Ch.100100. Preparing for the Exchange Competition

Gilbert fidgeted with the innocent teacup placed before him. This anxious demeanor was unlike his usual self, but even someone like Gilbert couldn’t help but appear this way under the current circumstances.

“Hmm…”

Seeing Briana’s eyebrows twitch with apparent displeasure, Gilbert inwardly sighed.

Gilbert’s predicament was, in a way, self-inflicted. The root of the problem was his decision to contact Seraphina directly in an attempt to handle matters quickly.

He had completely omitted any mention of Brynhild to Briana, his mentor and professor at Demeia Academy, which could reasonably be interpreted as disregarding her authority.

Although Briana tended to be insensitive about such matters, strictly speaking, she was a member of a prestigious marquis family and the empire’s finest swordsmaster, renowned for her skill with the blade.

Considering her influence in the empire alone, there were hardly any individuals who could treat her casually—yet Gilbert had done precisely that without hesitation.

Of course, that wasn’t the reason Briana was angry. She actually didn’t care much about such things.

Nevertheless, her reason for being angry with Gilbert was quite straightforward.

“Gilbert Lion Heart.”

Is it just my imagination that I’m being called by my full name more often lately?

Gilbert bowed his head at Briana’s stern call. He was reluctant to meet her piercing gaze.

“Your actions were deceptive toward your mentor. You understand this, don’t you?”

“I do.”

“Of course, I understood the importance of the matter. I also understand that going through the Imperial Princess was the best way to resolve it. However, couldn’t you have at least said something to me?”

“You’re right.”

This was precisely why Briana was angry and why Gilbert was displaying such an attitude.

She felt her authority as a mentor had been violated.

While Briana had many disciples, she only had two personal disciples, including Seraphina.

Considering that Seraphina was the Imperial Princess, Gilbert was essentially her only true disciple.

For Briana, who took the master-disciple relationship seriously above all else, Gilbert’s actions felt deeply hurtful.

Especially since she considered Gilbert a lifelong companion on the path of swordsmanship, her sense of betrayal was immeasurable.

If he had at least given her a hint, Briana wouldn’t have felt this miserable.

Gilbert hadn’t fully grasped all of Briana’s feelings, but he was acutely aware that this incident had greatly upset her.

No, it would have been strange not to know. Normally, she would have let such matters slide, but the fact that she had specifically summoned him and made him sit here spoke volumes.

“It was my shortcoming.”

“For someone who usually has the remarkable talent of surprising people, you certainly don’t show it at times like these. Very well. I’ll let it go this once.”

Somehow I got through it.

Gilbert couldn’t shake the feeling that he had just escaped a pressure more intense than battle. It seemed that his inability to be forceful with those who showed him goodwill remained unchanged from the past to the present.

“I’ve received a general briefing from the Imperial Princess. She mentioned that the Great Warrior Sigurd followed you here for the purpose of a marriage arrangement?”

“That’s the ostensible reason.”

“Ostensible reason… Is that what you think?”

The pressure that had dissipated began to creep back insidiously. He had thought he could breathe easier, but the opposite seemed true—the oppressive atmosphere had intensified, and this was no mere imagination.

From another perspective, it meant his position had become that much more important. She was pressuring him in consideration of the possibility that he might defect to the Sigurd Tribal Union if he entered into a marriage arrangement with Brynhild.

However, for Gilbert, who had not the slightest intention of doing so, this was an extremely tiresome situation.

“You don’t need to speak indirectly. Even if their intention is to draw me into the Sigurd Tribal Union, my loyalty always lies with the Empire.”

“Hmm…”

The gradually building pressure subsided once again. It seemed he had given the right answer this time as well.

After just this brief exchange, Gilbert felt so exhausted that he desperately wanted to return to his quarters and lie down on his bed.

“In any case, since we can’t know what hidden intentions they might have, keep a close watch.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“And there’s one more thing I need to tell you.”

“I’m listening.”

“It will be announced officially soon, but an exchange meeting will be held in the near future.”

So it’s finally here.

Just as Gilbert had predicted, the main scenario this time was the exchange meeting part.

This exchange meeting event was an indispensable element in academy stories, and since Tactical Combat was modeled after academy stories, the exchange meeting appeared as the main scenario.

In realistic terms, this was the result of bringing national power struggles down to the academy level.

Since the emergence of giant mecha soldiers, wars between nations had caused enormous damage to both sides regardless of the outcome.

The astronomical costs of operating giant mecha soldiers and the damage incurred from their battles made waging war too risky an endeavor.

However, the fundamental reason humans formed groups and created hierarchical societies stemmed from the human desire to stand above others. This basic psychology remained unchanged even at the national level.

Naturally, exchange meetings emerged under the pretext of promoting development between academies, which led to invisible power struggles between nations.

In the end, the exchange meeting was essentially a small-scale war between nations, merely dressed up in flowery language.

“This exchange meeting will be held at Demeia Academy for the first time in four years. The Empire is putting considerable effort into it.”

“That seems natural, but… I sense there’s another reason.”

Rather than a mere guess, according to the scenario he had seen in Tactical Combat, there had to be another reason.

Gilbert’s question was intended to verify whether that reason was real.

For better or worse, Briana slowly nodded.

“That’s right. It appears that all the inheritors of the Four Seasons Combat Arts will be participating in this exchange meeting.”

Gilbert’s brows furrowed slightly.

His verification had proven correct.

In Tactical Combat, there were four combat arts known as the Four Seasons Combat Arts.

The Spring Shield corresponding to spring

The Summer Spear corresponding to summer

The Autumn Bow corresponding to autumn

The Winter Sword corresponding to winter

The Winter Sword that Gilbert had learned from Briana was one of these Four Seasons Combat Arts.

In Tactical Combat, when playing as Ian, there was an event that occurred after learning one of these four combat arts.

It was a special event known as the Inheritors of the Four Seasons, which determined the superiority among the inheritors of each combat art.

The success condition for the event wasn’t particularly complicated. As an event to determine superiority, one simply had to defeat the other inheritors—a seemingly straightforward event.

However, as a special event, its difficulty was notorious even among Tactical Combat players.

Considering the difficulty of becoming Briana’s direct disciple to learn the Winter Sword, facing the other inheritors couldn’t possibly be easy.

So much so that many players boldly gave up on this event.

“It’s been nearly a decade since all the inheritors participated in an exchange meeting. You understand what this means, don’t you?”

Rarely did Briana’s eyes burn with such intensity. Though she was cool-headed in all matters, she apparently couldn’t maintain her composure at the mention of the Four Seasons Combat Arts inheritors.

Gilbert met her gaze and spoke without difficulty.

“It’s simple.”

Bizarre difficulty?

Challenging difficulty?

Gilbert inwardly scoffed.

To reiterate, he was a gamer who had cleared all achievements in Tactical Combat.

And among those achievements was certainly the Four Seasons Combat Arts Inheritor achievement.

***

Briana fell into contemplation as she watched her disciple return to his quarters.

She couldn’t forget how unshaken he had appeared when told that the Four Seasons Combat Arts inheritors would be participating in the exchange meeting.

She briefly worried that he might have fallen into arrogance, but it didn’t seem that way.

He had simply appeared composed, as if speaking of something he could naturally accomplish.

Was she seeing things incorrectly due to excessive affection for her disciple?

Briana shook her head.

Even if it was her own misperception, this was clearly a good opportunity for Gilbert.

While losing might hurt his pride as the inheritor of the Winter Sword, experiencing the pain of defeat wouldn’t be a bad thing for Gilbert, who had walked a smooth path until now.

After all, wasn’t the Winter Sword like an ice flower blooming in the harsh winter?

Trials would surely serve as nourishment for him to bloom more splendidly.

For his sake, she could fully accept even a loss in this confrontation between inheritors.

Rather, she was the problem.

Briana’s fine eyebrows furrowed.

Her thoughts turned to the Great Warrior of the Sigurd Tribe who had come to Demeia Academy with Gilbert.

She couldn’t fathom what kind of scheme was at play, what had enticed the innocent Gilbert to come all the way to Demeia Academy.

Objectively speaking, Gilbert was indeed an excellent marriage prospect.

Although his past reputation had been terrible, considering his current status, that could be considered a minor flaw.

With his innate talent for controlling giant mecha soldiers, his fifth-rank knighthood, and his position as the eldest son of the Hart earldom, he was undeniably a first-class husband candidate in anyone’s eyes.

Of course, that was from the perspective of imperial nobility. The standards might differ for the Sigurd Tribe.

However, it was none other than Gilbert who had single-handedly stopped the Sigurd Tribal Union’s invasion this time. For the Sigurd Tribe, which valued strength as the highest virtue, he was the perfect husband candidate.

If that’s really their purpose…

Briana’s expression contorted severely.

She suddenly felt anxious that Gilbert, who could be somewhat naive at times, might be led astray and join the Sigurd Tribal Union.

He had just assured her it wouldn’t happen, but people were unpredictable, weren’t they?

The phrase “just in case” existed for a reason.

Briana couldn’t hide her sudden anxiety and abruptly stood up.

She looked like someone who had just heard that Gilbert was leaving right away.

“Haaah…”

But Briana soon let out a long sigh and slumped back into her seat.

She realized she had been overthinking.

While priding herself on knowing Gilbert better than anyone, she felt a pang of self-reproach for not fundamentally trusting him at this critical moment.

“My mind seems to have grown lax.”

Briana shook her head.

She recalled Seraphina, who had recently visited her, saying her thoughts had deepened.

She hurriedly left her office to find Seraphina.

Briana agreed that there was nothing better than swinging a sword when one’s thoughts became complicated.