I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life

part 41

“Now that the average skill level of the Sabers has increased, there’s no need to insist on active duty.”

Amidst the barrage of flashes and cameras, he spoke. Today’s announcement was a hot topic that had been debated for a long time.

Yet, when other reporters hesitated to ask questions, a young reporter shouted.

“Hasn’t the government already allocated Gates to the Academy?”

Metis smirked as if he had heard a ridiculous question.

“That’s barely a Level 3 Gate. If this policy passes, students will be able to participate up to a Level 5 Gate.”

Murmurs.

The conference room buzzed with Metis’s response.

“Let’s involve the students in the upper gates as well.”

It was always a tricky issue. With the advancement of education, students have become stronger than ever before.

However, there was a clear wall between the active Savers and the students.

The skills and experience gained from clearing gates were that wall. Metis believed that such regulations weakened the students.

“There are many students in the academy with skills above level 4. Perhaps some are even stronger than active professionals. It’s counterproductive to legally prevent such students from participating in the gates.”

Skills are acquired from the gates.

The more gates you clear, the more valuable experience you accumulate. Therefore, Metis advocated for transforming the three years students spend at the academy into something akin to three years of active duty.

“If we loosen the regulations, students will grow faster. It’s just about the government providing opportunities to those who seek them.”

“Casualties will occur!”

“That’s what it means to be a Saver.”

The conference room grew cold at Metis’s response. There were few who could argue against him on the topic of gates.

He was a master who had reached level 6 during his active days and a veteran who had cleared a hundred gates. Even for a journalist, it was difficult to challenge a national hero.

“Of course, as this is the first case, we intend to apply fair procedures and stringent criteria.”

Metis smiled kindly at the journalist and then pointed to the screen.

“This is the criterion. It’s a minimum safety measure.”

[Level 4 – Castle of Rebellion (Sector 4)]

[Level 4 – Dream of Fantasyland (Sector 2)]

[Level 4 – Mountain Spirit of the Forest (Sector 3)]

[Level 4 – City of Hunters (Sector 1)]

[…….]

Among the 60 gates displayed on the screen, there were occasionally some of level 5.

“What is this?”

Not only the journalist who asked the question but also those who understood the intention couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment.

“These are gates created for the test. They were made based on the information from cleared gates.”

“How can this be! Gates beyond level 4!”

The limit of virtual gates.

Or rather, it was the limit of technology. Until now, the amount of information from level 4 onwards was too much to create virtual gates with existing technology.

But that limit has been broken.

“This is the technological prowess of a joint effort between the government and IG. And this is the list of students selected through investigation.”

The names of first-year students appeared on the screen, and among them was Zien.

11 – Jian Russell

Considering all first-year students at the academy were subject to evaluation, it was quite a high ranking.

“Even among these, only a handful will take the test. As I mentioned earlier, it’s because this is the first case.”

“Then the students who passed through the virtual gate…”

Gulp, the reporter swallowed his saliva, his voice trailing off as Metis smiled gently.

“They will be deployed in actual combat.”

* * *

[Central Dome]

A massive stadium in Barsa with a seating capacity of 70,000.

The packed stadium had a separate VIP section.

Celia’s principal, Raymond.

Minister of Gate Management, Metis.

Among such distinguished authorities was also Selfis.

‘Metis… That haughty man personally contacted the academy… But why Jian of all people? I thought they would naturally select the top-ranked first-year, the number one.’

Selfis was puzzled.

Jian’s skills were indeed exceptional, but there was nothing notably strong in the perennial underachiever’s records.

‘I don’t know where he heard it from, but he does have an eye for talent.’

Curious as it might be, Selfis didn’t ask Jian directly. Participating in the gate as the first case among the first years was a great honor, but for now, crushing Celia in the competition was the priority.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Just then, fireworks exploded, and the man on the screen beamed brightly.

“Hello, it’s Venon! The broadcast has just started nationwide. I never thought I’d be the caster for G Channel. Haha, right, Mr. Bluema?”

The caster was none other than Venon, voted ‘The Most Handsome Saber.’

Although he appeared on broadcasts more often than at the gate, he was still a master who had reached the fifth rank in his twenties.

“Indeed. I never thought I’d be doing game commentary. Life is full of surprises.”

And the commentator was Bluema, the guild leader of the Extermination Broom.

“Haha, you’ve lived long enough already… Sorry. …Yes, just kidding.”

A sudden chill of murderous intent. Venon continued, sweating down his back.

“The moment I was speaking! 99 students are making their entrance! Who do you think is the winning team, Mr. Bluema?”

“Hmm, I’d like to pick Arcana.”

At Bluema’s words, Selfis nodded with a pleased smile.

However, these were not Bluma’s thoughts but a script from G Channel. A script designed to highlight the rivalry between Celia Academy and Arcana to gather viewers.

Venon flashed a refreshing smile.

“Ha-ha! Yes! Arcana is certainly renowned as a prestigious institution. But the team participating this time is especially famous, isn’t it?”

“It’s because of student A, who subdued Desire.”

Student A.

When the tower incident was reported, Jian’s name was kept confidential. The pseudonym that appeared in the article was Student A. The problem was that as the article gained popularity, the pseudonym became fixed. Now, searching for Desire brings up Student A as a related search term.

“That’s right. Student A! Perhaps that’s why. The competition hasn’t even started, and it’s already quite popular!”

As Venon said, the number of viewers displayed on the screen was overwhelmingly large.

[G Channel – 3.256 million]

[Twitcher – 710,000]

[Celia – Viewers 75,244]

[Streamer – Sebas]

[Arcana – Viewers 56,212]

[Streamer – Amy]

[…….]

A dominant lead by the first and second place.

Jian was a new star who gained great popularity as ‘Student A.’

Celia had the proud background of ‘the hero’s family.’

As a result, there was naturally a surge in viewers.

Excluding the main cam of G Channel, about 60,000 people were watching the broadcast from Jian’s perspective.

As the screen displaying the viewers switched to a close-up shot of the students, Venon picked up the microphone again.

“I guess I can’t help but want to root for Celia since I’m an alumnus, ha-ha!”

“Ho-ho, a battle of the prestigious? Then let’s introduce the player entries. Starting with Celia’s…….”

As Bluma introduced Lucia, cheers once again filled the stadium.

Jian VS Lucia.

Arcana VS Celia.

Sure enough, the anticipated scenario unfolded, and the principals of the two schools, Selfis and Raymond, were also having a staring contest from the VIP seats.

“Press him down properly, Raymond.”

“To get so heated before the event even starts… You’re still as childish as ever. Oh, and just so you know, the victory will be Celia’s. Ha-ha-ha.”

As the two principals’ eyes sparked with intensity, Venon urgently announced,

“The moment everyone has been waiting for, the event transfer, begins now!”

The portal emits light.

Passing through this light leads into the virtual gate created by the IG Group.

On the giant screens installed at each cardinal point of the stadium, text appeared.

[Map – Deserted Island]

Format – Survival

The last team standing wins.

[Rules]

1. All means are permitted.

2. Eliminated (dead) students will be expelled outside the portal.

3. Sponsored items will be given to the party leader.

4. Participants will receive a dedicated pocket.

“Oh! The deserted island in Zone 1! It’s the largest map, isn’t it?”

No sooner had Venon finished speaking than Bluema added more explanation.

“That’s right. Especially the Bridge of Despair is famously symbolic of battle survival, isn’t it?”

“I really dislike those who hide along the coast. Though this tournament uses magic tools instead of guns.”

While Bluema and Venon exchanged words, the countdown on the screen reached zero.

With the sound of the starting firework, Venon shouted with a smile,

“Let the game begin!”

Lined up in front of the portal, 99 students began to move one by one. The first to pass through the halo of light was Gian.

‘It begins.’

Eliminate the opponents, and survive.

This wasn’t just a rule for the event. It was the very life Gian had lived in his previous existence.

* * *

Five seconds into the game.

“Ah! Of all the luck to start!”

Amy’s voice already echoed in the soundproof booth.

Her monitor showed a dimly lit place, and Gian was there.

“Why does the first location have to be a dangerous abandoned hospital?!”

Amy, with her fingers covering her mouth.

Her face turned pale.

“The abandoned hospital… It’s the place where the most dropouts recognized by the game company occur. Surely, a battle won’t break out as soon as we start, right?”

-Exposition mode LOL

-This letter is from a time long past…

-The outlook from the start is fiercely grim

The flow was smooth as water.

Amy seized the opportunity as a crisis to stir the viewers’ expectations.

True to Amy’s explanation, the abandoned hospital was notorious for its danger.

Normally, participants are evenly spread out, but in the three-story abandoned hospital, one player is placed on each floor, totaling three players.

“Is it bad luck? Or good luck?”

-Shock!! The prestigious academy turned into a three-minute curry…

-Showing off skills right at the start?

-Does it make sense that a student blocked Desire? The bubble will soon burst 11111

Opinions of winning and losing clashed pervasively. In truth, the viewers didn’t care much about the outcome.

– Either way, it’s fun.

– But it’s funnier if they lose, right?

– If Arcana is eliminated quickly, just go watch Celia haha

For them, fun was all that mattered.

* * *

[Starting Location: Deserted Island – Abandoned Hospital]