Chapter 318
Chapter 318
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 318
Chapter Title: D-Class
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This didn’t mean our goal was fully achieved. Why not?
“Why isn’t this the end?”
[…I’ll signal you when Vitriol enters dormancy. For now….]
Ulrike’s voice, standing beside me, overlapped with the artifact’s guidance.
The 98th batch hadn’t taken us to their cleanup site, and we’d come here after receiving our own report to transport a rampaging farmhand from northern Prussia to the hospital. Friends were positioned every 500 meters around the rampager.
And Ulrike, with me, was wondering why everyone was still tense even after we’d met our objective. In other words, she was questioning if blocking firearm use wasn’t victory enough. A fair question. I answered while watching the rampager.
“It’s not the end because those seniors will do anything except kill.”
“How would they….”
Beep—
“Explanation later. Run!”
I shouted at Ulrike and rolled on the ground to lay down a ground barrier.
The wheat field soil was thoroughly mixed with Vitriol, so to run faster, I needed to cover the terrain. I felt the Vitriol mana surging properly in the opposite direction as Narke slammed his staff into the ground barrier from the other side.
Scraaape…. Boom—
I crouched low against the strong vibrations transmitted through my staff. Divine power swept away the Vitriol fumes in the air all at once. The rampager whipped its head around at the incoming divine power and roared at the friends charging toward it.
‘About now….’
When the friends had closed to 100 meters, I opened my mouth.
[Fear not. For I am with you.]
Boom!
I slammed my staff into the ground. With the explosion, the ground barrier shattered, and a red dome-shaped barrier began to expand.
[Begin.]
As the barrier settled fully to the ground, Leo’s voice came briefly. Along with it came a pushing sound, and all sorts of plant vines burst through the wheat field, wrapping around the rampager’s screaming body and climbing up.
[Whoa.]
[Wow, Leo should only take reports like this.]
‘Good.’
The Vitriol melted the vines quickly, but in a place where Leo’s abilities could be fully utilized, it wasn’t a big issue. Soon, the vines piled up faster than they melted.
This time, without laying a ground barrier, I slammed my staff into the muddy field and poured mana strongly into the earth below. The dome barrier connected to the ground compressed toward the rampager.
Mecklenburg was right that with Vitriol repairing itself by the second, it needed quick handling. The moment the barrier mana disrupted the rampager’s movements, I slammed my staff down again. From its tip, something like red glass surged along the ground. Having made it runnable, now it was Elias and Ulrike’s turn for close-quarters combat.
I maintained the barrier and watched them. In the blink of an eye, Elias’s sword struck the rampager, slicing through the vines around it, and the impact sent it tumbling to the ground. Ulrike stepped on its back and drove her staff into its core.
Boom!
[Oof, gives me chills just watching. No blood, right?]
His voice came through the communication artifact amid the blast. Ulrike smirked after striking. I could see it even from afar.
Hesitating, he offered a fist to Elias beside him, who stared blankly before bumping it back.
‘It’s the third day now.’
After the Panopticon mental hospital rampage on day one, subsequent Grade 3 rampagers felt manageable. Handling one in such an open space was easier than in a cluttered building, and with low population density and easy evacuation, there weren’t many civilians to protect. Still a Grade 3, so not easy, but we learned the environment matters more than the rampager itself.
Then Cherlingen laughed, praising Leo.
[Leo did the heavy lifting this time. Ending it this quick—first time ever.]
Cherlingen and Heike were on support for this field. Heike scanned us with his usual expressionless face.
‘Hm.’
It looked normal, but to me, something felt off. I grabbed Heike as he trudged toward me from the opposite side.
“Heike.”
“Yeah.”
“You okay?”
Heike nodded without speaking. But unlike his response, his eyes darted away when they met mine.
“…….”
I almost asked why he was avoiding my gaze but patted his shoulder encouragingly and walked with him to the others.
Truth be told, the main actors rotate per field. Leo had mostly supported until yesterday.
‘From what I’ve observed… Heike doesn’t seem to crave the main role.’
Maybe he’s worried about not helping. Even if not, his listless demeanor was understandable. Being support since high-risk day one could breed self-doubt about indispensability. Assuming I read his face right.
“Everyone here? Good work. Medical team’s on the way….”
Leo said, looking around. While he spoke, I checked Heike’s complexion and thought.
‘…Next time, need to devise a strategy leveraging Heike’s abilities.’
Ponder that tonight; now, return to HQ. There was urgent business.
As I’d told Ulrike, the 98th batch hadn’t come to their senses yet. In short, time to reshape the power structure for real.
* * *
“Dispelling.”
After three gunshots, a 98th batch mage released the soundproofing spell. Another mage’s staff tip plunged into the fallen rampager’s heart, amplifying its agonized screams. As its movements slowed, Mecklenburg pulled out his signaler and said.
“Complete. Returning.”
The artifact asked if they were still at the initial position. Affirmative meant rookies trained in cleanup would collect Vitriol and list damaged facilities.
[…Sending cleanup team to your coordinates. You’re clear to return.]
The mage receiving the call ended flatly, unconcerned. Naturally, no mention of medical for the 98th A-Team report. They’d killed it, after all. They’d heard from the Defense Ministry too.
Mecklenburg stared at the blood and Vitriol on the ground and said.
“Send medical too. Needs hospital transport.”
[Got it… Wait, what?]
The flustered response came late, then agreement. They didn’t know the imperial orders. Mecklenburg cut the call expressionlessly and approached the rampager. Blood gushed from his right thigh even as he signaled, but Vitriol cauterized it—no worry of bleeding out. Feeling the Vitriol mana fade from its heart, he said.
“Good method.”
Unlike the other four’s satisfied faces, one uneasy team member spoke.
“…Hospital transfer rates might rise, but… not guaranteed, right?”
Mecklenburg stared patiently. The man continued cautiously.
“…This way, high chance of leg amputation, no?”
“His Majesty ordered higher survival rates.”
“…….”
The team member got it and shut up. Mecklenburg thought, meeting his eyes.
If stats were needed to counter Bavaria’s public safety policy, make them. That was His Majesty’s will—do it efficiently.
“Grade 2 rampagers die in hospital anyway. Even survivors can’t return to normal life, right?”
Not speculation—reality. Lifelong hospital stays or decades of maintenance… Seemed irrational even to him. Not his call. But using the most efficient suppression within limits was his job. Unchanged, no need to shy away.
Mecklenburg took an elixir from his clutch and drank.
Fortunately, Grade 2 wasn’t overwhelming. Firearms saved energy. Unlike 101st batch’s low-risk luck, 98th A to C teams covered up to Grade 2 from today.
Medical arrived. Mecklenburg nodded to them and told his team.
“Let’s head back.”
* * *
Back at HQ main building, we ran into 98th A-Team. Albert Mecklenburg smiled and greeted us. Day one he’d nitpicked hard; now, no interest.
As they passed, Narke beside me cast soundproofing and said.
“As expected, they used it this time too.”
“…….”
“No intent to kill, didn’t kill, though.”
As predicted.
Law, orders, policy—probing boundaries is politics, right?
As I told Ulrike, I didn’t trust they’d stop firearms honestly. Not killing satisfies the Emperor. That’s why it was just the beginning, and I had to make my second proposal to Abraham.
‘Want to change the present, but realistically, we can’t keep taking 98th A-Team reports, nor would they allow it.’
So, move to next action fast.
Beg Abraham to pull strings? He’s a negotiator, businessman—acts only for gain. Before parting, I mentioned Maria, but he deemed business done and left. Yesterday’s setup forced his hand; not his generosity.
“I need to talk to Lucas, so I’ll head that way first.”
Leo told the group. I followed, stopping at the strategy training room. The list we sought was posted.
[A-Class] [91st Batch A: Albertina Hohenzollern]
A long list starting thus. My second proposal to Abraham: overhaul training for rampager handlers.
‘Overhaul sounds big, but….’
Keep existing trainings, add new ranks based on results. I proposed categorizing-visualizing our abilities: the N-Class system before us.
Key point.
I exploited our ambiguous status—not soldiers, not officers. 91st and 98th were true officers; we were loaned via Imperial Mage Union. In this limbo, we could demand commissioning amid emergency. Base system hates discipline, wants power reversal? Officer path more competitive.
‘Easier said.’
Minimum service for promotion blocks overtaking 98th ranks now. They met lieutenant requirements, promoted per Union favoritism. We can’t even match.
Crucially, performance evals everywhere—ours loses meaning if commissioned. Among officers where rank proves skill, it dims. Must combine batch system (unproven) with eval for effect.
Conveniently, Abraham can’t force our commissioning yet. I asked Leo about Prussia-Bavaria accord; no rush to finish.
‘So, our class….’
I scanned from A-Class down. At my name, I chuckled dryly.
[D-Class] [101st Batch: Lucas Ascanien]
‘Hmm….’
All 101st: ‘D-Class’. 91st A, 98th B.
I snorted.
“By seniority.”
“No real data here, so yeah.”
Leo replied knowingly. I eyed the training schedule beside.
“Bit tricky. D-Class barely participates properly.”
“Sub duties, though.”
Leo soul-lessly chuckled at ‘Sub’ in 101st slots. Today’s joint: Daflorama strategy game, not real training—91st and 98th main only.
Strategy game: chess-like, alternating military orders vs. enemy. Big mages in militaristic Prussia played since kids; now Mimetic-aided, used as training across orgs.
We’re listed sub-players. Like knight replaying pro Go on real board.
‘…Don’t think this near Narke….’
Done plenty. Anyway, misreading imperial start order or soft adaptation? Setup’s lax, amusing. Name fits, not too far off. Leo rubbed his chin, turned to me.
“What now? Opportunity came sooner than expected.”
I shrugged.
Not about becoming A-Class. That’s given, secondary.
Real purpose: set atmosphere. Shift air flow—my goal. Know the nuance. In that sense, opportunity’s here.
I nodded casually.
“Not bad for a start.”
“…….”
Leo chuckled, face screaming *where’s not bad?*