Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Student Mobilization
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“…Huh?”
“What do you mean, Professor?”
As everyone stared at the professor in stunned silence, Leo snapped out of it and asked.
“A mobilization order has been issued for students at the capital’s magic academies, ages fifteen to twenty-five.”
Seeing the students still looking dazed, the professor continued.
“It might be a bit shocking, but this decision takes into account that you all hail from prominent families. Of course, since it’s not a full mobilization, only qualified volunteers will be assigned to the Brandenburg Defense Force.”
Yeah, when something like this blows up, it’s standard for the nobles to take action first.
I keep forgetting this isn’t the 21st century, but here it was again.
“Hmm.”
Teens might be a sticking point for me, but honestly, I’m probably the only one in this society who’d find it awkward for noble teens to be drafted.
“Still, better keep my distance to stay safe.”
Good thing I only took on the advisory committee.
If it goes south, I’ll just ditch it.
As I scribbled that thought in my notebook, that familiar sensation hit my nose again.
Having experienced it once, I knew what it was even without checking.
“Did I use too much divine power?”
As I rummaged through my bag, Philip next to me jerked back in his chair like he’d spotted a Pleroma, practically convulsing.
“Gah, wha…! Ack!”
I punched his mouth shut, but by then the professor and students were already looking our way.
Pleroma were blood-drinkers, not ones who did anything with their own blood, so his body must’ve reacted first on instinct.
I get it.
“Given the situation, it’s understandable.”
Nikolaus’s favorability kept climbing, while Luca’s—misidentified as Pleroma—was steadily dropping.
It was almost amusing to think even this chaos might be part of my brother’s grand plan.
The professor raised an eyebrow as I suddenly stood up.
“Student, why are you covering your mouth?”
“Spit. I dozed off for a sec.”
“Hm?”
“I’ll go wash up.”
Elias started snickering.
Even while I was in the bathroom and back, the professor hadn’t finished talking about the mobilization order.
The professor spoke in a grave tone.
“The Pleroma’s terrorist acts have gone too far. Now even the citizens’ food and water come from holy water distributed by the government, barely keeping them afloat. Without our barriers, we’d be worrying about breathing too.”
“…….”
“Have the Pleroma ever pulled something like this before? No. They wouldn’t dare unless they thought the Empire—the us—was a joke.”
The professor’s voice grew more impassioned.
Fueled by animosity toward the Pleroma, the students’ faces hardened.
“His Majesty Friedrich has vowed to end this within the year and says he needs your help to subdue the berserkers.”
A few students nodded with resolute expressions.
Most were probably a little thrown off but wouldn’t outright rebel.
Nobles were taught from birth that stepping up for the citizens in crises was their duty.
“And when a high-and-mighty figure personally says ‘I need your help,’ how can students not feel a surge of loyalty?”
The Emperor probably thought he owed Bavaria one.
Even if he’d appointed me, I was fundamentally part of the Bavarian government, and the citizens saw my achievements as Bavaria’s.
“So he wanted to flex some leadership here.”
Imperial Academy 2 was in Prussia, but it included students from ruling and prominent families of other nations, not just Prussia.
This was likely his way of proving he could unite the heirs of influential houses from various countries.
Not for the citizens’ eyes, but to reassure the nations whose youths were being drafted.
If other countries kept snatching leadership roles like now, who knew how the Empire’s hegemon might shift? He must be anxious.
In the end, framing it as for everyone’s safety would even win public favor.
“I get it. He doesn’t want to lose to Bavaria.”
I rested my chin on my hand, smiling faintly as I listened to the professor.
“Very well. As I said, it’s not a dire matter. The Imperial Household is preparing for war against the Pleroma alongside Excellency Ernst, but this mobilization order is solely to control the berserkers, unrelated to that.”
So he plans to label the casualties as berserkers.
But…
“Who’s preparing what with me?”
Since when?
“This is getting fun.”
I leaned back in my chair, chuckling silently.
Yeah, disguises are always handy.
That man was right here, casually dropping lines like that without a care.
It might just be a figure of speech, but I could guess what future the Emperor envisioned.
“Keep talking. I wanna hear more.”
As I licked my lips, Leo let out a dry laugh and asked.
“Is Excellency Ernst really drawing up plans that radical?”
“Don’t you already know, student?”
“There are no such plans with anyone. Rash, aggressive moves would endanger the citizens. He prioritizes their safety above all, so phrasing it that way helps no one.”
Elias, who’d been smirking the whole time, gaped in surprise. A glint of finding new teasing material flashed in his eyes.
I felt the same, though I didn’t show it.
“…If he didn’t know the man himself was here, maybe, but he knows and still says it so earnestly….”
Classic Leo.
The professor nodded with a puzzled look and changed the subject.
“Must’ve been a misunderstanding. Apologies. Starting at 3 PM, education ministry inspectors will examine each mobilization-eligible class. The Imperial Academy 2 magic department is where His Majesty places the highest hopes, so mind your behavior.”
The professor’s guidance continued until class ended.
As I packed my bag afterward, a heavy arm draped over my shoulder.
“You won’t get rejected, probably. Right? He’s just covering his bases to avoid backlash.”
“Elias.”
Fortunately, he’d cast a soundproofing spell.
He jerked his head toward the outside.
“Let’s gather quick and talk. Leo called.”
* * *
Yeah, no chance of rejection.
It’s just a formality to preempt criticism.
“Guess he hates getting flak.”
Even without this, there wouldn’t be much fuss.
Young mages in mage society aren’t like young commoners.
A noble’s age feels like +10 years compared to a commoner’s.
Just look at ruling family kids jumping into politics in their late teens—it shows what’s accepted.
“They’re not even fully seen as adolescents in their late teens….”
Perception-wise, they’re closer to young adults.
Plus, in this society, a talented middle-schooler outshines a run-of-the-mill active-duty mage in their 40s or 50s.
“Prussia’s land is pretty vast, huh? Even dragging everyone in isn’t enough, so now they’re taking students? If that’s the case, just hand half to Bavaria.”
Elias snickered mockingly.
Right now, in my room, it was Elias and Narke.
Leo, who’d called us, hadn’t arrived yet, so I extracted divine power to send to the lab while watching Pie move stones.
“So this is how you move them.”
Pie planted his two hind legs, waved his front paws to use divine power, then switched to all fours when he ran low on strength, repeating the process.
Elias, watching too, burst out laughing.
“No way you made him do this every time? So rough.”
“No choice.”
“My blood’s freezing….”
“How else would we study if he didn’t clean up.”
“Pie, come make nests in my room from now on~ I don’t study, so no cleaning!”
Leo would probably call it bragging if he heard.
Pie’s ears started flattening.
Elias, oblivious, turned to us and spoke.
“But it’s wild that he uses divine power too. Papal animals are something else.”
“Haha, it’s a secret, but he’s the only one.”
Narke answered casually.
I’d initially wanted to keep Pie’s divine power use quiet, but now that we were closer, he was spilling freely.
Then Leo warped into the room.
“You’re all here.”
“‘He prioritizes the Empire’s citizens above all’…”
“Teasing me?”
Leo smacked Elias’s back and sat down.
Then he looked at me.
“Ever said you’re doing anything with His Majesty?”
“Nope. I said I’d take the advisory vice-chair, not fight a war together.”
“Right… just his ambition, then.”
“But why’d you show up last~?”
Elias asked, flopping onto my bed.
“Had to talk to His Majesty the King.”
“About what?”
“Wanna properly learn magic medicine.”
“…?!”
Elias shot up, eyes wide.
“You’re learning magic medicine?”
Narke eyed the reaction curiously, not having used insight yet, but inwardly I was just as shocked as Elias.
In the novel, the moment Leo shone in magic medicine, I’d worried the King might block his battle magic path, so he’d steered clear. A bit of rebellion too, honestly.
Leo shrugged nonchalantly.
“Just. With things like this, better learn more.”
“You’re not Leo.”
“…What’s not?! Luca’s just pumping out divine power nonstop, what can’t I do? We’re not in a position to hide.”
Only then did Elias shake his head and back off.
“…His Majesty must’ve been thrilled. Didn’t try teaching you right away?”
“He did.”
Leo smiled faintly and handed us some papers.
“Enough chit-chat. Look at this.”
It was the promo flyer and exam consent form for the mobilization order he’d mentioned.
Maybe “mobilization order” had a bad ring, because now it was just “Student Militia Recruitment.”
Elias skimmed it and scowled.
“100 magic students per year, only picking 18? And a whole month of exams? They’ll die of exhaustion.”
“They said thoroughness for safety. Probably scared of backlash.”
Leo replied, chin in hand. Then he asked us.
“You’re in, right? Everyone except Luca.”
“Gotta be. Probably the whole school’s going.”
Elias nodded like it was obvious.
It was the Emperor’s order—no matter how reluctant they seemed, no one could refuse this.
Opting out of the exam would draw fire for nobles not setting an example.
And though it was an imperial unit, public activity would bring gains.
The Emperor would even welcome Elias joining, as it’d boost loyalty among citizens.
Narke agreed.
“My background’s an issue… but the Papacy’ll probably force me in.”
“Figures. My mom told me to go too.”
Leo turned to me.
“So, what do you think?”
“What can I do.”
Leo seemed worried about students this age standing on the front lines too.
But we couldn’t just publish an op-ed against it.
First off, class trumped age here. In headlines about noble teens being drafted, people focused on “noble,” not “teen.”
With societal consensus, announcing we should hold back for student safety would feed our enemies.
“I can already see the killer headlines.”
If that didn’t work, we’d ease the burden another way.
“I’ll push the advisory committee to assign only low-tier berserkers. If we can’t scrap the plan, give the kids easy matchups.”
“…Yeah. Good idea.”
Leo nodded.
Once he’d thought it through, he handed consent forms to Narke and Elias.
Elias scrawled his name messily and shoved it at Leo.
“Class rep, submit for us~”
“Pushing it on me like it’s natural….”
Leo chuckled wryly as he collected them.
I watched quietly, then spoke up.
“Leo, got any exam consent forms left?”
“Hm? Why?”
“Gimme one. I’ll sign too.”