Chapter 145: Shadows in the Secret Chamber, One Week Before the Ortara Exchange
One week before the Ortara exchange match was set to begin, in a dark secret room, Jepita and Karema had taken their seats.
"When did they say they'd get here?"
"They're about due."
"We should be rushing to Ortara as it is... What the hell's taking them so long?"
Karema clicked his tongue.
Hector and Daneb. They were certainly powerful assets, but their personalities clashed with Jepita and Karema's, so they often operated separately. To be precise, Hector's side was fine, but Daneb was the problem.
"Ortara... might be tougher than we thought."
"Full-scale war is out of the question. Our goal is kidnapping those with sturdy bodies... so we'll have to slip in seals and abduct them covertly."
"All at once?"
"You think we know where they all are to grab them in one go? Jepita."
"...Right."
"At least Daneb's coming—that's a relief. No one moves as stealthily as her. If only she weren't such a loose cannon."
"Can't argue there."
Jepita nodded in agreement with Karema's assessment.
At that moment, the door to the secret room exploded off its hinges with a bang.
What emerged was a man of even more colossal build than the burly Jepita, and a slender woman.
"Could you open the door a little gentler? You paying for repairs?"
"Why should I, when you're the ones badmouthing me behind my back?"
The woman snapped at them irritably.
"Badmouthing? What're you on about? We say it to your face anyway. That wild boar temper of yours hasn't changed, Daneb."
"Shut your trap, Karema. You're one to talk after getting your ass handed to you by Solemnute's brats."
"Haha. Better than you, who was supposedly rescued by Hector right before becoming an Istaltin saint law experimenter's guinea pig. And I got thrashed by Sione Solenute, so no shame there. You would've been ashes."
"Trash."
Black energy began rippling around Daneb's body.
"Daneb. Enough."
"That bastard started it—why should I?"
"It's the priest's order. No time for this nonsense."
Jepita nodded at Hector's solemn words.
"Both of you, cut it out and sit. We need to plan and move."
"Tch."
Daneb clicked her tongue and sat beside Hector.
"So. What's the plan?"
"We'll move as stealthily as possible and kidnap warriors from inside Ortara."
"That's it?"
Daneb scoffed. Kidnapping people? That was her specialty.
"Good. As long as it's not mindless brawling, I'm in. Better than those Istaltin lunatics."
"I'd love to unleash highest-grade erosion beasts and snatch the panicking Ortara warriors... but that's no easy feat either."
"Why? We still have some highest-grade ones left, right?"
"Idiot. Don't you know we always hold back highest-grade erosion beasts for emergencies?"
"The Lord will resurrect anyway and fix everything. Isn't this all about finding that vessel? Why hoard them?"
"You think about unleashing highest-grade erosion beasts before the vessel's even complete, and Ortara and Solemnute won't march on the Salvation Cult? You know how sensitive those two nations are to highest-grade erosion beasts."
Daneb shut her mouth sullenly at Karema's point. She wanted to argue, but he was right. The two nations were already on edge after the last raid. Releasing a highest-grade erosion beast in their midst? Who knew what that would unleash.
"No, I mean... whatever. Finding the vessel faster is what matters."
"Finding the vessel matters, but bringing them intact to the Salvation Cult is our mission too. No guarantee we can shake off pursuit completely."
"That's why we release highest-grade erosion beasts! Draw their eyes that way, buy time to slip away. What good are we if we get caught and killed?"
Daneb raised her voice at Jepita's words. She had a point too. No matter how stealthy, gaps in personnel would tip off Ortara eventually. Pursuit teams would come raging.
"Karema's right, and so is Daneb."
Hector, who had been listening silently, finally spoke.
"Releasing highest-grade erosion beasts risks drawing their elite forces. Not releasing them heightens our own danger."
"So what now?"
"Then we release them. Our top priority is securing a body for the Lord's descent and refining it into the vessel. Stay as covert as possible... and if we're exposed, release just a few highest-grade ones. It'll take time to find vessels anyway, so prepare meticulously."
"And after? If they storm the Salvation Cult?"
"We can worry about that later. The Lord commanded us to find the vessels first. We focus on that. Dealing with invasions comes after."
Hector answered Karema's question. Watching the exchange, Daneb asked Hector,
"So how many erosion beasts do we release? Two or three highest-grade?"
"Two to three. Others at normal levels."
"That won't last long against Ortara's forces."
"Enough time to escape, no? Right, Karema?"
"We can escape. I'm confident in running, at least."
Karema boasted, and Daneb narrowed her eyes.
"Loser. Bragging about fleeing."
"Hey. Better than getting caught like some people."
"Enough pointless fighting. How about we get moving? Time's running short."
As Jepita chuckled, the two who had been about to escalate vanished in a whoosh.
"Tough crowd, Jepita."
"Tell me about it, Hector."
The two watchers could only sigh. This mission felt like it wouldn't be easy.
The third day in Ortara had dawned.
After yesterday's real welcoming ceremony, the knight faculty and combat faculty students had grown noticeably closer. Birds of a feather, it seemed.
The training grounds buzzed with the surreal sight of them clashing swords in spars.
And among them, Ludenberg Lavante was by far the most popular.
After he defeated Ortara's first-year top student, Gail Glitter, more and more wanted a bout with him. Even some second- and third-years, despite the grade gap, requested matches.
Ashytara, who had wanted to train with Ludenberg today for the friendly match prep, eyed the scene with mild dissatisfaction.
"Tara!"
"President Dalia?"
"Yep."
"What brings you here?"
"Just bored. Third day has nothing going on. Same for second- and third-years... Anyway, they're all wandering around having fun today. Me too."
"Ah, that explains the empty schedule."
"Usually, you'd sync with your partner on a day like this, but not you?"
"No, I planned to... but..."
Ashytara's gaze fixed on one spot—where Ludenberg was deep in another spar.
"...with all this."
"He's insanely popular, like I figured. Tara."
"Huh?"
"Doesn't it seem weird?"
"What?"
"Around Rud... aren't there more girls?"
Ashytara scrutinized Ludenberg's surroundings. As Dalia said, female combat faculty students dominated.
"...You're right."
Her expression darkened as realization hit.
"They say the ideal husband for Ortara women is a strong man. Gail Glitter was probably popular too. But Rud beat him... so of course he's swarmed. And he's from Solemnute, no divine power."
"..."
Ashytara fell silent.
Dalia slyly added to her suddenly quiet friend,
"Better watch out. Someone might snag him. You know how oblivious Rud is, right?"
Dalia had long noticed Ashytara's feelings for Ludenberg. The usually stoic girl turned into a typical expressive teen around him—it was impossible to miss.
"...Yeah."
"Go on. Shoo away those sparring girls and claim your Rud!"
"It's not claiming... just syncing for the friendly. We need prep."
"Sure, sure."
Dalia nodded with a amused smile. She watched Ashytara dive into the commotion.
Conveniently, a spar had just ended. Ludenberg looked questioningly at her approach, but Ashytara grabbed his arm and dragged him off.
Ortara students whistled. Ludenberg flushed as she pulled him. Dalia smirked subtly.
Rud's got some change of heart too? Nice. The better they get along, the easier for me...!
Truth be told, Dalia cared less about their romance and more about their synergy yielding top scores. That meant smooth sailing as student council president.
Even this Ortara exchange—she could clock out early thanks to them. Others helped, but not like these two.
Stay in student council till I graduate, please! Go, Tara! Go, Rud!
Blissfully unaware, Ashytara inwardly thanked Dalia's nudge.
"Rud."
"Uh, yeah? Tara. What's up? Dragging me like this."
"You're sparring too much. We need friendly practice. We're teamed up, remember? Only four days left."
"Oh...! Sorry. Slipped my mind."
"Don't let it slip..."
"Really sorry. Been a while since it was this fun."
"...That fun?"
"No one uses divine power. Pure technique feels fresh."
"Then spar me. I won't use mine."
"Suddenly? Weren't we syncing?"
"Don't we start with clashing swords for that?"
"Do we need to between us...? We know each other's styles inside out."
"You know mine. I don't fully know yours."
"...True?"
"Yeah. Spar first, then sync. I need to grasp your swordplay to move right."
"Fair point. Got it."
He nodded readily to Ashytara's suggestion.