A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

[Announcements. Effective immediately, the right to attack is being granted to Sivar. Students should adjust their strategies accordingly…]

As I was crafting various things with bombs, an announcement echoed through the arena. Astonishingly, the announcement concerned bestowing the right to attack upon me.

The professors must have had enough of my grand offensive spectacle. It seemed they preferred I be directly defeated rather than continue these antics.

Were they expecting me to say I'd rather face them in combat now that I have the attack rights? I can firmly respond to that.

"Sivar, now that you can attack, perhaps it's best to put those aside?"

"No."

Not a chance.

If this had happened previously, I would have been thrilled the moment I was granted the right to attack, but not today.

Using what's available in the test site, I could harry the opposing teams or push them to near defeat.

The sheer joy this all provided—how could I possibly give it up?

Especially since, like the times in the forest crafting stone axes and spears, making various weapons was quite amusing.

I'll have to ask Ellie to help craft some herbs later. It's thoroughly satisfying every time the product is finished.

"…It should be fine. After all, the advantage remains the same. Could you please look at the map for a moment?"

While I contemplated what to create next, Grace called out to me. I must respond to the team leader's call.

I joined Grace, standing beside her to view the map. The house had moved while I had been causing a ruckus.

Currently, we were hiding on the outskirts of a bustling area where houses were clustered together. Luckily, no one had come by.

"It's about time we start being concerned about the artifact. Considering the contraction of the mana fields so far…"

Grace began drawing circles with a pen on the map. They represented the shrinking mana fields.

Initially, it was a vast circle, which incrementally reduced to our current location.

Finally, as the mana field contracted down to its current size, I realized something.

"It feels like it's shrinking based on a single point, doesn't it?"

As Yeonhwa said, the mana field was indeed shrinking progressively from a particular part.

It was hard to notice when the field was large, but now, as it reduced, it became distinctly noticeable.

"Right? But even this isn't certain. It's based on the mana fields Sivar saw, but we don’t know if it’s the true center."

"Still, it's highly probable that it's over here."

"Yes. If it indeed is there, we'll have to move, increasing the likelihood of encountering other teams."

Grace pointed to the bustling area on the map as the probable center. Not the exact middle but a location with several buildings.

This, however, was just a probability, not a certainty. At least three of those buildings would need to be checked.

Above all, the number of buildings we'd need to search would change depending on where the next mana field contracts. In the worst case, more than five buildings would need to be investigated.

"We have two options for immediate plans. I can obstruct the other teams while the rest of you look for the artifact, or we all search together and face a direct confrontation. Yeonhwa, which do you prefer?"

"Well… Both methods have clear pros and cons. It's also difficult for a single person to search all those buildings."

Whether I draw the aggro or not, Grace and Yeonhwa can't be separated. It takes too long, and being ambushed would leave them defenseless.

Knowing this, Grace nodded her head; being few in number came with many constraints.

"Our team's strength is Sivar, paradoxically he can also be our weakness. If Sivar goes, our combat power weakens significantly. We must use him as effectively as possible…"

Even with the attack rights restored, the dilemma remained unchanged. The strongest spear and shield can perform differently depending on who wields them.

If I distance myself, Grace and Yeonhwa are in danger, and if I stay close, it affects our efficiency.

To compare, it's like pondering whether to use a legendary sword for defense or simply to slice fruit.

"The best method is to block any approach to this area, but even with Sivar's strength, being one person only makes it difficult."

Grace pointed out the area where the artifact might be while looking at the map.

We wouldn't know until the next mana field reduces, but preventing access altogether would be ideal.

"Hmm… Huh?"

I was considering how even bombs can't block that effectively when I noticed a jar on a shelf nearby.

I gazed at the jar on the shelf and then carefully set it down, following which I opened the lid to check its contents.

Inside, there was something pitch black, a seemingly ordinary liquid rippling refreshingly.

"What are you doing… Ah, that's oil."

"Oil?"

"Yes. Every house had some. But it's hardly useful, and in such quantities, we just left it."

Listening to Yeonhwa's explanation, I inspected the oil. Indeed, the container was too large to carry comfortably.

I looked at the oil within the jar, then deliberately dripped some onto the floor, to check if it truly was oil.

"Yeonhwa."

"Yes?"

"Got a light?"

"If you need a lighter…"

Yeonhwa complied with my request and handed me a lighter, one of the collected items. Apparently, tobacco was also among the collectibles.

We didn't keep the tobacco since none of us smoked, but we did save the lighter. It might come in handy somewhere.

Fwoosh!

I ignited the lighter and set fire to the oil spilled on the floor. It roared into flame, confirming it truly was oil.

I watched the blazing fire and then stamped it out with my foot. However, it didn't go out as easily as expected.

Surprised by this, I had to smother it with my other hand before it was finally extinguished.

"Good."

An excellent idea had formed. I left the jar of oil where it was and surveyed every nook and cranny of the house.

The first thing I needed was a glass bottle. More accurately, a container made out of delicate, breakable material.

I emptied one of these containers and filled it with oil. Lastly, I closed the opening with paper.

"…What are you doing now? Making something weird?"

As I began crafting something unusual, Grace reproachfully commented. Now her expression implied she'd given up on intervening.

I diligently inserted the wick into the opening of the bottle, then I examined the completed item. Inside, the oil glistened.

"Hm."

It was satisfying. I gave a pleased nod and placed the bottle in my bag.

"Grace."

"Yes, tell me."

"I'll hold them off. You find the artifact."

I intended to block the other teams by myself while they searched for the artifact.

Grace seemed to understand as she gave me a curious look. Wondering if that plan would really work.

"A bomb’s one thing, but you think you can make that work?"

"Yeah."

I replied confidently. This would be more than sufficient.

Beep!

[The mana field is contracting.]

Before long, the announcement of the mana field shrinking was broadcasted.

In response, Grace quickly walked to the window to observe the outside, seeking to ascertain the mana field's location.

"…It’s the worst-case scenario. We'll have to search at least five houses."

It seemed the worst situation had arisen. Searching even one house took time, let alone more than five.

But I was unconcerned. I packed the finished products in my backpack as if I were a golden goblin and stood up.

All that was left was to use them.

"I'll go first."

"Are you sure you’ll be alright?"

Grace's confirmatory question came flying at me. I nodded in response.

"Yeah."

All animals fear fire.

"This will work."

Humans too, being animals, would fear the flames.

******

After Sivar's display of nudity, the teams disbursed every which way, providing a rough idea of each team's location.

Consequently, Luna had no choice but to engage in various battles on her way to the bustling area. Regrettably, one member was disqualified.

A silver lining was that she hadn't encountered Kara's team. Meeting Kara likely would have resulted in her disqualification too.

‘Sivar is granted the right to attack… He must be struggling.'

She was aware that Sivar had been given the right to attack, necessitating extra caution in her moves.

Wishing to avoid conflict as much as possible, her position was compromised due to the noise nonetheless.

Furthermore, with the mana field reducing to a minimum, the intensity of the battles was only bound to escalate.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes… for the moment…"

The only remaining team member gasped for breath, barely responding. Despite physical fatigue, it was the exhaustion of mana that had them on the brink.

Under normal circumstances, a mana recovery potion would have been administered. However, even the backpack had been lost in the recent skirmish.

Two team members were disqualified, those remaining weren't in great shape, and there were no collectibles left.

Reaching this point was a miracle, but there were no guarantees another miracle would happen.

"Let's go into that house and rest. We urgently need a break right now."

"Okay, got it… Huh?"

As Luna's teammate began to reply, they suddenly widened their eyes as if seeing something wrong.

Luna followed their gaze. The teammate was looking straight up.

"…Sivar?"

It was Sivar. He was standing on the roof of the building, confidently waiting.

The very building they intended to enter for rest. It was troublesome enough that there was another team present, let alone Sivar.

Realizing that Sivar had the right to attack, Luna furrowed her brow. It seemed this was the end.

‘Is fleeing the only option…?'

Right now, that was the best course. While being dragged into the tiger's den required alertness, once bitten by it, it’s game over.

She gritted her teeth, waiting for Sivar to act. Ready to run if necessary, she began circulating mana for a quick escape.

Meanwhile, Sivar, glancing down at Luna, reached into his pocket. He soon pulled out a glass bottle.

Click!

While Luna looked puzzled, Sivar struck a lighter across the wick.

The wick promptly caught fire. Smeared with oil, it burned brightly enough to be noticeable.

He then pulled his arm back, shouting grandly.

"Fire!"

"…?"

At his shout, Luna tilted her head in confusion, unable to fathom why Sivar had yelled that.

But his next words were ample to throw her into disarray.

"Blaze!"

"Could it be…?!"

Magic?! Was Sivar using magic?! When did he learn that?!

As Luna grappled with disbelief, Sivar thrust his arm out, and the glass bottle sailed away from his hand.

The bottle spun in the air, making the flame on the wick appear to whirl.

While other skills might be debatable, Sivar’s throwing ability was exceptional. It spoke volumes that Luna, with her dynamic vision, could barely track the bottle.

Crash!

But Sivar’s target was not Luna. Precisely, it was right in front of her.

Whoosh!

"Ugh?!"

As the bottle shattered, a sizable flame erupted. The blaze didn't just burst upward; it rolled towards Luna.

Caught off guard by the sudden flames, Luna grimaced and dodged to the side. She felt a slight heat brush past her, having narrowly missed the fire.

What had Sivar done to create such a formidable flame? Bewildered, she turned towards Sivar.

"Magic!"

One thing was certain.

"Flame magic!"

Sivar had begun another bout of insanity.

"Blaze!"

Crash!

A firestarter had made his entrance into the arena.

"No! Just attack, you rascal! Isn’t that what you were supposed to do?!"

"How are we supposed to clean this mess up?"

"…I have no idea."

With the emergence of an arsonist following the terrorist, the professors were grasping the backs of their necks in disbelief.