The Silinia Canyon operation is the battle against the Demons where the most human casualties in history occurred. Analyze the reasons for the failure of the Silinia Canyon operation at that time and propose the most appropriate alternative tactics or operations to capture the canyon. (10 points)
Tick tock. Tick tock.
In the quiet classroom, the ticking sound of the clock's second hand urges the students, cutting through the scribbling of pens.
It's the final written test of the midterm exams. The last question of the subject 'Basics of Tactics' Instead of spinning a knife out of habit, I twirl my pen as I rack my brain.
Considering the weight of the score and the fact that it's the final question, it's quite tricky. The truth is, the Silinia Canyon operation is one of the most famous examples of failures, and there are already many papers written by far more skilled experts than us academy students. But the professor doesn't want those common answers. The crucial part of the question is the latter half—my opinion.
Honestly, I'm more skilled in one-on-one combat and ambushes than in group battles or tactics. Though I've learned bits and pieces over the past two months at the academy, I'm still lacking compared to the other students. So, I write a strategy on my answer sheet that might catch the professor's attention.
My answer is, 'Deploy a hero' What else is there? In front of a hero, it's one hit for you, one hit for me—everyone's equal. Given that the attacking side must inevitably pass through a narrow space in Silinia Canyon, deploying a small elite force is the best option. If that's the case, why not deploy just one hero? Of course, there were many reasons at the time, like the hero's location and political restraints, that made deploying a hero difficult, but that's not my concern. I fill the rest of the answer sheet with some nonsense even I barely understand.
After all, the practical test is more important than the written one. What I lack in the written test, I can make up for with my practical score.
One reason I can write my answers so carefreely is that I've already given up on becoming the top student. With a monster like Cilly who excels in both theory and practice, aiming for the top is impossible. But there's a simple way to get a full scholarship without being the top student.
All you need is a title like Swordmaster or Archmage. Simple, right? Well, not so simple—it's impossibly hard.
So, I'm just aiming for partial scholarships. Exempting dormitory fees, tuition... The reason I can relax like this is thanks to the boss's favor. I bow my head towards Magic Building Room 707, where the boss resides. Of course, only in my mind. If I did that during the test, I'd be accused of cheating and get a zero.
"Aah~ I think I messed up the exam~"
After the last written test, Annie—who was the first to submit her paper—came over to me and Cilly, sighing in frustration.
If it were anyone else, I'd wonder if they were being humble, but with Annie, there's no need to wonder. She definitely messed up, just as she said. This isn't meant as an insult to Annie. It's an undeniable fact that both Cilly, Yuri, the rest of the class, and I all know. A fact!
"Haha... At least it's lucky that the topic I pointed out for the test came up," said Yuri, comforting Annie by patting her drooping back. While Cilly tutored me, Annie had been receiving tutoring from Yuri.
That Annie, she got a free question handed to her.
"What!? There was something like that!?"
Ah, I overestimated Annie.
"Anyway, thanks to Cilly, I think I did okay. I'll count on you next time too!"
"Yes. Feel free to ask anytime."
As expected, she's so kind. But seriously, when did Cilly study for her own exams? Every time we studied together, she stuck right by my side, helping me. Yet when I checked her scores, she got full marks on every subject. I guess you need to be at least this level to become a hero, huh?
"So, the only thing left is the mock battle? Alright! I'll make up for it there!"
Annie, who had been slumped in despair, suddenly revived. Despite her lack of smarts... just a little lack... she's one of the top performers in practical skills.
In contrast, Yuri is her exact opposite. Yuri excels in written tests but struggles in practicals, while Annie excels in practicals but struggles in written tests.
"Alright! Let's go!"
Following Annie, who dashed ahead, the three of us headed to the next test site.
* * * *
"The exam will be conducted one by one. There are a total of 10 stages. You will start from stage 1, and each time you pass, you move on to the next. The monsters each person faces are different, so there's no advantage for those who go later. Please step forward if you're ready."
"I'll go first!"
As soon as Professor Den, who teaches 'Understanding of Monsters,' finished speaking, Annie raised her hand and stepped forward.
"Alright, please step forward."
Since it's a battle against monsters created by illusion magic, there's no need to use wooden swords today. Annie brought her own weapon instead.
Screech.
Annie's weapon dragged on the stone floor, making a scraping noise. Not because she was dragging it rudely, but because her weapon was simply too massive.
In her hand was an enormous greatsword. The wooden sword she used in practice was already large enough to surpass her height, but the real sword she wielded now made the wooden one seem puny by comparison. Rather than calling it a sword, it was more like a giant club. Still, its edge seemed sharp enough. The weight alone would be overwhelming, yet Annie, with her small frame, carried it as if it were nothing.
Standing at the center, Annie looked excited, probably because she finally got to wield her real weapon again.
"Before we begin, let's give a round of applause to the two assistant professors from the Magic Department for their hard work. Their illusion magic is excellent, so don't worry about getting hurt. However, if you overexert yourself without understanding your own abilities, you might be penalized, so keep that in mind."
Clap clap clap clap.
The two assistants, who had been standing by, bowed to us and the professor. But their appearance was pitiful. Their dark circles were visible from a distance, and they moved without any energy.
"Alright, Annie Klein, we'll begin right away."
At Professor Den's signal, the two assistants activated the magic circle prepared on the training ground, summoning three goblins. I couldn't tell if this was easy for the first stage or not, but they seemed well-crafted, given their lifelike appearance.
Swish!
But the goblins' threat was meaningless. In an instant, Annie approached with impossible speed for someone wielding such a large sword, and with a single slash, she cut all three goblins in half. Even though they were just illusions, I almost felt bad for them.
"Next!"
Annie, still not satisfied, shouted eagerly. However, her blunt tone towards the assistant professors—who, despite being from a different department, are academy graduates—was a bit too informal... But she seemed too caught up in the thrill of battle to notice.
The assistants didn't seem to mind, though, as they promptly summoned the next monster.
* * * *
"Next, please!"
After catching my breath, I called out to the assistants, signaling that I was ready. The last monster I defeated was a Salamander at stage 8. I had now reached the same stage Annie had cleared. Of course, Cilly had cleared stage 10 and received full marks.
Even if I stopped now, I was guaranteed 2nd place in the class. But I could still go further.
Since I was the last to take the test in Class 1, the exhausted assistants showed a slight spark of enthusiasm as they summoned the next illusion monster.
What appeared was a massive Steel Bear. Its defining traits: formidable defense and overwhelming strength.
Clang!
Blocking its swiftly approaching swing resulted in a resounding clash of metal. Taking that hit head-on would've been too much, so I let the impact throw me back, dispersing the force.
But the Steel Bear closed the distance again in no time, swinging its monstrous arm once more.
Whoosh!
I ducked just in time, the sound of the wind whistling over my head. It was hard to believe this was just illusion magic, as every sensation felt too real.
I slashed at the Steel Bear's belly with my aura-infused sword.
Clang!
Even with my aura, which could slice through rocks, it wasn't enough to penetrate the Steel Bear's thick hide. But upon closer inspection, I could see a faint crack forming.
Enraged by the injury, the Steel Bear rampaged even harder.
Thud!
This time, I couldn't dodge, and its strike landed on my side. The illusion magic even replicated the pain, and the Steel Bear's insane strength nearly knocked me out.
It's just a mock battle, but couldn't they have dialed down the pain a bit?
I gripped my sword tighter, refocusing for the next attack.
I had learned how to deal with Steel Bears from Cilly. The simplest method was to use fire-based magic.
Steel Bears, while clad in steel-like skin, are weak to fire. When exposed to heat, even if their armor remains intact, their insides cook. Older Steel Bears can even die on hot days without direct contact. Their weakness is clear.
If this were the Magic Department's test, the difficulty would've been two stages lower due to the monster's vulnerability.
But since I'm a swordsman, using fire isn't an option.
So, I choose the next best approach.
Dodging the Steel Bear's wild attacks, I relentlessly target its abdomen. Each time my aura-clad sword strikes, the crack in its belly grows.
Finally...
Crack!
With a well-aimed thrust, I shatter the Steel Bear's tough exterior and pierce its heart.
Even an illusion monster can't survive a fatal blow like that. With my sword lodged in its chest, the Steel Bear crumbles into dust, disappearing into the air.
I may have taken only one hit, making it seem like an easy victory from the outside, but that one strike nearly ended me. If I'd taken even a second longer to recover, I wouldn't have been able to dodge the next attack.
Risky or not, I've passed stage 9. This secures my second-place finish, right behind Cilly.
For reference, Cilly cleared stage 10, Annie failed at stage 9 due to bad luck with the monster type, and Yuri passed stage 3 before giving up.
Now, only stage 10 remains for me. If my turn had come before Cilly's, I would've attempted it.
"I'll forfeit"
However, I choose not to push further. It's not that I lack ambition. Even if I fail stage 10 and lose points, I'll still tie for second. But I choose not to challenge it.
"Good choice. Honestly, even I didn't expect any students to pass stage 10. The Deretia family truly is something."
I'm influenced by Cilly's earlier performance. She breezed through stage 9 without breaking a sweat. Naturally, she attempted stage 10, where a demon appeared.
Of course, since it was an illusion, the demon must've been nameless and of low rank. Still, even a demon is no easy opponent for a first-year student.
My side, where the Steel Bear hit me, aches and hinders my movement. In this condition, I wouldn't be able to respond properly and would only face defeat. This is my limit for now.
Cilly, however, easily defeated the demon. Her aura and physical stats weren't that much better than mine. But her swordsmanship moved with machine-like precision, wasting no motion as she dominated the summoned demon.
"Everyone, thank you for your hard work during the midterms. Get some rest over the weekend, and I'll see you in the next class!"
Professor Den's announcement brought cheers from the students. Some went back to the dorms to catch up on lost sleep, while others grouped up to relieve their midterm stress outside the academy.
Naturally, I was with Cilly, Annie, and Yuri.
"Ugh! Alright! How about we go celebrate?"
Annie stretched with a strange noise before opening her mouth.
"Elys, do you have anywhere you want to go?"
Yuri followed Annie's words by asking me.
"Hmm? I'm tired, but it'd feel like a waste to just head back to the dorms."
Now that I think about it, the cafe Cilly and I went to last time wasn't bad. Maybe we could all go there?
"More importantly, Elys, are you okay from earlier?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine. Since it was just magic-induced pain, it disappeared as soon as the test ended."
"But it must've hurt when you got hit, right? Are you really okay?"
Cilly is so kind that it's almost a flaw. Of course, when she's holding a sword, she's anything but kind.
"I'm fine, really. By the way, Cilly, do you have anywhere you want to go?"
"I'm okay with anywhere you want to go"
Since no one was offering suggestions, I was about to suggest the cafe when Annie beat me to it.
"In that case, since we worked up a sweat, how about we go there?"
I'm not sure where "there" is, but since no one else seems to have other plans, we follow Annie's lead.
And where we end up is...
"Wait! This is a bathhouse!!!"