The morning of the Survival Event.

“Don't go...

Sob, Ken, don't go...” I had planned to leave on time after finishing breakfast, but as expected, Raphne stopped me.

She wrapped her arms around my waist and wouldn't let go.

“R-Raphne.

I really will come back.

I promise.”

“But, but...” I could hear her mumbling with her face buried against my back.

Until breakfast, she seemed resigned to it, though she was clearly unhappy.

I gently loosened her grip and turned around to face her.

“I’m doing this to lift your curse.

Just wait a little longer.

I will definitely be back in five days.”

“Sniff, sob, okay...” Even though Raphne was trying to stop me like this, she must have known I would come back.

Eventually, she accepted it and spread her arms, her face wet with tears.

“...Hug me once.”

“...Alright.”

Reluctantly, I stepped into her open arms and wrapped my own arms around her shoulders.

She tightened her grip around my waist as if she didn't want to let go, and with her face buried in my chest, she asked.

“You’ll definitely come back, right?

It's not a lie?”

“I swear, I really promise.” It’s only a five-day survival event.

It's not like I'm being enlisted and dragged off to war or anything.

Why do I feel like I'm being dragged off to war, full of guilt leaving my housewife alone?

I gently stroked Raphne's head as she sobbed into my chest.

Since there was still a little time left, I decided to wait until she was satisfied.

“Hic, sob, Ken…”

“Well, I really have to go now.” As I closed the door and descended the tower, Raphne's loud crying echoed from above.

How could I not come back after this?

I resolved to finish the event as quickly as possible and return.

I have no idea what state I’ll find Raphne in after these five days.

A clearing surrounded by the forest.

I found a spot near the platform at the centre.

Many students had already gathered at the designated location.

Though it was expected, seeing so many participants in person was something else.

“I will now explain the rules of this competition.” A teacher, who seemed to be in charge, stepped up onto the platform and explained the rules.

This Survival Event is more of a side event and not very important in the game.

Therefore, the rules aren't too complicated.

Students will enter the forest one by one and survive for five days.

In the game, I didn’t realize how significant food and shelter were, but it turns out that basic supplies will be provided by the organizers.

And basic survival supplies such as tents are hidden throughout the forest.

Well, this is a world with magic, after all.

You can easily find things like fire or tents without relying on hidden supplies.

So, what's important is the next part: the element that determines the winner of this event.

Each participant will possess a badge.

The person who holds the most badges by the end of the five days will be the winner.

There will be prizes for the top three people.

The first-place winner, who has the most badges, gets to choose their prize first, and the third-place winner gets the last remaining prize.

“Ken.” Near the end of the explanation, Mary approached me.

“I’m going to give it my all in this competition.”

“Uh, okay.” Mary’s face was as expressionless as usual, but she seemed resolute.

“So, if we happen to run into each other, don’t expect any mercy.”

“Yes, that’s fine.” From the beginning, Mary was one of the two people I was most cautious of.

Since this Survival Event is essentially a badge-stealing contest through force, Mary, a highly skilled student, is someone to watch out for.

I wonder if I can win if we meet.

But then, Mary, who had been wearing a determined expression, suddenly averted her eyes and blushed.

“So, um… if I win a prize… will you… go with me?”

"…Restaurant.” Oh, come to think of it, I hadn't been directly asked by Mary after all.

It seems she wanted to clarify that part.

“Of course!

I’d be happy to go!” At my answer, Mary's anxious expression turned into a small smile.

But both Emily and Mary are suggesting this restaurant so strongly.

Just how delicious could it be?

I'm starting to look forward to it a little.

“Well then, it’s my turn now, so I’ll head into the forest.” With that, Mary waved and entered the forest for her turn.

As I saw Mary off with a content smile.

“Ouch?!” I suddenly felt a pain in my side.

“Why are you grinning?

Are you that happy?”

“E-Emily?” When I turned in the direction of the pain, there stood Emily with a face full of displeasure.

“Hey, I didn’t get a proper answer from you either.” I was flustered by Emily’s pouty expression, something I hadn’t seen in a while, and she pressed on my side as she spoke.

“…You’ll come with me too, right?” Her gaze was a bit cautious.

She must be talking about the restaurant as well.

“Of course.

Why wouldn’t I go?”

“Really?” Hearing my reply, Emily smiled softly and took a step back.

It seems like she stopped bothering my side now that she got a satisfactory answer.

“Then I'll do my best.

Good luck to you too, Ken.” With a wave, Emily also left the area.

Recalling her earlier disgruntled face, I gave her a big smile and waved back as best as I could.

Everyone is really sincere.

“Well then, I should get going too.” And so, the small but significant event for each of us began.

In the quiet forest, Albert, a student participating in the event, was cautiously walking through the surroundings.

Much like the majority of the other students, the reason he joined the event was for the meal ticket.

This high-class restaurant was one of the most famous places in the city, and the cost for just one meal was exorbitantly high.

Thus, for many students, especially those who were dating, the meal ticket was the primary reason for participating in the event.

Albert was one of them.

‘I need to make it to at least third place.’ The rules stated that the prizes would be chosen starting from first place, so he wasn't sure if any meal tickets would be left by the time it reached third place.

But for his waiting girlfriend, he resolved to give it his all.

‘I will definitely win it, so wait for me, Laura.’ Thinking about his beloved girlfriend, Albert carefully and meticulously proceeded through the forest.

Half a day had passed since the competition started.

The event that began in the morning was now well past noon.

Surely numerous students had taken positions all over the forest.

Albert, therefore, began by scouting a place to settle himself.

Since this competition was not just for a day but required surviving for five days, the most crucial needs were food and a base camp.

The food provided by the event wasn't in large quantities, so he might have to source it directly from the forest.

In that case, the best place would be near a river.

Albert was currently searching for a water body based on that judgment.

‘Who is that?’ At the edge of his sight, he glimpsed a human figure.

Hidden in the shadows of the forest, it was hard to make out who the person was, so Albert immediately went on guard.

‘Please, please don’t let it be Adrian…’ When he heard that Adrian Faraday would participate in this event, he had even considered giving up.

He couldn't imagine defeating Adrian, even if he might have a chance against the other students.

Nervously sweating, Albert watched as the figure came closer.

And soon enough...

The mysterious figure revealed itself.

“Oh?

Hello?” It was a round-shaped man.

Albert recognized him, as they were in the same grade.

It was Ken Feinstein.

Albert had never considered him a threat, a weakling in the eyes of many.

"Ha, what?

Was it you, Ken?

You’re really unlucky too!" Albert drew his sword immediately.

Of course, killing was strictly forbidden in this competition.

Even if a fight broke out, it would stop immediately if the opponent showed a willingness to surrender.

The defeated person would hand over their badge.

Albert didn’t expect things to go that far anyway.

Ken was known as a weakling who got bullied and was a disgraceful pig in their grade.

He was a boy who couldn't act like a proper man and would follow Mary Hyde around, hiding behind her strength.

Albert was sure that if he threatened Ken a little, Ken would get scared and hand over his badge.

"Come on, leave your stuff here and scram." Albert pointed his sword at Ken.

He bore no ill will toward him, but this was a competition, a battle for survival.

To avoid unnecessary fights, Albert spoke harshly.

He thought Ken would be flustered and leave his badge before running away.

But strangely, Ken was smiling.

“Um...

sorry.

You seem to know me, but I don't know who you are.”

“…What?” Albert was taken aback.

It was natural for Ken not to recognize him.

Of course, he knew Ken, who was famous throughout their grade, but Albert himself was just an average student.

That wasn't what had him flustered.

'Why isn't this guy scared?' Did I look weak?

No, that couldn't be it.

Even though this was a tournament held by the Academy, it was essentially a fight for survival.

Albert entered this kind of competition because he had confidence in his strength.

Anyone could see that just by looking at his well-trained body.

"...Albert, Albert Kaiman."

"Ah, Mr.

Albert!

I see..." Why was he asking for his name?

Was he trying to create some kind of familiarity to avoid the crisis?

If that was the plan, it was futile.

Albert wasn't so soft that he'd be swayed by a few friendly words when an easily obtainable badge was at stake.

Just then, Ken Feinstein suddenly asked a question.

"Mr. Albert, it looks like you use a sword.

Are you mainly a melee fighter?" What an incomprehensible question.

What was he trying to achieve by asking that?

Albert started to get increasingly irritated.

Why didn't he just leave the badge and go?

It felt like he was provoking him on purpose.

"If it's melee combat, so what?

I can beat someone like you without resorting to magic." His voice carried a tone of anger.

But despite his menacing voice, Ken just gave a wide grin.

It was as if he had heard the answer he wanted.

Unlike his gentle smile from before, this one was more like that of a snake.

"So, your Innate Skill is also for melee combat?"

"What?" Ken Feinstein slowly approached Albert.

"W-Wait...

Stop, don't move!" Albert hesitated and watched him warily.

Why am I getting nervous around this guy?

Amidst his confusion, Ken's voice echoed through the silent forest.

"Calorie Burn." As the resonating voice filled with magical energy hit him, Albert couldn't believe his eyes.

The rounded, clumsy body from before seemed to shrink.

"...Huh?" In no time, it transformed into the frame of a robust man.

"W-Wait!

If you come any closer!" For some reason, his hand was shaking.

How did his appearance change?

Did he use magic?

An illusion spell?

Yeah, maybe he just changed his appearance with some kind of magic.

He could be using this as a bluff to get through this crisis.

So, Albert shouted to stop him from getting any closer.

But.

In the blink of an eye.

Ken’s figure had vanished.

“Ugh!” A pain welled up in his stomach.

The cause was Ken Feinstein's fist, which had somehow closed the distance and struck him.

'How did he!' He was slowly approaching.

But in the instant Albert realized, Ken had closed that gap and planted his fist firmly into his abdomen.

“*Guh...

Ugh*!” What was more alarming was the power behind that punch.

If he got hit like that again, he wouldn't be able to stay conscious.

Tears and snot ran down his face as he vomited up his breakfast.

Having emptied his stomach, Albert looked up in trembling fear.

There stood a man, entirely different from the Ken he had seen earlier, now wearing a gentle smile.

But in his eyes, which looked down upon Albert, there wasn’t a hint of compassion.

"Now, Albert. Hand over all the food and badges you have." He flashed a grin once more.

"We don't have much time."