---

When Gilbert opened his eyes in the world of Tactical Combat and accepted that what he was experiencing was not a dream but reality, the first thing he did was check if the game system existed.

The game system had various functions to help gamers play smoothly, and if he could actually use it, he judged that it would be easier to survive in the brutal world of Tactical Combat.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the game system existed, but after checking a familiar message window stating that the conditions were not met, he eagerly awaited the Entrance Mock Battle at Demia Empire Academy. According to his memory, the system unlock would start from the tutorial chapter, the Entrance Mock Battle.

As expected, the game system was generated simultaneously with the start of the Entrance Mock Battle, and he began receiving system assistance, but there was not enough time to check the exact information. In the game, ample time was given to familiarize oneself with the system, but now it was reality, not a game.

There was no mercy for those who waited, and he focused all his nerves to lead the rapidly progressing Entrance Mock Battle to the best possible outcome.

The result was the system message that now filled Gilbert’s eyes.

[You have successfully completed the tutorial Entrance Mock Battle.]

[You have achieved an overwhelming evaluation in the Entrance Mock Battle, and your rewards have been enhanced.]

[You were the first to volunteer as a Commander in the Entrance Mock Battle, receiving a bonus to special stats.]

[You have achieved the achievement “Faster Than Anyone, Sooner Than Anyone.”]

[A skill has been generated by meeting special conditions in a special situation.]

Feeling like a child with a birthday gift in front of him, Gilbert, as soon as the awards ceremony for the Entrance Mock Battle ended, thanked his teammates and holed up in the dormitory.

He opened the notification window with anticipation.

<Tutorial – Entrance Mock Battle>

Type: Main

Clear Condition: Participate in the Entrance Mock Battle of Demia Empire Academy.

Reward: Differentially granted based on the evaluation of the Entrance Mock Battle

– Entrance Mock Battle Medal awarded

– Commander Medal awarded

– Volunteering as a Commander increases special stats Authority and Command by 10(+5).

Failure Penalty: None.

Status: Clear

*An additional medal is awarded for achieving an overwhelming evaluation in the Entrance Mock Battle.

*Special stats are increased by +5 for being the first to volunteer as a Commander.

Gilbert checked the mission window and clenched his fists. He wondered how he had obtained the Commander Medal with his ruined reputation, but it seemed he had gained it through the enhanced tutorial reward.

The medals were special items only applicable within the Academy, but they were a great help in Academy activities. They were hard to obtain, and getting two right after completing the Entrance Mock Battle was something even in the game was difficult.

Achieving an S-grade evaluation in the Entrance Mock Battle was the first condition, and then there was a 20% chance to obtain the Commander Medal. Gilbert, who was not lucky, had rarely started with the Commander Medal.

Now that it was reality, it seemed that instead of random probabilities, it was changed to additional grants based on evaluation.

Gilbert felt like shouting when he saw that his special stats Authority and Command had increased by a total of 10 for participating as a Commander in the Entrance Mock Battle. Special stats were not something that could be obtained through repetitive actions like regular stats.

They were stats determined randomly at the start of the game and only increased by achieving certain conditions or accomplishments. Originally, they affected the number of units one could command or morale, making them essential for the Commander route.

Getting such precious stats increased by 10 was more important to Gilbert than receiving the Commander Medal.

Satisfied with the tutorial reward, he nodded and opened the status window with a prayer. He had memorized the initial stats of the protagonist character except for the randomly determined Authority and Command, but he had never seen Gilbert’s stats before, which worried him.

<Status Window>

Name: Gilbert Lion Heart

Gender: Male (20)

Title: None

Reputation: -10K

Possession: Medal (2)+

Stats

[Strength] : [70]

[Physical] : [90]

[Control] : [100]

[Mana] : [30]

[Authority] : [40](+10)

[Command] : [50](+10)

Tactical Combat was not the type of game where characters grew by leveling up experience points like MMORPGs. Rather, it was the type of game where growth was achieved when the gamer adapted to the game and their own skills increased. Levels, which were absolutely important in MMORPGs, were merely elements for system unlocks or mech customization here, and there was no way to improve stats.

In that sense, the stats in the status window served as indicators of the character’s performance, and the system divided character grades through these numbers.

Gilbert couldn’t help but widen his eyes when he saw the status window for the first time. The reason was that his current stats were very different from what he had imagined.

Gilbert’s status window boasted stats so splendid that it could be said to be a fully developed character. The Physical stat was expected to be excellent since the concept itself was Golden Sun. However, he had thought it would be in the low to mid-80s considering his age, but achieving almost a perfect 90 was beyond his imagination.

The Control stat, which he thought would be at rock bottom considering Gilbert’s past, was at the theoretical maximum of 100, possibly reflecting not Gilbert but the rotten Kang Do-jun. Perhaps it was influenced by his characteristic skill.

Strength was around the average for an Empire Knight, but considering he was just a cadet entering the Academy, it was ridiculously high. It seemed to interact with the Physical stat.

The Mana stat, which was at rock bottom, was easily understandable considering Gilbert’s past. He had indulged in debauchery rather than training, so he thought his Mana would only be enough to operate a Colossal Mech. With a natural talent, 30 was satisfying.

Especially the Authority and Command stats were so high that just looking at them made him feel full. These special stats were more volatile compared to other stats that were hard to increase, and they could decrease with repeated wrong judgments and actions.

In that sense, the Entrance Mock Battle, which determined the minimum stats, was important, and fortunately, he had stably reached the stats he had thought of. With the unexpected +10 bonus, he couldn’t help but grin.

First, satisfaction.

He closed the status window feeling like he had secured solid insurance. The protagonist character had only a few stats above 40, excluding Control.

Even though the game was not focused on character growth, the early story was centered around the Academy, so the intention was to insert a growth system to develop the character as desired.

Now, with only the skill window left, he rubbed his hands together. He was a bit excited to see what skill he had gained for the first time since coming here.

<Skill Window>

1. Three-Dimensional Maneuvering(+)

Although it was modest compared to the latter part, it was encouraging to have a skill from the beginning. Moreover, he couldn’t help but raise his hands when he saw that he had obtained Three-Dimensional Maneuvering. To confirm if it was the skill he knew, he pressed the plus button to see the detailed description.

<Three-Dimensional Maneuvering>

Grade: Unique (Lv.1)

Description: You can move without being affected by terrain.

Effects:

– Movement restrictions due to terrain are reduced.

– Spatial perception is greatly improved, and movements that seem to defy physical laws receive high correction.

– This skill is always active and can be directly activated once per hour.

– When directly activated, the skill is forcibly activated with minimal conditions.

Belonging:

– Backtumbling

As expected, Three-Dimensional Maneuvering was exactly as he knew it. It was one of the essential skills for operating a Colossal Mech, directly affecting mobility.

Especially, Three-Dimensional Maneuvering had excellent versatility; it was not only applicable to operating a Colossal Mech but also to the pilot themselves, making it one of the skills that must be obtained for smooth game progress.

Of course, Gilbert was confident that he could handle most controls without the Three-Dimensional Maneuvering skill, but considering the effectiveness of the direct effect, it was a skill he definitely wanted to obtain. With that intention, he had shown off Backtumbling in the Entrance Mock Battle, and it seemed he had easily obtained it through the enhanced tutorial reward.

Having checked the skill window, he sighed in relief at having perfectly accomplished his first goal at Demia Empire Academy. Although his reputation was worse than expected, he tried not to dwell on it, thinking that one good deed wouldn’t erase his rogue reputation.

There would be plenty of opportunities to shine as the main story progressed, so it was right to focus on character growth now that character creation was well done. Having started well, he needed to push forward according to the plan he had prepared.

Gilbert opened the dormitory door with his cadet uniform and training clothes in hand. He couldn’t let his guard down just because he had achieved good results. The difficulty of Tactical Combat was already insane, and now it was reality.

Therefore, there was only one place he needed to go. The Training Facility.

 

---