Chapter 105

“Huh…?”

Elaine seemed quite flustered by my counterproposal.

Her pupils shook as if an earthquake had struck them.

“W-what did you just say…?”

“I asked if you’d like to join us.”

“Ah… um, really?”

She seemed unable to process it properly and held her head, deep in thought.

Then she widened her eyes and said,

“Wait, you mean you want me to join the Common class…?”

Elaine appeared to be in a dilemma.

She probably wanted to shout, “What nonsense is this?” but her kind nature prevented her from doing so.

I chuckled inwardly and spoke again.

“That’s partly true, but more precisely, I want you to join our group.”

“What’s the difference?”

“It’s different. We plan to act independently. Specifically, as a guerrilla unit.”

I emphasized my words.

A guerrilla unit.

That was the core strategy I intended to employ for this mock battle.

The only advantage we had.

‘No matter how skilled the first-year students are, they can’t use a guerrilla unit.’

The first-year students were certainly excellent.

But that was individual strength.

Most of them had never experienced a war or even a proper group battle.

Such students couldn’t form or operate a guerrilla unit.

On the other hand, we had me.

So, we could form a guerrilla unit to conduct ambushes and disruptions, creating chaos in the enemy’s ranks.

And it wasn’t just any guerrilla unit but one with near-perfect intelligence.

No one knew how terrifying that could be.

But soon, the first-year students would painfully realize it.

As they got pummeled by my guerrilla unit.

“Act independently…? And as a guerrilla unit…?”

Elaine looked bewildered.

It wasn’t just the unexpected idea but also the realization that I had prepared so thoroughly for the mock battle.

“Do you need an explanation?”

“Huh? Yes…”

Elaine nodded.

I quickly and clearly explained the necessity and benefits of a guerrilla unit.

After listening to my explanation, Elaine finally seemed to understand my thinking and let out a sigh of admiration.

“…Amazing. How did you come up with that?”

The less trained a group is, the more they tend to think they need to stick together to exert sufficient strength.

They naturally think that splitting up makes them weaker.

It’s not wrong.

If an untrained group splits up, they’ll only get picked off one by one.

But what if that assumption doesn’t hold?

What if a small, nimble group can move stealthily and swiftly enough to avoid getting picked off?

They can exert strong force.

No, even more than that.

“It’s just the result of a lot of thinking.”

I continued with a light smile.

“Anyway, I’m confident we can catch them off guard. But to achieve greater results, we need more strength. That’s why…”

“…”

“I made you the counterproposal. If you join us, I’m confident we can completely turn the battlefield around.”

I spoke with confidence.

Elaine knew from the explanation that this wasn’t just baseless confidence.

She must have thought there was enough potential.

“Hmm…”

Elaine pondered for a moment before speaking.

“But without me, the Royal class’s strength will weaken…”

“That’s true.”

I agreed readily.

“But think about it. Even with you, your class will likely opt for a defensive, frontal confrontation. Right?”

“…That’s likely.”

Elaine couldn’t deny it.

As a member of the class, she could roughly predict how things would go.

“Right. So, do you think you can win with a frontal confrontation, even with you?”

“I don’t think it’s zero chance…”

Elaine still held onto a bit of hope.

That’s the right attitude.

As the top talent representing the second years, she should.

I nodded and spoke again.

“Yes, I don’t think it’s zero chance either. But which has a higher probability: sticking with a frontal confrontation or using your strength in my guerrilla unit to attack from the flanks or rear?”

“That is…”

“Yes.”

“…I think it’s the latter.”

Elaine admitted.

She probably already knew my proposal had a much higher chance of success.

But her inherent nature made her hesitate to leave her class and act separately.

However, my proposal was compelling enough to overcome even those feelings.

“Then it’s settled. Join our group.”

“Uh… I still feel a bit conflicted…”

“What’s there to feel conflicted about? We’re all trying to do well. Didn’t you propose to me with the same intention?”

“Sorry… I didn’t consider it that deeply.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for.”

I chuckled.

“Anyway, it’s decided, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me tell you something important.”

“What is it?”

She swallowed nervously and looked at me.

“Don’t tell anyone about joining us. Not even your closest friends.”

“Huh…?”

Elaine looked surprised again.

“You mean not to tell my class in advance?”

“Of course. Secrecy is crucial. If information leaks, it’s over.”

“Ah…”

As expected of someone smart, she immediately understood the importance of what I said.

But she still felt a pang of conscience, furrowing her eyebrows.

“You mean I have to sneak out?”

“Exactly. I’ll leave the method to you. You know your situation best.”

“Sigh…”

Elaine sighed.

“Oh, and make sure to set aside some time so we can plan and coordinate together.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Good, then I’ll go plan our strategy. Thanks for accepting my counterproposal.”

“Oh, it’s nothing…”

With a lighter heart, I returned to my dorm room.

* * *

In Lapit’s office.

Riviera tilted her head, sensing something different about the atmosphere.

It felt more serious and heavy than usual.

“Is something wrong?”

Riviera blinked and asked,

“Yes, there is,” Lapit replied, setting down his glasses.

It was surprising how different his image looked without glasses.

He went from looking like a scholarly professor who only cared about research to a stern middle-aged man with piercing eyes.

It felt like all the softness had vanished in an instant.

“What is it?”

“Damn it, I took off my glasses.”

“Hmm?”

“I was already feeling strangely irritated, and now it’s worse. Ugh.”

Lapit shook his head in frustration.

He had removed his glasses in a fit of annoyance after Isaac, the vice-principal, had given him a mocking look.

Although he enjoyed seeing Isaac flinch in surprise, that was the only good thing that came out of it.

The other professors stared at him in shock, as if they couldn’t believe he had such a face.

Their expressions carried a hint of discomfort.

But that was something he could live with.

After all, his disguise had been perfect.

The real issue was her.

Karen Mayfield.

Even before he took off his glasses, she had been annoyingly perceptive.

When he saw her expression after he removed his glasses, it was clear she had confirmed her suspicions.

She wore a confident smile, as if to say, “I knew it.”

Her eyes sparkled with interest.

It was that unmistakable feeling of impending annoyance.

“Why did you take them off?”

Instead of offering comfort, Riviera fanned the flames.

…Well, that’s just how she is.

“It’s all because of that damned old man. No, it was that fox who dragged me into this mess in the first place.”

“Fox?”

“Professor Karen.”

“Oh, that fits.”

Riviera nodded repeatedly, as if the image suited her perfectly.

“Don’t use that nickname.”

“Why not? I’ll just say you taught it to me.”

“Hey, if you do that, I’ll really get scratched by the fox. Don’t do it.”

Lapit spoke desperately.

For once, his desperation seemed to work.

“Hmm… if you insist, I won’t.”

“Good, that’s how it should be.”

…It was a relief to have someone who could be reasoned with, even a little.

“Anyway.”

“Hmm?”

“Whether I’m stuck with that annoying fox or not, I really don’t want to lose to that damned old man.”

He had never seen someone so adept at mocking others.

It was as if Isaac was born to mock.

Lapit finally understood why some staff members secretly disliked the vice-principal.

“Lose? Did you make a bet or something?”

“Yes, on the mock battle.”

“Mock battle?”

Riviera’s eyes widened.

Lapit clicked his tongue in disbelief.

“Seriously, even if you’re undercover, how can you be an academy student and not know about the mock battle?”

“Explain.”

“Ugh.”

Lapit pounded his chest in frustration but eventually explained it to her.

Finally, Riviera nodded.

“Hmm, got it.”

“Good. So, I have a favor to ask you.”

“A favor?”

“Show your skills in the mock battle.”

For the first time, Lapit was asking her to stand out, contrary to his usual advice to stay unnoticed.

He might have already given up when she climbed to the 60th floor of the Infinite Tower.

“Don’t use blood magic.”

Riviera casually mentioned her rampant use of blood magic in the tower, causing Lapit to nearly lose his composure.

As expected, she was a 4th Dimensional thinker.

It seemed like she had no concept of conscience.

“Is blood magic the only type of magic? Your regular magic is at a level that can slap high-level mages.”

“You told me not to stand out.”

“Ugh, when have you ever listened to me?”

Lapit put his glasses back on to calm himself.

“And it seems like you’ve already decided to stand out since the Infinite Tower. You aced the midterms too, didn’t you?”

“Huh? The results aren’t out yet.”

“The grading is done. The results just haven’t been announced.”

“Oh, so I aced a lot of them.”

Riviera seemed pleased.

Lapit couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

She was impossible to dislike.

“Anyway. Since you’ve already decided to stand out, do me this favor. Is it too much to ask? My pride is on the line. Oh, and so is yours.”

“My pride?”

“Don’t play dumb. You’re a second-year, aren’t you?”

“Hmm.”

“…”

“Got it.”

“Mhmm”

Lapit brightened at her agreement.

He hadn’t really expected her to agree, so it was a pleasant surprise.

“Great, great. Show those first-years who’s boss. A senior should have that kind of presence.”

With Riviera agreeing to put in some effort, Lapit believed that a real victory was possible, not just a victory born out of frustration.

Indeed, the first-years were exceptionally talented.

But they were still undeveloped.

They weren’t ready to face the Blood Witch Riviera.

Except for one.

“Oh, be careful of one person. Princess Oscar. She’s a real monster.”

Even Lapit, a high-ranking member of Red Rain, acknowledged her as a monster.

Riviera’s response?

“Who?”

“…”

Lapit was at a loss for words.