Chapter 203 — The Sports Festival Begins!

1

During school days, sports festivals were boring events.

Were they days meant for those good at sports?

I don’t remember having many good memories of them.

Most kids probably felt the same way.

As far as sports festivals in South Korea went…

Well, that’s how it was.

I only remember tug-of-war and group jump rope.

‘Compared to those, this is much better. Rather than a sports festival, this is more like… a survival game.’

Manus looked at the stage set up on the vast lawn.

It was quite different from what he remembered.

This change must have also come from various circumstances.

Who could blame anyone?

Somehow, things seemed like they’d get complicated… but he hadn’t expected the professors to make such bets.

Competing over field trip plans.

So that’s why Professor Jennifer trained him so intensely.

‘Well, the victory was mine to begin with.’

Manus decided to stay relaxed about it.

It was a chance to test the new techniques he was learning.

The sports festival would be good warm-up before clearing the desert.

Today was a day to wear something other than the uniform.

The concept of gym clothes existed in this world too.

Black zip-up jacket and black pants made up the gym uniform.

“Oh my, it suits you well.”

“Thank you.”

When Manus went outside, a maid greeted him.

He lightly acknowledged the greeting and moved on.

As he headed for the magic elevator, someone called out to him.

“Finally.”

“Guillermo, did you train well?”

“I did my best.”

Guillermo joined him in the elevator and they had a brief chat.

He showed an interesting competitive spirit while looking at Manus.

Though he didn’t know who trained him, he must have received special training for the individual events.

“See you in the individual matches.”

“Sure.”

“I might lose in pure power, but I’m confident in events that use the body.”

“Looking forward to it. I’ve been getting some special training lately too.”

Guillermo’s eyebrows curved into worry lines.

Thinking about it briefly, he knew Manus didn’t neglect physical training either.

He hadn’t been seen in the fitness room lately, could it be?

“Special training — with Professor Jennifer, I assume.”

Manus nodded lightly.

Guillermo felt a sense of warning too.

Professor Jennifer’s special training.

It must have been at an incredible level.

But something felt strange.

For such training, the power he felt had become dramatically weaker.

Though he didn’t bother asking, Guillermo thought Manus must have reached the level of completely storing his mana.

‘Moving even further ahead, eh.’

It sparked his competitive spirit.

He would surely reach that level too.

It would just take time.

This time, victory wouldn’t be decided by individual power alone.

There would surely be stages requiring personal physical ability and agility.

He couldn’t even imagine how hard the professors must have worked to ensure matches weren’t decided by pure power alone.

“Have you heard the news? They say the professors made bets among themselves.”

“Ah, yes.”

He had certainly heard.

It was definitely an insane bet, he was sure.

How could they let one person plan the entire field trip program?

Given this world’s characteristics, it would be a program full of personal preferences.

He really wondered who came up with such an idea.

Guillermo seemed to have similar thoughts, letting out a sigh.

“Anyway Manus, if you win, Professor Jennifer’s infinite hell training awaits.”

“……”

Manus kept his mouth shut.

What should he do?

Suddenly, tremendous confusion swept over him.

No, could that really happen?

“Think carefully. I’m saying this with complete sincerity.”

“…This is absurd.”

He needed to work hard for victory, but hell awaited if he did.

This was an enormous dilemma in Manus’s life.

Seeing his expression, Guillermo chuckled.

It was rare to see Manus so lost in worry.

Why did he feel worried too, looking at his profile?

So once again, he spoke with sincerity.

“So please, think again about winning.”

“……”

Manus could only sigh with a serious expression.

He was considering whether to plead with Professor Jennifer.

Seriously.

2

Sports Festival!

The original purpose was to overcome obstacles in various dungeons or field operations.

But as time passed and issues arose, the sports festival changed into a competition showcasing each class’s excellence.

It was a day to pass through stages requiring agility, stamina, handling sudden situations, analytical skills, and maintaining composure.

The class group events were simple.

[Death Ball] with rules similar to dodgeball but a different name.

[Giant Pillar] where you must use mana to jump and survive.

[Super Boost] where you must run to the end while avoiding giant balls.

[Good morning everyone!]

[Is everyone ready for the group events!]

Boisterous sounds rang out from early morning.

[Kegan Mustafa], one of the Deer Class professors.

The professor known as the Duel Maniac or Crazy Shield Killer shouted loudly.

He was in charge of hosting and chief referee for this sports festival.

Traditionally, Deer Class professors always oversee the sports festival.

This year too, a party of madness was prepared.

“Why am I nervous about this?”

“Right? We can’t lose to the Deer and Eagle Class kids.”

“I’ll buff you up good, so let’s go wild.”

“Alright.”

Anais pumped herself up.

The weaklings would drop out quickly anyway, so they were outside her concern.

The real fight was between the skilled ones.

How many top-ranked students survive and perform well.

That’s where the match would be decided.

Snake Class was quite disadvantaged in group events.

They basically had less stamina than the other two classes.

[Now starting the first event! ‘Giant Pillar’! Don’t be too scared — it’s just a simple warm-up game!]

All grades and classes were summoned somewhere.

More precisely, everyone was put under hypnosis to show them a new stage.

A place that was reality yet not reality, that could be easily seen through but shouldn’t be broken.

[Behold! The big! Beautiful! Magnificent pillars!]

Kwarururu-!

Giant pillars reminiscent of some sloth hell.

Spikes everywhere, with mass that seemed impossible for human power to stop, overwhelmed everyone.

Plus some alien force pressed down on the participants.

Everyone participating could easily understand what that force was from the explanation.

[The waves emitted by the pillars hinder mana movement! But don’t worry, this is all just an illusion. You must overcome the pillar’s interference and be careful not to get crushed!]

[Ah, one more thing. These pillars can move up or down. You’ll need to use your abilities and judgment well.]

Now, begin!

Piiiii-!

A warning-like sound rang out and the giant pillars began to move.

Kugugugugugu-.

The pillars moved, spewing dirt and dust.

Pillars the height of a two-story apartment charged toward everyone.

The pillars were on both sides of a central axis.

Meaning students always had to think about two pillars while moving.

“Uwaaaaah!”

“Run away! Run!”

“Jump! Run!”

Students had to choose.

Whether to run from the ever-accelerating pillars, or use explosive jumping power to leap over them.

Some jumped into the air while others ran in the opposite direction.

But those lacking skill or tense with nerves were too panicked to respond in time.

The sports festival was competition simulating real combat.

The giant pillars’ attack was like facing an overwhelming enemy’s attack or disaster.

“What are we going to do!?”

“For slow sections, running is better than jumping. Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Emerson quickly calculated and led the group.

Meanwhile, the pillars completed one rotation and returned to the starting point.

The true terror of these pillars was just beginning.

[The speed keeps increasing! Struggle! Hahaha!]

“He’s definitely enjoying this! Definitely enjoying it!”

“Who wouldn’t!”

Kugugugugu-!

The pillars’ speed increased further.

Two rotations, three rotations, four rotations…

By the tenth rotation, it had become a speed students couldn’t outrun anymore.

A true catastrophe.

Like an avalanche bearing down, the pillars approached right in front of their faces every time they blinked.

First year Class A students including Anais, Kael, and Pierson made their judgments instantly.

[Dutamen]

“Let’s go!”

“Jump!”

Kwang-!

Pierson felt chills seeing the pillar’s spikes barely brush past under his feet.

Anais, who firmly gripped the shoulder of the scared boy, grinned.

“Scared!?”

“No I’m not!?”

Coming down needed to be quick too.

Otherwise they’d become pancakes on the next pillar.

There were many ways to accelerate using mana.

They used [Boost] magic to accelerate their descent speed.

Then jumped again immediately!

Kururururu-!

The incredibly fast pillar passed by narrowly.

The key to this game was dodging narrowly while controlling mana.

Mana was limited but the pillars rotated infinitely.

How long could they endure.

That was the secret to lasting until the end in this game.

“Uwaaak!”

“I leave the back to you! Please protect Deer Class’s honor!”

“I’m dying here too!”

It was complete chaos.

The death pillars rotating endlessly.

Jump, duck, and run!

As they dodged the crazily rotating pillars, before they knew it almost everyone was gone.

The first years’ first competition.

Though they were kids who didn’t know the tricks, the talented ones had already perfectly adapted to the game.

Especially Kael was learning the most important thing in this competition.

‘So this is what mana control means.’

Using exactly the amount of mana needed at the right time and place.

That way he could increase combat endurance and regulate recovery.

Plus naturally using mana to its limits.

Kael focused while watching the pillars’ movements.

What would Senior be doing now?

He quietly contemplated while dodging pillars.

[Ooh! What’s that! What an amazing one! As expected of the top student!]

And what about Melanie?

Moving with borrowed spirit power, she showed the results of her usual training without reserve.

Surprisingly, Snake Class — the mages — were doing well.

From Eagle Class were Castro and Lemrent.

Among guardians, Drarin was barely hanging on.

How about the second years?

[Alano! To think you’d show such fancy tricks! Truly amazing!]

Beautiful tricks using ice boost.

Creating ice sculptures to narrowly overcome huge threats — it was pure art.

Dancing through the air like a dancer, Alano was truly a beautiful ice goddess.

A fun sports festival.

The students were steadily growing there.

Getting stronger without even realizing it.

They were gradually completing their preparations to challenge warriors.

–TL Notes–
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