Ch.7878. Camilla’s Companionship

The Demeia Academy has two one-month vacation periods each year. At first glance, these breaks seemed meant for rest and recuperation amid the academy’s intense schedule, but the reality was somewhat different.

It was true that rest and recuperation were implied purposes. The human body inevitably breaks down without adequate rest, making it crucial to soothe one’s tired mind and body after enduring competition and evaluations.

However, if one focused solely on relaxation during this sweet respite, it would become even more difficult to close gaps that had been painstakingly narrowed or to reduce gaps that had already widened. Even when given the same amount of time, how one used it varied tremendously depending on individual capability.

In fact, after these breaks, the differences in skill levels among cadets often either shrank or expanded dramatically. It was quite common for leading cadets to be caught up to by those trailing behind, or for small gaps to widen into seemingly insurmountable ones.

This was Demeia Academy’s calculated strategy. It meant that even during rest, one should never let go of tension and should train continuously. Only those who quickly grasped this hidden meaning could maintain their positions at the top of the academy rankings.

“So, you must never neglect your training.”

“Lady Angelina, do you realize how many times you’ve said that now?”

Hans sighed deeply as he looked at Angelina, whose eyes were blazing with intensity. Despite his reputation for being frivolous and lighthearted, he felt disheartened at having to hear the same lecture repeatedly.

While he fully acknowledged that he had many flaws compared to Angelina’s meticulous character, he had no intention of foolishly wasting the break period. Having entered Demeia Academy as a commoner, he couldn’t afford to live without fierce determination if he wanted to save face with his family. Even now, thinking of his parents and siblings back home who were proud of him, even bone-grinding effort seemed insufficient.

Moreover, hadn’t he just met Gilbert, a figure who would become a guidepost for his life? Knowing that Gilbert, who already held a knighthood, pushed his body to the limit every day, Hans was training with the determination to cough blood just to follow in his footsteps.

Despite it being a break period, Hans had no intention of stopping his training.

“I repeated it because it’s important.”

“I understand that much, even if it’s me. After all, the person I need to follow is so far ahead that I have no choice but to sprint with all my might, right?”

“…That’s true.”

Angelina nodded as she watched Gilbert standing at the podium as the class representative for the break commencement ceremony. It seemed almost surreal that someone who had once carried the label of “delinquent” when he first enrolled was now serving as class representative and delivering the break ceremony speech. Somehow it felt unreal, but Gilbert had not only shattered his previous reputation but had become the academy’s next-generation hero.

Of course, this didn’t erase the things he had done during his delinquent days. There would still be people suffering from his past reckless actions, and that would remain a difficult challenge for Gilbert to resolve.

However, if he continued to show his current self, she believed he would resolve those issues without problems, whenever the time came. That was just who Gilbert was.

Angelina watched her chosen commander with a faint smile.

Meanwhile, Gilbert, who was receiving such fervent support from Angelina and Hans…

[Main Scenario: The Descendants of Sigurd will now begin.]

…was glaring fiercely at the notification window announcing the official start of the main scenario.

***

Traveling by land from Demeia Academy in the empire’s center to the Lituania territory at the western edge would take more than a month by carriage alone, and even that wouldn’t be enough time. Particularly, Bismarck, where the Hart County family was located, was situated at the border of the Lituania territory, meaning a journey by carriage might take over two months.

If Gilbert had needed to travel to Bismarck by carriage to resolve the main scenario, the break period would have ended before he even reached the territory, and the main scenario would have already progressed to failure before then.

Fortunately for him, this world had developed technology that could dramatically reduce long-distance travel. This was the warp magic circle commonly seen in fantasy worlds.

In a world where magic engineering had advanced dramatically with the birth of god-machine soldiers, warp magic circles also existed. Like the creation of god-machine soldiers, it began as research for military applications. Drastically reducing travel distances meant reducing the military supplies needed for army movements, which led to military cost savings.

The longer a war continued, the more exponentially the required military funds would increase. If that period could be shortened and military expenses reduced, it would be possible to maximize profits with minimal losses.

Moreover, if armies could be moved quickly to desired locations, it could change the course of warfare. Ambushes would lose their meaning, and tracking troop movements would become difficult, making it even harder to read an enemy’s offensive intentions.

If warp magic circles were developed as intended, it would truly be revolutionary for warfare.

To conclude, warp magic circles never became a military revolution. The cost of creating and maintaining a warp magic circle was dozens of times more than producing and maintaining god-machine soldiers.

Particularly, warp magic using spatial coordinates had many stability issues, making it completely unsuitable for surprise attacks on enemies. If an enemy noticed the warp and disrupted the spatial coordinates, there was a risk of total annihilation during transit.

This might make them seem entirely useless, but they could still be installed at key territory strongholds to supplement troops in case of war or to support flexible defensive operations by reinforcing battlefields.

Of course, since wars didn’t occur constantly, warp magic circles were used for long-distance travel during peacetime, with expensive usage fees covering their maintenance costs.

Gilbert also planned to use a warp magic circle to reach the distant Bismarck. However, since Demeia Academy didn’t have a warp magic circle installed for various reasons, he needed to travel to the nearest territory that had one.

And the closest place to Demeia Academy with a warp magic circle was…

“Gilbert! Can I come with you to Bismarck this time?”

“No.”

“Why not! I’m offering to come along, all cute and adorable, and you should eagerly say yes!”

The territory of Camilla Alakel Tristitia’s family. That is, the Tristitia County family.

Gilbert was currently in a carriage heading to the Tristitia County territory, having been practically kidnapped by Camilla, who caught him trying to hire a carriage to her family’s home.

He ended up in the same carriage without a chance to refuse, swept up by Camilla’s pace.

While it was true that he had found considerable comfort in her behavior during the academy attack, traveling in a carriage with her constant chatter was quite exhausting.

Unlike what one would expect from a noble daughter of a prestigious county family, the tomboyish Camilla couldn’t stay still for a moment.

If this were modern times, one might suspect she’d be diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.

“Setting aside how cute and adorable you are, why do you want to go to Bismarck?”

“Setting aside how cute and adorable I am? There’s no limit to what you’ll say to a beautiful young lady!”

My Gilbert wouldn’t act like this!

Seeing her shriek made his head ache.

“Why do you want to come to Bismarck?”

“Hmm… because it sounds fun?”

Gilbert momentarily felt the urge to smack Camilla’s head as she pretended to be cute. At this point, he seriously wondered if they were simply incompatible.

“No violence! Don’t make a fist!”

“Sigh… talking with you gives me a headache.”

“Thanks for the compliment~”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

Gilbert sighed deeply, shook his head, and looked out the window. It was a temporary measure to avoid worsening his headache by continuing to engage with her.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“…What?”

After staring out the window mindlessly for a while, Gilbert turned his head at Camilla’s sudden question. Her large, clear eyes held an unusual calmness.

“You’ve seemed worried since before we got in the carriage. Is something wrong in your territory?”

“It’s nothing like that.”

Gilbert was inwardly surprised but feigned composure. He didn’t think his emotional changes had been visible on his face, yet she had pierced through to his complex thoughts about the main scenario.

It was a sharp observation uncharacteristic of Camilla, who typically viewed the world through self-centered thoughts and interest-based perspectives.

Or perhaps this was Gilbert’s narrow-minded thinking. He might have judged her with a limited view, not knowing the real Camilla well.

“You’re still worried about something? This won’t do. I’m coming with you to Bismarck.”

“I already said no.”

“I’m just going to sightsee in Bismarck?”

“Camilla.”

“Oh! Gilbert, we’ve arrived!”

Gilbert sighed deeply again as Camilla deliberately cut off the conversation. He knew too well from experience that she wouldn’t listen no matter what he said.

Camilla, realizing Gilbert had given up, stretched out both arms. Having received his permission, albeit reluctantly, she only needed to welcome her friend who had come to visit her territory.

“Welcome to the Rigidus territory!”

The Rigidus territory of Tristitia, one of the three county families supporting the empire.

It was the moment Gilbert first set foot there.