Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 21: Survival (2)

The Raw Stone Training Squadron of White Night Castle didn’t teach much swordsmanship but taught how to survive in extreme conditions to be able to wield a sword in any situation.

In the summer, they recreated the environment of a humid jungle, and in winter, they were thrown a single sleeping bag and had to survive for several days in a blizzard without a tent.

Even in such situations, they were forced to continuously wield their swords, making it nothing short of a hellish ordeal.

“The training grounds are too comfortable. It’s moderately cool and moderately warm. Do you think you’ll be able to swing your sword in such a beautiful environment during actual combat?”

Lauren Chaygan said this as he pushed the young trainees into extreme environments, teaching them to survive and endure by using grass and trees as blankets and the sky as their ceiling.

Therefore, it was not surprising that the graduation exam included survival.

If they couldn’t survive in the wild, there was no point in wielding a sword well.

“You will have to survive on an uninhabited island for the next week.”

Lauren Chaygan said to the top 60 trainees. Behind him were six small airships and one large airship to protect them.

“Your goal is only one. Over the course of a week, you must eliminate as many monsters as possible. Each type of monster has different points. To be in the top 30, it’s better to catch as many as possible. You won’t know how many points others have until the end.”

The uninhabited island had various monsters scattered everywhere, from the very weak 1st grade to the 3rd grade.

A 3rd grade monster usually required two skilled 3-star swordsmen to barely take it down, but if someone could take down one alone, they would be called a ‘genius’.

Most Kaladan bloodline who achieved 3-star status typically swept up 3-star monsters alone, though there were trainees who teamed up to hunt 3-star monsters in pairs, most hunted 2-star monsters alone.

Thus, the upper ranks were essentially dominated by the Kaladan bloodline due to this difference in talent.

‘Even if I get into the top ranks, there’s not much benefit.’

There were no prizes for first place or anything. It was simply about finishing in the top 30.

However, Harang wasn’t someone who was satisfied with just an ‘appropriate ranking’.

Although there was no additional quest to be first in survival, Harang would aim for first place with all his might.

He hated seeing his name listed below others.

Among the 60 participants in the survival, unfortunately, Harang was the only 2-star swordsman. The rest were all 3-star.

‘Just because the level is low, doesn’t mean the results will be.’

Harang used the term ‘level’ to describe his swordsmanship achievement, but in this world, the grade gap was even greater than the level gap in games.

Each step of achievement made a significant difference, like stepping up a staircase.

It would be troublesome if someone deliberately targeted Harang.

“Of course, you know, attacking each other is not allowed.”

Fortunately, it seemed there would be no fights between trainees. The goal was to survive on the uninhabited island and hunt monsters, so there was no need or reason to fight each other.

However, he didn’t prohibit ‘taking each other’s resources’.

Probably because he expected that such things would happen even if not forbidden.

Touching someone else’s belongings was dishonorable for children training to become honorable knights.

If someone couldn’t overcome their weakened spirit and stole someone else’s resources, they would be immediately disqualified.

“The ‘Eyes of Truth’ will be flying around the uninhabited island, monitoring everything. So even if you think you lack actual combat experience, give it your best shot! If something goes wrong, we’ll rescue you.”

That was directed at Harang. No one here had less actual combat experience than Harang.

But that was because Lauren Chaygan didn’t know about his past life.

Having conquered numerous VR ARPGs (Virtual Reality Action RPGs), including virtual reality battle games, Harang had considerable experience hunting monsters.

‘I haven’t faced real monsters, but I’ve experienced more variations than real ones.’

Game monsters, although artificially created, had various patterns and gimmicks.

There were so many different types that they couldn’t possibly exist in reality, and Harang, having faced such monsters for many years, was a specialist in analyzing the best ways to approach and strategize against them.

He had only hunted real monsters once so far.

‘I need to test it here.’

Would Harang’s analytical skills work against real monsters as well?

Since he wouldn’t have to risk his life, it was an excellent experimental ground.

“Then, let’s depart!”

* * *

The 60 trainees were divided into groups of 10 and boarded different airships, which dropped them off at different locations.

After landing, Harang first climbed a hill with a clear view and surveyed the surroundings.

Surveying the terrain was crucial.

After getting a rough grasp of the surroundings, Harang laid out his survival backpack on the ground.

The backpack, spread out like a partitioned box, had various items stored in individual compartments.

On the right were canteens and drinking potions, while the most accessible center section had first aid kits and syringe potions.

After checking all the survival tools, including ropes and strings, Harang slung the backpack over his shoulder again.

These were fairly provided, with food and water only sufficient for one day, so they would have to procure the rest themselves, but the other supplies were somewhat prepared.

There was even a simple sleeping bag, which was quite convenient.

‘Some instructors grumbled that they didn’t even get this in the past. But by providing the minimum survival tools, they can more accurately assess skills.’

This was an idea from Lauren Chaygan, which Harang agreed with. He also thought dropping them on an uninhabited island without any equipment was pointless.

Everyone usually carried minimal survival tools, and the purpose of this survival test was to see how well they responded to monsters in extreme conditions.

If they wanted to purely test survival skills without any tools, they would have to remove the monster hunting objective altogether.

Harang walked towards the place where he could smell water. It was a good place to set up a tent, catch fish, and animals often came there to drink, making it easier to find food.

The trainees were also given an artifact for starting a fire, so there was no worry about cooking.

‘I’ll stay here.’

The river flowed gently, and the scenery was beautiful. He had always dreamed of living alone in a quiet and peaceful forest.

Kwiiooo!! Thump! Thud!

The only thing that could have made this better was if it weren’t for the terrifying screams of monsters and the clashing sounds of sword energy coming from all directions.

Harang broke off thick branches from the surrounding trees and wove them together.

Though he was given a sleeping bag, he didn’t have a tent, so he had to make one himself. Most would dig a hole or find a cave, but…

‘This is fun.’

One couldn’t experience the romance of camping by a riverside at any given time.

Other trainees seemed to be in a frenzy of hunting around him, with the sounds of sword fights echoing everywhere. They were all struggling to earn even one more point than the others.

“Hoo, this is tough. Hm?”

Just then, a boy who had just finished his hunt appeared on the opposite side of the river.

Harang noticed him, nodded slightly in greeting, but the boy scowled in disgust.

It was Kyle Paul Kaladan, the top candidate for this quarter’s first place.

“A bastard who can’t even get his name on the family register…”

Kyle muttered to himself, mocking Harang. Of course, it didn’t matter. Harang had already been acknowledged by Duke Kalel and had his name officially entered into the family register, even becoming a named disciple.

After Kyle left, Harang continued gathering branches and set up his tent.

“My own love house, complete.”

Dusting off his hands, he packed up all the food for the day. Even though it seemed unlikely anyone would steal it, he couldn’t risk a wild animal coming and eating it.

‘I plan to do nothing but eat for the day anyway.’

He climbed up the mountain along the river.

Monsters of the first rank gave 1 point, second rank monsters gave 2 points, and third rank monsters gave 6 points.

Because the points for third rank monsters were high, most trainees tried to hunt them, but if Harang joined them, he would end up at the bottom.

For a two-star swordsman, taking on a third rank monster was nearly impossible.

With Harang’s abilities and experience, it was barely possible to hunt one monster a day, but doing so would guarantee a bottom rank.

‘Rather than that, it’s better to hunt just one monster that gives a lot of points.’

Playing it safe by hunting weak monsters to almost certainly secure a low rank, or taking a risk to hunt the strongest monster and earn a ton of points.

Lauren Chaygan had warned them.

There was a four-star monster living alone at the top of the uninhabited island.

Hunting it would give 100 points, but it was too dangerous for just an exam. The instructors were watching from everywhere, but if they intervened, it might already be at a point where one would be fatally wounded or worse.

‘A four-star monster typically requires two or three four-star warriors to hunt.’

Having reached the peak, Harang stood at the edge of the cliff and looked down. Indeed, a gigantic monster lay sprawled in its nest, asleep.

Harang scouted the area and found a flat spot where he laid out a mat.

Then, he took out all his food for the day and spread it around.

‘This is like a gamble, but if there’s no chance of winning with a direct approach, I have to gamble.’

Harang took a tool out of his pocket. It wasn’t a sword or a bow.

It was a telescope.

* * *

The second day of the survival game.

“…What is he doing?”

Lauren, watching the island’s situation through the magic tool ‘Eyes of Truth,’ mumbled in disbelief while chewing on snacks.

“He should be busy hunting second rank monsters.”

Lauren had predicted Harang’s strategy to some extent. Harang had more stamina and skill compared to others his age, so he could easily hunt second-star monsters.

So, she thought he would try to hunt as many second-rank monsters as possible to barely secure a spot in the top 30.

Of course, Lauren knew better than anyone that this was impossible.

It wasn’t like you could easily find second-rank monsters just because you wanted to.

Even though he was smart, a child’s thinking would be limited to slaughtering second-rank monsters.

‘Is he aiming for the third rank monsters? It would be tough for a two-star swordsman to handle a third-rank monster alone.’

There were various criteria for dividing monster ranks, but the most intuitive way was simple.

If a one-star sword energy could pierce the hide, the monster was of the first rank.

A third-rank monster’s skin was tough and mana-infused, making it difficult for Harang’s swordsmanship to handle.

‘No, what does it matter. Whatever it is, just do something.’

Another day passed, and another was about to follow.

On the first day, Harang leisurely set up a tent while others were hunting, then climbed the mountain peak to lay out a mat and spent all day observing the fourth-rank monster ‘Rampage’ through a telescope.

The second day was the same.

He kept observing until he ate up all his emergency rations.

On the following days, he began to show some movement. He lightly shot arrows or threw spears to hunt, gathering food. He was quite skilled at hunting and cooking animals, but he didn’t earn any points for that.

‘He’s out of the running.’

Kyle, who was leading, had already hunted five third-rank monsters alone. Other trainees were similarly earning massive points by teaming up or massacring second-rank monsters.

‘Well, I didn’t expect him to make it into the top 30 anyway. But giving up without trying is a bit disappointing.’

The Harang Lauren knew was a competitor who gritted his teeth and challenged even when he knew he would lose.

Giving up already?

Time continued to pass.

On the third day, the fourth day, and by the fifth day, Harang hadn’t moved.

By the sixth day, when Lauren had almost given up on observing Harang,

Finally, Harang grabbed his sword.