Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Aid from the Academy
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"I'd be grateful if you helped."
I had no idea why she, who should have been safe at the academy, had shown up in the middle of this dangerous battlefield. But the important thing was that with Ethylra's help, I could safely repair the tank's tracks.
Ethylra immediately cast a stealth barrier.
As quick as a puppy eagerly awaiting its master's command.
Once the barrier was up, the ominous footsteps of the demons gradually faded away.
Thanks to that, I was able to repair the tank without issue.
Ethylra watched me work from the side.
Her lips kept twitching, like she had something she wanted to ask.
"Feel free to ask."
"Were you the one who made it?"
"Half of it. Sis did the design."
For reference, the Helltank's design was credited to Haniel.
I planned to leave the mansion after this exam anyway, while Sis seemed intent on staying behind to keep taking tests.
I intended to push all the credit for developing the Helltank onto her.
As I'd emphasized before, I had no desire to become famous.
My dream was a comfortable, quiet life.
Once this Polar Anomaly was over, if I sold the Helltank to the Red Tower for a good price, bought a decent house with the money, paid Dalpi a salary, and covered Haniel's treatment, everything would fall into place, right?
Pushing the credit onto her would actually be better for my own safety.
Of course, the fact that this Polar Anomaly had come early was somehow known to everyone, putting me in an awkward spot...
Graduation from this life wasn't far off.
If I just weathered this storm, I could live a life of luxury and indulgence that even the king would envy, spending my days in leisure.
Ester Tristy, fighting!
"Be honest. You're not really fifteen, are you?"
Ethylra suddenly interrogated me out of nowhere.
"I am fifteen."
"How can someone my age assemble and repair something like this? It doesn't make sense!"
"There are all kinds of people in the world. Some, like me, can assemble and repair machines like this even at fifteen."
"Ugh..."
Ethylra looked flustered.
"W-Well... If I had the blueprints, maybe I could assemble and repair it too... In, like, a month of studying!"
I watched her turn her head away primly and thought.
I'd sensed it before, but was Ethylra actually jealous of my talent?
"......"
I hoped she wasn't too heartbroken.
After all, her counterpart wasn't human—it was Nob AI.
『…….』
『(◔_◔)』
Anyway, I finished the repairs without incident.
"All done. Thanks for making the time to help."
"Hmph..."
I'd answered plenty of her questions already, and this thank-you should suffice.
I moved to climb back inside the hatch.
"Before you go, c-can I take a quick look inside...?"
"Curious?"
Ethylra hesitated, then squeezed her eyes shut and nodded.
"Yeah..."
Honestly, even I was curious about the inside of this bizarrely designed tank.
"Come on in."
I settled into the pilot's seat, and just as Ethylra was carefully descending inside—
『A powerful mana reaction detected in the north. Please exercise caution.』
Kkiiig—
An ominous noise came from above.
"Eek!?"
Ethylra hadn't fully descended yet when the hatch started moving.
Fortunately, it wasn't moving at a dangerous speed, so she wasn't hurt, but her waist got caught in between.
It felt like looking at one of those stuck-in-the-wall beauties from Hitomi.
『This is Sky String, limited-edition lingerie designed by Frozenheart, Justina Kingdom's most famous fashion designer.』
To my eyes, it just looked like sky-blue striped panties, but given her black dress, Ethylra was clearly a well-off noble lady.
"M-My waist is stuck...!!"
"......"
『With less fabric than regular underwear, its bold design has received praise from daring young ladies...』
You don't need to explain in such detail.
『I was just trying to help the user, who's been staring at Ms. Ethylra's lower half, by kindly explaining... I'll keep it in mind next time.』
Be quiet!
『…….』
『(๑°⌓°๑)』
"What are you doing down there? Don't just stare—help me quick..."
"Stay still for now."
I grabbed Ethylra's flailing legs.
"Where are you groping?!"
"I said stay still twice."
Anyone overhearing would think I was a pervert.
Even though circumstances forced me to touch a girl's bare skin, it wasn't for lustful reasons—it was for the greater good.
I pulled Ethylra downward.
"Ow ow ow!!"
"I said stay still three times."
At that moment, Ethylra slid down with a whoosh.
I caught her safely so she wouldn't hit the hard floor.
"D-Did you see...?"
Ethylra's face turned beet red.
Her ears were flushed too, so she must have been mortified.
For the girl's sake, I changed the subject.
"Anyway, this is the interior."
"Hmph, surprisingly spacious and comfy..."
"It's designed for long-term operations inside."
Ethylra toured the tank's interior.
Honestly, I knew nothing since Nob AI had designed and piloted it.
Yet Ethylra jotted notes furiously with sparkling eyes, clearly a girl with incredible academic drive.
About three minutes passed like that.
"So, what do you plan to do with this invention?"
"Head back to the family territory and defend it."
"Aren't you scared?"
I smirked.
With Nob AI by my side, there was nothing to fear.
This feeling was mine alone.
Ethylra gazed at my smile with a meaningful look.
And then.
"Don't get hurt... stay safe..."
I blinked at Ethylra, who looked at me worriedly.
What can I say—it felt like forging a normal human connection for the first time in ages.
For the first time in forever, I felt warmth from someone other than Dalpi, Haniel, and the servants.
"Don't worry. Ethylra, you should stay safe in the dorm until everything's over, not in a dangerous place like this."
I opened the hatch for her.
Before leaving, Ethylra said to me.
"I-If you need more help, I could..."
"Use that time to study at your desk."
Ethylra put on a haughty expression.
"I'm already doing plenty!"
I called out to Ethylra huffing off toward the academy.
"Oh, and before your coming-of-age ceremony, you might want to wear slightly more modest underwear."
"Hey!!!"
Vrooom—
I fled without looking back.
She packed a punch.
***
The Tristy Autonomous Territory had the worst situation among the kingdom's eastern regions.
Because the number of demons spawning from the spawn points was far greater—roughly three times that of other territories.
Demons swarmed endlessly across Tristy.
They advanced to destroy everything in their path.
It was a terrifying sight that left all who saw it dumbfounded.
But.
Porto's expression remained calm.
"Derad, take the knights and support Richter Territory immediately. Redrock, lead two thousand soldiers to Argento. David..."
On the contrary, Porto sent his vassals to aid other territories.
Demons were assaulting the defensive lines with ferocious momentum.
In a situation where one mistake could collapse everything, supporting other territories was a choice even the boldest wouldn't make lightly.
"Understood, Family Head."
No one raised objections.
He was the supreme commander with the greatest authority in the territory.
Porto had proven his judgments correct time and again.
His thoughts and actions were always filled with conviction.
This time was no different.
At Porto's command, everyone moved with perfect coordination.
Soldiers formed a bulwark, blocking the demons' advance.
Knights and mages prioritized eliminating dangerous individuals that could cause variables.
Magic cannons built into the defensive line swept away the demons.
These weren't from Red Tower support—they were weapons personally owned by Tristy Autonomous Territory.
Mages didn't exist only in towers.
There were combat mages who wandered battlefields with mercenaries, amassing wealth; civil servants employed by kingdom agencies.
A prime example: noble mages who majored in magic at the academy, graduated, but couldn't adapt to the tower system.
Thanks to the academy, Tristy had an easier time securing skilled mages than other territories.
They just had to recruit academy-graduated noble mages.
Mages had uses in agriculture, industry, education, geography, military, and more.
Tristy knew how much mages influenced territorial development, and after Porto became Family Head, it boasted the most mages among autonomous territories.
Aura users—a significant military asset—often joined Tristy's knight orders after academy graduation.
This was why Tristy, with only a count's rank, could rival marquises controlling multiple territories.
Once the demons' assault quieted, Porto gathered his children except Kenneth.
"Zephyr, Haniel, Ouriel."
"Yes, Father."
"I appoint you as acting Family Heads from this moment."
It was bewildering.
Entrusting supreme command to unproven children in a crisis where the territory could fall?
It seemed utterly insane.
But.
"Father..."
"No arguments. From now on, protect Tristy Autonomous Territory in my stead."
Porto's will was ironclad.
They had no choice but to obey the Family Head's decision.
Zephyr knew too many cooks spoil the broth.
He proposed to his siblings that they choose one final decision-maker.
Ouriel and Haniel quickly agreed.
Every group needs someone to set the direction.
After a brief discussion, they concluded Zephyr was the best fit.
Among the siblings, he was the most versed in military strategy.
He had thick ties with frontline talents and built-up prestige.
Haniel was frail, Ouriel weak at cerebral tasks.
Zephyr was best suited to handle the current situation.
"Understood. I won't let you down."
The burden as supreme commander weighed heavily on Zephyr.
But it was also a chance to prove his abilities.
He swiftly assessed the battlefield and reorganized the troops.
Tristy's everything began moving anew.
Zephyr had a gift for strategy.
His quick mind and decisiveness earned him comparisons to Porto.
Knowing when to act boldly, he advanced the frontlines to seize geographical advantages.
The defensive line was built thick enough to call a fortress.
But the demons, quiet during the lull, surged again fiercely.
Zephyr was young and lacked real combat experience.
Inexperience bred judgment errors.
Just once, but the world was merciless.
Demons exploited the gap, relentlessly targeting the new defensive line's weakness.
"Gaaahhh!!"
"These bastards dare the magic cannons!!"
In the end, the first defensive line began collapsing at an irreversible speed.
"Damn it, retreat!!"
The army fell back.
But the spot Zephyr chose for the new line wasn't ideal for retreat.
The withdrawal slowed, and swift demons flanked the soldiers' rear.
"Megido."
Haniel's high-tier spell activated.
Pillars of fire swept the demons; Dalpi and Ian mopped up the remnants, opening a retreat path.
Additionally, Ouriel led valiant knights, stalling the demons' assault.
Thanks to that, they retreated with minimal losses.
Zephyr quickly built the second defensive line, sweating coldly.
"......"
Gazing at the corpses beyond, chills ran down his spine.
Zephyr resolved to be cautious, knowing one judgment could kill multitudes.
Suddenly, Ester Tristy came to mind.
If Ester Tristy stood here instead, what judgments and choices would he make?
Zephyr hadn't witnessed his military talent yet.
But his wise younger brother, who predicted this crisis...
Surely, he'd achieve better results.