Chapter 14: Echoes of the Slinia Gorge- A Tactical Reassessment

The operation at the Slinia Gorge is the battle against the demon race that resulted in the highest number of human casualties in history.

Analyze the reasons for the failure of the Slinia Gorge operation and present the most appropriate alternative tactics and strategies for occupying the gorge. (10 points)

Tick-tock.

In the quiet classroom, the ticking of the clock’s second hand is urging the students, piercing through the sound of pens scratching against paper.

It’s the last written exam of the midterm. This is the final question in the course “Basics of Tactics.”

Instead of twirling my knife as I usually do, I am now spinning my pen as I rack my brain for answers.

Given the weight of the score and that it’s the last question, it’s quite tricky.

In fact, the Slinia Gorge operation is one of the most famous failure cases, and many papers have already been analyzed by experts far superior to the academy students.

However, what the professor wants isn’t those common answers. The crucial part of the question is essentially the latter part, my opinion.

In fact, I specialize in one-on-one combat and ambushes, but I don’t know much about group battles or tactics.

Although I’ve learned a thing or two over the past two months at the academy, it’s inevitably lacking compared to other students.

So, I write a strategy that at least catches the professor’s eye on my answer sheet.

My answer is “Deploy a Hero.”

What’s so special about that? In front of a hero, it’s one hit for you, one hit for me; everyone is equal.

In the first place, the attacking side must go through a narrow area, so deploying a small elite force is the most suitable approach.

Therefore, instead of a simple elite force, just deploying one hero would solve the issue.

Of course, at that time, due to the hero’s position and political constraints, it was difficult to deploy a hero, but that’s none of my concern.

I filled the latter part with some nonsense that even I couldn’t understand, somehow packing the answer sheet.

After all, the practical exam is more important than the written one.

I can just make up for the shortcomings in the written test with the practical score.

One reason I’m able to write this answer sheet with a relaxed mind is that I’ve given up on being the top scholarship student.

With the existence of Celian, a nonsensical monster who excels in both written and practical exams, being the top is impossible.

Of course, even if I’m not the top scholarship student, there’s a simple way to receive a full scholarship.

Just getting the titles of Sword Master or Archmage would suffice. It’s that simple, right?

Of course, it’s only simple in theory; it’s incredibly difficult in practice.

So, I aim for partial scholarships instead.

Waivers for dormitory fees, waivers for tuition fees…

The background that allows me this luxury is partly due to the boss’s grace.

Once again, I bow my head toward the direction of the boss’s office in Magic Building 707.

Of course, only in my heart.

If I did something like that during the exam, I would be caught cheating and get a zero.

“Ah~ I feel like I messed up the exam~”

After the final written exam, Anne, who submitted her answer sheet first, approached me and Celian, lamenting.

If other students had said such a thing, I would have wondered if they were trying to deceive us, but with Anne, there’s no need to think about it.

She must have genuinely messed up the exam.

This is by no means an insult to Anne.

It’s a well-known fact among me, Celian, Yuri, and the rest of the class. A fact!

“Ahaha… Still, I’m glad that the topic I clearly mentioned would be on the exam came up.”

Yuri, knowing this, pats Anne’s drooping shoulders to comfort her.

While Celian was tutoring me, Anne had received tutoring from Yuri.

Anne managed to get a free question.

“What!? Was there such a thing!?”

Ah, I overestimated Anne.

“Anyway, thanks to Celian, I think I did relatively well. I’ll ask for your help next time too!”

“Yes. Anytime you need, just let me know.”

As expected, she’s kind.

By the way, Celian always sticks close to me during our study sessions, only helping me with my studies; I wonder when she studies herself?

From the scores I’ve graded, she seems to have perfect scores in every subject, which is quite a mystery.

Is this what it takes to be a hero?

“Then is the only thing left a mock battle? Great~ I’ll definitely make up for it here!”

Anne, who had been downcast, revived.

Surely, Anne’s a bit… a bit not so bright, but she’s at the top tier in practical skills.

She’s the exact opposite of Yuri.

Yuri excels in written tests but is lacking in practical skills, while Anne excels in practical skills but is lacking in written tests.

“Alright! Let’s go quickly!”

Following Anne, who dashed out ahead, the three of us headed to the next exam location.

***

“The exam will be conducted one by one. There are a total of 10 stages, starting from stage one, and you will advance one stage each time you pass. Since each of you will face different monsters, there’s no advantage for those who go later. If you’re ready, please step forward.”

“I’ll go first!”

As soon as Professor Den, who teaches Understanding of Monsters, finished speaking, Anne raised her hand high and stepped forward.

“Alright, Anne Klain, please come forward.”

Since today’s battle involves dealing with monsters created by illusion magic, there’s no need to use wooden swords. Therefore, what Anne brought is her own weapon.

Clang!

Anne’s weapon dragged along the stone floor, making a scraping sound. Of course, Anne isn’t intentionally dragging it out of rudeness.

What Anne is holding is a massive greatsword. The wooden sword used during training was already large enough to exceed Anne’s height, but the greatsword she’s holding now is incomparably larger.

It lacks the distinct sheen of a sword that would naturally reflect sunlight, making it more appropriate to call it a gigantic club.

Still, the blade seems to stand dangerously upright. Despite its immense weight, Anne, with her small frame, drags it around as if it weighs nothing.

Standing in the center, Anne appears excited, perhaps because she’s finally holding her real weapon.

“Before we start, let’s give a round of applause to the two assistants from the Department of Magic who are working hard here. You don’t need to worry about getting hurt; their illusion magic skills are guaranteed. However, do keep in mind that if you push yourself without assessing your capabilities, it could lead to point deductions.”

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

The two assistants bowed once toward the professor and again toward us in response to the applause. However, their appearances are quite disheveled. Their dark circles are noticeable even from afar, and their movements lack vitality.

“Now, Anne Klain? Let’s begin.”

With a gesture from Professor Den, the two assistants infused magical power into the magic circle prepared in the arena. Three goblins appeared as a result. Not knowing the overall difficulty, I can’t say if stage one is easy or hard.

In the meantime, the three goblins menaced Anne with their shrill cackles, looking anything but like illusions due to their remarkable quality.

Slash!

However, the goblins’ threats were utterly useless. With unimaginable speed, Anne approached and with a single swing of her massive greatsword, the three goblins were instantly cleaved in half. Even though they were illusions and monsters, it felt pitiful.

“Next!”

Anne shouted with a face that showed no satisfaction. By the way, Anne.

Even though they’re from a different department, addressing the assistants, who are graduates of the academy, in such a casual tone… Perhaps she’s too excited about the real combat after a long time to notice.

However, the assistants weren’t bothered and summoned the next monster right away.

“Please bring out the next one!”

Taking a moment to catch my breath, I called out to the assistants. The monster I had just defeated was a salamander, which was at stage eight.

I had reached the same stage that Anne cleared. Of course, Celian cleared stage ten and received full marks.

Even if I were to stop now, I was guaranteed at least second place. However, I still had more moves left.

As I was the last turn in class one, the exhausted assistants showed a hint of vitality as they summoned the next monster’s illusion.

What appeared was a massive steel bear. The steel bear is known for its solid defense and immense strength.

Wham!

The steel bear charged in with unexpected speed and swung its massive arm. The sound of steel clashing echoed as I blocked it.

It was unreasonable to take such an attack head-on, so I avoided the impact by rolling back to disperse the shock.

However, the steel bear quickly closed the distance again and swung its enormous arm once more.

Whoosh!

I bent down as a ferocious wind whooshed over my head. Despite being an illusion spell, the sensations felt anything but illusory.

I swung my sword, which was wrapped in aura, towards the hollow abdomen of the steel bear.

Clang!

The aura could slice through rock, but it wasn’t enough to pierce the steel bear’s tough hide. However, upon closer inspection, I noticed a fine crack had appeared on the bear’s abdomen.

Perhaps enraged by the minor injury, the steel bear became even more frenzied.

Whack!

This time, I couldn’t evade in time and took a hit to my side. Whether it was the illusion magic implementing pain or not, I nearly lost my composure due to the bear’s wild strength.

It was just a mock battle; I thought I should be able to brush off the pain.

Regaining my grip on my fading focus and sword, I prepared for the next attack.

I had already learned the steel bear’s countermeasures from Celian. The simplest method is to use fire-based magic.

The steel bear, clad in steel, is weak to fire. Even if its armor-like exterior remains intact, the insides would be cooked through exposure to fire.

It can self-destruct just from indirect heat, without even needing direct magical strikes.

It’s said that older specimens can’t even survive hot weather, making it a monster with a clear weakness.

If I were taking an exam in the Department of Magic right now, I would probably have scored a level or two lower, regardless of the monster’s strength.

However, I couldn’t use fire while wielding a sword. I didn’t know how to cast magic.

Thus, I chose an alternative strategy.

Dodging the rampaging steel bear’s attacks, I meticulously targeted only its abdomen.

With each hit, the aura-clad blade struck the steel bear’s belly, slowly enlarging the crack.

And finally—

Thrust!

With a final thrust aimed at the bear’s heart, the steel bear’s tough exterior shattered.

Even as a monster, a stabbed heart means certain death. As if the recent attack had been deemed fatal, the steel bear crumbled into powder and scattered into the air.

Though it might have appeared easy to defeat from the side, having allowed just a single attack could have led to my downfall.

Had I been even a moment slower in regaining my focus, I would have certainly been unable to evade the follow-up attack.

Whether it was dangerous or tense, I had passed through to stage nine. This ensured my second place behind Celian.

For reference, Celian cleared stage ten, Anne attempted stage nine but unfortunately failed against an unfavorable opponent, and Yuri passed stage three before withdrawing.

Now, only stage ten remains for me. If my turn had come before Celian’s, I would have attempted stage ten.

“I give up.”

However, I won’t be greedy anymore and will step back willingly. It’s not that I lack competitiveness. Even if I failed after trying, I would still secure joint second place. Yet, not attempting is…

“Good choice. To be honest, I never expected any student to pass the 10th level in this exam. Truly a member of the Deretia family.”

It was because of the battle I witnessed earlier with Celian.

Celian cleared the 9th level with such ease.

And, of course, she challenged the 10th level.

What appeared there was a demon.

In the end, since it was an illusion, the summoned demon likely didn’t even have a title or perhaps even a name.

Still, it was not something a first-year could clear easily.

After all, it was a demon.

If not for the aching side I received from the Steel Bear, which was hindering my movements, I might have considered attempting it, but in my current state, I would just be defeated without any chance to respond.

For now, my level is limited to this.

Of course, Celian easily defeated that demon.

No matter how good my aura or physical specs were, she was only slightly better than me.

However, her sword moved efficiently like a machine, mercilessly tearing apart the summoned demon without taking any damage.

“Everyone worked hard on the midterms. Rest well over the weekend, and I’ll see you in the next class!”

Students shouted excitedly at Professor Den’s words.

Some students headed to the dorms to catch up on sleep lost from studying, while others gathered in small groups to relieve the stress from the midterms and headed outside the academy.

Naturally, I was in the company of Celie, Anne, and Yuri.

“Ugh! Alright! Shall we go for some after-party?”

Anne, stretching with a strange groan, was the first to speak up.

“El, is there anywhere you want to go?”

Yuri asked me after Anne’s question.

“Well? I’m tired, but… it feels a bit disappointing just to go back to the dorm.”

Now that I think about it, the café I went to with Celie last time was nice. Should we all go there?

“By the way, El, is the place you got hit earlier alright?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s fine. Since it was just pain manifested by magic, once the exam ended, the pain disappeared completely.”

“But it must have been painful when you got hit. Are you really okay?”

Celie is just too kind-hearted. Of course, Celie is not kind at all when she’s holding a sword.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. What about you, Celie? Is there anywhere you want to go?”

“I don’t mind anywhere as long as it’s where El wants to go.”

In a situation where no one was voicing their opinions, just as I was about to settle on the most neutral destination, the café, Anne jumped in first.

“Then since we worked up a sweat, shall we go there together?”

I don’t know where “there” is, but since everyone doesn’t seem to have any particular thoughts, I decide to follow Anne.

So, the place I followed Anne to was…

“Wait! This is a bathhouse!!!”