Isekai Online Game Developer

Royal Military Strategy Officer Exam.

It was conducted in an atmosphere immensely different from other ‘Galaxy Craft’ tournaments.

The number of participants originally exceeded 1000.

However, narrowed down to 32 participants based on previous results and ladder scores until now.

Only the single winner would get to work as a Royal Military Strategist.

“Sera, show them your true skills!”

“Yorgo, you’re the last hope of our family!”

“If you fail again, you’ll have to enroll in the Academy!”

The cheers were so passionate it reminded one almost of an academy entrance exam.

As the main competition began, the audience had to exit.

Families and friends who followed the participants shouted their last encouragements as they left the examination hall.

“Then, I will start the exam.”

With the Knight Commander’s declaration, the atmosphere turned heavy.

The atmosphere was completely different from the lively game tournament filled with cheers.

This was the military of the imperial family.

A place to select strategists that would support the Empire.

The judging criteria could also be different.

“As you know, this is the selection for the new strategist of the imperial family. The judging criteria will not simply evaluate victory alone. We will assess whether you can take responsibility for the Empire’s military and how effective your strategy is. Consider this and prepare for the game.”

It’s not just about winning.

The capabilities demonstrated, the understanding of strategies, and how that applies to the Empire’s army.

Everything would be comprehensively evaluated to select the final strategist.

‘But why the hell did they decide to do this through a game? Crazy people.’

As Rai watched the Knight Commander passionately delivering his speech, he thought to himself.

Looking at the participants and knights listening solemnly to that speech, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘Most of these people probably never even attended the academy for military strategy, and we’re deciding this based on game skills?’

Rai was merely there to give advice on the selection process for the military strategists.

Honestly, the idea of selecting strategists through a game seemed absurd to him.

But it seemed like the people from the imperial family actually believed it to be valid.

For someone who played games simply as games in his past life, this was shocking.

In any case, the strategist selection exam had now begun.

“Ah! Johan player! Already—”

“……”

“Um, ahem. Sorry.”

Rai, sitting on the evaluation bench alongside the Knight Commander and the Military Minister, unconsciously raised his voice while providing commentary.

“Uh, um, Johan player has already won at the international tournament hosted by the royal family. Terra play is indeed an art. It definitely makes sense to have a Terra user formulate the imperial strategy.”

“Hmm… indeed.”

But this was a solemn strategist selection exam (being done through a game).

There was no need to raise his voice like during a tournament.

The real Rai focused hard on explaining the players’ actions and skills.

Thus, the exam proceeded to the final four.

It was a match between Kong Zeno and a Terra user.

“Ah…! What’s that!”

“What is going on? The participant Kong Zeno isn’t producing any drones.”

“4-drone, 4-drone rush!”

“4-drone?”

‘I have to win at all costs…!’

As soon as the match started, Kong Zeno moved his hands at an incredible speed to build a hatchery and stopped producing the worker unit, drones.

Instead, he created 6 Zerglings, the most basic unit of the Zerg species, and immediately attacked the enemy base.

“It seems to be a strategy to quickly exploit the weak Terra early on… or rather, a strategy to return quickly. All the resources gathered early are used to produce Zerglings for the attack!”

“Oh…! He’s targeting the opponent’s weakness.”

Rai was amazed.

Of course, the 4-drone strategy was effective in his previous life too.

However, it was a time when ‘Galaxy Craft’ had only recently been released into this world.

Moreover, using it in such a tense atmosphere for the first time is an incredibly difficult feat.

“Indeed, the boldness and skill are extraordinary. The fact that he came up with that strategy first is commendable.”

Although it would later become a strategy that everyone would follow as a standard.

The person who first discovered such an exploit strategy is a genius.

Knowing that, Rai evaluated Kong Zeno even more highly.

“That ended extremely quickly.”

“The final match is between Johan and Kong Zeno.”

“Indeed, the best players are left. While Kong Zeno is impressive, he has finished as a runner-up in every match.”

And just like that, Kong Zeno’s semifinal match was over in the blink of an eye.

Only the final remained.

Kong Zeno’s final opponent was Johan, whom he had previously lost to.

“Do you think Kong Zeno lacks skill, Riot?”

“Not at all. He’s incredibly skilled. However, the characteristics of the Zerg species, especially in the final, might simply not work in his favor. His skill itself isn’t lacking, but… I can’t say for certain.”

“Hmm…”

Before the final match, Kong Zeno was nervously contemplating his next strategy.

‘Under normal circumstances, I should have used the 4-drone strategy for the final match. But my semifinal opponent was too strong, so I had to use it early.’

Kong Zeno looked up at Johan.

Contrary to the highly tense Kong Zeno, Johan appeared relaxed.

Partly because he already had a victory against Kong Zeno.

‘Johan has probably prepared some kind of counter-strategy for the 4-drone strategy from that last match. Should I counter that by using a different strategy? But if I fail with the 4-drone strategy, it would be basically like losing already. My buildup would be nearly impossible after that. But with a average strategy, I can’t win against Johan’s Terra…’

What a tremendous dilemma.

What strategy should he use?

Using a standard strategy didn’t seem likely to defeat Johan.

But since the 4-drone strategy was already revealed, he would likely be ready for it.

After thinking for a while, Kong Zeno made his resolve.

‘I’ll go with the 4-drone.’

The 4-drone was an incredibly hard early strategy to defend against as the Terra race.

Besides, since he had only revealed it once, the chances of properly countering it were low even if Johan tried.

The 4-drone was the answer.

Kong Zeno chose to take the daring gamble.

“Let’s begin.”

And the final match began.

As soon as the match started, Kong Zeno swiftly moved his hands to construct a hatchery.

Now he just needed to produce Zerglings and launch the rush.

“Here comes the 4-drone strategy again.”

“Do you think it will be effective, Riot?”

“I’m not sure. Since it has already been revealed once, it depends on how Johan responds.”

Six Zerglings raced through the darkness of the map.

Kong Zeno nervously continued to produce Zerglings, his hands shaking.

And when the Zerglings reached Johan’s base…

“This isn’t going to end so quickly like the last match.”

“Looks like the Johan participant has figured out a way to respond.”

Kong Zeno continued sending Zerglings while destroying Johan’s workers.

But Johan steadfastly held on, constructing Barracks and Bunkers.

As time passed, Johan’s forces began to amass.

‘To come up with a response to the 4-drone strategy in such a short time. Johan is not ordinary either.’

At this point, Rai knew what would happen next.

If Kong Zeno’s 4-drone rush fails and it turns into a prolonged battle, he would definitely be at a disadvantage.

Johan quickly realized that point and endured the early rush using Barracks and Bunkers.

“I have no idea how this is going to turn out.”

‘No, this puts Kong Zeno at a disadvantage.’

After Johan endured the early game, the Knight Commander and the Military Minister noted that the game seemed likely to prolong.

But in reality, Kong Zeno was already in a situation that felt like defeat.

Rai silently observed the remaining match.

‘To think they’d withstand this…! If that’s the case…’

Kong Zeno was flustered after his initial rush was blocked.

He didn’t expect Johan to endure so tenaciously.

Though he started a little too late on the buildup, his speed was too slow compared to Johan.

‘Still, I have to win…!’

Under normal circumstances, Kong Zeno should have lost as he approached the mid-game after failing his early 4-drone strategy.

But Kong Zeno’s tenacity was no joke.

He somehow weathered through and dragged the game into the late stages.

He was still at a disadvantage, and defeat was expected.

Yet, Kong Zeno did not give up.

‘I don’t want to be a runner-up again. Now…!’

He no longer wanted to finish in second place.

He didn’t want to receive glares from his family for being a 2nd place finisher once more.

He wanted to show that he wasn’t just a deadbeat who only played games, but that he was useful too, to prove it.

Actually, Kong Zeno also wanted to show that he could do it. That he was a worthwhile person.

“Good job. Thank you for your efforts, Kong Zeno.”

But reality did not change.

In the end, Kong Zeno was defeated by Johan once more.

He earned second place.

Kong Zeno slumped down in his seat, unable to rise.

’22nd second place…’

After this failure, he had planned to quit and enter the Academy.

When it came down to it, it hurt so much.

The pain of never having received even a single first place reward after all that effort.

‘In war, there’s no such thing as second place.’

That saying suddenly came to mind.

In war, only those who survive until the end are remembered.

No one remembers the second place.

It was akin to his own situation.

“Thank you all for participating. You’re all incredible strategists. And as previously announced, we intend to select only one strategist.”

After everything concluded.

Kong Zeno wore a gloomy expression, while Johan looked ecstatic.

“Our newly selected strategist is,”

The Knight Commander’s mouth opened, and the final announcement was made.

The result was evident.

“…Kong Zeno of House Zeno.”

“…?!”

“Yay?”

Both of them were caught off guard.

Clearly, Johan had won the last game. It made sense for him to win.

“I mentioned earlier, we are not merely looking at the wins and losses but also assessing his qualities as a strategist.”

“But who remembers second place in a war! And Kong Zeno is a Zerg user. It only makes sense for me, a Terra user, to win…”

Shaking his head.

Excited Johan protested, but the Knight Commander shook his head in response.

“We cannot judge based solely on the race played. Also, the opponents we must fight in war will be humans. In that case, a user who knows how to counter Terra is more suitable.”

“That might be…”

“And to be frank, Johan, your luck in the matchups was good. On the other hand, Kong Zeno overcame numerous strong players to reach the finals. The strategies he showed throughout the process were truly impressive, while your strategies were what?”

Johan couldn’t continue speaking.

He had used orthodox methods. Perhaps he had employed strategies that were almost foolproof one after another to secure his victories.

Of course, those required skill and creativity, but so did Kong Zeno’s strategies.

“And above all, the most crucial point is the qualities of a leader. In the final match, Kong Zeno did not give up even when faced with a seemingly certain loss. If the roles were reversed, Johan, would you have been able to do that? From my view, it would seem you’d push your subordinates forward and flee.”

“……”

Johan couldn’t continue speaking.

Truthfully, the sense of responsibility between Johan and Kong Zeno was different.

If asked who would be more suitable as a leader to lead an army.

The answer would be Kong Zeno, who knows the weight of that responsibility.

“Come here, Kong Zeno.”

Kong Zeno walked toward the Knight Commander, still in shock.

“In war, there is no remembrance for second place. But know that second place is still an achievement.”

The second son of Count Zeno, who was 22 years old this year, having finished as a runner-up for the 22nd time.

In the future, he would look back on that day and say this.

“People say no one remembers second place, but if you come in second enough times, they do remember you.”

After that day, the imperial military strategies developed significantly thanks to Kong Zeno’s efforts.