Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Did You Trick Me?
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Did you trick me?
Luidel Academy organizes its classes based on entrance exam scores right from the entrance ceremony.
People often imagine academies divided by departments like swordsmanship or magic, but Luidel's classes were a bit different from those in other stories.
In truth, Luidel was less an academy and more like an officer training school for nurturing talent to conquer dungeons.
Accordingly, its classes were divided into three main groups: Assault Squad, Recon Squad, and Support Squad. Within each, they were further subdivided into A, B, and C grades based on scores.
The first was the Assault Squad.
The Assault Squad prioritized dungeon conquest above all, making it the most popular and renowned class in the academy.
With top talents flocking there, it received concentrated support from both the academy and the Empire, and graduates enjoyed unmatched prestige compared to other classes.
Despite the high risks, many students applied for the future prospects it offered. Major playable characters like Aren were mostly in this group.
The second was the Recon Squad.
While the Assault Squad focused on conquest, the Recon Squad scouted dungeons, mapped them, marked boss rooms, and bridged communication between Assault and Support Squads.
Their duties included handling miscellaneous monsters inside, but direct confrontations with bosses were rare.
That meant lower risks, but correspondingly lower prestige than the Assault Squad.
Surprisingly, Adelin had been a Recon Squad alumna in the past, establishing feats rivaling Assault Squad by conquering numerous dungeons despite her affiliation.
Finally, the Support Squad.
Specializing in rear support over combat, they handled supplies, healing, buffs, equipment repairs, and more during conquests, backing the Assault and Recon Squads.
They rarely stood at the forefront but stepped up when needed, so skilled Support Squad graduates were often scouted by the Imperial Army or royal strategic staff.
For instance, Yujin—volunteering for Assault Squad without hesitation up front—would officially become "Luidel Academy Freshman Assault Squad A-Class."
And now, I too had returned to the exam hall from days ago for class assignments.
‘More people than I expected.’
That was my first thought upon arriving.
The academy had no reason to turn away willing examinees.
Fresh talents walking in to serve the Empire? Why block them?
As long as they had basic qualifications, most passed.
Of course, about half of those admits died off as the scenario progressed.
Roughly, those who'd cleared Shukarit all passed without fail, and even some who hadn't had made it.
The pass rate seemed higher than in the original—likely due to variables I'd introduced.
Especially around Senia. Most examinees grouped with her appeared to have passed.
As I scanned my soon-to-be classmates, a familiar voice rang out from afar.
“Cecil, still mad?”
“If I hadn't gotten the acceptance notice, I'd have resented you forever.”
“That wouldn't happen. If anything, my score was probably lower than yours.”
“That's just what you deserved!”
It was the Ren sisters, whom I hadn't seen since the exam.
That day, Cecilia had glared at me like she wanted to bore holes through my face, so I'd tried approaching, only to get intercepted by Victor.
Fortunately, both had passed. The academy wouldn't want to lose talent like Cecilia.
Their relationship seemed less strained than expected.
Both had strong-willed personalities, after all.
Then Senia spotted me squatting on the ground.
“……?”
Her expression shifted about four times as she stared—
“Ah!”
“W-what?! Why all of a sudden?!”
She dragged Cecilia over to me.
“Sitting normally today? I half-expected you to show up on stage in armor like last time.”
“Circumstances demanded it then.”
Cecilia, dragged along with a grumpy face, froze at my voice.
“Huh…? Eh…? Huuuh…?”
Words leaking from her robot-like stiff lips.
“You… no way… Halibal?”
“Greetings, my ladies.”
“R-really?!”
Cecilia couldn't tear her eyes from my face for a while.
A perfectly understandable reaction. I'd gotten hundreds of similar stares at the unit for days after my burns healed.
Mina, who'd visited to check the scars, reacted the same.
More than that—
‘I reacted the same way.’
In the original, Halibal Belder was a dried-up corpse repeating knightly honor and pride.
Hollow eyes, dark circles under them, gaunt face. Him suddenly showing up with uncanny accuracy stuck in memory.
So when I first saw my burn-free face, I thought, ‘The original Halibal's look was due to cult brainwashing after all.’
Thanks to training, the scars vanished cleanly—my face far more intact than I'd imagined.
“How does it look?”
“W-what… about?!”
“You didn't like the burn scars?”
And that probably hit Cecilia harder.
Even after long interactions, she'd often fail to hide surprise seeing me.
She'd show remorse each time, but I couldn't erase the trauma deeply etched in her mind.
Now that the cause was gone, maybe it'd improve. That's why I was most curious about her reaction.
She averted her gaze briefly, then mumbled softly, hand over her mouth.
“……Not bad.”
Yeah. What'd I expect?
That was high praise.
Senia giggled at her words, then asked with a gentle smile.
“Right. Which squad are you applying for, Halibal?”
“You two are going for Assault Squad, of course?”
“Yes. Probably…”
Cecilia cut in then.
“…Cecilia.”
“Yes?”
“No… uh… ‘Lady’ gets confusing, so…”
She glanced away, then added softly.
“……You can use our names.”
‘That was the plan anyway.’
The academy was where ranks were shed.
Original Aren dropped formalities with Cecilia from the start, and Yujin or Richard did the same even with upperclassmen—no "young miss" or "young master."
I'd planned to switch once term started.
Long military life made casual speech hard to muster, though.
The academy demanded more activity than now; staying stiff like this would mean losses.
No reason to refuse her paving the way.
“Got it. Cecilia.”
“……That's fine.”
Senia, watching, crossed her arms with a playful smile.
“Then call me Senia from now on too?”
“As… you wish.”
“Huh? Why am I still formal?”
‘You started it.’
Plus, her exam-day madwoman image lingered, making casual tough.
“No issue. Might even distinguish you from Cecil better.”
“I'll work on treating you casually.”
“Anyway, answer my earlier question? Assault Squad for you too, Halibal?”
“Obviously. Empire's first to conquer the Demon God's Abyss.”
…Obviously?
Logically, yes.
I'd dungeon-crawled non-stop, first to clear the demon dungeon as she said.
But I had no intention of Assault Squad.
‘Putting myself in Recon.’
Dungeon bosses I'd felled dropped nothing but shards so far.
Demon dungeon included— just Adamant, nothing more.
But from the next dungeon, things changed.
Why demon dungeon was called the tutorial: the next one unlocked the treasure chest system upon conquests, giving extra rewards beyond drops.
Chests dropped shards and gear.
Meaning my inefficient farming turned hyper-efficient.
I needed dungeons ASAP to grow stronger, and keep hitting Demon God's Dungeon.
Enter Recon Squad's edge.
They entered dungeons first among the three.
Not really a privilege—未知 layouts meant risks.
But no issue for me.
‘I know the maps.’
Not all details, but roughly: spawns, monster placements, traps, dead ends—from original knowledge.
Zero risk, all reward for me.
No reason to pass.
Couldn't tell them outright, though.
They clearly favored me.
Whether mere liking or more, unknown.
So their choice hearing my Recon pick? Unpredictable.
Cecilia swaying to another squad from Assault? Unknown butterfly effects.
“Probably.”
Had to dodge vaguely.
“Figured as much?”
“Yeah.”
They nodded without surprise.
“Then shall we submit too?”
“Yeah. Better wrap it quick.”
I'd unwittingly tricked them, but oh well.
‘Hope they don't resent me later.’
Students trickled in, submitting forms. I blended, handing mine to the instructor.
He frowned at "Recon Squad," eyes saying ‘This right?’
Sadly, yes.
Time passed, and final assignments wrapped.
“Luidel Academy freshman class assignments now announced. Called students, confirm name, squad, grade, then assemble.”
Announcement board unfurled at the instructor's shout; eyes locked on.
“Assault Squad first.”
[Assault Squad A-Class]
Yujin Raygal
Ran Pen
Aren Bright
Richard Dain
……
As expected: Aren, Yujin, Ran in Assault A. Mina and Elier in Support, so absent naturally.
Original match; momentary relief…
‘Where are Senia and Cecilia?’
Scoured, no names.
Misread? Rereading from top—
They approached.
“Looking for something?”
“……Pardon?”
Then a loaded question.
“Next, Recon Squad.”
Heart sinking, eyes shifted—
[Recon Squad A-Class]
Halibal Belder
Cecilia Ren
Senia Ren
……
‘Fuck?’
Whirled on them.
“Knew you'd be hunting our names.”
“How much have we seen of you?”
Did you trick me?
Luna Grace
And who the hell are you?