Ch.81Chapter 81: Eradicating the Criminal Organization (1)

Everyone gathered in the room looks at Balt.

At that moment, Shukville Laurent, Changje’s disciple, timidly raises his hand.

“Um… I-I’m sorry, but… I don’t really understand why I’m here… C-could someone explain?”

Shukville was surprisingly shy by nature.

He had always been quiet in class, and I thought he was the type who avoided unnecessary talk, but this was unexpected.

However, he was the kind of person whose personality changed completely during duels, practical training, or missions.

“I thought everyone had heard the basics already? Did you not get the information?”

Shukville scratches the back of his neck at Balt’s question.

“No… Riduin just told me to shut up and follow him…”

“Hoho, what nonsense is this child speaking? You were the one who happily followed when I said you could duel with Balt, remember?”

It seems Riduin had tricked Shukville into following by using Balt as bait.

Lisa and Lati whisper to each other nearby.

“Huh? That’s quite an interesting combination, isn’t it? Magic Tower and Changje?”

Lisa and Lati briefly explained the situation to Shukville, who then agreed to help.

“First of all, it’s impossible for all of us to move together. We need to split into teams.”

Lisa might be among the weakest here, but her insight was second to none.

“So I’ve put together some teams. What do you think?”

Team 1 – Balt, Arias

Team 2 – Solphin, Robin, Victor, Lisa

Team 3 – Liris, Yuria, Lati, Seirun

Team 4 – Airin, Elias, Riduin, Shukville

Everyone tilts their heads looking at Lisa’s team arrangements.

Especially Solphin and Liris express their doubts.

“Is this right?”

Arias’s face turns slightly red at Lisa’s consideration, while Liris, uncharacteristically, frowns and glares at Lisa.

“This is the best arrangement, I’m telling you! Sure, putting Liris or Solphin with Balt would make an incredibly strong team, but that would throw off the balance. What we need right now is information gathering and the ability to escape danger when necessary. Can anyone think of a better way?”

As everyone ponders this, Lisa seizes the opportunity to continue.

“Balt alone is worth three people. Honestly, he could go by himself. But he needs a partner for unexpected situations. If Balt just has Arias’s healing abilities, he could take on all the other parties combined. I’ll bet my next semester’s grades on it. What will you bet?”

It’s actually quite a good combination. Aura users and mages are appropriately mixed.

Team 2 might seem lacking in magical abilities, but Solphin himself is quite an accomplished mage, and only Lisa or Lati can control him.

Strangely, Solphin has a soft spot for those two.

“Hmm… It would indeed be difficult to arrange it better.”

Plus, placing Riduin and Airin with the princess is a good tactical move in case something happens to Her Highness.

“Right? Right? The rest can be adjusted as we carry out the mission. Now, everyone get into your teams!”

Solphin languidly pats Lisa’s head.

“Hey, squirt. Can you keep up? Wouldn’t it be better for you to stay here and give orders?”

But Lisa had an oddly excited expression.

“No way! If I can’t keep up, I’ll just cling to Solphin. Just think of me as a decoration and run. I can at least manage to hang on.”

“…Whatever you say.”

Victor and Robin, who had been quiet until now, laugh.

“We’re here too, you know. Lisa’s as light as a feather.”

“That’s right. Lisa is small and cute.”

As Team 2 chatters, Team 3 also engages in conversation.

“Oh~ Seirun. You’re in a flower garden, aren’t you?”

“It’s quite a responsibility. I’ll be counting on you all.”

“Sure.”

“Hey, Liris. Weren’t you here to improve the image of vampires? Why won’t you even look at any man other than Balt?”

“Sh-shut up!!”

And Team 4.

Riduin playfully shouts at Shukville.

“Shubil, if anything happens to the princess, your entire clan will be exterminated.”

“Kuh! I-I will serve Her Highness well!!”

Elisia, looking exasperated, waves her hand.

“Enough. Riduin, stop with your jokes.”

Airin also smiles slightly as she watches the scene.

“I didn’t see it before, but Shubil is quite the cute type.”

“It’s Sh-Shukville, Lady Airin!”

“What? I’m not a noble lady. And why can’t I call you Shubil like everyone else?”

As Airin says this while drawing her sword, Shukville quietly hides behind Riduin.

Balt, taking in each of these scenes, feels a headache coming on.

‘What a mess.’

The meeting room has suddenly become noisy.

Arias stands next to Balt with a worried expression.

“Will everyone be alright…?”

As Arias and Balt stand close together, the now intermediate-level spirit on Arias’s shoulder, renamed Undine, immediately jumps toward Balt’s Noise.

Still enjoying playing with Noise, Undine happily climbs onto Noise’s head.

Noise stoically endures Undine’s playfulness, neither encouraging nor discouraging it.

“They’re all strong. At least they won’t go down easily. And with the amulets, they can quickly help each other in dangerous situations.”

Clap!

When Balt claps his hands, a weak sound magic travels through the air to everyone.

“Quiet down, everyone. Let’s work on our strategy now.”

***

“Will the children be alright on their own?”

Hearing this, Professor Leman scratches his head and answers.

“What choice do we have? Professors must protect the Academy, so it can’t be helped. Besides, those kids are extraordinarily strong.”

“Still, I’m worried… Criminal organizations aren’t to be taken lightly…”

Professor Janet’s concern makes Leman chuckle.

“You’ve taught Balt, right?”

“Of course… That impossible magic. Honestly, I had little to teach him. I was worried he’d be a barbarian, but he’s surprisingly intelligent.”

“Do you know that I can no longer defeat Balt?”

Professor Janet asks in shock.

“What? That can’t be! Even in the last class, he couldn’t move an inch against you, Professor Leman.”

Leman bursts into laughter at this.

“Hahaha, that was just experience and technique. In a proper fight, I can’t even scratch that boy anymore.”

Even Leman, a 7th-tier master, could barely break through Balt’s defense at full power.

He couldn’t inflict a single wound on Balt’s body.

“Well, I don’t know about a life-or-death battle. But in a full-power contest of strength, I can’t win against that guy.”

“My goodness…”

“So we have to trust them. I’m curious to see how far they’ll go.”

Though he spoke with a smile, Leman had received a great stimulus from Balt.

It wouldn’t be long before Balt broke through the barrier of the 7th tier.

***

The next evening.

Balt’s group left the Academy to carry out their mission.

“Is everyone ready?”

The members, neatly dressed in Academy combat uniforms, wore solemn expressions.

“Yes.”

Lisa was unanimously chosen as the operation commander. However, they agreed that in combat, each would use their own judgment to handle the situation.

“Balt, be careful. Don’t push yourself too hard, and if things go wrong, just run away.”

Balt and Arias’s mission was to assassinate the leader of the Butcher organization.

The leader of the Butcher organization, also known as the Slaughterer, was reportedly a huge, cruel man with tremendous strength.

It was said he could tear people apart with his bare hands.

“Hmm, I’ll handle it.”

Before departure, Lisa carefully explains the precautions.

“Shubil, if the princess gets hurt, we’re in big trouble, understand? Take real care of her if you don’t want nine generations of your family wiped out.”

“Why… nine generations…?”

In truth, they didn’t want to bring the princess on this operation.

Although the princess was strong, she would be the perfect hostage for those criminals.

But after hearing the details, Elias wanted to see for herself.

She even said she didn’t care if she died.

“You should be the ones being careful. The princess of the Halkin Empire is not so weak.”

Lisa shouts one last time.

“Alright!! Today is just reconnaissance!! Everyone, move out!!”

***

The five major organizations have divided territories.

While the detailed subdivisions aren’t well known, they generally know which areas belong to which group.

Balt quickly heads to the Butcher organization’s territory with Arias.

The capital is divided into districts.

With the grand central plaza at its center, the eastern side housed the Academy and major educational and commercial areas. The western side contained production zones for food and processed goods. To the north were the royal palace and main government institutions in the administrative district. The south held research facilities for technology and magical engineering, along with military zones.

Though not precisely delineated, this was the general layout.

The Butcher organization had established itself in the western production district.

Without hesitation, Balt enters the most dangerous part of this production district with Arias.

“B-Balt… Aren’t we just doing reconnaissance today?”

“Well, I’d like to, if those guys would stay put.”

“I-I hope they do.”

The streets grow increasingly dark and deep.

Slums and poverty-stricken areas exist throughout the capital.

The brighter the light, the deeper the darkness—this is the law.

The imperial capital of Roshalkin embodied this saying perfectly.

On the surface, it was dazzlingly brilliant, but where light bent, darkness emerged.

As Balt ventured deep into the slums, people who appeared to be members of the Butcher organization kept watching him and Arias.

“B-Balt, should we head back now?”

“Let’s go a bit further.”

After walking for some time, Arias couldn’t understand the current situation.

“W-wait, Balt. Isn’t this the Butcher organization’s headquarters?”

“That’s right.”

“W-why are we here?”

Balt grins, showing his white teeth, and says to Arias:

“Nothing special, just gathering information.”

For reference, Balt and Arias’s assigned mission was to assassinate the leader of the Butcher organization.