Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Academy Recapture
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“......I permit it.”
Wilfried squeezed his eyes shut as he said it.
Good. That’s the green light. All that’s left is to slaughter every last black mage.
I bowed my head deeply once, then strode toward the door. Naturally, Ellis fell in behind me.
Having fought tooth and nail against black mages together in Calypso Territory, we were in sync on stuff like this without needing to say a word.
I headed straight out of the banquet hall toward the academy.
But then—
“Wait! Hold on a sec, will you?”
Adriana glided up beside me in a fluid stance and grabbed my arm.
Even as her mana circuits expanded and her aura leaked out uncontrollably—still hard to fine-tune—she wrapped her hand in her own aura like it was nothing and gripped me.
“You’re not planning to go alone, are you?”
“Of course I was gonna bring Ellis.”
“Oh man...... Even a duke’s a duke, huh.”
Adriana let out a deep sigh and patted her chest.
Cornelia was plenty developed, but thanks to her training, Adriana’s even more imposing assets swayed with massive presence, barely contained by her thin dress.
“I’m right here.”
“......Didn’t we just meet today?”
“True. But listen, little Zahav—this isn’t the South.”
“......?”
“There are tons of powerhouses besides you, and the one you just glared at? She was called the strongest just ten years ago.”
“Ah.”
That’s when it hit me.
Everyone gathered in this banquet hall was central nobility—folks with long histories and power to match.
They might lack real combat experience, but their Bloodline Abilities gave them strength far beyond any average soldier.
......And some of them surely had kids trapped in the academy.
I spotted a few nobles staring our way with especially desperate eyes.
After mulling it over, I opened my mouth.
“Lady Adriana. Wanna go on a date to the academy?”
“Sounds good. No need to fight just to test each other’s strength.”
Adriana flashed a feral grin in reply. I gave her a short laugh in return, then turned to the nobles in the banquet hall.
“I’m new to the capital, so I don’t know the academy’s layout. Anyone wanna help out? Parents who’ve visited a few times for their kids would be ideal.”
“M-me! I’ll go!”
“Me too! Take me with you!”
“This old body’s past its prime, but I made a name for myself back in the day. I won’t be a burden.”
The same people who’d kept their distance earlier now rushed over, clamoring to join.
Desperation—that’s all I saw in their eyes.
How many parents could stay sane knowing their child was in danger?
Well...... some probably could. Just not many.
I watched quietly as they shed their uncomfortable formal coats and rolled up their sleeves, then spoke up.
“My mother died protecting me.”
The nobles shot me puzzled looks, wondering what I was on about.
“But growing up without parents? Life’s a real grind. So......”
They looked a bit sheepish, remembering how they’d been ready to charge out blindly moments ago.
I shrugged to cover it and continued.
“......Only follow if you’re confident you won’t get yourself killed recklessly.”
“......”
“......”
“......”
The nobles stared at each other in silence. Then they burst into wry chuckles and lined up behind me.
Not a single one backed away.
Adriana gave my shoulder a light pat at the sight, while Ellis giggled and whispered just loud enough for me to hear.
“Never thought I’d see the day we fight alongside nobles. Right, Enoch?”
“Yeah. World’s full of surprises.”
With that, I flung open the tightly shut banquet hall doors with all my strength.
Kiiiiiik—
The doors creaked open on their hinges.
The banquet was still in full swing, but the palace attendants panicked at the swarm of nobles pouring out—yet they stepped aside.
We reached the inner gates, where the soldiers started floundering in confusion. But—
“My loyal soldiers. Open the gates! You’ve heard what’s happening—the black mages who’ve seized the academy, and what they’re trying to summon.”
“Your Majesty......”
“They’re heading out to stop it and protect Elisium. You mustn’t stand in their way.”
“Yes, sir!”
The soldiers snapped crisp salutes and began opening the inner gates. Not as massive as the outer ones, but still huge—they opened agonizingly slowly.
“Appreciate it, but everyone, step back.”
“Y-yes? But......”
“I’m having a hard time holding back.”
Thanks to Adriana, I’d regained some reason. But thinking about the black mages outside, summoning an evil god into the capital—
......And Yuria, stuck in the academy because of exams and caught up in this mess—made my blood boil.
I shoved through the soldiers and placed my hand directly on the inner gate.
Some complicated pulley system inside, but this’ll be faster.
“Hup!”
I poured in my strength. The pattern floating over my body sharpened, fiery aura blazing hot. And—
Kigigigik—!
The thick gates ground open slowly amid the screech of metal, the opening mechanisms whirring wildly on their own.
“Wha? Huh?”
I brushed past the dumbfounded soldiers and stepped outside, where the knight checking invitations looked horrified.
A bit farther off stood the mercenaries, waiting at attention as promised—all staring blankly toward the academy.
I looked up and saw why.
The night was dark enough already, but there was a patch blacker than black—like pure darkness embodying the absence of all things—swallowing what had to be the massive academy grounds.
It formed a dome so huge you could see it from anywhere in the capital.
“Nice and easy to spot.”
I smirked and headed toward the dome. Naturally, others joined up along the way.
“Carlo. You know where we’re headed and still following?”
“The academy, right?”
“It’ll be dangerous.”
“Then throw in some hazard pay.”
“That enough for you?”
“What else matters to a merc besides fat pay?”
“Be honest.”
“......Need a story to brag to the family.”
Southern mercenaries were those who’d abandoned the southern ideal of guardian duty for survival, wielding their strength for coin.
Outsiders scorned them as vulgar soul-sellers who’d do anything for gold.
Back home, they were cowards who fled while wives, kids, and neighbors died to monsters—just to eat well alone.
The latter would be resolved by joining my mercenary guild, formally becoming my direct subordinates.
“A warrior raises his name not in inky ledgers, but in epic tales passed mouth to mouth.”
“Huh.”
Bottom line: they needed a brag-worthy tale they could share proudly anywhere.
And yeah, fighting evil gods and black mages would sell big—even to those who’d dismissed them before.
But it was just as dangerous. Far more likely to die pointlessly than survive to etch your name at the epic’s end.
Sensing my thoughts, maybe? Carlo just grinned with the trustworthy gaze of any southern knight.
“What’s there to worry? It’s a Zahav-led fight. Night before I left home, the last fairy tale I told my son? Zahav never lost once in a thousand years. Sure, this is the central capital, not the South, and foes are black mages, not monsters...... But I doubt it’ll change much.”
“Fair enough.”
I nodded calmly and jerked a thumb back.
“Then don’t die. Follow close.”
“Yes, sir!”
Not every mercenary Carlo brought joined, but every southern one stood behind the nobles without fail, part of the ranks.
Seeing it, Adriana whispered in admiration.
“First time I’ve seen mercenaries handled so well. How’d you do it? Even mercs can’t be bought with money alone.”
“Because they still have honor left.”
“Hon—or? Doesn’t fit mercenaries at all.”
Classic capital view of mercs.
Eyes fixed on the approaching dome, I replied.
“For southern warriors, the highest honor is dying alongside Zahav.”
“Ah.”
Adriana’s eyes widened in realization.
Honestly, I still didn’t fully get the mindset...... but what could I do?
Since I’d chosen to live as Zahav, they were one of the weights I had to bear.
No need to fight alone, like Adriana said.
But crushing the enemy at the forefront, blazing brightest to light the path ahead—
That was my sole privilege, the one duty I couldn’t forsake.
Because now, I was Zahav.