Ch.39039. CT-777

Despite the Resistance’s intrusion, the comprehensive evaluation was not redone. The assessment was based on the fourth day, with evaluations determined according to each student’s contribution to the Resistance incident.

Among them, Gilbert received the highest evaluation. The survival knowledge he demonstrated over the four days earned high marks from the professors, but what truly garnered the highest score was his confrontation with the Resistance.

Single-handedly facing seven giant mechs was an achievement worthy of the highest marks. Following him was Ian, who, despite losing consciousness, received high scores for his initial response against the Resistance. Next were the cadets who used magical weapons to suppress the enemy.

Among these cadets, the highest scores went to Angelina, who commanded the students, and Hans, who acted as the action leader. The two maintained top rankings in the comprehensive evaluation, scoring just below Gilbert and Ian.

Rewards for Gilbert were swiftly arranged.

First, he received the Star’s Proof, one of the highest honor badges a cadet could receive at Demeia Academy.

Since the founding of Demeia Academy, cadets who received the Star’s Proof could be counted on one hand—even fewer than those who received the Commander’s Honor Badge in the entrance mock battle. This Star’s Proof was an honor badge that even Princess Seraphina had not received.

Meanwhile, the reward from the Infractus Empire for Gilbert was as he expected: his official appointment as a 6th-grade knight.

Some might say it was merely an appointment to the lowest knight rank, but that wasn’t the reality. In the current continental culture, being appointed as a knight, regardless of rank, was considered an extremely honorable achievement.

Even for the lowest-ranked knights, the appointment process was extremely rigorous, which is why many initially opposed granting Gilbert a 6th-grade knighthood.

However, due to Princess Seraphina’s strong advocacy and recognition of his ability and merit in single-handedly defeating seven giant mechs of the Resistance while still a freshman cadet, it was decided to award him the 6th-grade knighthood.

Thus, the greatest reward Gilbert gained from the Resistance incident was social honor. While some still viewed him as a ruffian, no one could openly disrespect or insult someone who had been appointed a knight while still a cadet.

This was exactly as he had expected. In Tactical Combat, this was the reward for handling the Resistance while being Professor Briana’s exclusive disciple. There were additional rewards like prize money and potions to enhance magical power, but the greatest reward was undoubtedly the knighthood.

However, what Gilbert was most looking forward to now wasn’t the expected imperial reward, but the prototype artificial spirit before him. As a byproduct created during the development of next-generation artificial spirits, no one currently knew the true value of this artificial spirit.

For this reason, after successfully completing the development of the next-generation artificial spirit, the research team was going to dispose of this prototype. However, a researcher who exploited a loophole in the system diverted this prototype artificial spirit and sold it at a high price.

After passing through various black markets, it eventually ended up in the hands of the current Resistance leader, later appearing as a powerful enemy in the main story.

In Tactical Combat’s storyline, there was structurally no way to divert this prototype artificial spirit, but reality was different.

Gilbert had made a gamble-like request to Professor Horizon, and thanks to the Resistance incident, he was able to obtain it without much difficulty.

It was fair to say that the Empire had given special treatment to Gilbert, who showed the qualities of becoming a national hero. If not that, it could have been due to his background as a member of the famous Iron Blood Margrave family and the influence of Seraphina, a powerful heir to the throne.

Combined with the request from Professor Horizon, the Sage of the Continent, they couldn’t withhold the prototype artificial spirit any longer.

With reverence, Gilbert infused mana into the beautifully packaged prototype artificial spirit. Golden mana began to accumulate in the core of the artificial spirit.

Eventually, the dormant artificial spirit, having absorbed sufficient mana, began to activate.

[Serial Number CT-777 initiating startup. Requesting formal contract for complete activation.]

Yes, this is it…!

Gilbert felt deeply moved by CT-777’s words as it began to activate, and proceeded with the formal contract.

“6th-grade Knight, Gilbert Lion Heart. I accept CT-777’s request for a formal contract.”

[Proceeding with formal contract. Contract complete. 6th-grade Knight, Gilbert Lion Heart, registered as CT-777’s knight.]

CT-777’s core absorbed Gilbert’s magical pattern and took on a golden hue. Gilbert smiled at the artificial spirit he had finally obtained.

[Knight. Do we currently have any assigned missions?]

Typical of a prototype, perhaps. With no input commands, CT-777 asked Gilbert about any immediate missions to be carried out.

“Not yet. But I have a question, CT.”

[Speak, Knight.]

“What was your previous mission?”

It was a sudden curiosity. CT-777 was a prototype artificial spirit. Gilbert knew it had helped develop the next-generation artificial spirits before coming into his possession, but even as a veteran player of Tactical Combat, he didn’t know the details.

CT-777 was a kind of MacGuffin that disappeared with the Resistance leader, so little was known about it. Now that he had the opportunity, it was natural to ask such questions.

[My previous mission was to assist in the development of next-generation artificial spirits.]

“Was that all?”

[Correct. That mission was completed before I came to you, Knight. From now on, only orders given to us will have priority.]

“Then what contribution did you make to the artificial spirit development, CT?”

[It was the analysis of data from the artificial spirit that served as CT-777’s motif.]

“An artificial spirit that served as your motif? What kind of artificial spirit was that?”

Gilbert became excited at the prospect of learning about the MacGuffin connected to CT-777. Despite his complaints and efforts to adapt to this world, he was a hardcore fan of Tactical Combat. How could he not be thrilled at the chance to hear stories that were unknown in the original work?

[Classified as confidential. Confirming change in command priority through formal contract.]

“You can’t tell me?”

That would be disappointing. As Gilbert anxiously waited for CT-777’s response, he received confirmation that it could answer due to the change in command priority.

[The artificial spirit that served as CT-777’s motif was the artificial spirit of the ancient giant mech Colossus.]

“Colossus?”

I didn’t expect that. Gilbert felt as if he’d been struck by something upon hearing CT-777’s words. Now he understood why CT-777 showed such outstanding performance.

The ancient giant mech Colossus.

It was the giant mech of Atlantica, a civilization that had achieved brilliance in the past, and the most powerful giant mech in Tactical Combat.

It made sense that CT-777’s performance was exceptional if it was created based on data from Colossus found in discovered ruins.

“Was there data remaining on Colossus?”

[Yes. However, due to data loss, complete restoration was impossible. CT-777 is the prototype created by analyzing the discovered giant mech and artificial spirit as much as possible. Since my first activation, my mission has been to restore Colossus and its artificial spirit.]

“I understand. So that’s how it happened.”

Satisfied with having solved one of Tactical Combat’s MacGuffins, Gilbert invested time in building a bond with CT-777. This was an essential process if he was to work well with CT-777 in the future.

Thus, Gilbert spent the day exchanging questions and answers with CT-777.

***

“Damn it…!”

Ian hurled whatever was in his hand at the wall with all his might. Glass fragments scattered in the air with a crash.

But the anger and shame boiling deep in his heart showed no signs of subsiding.

His room, usually kept neat and tidy, was now in complete disarray. It seemed he had thrown everything he could get his hands on, as broken fragments were scattered everywhere.

There was only one reason Ian was so angry.

“Gilbert…Lion…Heart…!”

It was because of Gilbert. He had tasted the greatest humiliation of his life in this comprehensive evaluation.

Ian had been caught off guard, naively thinking there was only one Resistance member, and had promptly lost consciousness.

And the one who dealt with the Resistance in place of the unconscious Ian was Gilbert Lion Heart, the very person he had acknowledged as his rival.

Such humiliation and disgrace were unprecedented in Ian’s life. How could it be that a moment’s carelessness led to his unconsciousness, and his rival took his place?

Nevertheless, Ian did not deny this fact but accepted and endured it. He had certainly been arrogant. Everything he had wanted to do had gone so well until now that he lacked any sense of crisis.

Ian believed this was why he had suffered such humiliation. He deeply reflected and firmly resolved that such a thing must never happen again.

As he finally calmed himself, he began to slowly clean up the room he had made a mess of.

‘That aside, Gilbert Lion Heart. He is the biggest obstacle for me.’

As he swept up the fragments, his thoughts turned to Gilbert. The anger that had made him tremble just moments ago had subsided, allowing him to think objectively.

Ian recalled the events of the comprehensive evaluation as he dumped the collected fragments into the trash. The skill of a single Resistance member wasn’t particularly good, but when it came to seven giant mechs, the story changed.

Even for Ian, facing that many giant mechs would certainly be challenging. The saying that one hand cannot block ten hands doesn’t exist for nothing.

But Gilbert had single-handedly dealt with all seven giant mechs and was appointed as a 6th-grade knight. He had claimed the glory that should have belonged to Ian.

Ian couldn’t shake the thought that Gilbert’s existence was both his rival and a trial to be overcome. It could be that Gilbert existed to make the protagonist—Ian—shine brighter, as if Ian were the main character.

No, he definitely existed for that purpose. As a stepping stone for Ian’s own growth.

‘Gilbert Lion Heart. I’ll accept you as my worthy opponent from now on. So enjoy the present to your heart’s content. Such luck won’t come your way again.’

Ian’s eyes flashed as he clenched his fist. The protagonist always blooms brilliantly amidst adversity.

And as always, the protagonist of this world was Ian.