Chapter 151
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 151
“Hmm.”
With my hands clasped behind my back, I gazed up at the massive steel fortress towering in the heart of the jungle.
Base Level 9.
A total of 512 subordinates. 150 combat-ready companions.
It was, for all intents and purposes, a battalion-sized force. With this much strength, victory would normally be a foregone conclusion.
“The disparity in our numbers… is it more than double?”
“Yes, it is.”
I let out a slow sigh at Ciel’s report.
Until now, we had dismantled our enemies without much trouble, but this opponent was on an entirely different level. Even I couldn't guarantee an easy win.
‘Elena’s team has nearly 400 combat-ready personnel.’
Our bases were only one level apart, yet her combat strength was more than twice ours. It made sense; Elena had focused on leveling her base from the very beginning, giving her more time and opportunities to stockpile resources. She had likely scoured the entire region, wiping out every monster in sight.
“However, the quality of our commanders is superior.”
I considered the composition of my team versus Elena’s faction. Fundamentally, Elena’s group was comprised of students who had chosen safety over conflict. My team, conversely, was a collection of hand-picked elites. We had crushed other factions one by one, absorbing the useful talents and discarding the dead weight.
The quality of our rank-and-file might have been lower at the start of the Faction War, but now, in its final stages, there was a significant gap in the caliber of our core members. As long as we accounted for Adler and a few other members of the Divine Knights, we wouldn't face a major problem.
I looked at the map and addressed the commanders.
“First, we will divide our forces into five specialized units.”
The main combat unit, led by Ciel and myself.
A high-impact special assault team, headed by Chepesi and including Handol and Karon.
A magic corps, led by Hildegard and Bell.
Freya’s Steel Knights, led by Theon.
And finally, a unit of spirit users and beastkin, led by Silphiette.
Each unit had a distinct identity. Since they were the core forces of their original factions, their individual power was undeniable.
As I finished the assignments, Hildegard spoke up.
“Is it wise to divide the units so broadly? Their specializations are extremely lopsided.”
She had a point. To create balanced squads, it would be better to mix knights for the frontline, mages for fire support, and beastkin for scouting. However, we didn't have the luxury of time to drill them in complex maneuvers, and the students weren't accustomed to high-level strategic combat. Grouping them into simple, cohesive units was the pragmatic choice.
It was easier to manage people who already worked together daily, and it prevented any confusion in the chain of command.
“It’s fine. This won’t be a guerrilla skirmish; it’s going to be a pitched battle. In a large-scale engagement, a stable chain of command is more important than perfect unit balance.”
With their numerical superiority, Elena’s team would want a massive clash where they could leverage their overwhelming numbers. The logical counter would be guerrilla warfare to chip away at them, but…
‘Their side has access to divine healing, and their paladins are heavily armored. Their sustain is too high.’
Given the nature of Elena’s faction—packed with paladins and priests—they would recover from minor wounds almost instantly.
‘Against an enemy with superior numbers and high recovery, a clumsy attempt at guerrilla warfare would only result in our own forces being whittled down.’
Therefore, our best chance at victory lay in a single, devastating blow aimed at neutralizing their leader: Elena.
As I laid out the plan for the full-scale engagement, Chepesi voiced her concern.
“Are you sure about this? In a pitched battle, the side with the numbers usually wins. It’s hard to create variables in an open field.”
“Well, what can you do? The side at a disadvantage just has to fight better.”
I shrugged and looked back at the map.
‘A strength disparity of more than two to one.’
Elena hadn't waited for me to finish off the other factions because she was a fool or out of the goodness of her heart. She had calculated that she could still crush me even after giving me that leeway. The opportunity she gave me was, quite literally, for her own amusement. An overwhelmingly one-sided victory wouldn't be fun, after all.
However.
‘That will be Elena’s fatal mistake.’
The opportunity she had so graciously granted me—I had every intention of seizing it and grasping victory.
“Now, I will brief you on the tactical objectives.”
*
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The rhythmic thrum of war drums echoed across the jungle island.
On the white sandy beach—the only flat terrain on the island—Elena’s forces and my own converged. The two armies stood in formation, facing each other as a heavy, suffocating tension settled over the shore.
Cutting through the silence, the leaders of the two factions, Elena and I, stepped forward.
Shhh—.
Elena walked toward the center, her bare feet sinking into the soft sand. She offered a bright, radiant smile.
“My, to think you’d decide to face me head-on. I’m impressed. I was certain you’d try to drag things out with guerrilla tactics.”
Last night, Elena had sent a messenger. I had informed them of my intention to fight a direct battle, which led to this final meeting.
I glanced at the students lined up on both sides. “What are the chances I’d win by dragging it out? It’s better to clash with everything we have from the start. Even if it ends in defeat.”
“That’s rather gallant of you. So many students surrendered without even trying, which I honestly found distasteful. Seeing you stand your ground so confidently is a bit of a comfort… Of course,” Elena’s eyes turned cold as she continued, “that doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you.”
She turned her back and began walking away.
“Well then, I look forward to a good fight.”
“Likewise.”
With that, my brief conversation with Elena ended, and the final battle of the Faction War began.
*
After her talk with Roen, Elena returned to her camp and summoned Adler to review their reconnaissance.
“The numbers are a bit off, aren't they?”
“Yes, Lady Elena. It appears Roen’s side has diverted at least thirty people elsewhere.”
“Thirty people.”
Elena fell into thought. In this Faction War, there were combat-capable ‘companions’ and non-combat ‘subordinates.’ But being a subordinate didn't mean one was useless in battle. This was especially true for priests who could provide healing and mages who could manipulate the terrain. Even the warriors were useful for blocking paths or hindering an advance.
That was why both sides had mobilized their subordinates for this final clash. However, as Elena had scanned Roen’s forces, she noticed his numbers were short by about thirty compared to their intelligence reports. This meant he had diverted troops for a surprise attack or some hidden gambit.
Wary of Roen’s tactics, Elena said, “I knew it. I figured he’d have a trick up his sleeve. Please be on high alert, Adler. With Roen, you never know what he might try.”
“Yes, ma’am! I won’t let my guard down for a second.”
Watching Adler’s energetic reply, Elena pondered. Roen’s actions throughout this Faction War had been truly unconventional. While her faction was clearly superior in size, the way Roen had grown his forces made his abilities impossible to ignore. He hadn't just won through brute force; he had demonstrated exceptional strategic prowess, exploiting weaknesses and turning his opponents' schemes against them.
In just a few days, he had expanded his faction to the point where he could actually challenge her. Although this Faction War was merely an exam, it was a microcosm of real war, and his achievements were undeniable.
‘At first, I only gave Roen time out of sheer curiosity.’
She truly hadn't expected him to swallow the other factions so quickly and come for her throat. Elena smiled inwardly.
‘Should I say it’s just as I’d hoped?’
Though she claimed it was unexpected, deep down, Elena might have been wishing for Roen to grow this rapidly. Perhaps that was the real reason she had gone out of her way to meet him alone.
‘This is fun.’
Elena smiled quietly to herself. It was intriguing. It was exhilarating. At least when it came to matters involving Roen, Elena felt a genuine sense of enjoyment. Initially, she had approached him because she suspected he was a demonic entity, but now, that felt more like an excuse to be near him.
Of course, questions remained, and she didn't think he was entirely innocent, but… what did that matter? Right now, Roen was the most interesting person in her world. The only person who made her feel ‘alive.’
Twitch.
Sensing the corners of her mouth creeping up, Elena quickly composed her expression.
“Hmm.”
“Is something wrong, Lady Elena?”
Fortunately, it seemed no one had noticed. Looking at the puzzled Adler, Elena thought to herself.
‘…I should probably restrain myself a little.’
Adler had recently pointed out that she was paying far too much attention to Roen. At the time, she had claimed she was simply trying to uncover his true identity, but looking back, that wasn't the whole truth. She simply enjoyed being around him.
Elena herself didn't quite understand these feelings. She was an expert at reading others’ emotions and acting accordingly, but she was a novice when it came to her own heart. Wondering if this was a romantic interest, she had even consulted Leonhardt about it once. He was one of the few men with whom Elena could speak her mind.
Elena had told Leonhardt about the suspicious circumstances surrounding Roen, the things she had done to investigate him, and the inexplicable emotions she was currently feeling. After listening for a long time, Leonhardt had offered advice from his own perspective.
‘I can’t give you the advice you want, Elena. I’m a novice in that area myself. But don’t you think you could try not to dig into Roen’s past so much? He’s doing perfectly fine right now. Why not just see him for who he is? I think that would be good for you, too.’
Leonhardt’s advice sounded like the typical rhetoric of a hero, but it had merit. Digging into Roen’s past wouldn't do either of them any good. He had changed, and he was thriving.
Leonhardt had also said this:
‘And Elena, I hope you don’t stake your entire life on eradicating demons. I alone am enough for that. Everyone has their own role in this world. I’ll clear away the demons that block your path, so you can focus on your duties as a princess and your position as a Saint Candidate.’
“…”
‘The duties of a princess, and the position of a Saint Candidate…’
Recalling his words, Elena sighed inwardly. She stared blankly up at the sky.
‘The position of a Saint Candidate, the duties of a princess… I never wanted any of it.’
Elena closed her eyes, lost in thought. She was the Princess of the Holy Kingdom of Celestia. She had lived her life enjoying the privileges of royalty, but she was also keenly aware of the heavy obligations that came with them. And then there was her aptitude for divine magic—a blessing that allowed her to heal others, a miracle of God, but also the reason she had been nominated as a Saint Candidate.
Elena had never desired these titles. She was simply born into them; none of it had been her choice. Even so, she didn't run away. She fulfilled every duty expected of her. That was the responsibility of royalty—the debt of one who had received God’s blessings in abundance. She knew that complaining about her lot in life was the whining of the privileged.
After all, this was a world where some were sold into slavery for a crust of bread, and others died from simple wounds because they couldn't afford a healer. So, Elena suppressed her own desires and decided not to judge for herself anymore. She would simply fulfill her role. Perhaps her fanatical obsession with hunting demons was just another way to lose herself in her duties.
In truth, she had never sincerely wished for any of it. She simply performed her duties while wearing a mask. She smiled because people liked it; she acted kindly because they expected it. A Saint Candidate had to be loved by all and give love to all.
Fortunately, Elena was a gifted actress. Many people loved her radiant smile, and they were fanatical about the persona she wore. But among all those who followed her, not a single one understood her true heart. Even in the middle of a vast crowd, Elena was always alone.
The only people to whom she revealed her true self were Adler, who had served her since childhood, and Leonhardt, who shared a similar burden.
“…”
For Elena, who had worn a mask her entire life, Roen was a peculiar existence. He didn't worship her as a Saint or give her special treatment. He treated her casually. Far from flattering her, he negotiated with her confidently and had the audacity to take what he wanted. He could be a bit of a jerk, but perhaps that was part of the charm.
Perhaps that was why she felt at ease with him. Because when she was with Roen, she could forget, even for a moment, that she was a Saint Candidate.
“Lady Elena? Lady Elena?”
Lost in her thoughts, Elena quickly fixed her expression at Adler’s call.
“Ah, yes, Adler.”
“You should say a few words before the battle, ma’am.”
Snapping back to reality, she saw the ranks of students waiting for her to speak. At Adler’s suggestion, Elena nodded and stepped forward.
Facing the students, she put on her usual, brilliant smile.
“Alright, everyone. This is the final battle. Depending on the number of Cubes you acquire, I’ll be giving out special gifts to the victors, so I hope you all fight your hardest!”
“Waaaah!”
Looking at the students cheering with such fervor… Elena smiled.