Chapter 49
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: One Step Ahead
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“This is more or less what I expected.”
He'd take control of his group, incite the others, and launch a joint attack on the most dangerous team.
“Though the one leading it is different.”
Professor Rosalia had thought Ludger would be in Pernyan's position.
“Isn't Pernyan's involvement also not that surprising?”
“It is surprising.”
She already knew Pernyan Fallenberg was capable. He wouldn't be ranked 10th otherwise.
But she had also noticed that he was relatively reluctant to reveal his full self or take the lead.
“He isn't the type of student who likes to step into the spotlight so openly.”
“Could it be because Ruina is involved again?”
“If not, there's no other particular reason. Although I'm not sure if Ruina is that 'particular reason'.”
“Then it must be one of two things.”
Grad and Rosalia continued the topic from their last practical exercise.
“Either the boiling passion of young love,”
“I don't believe Pernyan Fallenberg would be moved by such personal emotions.”
“or there was some sort of agreement between the Fallenberg and Bercefe families.”
“Didn't we reach the same conclusion last time?”
“We did.”
Grad stroked his chin.
“You stroked your chin back then, too.”
“You remember that? Let the small things go.”
In any case, it wasn't important.
“Whatever passed between the two families has nothing to do with me.”
“That may be true for us, but there are others for whom it isn't.”
A deal between the Empire's wealthiest family and the guardians of the north, a family that had fallen but was slowly regaining its former glory.
No citizen of the Empire could fail to react.
“No. Not 'us,' but 'me'.”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you really unconcerned? Even if those two families join hands?”
“I am merely an academy professor.”
“But your surname suggests otherwise. And you don't seem completely detached yourself.”
Rosalia stared at him expressionlessly. Grad avoided her gaze and shrugged.
“Well, that's not my business either.”
“…It has begun.”
Group 1 and the other groups were about to converge.
* * *
49 versus 90.
Numbers are a factor that can never be ignored, anytime, anywhere.
Considering the students were distributed among the four groups with a semblance of balance, this battle was extremely disadvantageous for Group 1.
Nevertheless, Ludger believed they had a chance to win.
“Your Highness, what should we do?”
“We hold our ground.”
If we didn't have a base, we could retreat and devise various strategies, but for now, there was no choice but to hold on.
At least, from a combat perspective.
“Lure them toward the traps to maximize damage. Do not get excited, and do not advance without my command.”
“Yes, sir.”
What was fortunate was that they had simple traps and a fortified position. And perhaps that the students would readily obey his commands because he was a prince.
“Can Almon do it alone?”
“What do you think?”
David Ripen, ranked 8th in the Knight Department, couldn't answer readily.
“First of all, I am not confident I can beat Almon.”
“Just you?”
“It's the same for everyone, except Ruina.”
In his view, even Ruina could only fight Almon on equal footing; he couldn't say for certain she could win.
“Then the answer is clear, isn't it?”
No one in the Knight Department can defeat Almon. The Magic Department might have other methods, but what if their main force is focused here?
Of course, I can't guarantee Almon can defeat all twenty people left at the base by himself, but if it's just a matter of capturing the flag?
“We just need to buy time.”
“But I can't stop Ruina. Nor Harold, Alia, Doria, Gert, or Pelkan.”
“I know. If you could beat them all, you'd be ranked 2nd, not 8th.”
The Knight Department values practical combat and skill more than the Magic Department, after all.
If you had the ability to defeat them in one-on-one duels, your rank would surely have changed.
“It will be fine. Ruina won't fight seriously either.”
“Ruina, you say?”
“Yes. And Pernyan will be the same.”
Perhaps all of Group 3 will be.
“I trust your words, Your Highness. But what about the others, aside from those two...?”
“I'll try to handle Carlo.”
“Even so, there are still a considerable number of enemies left, Your Highness.”
Even if Group 3 takes it easy, Group 2 and Group 4 remain.
And in those groups, there were students stronger than David. Quite a few of them.
A simple calculation shows seven from the Magic Department and seven from the Knight Department. Of course, the gap between knights and mages doesn't fall so neatly.
“David.”
Ludger gripped both of David's shoulders firmly.
“You can do this. I'll take command, so whether you fight back or run, just buy as much time as you can.”
Aside from Almon, David was the strongest knight in Group 1, so his role was quite significant.
“David. I'm here too.”
“That's not comforting at all.”
David's partner and the 4th-ranked student in the Magic Department, Jin Brad, scoffed.
“There are only three mages in the second year better than me.”
“Two of them are our enemies, and so is the one ranked right below you.”
“Don't worry, David. I was just kidding.”
Ludger added one more thing.
“As if I wouldn't have a plan.”
He smiled.
“I've already spoken with Group 4. The outcome will depend on how Group 2 reacts.”
Right now, Group 4 was only pretending to follow Pernyan to deceive him.
“No way...”
“I was faster, Pernyan.”
I won't let you take first place this time.
* * *
“Halt.”
At the quiet murmur, the members of Group 3 stopped in unison. Pernyan unfolded a map to check their current location.
Group 1's base was on a wooded mountainside. A place all too perfect for ambushes and traps.
The other groups' locations weren't much different; they had been intentionally assigned such spots.
“Why? We still have to go further to reach the meeting point.”
“We're not going.”
“…What?”
“You mean, from the very beginning?”
Pernyan nodded and said.
“There's nothing cowardly in war.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“Your eyes are cursing me.”
“……”
“We will attack Group 4 from here.”
Group 3 was the farthest from Group 1, so naturally, the other groups were supposed to arrive first.
But at the meeting point, not far from Group 1's base, there was no one.
Everyone felt a sense of foreboding, but Pernyan was calm.
“Then why did we bother coming all this way?”
“There was something I needed to confirm. A few of you, follow me.”
“It seems you know something.”
“I do. I know Ludger well. I can anticipate how that bastard will act.”
Pernyan moved cautiously with a few people. And then he found them.
The people gathered at the promised location, and far off, a small group heading toward Group 1.
“…No way.”
“It's probably exactly what you're thinking.”
“Then what do we do? Aren't we screwed?”
“Those three groups are teaming up against us?”
“After they agreed to work with us…!”
Pernyan took out a magic telescope from his coat. It couldn't see very far, but he could grasp the general movements of the encampment.
“Now, do you see why I said we should go for Group 4?”
“But will an empty-base raid even work? If we don't show up, they'll notice something's off.”
“From what I just confirmed, all the top-10 students were over there. They were probably planning to ambush us while our guard was down, but conversely, what does that mean?”
“Their base is definitely empty…?”
“Not bad. No, that's good.”
At his words, the other students shouted.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let's go, now!”
* * *
“Don't move.”
Almon beamed.
Before him stood a flag. A flag bearing the number 4, symbolizing Group 4. If he pulled it out, Group 4 would be finished.
“…Calm down, Almon. Let's talk this out first.”
“Yeah, don't you think this is wrong?”
The students of Group 4 tried to calmly persuade Almon.
‘Dammit, I can't believe they sent Almon over here.’
‘Why us of all people…!’
‘How are we supposed to stop Almon when he just charges straight through? He's a monster.’
They had spotted him late, but they did their best. They attacked with magic, and the knights blocked his path.
But Almon withstood all the magic while simultaneously eliminating two knights. He then broke through in a straight line, stood before the flag, and brought about the current situation.
‘If only Harold or Doria were here…!’
The difference in skill between those ranked in the top 10 and those who weren't was much greater than expected. If they had been here, the line wouldn't have been broken so easily.
“The ones who are wrong are you lot, who excluded us and conspired behind our backs.”
“Oh, no…!”
“Yes!”
Almon pulled out the flag.
The moment he did.
*Fwoosh—*
A simple pulse of mana originating from the flag spread across the entire field, and all of Group 4's maps began to burn.
They were all eliminated.
“…Ah.”
“We're eliminated just like that? So pointlessly?”
“This can't be…!”
“No! This is all Harold's fault! He said we could just team up and take them out first!”
The eliminated students collapsed, their faces blank with despair.
“Good. I haven't disappointed His Highness.”
Seeing the defeated students, Almon smiled with satisfaction.
He had consumed a lot of aura and sustained minor injuries from forcing his way through with only the flag in his sights, but since the result was good, it was all worth it.
Or so he thought.
“It's been a while since we've met like this. Hasn't it, Almon?”
If only a large group of people hadn't suddenly appeared and surrounded him.
And if the person leading them hadn't been Ruina, the only second-year who could make him tense.
And if Pernyan Fallenberg, following behind her, wasn't wearing a vile smirk.
“…Ruina? Pernyan? How?”
“It means that no matter where you run, you're still in the palm of my hand. Thanks for doing our work for us.”
“Weren't you on your way to attack us?”
“We were. But it seems Ludger was making moves of his own. So we decided to just finish off another team first. Thankfully, you did it for us.”
“…Why here, of all places?”
“Because if I were Ludger, I would have done the same thing.”
Group 2 had Carlo Deneve. The one backed by the imperial family.
Ludger must have thought that if he could just eliminate Group 4, he and Group 2 could easily handle Group 3. Who would he send to a place like that?
Someone he could trust, his strongest piece, someone who could definitely capture the flag.
Pernyan had been certain it would be Almon.
But that was a closely guarded secret, so Pernyan didn't say it out loud.
“A coincidence.”
“Ha…!”
Almon, who had been cautiously assessing the situation, lunged. But he didn't succeed.
“Where do you think you're going?”
“…Ruina. You're a noble knight. Are you really going to take part in such a cowardly scheme?”
“I don't think that's something you, who snuck in cowardly to pull the flag, should be saying.”
“I broke through head-on, fair and square.”
“…In war, victory is what is noble.”
“So you'll join a pincer attack?”
Ruina deliberately avoided Almon's gaze.
“Get him.”
Pernyan's order fell.
*Fwoosh—*
Almon's map burned.
“…Hm?”
Ludger, who had realized Pernyan wasn't coming and had belatedly followed Almon, found his map burning as well.
“…Hah, Pernyan, you damn bastard.”
There wasn't a single thing about him to like.
Ludger ground his teeth.