Chapter 313
Chapter 313
I was wondering what he was talking about, but I never expected that he would ask me to join Corleone.
For a moment, the words "Are you crazy?" rose to the top of my throat, but I swallowed hard.
Yes, Jin-woo doesn't know that I'm the heir to Corleone, so I suppose it's entirely possible.
Well, it would be better to praise him for his actions to get talented people to join Corleone.
But since it's me who's being targeted……Heh heh heh…….
"Cut the crap and take a seat."
"Hmph."
Jin-woo stiffened at my words and curled up in the corner like a bean worm.
For a moment, I thought, "Did I go too far?"
I looked over at Jin-woo, who had gotten a little sullen.-ah! Jinujinu, welcome back~ Nice to see you~
"Hehe. Hehehe."
……Yes. I'm an idiot for worrying.
He's always like that.
Oh, right.
"Jin-woo."
"What? Why? Did you change your mind?"
"No. Don't ask the other kids if they're going to join Corleone."
"……Yes."
If I take the kids who are still in the academy, what will I do with Familia?
So far, I'm glad they're still in Familia.
There are some things that can only be learned in Corleone, but there are also some things that can only be learned in the Academy.
"Whoa……."
I slumped back down at my desk and continued to think about the upcoming war with the Spirit Kingdom.
The most problematic aspect of the war we're about to embark on is the highest-ranking spirits who currently lead the Spirit Kingdom.
In the game, they were all on the verge of becoming Elemental Kings, and each one of them could be considered a boss.
As a result, there aren't many people in Corleone who are capable of dealing with them. If we don’t take measures against them, we would end up being blocked by them.
"Maybe I should ask them……."
Once I had roughly organized my thoughts, I surrendered myself to the rushing water, until I felt my consciousness slowly fading away.
"Hmm?"
I feel someone shake me and turn my head to see Jin-woo next to me shaking my shoulder.
"Boss……the instructor wants to wake you up."
"Oh, yeah."
I lifted my head and made eye contact with Ji-hyun, who had arrived.
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She'd been a bit down on herself lately after the incident at the zoo, but rumor had it that she'd recently paid back all of the money she owed by running several commissions.
And as if that were true, her eyes were filled with her usual mischievousness.
"Eugene Han. You've been busy lately, haven't you?"
"Of course. I'm always busy."
Wasn't that true of you too?
I conveyed that intention with my eyes.
Many of her assignments were from us at Corleone.
In particular, the request for topographical reconnaissance of the DMZ was very helpful to us.
If it weren't for her, our invasion wouldn't have happened so quickly.
Naturally, she would know about my latest endeavors.
"Well, of course," she said, "now that everyone seems to be awake, let's start the morning rounds."
One by one, students' names were called. Once the entire class had been rolled, Ji-hyun turned and started writing on the board.
"I just thought of something fun, and I thought you guys should know about it, so today's first period is going to be this."
The words written on the blackboard were [City Battle].
"You know what a City Battle is, right? A battle in the middle of the city. It's something you'll have to do later in your life as a hero, so it's good to experience it now."
At this point, a student raised his hand and asked a question.
"Is it possible to experience a city battle……?"
Ji-hyun smiled at the question.
"Yes, you can. Starting today."
"What?"
"The academy recently received a large donation from an anonymous benefactor. With that money, we've been able to build some new facilities……You guys do realize that there are a few new construction sites on campus, fixing up what was broken after the last terrorist attack, right?"
"Uh……yes."
"That's our academy's new facility. Well, I'll explain the details when we get there. Let's go!"
* * *
With that, the entire class left the main building and walked to the back of the academy.
"Wow, when did this place get like this?"
"I don't know, I haven't noticed it in all the years I've been here."
"Was it built during summer vacation?"
The place used to be covered in sagging tents, but now all the tents were gone.
Instead, there was one huge building, shaped like a warehouse.
The other kids stare at the sight, dumbfounded.
Ji-hyun smiles at them, as if she finds this reaction amusing.
"Before we go in, I’ll give you a brief explanation. This is a virtual experience field, a place where you can fight virtual enemies in a location created inside the building. Roughly speaking, it's a ‘virtual battle room'."
It's a facility for academy students who have a lot to learn, but it’s too dangerous for them to face real-world combat, and one of the few in the world.
"We had originally put it on hold because it was hard to build even with government funding and the academy's money. But recently, a generous benefactor provided a huge amount of support. Thanks to that, we can now educate you in such a great facility. So, let's all give a round of applause to our benefactor!"
Ji-hyun claps first, and the other children follow suit.
Yeah, I deserve this much gratitude.
I'm the benefactor, after all.
The Virtual Warfare Room, a facility that wasn't supposed to be completed until a year from now.
This facility was made possible by the use of our Familia funds.
This facility alone would make such a difference in the experience and quality of the Academy's students that I felt it was right to invest in it, even if it was a bit of a stretch.
Naturally, the first reason we use it is because I am its ‘patron'.
Of course, on top of that, they are contractually obligated to put about 4% of the fees back into my pocket, so it was going to be a great cash cow.
"Come on, let's go in, we're first in glory!"
"Wow!!!"
We all gasp and run inside but the inside of the facility was nothing special.
It was a large facility, with a facility management office off to one side.
The space didn’t look much different, except that it's very large but the wizard's view of the place is a little different.
"……Is this possible?"
Young-jae was the first to notice.
He was followed by Marie Nate, whose eyes widened as she took in her surroundings.
‘No wonder.’
He was right, this entire field was filled with enormous formulas, magical imprints, and the latest in science and technology.
Just then, my eyes locked with Ji-hyun's. She raised the corner of her mouth in my direction, nodded once, and started toward the facilities management office.
-Ah. Ah. Microphone test. Mmm. Can you all hear me?
Ji-hyun's voice echoes around the room.
-The field is a field, but the best part of this facility is that monsters and villains can also be simulated. Of course, you won't get hurt too badly, but if you get hit or critically wounded, it'll hurt like hell, so you'd better be careful. From the moment you get critically wounded, you won't be able to touch monsters and you won't be able to see them, so just walk out of the field.
At that moment, the sound of the facility being activated is heard, and a faint tremor is felt from the ground.
-Locations are roughly set to Hongdae, monsters are hmm…… Okay, let's try it with these guys.
Slowly, the walls of the field begin to glow, expanding the space, and buildings begin to rise.
-Wow, this is really hard to control, man. Hmm? Is this it? Ah, there it is.
A familiar street scene gradually appears before our eyes.
In an instant, the streets of Hongdae as we know it are unfolding before our eyes.
-Slowly warm up and get ready. I'm going to count.
A mechanical voice comes from the speaker.
-We'll start the virtual battle now.
5…… 4…… 3…… 2…… 1.
Kwaang───!
A huge explosion sounded in the distance as the children tensed up and looked toward the direction of the explosion.
-KEEEEEEEE!!!
A flame spirit screamed, scattering fire in all directions and around us, people were running to escape the spirit.
It was a very realistic scene.
"What is that, this is virtual? Are all the ordinary citizens fake?"
Jin-woo mumbles to himself in disbelief.
Then, Ji-hyun's voice comes from the sky.
-Come on, I'm going to count every time a normal person gets hurt, so hurry up! There's a penalty for coming in last, so be as careful as possible!
This is the latest technology, indeed.
It was everything I had hoped it would be.
Even Ji-hyun's good choice in setting the monsters as spirits in preparation for what was to come.
"We'll split in half. The leaders of each group will be me and Eugene. Try to keep the ratio of mages to fighters as even as possible."
The assessment of the situation was quick and the children moved to their respective positions without question.
They knew of my abilities at the Academy and my recent exploits at the zoo.
In total, five children joined me.
Jin-woo, Marie Nate and a party was formed in an instant, with one wizard, one tank, and one member on the front line.
"We'll hit them where they are, since we have the advantage of mobility. Young-jae, you and the children will help evacuate the citizens."
"Okay."
"Marie Nate, can you make golems in the field?"
She puts her hands on the floor at my words and looks up at me.
"Oh, yes, I can!"
A pile of arms rises from her outstretched hand.
At the same time, countless asphalt golems formed around them, creating a small company.
"The only spirits we've identified so far are the fire spirits, but there could be others. We'll use the golems as a mobile force first, so we can gauge the size and type of the enemy."
"Yes!"
"The rest of you, follow the golems while escorting Marie. And……."
I turned my head to look at the other mage in our group, a male.
I'm pretty sure his name was ……Jang Hyuk-soo.
If I remembered correctly, he was a wizard with dreams of becoming a swordsman, calling himself a magical swordsman.
"Jang Hyuk-soo. Since our enemies are spirits, there may be times when physical attacks won't work. I need you to take over the middle ground and finish off the spirits. Can you do that?"
"…… I'll try."
"Good, then we'll get to work."
I was a little worried about Young-jae's side because I didn't think Ji-hyun would run the simulation on a normal difficulty level, but when I thought about it, I realized that their power was also formidable.
Right now, they have Se-ah and Kang Hyun in addition to Young-jae.
"Enemy confirmation! Over here! It wasn't just the Fire Elemental!"
Marie, riding on top of the golem, shouted, her eyes closed as if borrowing the golem's eyes.
"Dozens of low-level spirits and three mid-level spirits! If we're up against mid-level spirits, the golems won't be able to do anything!"
So, this was no ordinary difficulty. Still, one thing was certain.
"──Somehow. We'll just have to wipe them all out."