Chapter 31: A state of mind
Arbus groggily sat up as he took off the Aurnex device attached to his head while it calculated his results. He was still able to see what it was doing in real-time on the huge display board on the ceiling.
CALCULATING TOTAL SCORE...
He glanced up at it for a moment, then sighed heavily.
Despite his regeneration, he could still feel the mental fatigue that came along with using the device multiple times.
After a bit, his hand found his chest as he felt his usually placid heart beating hard against his ribs.
He knew why, as well.
'Why... was it so vivid?' he thought somberly.
"Wow! You actually passed!"
"It would have been hard for me to believe if I didn't see it for myself."
Suddenly, a gruff and raspy voice came from the smiling Mornan instructor sitting at the corner of the large room.
Head of security, instructor Ty.
At the moment, he was in charge of the mental training room and watching the trainees taking on missions of varying difficulties.
The devices attached to their heads were also capable of projecting the simulations they experienced, onto the retractable screens ok the ceiling, connected to each one.
His task was to pull trainees out of the simulations if they quit inside, or were about to experience something they couldn't handle yet.
Arbus knew this wasn't work related to his job as chief of security.
From what he could gather, he was filling in for one of the instructors that had left before him and the other trainees arrived two weeks ago.
That's right, it had already been two weeks since Arbus and the others had arrived at the facility.
So far, they had all been granted the freedom to choose whatever aspect of their training they wanted to focus on the most.
Unlike they had originally expected, there were no training schedules.
The instructors were simply supposed to be present whenever one or more trainees required their training room.
For a significant portion of the past two weeks, Arbus had dedicated his time to the mental training room more than the others.
At this point, It had become a routine for the other trainees to see his body sprawled on one of the large iron beds.
That was because he considered it the most necessary exercise for him in the facility.
Almost everything else was either something he could easily handle, or training he deemed unnecessary.
Thanks to his master, he'd already reached the peak of his current physical capabilities. He was also extremely adept with a sword.
It had been years since he'd used it, but he was sure his skills with a bow hadn't deteriorated either.
He wanted to spend his time on lessons with areas he could improve on.
The mental training room was the only program in the facility that gave him the unique experience of challenging various scenarios he might face in the future.
He also needed a way to train his mind, more than he needed to train his body.
The first few simulations had been a bit disappointing for him, given how fast he had adjusted to the new experience.
Most of them were concerned with catching pirates and outlaws.
He'd gotten a perfect score on almost all of them.
After a while, things got harder for him when he had to face simulated members of the second chance group with magic and different systems, which forced him to be more strategic.
After all, he didn't have his powers in the simulation.
Like always, he'd kept it a secret from others, so it was only natural that it had been left out when his information was added to the program.
The final simulation had been the hardest so far.
It was the max difficulty available for the system, and Arbus could understand why
In fact, Arbus had initially thought it was impossible to complete, until his last attempt.
He had already failed the same simulation over a dozen times in just a few days.
His failure could also be attributed to the fact that he had tried his best to keep everyone in the simulation alive.
That had ultimately amounted to nothing.
The scenario was simple.
MISSION: THE END
DESCRIPTION: A REINCARNATOR IS COMING FOR YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE BASE. DO YOUR BEST TO SURVIVE..... OR DON'T.
In the end, he had been forced to make the decision he had done his best to avoid, and sacrifice his comrades to complete it.
Arbus knew they weren't real, and that they were just elements programmed by the device – but he didn't care.
After spending the initial 3 days of preparation before the mission started over and over with them, he had gotten more attached than he'd expected to.
He couldn't help but think it was because they had given him something that most people in reality didn't give him. Their trust and genuine care.
"...Thank you instructor, but it's nothing. I couldn't accomplish what I set out to do."
"In my opinion, that's still a failure."
Arbus responded with a darkened expression.
"Tsk... You and your contrite attitude. For once I think you should learn to appreciate the things you've managed to accomplish."
"That could be taken as overconfidence by some people y'know."
Arbus smiled slightly as he glanced at the substitute instructor with an apologetic look.
Over his past two weeks in the facility, he had already noticed that most of the instructors despised him greatly.
Frankly it was hard to not notice, considering how little they wanted to help him train.
The sole exceptions were the combat training instructor, Harves, and the head of security, Ty.
The head of security had been especially friendly with Arbus from the first day they'd met.
He didn't seem to care about his identity, like the other instructors.
In a way, Ty reminded Arbus of the knight, Bridge, who had possessed a somewhat similar temperament.
"No, seriously kid, that was a spectacle to watch on the big screen. How did you even think to use your bone as a weapon? Most people wouldn't even be able to think in that state. Didn't you feel any pain?" Ty asked curiously.
Arbus nodded.
"Of course I did, that's only natural. I just didn't let it get in the way of the mission. I knew it was all in my mind so I allowed myself to be reckless."
"Amazing, simply amazing. It seems I was right about your potential." Instructor Ty said with a laugh.
"But... I think you might have taken things too far this time."
Ty said as he shook his head.
Arbus's brow raised slightly at his words.
"What do yo–"
Arbus's words were cut off a moment later by the sounds coming from the screen.
It had finally displayed his results.
ERROR DETECTED..
Arbus's eyes widened.
'An error!? Why? Is it because it's the last level?'
ADJUSTING...
ADJUSTING...
TOTAL SCORE CALCULATED: 50/100
APPRAISAL: AVERAGE KNIGHT
SIDE NOTE: NOT BAD, BUT NOT VERY GOOD EITHER. DO YOUR BEST TO GET BETTER WHILE YOU'RE STILL BREATHING.
"..."
"..."
"What?.."