Chapter 114

“Looks like something’s happening.”

Leon said, noticing the sudden change in direction of the first-year Noble Class.

“Seems like another hyena has joined in.”

Alfred twisted his lips into an amused smile.

“What will you do? That direction is where they are.”

Both Alfred and Leon knew.

That direction was where the second-year Royal Class was.

It wasn’t only Princess Oscar who had made that prediction without sending scouts.

Their insight was considerable as well.

“Hmm, well…”

Alfred pondered briefly.

And then.

“We can use them as hunting dogs.”

Hunting dogs’ role is to wound and tire the prey.

And then the master catches the exhausted prey.

In the end, it’s the master who reaps the rewards.

“Right now, they’re desperate to score points, so they’re perfect.”

Alfred smiled again, thinking it was a good idea.

He was a flexible man.

Able to adapt his plans to changing situations.

“Indeed.”

Leon nodded.

He didn’t say anything else.

An agreement.

“Damn, they’re making it annoying by not even being able to handle the available prey.”

A man with a fierce look, enough to be called a giant, spoke.

It was Bain, a first-year from the Kingdom army.

A naturally strong man since childhood, he had been given the opportunity to enroll in the academy despite being a mere soldier.

“Haha, don’t get too worked up. Sometimes waiting makes the prize even sweeter.”

“I don’t know about that, but I’m bored out of my mind.”

Even though they were all students here, Bain was unrestrained, even towards the Duke of the Kingdom.

But Alfred didn’t mind at all.

He disliked baseless bravado but appreciated courage backed by ability.

That’s why he kept Bain close and trusted him.

“Just hold on a bit longer. The time to go wild will come soon.”

“Tch, fine.”

Bain grumbled as he turned and walked towards the forest behind them.

“Where are you going?”

“To take a leak. Go on ahead. I’ll catch up soon.”

* * *

“Alright, time for a smoke.”

Bain sat against a tree stump and pulled out a cigarette.

It was contraband for the mock battle, but it wasn’t hard to sneak one in since they didn’t search his underwear.

“This should be hidden enough.”

He confirmed that he was out of sight from the professors, hidden by the trees.

Sssss.

Using a basic finger fire spell, Bain lit the cigarette and took a deep drag.

“Phew.”

The boredom lifted a bit.

There was nothing like a smoke to clear the mind.

Bain felt relaxed.

The plan had changed from a hyena operation to a hunting dog operation, so they had plenty of time.

Just as he was taking another drag.

“Huh?”

Bain squinted his eyes.

He sensed multiple figures rapidly approaching.

Not just one, but several.

“What the hell?”

The cigarette fell from Bain’s mouth.

They were approaching much faster than he had anticipated.

And they were flying low to the ground.

Who the hell are they?

As he wondered, they arrived within arm’s reach.

“Allen, hit him.”

Riviera’s voice.

“Why me?”

“Huh? They’re enemies?”

Bain was just as surprised.

He had never imagined an enemy would appear from what he considered a safe zone.

“It’s do or die!”

Allen charged with a powerful thrust.

Thud!

But the thrust was easily blocked.

The spear tip was grabbed.

“Get lost.”

Bain flung it back effortlessly.

“Whoa!”

Allen flew through the air.

If he failed to land properly, he’d be marked as a casualty from the impact.

But Elaine quickly used wind magic to cushion the fall.

“Huh? You’re…?”

Recognizing Elaine’s face, Bain was stunned.

The one person in the second year to be wary of.

Why was she here?

This doesn’t make sense.

“Starting to get the picture? You’re totally screwed.”

Max grinned wickedly.

“Ha, is that so? But don’t you think you’re underestimating me?”

Bain raised his wooden greatsword.

A weapon that amplified the strength of his naturally powerful build.

Just brushing against it could be fatal.

“Hahahaha!”

But Max burst into laughter.

“Why are you laughing?”

Bain frowned, feeling insulted.

“Because the saying ‘no match for numbers’ fits you perfectly right now.”

“Damn it, come at me if you think you can! Come on!”

Bain roared like an enraged bear.

“We’re coming, you arrogant junior.”

A fierce 1-on-4 battle ensued.

* * *

“Bain is taking too long.”

Leon was the first to notice.

“That guy’s probably slacking off again.”

Mosley said.

He was a commoner like Bain and usually got along well with him.

“That might be…”

Leon didn’t deny it.

Bain’s specialty was skipping classes and hibernating somewhere like a bear if he didn’t feel like it.

It was typical behavior for someone who lived as they pleased.

“I’ll go get him.”

Mosley was about to move when.

“Wait a moment.”

Alfred stopped him.

“Huh? Why?”

“Just in case, take someone with you.”

Alfred’s eyes were cold.

“Huh? Just in case? What could happen in the rear?”

Mosley tilted his head.

“I have a feeling.”

“Alright… if you say so.”

Mosley signaled to a female student.

She joined him.

“If anything happens, report back immediately.”

Alfred said.

“Of course. We’ll be back soon.”

Mosley and the girl walked away.

Watching them, Leon spoke up.

“Do you think Bain was attacked?”

“Well, the chances are close to zero. But.”

Alfred had memorized the placement of all the second years.

The likelihood of enemies being in the rear was virtually zero.

But.

“I can’t ignore my instincts. No matter how faint they are.”

* * *

“Wow… Alfred sent two. He must have sensed something. He’s not ordinary.”

Professor Karen clapped her hands in excitement.

“Hoohoo, but what now? His response isn’t bad, but it’s actually a thank-you situation for Max. Take down one, get two more! Just like that, hoohoohoo.”

The faces of the other professors, who had united in support of the first years, turned sour.

The more Max, already disliked by the professors, excelled, the more uncomfortable they became.

“Ahem, it’s still clear the first years have the upper hand. Don’t you agree?”

“Of course. The second-year Commons are almost wiped out, and the Nobles will soon follow.”

The professors exchanged words in irritated voices.

It was obvious they were speaking for Professor Karen to hear.

But it had no effect.

“Yes, yes, I agree. The second years need to step up. And they are.”

Professor Karen smiled brightly.

Her attitude made it difficult for the others to argue further.

The professors swallowed their words.

Though their faces remained displeased.

“Oh, it’s starting.”

Regardless, Professor Karen’s eyes shone with excitement again.

* * *

“Damn it…”

Beep beep!

Mosley fell.

“Ugh.”

Beep beep!

The female student fell.

The two of them collapsed next to Bain, who had already been lying on the ground.

“That makes three.”

Max dusted off his hands and grinned.

By his calculations, there were now only five left on the other side.

Though they included heavyweights like Alfred, the Masked Duke, and Leon, the Spear of Thunder, the numbers were manageable.

Even though they were formidable, they were still first-years.

Their potential hadn’t fully blossomed yet.

On the other hand, they had Elaine, a second-year, and Riviera, an almost fully developed named boss.

Even if Allen was more of a burden, the numbers were still roughly even at five versus five.

But if they could tilt the situation further in their favor…

As Max was thinking this.

“Someone’s coming.”

Riviera suddenly said.

“Oh, really? I didn’t expect this. Looks like we’re getting a free meal. Good sign.”

Max cheered.

And so, they waited for the new prey to come closer.

And then.

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Huh?”

Max, Camian, and Annette all exclaimed in surprise.

They froze for a moment like statues.

Then, Camian and Annette noticed their fallen comrades on the ground and their expressions changed.

“This is…”

“Oh my god.”

The two quickly grasped the situation.

But they were so shocked by the sudden encounter that they couldn’t react immediately.

“Capture them.”

Not missing the opportunity, Riviera fired her signature thick magic arrow.

“Wait, wait!”

Bang.

Max barely deflected it with his wooden sword.

All of this happened in an instant.

“What are you doing?”

Riviera blinked and tilted her head in confusion.

Elaine and Allen also looked bewildered.

“Why did you do that?”

Camian’s expression was a mix of various emotions.

The Max he knew was a calculating and quick-thinking man.

Especially on the battlefield.

For Max to risk himself to save them in a mock battle?

It made no sense.

But it had just happened right in front of him.

Why?

“Because you’re on my side.”

“W-What?!”

“W-What?!”

The two were stunned by the unexpected answer.

They froze, unable to process the 0.01% possibility.

“Haha, good acting. Keep it up. You can’t let anyone find out. Keep it natural.”

Max added, making it even more confusing.

“Oh, these juniors are ‘those’ guys?”

“Got it.”

“Phew, I almost attacked our allies without knowing.”

Elaine, Riviera, and Allen naturally accepted the nonsense Max was spouting.

Camian and Annette, on the receiving end, were about to lose their minds.

“Grr, what is this? What’s going on?!”

“S-Senpai, we need an explanation!”

“Hahaha, sure, sure. Keep acting naturally. You’re doing great. Don’t worry about the points. See you later.”

Max smiled and nudged Riviera’s side with his finger.

It was a signal to start the low-altitude flight.

Riviera understood perfectly.

“Let’s go.”

Vroom!

The four of them quickly flew away.

In an instant, only Camian, Annette, and the fallen ‘corpses’ were left.

“W-What is this, Camian? What’s going on?”

Annette clutched her head in panic.

She couldn’t understand the situation at all.

“…”

Camian also struggled to comprehend.

After thinking for a while, he reached a conclusion.

“They’re being cocky.”

“C-Cocky?”

“Yeah. They think we’re easy prey they can take down anytime, so they’re saving their strength and going after other prey first.”

Camian trembled with humiliation.

But Annette’s feelings were different.

‘…That doesn’t seem right.’

She felt something was off but kept quiet.

She didn’t know the right answer either.

“…So what do we do?”

Annette asked.

“As humiliating as it is, we have to accept it.”

“Huh?”

“We’re no match for them right now. So let’s do what we can.”

“What we can?”

“Score some points.”

Camian said.

It was a calculated decision.

Something he had learned from Max.

“I have a rough idea of what’s going on. Let’s head this way. Hurry.”

The two picked up their pace.

* * *

‘Did we manage to get through that?’

I sighed with relief inwardly.

I had thought we might run into the protagonist’s party, but it happened too suddenly.

Still, thanks to being prepared, we managed to get through it somehow.

If it had taken any longer, the whole plan could have fallen apart, but we were lucky.

“Stop for now.”

I halted the low-altitude flight.

Ahead of us awaited the toughest enemy yet.

I had no intention of engaging them head-on.

You have to use your head, especially on the battlefield.

Of course, I had already planned a strategy.

“Oh, is this the place?”

Riviera blinked knowingly.

“Yeah, here.”

The place where they split into two groups.

“We’ll wait at point Sa6, so do your best.”

“Got it.”

“I’ll do my best!”

Riviera and Allen flew off with the low-altitude flight.

“Let’s move too.”

Elaine and I hurried to point Sa6.