Chapter 39: A lovely seven days… of hell.

Thirty-nine… That's the total number of kids who survived that onslaught. Aside from me and Yamada who is basically cheating due to both of my skill and his experience, thirty-seven kids who have zero practical experience survived that hell hole. Looking around I saw the kids who now have a hardened look I felt two different stares pointed at the three lunatics (me, Yamada, and no. 1000).

A blond boy who would surely grow up as an ikemen (Go and explode!), no. 1 who had announced moments ago that he won't lose. He is also marked as a lunatic by the people around us but the boy somehow has a filter in his brain ignoring those whispers directed on him. He had that steadfast eyes earning the praise of a certain Heroic Spirit inside me. He kept looking at us with that look of wanting to be a H*kage that I can't help to wince and ignore the guy.

The other one perhaps is actually the most normal type of stare directed on us…I think? It came from the girl whose number name (?) is no. 17. She is practically looking at us like looking at some sort of… specimen? No matter how she stares I can only get the impression like she wanted to dissect us and examine how our brain works which is tad bit normal considering how we completed that crazy arsed morning greeting (The sun is not even up yet!).

I don't want to spell how this kids succeeded in surviving that onslaught akin to an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm but I can summarize it in a few sentences. No. 1 did it in our style but more into dodging than parrying. His survival instincts aside, he dodged those things akin to a certain unlucky bastard who made a harem in a certain city of Espers and Magicians running around. I even though if he has that invisible yet invincible armor those frail main characters flaunt around but I can say he have already a strong basic foundation so I can't retort much. The others aside from trying to emulate our feats but was stopped by the wise (evil) no. 17 who practically did a sane route, sticking to each other and maintained a barrier strong and long lasting enough to cross over.

I did not want to dwell how those eliminated kids somehow survived being crushed by those things but all I can say I pray for their dear young souls to not be traumatized when normal rain falls.

"Congratulations for surviving the infamous Empire bombardment" Came the voice of our dear instructor who I can't wait to kill myself. To use this bombardment as a test to kids is straight out insane! Still it's somewhat logical to be used to it I guess if this evil organization that is an enemy of the biggest empire in this continent…

[No! Snap out of it bozu! Don't be corrupted!] Came the voice of Lancer. F-for that devil of an instructor to influence me quickly! As expected of an evil organization!

"Since you survived that highly-infamous bombardment, a normal one should be easy?" Came the cold voice of the instructor.

Snapping me out of reverie I gradually noticed the weird silence from the clamoring kids, I noticed the ever growing mana above and looked up just in time to see beautiful lights flashing. I heard the voice of that demon- no demon king personified trickle into my poor ear.

"Now, splendid trainees that survived the Empire's magic bombardment, this time it's the organization's favorite magic bombardment. Ah, we are controlling it so you won't die if you get hit, but you will still die if you keep on getting hit, so be careful!" That bastards voice continued to drawl on but I was already too busy in dodging the onslaught of different kinds of attacks that I felt like Goldy is above trying to chew me totally. But his next sentence truly turned my despair into eleven.

"Now, then. Shall we play for just a week?" His cold voice sentencing us akin to King Hassan himself is knocking my door. I can't hold the curse going to pull out of my mouth so as courtesy and basic decency lets shout it at the Reality Marble.

[YOU FREAKING BASTARD! I'LL SURELLY KILL YOU!!] My voice echoing around totally disturbed the Reality Marble itself. I did not notice it, nor the three tenants in my body but a sudden change occurred in my still blank Reality Marble. One we did not expect to happen…

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A total of 10080 seconds, 168 minutes, 7 days, a whole damn week you name it. The crazy bombardment did not stop. A grand total of thirty-nine kids now turned into five who is already wearing rag clothes, with our damn get up and with our looks we would surely look like orphaned kids who was abandoned in a war zone.

Strictly speaking the place that was trashed for a whole week can now be called a war zone, with cracked boulders, scorched and melted rocks, ice crystals, etc. It is way scarier than something a nuclear bomb dropping in a war. If you ignore the radiation and gore that will happen if you get exposed this place is more akin to a proper war zone than a single crater a nuclear bomb exploding with almost everything intact.

The whole place turned into a place akin to that famous survival games genre that was famous in our world recently. But instead of us shooting at each other while foraging weapons lying around it was more like nature itself is in her post-natal fits throwing everything at us. We were forced to dug trenches, make bases, the craziest thing is foraging supplies.

We really need to get exposed in all our glory just to get the damn meal we need, for this guy's drop magic protected ready-to eat food (A bag of jerky and water sometimes vegetables) akin to a supply drop but with all the bombardment ongoing it is hard to get especially if it's somehow the damn place is more focused than normal. Except to the food already placed somewhere hidden we got no choice sometimes but to get them. We even learned the skill of eating quickly on the move akin to a dine and dash without upsetting our stomach.

But as they said man's greatest enemy is man itself, no. 17 was really scary. She practically used people efficiently and survived those onslaughts while getting enough food to eat. Especially if she can't block nor dodge a projectile… let's just say she gets the nearest durable shield or a brighter target without getting to be noticed. I can only pray to those kids kicked out this way especially no. 27-san… he won't be missed. He was a bit of a prick.

No. 1000 was practically a cockroach. She danced in the middle of heavy fire without a wound and always gets the grub. She even has high sensitivities akin to animals that even if the attack was seconds before being launched she is already in the other side busy digging trenches. She was praised by Lancer that if she were to ascend to the Throne she will surely have a high rank in Instinct.

No. 1 is more to the main character type. The guy started doing feats while breaking his limits and survived a lot through sheer tenacity and sometimes luck. Well in the last day he nearly lost his balls.

In those seven days of heavy rain thirty kids survived for five days. Thirty lovable cute kids survived those rain of terror that you would even question why the mortality rate is not 100%. The five other kids were eliminated due to the strange silent attacks in the final day.

I was nearly out at that time because I was in the open in that split second and the first victim (?), it was so silent that there were no changes in the wind nor killing intent to be felt that even my Protection from Arrows skill barely registered the attack merely a few inches away from me. Luckily I managed to block in time because the rusty sword I had was merely poised near my lower torso. I don't want to tell where the first shot was targeting but it was dangerous in many ways. I just want to question who the idiot suddenly screamed 'Sniper!' that made me suddenly move out of instinct.

Yamada at those 7 days of hell started to be pale and practically having shivering bouts in those few days. When my curiosity got me I eavesdropped in his muttering and all I got was "Master… don't throw me…there..." in a repeated garbled words afraid, I was forced to knock him out once when it was nearly out of hand.

Later in the future Zelretch will give us a copy of the Final Evaluation we got in those 7 days.

-Final Evaluation-

No. 1 – Lunatic. Very skilled with a sword but doesn't seem on the right state of mind. Seems to have potential for magic but may be dangerous if though. Giving dangerous glances at no. 50, no. 950 and no. 1000. Treat with caution.

No. 17 – Superior Magical Talent. Potential as both a magician and sage. Has a habit of using her comrades as chess pieces. While her magic usage is splendid, her use of people is even better. Confirmed reports of her sending her comrades to the expected snipe locations. Shows extreme talent as a villain.

No. 50 – Deranged Martial Artist. Very skilled in martial arts but also doesn't seem on the right mind. Has incredible senses even in the most non-optimal state of mind can survive in a continues onslaught. Seemed to have experienced the Great War and the Empire-Style Bombardment before and was traumatized. Has some history with No. 950. Avoid sending to missions that deals with anything to bombardments.

No. 950 – Mad Dog. Proficient in handling weapons especially a spear, has abilities akin to a seasoned warrior. Seems to have some history with No. 50 and only mental support of No. 50. Act's like a crazy mutt when angered and can somehow dodge any projectiles if registered. Tends to act on instinct when endangered. Needs to be tied to a leash to handle properly.

No. 1000 – Lunatic. Survival King.

Doesn't feel like she'll die no matter where you send her. There is a risk of betrayal if there is a skilled chef with the enemy, hence a fitting individual for missions in deserts or wastelands.

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Extra:

Yamada's trauma

"M-master can we rest?" – Yamada

"Hmmm? You want to rest? – ???

"*nods*

"Then rest there! *kicks Yamada to a pit full of hungry gigantic ants*." – ???

"Damn you master!" – ???

"Seems you still have energy to stay awake huh~ then let's do this then~" – ???

"Dropping fireballs is cheating master!" – Yamada

"Zip it this is merely the third ant hill for the day go and finish it. Lee Hyun go and join your First Brother you think you can escape by being silent?" – ???

"E–!" – Lee Hyun