Chapter 241

Nothing would change even if someone died.

I had to keep moving forward, just like I always had.

In a different sense, the same applied to the other students.

After experiencing such a serious incident twice, it wouldn’t be surprising if some students transferred or dropped out of the academy out of fear.

But there were none.

Because that was the setting.

It could be said that those who belonged to Lepheria Academy, the main stage of this game, were chosen for the story.

Main characters, supporting characters, even extras.

They were given the privilege of being on stage, but they couldn’t leave as they pleased.

They could leave after graduation, but even that blessing was only given to Regina’s generation, last year’s fourth-year students.

For Amy and Diana’s generation, the current fourth-year students, death had been added as an escape route.

One of the victims of this recent tragedy was a fourth-year student.

If I hadn’t saved Amy and Diana, there could have been two more victims.

“This isn’t a survival game.”

I clicked my tongue.

The problem was that this was just the beginning.

So even though I had been forced to take a sweet break, there was no more time to waste.

I had to return to my busy schedule.

“It seems like you’ve fully recovered.”

Camian’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Camian and Annette were standing there.

“Of course I have. That’s why I called you two.”

I chuckled and gestured for them to sit down.

They sat down opposite me.

“I’m so glad you’re okay, senior.”

Annette said with a gentle smile.

“It’s thanks to everyone’s concern.”

“Did the senior just say that…?”

Camian looked at me in disbelief.

I chuckled.

“Dude, didn’t you see the visitors? It’s only natural to feel grateful after receiving such overwhelming support.”

My visitor relay.

It had already become a legend at Lumiere Hospital.

The nurse had told me that I had easily broken the previous record in just two days.

The princess’s visit had been the grand finale, putting the icing on the cake.

The whole hospital had been buzzing with excitement, hoping to catch a glimpse of the princess.

Honestly, I wished she hadn’t come.

There was nothing more mentally draining than being alone with someone I felt awkward around.

Especially after checking her relationship window.

‘What the hell was that?’

* Rank: Incomprehensible Heroine

* Difficulty: Impossible

* Clear Condition: Unable to View

Could a character with a rank of “Incomprehensible Heroine,” a difficulty level of “Impossible,” and a clear condition of “Unable to View” even be considered a heroine?

I was right.

Princess Oscar was an enemy, an enemy.

A villain I had to be wary of if I wanted to survive.

And I had to start preparing for her now.

The biggest problem would be the chaos of the Imperial Civil War.

‘The weak are manipulated.’

If you were weak, you would inevitably be manipulated by those with power, regardless of your own will.

Whether you chose to side with the prince or the princess, if you were weak, you would be used and discarded, most likely meeting a grim end.

Because that’s the kind of people they were.

That was why I had to become strong, and that strength wasn’t just about individual power.

I had to build a strong faction.

Fortunately, unlike the protagonist, who was the second son of a minor noble, I had one crucial advantage.

The vast wealth of the Celtrine family.

But wealth alone wasn’t enough.

In peacetime, my current status and wealth would be enough to manage my territory, but I was preparing for a time of chaos.

I needed a strong military force.

One that no one could trifle with.

My plan to strengthen the marriage alliance with the Ernbert family, the protectors of the north, by subjugating the barbarians was part of that effort.

And one more thing.

‘The answer lies underground.’

The residents of the Holy City’s underground, whom I was training with money, passion, and time.

They were elite soldiers, having survived in an environment far harsher than the outside world.

Each one of them was practically a knight.

And their numbers were steadily increasing as we delved deeper.

It was a miracle.

Normally, you would lose strength as you went deeper, because the enemies became stronger.

It wouldn’t have been possible without the abundant supplies of food and equipment I had provided, even with the information I had.

And.

‘If I invest, I have to reap the rewards.’

I intended to build up their strength and make them my own.

It was impossible on the surface.

Because it was practically impossible to unite people of different genders, races, nationalities, and interests.

But it was possible underground.

Because they were united by a single desire: to survive in that land of death.

Their sense of camaraderie, belonging, and brotherhood was as strong as that of a family.

And they saw me as their savior, their leader.

That was why it was possible.

For them to unite under my banner.

“But even though you’re healed, is it really okay to go back to such a dangerous place so soon?”

Camian’s words interrupted my thoughts.

He was worried about me.

But it was too early for him to be saying such things.

“I’m not worried about myself. I’m worried about you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You saw it, right? I defeated that powerful villain who controlled countless undead.”

“You did defeat him, but you were seriously injured…”

“Injured or not, that’s who I am now. But you?”

“Huh?”

“You were struggling against those weaklings. That’s who you are now. Who do you think I should be more worried about?”

“…”

Camian fell silent.

He seemed frustrated, but he couldn’t argue with my words. He just bit his lip, unable to retort.

Annette, her face filled with sympathy, interjected.

“Um, senior, Camian is definitely improving…”

“I know. Of course I know. That’s why I called you two here, to help you improve even more.”

I said lightly, chuckling, but nothing had contributed to Camian and Annette’s growth as much as the underground.

Because the three of us were sharing the combat experience we had gained in that hellish environment.

That was why I hadn’t asked Hiresia or Regina for help with the underground, even after my connections had expanded.

Of course, it was only possible because of the residents’ strength, but putting them aside,

Camian and Annette also seemed to understand that the battles in the underground were the driving force behind their growth.

“You were right about my worry. But let me assure you, you don’t need to worry about me either.”

Camian said, his eyes filled with determination.

Good.

That’s what a protagonist should be like.

Annette also clenched her fist, showing her support for Camian.

I chuckled and stood up.

“Then let’s grab our gear.”

“Ugh.”

Annette groaned.

“The physical training must have helped, right?”

“I-I admit it.”

Annette raised her hand in defeat.

She was a Glass Cannon Healer, so she wasn’t as fragile as a goldfish, but the fact that she had survived the consecutive crises caused by the dark mage and the undead was partly due to the physical training I had put her through.

And she seemed to realize that.

“Heh, good. Let’s go.”

We moved out.

* * *

Underground Floor 13.

The place we were going to descend to this time was on a completely different level of danger compared to the previous floors.

It was a place divided between humans and undead.

They had once fought fiercely to annihilate each other, but in the end, they had reached a stalemate, realizing that neither side had the power to completely destroy the other.

It was a precarious balance of power.

But I knew that balance was about to crumble.

Or perhaps it already had.

The absolute hero who had been supporting the humans,

The indomitable swordsman, Kaysin, was bedridden due to old age and illness.

The humans had kept it a secret, but it was a pipe dream to think that the undead would remain oblivious forever.

Kaysin, who had stopped appearing in public, would inevitably raise suspicions, and the truth would eventually be revealed.

And once Kaysin’s condition was known, the undead would seize the opportunity and launch a full-scale attack on the humans.

Without their absolute leader, the humans wouldn’t be able to fight back effectively.

Their only hope was the walls of their fortress.

The battle on Underground Floor 13 was a desperate last stand within those walls.

Players would experience one of three scenarios.

They would either lose the siege and die a gruesome death alongside the other humans,

Or they would barely win the siege, but with a devastated force, a Pyrrhic victory,

Or they would descend to Underground Floor 13 after the humans had already been wiped out, unable to even participate in the siege, and be captured and killed by the undead.

There was no happy ending.

The second scenario was the best, but it was still enough to make players who had been working hard to reach the bottom of the underground feel frustrated and disillusioned.

Because it was practically impossible to conquer Underground Floor 14 with a devastated force, where nearly 90% of their comrades had died.

But in the past, I had managed to create a fourth option, breaking free from those three scenarios.

Gathering as much strength as possible and descending as quickly as possible, striking the undead before they could attack.

That was why I had prepared the siege weapons.

Of course, they were a far cry from the powerful Orichalcum siege weapons Ran had made for me this time.

Because the materials I had been able to gather back then had been insufficient.

And the forces I had gathered were also incomparable to what I had now.

But by combining my forces with the humans on Underground Floor 13, we had managed to barely defeat the undead.

Even so, over 70% of our forces had died.

It was a huge difference compared to the 20% casualties this time.

Anyway, that was how I had been able to reach Underground Floor 14.

It was the furthest I had ever reached.

Of course, I had failed miserably on Underground Floor 14 because my forces were decimated.

‘But this time is different.’

I had no intention of allowing any of those four scenarios to unfold.

Instead,

‘An overwhelming victory.’

That was my only goal.

It would be possible with the forces I had gathered, having achieved overwhelming victories from Underground Floor 10 onwards without any losses.

Definitely.

And I had the residents, each one armed like a knight, the large ballistae that could skewer even ogres and trolls in a single shot, and the tortoise battering ram that could smash through any gate.

Even if I had to prepare again as the protagonist, I wouldn’t be able to do this well.

This was only possible as Max Celtrine, the man with money to burn.

“Is everyone ready?”

I stood tall, my gaze sweeping over our imposing force.

The residents, armed to the teeth in gleaming armor and weapons, stood in formation.

Beside them were the large ballistae and the battering ram.

…The cute turtle emblem on the flag held by the standard-bearer was a bit out of place, though.

Anyone who saw us would think we were about to wage war between nations.

That was how imposing we looked.

“Haha, of course we are.”

Gwen chuckled, his voice filled with confidence.

“We are ready, Savior.”

Milia, the Chain Knight, saluted smartly.

“Isn’t our flag cool?”

Ran asked, her eyes sparkling as She gestured towards her custom-made mithril flag with the cute turtle emblem.

…That unnecessarily cute turtle flag was ruining the atmosphere, you idiot.

Ahem, anyway.

“Then let’s go!”

I shouted, my voice booming with authority.