Blind Side is definitely a useful skill. There’s no need to turn your eyes; you can simply use a spoon to check your surroundings anytime.
However, the risks were clear.
After using the skill, dizziness and extreme fatigue would come over me. The skill must consume a significant amount of magical power.
Even with the Artifact effect, it’s this taxing. This skill seems like something that can’t be used easily in everyday situations.
It’s disappointing, but I quickly abandoned the idea of traveling around Europe with just a spoon.
I should only use it during important moments or occasionally.
For example, when checking the waiting line in front of a famous restaurant.
“Are you all properly preparing for the first-semester training exercise?”
After the lecture ended, Instructor Kim Dong-hak spoke to the students. His gray hair, which showed his years of experience, was shining as always.
“Ah, already time for training exercises….”
Not just Moon Shin-chung sitting next to me, but every student in the lecture room sighed.
Even Arna let out a sigh.
“Still, we’ve prepared less grueling training compared to last year, so you don’t need to worry too much. You’ll only need to endure for about 5 days.”
“Those 5 days feel like a lifetime, sir….”
Every year, Han-yul Military Academy conducts a large-scale training exercise.
It’s called the training exercise.
This training exercise is conducted twice a year — once in the first semester and once in the second semester, and it’s famous for its intensity.
If you think of military training, it’s akin to guerrilla training or winter survival training — enduring that kind of hell for five whole days.
Naturally, complaints from the students are inevitable.
— Instructor, what kind of training exercise will this be?
There are various types of training.
There’s tactical training, where you set up imaginary monsters and evaluate the records. There’s also cooperative combat training where students are divided into teams for offense and defense.
“I can’t disclose the details due to regulations. All I can say is that you should just bring your bodies.”
Kim Dong-hak smiled cynically.
This man, having aged enough, genuinely enjoys teasing students who could be his kids.
“Last year was insane. Remember that S-Class monster we had to capture? We didn’t sleep for three days. Right, Spoon?”
“Ah, now I remember. It was the worst.”
Of course, that last part is a bluff. I wasn’t there, and I’ve never experienced an S-Class monster or anything of that sort.
I just went along with it, nodding knowingly.
“I wonder what kind of absurd training they have in store this time… Bringing just our bodies suggests it’ll be quite a grind.”
The types of training from the past are unknown, but I am fully aware of what’s ahead.
The theme for this training exercise:
It’s a survival game.
“Hey, you with the dirt on your neck.”
“Huh? What is it?”
“Are you prone to seasickness?”
“Seasickness?”
Moon Shin-chung scoffed.
“Do you really think I’d get seasick? I’m the kind of person who can read a book comfortably in a moving car.”
“It’s different from car sickness. Better to prepare some seasickness medicine just in case.”
This time, the training exercise isn’t happening here at Han-yul Military Academy but on a remote island far away, requiring a boat ride since it’s surrounded by water on all sides.
If seasickness occurs during the boat ride, it could ruin everything. One could automatically be disqualified even before the training starts.
Seasickness medicine is essential.
“But why bring up seasickness all of a sudden? What’s that got to do with the training exercise?”
“Hmph. I’ve given you more than enough hints. Are you really that dense?”
“Huh? What was that? I can’t hear you. Speak louder.”
Moon Shin-chung raised his voice with an innocent expression.
With that tragic fate lurking ahead…
*
“Arrghhh…”
“That’s why I told you. You should’ve brought seasickness medicine.”
On a luxury cruise ship, Moon Shin-chung clung to the railing of the deck, groaning.
He was in the midst of a bad case of seasickness.
Even on a relatively expensive cruise, which isn’t a cheap fishing boat, he was showing symptoms.
The claim that he could read in a moving vehicle was clearly an exaggeration. To begin with, it’s unimaginable that Moon Shin-chung would even look for a book.
“Do you think you’ll be able to participate in the training like this?”
“No way…! I have to quit, obviously…! How can I… Ughh…!”
Gaaaah─!
Moon Shin-chung threw up, and the remnants of what seemed to have been a hearty breakfast came out endlessly.
Looks like the fish will have a feast today.
—Huuu… Huu…
While basking in the sea breeze, a broadcast echoed throughout the cruise ship.
—All students from the Combat Division, please gather immediately in the central lobby. I’ll repeat that…
The voice of Instructor Kim Dong-hak from the Technical Division. The training is about to begin. The distant island could already be seen.
“Hey, Spoon… could you call the medical team… the medical team?”
“The medical team is on the third floor of the cruise ship. I’d love to help, but since a gathering has been called, I have to go.”
“Dammit…! I’m dying here, and you’re just ignoring me… Ughh…!”
Gaaaah─!
“I’ll see you after the training.”
It seems like Moon Shin-chung will be excluded from this training. One less competitor.
I descended from the deck and headed to the central lobby. Many students had gathered, making the lobby quite bustling.
“Hmm.”
On the podium, Instructor Kim Dong-hak was waiting. Other instructors were also present.
The most senior, Kim Dong-hak, picked up the microphone.
—I will now provide a few instructions before the training exercise begins.
Uuuuhh…
The mood in the lobby wasn’t good. Several hundred students booed in unison. One student even raised the middle finger.
For the record, that student was me.
—You all have plenty of energy, which is fortunate. This year’s training will be enjoyable as well.
Next, Kim Dong-hak turned on the beam projector. An island appeared on the large screen.
—Some of you might have guessed. The location of this training exercise is the island you see before you.
Lofty trees, lush grass, endless caves, and finally, a massive waterfall—it was a well-prepared Training Center for an artificial island.
—The training content is simple. Survive on that island for 5 days.
A full 5-day survival in the wild. Even the 3-day mandatory reserve training makes one want to cry, yet we’re expected to survive for 5 days on this island.
Uuuuhh… Time to raise the middle finger again.
“Instructor, what about water and food?”
A student raised their hand to ask. The question was about how to manage food since we would be confined to the island for 5 days.
Kim Dong-hak smirked.
—Good question. There’s nothing more important than food.
The screen moved to the next image. This time, a plastic box appeared.
—This box contains supplies of food and water. You’ll see it a lot during your time on the island.
“Are they hidden around the island?”
—Some are hidden, and others will be delivered directly. Of course, the quantity is limited.
Limited. The intention behind that word was clear.
It meant for the students to fight over the supplies.
There’s no choice but to fight. Human survival instincts are only natural.
“…”
The lobby fell into an eerie silence, students already on edge with suspicion, even before the training began.
—I will now pass out numbered tags. Please place them on your backs.
The waiting instructors handed out the numbered tags, numbering up to 500.
By the way, my number is 18.
Damn it.
—That tag will play a role as crucial as your life in this training exercise. If it gets damaged or taken by someone else, you’ll be disqualified on the spot. Keep that in mind.
With the numbered tags distributed, there would be even more unavoidable fights. The fewer opponents the better for accessing more supplies.
—I will reiterate the goal of this training: survival. The minimum requirement is 3 days. If you can’t endure 3 days, you will have to undergo supplementary training later.
“If we survive all 5 days, what happens then?”
Some might decide just to meet the 3-day minimum and quit. There’s no reason to endure all 5 days unnecessarily.
Thus, the student asked. What benefits come from completing all 5 days? Would there be any special rewards?
—After the training, I’ll give you 2 days aboard this cruise ship.
The place we’re standing on right now is an ultra-luxury cruise ship. It boasts of a suite room, high-class restaurant, bar, performance hall, entertainment facilities, and a swimming pool.
Essentially, it’s like offering a vacation.
—However, if you fail to complete all 5 days, you’ll have to clean the island during that time. No luxury cruise for you.
Honestly, the idea of a vacation didn’t excite me much. I considered enduring only 3 days and then quitting.
But if failing means I’ll have to clean the island afterward? After struggling through training, why must I also work?
There’s no choice now but to survive all 5 days, no matter what absurd antics I have to pull.
—There will now be a simple personal item check. Female students to the left, male students to the right, please.
Next, a personal item check began. Students who passed the check received a supply duffel bag and headed somewhere. Probably to head to the island.
“…”
Among the 500 or so participants in this survival game, who should I watch out for?
Let’s review.
“Hmph. I hate the sea. My makeup smudges for nothing.”
First, there’s a female student who looks older than her age. C-tier awakened individual, Baek Joo-hee.
Though her abilities aren’t much to speak of, oddly enough, she seems to attract men easily.
She’ll likely use several men to ensure her survival during this survival game.
“That means I can shoot without worrying about anything?”
Next, there’s a male student who’s sharpening arrowheads. B-tier awakened individual, Lee Sang-hoon.
“Hehehe. All supplies are mine.”
Finally, there’s another male student, curled up in a corner all alone. Also a B-tier awakened individual, Han Ba-ram, who can move at incredible speeds that would make even a fly jump.
“Next.”
“…”
“Is there no one next?”
While distracted by others, it was soon my turn. Instructor Kim Dong-hak was waiting.
“Good day. Thank you for your hard work today.”
“Shin Yoon-seong, I saw you flipping me off earlier.”
“….”
Caught. Well, I did stick my arm up pretty conspicuously.
“I heard the recent news. You suppressed a lesser monster in the commercial district?”
“I barely caught one lesser monster. Offering a reward for something like that seems quite generous.”
“Still, didn’t you save the citizens from danger? You did the right thing. You deserve the reward.”
Tuk-tuk. Kim Dong-hak patted my shoulder. Then, slowly, his hands moved down to my chest, waist, and finally to my pants.
I’ll be counting on you for this training exercise. It’d be great if you could surprise me again.”
“I’ll give it my best shot.”
The inspection was finally over. It’s now time to receive the supply duffel bag and head to the island.
“Wait.”
But Kim Dong-hak stopped me again. What’s going on? The personal item check was already done.
“I haven’t inspected your shoes yet. Take them off.”
“Why do you need to check my shoes? I didn’t see it done for the person in front of me.”
“Didn’t I catch you flipping me off earlier? Consider it your punishment.”
Damn. Why is this old man so petty?
With no choice, I took off both shoes.
“Also, remove the insoles from your shoes.”
“…”
“Hurry up.”
Hodo-doodook─!
When the insoles were removed, various protein bars and candies spilled out from inside my shoes.
Damn. I worked so hard the previous night stuffing all that in there, and now it’s all for nothing.
“No food is allowed during this training. I’ll confiscate these.”
“….”
At least it’s over here.
I still have emergency rations left.
You could never imagine there’s dried meat under my balls, right?
Hehe.
