I Realized It Was an Academy Game After 10 Years

A trap needs a bait worthy of it.

The prey isn’t stupid enough to jump into a trap, after all. To catch something, you need a bait that’s just as sweet.

“…But this bait is dangerous, not sweet.”

Well, as long as I’m playing the bait role, that’s fine. Sprinkling mushrooms that drive you into hallucinations is a bit much, but when it comes to survival, there’s no choice. If luck runs out, I might die right here. Can I afford to be picky about my methods? Morality and righteousness don’t mean anything if I’m not alive.

Those things are only considered by people anyway.

The target is still a person, but he’s strong enough that it’s questionable if he is indeed one. By the way, how long do I have to wait? Time has moved enough for the sun to noticeably shift, yet the forest remains silent.

Unable to bear the boredom, I fiddled with the blowgun in my hand. I made it using my skill while waiting for Renny to come down from the trees. It had been a while since I crafted anything, but my skill faithfully replicated the blowgun I used to enjoy. Of course, it was a simple enough structure, so that was to be expected…

“I’m not sure if I can shoot well since it’s been a while.”

Of course, it’s not that hard to hit a target. The blowgun has a short effective range, so as long as I shoot from close up, there shouldn’t be a problem hitting the poison dart unless it’s a moving target. The real issue is estimating how much the target will thrash about and how difficult it would be to subdue after being hit.

The opponent is that Renny.

Thinking back to the game days, I’m still grinding my teeth in frustration. She was the boss that chewed through countless players. The final boss, Karina, was laughably easy compared to Renny, who was dubbed the real final boss. I still remember. She was flipping around in her armor, grabbing me by the collar and slamming me against the wall, then kicking me through the wall—then there was that insane gimmick that countered counters.

“…Wouldn’t it be nice if I at least got abilities like that? I could’ve escaped ages ago.”

If I’m going to be possessed, throwing me a cheat-level ability wouldn’t be too much to ask, right? Hmm? At least drop me something that looks like an epic item.

How am I supposed to survive with skills that can only craft simple items and repair stuff?

…I’ve somehow endured for 10 years and built up my territory, but still.

While recalling those faded memories and wondering how much I’ve complained, I heard a very faint but distinct muttering.

“Karina-nim…”

Renny, who was obsessed with Karina, was walking into the trap while diligently picking and eating mushrooms. Up close, she looked so pitiful that I felt sympathy—half her armor was falling apart, her hair was frazzled, and dark circles surrounded her eyes.

How can she exhibit that monstrous strength in that state? Just how strong is she when she’s at her peak? I was curious, but I had no intention of experimenting with my own body. My life is valuable.

I carefully pushed a poison dart into the blowgun. If I accidentally pricked my finger, it wouldn’t be Renny falling asleep—it’d be me.

I should have no problem with Renny. I’ve smeared a generous amount of a strong anesthetic that makes even bears pass out with one hit, so there’s no way it wouldn’t work, right?

Holding the blowgun in my mouth, I waited for Renny to near the trap. She seemed so oblivious to the fact she was walking right into it, too busy stuffing mushrooms into her mouth like a squirrel. Watching her gobble up mushrooms that would’ve been lethal for anyone else, it was impressive, even awe-inspiring, but simultaneously terrifying.

How on earth can anyone think she’s the same kind of human as me? This Survival Academy hosts characters that could literally be called “superhumans,” but the fact that she still has this strength even while looking like she should have died long ago is absurd.

While some people are doing everything they can to survive…

…No, this isn’t the time to think about that. What’s important right now is catching Renny and taking her back to Karina. With Karina’s sacred magic, she could cure Renny from the mushroom’s effects.

“I…will…go and…save…you…”

Now?

I yanked the rope connected to the trap. The net hidden beneath the dirt sprang up, trapping Renny as she dangled in the air. Renny, seemingly flustered, thrashed about to escape the net, but I wouldn’t just stand by and let that happen. I immediately aimed the blowgun at the back of Renny’s neck and blew into it.

Fwhooosh- With a sound of air escaping, the poison dart flew through the air and stuck into Renny’s neck. It hit the vein perfectly; she should fall asleep soon. I carefully climbed down the tree, grabbing my shovel. Even if she’s still awake after this, I’d have to knock her out for everyone’s safety.

“…Me…”

Seeing Renny flailing between the nets in a miserable way tugged at my heart, so I smacked my own head in frustration.

I shouldn’t feel sympathetic.

She’s an opponent who could take my life at any moment.

I scratched my head to regain some composure, gazing up at Renny, whose movements were slowing down. Once she’s completely unconscious, I intended to return to my territory, binding her up tightly. But before that, I had to restrain her; at least until she’s fully cured, tying her limbs would make me feel safer.

Just as I was feeling relieved with how smoothly everything was going…

“You.”

“Huh? Me?”

Is she really talking to me? I turned back to Renny, surprised by her sudden words. Renny was glaring at me with clouded eyes. Was this her last-ditch effort, or…

It’s dangerous.

My survival instinct screamed a warning. I reflexively drew the blowgun and stepped back three paces. My body went cold. Yet, my heart raced wildly.

“I had a feeling things were going too smoothly…”

“You smell like Karina…You kidnapped her, didn’t you?”

Instead of answering, I loaded the blowgun with another poison dart and blew with all my might. The strong anesthetic-laden dart cut through the air but didn’t reach Renny’s neck and bounced away. She twisted at the last second, using her shoulder to block the shot—so even decaying heroes are still heroes, huh?

The net was gradually torn apart. The net, meticulously created to keep a bear stuck, was fraying before my eyes. I sighed while watching Renny break free and drop to the ground.

“Where…is…Karina-nim?”

Even with the anesthetic flowing through her system, seeing her get up was chilling. Rising in such a terrible state, almost like a corpse, made me wonder if Karina was that important to her. Perhaps she had consumed the mushrooms in a desperate search for her. This island has surprisingly little food available, and mushrooms must have been the most visible source of sustenance.

If she can’t survive, she can never meet Karina.

I gripped the shovel strapped to my back. I didn’t want to hold it at all, but if I was going to subdue her, I needed it.

Before she, dubbed a rabid dog, lunged at me, I planted the shovel into the ground and activated my skill.

“Crafting.”

A wall formed in front of me, made of dirt. It wasn’t very sturdy, but it should be able to withstand one attack…

“…Even bears wouldn’t break this easily.”

I stared in astonishment at Renny, who smashed through the wall with her bare fists. Bears couldn’t do that. She broke through the wall and reached for my neck; I rolled out of the way.

Renny, who had charged at me, couldn’t defy the laws of physics and crashed into the tree where I had just been.

Thud!

The shock generated was unbelievable for a mere human. Renny, now covered in splinters, glared at me with clouded eyes again. Those eyes were filled with a look that felt like she was staring at her enemy.

I shivered at her gaze.

It felt like a grim reaper was leisurely waiting with a scythe over my neck. If I wasn’t careful, today might just be my funeral.

I can’t die here.

How the heck have I managed to survive?

“Ha, yeah. Bring it on then.”

I took powdered anesthetic from the pouch on my shoulder and sprinkled it liberally on the shovel blade. Since my goal was subduing her, I couldn’t use the venom that could take her life in an instant.

Renny, who looked like she might not even be able to see straight, glowered as she watched me sprinkle the powder over the shovel.

The face of a predator stalking its prey.

The face of Renny from the game, who rolled around to protect the saintess during battles.

That face I managed to scrub away after 72 fights in the game.

It was a face I knew all too well.

I held the shovel tightly, feeling a mix of fear and exhilaration pulse through me.

---