to be?


    I dont know myself either.


    Heh. Youre lying.


    Its true. I had never been certain of what kind of magician I should be. I was just told by those around me. Like, Irene, you must be a great magician.


    Irene Prius.


    She showed her silly acting as she sipped on her tea.


    And then,


    Ruin, another thing.


    Yes.


    She asked me something with a serious expression.


    It was also an unexpected request.


    I want to fight against Doom Prime before you.


    I think this will be how I find out my path for what type of magician I would like to be.


    A fight against Doom Prime.


    This was a mountain that Irene, the rank 2 of every year, had to conquer, but also homework that she needed toplete.


    I respected Irenes desire and drive.


    It was only natural that everyone had a problem that they needed to solve for themselves.


    I gave Irene a refreshing smile.


    Sure. Lets do that.