Chapter 118

Gulp.

Someone swallowed dryly.

The sound seemed deceptively loud.

Almost everyone was engrossed in watching the mock battle.

It was that gripping and thrilling.

Because it was an unpredictable development that no one had anticipated.

Regardless of which side you supported, it was undeniable that this mock battle was highly worth watching.

“Would you like some water?”

Professor Karen broke the silence.

“Hmm… No, thank you.”

The professor who had swallowed dryly quickly declined.

Nevertheless, the atmosphere, which had been intensely focused, was momentarily refreshed.

“From now on, it’s crucial.”

A professor spoke up.

Of course, no battle is unimportant, but everyone knew that this battle would effectively decide the outcome of the mock battle.

“Haha. Yes, it’s the final showdown.”

Professor Karen smiled with anticipation.

Her red eyes gleamed with a thirst for excitement.

“Blocking the enemy from above while pressing from behind… Max certainly knows how to wage war. He doesn’t just keep what he learned in theory but applies and utilizes it.”

Professor Lawrence said.

As he mentioned, military science was a compulsory subject for all students at Lepheria Academy.

But theory is just theory.

Applying it in practice is a completely different matter.

Especially in military science.

In a large-scale battle of hundreds, most individuals are swept along with the flow.

When tension rises, one’s field of vision narrows, making it harder to think beyond the immediate situation.

That’s why leaders are needed.

A battlefield is run by a few leaders who can see the big picture and many individuals who execute it.

In that regard, Max Celtrine was an admirable leader.

With just a small number of four, he was shaking the entire battlefield.

“Even if Max loses this final battle, I would still select him as the best student of this mock battle.”

Professor Lawrence’s statement was a bold one.

Traditionally, the best student of the mock battle came from the winning grade.

It made sense.

Victory is the most important in war, and the student who contributes the most to that victory deserves to be the best student.

But he declared his intention to break that tradition.

Even though each professor could only choose one student, a declaration from someone like Professor Lawrence was enough to influence the atmosphere.

“…Do you hold him in such high regard? Personally, I see several students who performed better. Especially if he loses…”

Another professor immediately objected.

They acknowledged Max’s performance but thought it was too much to call him the best student.

However, Professor Lawrence didn’t blink at the rebuttal.

“Indeed, some students performed better individually. But this is war. I’d still give my vote to Max, who led the strength of the many.”

A person who can strengthen the many rather than just being strong individually.

That short but clear logic influenced the other professors.

Their complicated expressions showed they understood.

Even though it was a mock battle, it was an evaluation based on war.

“Hmm…”

The professor who first objected couldn’t think of a rebuttal.

At that moment.

“Wait a minute. I agree, but saying even if he loses is a bit much.”

Professor Karen interjected.

“Am I the only one who thinks the second years can win?”

It seemed that way.

Well, there was one more.

Professor Lapit raised his hand with an incredulous expression as if asking why he was being left out.

“Hmm, the second years did quite well.”

“I agree.”

“That’s an undeniable fact.”

“It was certainly beyond expectations.”

The professors quickly agreed that the second years had fought well despite losing.

Considering the atmosphere before the mock battle, it was a significant change.

It was largely due to the performance of Max’s guerrilla team.

But Professor Karen’s pout showed she was disappointed that no one had changed their minds.

She turned her gaze to Professor Lawrence.

“Professor, didn’t you say it was a good strategy?”

“A good strategy doesn’t guarantee victory. Especially in this case.”

“This case?”

“For the strategy of blocking from above and pressing from behind to work, there’s a major prerequisite. There must be enough defensive strength to hold from above. But if the enemy has enough offensive power to break that defense easily? The strategy collapses.”

Professor Lawrence gave a cold assessment.

He believed the second-year fortress would fall before the strategy could take effect.

“Hmm, I see. The first-year Royal Class’s offensive power is indeed formidable. But I feel like Max has something more prepared.”

Professor Karen’s eyes sparkled.

So far, the mock battle had gone precisely as Max had planned.

Would Max not have considered this final scenario?

Impossible.

He must have something prepared to win.

“Something more.”

Professor Lawrence looked thoughtful.

But he soon made his judgment.

He thought it was unlikely.

Sensing his thoughts, Professor Karen smiled.

“Haha, it will be interesting to see who’s right. Now, it’s about to begin.”

As she said, the final battle was imminent.

* * *

“They’re coming!”

Leader Brett said.

His expression was resolute.

He seemed determined to create a surprising outcome.

“Let them come!”

“We’ll block them no matter what!”

“Yeah, we can do it!”

The second years shouted confidently.

Their morale was sky-high after their initial victory.

They were filled with confidence that they could handle any opponent.

Max and Elaine’s plan had worked, giving them more strength from their victory.

“Everyone, remember! Our focus is defense!”

Brett reminded them one last time.

A rash attack in high spirits could lead to disaster.

The opponent was a formidable one, far beyond the first-year Nobles.

That must never be forgotten.

Meanwhile, Princess Oscar led the first-years forward.

“Impressive.”

Princess Oscar said, observing the fortress’s defensive posture.

It was much more solid than the second-year Nobles they had easily crushed.

“Well, it won’t matter.”

Leader Grey said nonchalantly.

“Agreed.”

A man who looked as fierce as an ogre nodded.

His body was as muscular as an ogre’s.

“Brother, don’t be complacent.”

This time, a small girl with gentle doe-like eyes spoke.

They were an extreme contrast in appearance and build.

But surprisingly, they were twins.

It was astonishing how little they resembled each other, even for fraternal twins.

They were the twins of the prestigious Marquis of Sapia, Ethan Sapia and Emily Sapia.

Their nickname was the “Opposite Twins.”

A fitting nickname for anyone who saw them.

“Complacent? Is that something you eat?”

“Stop pretending to be dumb, you idiot brother.”

“I’m naturally dumb.”

“How can a dumb person rank 8th in the grade?”

“I guessed.”

“Oh, really.”

Though they seemed like a comical pair, they were Princess Oscar’s closest aides.

Moreover, it was known that the Marquis of Sapia subtly supported the First Princess as a successor.

Anyway, the twins of the Marquis of Sapia, the weaponized brother Ethan and the genius spiritist sister Emily.

None of the Royals underestimated their abilities.

“Calm down, everyone. Let’s focus on our task rather than bickering.”

Princess Oscar clapped her hands, calming them down.

“My apologies.”

“How many times do I have to tell you, idiot brother, not to speak informally to the Princess?”

“Oh, it’s fine, Emily. Please stop.”

Princess Oscar stopped another argument from breaking out.

Finally, it was quiet again.

“Ethan.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Are you ready to lead?”

“Absolutely.”

Emily glared, but Ethan didn’t care.

“Then let’s go.”

Princess Oscar said with her usual smile.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Thud, thud!

Ethan’s heavy footsteps signaled the start of the battle.

* * *

A wall of large shields.

They had taken and equipped them from the fallen first-years.

Utilizing useful spoils of war was a basic principle of warfare.

“Alright, hold the line with those shields!”

The second-years thought.

They believed they could hold out for a reasonable amount of time with the shield wall.

But they realized their mistake with the first clash.

“Urrgh!”

A first-year who seriously seemed like a human-ogre hybrid.

That guy charged fearlessly with a massive wooden club and swung it wide.

Boom!

Could a wooden club and wooden shield collision make such a loud noise?

It could.

Because it was happening right in front of them.

“Ugh?!”

“What the hell?!”

Two second-years holding shields were flung backward.

An unbelievable amount of strength.

A crack appeared in the shield wall in an instant.

Camian and Grey seized the opportunity and charged in.

Wooden swords and wooden sabers moved.

Thud!

Thud!

“Ugh.”

“Gah.”

Beep beep! Beep beep!

Two second-years were marked as casualties after being struck through the gaps.

Two losses as soon as the battle began.

Brett’s expression turned grim.

“Fall back! Retreat and block again!”

If they clung to the broken line, it would lead to even greater, irreparable damage.

So, they decided to fall back to the second line of defense they had set up.

It was a swift and wise decision.

Brett indeed had the qualities of a leader.

But this time, the opponent was too formidable.

“Hah! Try to block this!”

Boom!

The human-ogre(?) Ethan rampaged, breaking through the second line of defense quickly.

“Retreat! Block from behind again!”

Brett shouted more urgently.

The only saving grace was that they had prepared seven lines of defense before reaching the fort.

But no one knew when those remaining five lines would collapse.

In the end, Brett desperately called out to those he considered their only hope.

‘What are you doing?! Please show up quickly!’

* * *

I deliberately kept a safe distance.

The monster princess’s senses were beyond imagination, so I had to be careful.

“Can you see?”

“Nope.”

Even the infamous Blood Witch couldn’t see from this distance.

Not a bad thing.

The monster princess likely couldn’t either.

“Huh, if we can’t see, what do we do?”

Allen asked in a panic.

I chuckled leisurely.

“Can’t we ambush without seeing?”

I had been watching the pocket watch closely.

Time doesn’t lie.

The time the princess’s faction arrived at the fort in the game was 2:59 PM.

I remembered it clearly.

Nothing had happened to change that time.

One more minute until the battle began.

If we wanted to strike deeper, we’d need another minute.

30 seconds left.

“Everyone, get ready. We move in 30 seconds.”

30 seconds passed.

“Let’s go!”

Vroom!

The fastest low-altitude flight ever began.

* * *

“Leader! We need to retreat to the fort before it’s too late!”

Lana said anxiously.

The fifth line of defense had fallen.

Only two lines remained.

But if they stayed any longer, they might not make it to the fort.

Brett, feeling there was no choice, was about to make a decision.

He would have, if he hadn’t seen it.

The same thing that had decimated the first-year Nobles.

A bundle of thick magic arrows and ice shards appeared in the air.

“…Just a little longer.”

Brett clenched his fist tightly as he watched.