Chapter 49

“More or less, it was the scenario I expected.”

Quickly taking control of the team, inciting the other teams, and launching a joint attack against the most dangerous one.

“Only the protagonist changed a little.”

According to Professor Rosalia, the one who should’ve been in Fernan’s place was Ludger.

“Don’t you think Fernan isn’t that surprising?”

“Yes, he is.”

They knew Fernan Pellenberg had talent. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be in the top ten.

But they’d also noticed he avoided showing off completely or stepping out front openly.

“He’s not the type who enjoys taking the lead so brazenly.”

“Maybe it’s because Luina is involved this time?”

“If it’s not that, there’s no other special reason. Though I’m not sure if Luina is that special reason.”

“Then, as we thought, it must be one of two things.”

Grad and Rosalia returned to the topic from the last practice.

“Either a burning youthful love in his twenties…”

“Doesn’t seem like Fernan Pellenberg acts on such trivial emotions.”

“Or a secret agreement between House Pellenberg and House Bercheff.”

“Didn’t we reach that same conclusion last time?”

“We did.”

Grad stroked his chin.

“You did that last time too.”

“You remembered? Let those details go.”

Anyway, it wasn’t important.

“Whatever those two houses agreed on, it has nothing to do with me.”

“Maybe not with us, but it does with others.”

An agreement between the Empire’s richest family and the northern house, fallen but in recovery—for any imperial, that couldn’t go unnoticed.

“No, not with us. With me.”

“What do you mean?”

“You really don’t feel anything? Even if those two houses join forces?”

“I’m just an academy professor.”

“But your surname isn’t. And you don’t seem as detached as you say.”

Rosalia looked at him expressionlessly. Grad avoided her gaze, shrugging.

“Well, it’s not something I need to worry about either.”

“…It’s begun.”

The teams were about to meet on the battlefield.

***

49 versus 90.

Numbers can never be ignored.

Considering the students were evenly distributed among the four teams, this battle was extremely disadvantageous for Team 1.

Even so, Ludger believed he could win.

“What do we do, Your Highness?”

“Hold the line.”

If they didn’t have a base, they could retreat while scheming something, but right now, they had no option but to hold out.

At least, tactically speaking.

“Lead them into the traps to maximize casualties. And don’t even think of advancing without my order.”

“Yes, sir.”

The good thing was they had basic traps and decent fortification. And also that Ludger was a prince, so the students followed his orders without objection.

“Do you think Almon can do it alone?”

“What do you think?”

David Lippen, 8th in the Knight Department, hesitated to answer.

“Frankly, I couldn’t beat Almon.”

“Only you?”

“Except for Luina, we’re all the same.”

Even against her, he could only tie, not win.

“There’s your answer.”

No one in the Knight Department could beat Almon. Maybe the Magic Department had other options, but if their main strength was focused on the front…

Of course, he couldn’t be certain that Almon would beat the twenty left at the enemy base, but at least he could steal the flag.

“We just need to buy time.”

“But I can’t stop Luina. Nor can Harold, Alia, Doria, Gert, or Felkan.”

“I know. If you could beat them, you’d be second, not eighth.”

The Knight Department valued real ability over theory. If you could beat them one-on-one, your rank would undoubtedly change.

“It’ll be fine. Luina won’t fight seriously either.”

“Luina? Really?”

“Yes. Fernan won’t either.”

Maybe the entire Team 3 was faking it.

“I trust your words, Your Highness. But what about the others?”

“I’ll take care of Carlo.”

“Still, there are many enemies left.”

Even if Team 3 didn’t fight seriously, there were still Teams 2 and 4.

And in them, many were stronger than David.

Seven in the Magic Department, seven in the Knight Department, although direct comparison wasn’t always possible.

“David.”

Ludger placed both hands on his shoulders.

“You can do this. I’ll handle the command. Fight, flee, do whatever it takes to buy time.”

After Almon, David was the strongest knight in Team 1. His role was crucial.

“David. I’m here too.”

“That’s not comforting at all.”

Gin Brad, his partner and fourth in the Magic Department, chuckled.

“There are only three second-year mages better than me.”

“And two of them are on the enemy side, just like the one ranked right below you.”

“Don’t worry, David. I was just joking.”

Ludger added.

“How could I not have a plan?”

He smiled.

“I already negotiated with Team 4. Everything depends on how Team 2 reacts.”

Team 4 was only pretending to ally with Fernan to deceive him.

“You don’t mean…?”

“I was faster, Fernan.”

This time, I won’t let you take first place.

***

“Stop.”

At Fernan’s barely audible murmur, the members of Team 3 halted in unison.

Fernan unfolded the map and checked their current location.

Team 1’s camp was on the forested slope of a mountain. A place far too ideal for ambushes and traps.

The other teams weren’t in much different positions; they had been placed there deliberately.

“Why? We still have a ways to go before reaching the rendezvous point.”

“We’re not going.”

“…What?”

“Don’t tell me from the start…?”

Fernan nodded.

“In war, there’s no such thing as cowardice.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Your eyes are cursing.”

“…”

“We’re going to attack Team 4 just as we are.”

Of all the teams, Team 3 was the farthest from Team 1. Naturally, the others had to arrive first.

But at the agreed point, near Team 1’s camp, no one was there.

Everyone felt a bad premonition, except for Fernan, who remained calm.

“Then why did we come all the way here?”

“To confirm something. Only a few come with me.”

“Seems like you know something.”

“Of course. I know Ludger well. I can more or less predict how he’ll act.”

Fernan moved forward with a few, cautiously. And then they saw it. A group gathered at the meeting point, and in the distance, a few moving toward Team 1.

“…Could it be…?”

“Surely, yes.”

“Then what do we do? Are we done for?”

“Did the three teams really ally together?”

“They said they’d work with us…!”

Fernan pulled out a magic spyglass from his coat. He couldn’t see everything clearly from afar, but it was enough to grasp the general movements.

“Now do you see why I said we should go for Team 4?”

“But will stealing an empty base work? If we don’t show up, they’ll know something’s wrong too.”

“What I just saw was that everyone in the top 10 was there. They likely planned to eliminate an unguarded team… but if you think about it the other way around…”

“It’s completely empty…?”

“It’s not a bad idea. No, in fact, it’s a good one.”

The students shouted.

“Then what are we doing here?! Let’s go already!”

***

“Don’t move.”

Almon smiled calmly.

In front of him was the flag. Team 4’s flag, clearly marked with the number four. If he took it, Team 4 would be eliminated.

“…Calm down, Almon. Let’s talk first.”

“Yeah, don’t you think this isn’t right…”

The members of Team 4 tried to reason with him calmly.

‘Damn it, how did they manage to send Almon here?’

‘Why to us of all teams…?’

‘How do you stop someone like him, charging straight through? He’s a monster.’

Though they realized it late, they did the best they could. They attacked with magic, and the knights tried to block him.

But Almon blocked all the magic and took out two knights. Then he charged straight through the formation and stood before the flag.

‘If only Harold or Doria were here…’

The gap between those in the top 10 and those outside was bigger than they thought. If those two had been here, it wouldn’t have been so easy to break through the defense.

“You’re the ones who cheated, excluding us from the start.”

“Ah, no…!”

“Yes!”

Almon yanked the flag.

In that instant.

Fwoosh!

A wave of mana spread from the flag across the entire field, and all of Team 4’s maps began to burn.

All, eliminated.

“…Ah.”

“We’re out just like that?”

“No way…”

“No! It’s all Harold’s fault! He said if we all attacked together we’d take him down first!”

The eliminated students slumped to the ground with disbelief on their faces.

“Good. I didn’t disappoint His Highness.”

Seeing the defeated group, Almon gave a satisfied smile.

The cost in aura had been high, and he had a few scratches, but it was worth it for the result.

Or so he thought.

“It’s been a while. Hasn’t it, Almon?”

If only he hadn’t suddenly been surrounded.

And if the person at the front weren’t Luina—the only one among the second years who made him nervous.

And if Fernan Pellenberg weren’t behind her with a mocking smile.

“…Luina? Fernan? How…?”

“That means, no matter how far you run, you can’t escape my hand. Thanks for doing the job for us.”

“Weren’t you going to attack us?”

“Yeah, but Ludger also moved his pieces. So we decided to take out another team first. And thanks to you, the work’s already done.”

“…And why here, of all places?”

“Because if I were Ludger, I’d have done the same.”

Team 2 had Carlo Deneb. One backed by the imperial family. Ludger likely thought that by eliminating Team 4, he could easily finish off Team 3 with Team 2. And who would he send for that?

Someone he trusted, the strongest one, capable of securing the flag. Fernan was sure it would be Almon.

But since it was confidential information, he hadn’t said it out loud.

“Pure coincidence.”

“Haah…!”

Trying to find an escape, Almon charged. But he didn’t make it.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“…Luina. You’re a noble knight. Are you really going to take part in something this cowardly?”

“Says the one who snuck in and stole a flag.”

“It was a direct, fair attack.”

“…In war, what matters is winning.”

“And that’s why you’re planning a group ambush?”

Luina looked away.

“Capture him.”

At Fernan’s command,

Fwoosh!

Almon’s map ignited.

“…Hmm?”

And so did Ludger’s, who had been following Almon after noticing Fernan hadn’t shown up.

“…Tch. Fernan, you damned bastard.”

There’s nothing likable about you.

Ludger clenched his teeth.