CHAPTER 56: STRATEGY GAME

She director and I are walking to the testing area. I’m thinking about these questions from the director... I think I might be overthinking it, I’m not sure if they were serious questions or just something to lighten the mood.

However, her question about whether I had the ability to fix biological errors made me think of something interesting. I don’t have any skills that can do that... but my parasitic insects might possibly be able to fix that type of error.

That’s because the Shadow Insects have the ability to parasitize and modify the host’s body, but the term "modify" is not necessarily a bad thing, and the modification cannot be cured.

In other words, the only way for these insects to make an uncurable modification would be if that modification altered the host’s own biology. Keeping that in mind, couldn’t I potentially strengthen a living being with these insects?

It’s something to test.

"We’ve arrived, Pandora. First, we’ll go to the magic test. See that dummy in the arena? All you need to do is attack it with mana, without any elements." She points to a wooden-looking dummy that seems quite sturdy.

"Okay." Doesn’t seem too hard. I start to accumulate my mana and throw it at the dummy, but the dummy doesn’t get a single scratch, though the ground around it cracks.

’It’s more resistant than I thought.’

"Again."

"...Okay." I do it again, a bit stronger, still without a scratch.

"...Again."

’Is this for real?’ This time I use 5% of my mana in a single attack, and the entire 20-meter area cracks.

"Again."

’Is this some kind of joke?’

"Director, this isn’t quite how I thought it would be. In the books, you just needed to use it once and you’d be evaluated to move on to the next test."

"Again."

"...Okay...tsk." I gather 20% of my mana into a sphere and compress it, shaping it into a needle.

BOOOM!

I fire the mana, the attack detonating the entire area and creating a large dust cloud. We’re protected by a barrier the director quickly put up. When the dust settles, we see the dummy’s head has completely evaporated.

"I’ll give you a score of 55% for this test."

"Wh-What...? Why so low?" I was sure I’d get a 100% on everything. I have excellent mana control and a huge amount of it, so why was it so low?

"Pandora, I don’t think you understood the essence of this test. Things like that aren’t taught in textbooks. That dummy absorbs mana and calculates its refinement..."

"Pandora, your mana refinement is at least terrible. Your mana is very raw. Think of a freshly mined jewel until it’s refined, it’s in a raw state."

"Your mana is like that. This test isn’t just to see how much mana you have or how destructive it is. It’s to see how refined your mana is... Honestly, if you didn’t have so much mana, you would have failed this test."

"That dummy takes more damage from refined mana while strengthening itself with raw mana... The feat of breaking it without mana refinement is considerable, but that doesn’t change the fact that it was a failure."

I’ve never thought about that. Freya and Calypso had already told me I should practice mana refinement and that it’s important in the beginning, but I kind of ignored that part. I wasn’t very good at it because I saw certain disadvantages to my mana style, and Calypso herself later said I shouldn’t focus on it because my mana is better off being raw or 100% pure.

So basically, refining my mana is bad for me. The more raw it is, the better. And pure mana is different from refined mana, although I still don’t know how to use pure mana very well, just the basics.

"Director, my type of mana is more suited to being raw. Refining it decreases its quality."

"...Strange..."

"What’s strange?"

"It’s that raw mana is better for certain types of monsters and usually bad for other races, since it’s weaker than when it’s refined."

"!!!" I didn’t know that, but it kind of makes sense why Freya said refined mana was better at first, and then after a few days of training, she said raw mana is better for me, precisely because I’m a monster.

"Could it be because she’s a hybrid?" She mutters the last part.

’Hybrid? What hybrid? What does she think I am? I can’t believe even someone strong is subject to believing rumors in the end.’ There’s no point in correcting her, and I don’t even know what kind of hybrid she thinks I am, so it’s better to stay quiet.

"Well, this changes the situation... But your score will still be 55%, after all. This test doesn’t take into account what’s best for you. It may not seem very fair, but almost 100% of the students will use refined mana. I can’t change the method because of a single student. I hope you understand."

"Yes, I understand, Director Akari." It’s obvious that if she allowed the score to be based on raw mana, many smart-alecks would stop refining their mana for this specific test, making it easier to pass.

"Here, use this for your physical test. Normally you’d use standard equipment, but I want to expedite the process. I spent too much time with the princess and need to finish with you quickly." She hands me something that looks like straps or bracelets.

"Put each one on your limbs." I start putting these straps on my arms and legs.

"Urkkk" I immediately feel like I’m carrying the weight of a mountain. I use my mana to strengthen myself, trying to stay on my feet as these bracelets suddenly become extremely heavy.

"[Stellar Gravity]" The director uses magic, increasing the weight even more. I increase the mana in my body, trying to withstand the gigantic weight on me.

’Is this too heavy for a student?’ As if reading my mind, she says:

"These weights are based on your mana to increase the weight, so it’s not beyond what you can carry... Although it’s a bit above my expectations."

"After all, each of these weights is 2 tons, totaling 8 tons... Not to mention the gravity magic. With the gravity magic, it’s a total of 36 tons."

"I’d give you a score of...94%. Your physical abilities are excellent... but your use of mana for bodily strengthening is irregular."

"[Release]" She uses another spell, and the weights and gravity magic disappear.

"Now let’s move on to the strategy test. [Stellar Map]" A "mirage" or some kind of mana hologram appears in front of me, resembling a city.

"See, this ’City’ will be attacked, and you must manage to save at least half the population by just giving voice commands to the soldiers on the stellar map. It’s all false, obviously, but don’t take it lightly."

This kind of reminds me of a third-person game, as I’m observing everything from above while seeing this miniature city, like games where you build a city and defend it.

"Start."

I quickly observe. It’s a small city, at most a few kilometers in size, with around 4,000 inhabitants. Out of these, we have 500 guards and soldiers.

"Evacuate all civilians to the center... Form barricades using furniture, carriages, and wooden stalls, then soak them in oil and get inside the barricade." I don’t need to protect the whole city, just the people.

There’s no way to protect the entire city with only 500 soldiers, from what I see on this map it’s too large, so it’s better to reduce the area and focus on a defensive battle. Then I can just set everything on fire when necessary.

I see all the "People" obeying. This would make a great fun game, maybe I’ll ask Elena to create a game like this for me to play sometimes.

Soon I see Orcs, goblins, and imps invading. The imps and goblins are the fastest, so they’ll be the first to arrive at the improvised barricade.

’The Orcs will be the biggest problem...’ The goblins are the first to reach the barricade.

"Shoot with bows and arrows, and use spears... Gunpowder... Those who are free, spread gunpowder where there’s oil."

’There’s only one barrel of gunpowder...’

"..." The amount was small, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t want it to explode, just to help catch fire.

’It’s more difficult than I thought.’ I see the goblins being killed, and soon the imps arrive.

’There are 500 imps, 300 goblins, and 30 Orcs... This will be difficult.’ This simulation is harder than I thought. If I were there, I could just kill them all, but having to command these weak soldiers forces me to think of quick strategies.

’I don’t have time to devise a good plan... What do I do, some are getting through?’ Although some are getting through, I’m holding up so far, but soon the Orcs will reach the barricade.

’I don’t have any mages... Damn, what a shitty mission. The soldiers are much weaker than the Orcs and are at a huge disadvantage.’ Imps are small, so arrows don’t hit them.

The Orcs won’t even reach it, and I’m already complaining about them.

"...How can I do this..." I start biting my thumb to increase my concentration.

We’re surrounded. My area is a 1-kilometer circle. The defensive position is more or less well, we have some injured but no deaths yet.

’The biggest problem is the numbers.’

"...Archers, ignite the arrows and shoot at the houses on the second street." This will distract some goblins without burning the barricade.

’340 imps and 127 goblins will die... The Orcs haven’t arrived yet.’ Everything is under control for now, the goblins aren’t very brave.

’I’m glad goblins are stupid and considerably weak.’

"People... maybe... All civilians hiding in the center houses, look for things that can help the soldiers and let them know when you find something." I can’t burn the barricade until the Orcs arrive.

I don’t have to use just soldiers. Even if I use civilians, I just have to make sure they don’t die.

"This is... sulfur... wait... SULFUR!" The civilians will find sulfur, and I remember that if you mix sulfur with [Pitch], it creates a dangerous reaction.

And fortunately, pitch is used to make torches, so it’s super easy to find in a medieval city.

When you mix sulfur and pitch and apply heat or a flame, both compounds ignite easily. The sulfur, being highly flammable, burns with a blue flame, releasing sulfur dioxide (SO₂), a toxic and irritating gas.

The pitch, being rich in carbon, releases a large amount of black smoke and can generate a more intense and lasting flame due to its high viscosity and high carbon content.

"All civilians, gather as much sulfur and pitch as you can and mix them now. Do it quickly and deliver it to the soldiers." I can use this in various ways.

’The wind direction... I’ll only be able to use it from one side... Maybe there’s a way to keep the civilians from being affected by the toxic gas and smoke.’

"Mana... yes, the answer is obviously mana. All those who can use mana should gather at a point in the city and form a circle. Use the mana to form a natural barrier." If the enemies are killed, everyone can just flee the city, so they don’t even need to maintain the natural barrier for long, just until there are no more enemies.

"Soldiers, spread the mixture on the barricades, on the ground, and use arrows to place this mixture on the houses on the other side of the barricade." After an intense defense lasting several minutes, everything is ready.

"They’re arriving..." Fortunately, the soldiers had time to do everything.

"SOLDIERS, RUN TO JOIN THE OTHER PEOPLE!"

"Prepare flaming arrows..." Everything is ready. The Orcs have started to break the barricade, but it’s their mistake. The imps and goblins start climbing the barricade.

"3... 2... 1... FIRE!" Soon, several flaming arrows are fired, and the entire barricade area explodes as the fire spreads quickly, burning everything in its path. The goblins and imps are exterminated.

Some Orcs are still alive, but soon they’re writhing in pain as the fire melts their skin and the toxic gas invades their bodies and irritates their skin.

After some time, all the monsters are dead.

’That mana barrier won’t last...’

"All civilians and soldiers, evacuate through the east gate..." They start passing through the burned area, using water from the barrels to extinguish part of the fire while others maintain the barrier. After a few minutes, they flee the city.

’The city will probably be completely burned down.’ The city has no future, but everyone is alive, just a little injured and tired.

"Phew..." I let out a sigh of relief. The simulation was at least complicated.

"...Well done, Pandora. Your score will be 100%..."

I didn’t have power, so I had to use intelligence, and it was more difficult than I expected. Now we’ll move on to the last test, I just hope it’s easier.