I Became an Illegal Cheat User

37 – How to Break the Fortress (1)

The way to the Alchemy Workshop.

I was currently chatting amicably with the taxi driver.

Of course, I didn’t initiate the conversation; it was a one-sided inquiry from the taxi driver.

“…So, next year’s exam might be easier, huh?”

“It could be. But why do you ask? Planning to take the test next year?”

“Oh, no. My daughter turns twenty next year, and she’s unsure about which academy to attend. That’s why I’m asking.”

“I see.”

Honestly, I wanted to say that Arena Academy is not a good choice.

After all, Arena Academy has been experiencing incidents worse than the recent rupture terror.

But how can I suggest applying to such an academy?

I decided to keep my words to myself for the sake of someone who might become my junior.

However, contrary to my feelings,

“…Hey, student. Can I ask you something?”

It seems the driver has made up his mind on where to advise his daughter to apply.

“If my daughter gets into Arena Academy, could you look out for her a bit? She’s a bit reserved and all.”

Well…, it seems unlikely that I can look out for her.

Considering the incidents that will unfold, it will be difficult to spot someone who might become a junior, even if I want to help.

Still, I can’t outright say I can’t…

“Sure, why not.”

“Oh, really? Thanks, appreciate it.”

And though it’s just a verbal promise, if we happen to meet, I will genuinely watch out for her.

Entering the academy and meeting amidst all those incidents means she’s a lead character or someone close to it.

“So, what’s your daughter’s name?”

But it seems our fates aren’t entwined.

“Wiiiiiiing!”

Suddenly, the alarm siren blares.

The taxi driver, about to mention his daughter’s name, slams the brakes, startled.

Screeech!

The tearing sound from the abrupt stop echoes in all directions.

Not only the taxi I’m in but all the surrounding cars come to a halt.

Certainly, there were collisions due to the sudden stops, but people paid no attention to that.

In this world, the sound of sirens means that lives are in danger.

Wiiiiing!

Wiiiiiiiiing!

– Disaster alert! Disaster alert!

– Currently, a rift is occurring on Pension Street! Citizens, please evacuate swiftly according to the rift evacuation manual! I repeat! Currently, on Pension Street…

Ah, I’m almost at Pension Street!

Why does it have to be a rift there of all places!

I wanted to scream in frustration at the sudden annoyance, but now I have to yell for a different reason.

“Sir Knight! Please get out of here quickly!”

“What’s it to a student?”

“What indeed.”

I unbuckled my safety belt and opened my inventory.

Starting with my tactical vest, I began to equip myself with the gear.

“I have to go save people.”

Arena Academy Rule #1:

From the moment a student enters the academy, they bear the title of ‘aspiring hero.’

Therefore, in times of disaster, nearby students are obligated to act as ‘heroes.’

So, from now on, I must head towards where the rift has occurred.

“…Be careful.”

Eventually, the taxi driver sped off in the opposite direction of the rift area without even mentioning his daughter’s name.

“Phew.”

After witnessing that, I sighed deeply as I got out of the taxi.

“Did I try to do too much today for no reason?”

I could have taken a break tomorrow anyway, so why did I push myself today?

And though I anticipated getting a bit busier, I never imagined it’d be this much.

But the situation has already unfolded, and I… as a student turned hero, must act.

So, regrets end here.

Click.

I loaded live ammunition into the rifle.

Yesterday was a real battle, but today it’s a different kind of real.

And now, with bullets instead of rubber pellets, I have to sharpen my mind even more.

With determination, I went against the direction people were running.

“Screaaam!”

“It’s a rift! Run!”

“Save me! Save…!”

I stepped into the rift.

&

Random Encounter.

A phenomenon where chance situations occur randomly.

Just as many games introduced numerous variables through this method.

The ‘Arena Academy’ I played also adopted this approach, creating many variables.

Of course, random encounters are not necessarily game elements; they can happen in reality.

The situation I’m facing right now, however, is impossible unless it’s one of the wicked random encounters in ‘Arena Academy.’

After all, there was magical energy flowing where I was transported.

It means this is the corrupt underworld world.

“Yesterday, it could be because of the story, but…”

Now, another abnormal rift.

Is there anyone as unlucky as me?

I sighed deeply and looked around.

First…, judging by the gently undulating and expansive terrain, this seems to be a plateau.

Seeing a fortress in the distance, this place is…, a medieval theme.

“Medieval theme…, at least people might be safer here.”

Normally, creatures in the underworld are hostile to humans, but not in this medieval theme.

Medieval theme.

This place also has a different name, just like the modern theme.

It’s called the ‘Chess’ theme.

Why is it called that? Because the creatures here, like pieces on a chessboard, are divided into black and white, two factions.

And they take the form of pawns, knights, and queens.

And as expected, the two factions are in a divided state and hostile towards each other.

The black faction, much like the usual two-faced world, is hostile towards humans.

The white faction, on the other hand, is friendly towards humans.

Although if we were to attack first, the white faction would also turn hostile, but since the theme of this place is so well-known and mentioned in the rift literature, such incidents rarely happen.

But what if someone were to provoke the white faction and cause harm?

Well, what can you do?

It’s their fault, they should resolve it themselves.

I have no reason to be concerned about that.

Anyway, what I need to do now is

to go to the fortress I can see in the distance and confirm the faction.

If it’s the white faction, I can join and offer assistance.

If it’s the black faction, I can just wipe them out.

Of course, the difficulty of this place’s theme is high.

Golems, due to their high defense and self-regeneration abilities, are tough opponents.

Furthermore, since the Medieval theme of this place revolves around faction fights, there are many of them.

But if my teleportation skill were still at grade F, it would be different, as it has been upgraded to grade D, and the range has increased to 15m.

Even if I were to take the initiative in a non-linear attack, to me, the golems are merely easy opponents.

Literally, it means that “mass production” is possible here.

But I still shouldn’t let my guard down.

That’s only natural since my health points are only at a maximum of “3”.

No matter how mass production is possible, I am still a weakling who could easily die with a single stab.

Of course, I have no intention of allowing attacks, but… it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.

As I thought about it, I realized that the fortress in the distance was suddenly close.

Even though my health is low, agility is the highest among my physical abilities.

Whether it’s due to the effect of the talent “swift body movement” or not, I quickly approached the fortress.

And as I got closer to the fortress, I noticed something.

This fortress right now.

Bang, Kwaang! Bang!

A fierce battle was taking place.

So, upon closer inspection.

The defenders were in the black faction, and the attackers were in the white faction.

That means… there’s a sub-core in that fortress.

Why am I so sure there’s a sub-core there?

Since I entered the rift, there’s been a magical fog lingering around.

“…Look at that, the flow of magic.”

The fortress is practically overflowing with magic, almost like a demon king’s stronghold.

“Ugh… If it weren’t for the fallen one, we could just defeat the queen of the black faction and break the main core.”

Thanks to the rift tainted by the fallen one, the procedure to destroy the rift has become complicated.

If in the previous modern theme, there was a sub-core somewhere in the cardinal directions.

In this medieval theme, sub-cores are scattered throughout the hidden corners of the world.

Still, it’s relatively easy to find the sub-core in the black faction.

After destroying the four sub-cores, it’s not easy to locate and destroy the main core.

This is because, regardless of the rift anomaly, the place where the main core is located is the stronghold of the black faction, where the queen resides.

“…But I’m probably not the only one here.”

Since a rift occurred in the city, the Superhuman Association must have dispatched heroes.

So, until they arrive, I just need to do what I have to do.

– Never retreat!

– Fight to the end, even if everything is destroyed!

– For our queen!

Boom, crash!

Helping the currently struggling white faction to capture the fortress.

And after destroying the sub-core, gathering the people who must be somewhere around here.

That’s my job for now.

I raised my body, which had been lying low for stealth.

And, with a kick to the ground, I leaped forward.

Clank.

I aimed at the black soldier just before destroying the white one.

Even though the penalty for using firearms triggered due to my war fatigue.

It doesn’t matter.

My gaze is my aim.

Bang─!

The thunderous gunfire from the discharge echoes across the battlefield like lightning.

Simultaneously, bullets propelled along with flames from the muzzle charge towards the target.

Boom!

The body of the black-clad soldier, hit in the head by a bullet, recoils backward.

Naturally, since the golem’s body is made of stone, it couldn’t sustain significant damage.

But the black soldier’s head was slightly damaged.

If it were not real bullets but rubber bullets, it would have been impossible.

Indeed, it’s worth spending money.

However, ironically.

Destroying the black soldier.

It wasn’t my purchased bullets.

Ping!

‘Transmission.’

Supplies taken from the armory.

Quaaang─!

It was a grenade.