Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: No, Just Curious
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After that, at Eve's suggestion, I started giving orders to these dimwitted chicks.
"Set up the tents around the three bonfires. Don't spread out too far from each other. If any couples start spouting nonsense about stargazing alone together, I'll make you see stars for real."
"......"
One couple looked crestfallen. Are we here to play or what?
"Line up in pairs. You can see the person next to you, right? Stand watch in two-man teams like that. Two at a time, for two hours each."
"W-what's a night watch?"
Oh.
They don't know what a night watch is.
"It's standing guard while everyone's asleep at night."
"...D-do we really need to do that?"
"This is the Sleeping Mountains, a field crawling with real monsters. You think you'll just die if they ambush you at night?"
"......"
"Stand guard in pairs. Even if one nods off, the other can wake them. Plus, your field of vision doubles. Got it?"
"Y-yes, sir..."
Jefrin's education is a total mess, more than I thought.
No, wait.
These kids are just students aiming to graduate and get jobs in the field.
Sigh. I need to hold back.
"I'll hand out two hot packs per person—warm even in the middle of the night. Take them and figure out your watch rotations. I've also filled the canteens with hot water, so keep hydrating."
"...Understood."
At least they follow orders obediently.
Just as I was distributing the hot packs, someone approached with quick steps. A glance revealed a long-haired silver elf. It was Sylphia.
"......"
"Here. Your share."
"Wh-who said I wanted..."
"Don't want it? Aren't you cold?"
Sylphia was a spirit swordsman. Her mana color was green—wind, specifically. With high cutting power enchanted for swift strikes, it wasn't an exaggeration to say she had zero cold-weather gear.
Her equipment was lighter and thinner than even Nefti's.
Though Nefti, who should be a heavy knight or guardian tank, was in fairly light armor herself, anyway.
"......Tch. I said I wouldn't accept your help. Forgot already?!"
"Not cold, then? Or are you ignoring my advice?"
"What?"
"Getting sick here and dragging everyone down tomorrow—is that your idea of loyalty and pride?"
"...Urk."
At my words, Sylphia hemmed and hawed before thrusting out her hand. Not even using both hands like a proper kid should when an adult offers something.
But I'm a good adult, so I let kids' mistakes slide. I handed over two hot packs, a canteen, and even the standard ration of jerky for dawn.
Sylphia clutched the supplies I'd given her and glared daggers at me.
"Come to think of it, Sylphia Evergreen Grove."
"What...?"
"Didn't you say you'd stake your life if you ever accepted my help?"
"Urk!"
At that, she nearly hurled the items away...
"Throwing them away here—is that loyalty?"
"...U-ugh. Urgh."
She hemmed and hawed, trembling without doing anything, tears welling up as she finally screamed.
"Tch... Just kill me then!"
"What? Wouldn't that be disloyal to Eve too? Throw your tantrums in moderation."
"Kyaah!"
She sure can scream.
Healthy voice.
Good, good. Kids should be healthy above all. Growing up strong is their job.
Teaching them when they mess up or act rude? That's adult work.
"Hm."
The sound from outside jolted me awake.
You know good sleep is one of the hardest things to achieve?
Think about it: quality sleep requires good health. Wolfram von Loengrin's stamina is at a measly 2, so his sleep is irregular and shallow.
That's why I'm a light sleeper, wake up often, struggle with new pillows, and am picky about mattress cushioning.
So, I woke up.
"W-we can stand watch two more hours..."
"No. This is my job. Go get some sleep."
"Y-yes!"
One familiar voice, two unfamiliar ones.
I unzipped the tent and stepped out to see a lone figure by the bonfire.
"The overall commander standing watch isn't a good call."
"I know."
"And I don't recall ordering you to do it alone."
"I'm not alone."
What? Some friendship power letting everyone stay together or something?
I stared blankly at Eve, and she nodded toward something far off with her chin.
A red wolf curled up by the handcart.
"Ah, got it. You can communicate with Patrasche too, huh."
Eve nodded, and I accepted it.
"...Rin't Wolfram sleep more?"
"I can stay up another hour or two."
"I see."
Silence followed.
Crackle, crackle.
Only the bonfire's pops broke the quiet, forcing noise into the void.
"Wolfram. Wolfram von Loengrin."
"What is it, Eve von Loengrin."
"...Are you really the Wolfram I know?"
"......"
Sharp question.
"Yeah. I'm Wolfram von Loengrin. Who else would I be?"
"...No. That punchable face is definitely the Wolfram right above me in the family tree."
"Ha. The incompetent usurper's got a mouth on her. After stealing the student council president spot from me, all you do is flail around."
"......Eek! Can't you say it nicer?!"
I nailed her in the solar plexus, and Eve clutched her chest, groaning in agony.
No, look, it's just that...
In our generation, you see an opening, you strike. It's basic.
That's the deal mechanic of Yi Young-jin, once called 'Iron Tier Lone Slaughterer,' 'Unblockable Forward-Blink Verdict Vane,' and 'Dreamland Nursery's Top Output One-Shot ADC Prince.'
"You started with the nonsense."
"Then how can you conquer the Sleeping Mountains like this? There were no stories of you leading an expedition from your class."
"......"
Hm.
Eve's right. No such event in the original story, as far as I know.
What to say? How to dodge? 'It's in the ancient records' won't fly—Eve heads to the palace over summer break and pores over them as part of the original plot, so she'd find out.
"All that corrupt profiteering during your term? Buying up magic books and swords. Even though you knew you couldn't learn them yourself."
I was hunting for a serious deflection when Eve spoke first.
If she leads, my job's simple.
Nod.
Just nod.
"You were dreaming of that? A dream no one's challenged in 300 years? ...For real?"
Nod.
No idea, but sounds like it.
"...I see. Got it. Honestly, I thought you were just a dumb con artist... but I guess I need to change my mind a bit. You're a dumb con artist... but the only idealist in Jefrin who dreams big."
Nod.
Sounds like an insult, but since I don't get what she's saying, I'll stick to nodding.
"...Two hours up. I'll wake the next watch."
"Mm."
Eve dusted off and went to rouse the others. I watched her back and tilted my head.
"So what is that dream?"
My dream's to be Jefrin's top convenience store manager.
"Jefrin kids don't even dream that big?"
The next day, we fought several battles.
Naturally, the deeper we went, the stronger the Sleeping Mountains' monsters got.
Of course, straying off the paved road brings even deadlier ones, but sticking to the path laid by the founding emperor means more monsters, but the same lineup.
Probably the lore about him setting up some subtle barrier along the road.
"...Hoo. Hoo! We won again!"
"Any injuries? Any injured?"
"None! All clear!"
"Good! Advance more before the buffs wear off!"
"Yes! Everyone, pop one in your right molar before the next fight starts!"
"Yes!"
At Eve's command, they all obediently bit down on a snack in their right molars.
"Ha...... What an amazing item. Effects holding up this far in."
"Mm."
"How does one pill give two magical effects? We can't release this on the market. I'll contact the Trista family. Don't go selling it recklessly either. This is... seriously dangerous stuff."
I nodded.
The snacks I gave them were Magical Patissier's stacked buff candies. Effects: Tier 9 [Sleep Resistance] and Tier 9 [Low-Level Healing Boost].
Normally, buffs on Magical Patissier are random and still are, but I cheesed it.
The trick: 'Mass-producing in one batch yields identical options.'
I made small batches until I got Sleep Resistance chocolate, then duplicated it raw without Patissier, and cheated the dough balls the same way.
Result: They chomp a chocolate ball per fight for dual buffs.
Magical Sweets trigger on one candy's worth of chewing, and the balls count as one anyway size-wise.
"...Honestly, without Wolfram, I don't know how this expedition would've gone."
"That's 30,000 rin per pill."
"If you vanished now, we wouldn't have to pay, right?"
"......"
"Kidding. We'll pay up proper. ...You said cards work... any installments or bartering?"
"Barter adds a premium."
"...Sigh. Got it. I'll send a goods list later."
Nice deal.
After three more battles, we finally reached the lodge rumored to fly a black flag.
About time.
2-1 mission. The first battle with Eve's expedition.
This is where Kelters starts his bad blood with the black flag.
Guess I have to advise Eve here.
Pretty key map, a branch point too. Above all, high chance Eve gets emotionally scarred.
"Eve. From here on..."
"No. You've helped enough already. We'll take it from here."
"......"
Same as the original lines.
Fine, handle it yourselves then.
Now, the minions will break the barrier array there and charge in.
"I'll pull back then. War support merchant duties done."
"Yes. Do that."
"One last tip before I go."
"......Say it."
"They're a century-old pack of delinquents. No student council president's ever fully wiped them out."
"...True. And I'll be the first."
"Anyway. Assume no second chances—hit 'em with holy spears the second they show."
"...Thanks for the advice."
That's my advice. I'll hang back a bit. That dive needs the right angle anyway.
"...Tier 8 barrier array. Breached!"
"Everyone, get ready. We're going in!"
They busted the lodge door, sturdy stamina kids leading the charge inside.
In the main story, this episode was more symbolic than expected.
Fateful new villain intro.
Let's see. Right about timing.
Ah. Here it comes.
Mana condensed inside the lodge, then whoosh—a wind whipped through, turning into a gale.
"...Wh-what is it?!"
"Everyone, protect yourselves!"
Eve judged fastest, and the max-compressed gale exploded outward with a boom!
Ooh. Just like the original.
"Kyaa?!"
"Ugh!? Grk?!"
I ducked behind the handcart, feeling the cool blast.
Students got flung and tumbled, but top magic division scores meant no major injuries. That's the setup.
Just groggy or knocked back from the impact.
And that's when...
The girl in black robes steps out from inside.
"Student Council! Student Council! How was it? Was my attack good? You were surprised, right? Surprised? You were, weren't you? 'Cause it was my attack!"
Up to here, same as original. Hm.
Now she says something like:
"Getting this far? Impressive! Super impressive! Yeah! I was surprised too! So I'll run now! See ya later!"
Yeah. She says that and bolts.
You know those bosses who always escape in stories?
She becomes a walking plot hook—pops up now and then to help or harass, later spouting crap like 'Are you our enemy... or ally...?' Total nutjob concept character.
I stared at the robed girl.
I know who she is, her whole story. Hits different seeing her.
But I was curious.
Like, purely personally.
Boss with a guaranteed escape trigger?
If a side-story extra blocks her, does the trigger fire? Or not?
"Patrasche. Tear her apart."
"Grrrrrrrrr!!!"
Well,
I decided to test it.
What can you do?
I was curious. If I get hit, you deal with it.