Chapter 33: Border Run Rules

The Dean of the University of Saint Benevolent delivered his speech. Work hard, live free, and aim to reach higher realms of cultivation were the core ideas that he wanted the participants to learn.

Yoshino Aruven had no time to remember the exact speech word per word. He reckoned, none of the other 3,000 participants were also paying attention to that anyway.

The emcee then explained the rules of the event. This was where everyone became all ears.

- 1. The Border Run will be held inside an artificial dungeon.

The pioneers had developed a technology to produce an artificially made dungeon. This was one of their discoveries after exploring a part of the transmigrated world.

They then distributed this technology to the universities around the human territory. In order to allow the succeeding generations to learn in a safe yet immersive training grounds.

This had then became one of the major features offered by the Meister Curriculum. Since the usage of the technology was restricted by the leading powers. Only authorized institutions were allowed to produce these artificially-made dungeons.

- Participants were to find the entrance themselves.

Yoshino nodded upon hearing the rest of the first rule.

This was to be expected, he thought. How could the participants be even considered as qualified to enter the Inner University if they could not even find the entrance of a simple dungeon.

He then glanced at his teammates. They seemed to have accepted this rule as well. Even Benjo Roxas nodded in agreement.

- 2. The students will be considered passed if they reach the dungeon exit located at the Inner Part of the university.

There were actually some dungeons in the transmigrated world that had exits which lead to a different location. They were often called as Dimensional Passage-type Dungeons.

The artificial training ground prepared for this event falls into this category as well.

"Haha, I bet there would be a bon fire prepared at the end of this passage. A celebration to all who would pass this challenge."

Roxas laughed after hearing the second rule. This seemed to have piqued the interest of Alshura Soura. She asked,

"Bon Fire? Would they be serving barbecue on the celebration as well?"

"Probably. But only for those who do pass."

Her eyes glittered upon hearing the merchant's reply. She became more motivated into clearing the event. Was it because she was a fire mage? Does bon fires had that much appeal to her? Or was it the barbecue?

Yoshino wanted to ask these questions. But the emcee had announced the third rule. They had to listen to it now.

- 3. Any participant who faints or get knocked down inside the dungeon shall be disqualified immediately.

"How could they monitor who gets knocked down from this crowd?"

Soura tilted her head she asked. Yoshino was about to answer this. But Steven O was faster.

"Thine identification cards. Special microchip technology was installed onto them."

"You mean to say these student ids have monitoring devices on them?"

"Only to check our vitals and location. There's no need to feel alarmed on being under surveillance. Although Miss Soura's id had little more 'function' installed to it."

Roxas answered this time. He seemed to imply that he knew about the restrictions given to Soura.

This should not be case because the id was handed to Yoshino by the Office of Student Admission the other day. This meant that the student id was not provided by the mage-merchant.

Yet he hinted that he was aware of it. His information network was not to be taken lightly.

"Huu, this could probably gauge the Tier of the skills I would cast."

Soura nodded as if she understood something. She seemed like she was not bothered by this issue though. Perhaps this was for the better.

- 4. Capital crimes such as murder, theft, extortion and the likes are prohibited inside the dungeon.

"Heard that Roxas? Extortion is not allowed."

"Haha, there's no such thing. You had agreed to this two days ago."

Yoshino was able to comment this time. But the merchant was able to counter the argument.

- 5. Any resources found inside the artificial dungeon is free to be claimed.

"Roxas! Could this be the reason why you insisted on participating in this event?"

"Obviously."

Yoshino finally realized the merchant's goal. And the confirmation only irked him more.

Regardless, artificial dungeons could also be designed to produce valuable resources. This was the reason why the leading powers had restricted the usage of this technology.

On the wrong hands, this could cause an overflow of materials in the market. This might sound good at first but it would actually upset the economy.

Humanity had to survive. But this would not be possible without a functioning trade system.

- However, resources found by two or more participants could be fought over an official duel.

Soura asked after hearing the rest of the fifth rule. Roxas was happy to answer this.

"What's with this ruling?"

"Haha, to make the event more challenging I'd say."

"And the reason why you needed 'bodyguards'."

Yoshino added to the conversation. This was then obviously answered by the word 'obviously'.

There was no such thing as free lunch. The students would also have to work hard to obtain their desired resources.

In addition, this was to test the participants on their decision-making. How they would balance their immediate gains to their long-term profit of qualifying to the Inner University.

- 6. The time limit for this event is until 9:00 p.m. Any student who is unable to reach the finish line at that time will be marked as failed.

"So we only have thirteen hours to clear this event."

"Hawu, thirteen hours more before the barbecue~"

Yoshino said upon hearing the last ruling. Soura replied enthusiastically. The prospect of barbecue had raised her spirits. It was the food after all.

O seemed excited with this prospect as well. Yoshino could swear that he even heard him say "hawu~" as well. Alas, there was no recorded scene to prove this.

Even Roxas seemed to have said "hawu~". But again no recorded scene can be used as a proof here. And he was probably looking forward to something else entirely.

Anyway, everyone in the open field area grew excited. The time was about to reach 8:00 a.m.

The emcee was about to announce the start of the event. However the Dean took the microphone again. He declared,

"Sad to say, the number of participants this time is too high. We have only prepared an artificial dungeon that could accommodate up to two thousand students. The time is 7:55 a.m. You have five minutes to discuss what you have to do."

Everyone fell silent after hearing this. A few seconds later, the participants began to talk to each other.

Amidst the murmurs in the crowd, Yoshino's team had also began discussing.

"I told you it was too high!"

"It's a lie! It's got to be! The Border Run three years ago had 5,000 participants. And they were all able to enter the dungeon."

Soura said as she began to survey her surroundings. Yoshino refuted this. He believed that the Dean was just testing the participants.

Perhaps the Dean wanted to check if the students would remain calm and verify the words he said.

But Roxas doubted this. He asked,

"Is the Dean three years ago the same Dean today?"

"…Actually, no."

 "Then you can never be sure anymore."

Yoshino gritted his teeth. That was also a point that the had to be considered. But five minutes was not enough time to verify anything now. Well, four minutes to be precise.

He must decide on what to do quickly!

Yoshino glanced at the male Healer. He asked in an urgent tone.

"O, your school bag, what does it contain?"

"Some consumables I gathered upon thy short notice."

He rolled his eyes when he heard the answer. At least the guy answered readily though. He was probably aware of their situation as well.

"Soura what about yours?"

"Good ones but only a few."

Yoshino wanted to tease the female lieutenant with her answer. He would have liked to remind her of that instance when such words were said before and no one believed.

But there was no time for such things. So he instead said,

"Mine are the budget-friendly ones. But it should be enough for all of us, hopefully."

He then took off his bag and threw it towards Roxas. He quickly added,

"Hand over your bags to Roxas. He will be in-charge of our supplies."

The merchant caught his bag. He then complained,

"Hey, I told you I'm a quest-issuer here. I'm not part of your team!"

"You are now. Theft is prohibited in this event."

"Inside the dungeon!"

"Which you are planning to enter regardless."

Roxas realized the intentions a second too late. He was about to throw away the bag he caught. But Soura and O had given him their bags as well. He could not possibly throw all three bags at the same time. He was left speechless.

Roxas claimed to be a merchant. Yoshino knew that merchants had their means of carrying their supplies without being burdened by carrying the weight.

So he left this issue to the expert. He then readied his stance. He closed his eyes and focused on his preparations.

A few minutes later, the Dean announced,

"Discussion time is up! Let The Border Run begin!"

The crowd of 3,000 students then made an uproar. Various words were yelled at the same time. These were the ones that was comprehensible:

"Eliminate the Tier 1!"

"You dare to enter here? You won't complain if we beat you down, right?"

"Get him!"

"Cripple his cultivation!"

"Regret the day you were born, loser!"

How many of these people would get triggered if they knew that there was a Tier 1 in their midst?

The answer here apparently, was everyone.