Ch.193Chapter 193: Comrades (1).

# Chapter 193: Comrades (1)

Lisa was the first to let out a shrill scream and jump up.

To her, the Lamrfo Merchant Guild wasn’t just a simple sponsor.

They were friendly and grateful figures who always smiled and generously provided the finest goods whenever she made troublesome requests. And now they were in danger!

“That’s impossible! Who would dare touch our Uncle Lamrfo?! What kind of lunatics are they?!” Her voice trembled with rage.

Robin adjusted his glasses, deeply furrowing his brow. His eyes gleamed sharply.

“The Dark Society… Have they extended their reach even to the Duron Kingdom? It seems they weren’t satisfied with just the East and North. What could their purpose be?”

“Kraaak! Those damn Dark Society bastards!”

Victor couldn’t contain himself and slammed his massive fist on the nearby table.

With a loud crash, the table leg broke off.

“Damn it! Lamrfo is such a good person! How dare they?! I’ll rush over there right now and smash all their heads in!!”

Lilith silently moved to Valt’s side.

Her red eyes glowed coldly, and an invisible killing intent swirled around her.

All his friends felt deep anger at the fact that someone had dared to harm Valt’s “friend.”

Just then, Elias spoke with the composure befitting a princess.

Her voice was low and serious.

“Everyone, calm down. This is an extremely serious matter. The Lamrfo Merchant Guild has a significant impact on the economies of both the Empire and the Duron Kingdom. This may go beyond targeting a single guild—it could be an attempt to shake the relationship between the two kingdoms or the economy of the entire continent. This… isn’t something we should act on based on personal emotions. We need to report this to Chancellor Baldur immediately and discuss a response at the Empire and Academy level.”

No one disagreed with Elias’s cold judgment.

Valt thought the same. Though his anger boiled, the Dark Society wasn’t an enemy that could be dealt with on emotion alone.

***

In response to their urgent request for an audience, Chancellor Baldur immediately called Valt and Elias to his office, setting aside the mountain of paperwork.

Deep concern was already etched on the Chancellor’s face.

“So, Valt, Elias… Your Highness. I’ve heard the situation.”

The Chancellor’s expression was extremely grave.

“Chancellor, I wish to be treated as a Grovint student.”

The Chancellor cleared his throat.

“Very well, Miss Elias.”

Then the Chancellor began to speak.

“Actually, the Duron Kingdom has already unofficially expressed concern about the recent unfortunate incidents and requested information sharing. But to think that the Dark Society would be directly implicated… After the East and North, are they now trying to sever the economic arteries of the continent?”

After Valt reported in detail what Princess Siloin had told him at the teahouse, the Chancellor heaved a heavy sigh and rose from his seat.

He gazed out the window at the peaceful Academy scenery in silence for a while. He seemed to realize how precarious that peace truly was.

“…The problem is…”

The Chancellor finally spoke with gravity.

“The current situation of the Empire and the Academy is not favorable. We’re pouring enormous resources and manpower into reconstruction efforts following the Eastern War, and in the North, remnants of the Frost Lord’s forces and mutated monsters are still appearing, tying up part of our elite knights. Moreover… our intelligence department and mage corps are fully focused on rooting out Dark Society spies hidden within the Empire and understanding their plots. To be frank, we severely lack… trustworthy large-scale investigation teams or elite support forces that we can dispatch to the Duron Kingdom right now.”

The air in the office grew heavier with the Chancellor’s confession. One could feel the anguish of a ruler who had to set priorities in a national crisis.

“This is why Duron hasn’t explicitly requested aid from the Empire. And Duron likely wants to resolve this issue with their own hands…”

Valt had already anticipated this and silently waited for his next words.

“So, Valt.”

The Chancellor turned to face him.

His eyes held both apology and desperate trust.

“I know this is a shameless request. It hasn’t even been three days since you returned from the East, and I’m well aware of your great achievements and how exhausted you must be. However… in this situation, the only person who knows the Lamrfo Merchant Guild well and has experience directly confronting those Dark Society bastards and chilling their hearts is… you. And beside you stand reliable comrades who have overcome various hardships together.”

The Chancellor placed his hand on Valt’s shoulder. That touch carried the weight of concern for the Empire’s future.

“Please… could you and the comrades you trust go to Duron? Go and ascertain the exact extent of damage to the Lamrfo Merchant Guild and gather concrete information about the Dark Society’s movements. It would be ideal if you could crush their plot and protect the guild, but for now, accurate information gathering is the priority. The Empire and Academy will decide on follow-up support based on the information you send. The importance of this mission… cannot be overstated.”

It was an official mission request.

For Lamrfo’s sake, and to stop the Dark Society’s machinations, it was a request he couldn’t refuse.

Valt looked the Chancellor in the eye and answered briefly.

“…I understand, Chancellor. We will go.”

Relief finally crossed the Chancellor’s face.

“Thank you! Thank you so much, Valt!”

Then came the Chancellor’s surprising words.

“But! I cannot send just you young students alone. This mission could be on a different level from previous ones. We’re dealing with the Dark Society. We don’t know what vile and unexpected methods they might employ. We need at least some safety measures.”

The Chancellor stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then spoke with determination.

“Professor Leman! Yes, Professor Leman would be perfect! I’ll have him accompany you as both supervisor and advisor! As a Master, he should be of great help to you all.”

***

After leaving the Chancellor’s office, Valt immediately reconvened his comrades.

He detailed the Chancellor’s decision and the mission content.

The fact that they needed to go to the Duron Kingdom and the possibility of direct confrontation with the Dark Society cast a solemn tension over everyone’s faces.

“However… there’s one issue.”

Valt reluctantly spoke up. His voice was low and serious.

“According to the Chancellor and Professor Leman’s assessment, this mission differs in nature from our previous large-scale battles. Rather than widespread combat, it’s more likely to involve direct confrontation with a small number of core Dark Society agents, infiltration, or information warfare. Therefore… this time, instead of a large group, we need to form a team of elite few with clear roles and exceptional individual combat abilities.”

He took a moment to catch his breath. Now came the most difficult part. He looked at each of his comrades in turn.

All eyes focused on him, filled with a mixture of expectation and anxiety.

“At minimum… those without skills comparable to Airin or Lati might become obstacles to the mission or expose themselves to unpredictable dangers… That’s the final judgment of the Chancellor and Professor. I… also agree with that assessment.”

Instantly, the air in the lounge froze like ice. Valt’s words were a clear cutoff line and, for some, a cruel sentence.

Lisa cried out in disbelief.

“W-what?! So… I can’t go?!”

“That’s right, Lisa. This time it’s not about strategy.”

Her face turned pale.

“T-that can’t be!!”

Victor and Robin silently clenched their fists. Their wide eyes burned with disappointment and defiance.

They wanted to fight alongside Valt more than anyone.

Just then, Yuria, who had been watching the situation with interest from a corner, stretched her injured body and stepped forward.

She snickered as she looked over the excluded members.

“Kekek! Isn’t it obvious? If you’re weak, you stay behind. Why risk becoming a liability during the mission? You little kids should just stay at the Academy and play with dolls!”

Solfin also folded his arms and curled his lips in mockery.

“Pfft! Just as I expected. This was never a place for you to begin with. Practice packing your bags! Oh wait, you don’t even need to pack! You’re staying here!”

“Hey! You have no right to—!”

Solfin slammed his fist on the desk with a bang.

“That’s why, you idiots!! Get stronger quickly!! How long does Valt have to keep cleaning up after you?!”

Solfin’s harsh words silenced everyone.

In truth, they were among the top late-bloomers not just in the Academy but throughout the Empire.

But villains don’t care about such distinctions.

If you lack ability, you die.

This was the cruel reality.

Lilith remained expressionless, but her cold gaze seemed to say, “It’s only natural that those without skill are eliminated.”

Airin and Lati wore apologetic expressions, not knowing what to do.

“…I’m sorry, everyone. But as the Chancellor said… this mission could be truly dangerous. We’ll… definitely succeed and come back.”

Airin tried to comfort them gently, but her words fell on deaf ears.

Perhaps those left behind would be stronger the next time they met.

Just then, tears began to well up in Arias’s eyes.

She looked back and forth between Valt and Lilith, who had moved slightly closer to him, in disbelief with trembling eyes.

More than the others’ mockery or the fact of being excluded, what hurt her heart most deeply was that Lilith would naturally go along while she had to stay behind.

‘Am I… really of no help to Valt? Am I… worse than Lilith?’

A deep emotion that couldn’t be explained by reason troubled her heart.

“…Lilith is… going… but why can’t I…?”

Her trembling voice echoed in the quiet lounge.

It was mixed with hurt feelings, jealousy, sadness about her own inadequacy, and a desperate desire not to leave Valt’s side.

“Am I… am I that… weak and… unhelpful… Valt?”

Seeing Arias looking up at him with teary eyes, Valt’s heart sank.

A sharp pain pierced a corner of his heart. But he was the leader. He had to take responsibility for the success of this mission and everyone’s safety.

He deliberately avoided Arias’s sorrowful gaze and spoke in a firm but low voice.

“I’m sorry, Arias. It’s because of the special nature of this mission. It’s not your fault. This decision is necessary for your safety as well.”

His voice was unwavering, but it was clear that he too was uncomfortable.

His gaze lingered on Arias for a moment before turning to the other excluded members.

“I understand how you all feel. But just this once, I ask you to follow my decision. Become stronger. That’s how we can be together.”

At that moment, the lounge door burst open roughly, and Professor Leman entered with a deeply furrowed brow.

Seeing this complex and emotional scene, he irritably shouted.

“Quiet! You brats! Do you think this is the time to cry and fight?! Don’t question what’s been decided! Those who are going, pack your bags now! Anyone who dawdles gets left behind!”

Professor Leman’s stern command forcibly settled the chaotic atmosphere.

The final party members were confirmed as Valt, Leman, Lilith, Solfin, Airin, Lati, and Yuria.

The gravity of those departing and the complex feelings of those left behind, especially Arias’s sorrowful gaze, hung heavily in the lounge.

“…I’ll get ready.”

Valt said briefly and turned away. He could feel the stinging gazes of his friends on his back.

The journey to the Duron Kingdom was already proving difficult from the start. Internally, they had to manage complex emotions; externally, they faced the formidable enemy known as the Dark Society.

Valt’s shoulders had never felt heavier.