Chapter 181

Third year, first semester.

The Academy was still peaceful as ever.

It was because nothing had happened yet.

Of course, even the events that would occur in the first semester weren’t that serious.

They weren’t incidents that would cause significant casualties.

The current protagonist could probably handle them sufficiently.

‘Let’s leave the second years alone for now.’

I decided.

The protagonist needed opportunities to grow too.

Just as the ground hardens after rain, the protagonist and their companions grow by facing and overcoming hardships.

I had to leave what I could to them.

And originally…

‘I’m not in a position to get involved anyway.’

I’m not in the same grade as the protagonist.

I’m their senior.

This means I have my own class that I belong to.

My life basically had to revolve around this schedule.

So unless I had two bodies, it was impossible to constantly care for the protagonist.

That’s why I focused on the protagonist’s growth whenever I had time.

So they could develop the ability to solve problems on their own.

“The problem is with the third years…”

This was largely uncharted territory for me since I hadn’t experienced it directly.

Even in the upcoming exchange competition with other academies, the second and third years would face completely different opponents.

Of course, I roughly know the results.

That several third years would be injured in this exchange competition.

And some of those injuries would be severe.

‘It’s not particularly strange.’

It’s an exchange competition where the pride of their academy is at stake, so the students would naturally be more passionate.

It’s not strange that injuries would occur.

Anyway.

The third years are humiliated in that exchange competition.

They suffer an overwhelming defeat across all classes.

A stark contrast to the protagonist’s second year, which returns with an overwhelming victory.

It’s natural for the notoriously poor generation.

But.

‘It’s changed a lot, hasn’t it?’

Due to my influence, the current third years are very different from the chaff-like third years of that time.

The breathtaking battle they fought against the golden generation, then first years, in the mock battle had a big impact.

It shattered their past mindset of “This is as far as we can go…” and filled them with new confidence that they could do it too.

The growth brought about by that confidence was even greater than I had expected.

And I could newly confirm one thing.

That even extras can grow.

It wasn’t just limited to Allen.

“Should we aim for victory while we’re at it?”

The third years who had lived like dead mice, losing their presence after being humiliated in both the mock battle and the exchange competition.

I thought it wouldn’t be bad for those third years to show a clear presence through consecutive achievements instead.

There are no enemies in the third year.

If we exclude Riviera for now.

In other words, they’re allies.

Those third years becoming stronger could definitely act as a positive variable.

Of course, I wasn’t expecting much.

But if they could even be a small variable, that would be enough.

Originally, except for Elaine, they were just helpless sacrificial lambs that got swept away.

Including Max Celtrine.

“Alright.”

I got up with a grin.

“Let’s work hard today too, for a splendid external debut.”

* * *

The Kingdom of Parene, one of the two great powers along with the Empire.

In the eastern part of that Kingdom of Parene, there was a city called the ‘City of Iron’.

It was Schwarzfelz.

Surrounded by walls so high and sturdy that they were overwhelming just to look at, it was a fortress in itself.

As the gateway of the land route that runs through the eastern part of the kingdom, and the center of eastern defense, such grandeur might be natural.

There was one more famous thing in Schwarzfelz.

The Schwarzfelz Knight Academy.

The kingdom’s top academy, and the third oldest traditional academy on the continent.

That’s why Schwarzfelz was also called the ‘Cradle of Knights’.

It had indeed produced countless knights, so its reputation was well-deserved.

At this very Schwarzfelz Knight Academy.

Two male students and one female student in uniforms were talking in an empty classroom.

“Hmph, finally the long-awaited moment has come.”

Someone sneered.

A male student with a sharp scar at the corner of his mouth.

It was Raquel, the class president of Class 1.

“Heh, indeed.”

Someone else nodded.

A female student with cat-like slanted eyes.

It was Karan, also from Class 1.

“Yeah, it’s a great opportunity to crush those arrogant Lepheria bastards who think they’re better than us.”

A large male student said, clenching his big fist.

He was also from Class 1.

“No, just crushing them isn’t enough.”

Class president Raquel clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Then?”

“We need to engrave fear of us deep into their bones.”

“Ah, you mean to break their spirit so they can’t even look us in the eye again?”

Karan smiled as if amused.

That was also how they had dominated Class 1.

Thoroughly trampling others.

They didn’t care about trivial things like camaraderie.

After all, they were the type of people who would step on others to rise to the top in society anyway.

“Exactly.”

“How?”

“It’s simple, isn’t it? We play with them for a while, and when we get bored, we break something.”

Raquel smiled wickedly.

Even in an exchange competition where the academy’s pride is at stake, there are limits.

You’re not supposed to cause serious injuries.

Of course, the professors would try to intervene before such a situation occurs.

But there was no problem.

After all, we’re closer and faster.

The aftermath wouldn’t be an issue either.

It was inevitable that unfortunate ‘accidents’ sometimes occur in exchange competitions between passionate young students.

“Haha, that sounds fun.”

“Hehe, I’ll gladly participate.”

Stone and Karan accepted Raquel’s proposal with a smile.

And so, in an empty classroom of the Schwarzfelz Knight Academy, a dark conspiracy for the upcoming exchange competition was blooming.

* * *

Short distances are marched.

Long distances are traveled by horse.

This was the principle of Lepheria Academy.

That’s why the third-year students were now riding horses towards their destination.

It’s much easier than walking, but riding a horse for a long time isn’t easy either.

So this could also be considered a form of training.

“Team Leader, it’s your first time in the kingdom, right?”

Allen asked, his eyes sparkling as if itching to speak.

As expected of someone from the kingdom.

“Yeah, it’s my first time.”

I affirmed.

Although there are quite a few students from the kingdom at the academy, the kingdom itself was outside the main stage of the game, so there was no particular reason to go there.

This exchange competition is the same.

Originally, the protagonist and the second years would be going to the Lafris Magic Academy in the Empire.

Being in the third year, a new route has opened up for me.

“I thought so. The kingdom is just as good a place to live as the Empire, you know.”

“You’ve probably never been to the Empire either, right?”

“Hehe, it’s just a figure of speech, Team Leader.”

Allen grinned.

He seems to be in a good mood about stepping on his home country’s soil.

“Stop with the useless talk and explain a bit.”

“About what?”

“The place we’re going to.”

“Ah, I see.”

Allen nodded.

He smiled confidently.

“That’s no problem.”

The explanation began.

I listened quietly to Allen’s words.

Information is important no matter where you go.

Honestly, I didn’t think anything special would happen, but I couldn’t let my guard down.

This game is unpredictable, you never know when some unexpected situation might occur.

It means I always need to keep my eyes wide open.

“The City of Iron, huh.”

“Yeah, Team Leader. It means a city as strong and firm as iron. It’s the greatest fortress in the east, after all.”

Allen said proudly.

I know about Schwarzfelz too.

After the Empire’s civil war broke out, the kingdom gathered troops in Schwarzfelz on high alert.

It’s a natural measure, given that the eastern part of the kingdom is closest to the Empire’s border.

‘But that Schwarzfelz…’

I recalled.

That a huge incident occurs there later.

Although I hadn’t experienced it directly, I had heard about it.

Anyway, it’s not something that matters right now.

“What’s the level of the academy like?”

“As befitting the cradle of knights, the level is very high. Of course, not as high as our academy.”

Allen seemed to have great pride in his alma mater too.

Yeah, that’s how a Lepheria Academy student should be.

I was about to open my mouth with a grin when…

Riviera, who had been skillfully napping on horseback, suddenly opened her eyes.

“…Just need to smash them all.”

Riviera muttered as if sleep-talking.

Allen frantically waved his hands.

“What? No, absolutely not. The exchange competition is meant to be a positive exchange for mutual growth…”

“Yawn… Boring talk.”

“Pl-Please be serious…”

“Alright, let me summarize it simply.”

I intervened.

I was the one who could communicate with Riviera somewhat.

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Simple, right? Those who try to half-kill us, we half-kill them. Those who try to keep things fair, we keep things fair with them.”

“Oho.”

Riviera’s eyes sparkled, seemingly pleased with my clear summary.

On the other hand…

“Te-Team Leader. I think half-killing is a bit too much, no matter what…”

Allen said with wavering eyes, looking flustered.

“The eyes.”

“Huh?”

“You can tell just by looking at their eyes. What kind of intentions they came with.”

“Correct.”

Riviera nodded in agreement.

“It doesn’t sit well with me to let such people off easy.”

“Me too.”

Riviera enthusiastically agreed.

We seem to understand each other quite well?

“Su-Surely there aren’t really people like that?”

Allen didn’t seem to want to believe it.

“You’re so naive.”

I chuckled.

Injured people beyond just the level of minor injuries, but severely injured.

Knowing the result that such severely injured people would appear, it was obvious to me.

That there were people with malicious intentions.

I kindly advised.

“If the atmosphere feels off, think of your little brother.”

“My brother?”

“Your brother wouldn’t let such guys off easy, would he?”

“Ugh…”

A provocative strategy.

It seemed to have worked quite well.

Strength entered Allen’s eyes.

“Oh, I see something over there.”

And we finally arrived.

At Schwarzfelz, the City of Iron.

* * *

A dark room.

One person was sitting.

The light was dim, so their face wasn’t clearly visible.

But it was definitely a man.

A middle-aged man with a somewhat gloomy air about him.

“Th-This is…”

The middle-aged man let out a surprised groan.

He was holding a letter in his hand.

He must have been surprised after confirming the contents of that letter.

“Carry it out as written.”

Another voice was heard.

But strangely, the owner of that voice was nowhere to be seen.

“But this…”

The middle-aged man’s voice trembled.

“What, is there a problem?”

“Th-This will cause a big incident. Historically, such a thing happening in an exchange competition…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“What?”

“The orders from above are just two things. His death and the retrieval of the heart. The rest is not for someone like you to worry about.”

“Ugh.”

The middle-aged man’s face turned pale.

He must have realized the firmness of the higher-ups’ decision.

“Wh-What if something happens to the heart…”

“He doesn’t know you. So he won’t be on guard. It means you can launch a perfect surprise attack.”

“B-But I’m afraid I won’t be able to do it perfectly. Wouldn’t it be better to leave it to a professor or the witch…”

“Shut up.”

A heavy killing intent that weighed down the entire dark room.

The middle-aged man’s gaze lowered, his body trembling.

“Those names are not for the likes of you to mention casually.”

“Ye-Yes, yes…”

“You just need to carry out the orders as given. Understand?”

“Y-Yes, I understand.”

“And one more thing.”

“Ye-Yes?”

“If you fail, by any chance.”

“…”

“Die.”

The middle-aged man’s eyes squeezed shut.