Finally Met

“You’ve prepared thoroughly, I assume.”

“You won’t be disappointed. If this succeeds, you’ll give me more money, right?”

In an alley so difficult to enter that even sunlight couldn’t reach, Wolf and the equipment manager had another secret meeting at the Sevirpol training grounds, following their meeting at the military academy.

“I’m the eldest son of the Streman family. You think I can’t keep that one promise?”

“Ah, hahaha, it’s a joke, just a joke!”

The manager, who had been hesitant at first, showed an exceptionally enthusiastic attitude in devising the plan after getting a taste of money.

“Hehehe, I’m just kidding.”

Wolf enjoyed this change.

The recruitment work, which he thought would be the most difficult, went smoothly, didn’t it? It didn’t seem like the revenge against Yena would fail. Now there was nothing to fear.

‘She’s just a commoner no matter how much she struggles.’

A commoner daring to insult the eldest son of the Streman family, her guts weren’t just swollen, they were non-existent.

“Tch.”

Stupid girl, did she think she was equal to other commoners just because she came to the military academy? Wolf sneered, thinking of Yena who couldn’t grasp her place, and then listened to the manager’s continuing words.

“First, let’s look at this photo.”

“What is it?”

“This is the training equipment that girl will use. I’ve reflected exactly what you requested. Would you like to check it?”

.

Thud─!

Wolf narrowed his eyes and looked down at the photo the manager handed him.

‘What is this?’

Iron boots with duck feet attached. And some incomprehensible machine connected to it with a hose. On the shiny film paper, an object that looked complex at first glance was shown in black and white.

Wolf briefly wore a puzzled expression, but soon realized what the photo was and opened his eyelids wide.

“This… is training equipment?”

The man in front of him was none other than the one in charge of all educational equipment at the military academy. Then most of what he shows should be used in classes, right?

“That’s correct.”

Wolf raised the corners of his mouth, pleased that his deduction was exactly right.

“It’s diving equipment to be used in the upcoming training.”

“Diving equipment?”

“When mana is drawn up, the machine attached here around the waist concentrates it, and through the hose, the special alloy armor mixed with mana stones absorbs that power and here,”

Tap, tap─!

“It’s released through the engine attached around the soles of the feet.”

“Hooh…”

“Impressive, isn’t it? This is the Empire’s technology!”

The middle-aged man who had been grinning while looking at the gold coins was indeed an equipment manager after all, as he continued speaking with sparkling eyes while explaining the diving equipment.

“So, what exactly does that mean?”

But this wasn’t content worth listening to in the current situation. When the manager finished his explanation, Wolf crossed his arms and nodded towards the photo.

It was a look that said he wasn’t particularly interested.

That’s because Wolf’s mind was full of desires about how to make Yena suffer a setback.

“And this very photo! It’s the item that Yena Freud, whom you requested, will use. I’ve made some adjustments in advance.”

“Which means…”

“Yes, if she uses this during training, the engine will shut off midway and she’ll sink to the bottom of the sea. Of course, she won’t die since there will be instructors, but if she’s unlucky?”

Swish─

“It’ll be treated as an accidental death. Since you said it’s fine even if she dies, I’ve taken measures to ensure it won’t fail as perfectly as possible!”

“What about the risk of you being discovered?”

“Puhaha, it’s fine. All I did was replace the mana stone with a poor quality one. Even if it breaks midway, it’s just an ‘accident’, an accident.”

The manager drew his finger across his throat with a triumphant smile.

“Good.”

Wolf smiled darkly at the man’s confident assertion.

‘If it really goes as this guy says…’

It’s perfect. It’s woven so tightly that Yena absolutely can’t escape. How refreshing a plan is it to endanger her by tampering with the training equipment?

“If it succeeds, I’ll pay the additional cost right away.”

“Haha, thank you!”

It’s worth the high price. As Wolf shook hands with the man who was bowing at a right angle after standing up from his chair,

“No, it’s nothing, haha.”

He curved his eyes upwards.

---

“Yaaawn.”

The warm sunlight made me drowsy. The more temperate climate compared to Astrakhan made my body feel languid in advance.

I should start moving soon.

After a good nap, it was already afternoon. Unlike the morning, there was a schedule to meet with team members and receive notification of detailed training plans, so I had to quickly get ready to go out.

“Oof.”

I raised myself from the bed, tidying my messy hair that was wrapped around my nape.

Swoosh─

As usual, I finished getting ready to go out after a quick wash, putting on underwear woven from soft wool, and then donning my uniform.

I wonder what amazing things they’ve prepared?

As my mind cleared from showering, facing the water stream on my face, and moving my body to change clothes, I suddenly became curious about the level of Sevirpol’s training facilities.

I walked around with Erika, but that was just on the outside, right? Nobody knows what’s inside.

I didn’t see any monsters either.

“Haha…”

My heart pounded as I recalled the numerous monsters I would soon face. Like when I encountered other races, I was excited to face monstrous life forms in reality.

They’re creatures you can only see in the Federation, right? What other country could weaponize monsters?

Originally, monsters are creatures that appear in underdeveloped countries with devastated territories. Naturally, they’re hard to see in developed countries including the Empire, which have developed territories and armies.

But the Federation, where the country has been ruined by long civil war, is different. They’ve naturally ended up preserving monsters.

I’m looking forward to seeing what they look like.

Plop─!

I finished my preparations by putting on the dress cap hanging on the wall. Having lived in this body for quite a long time now, I no longer struggled to change clothes.

After leaving the dormitory, I immediately followed the dirt path around.

Trudge, trudge.

Since we could meet at a desired location by arranging appointments within the team, the destination was relatively close.

Rina will guide us when we arrive. Perhaps because of her social position as an imperial princess, she became the team leader.

Click─! Click─!

Wanting to face my team members as early as possible, I hurried my steps, making crisp sounds with my military boots. My hair swayed with each step.

“Yena, over here!”

After walking for a while like that, I finally saw Erika waving her hand widely from afar.

Her voice is really loud. I responded to Erika, who was waving her arm with a bright face, with a light nod of my head, and gradually approached where she was.

“Tch.”

“……”

As I narrowed the distance somewhat, I also saw Wolf clicking his tongue and Rina showing her usual cold gaze.

“Yena, come over here!”

“Yeah, okay…”

Just as I was about to reach their side like that,

Tap, tap!

I suddenly planted both feet on the ground.

“What are you doing over there?”

Rina urged me to come over with an annoyed expression, but I still didn’t take a single step. Or rather, I should say I couldn’t.

“That person is…?”

“Ah, I guess you’re seeing her for the first time too, Yena?”

I struggled to raise my finger to point at Erika’s left side.

“She says her name is Helena. Apparently, she protects Rina and helps with various tasks. Since we’re training for a week, she said she wanted to come and say hello briefly.”

After hearing her words, I looked Helena over once more.

Crunch!

Why on earth do I feel a familiar aura from that person? I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood, unbeknownst to others.

Because the unique presence of the unknown person who had been tailing me every day at the military academy, that is, the musty scent of mana that always lingered around, was wafting in this place.

From Helena, or more precisely, from the person said to be Rina’s assistant.

---

Finally, I can see her up close. I can confirm the veiled Yena Freud at such a close distance.

Clench─

Helena stared at Yena with her eyes coldly raised. Her hand trembled as she came close enough to observe even the chubby cheeks from a distance where she had always only vaguely seen a silhouette.

However, she didn’t show it.

The lady-in-waiting’s demeanor was calmness; she maintained as much composure as possible so that Yena wouldn’t notice any strange signs.

I can’t harm the Princess.

“Why don’t you come over quickly instead of standing there?”

“…Alright.”

Even the person who had directly ordered me to uncover information was so casually conversing with Yena, so I, trained as a lady-in-waiting, couldn’t get excited.

‘Now I’ve taken one step closer to uncovering the secret.’

I must make up for all the humiliation so far. Helena, while maintaining a modest exterior with her hands gently folded over her lower abdomen standing next to Rina, was sharpening her knife inside.

The tailing that had never once succeeded, the secret that couldn’t be uncovered despite investigating using decades of experience as a lady-in-waiting,

Grind─!

The painful past that could be called disgrace and insult gnawed at her chest.

She couldn’t let it go, feeling as if her entire career as a lady-in-waiting was being denied by a mere commoner child.

‘I’ll continue the investigation both openly and secretly.’

That was the reason she had come out to this place, even asking Lady Rina.

To be honest, thinking it would be difficult to uncover the secret through just background checks, she intended to observe Yena up close under the pretext of being a lady-in-waiting to extract information.

‘The principal said to refrain from contacting the cadets, but…’

It can’t be helped.

There’s no other way. During this joint training, I must resolve the issues entangled with Yena with all my might.

Although it was a one-sided battle with Yena knowing nothing, Helena would give it her all. She clenched her fist with such determination.

---

First came shock.

Second came anger.

Finally came emptiness.

“Why don’t you come over quickly instead of standing there?”

“…Alright.”

I moved my feet, engulfed by various emotions.

I had expected someone to be an underling. I even guessed it might be someone acting on Wolf’s request. But I never imagined the culprit would be Rina’s lady-in-waiting.

Click─! Click─!

That she was in such a close place, no, even in the same team and I didn’t know – I stepped harshly with my military boots, filled with anger.

My pride and dignity were wounded.

It was praiseworthy enough to have sensed that someone was tailing me by detecting faint mana, but not in my position.

Flawless.

The fact that I couldn’t identify even one tail despite overcoming the crisis of the Great War brought forth more anger than I had imagined.

Damn it.

I wanted to make Helena, who had been clinging to me like a bug all this time, pay the price right now. But I quickly regained my composure without getting buried in emotions.

Nothing good comes from getting excited. There will only be tragedy if I don’t lead the situation with rational judgment.

…The imperial princess’s lady-in-waiting was tailing me.

Finally, after clearing my head completely and cooling my mind, I took a deep breath and coldly looked back on the situation.

This is perfect for exploitation.

Then the anger that had been clouding my head subsided, and my expression gradually brightened.

There’s no need to be angry, is there? In a state where I had resolved to someday uncover and use the unknown tail, I’ve finally found out who it is.

Moreover, the protagonist is the closest confidant of the useful imperial princess. This was an unparalleled opportunity that had come to me.

For me, who needed to meet the Emperor either for victory or to establish a foothold in imperial politics, Helena seemed like a clue to achieving that goal.

Helena must have investigated me at Rina’s instigation. Privately investigating a cadet, that is, threatening them, is a major issue that could lead to expulsion. If I use this…

Helena, who adores Rina, will try to protect her by any means necessary.

“Yena! You have pillow marks on your face!”

“Ah, thanks.”

“Yeah! Hehe.”

She’ll be willing to make any deal if it means protecting Rina’s well-being. How joyous this reality is.

“Let me introduce you. Although she looks young, she’s been assisting me since childhood. She’s currently serving as my lady-in-waiting. You can comfortably call her Helena.”

As soon as Rina finished speaking, I extended my hand to Helena.

“Nice to meet you.”

I greeted her with an excited tone. If at first she seemed like an annoying piece of trash, now she felt like a precious bundle with gold packed inside the trash bag.

“I’m Helena, who assists Lady Rina.”

“I’m Yena Freud.”

After shaking hands with her like that,

“Then let’s talk about the schedule.”

“Alright.”

I listened to Rina’s words.

“To think I’m in the same team as a commoner bitch…”

“Wolf, you be quiet. Whatever the case, the fact that we need to cooperate in this joint training remains unchanged.”

“Hmm, if you say so, I can’t help it.”

After restraining Wolf, the words that came out of Rina’s mouth again were simple.

Basic adaptation training until the 2nd day, monster combat training and team battles from the 3rd day, individual battles from the 5th day, and so on – it was just a bit more detailed than the news announced earlier.

“Phew, did you all understand?”

“Yes.”

“Yeah!”

After finishing her rapid-fire speech, I nodded my head to Rina who was taking a deep breath, while counting the schedule on my fingers.

The opportunity is until the 2nd day.

From the monster combat training and team battles onwards, we’ll be receiving education in specialized facilities, so the deadline for freely roaming the vast training grounds was the 2nd day.

If this period passes and we enter the specialized training facilities, Helena, being an outsider, won’t be able to enter, and I won’t be able to meet her anymore.

I need to finish this quickly.

“Then let’s dismiss for now.”

Clatter─!

Whether knowing my thoughts or not, Rina rose from her chair without delay and left with Helena.

There was no warm time for additional chatting or such, like with ordinary teams. We weren’t on those terms.

“…Kuk.”

Wolf, like Rina, briefly clicked his tongue and went his own way. In the end, the only person left here until the last was,

“By the way, it’s almost lunchtime, want to go eat something? I think I saw a delicious barbecue place on the way here…”

Erika.

“Sure. I’ll treat you today.”

“R-Really? Let’s go, hehe!”