Fortress Polwin (1)
Fortress Polwin shared a remarkably similar structure to Innocence Academy. In fact, it wasn't just Polwin; most cities near the demon lands that had been converted into fortresses shared this distinct atmosphere. They maintained an independent status, belonging to no single nation, and hosted a diverse gathering of nationalities and races under the banner of the 'Allied Forces.' This was the reality born in the wake of the war against the demons ten years ago.
Although soldiers made up the vast majority of the population, Polwin had not originally been built solely for military purposes. As a result, a fair number of civilians who refused to abandon their homeland still resided there. It was hard to say the fortress was as well-managed as the Academy. Even though they had hastily joined forces to stand against the demons, the clashing interests of each nation often caused the gears of their alliance to grind and screech. The events of this upcoming field trip would unfold against this very backdrop.
Before long, the cadets passed through the fortress gates, which were draped with the flags of various nations, and officially entered Fortress Polwin. While the Academy's grounds were far vaster due to its forests and varied terrain, the actual size of the city itself was roughly comparable.
"It's a bit gloomier than I expected..." Lucia murmured softly as they walked, her gaze lingering on a side alley. The alley was lined with establishments that, even at a glance, clearly belonged to a red-light district.
Crank didn't miss her murmur and chimed in. "Well, that's bound to happen when you have so many soldiers around, right?"
"Soldiers?" Lucia asked, still not quite understanding his point.
Yuri, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, decided to satisfy Lucia's curiosity and spoke up. "Laws tend to be a lot looser inside a fortress compared to regular kingdoms... and in a freezing place like this, how else are they supposed to relieve stress without plenty of brothels and taverns?"
"B-B-Brothels...?" Lucia squeaked, shrinking back as she cast wary glances around her.
Just as Yuri said, fortresses were forced to embrace a multicultural society, which naturally led to a more relaxed application of civil laws. However, military law remained exceptionally strict.
Within the fortress, non-human races were a common sight. Beastkin, elves, dwarves, and more. Since Innocence Academy was ultimately an institution tailored for humans, these other races had been rare sights on campus. Among them, the beastkin were the most prominent. They closely resembled humans, save for the distinct animal ears atop their heads.
Soon, the cadets entered a massive building situated at the dead center of the fortress. Following the instructors, they were led into a spacious hall.
"Whoa."
"I was starving, too."
"So that's why they skipped breakfast."
Upon entering the hall, they were greeted by several long tables laden with a feast of diverse dishes.
"A hearty welcome to Polwin, cadets of Innocence Academy!" A man's booming voice rang out, instantly drawing everyone's attention. Standing at the head table at the far end of the hall was a man draped in a crimson cloak, who continued his address.
"I am the Commander of Polwin, Mihail Aegus. You have traveled a long way to reach the North. Let us begin with a meal. I hope our northern cuisine suits your palates. Please, take your seats and enjoy. Instructors, over this way."
With Commander Mihail's welcome concluded, the hall erupted into lively chatter as the banquet officially began.
"...Commander Mihail is from the Empire, right?" Yuri asked Amon in a quiet voice as they ate. As a noble of the Empire, Amon would likely know. After all, Polwin was originally imperial territory, and the Empire still held the greatest sway within its walls.
"Yes. I met him a few times while accompanying my father."
"The Commander seems really close with our instructors." Overhearing Crank's comment following Amon's reply, I glanced over toward Mihail.
Mihail was deep in conversation with the instructors, particularly the three members of the Trio of Black Blood. They shared a close bond. During the war, it was Mihail who had commanded and guided Kaliman and Reina. Well, Edward had belonged to a different unit, so they didn't share much of a connection... but regardless, Mihail held the Trio of Black Blood in high regard. The very reason we were allowed to take a field trip to a strictly military facility like Fortress Polwin was likely due to their deep ties with the fortress commander.
[ Mihail... If memory serves this lady, he was a man who won great renown for his mastery of the spear. Though this is the first time I have laid eyes upon him in person. ] Sierra's voice echoed in my head as she stared at the commander. Since she had little interest in anyone who wasn't a swordsman, she didn't seem to know much else about him.
Various conversations drifted across the table after that, mostly consisting of opinions on the food or talk about the North. Throughout it all, Eisel remained quiet. She had long since stopped staring at me.
What was Eisel's role in the North again? In the game, Eisel hadn't shown her face when the players fought the Lich. Even though, as a regressor, she must have known the Lich would appear. Does she have other business to attend to?
In any case, her pattern of behavior was simple enough. She was doing everything in her power to ensure her regressions would finally end, and to keep herself from dying again. While it sometimes felt like her actions were conveniently structured to allow the player to take center stage, her motivations were entirely understandable.
As time passed and the banquet drew to a close, Mihail, who had been conversing with the instructors, stood up. "I hope you all enjoyed your meal," he began, before proceeding to explain how the field trip in Polwin would be conducted.
To put it simply, the primary goal was to foster the cadets' adaptability. Each cadet would be assigned to a group with a different role to experience the daily life of the soldiers in Polwin. Highly rated recruits from the garrison would accompany the cadets, guiding them through the fortress and teaching them their duties. Mihail added that since most of these recruits were around the same age as the cadets, they would likely get along quickly. Finally, he concluded his explanation by suggesting that if they found this lifestyle to their liking, they should consider applying to the Allied Forces after graduation.
Following Mihail's brief recruitment pitch, he snapped his fingers. Several soldiers promptly entered the hall and handed large sheets of paper to each table. Near me, it was Crank who received the paper.
"It lists our group assignments. We should check where we've been placed," Crank said, laying the paper flat on the table.
"Where am I?"
"Let's see, Zeto is..." At my question, Yuri scanned down the list. "Huh...? That's weird..." Finding my name on the paper, Yuri let out a puzzled murmur.
"Is something the matter?"
"Well, it's just..." Yuri trailed off, seemingly at a loss for words.
My task in the North was relatively straightforward. The Lich, who could be considered the second main boss, was currently dead. However, there was someone who would resurrect that frozen corpse. A demon god worshiper who had infiltrated Polwin. He belonged to a cult-like group that referred to themselves as 'Apostles,' though he wasn't a true Apostle. A genuine 'Apostle' of the Demon God was on an entirely different level compared to trash like him.
The incident would begin like this: during our field trip, a day would come when the Trio of Black Blood and the Commander would leave the fortress together. I didn't know the exact reason, but their absence was the crucial factor. On that very day, the cultist would resurrect the Lich trapped inside the block of ice.
While it had been impossible in the game, now that this world was my reality, I could technically kill the cultist beforehand to prevent the resurrection entirely. However, doing so would yield far less experience, since the Lich would never rise. Furthermore, because the target was 'currently' considered a member of the Allied Forces, killing him quietly would be highly problematic. I couldn't just trigger a sudden murder investigation right when the Academy cadets had arrived for a field trip. Therefore, I would let him resurrect the Lich as scheduled.
There were two ways to deal with the Lich:
First, head to the mountain where the Lich was located and defeat it the moment it resurrected.
Second, wait for the Lich to descend from the mountain and reach Polwin, then fight it alongside the other cadets.
Naturally, I intended to choose the former. While the latter option would grant a tiny bit more fame, it offered less experience and fewer rewards. To put it simply, it was a difference in difficulty—like the distinction between a beginner's path and an expert's path.
Having equipped the Necklace of the Hero's Protection, I didn't find the undead Lich particularly daunting. Let him resurrect the Lich, and the moment the resurrection begins, kill the demon god worshiper. I reviewed my plans for the North as I walked.
I hadn't felt it as much inside the hall, but stepping outside made me realize once again that this was indeed the North. The banquet had concluded, and the cadets were now heading to their respective assigned groups. In the game, these assignments were random. No matter which group you ended up in, it had little bearing on the main story. I would have plenty of opportunities to deal with the Lich.
Eisel and Yuri had been assigned to Patrol Group 2. I was in the same group as Kaen.
"Cadet Zeto, is this really alright? Surely there must have been some mistake..." As I walked alongside Kaen, she eventually turned around to look at me, voicing her concerns in a hesitant tone.
"Haha, who knows... Should we try to switch to another group now? Though, I must admit, I was quite happy to be placed in the same group as you, Miss Kaen."
"I-Is that really something to be so happy about?!" Flustered by my playful banter, Kaen stammered, her face flushing crimson. Just as she feared, it was hard to say my assigned group was a good fit for me. It was simply a group I had wanted to join.
Before long, Kaen and I arrived at our destination. Approaching a house that looked dilapidated even at a glance, Kaen tilted her head. "Is this the place...?" She immediately read the sign hanging next to the door.
Night Patrol Group 1
Night Patrol Group 1. This was the group Kaen and I had been assigned to. Knock, knock. Confirmed by the sign, Kaen knocked on the door. A voice from inside promptly granted us entry. "Come in."
Opening the door, Kaen and I stepped into the room. Instantly, shock washed over the faces of those inside. The room contained one beastkin woman with animal ears and two men. One of the men, who was holding a sheet of paper, spoke up with a dazed expression.
"Uh... you're Cadet Zeto and Cadet Kaen, right...? This is, well, a patrol group... so we have to... do patrols..." Every single one of them was staring intently at the bandages wrapped around my eyes. It was only natural for them to be bewildered; a blind man assigned to a patrol group was absurd on its face.
Even so, I had no intention of changing groups. Luck was on my side. The very 'demon god worshiper' who would resurrect the Lich was in this group. In a way, I had come to patrol him.
I offered them a gentle smile and spoke. "You need not worry. I am quite confident in my scouting abilities." At my calm yet bold declaration echoing softly in the room, the soldiers—and even Kaen—began to look at me as if I had completely lost my mind.