How to Survive at the Academy

Chapter 2: 10 Days Before School Starts

Chapter 2: 10 Days Before School Starts

Silvenia Academy was more like a bustling city rather than a school.

Founded on the entire Acken Island southwest of the kingdom, the school was so massive that even alumni were yet to explore the whole campus.

But what did that mean?

It meant one could encounter anything walking around the extensive school grounds.

The students’ heavy gazes followed me as I walked, and I ended up at an undeveloped forest somewhere northwest of the island.

Most school facilities were located in the southeast while commercial and services facilities were in the southwest. The island used to only have one bridge connecting both sides, the buildings naturally developing around it.

I eventually arrived at the northeastern edge of the island after walking the whole afternoon. My legs were so sore I had to sit on a tree stump to rest.

After walking half the day, I was able to organize my thoughts and came to a conclusion.

"First things first. I'm not leaving this island."

There's no helping it. I was now Ed Rothstaylor. I had to find a way to adapt and live somehow.

Silvenia Academy received the highest praise among the prestigious academies in the kingdom. It's a school where noble families desperately aim to enroll their children, a school that required either overwhelming talent or wealth.

Obtaining a Silvenia diploma would enable me to make a living. I needed to bear through this and obtain mine. Nothing is as valuable in this difficult and unpredictable world.

Besides, leaving the academy would be the same as throwing my life away.

I had played through ‘Silvenia’s Failed Swordmaster’ a few times already.

If Ed Rothstaylor just got expelled, that meant the story had just begun.

This meant I’m in a position where I knew most of the things that would happen in the academy. As long as I’m here, I’ll be able to use my knowledge of the game to my advantage.

I saw no reason for me to go out into the unknown world outside.

The sun was setting before I knew it.

Sat alone on a tree stump in a deserted forest, I let out another deep sigh and wiped my face.

“Let’s see…”

I put the two wooden suitcases on the grass and opened them.

They were full of clothes and old textbooks. There were some magic tools but since their output was adjusted for students, they weren’t very useful.

Despite having lived in such an extravagant room, this was everything I owned. What an empty life…

Even though I got kicked out of my family, at least I haven’t been expelled from the academy yet.

Although it could already be considered an expulsion, given I won’t be able to afford the enormous tuition without my family’s support. Thankfully, my tuition had already been paid until the next semester.

If I could endure until then and get a scholarship or find a way to earn money, I would still be able to attend the academy.

However, I needed to be mindful of my time limit. I only had until next semester to figure things out.

“The scenery sure is beautiful…”

I found a stream after walking a bit more. It flowed from the other side of the island all the way here. I let myself enjoy the beautiful forest bathed in moonlight, quiet with only the sound of crickets.

But this wasn’t the time to be sentimental. I’ll starve to death at this rate.

There were a lot of things I needed to live a good life.

I tore a twig off a tree and wrote on the ground.

Goal = Graduation

My goal was to graduate.

Ed Rothstaylor is currently in his second year. That leaves me six more semesters until graduation.

The tuition fee for one semester was about 20 gold coins, an amount enough to buy a whole carriage covered in gold.

But that price is cheap compared to all the other expenses.

Most of the students stayed in luxury dormitories, only ate fine-dining meals, and only used high-class magic equipment, all while bringing two to three servants with them.

Taking all of that into account, the price of a gold-plated carriage doesn’t seem so expensive in perspective.

I didn’t know what to do about my tuition fees, nor about obtaining a scholarship. With my lackluster skills, it’d be hard enough trying not to fail, let alone qualify for one.

It makes no sense why Ed had such an arrogant personality given his lack of skill.

But it was a question not even worth asking. He was just a character at the beginning of the game, written for the protagonist to win against.

Anyhow, the most important thing right now was to sort out the things I needed to live and survive.

The important trinity of food, clothing, and shelter.

I had clothes. I didn’t know if I would be able to do my laundry but I should be able to avoid looking like a beggar for a week.

Food and shelter were my problems. I had nowhere to sleep and nothing to eat tonight.

“Sigh…”

No! I shook my head and slapped my cheeks.

“Nothing will change if all I do is sigh!”

I clenched my teeth, stood up, and began stretching. First, my hips, then my legs, then a full set of the national gymnastic routine, finishing off with a set of jumping exercises and pushups.

The sound of my heavy breathing refreshed my body and mind.

Because the entrance exam had already taken place, there shouldn’t be much time left until the semester starts. If I were to guess, there were probably only ten days left.

The first thing I needed to do was make a livable environment so I could continue going to the academy. I could build something in ten days.

I should build a place I could live in. There was a pleasant cool spring breeze blowing so I could sleep out in the open if I really needed to but… I didn’t know if I would be able to sleep on the ground.

Should I make a simple tent?

I don’t need to go out of my way to make a proper tent. A simple shelter shouldn’t be all that hard. If I were to use thick tree trunks as supports and cover them with a canopy, it should become somewhat of a roofed shelter.

The forest in the northeastern part of Acken Island was quite well preserved.

Spotting a spirit meant the place had yet to be touched by humans.

There were many tree trunks that could be used to support the canopy in the area.

“I should at least be moving while thinking.”

I don’t have the luxury of only thinking. I should also be working as well.

Staring at my reflection on the stream, I focused on my eyes once again.

* * *

Translator - Plumper

Proofreader - kianianian

* * *

[Name: Ed Rothstaylor]

Gender: Male

Age: 17

School Year: 2nd

Species: Human

Achievements: None

Vitality: 3

Intelligence: 4

Dexterity: 7

Willpower: 7

Luck: 6

Combat Skills Details ?

Magic Skills Details ?

Life Skills Details ?

Alchemy Skills Details ?

Ignoring my embarrassing stats, I focused on the details of my Magic Skills.

[Magic Skills Details]

Grade: Low-grade Magician

Specialized Field: Elements

Common Magic:

? Fast Casting Level 1

? Mana Sense Level 1

Fire Element Magic:

? Ignite Level 2

Wind Element Magic:

? Wind Blade Level 1

Magicians specializing in Elements only have two basic magic spells.

Furthermore, first year elemental-based magicians were required to choose two elements to specialize in. Ed looked to have chosen fire and wind, but seeing as he hardly trained even the most basics of his spells, he really was lazy.

Whatever. At least I was able to check that I had magic spells I could use.

I felt the mana in my body the deeper I went into the forest. Of course, compared to the protagonist’s overflowing amount of mama, mine was infinitely weaker. At least it enabled me to cut down these moderately sized tree trunks.

I used Wind Blade to cut the branches down to a manageable size. There would be no point if I couldn’t carry them back.

After cutting through five to six tree trunks, I was already out of breath. Just like I expected, this body couldn’t handle mana freely. I desperately needed to train.

“Seriously. What a freaking pain.”

I spat on the ground and caught my breath for a moment, then took the cut branches to where there is sunlight.

The frames kept slipping off the ground because the strength wasn’t balanced. This wasn’t working. It would be better to dig out holes to put down the foundations.

After digging out the holes and setting up the four foundations, I angled them to meet in the middle.

It wasn’t an easy task. I only had two hands for the four support beams. Thankfully, I was able to compensate by holding the pieces of wood with my head and shoulder.

I tied the pieces of wood together where they met with a leather belt. It was from a high-class tunic I found in my bag. I then used the last piece of wood as a stake through the middle, digging it into the ground to make sure the whole thing won’t fall over.

Although a bit lame and unstable, the frame of my shelter was completed. It wasn’t pretty. The branches didn’t exactly meet in the middle, and because I didn’t calculate anything, the resulting height was lower than I anticipated.

That said, once I covered this with a canopy, it should be good enough to spend the night in.

I considered using some of my clothes to cover the top but ultimately decided against it.

Not only would I need to use four to five pieces to cover the whole frame, but it would also mean sacrificing clothes I would wear starting tomorrow. I didn’t want to do that.

Besides, these clothes were of high quality. I may even be able to sell them. I didn’t want to just use them as a roof.

To compromise, I decided to tie two pieces of clothes together and laid them on the ground. I couldn’t just sleep on the dirt.

What should I use to cover my shelter with then? No matter how much I thought about it, I still didn’t know what to do. I eventually went back into the forest and brought back tree branches with long and wide leaves.

The whole process took almost an hour.

And another hour to cover my shelter with the branches.

“Phew…. Ha… This is exhausting.”

Finally done, I stretched my back and wiped my sweat off. It was hard work but at least it’s now over.

In front of me was a shelter I could lay down in. I felt a sense of accomplishment at the feat.

? Production completed. Production skills have increased. ?

? The list of completed products has been updated. ?

The message popped up.

“Hm?”

I tilted my head, puzzled. I went to the stream and focused on my eyes.

The window that materialized wasn’t the usual long information window. Instead, it was different.

[Life Skills Details]

Grade: Beginner Craftsmen

Specialized Fields: None

? Handicraft Level 4

? Design Level 1

? Collecting Skills Level 1

“Oh? What’s this?”

It seemed like Ed was someone with a talent for production rather than magic. It made sense, I guess, given how his Dexterity was better than his Intelligence and Vitality.

[Newly Crafted Product]

Simple Wooden Shelter

A shelter where you can temporarily rest.

It’s of low-grade quality and is quite shabby.

If you don’t maintain it, its duration won’t last long.

Production Difficulty Level: ?????

The window was a welcome sight. I didn’t know the production system could be activated like this.

If I were to manage my production proficiency, then wouldn’t it be possible for me to do the same in the other areas? That’s great news.

Thinking about it, it’s possible to overcome my current situation after all.

I’m too tired right now, however, and am mentally at my limit.

I needed a break.

I went and laid down in my completed shelter, listening to the buzz of nature all around me.

Darkness arrived. Unable to see anything, I closed my eyes and felt myself slowly drifting off to sleep.

I knew I was in a difficult situation, left with so many things to resolve.

But for now, I needed to sleep. Sleep first, then I will face tomorrow.

And tomorrow, after sunrise, I will find a long-term plan to survive in this academy.