Ch.104Ready to Depart

Dispatch Request.

This refers to requests where the Imperial Knights, having received demands to handle issues occurring throughout the territory, select appropriate matters and pass them on to Academy students, ultimately allowing students to resolve these issues directly.

In other words, it’s mercenary work arranged by the Empire, or a subcontract of a subcontract.

To explain why this system was introduced to the Academy, we must go back to a time when the entire continent was in turmoil due to war.

At that time, eighty percent of the Imperial army was being ground down daily on frontlines in all directions, causing internal security within the Empire to be extremely chaotic.

Therefore, the Imperial House decided to use students being trained at the Academy for maintaining public order.

Unlike the frontlines where even Masters frequently lost their lives, most problems within the Empire could be resolved by anyone with the skill level of a decent knight.

If you think about it, they were essentially child soldiers.

At that time, combat personnel were scarce, and second-year Academy students were only around 16 years old.

Moreover, they didn’t even need to provide significant compensation.

They could simply claim that the students should be grateful for gaining appropriate field experience before entering the Imperial Knights after graduation.

For rulers, passion and justice have always been lovely concepts. Because they don’t cost money.

—-

“So, what’s your point?”

“There’s plenty of work. It’s an opportunity to use Master-level warriors without spending a penny.”

Frider waved the paper he was holding in front of my face.

Even at a glance, it was a request form densely filled with over a dozen missions.

Everyone moves quickly.

It hasn’t even been three days since we registered our party’s combat power at the Academy.

“This is what’s left after removing useless requests like monster subjugation or bandit elimination. We can pick whatever we want from these.”

“Let me see that.”

I carefully read the request form handed to me by Frider.

1. Suspected abnormal phenomena occurring in Orc Tears Gorge, possibly indicating monster emergence.

“What’s Orc Tears Gorge? What kind of name is that?”

“It must be Bergman Gorge. The place where the last Orc tribe was completely fried in boiling oil.”

…The Empire’s old stories seem too brutal every time I hear them.

Should I apologize to the Orcs for unconsciously thinking about pork cutlets?

2. Undead-type monster horde rampaging in western Ainfeld territory. Currently under defensive alert.

A horde of undead monsters. Given the term “horde,” it must be more than just one or two. Did they fail to respond early enough?

Looking at the situation, this should have been a mission for the Knights in the first place, so why did it come to me?

I should put this request on hold.

Fighting against armies was still something to avoid.

As the number of enemies increases, so do the variables, and I might not be able to protect the others if something happens.

3. Recruiting short-term support troops for the southern border fortress. Service period: 3 months.

“Come to think of it, didn’t they say something about a spider-bird appearing?”

“That’s right. There was some damage from a sudden air raid.”

Spider-bird.

It’s a low-level monster belonging to the hybrid category, but being able to fly makes it difficult for knights and soldiers to deal with.

4. Recruiting for Sky Mountains survey team. Those with reconnaissance abilities preferred.

“…You deliberately picked this one, didn’t you?”

“The North always welcomes brave knights! …You’ll be doing this plenty after graduation anyway, right?”

Frider said in an exaggerated tone, as if imitating me.

I don’t want to go north. Why would I serve in that cold place when I could be in the east, which will become my territory?

If the Werebeasts launch a large-scale invasion… then I might have to go there.

Is that contract even still valid anyway?

Unlike back then, I now have all sorts of backing, from being the successor to a Marquis to being a descendant of the Great’s Twelve Knights.

By graduation, I’ll have even more. While my status as a Ka’har princess will become nominal, the rest should be enough to make forced military service impossible.

5. Unidentified dungeon discovered inside Carmine Forest, leaking Dark Mana. Investigation and elimination requested.

“Oh, this looks good.”

“Which one, the unidentified dungeon elimination? It’s not… dangerous. Come to think of it.”

Frider looked at me and nodded.

Normally, dungeons leaking Dark Mana are top-priority missions to avoid.

Dungeons generally spawn stronger monsters than outdoor areas, and it’s difficult to know what kinds of monsters are there or how many.

Additionally, their narrow and complex structure makes ambushes common and retreat difficult.

However, with our level of combat power, there shouldn’t be any problems.

Combining me and Frider, we have the combat power of two Masters, and if there were monsters that could defeat us in a dungeon, Dark Mana wouldn’t just be leaking out—it would be gushing out like an explosion.

Obviously, such a situation wouldn’t be a mere request like this; it would trigger an emergency containment order with the Empire’s Masters being deployed.

“Let’s go with this one. How long would it take to reach Carmine Forest from here?”

“Let me see… about six days, I think.”

So about two weeks total. That’s quite a journey.

I wonder how long until airships become commonplace. Get to work, you mage tower people.

“Then, you and me, Demian and Millia, and Nigel should be enough. We’ll need to prepare a carriage, holy water, recovery potions, and other things.”

“More than enough, actually excessive. This much combat power traveling together is a bit inefficient.”

“We don’t have much choice for now. If I move, Nigel will definitely follow, and Demian and Millia alone aren’t reliable enough yet.”

I actually agreed with Frider’s point.

Having the combat power of three Masters traveling together is an excessive waste of resources.

The Empire and Academy are leaving us alone for now because monster occurrences are still at a manageable level, but once monster appearances increase in earnest, they’ll intervene. Suggesting we divide our forces a bit.

That’s why I was planning to move separately from Demian and Millia once they gained enough experience.

“That’s true. Anyway, I’ll handle the preparations and registration, so just let Demian and Millia know about the request.”

“Oh, Senior Frider! I am overwhelmed by your lofty generosity!”

Frider suddenly grinned.

What’s this? I thought he would blush like last time.

“…You know what? If you get assigned to the North, you’ll be under my command. Let’s see how that goes?”

“Huh? Using a Master-level warrior as a mere subordinate?”

By that point, I’d probably be beyond Master level.

Wouldn’t someone with that level of skill normally be made commander of an independent unit?

“Of course! There have been plenty of cases where giving command to someone just because they’re skilled resulted in an idiot with strength wiping out their entire unit. Not saying that’s you, just talking about history, history.”

Looking down at the chuckling Frider, I once again resolved not to go to the North.

In truth, if I abandoned my conscience a bit, I could find plenty of loopholes in the contract requiring five years of military service after graduation.

—-

The next day featured a theology lecture.

A professor in black priestly robes continued his explanation about the four evil gods.

“-And so the seven beasts devoured each other, and only four remained, as it is told. These are the Four Evil Gods, wicked beings worshipped by black mages, dark humans, and witches.”

Vanirgand of Wrath and Gluttony.

Lilith of Lust and Pride.

Fafnir of Sloth and Greed.

And Invidius of Envy.

“Isn’t Invidius a bit unusual? Doesn’t the name itself just mean ‘envy,’ unlike the other evil gods?”

A student asked the professor.

“Good observation. That’s because the Beast of Envy was the only one unable to devour other beasts.”

The professor nodded and traced his finger along the scripture he was holding.

“Unlike the other three who devoured their opponents and ascended to godhood, only this one remained as a beast. Driven mad with envy, it devoured itself and used this as a sacrifice to become an evil god of equal rank. That’s why it lost even its own name.”

I suppose one could go mad with envy in such a situation.

Like a loner left alone on a dance floor where everyone else is paired up.

I remembered seeing such a child at school when I was very young. It was pitiful.

I half-listened to the professor’s lecture while explaining the dispatch schedule to Demian and Millia.

We would depart in two days, on the weekend.

—-

After the lecture, I caught Ophelia’s eye and beckoned her to the alley where we had talked before.

“What is it? It’s not good for us to meet frequently.”

Ophelia lit my cigarette and leaned against the alley wall with her arms crossed.

“I’ll be away on an outside mission for about two weeks. Just letting you know. If you’re planning to execute your plan during that time, I won’t be able to participate.”

“Two weeks shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve roughly formulated a plan, but preparations aren’t complete yet.”

Ophelia explained just the outline of the plan.

…It seems a bit ambiguous.

“Aren’t you relying too much on uncertain factors? It seems meaningless if your target doesn’t move according to your expectations.”

“Managing that is my job. Don’t worry. Given my sister’s personality, she’ll definitely act as I predict.”

Ophelia flashed a confident smile.

Well, I’m not so sure. We’ll see.

Oh, that reminds me.

“I met your sister at the palace banquet hall before. That woman, she was strangely clingy? Like she’s interested in women. Did you know about that?”

“Of course I knew. I’ve seen my sister secretly bringing other women to her bedroom more than once.”

Ophelia smiled strangely.

Her lips curved in what appeared to be joy, but her eyes were full of contempt—a twisted smile.

“She probably thinks she hid it well from me. Not realizing how obvious it was.”

Ophelia licked her lips slightly, her crossed fingers twitching oddly.

Hmm.

Better not get involved.

It looks rather unsettling, no matter how I look at it.

—-

Two days later in the morning, we headed toward Carmine Forest in the carriage prepared by Frider.