Chapter 23: Jin, the Cadets, the Beastmen, and... (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 23: Jin, the Cadets, the Beastmen, and... (1)
Three cadets were already in Garon’s office. Their faces were taut with tension as Garon pointed to a map on the wall, explaining the operation.
“This operation is a special mission assigned in light of the outstanding results shown by this Beginner Class… Ah, Young Master. You’ve arrived.”
As Jin entered, Garon smiled and bowed his head.
The Beginner Training Class didn’t usually carry out missions, but it wasn’t entirely unprecedented. If the performance of the beginner cadets far exceeded the average, missions were occasionally assigned.
Jin was largely responsible for this class achieving results significant enough to warrant a Runcandel mission.
When Jin had dueled Vellop last year, Vellop Schmitz wasn't the only one who had awakened. Though unintended, the events of that day had profoundly influenced the other cadets as well.
“Garon. I heard a mission has been assigned?”
“Yes, Youngest Young Master. It is a mission for ten cadets from the Beginner Class, including yourself.”
Jin glanced at the world map hanging behind Garon.
The areas marked in red must be the operation zones. That looks like… near the Jhan Kingdom.
The Jhan Kingdom was a region bordering the ‘Land of the Beastmen.’ Specifically, it was adjacent to the stronghold of the White Wolf Tribe, the most dangerous of all beastmen races. It was a land shunned by travelers, sought by adventurers, and loathed by mercenaries.
“We are currently contacting the cadets who are on leave outside the Garden of Swords. A total of ten, including yourself, will be divided into two squads to carry out the mission.”
“Ten beginner cadets divided into two squads?”
“That is correct. Squad 1 will be led by you, and Squad 2 will be led by Scut Lyman.”
Scut Lyman. Although the grades hadn't been officially released yet, everyone expected the runner-up of the Beginner Class to be either Mesa or Scut.
Even so, Scut is only at the level of a 2-star knight. A mission near the Jhan Kingdom is highly likely to involve beastmen…
Something felt off.
No matter how talented they were for Runcandel cadets, they were still greenhorns between the ages of fourteen and sixteen. They weren't equipped for a mission involving beastmen.
Did one of my siblings bribe Garon to set up the mission this way? No, from Garon’s confident expression, it seems Father gave the order directly.
If so, why? Jin wondered silently.
It can’t just be because I’m connected to Solderet or because my grades are excellent. In that case… it seems the incident between me and Vellop was reported to Father. It’s starting to make sense.
Jin nodded slowly.
“So it’s five people per squad. Who are my squad members?”
“Yes. Your Squad 1 consists of Vellop, Fields, Eddington, and Sierra. Scut’s Squad 2 consists of Mesa, Kiko, Taimunt, and Jushen.”
As soon as he heard the squad compositions, Jin grasped Cyron’s intention.
The four members assigned to his squad, excluding Vellop, were all considered mid-to-low tier cadets. Even the awakened Vellop had such inconsistent skills that he barely clung to the upper-middle tier.
On the other hand, the members assigned to Scut were all top-tier elites of the training class. This inefficient squad composition could only mean one thing.
Father wants to test me. He wants to see if I can remain unshaken while leading those weaker than me.
Then this was bound to be a grueling mission.
Sensing this, Jin spoke. “Explain the mission and the operation outline, Garon.”
“The mission is to scout the area near the southern border of the Jhan Kingdom. It seems the son of a tycoon in that region has gone missing. Each squad will divide the sectors and conduct a search, reporting back if you find any clues or the missing person.”
Hearing that the mission was simple scouting and reporting, the tension on the faces of the gathered cadets eased slightly.
“And after we report?”
“If the target’s survival is confirmed, Guardian Knights will be dispatched to begin the rescue. You and the other cadets will return. However, if the target has already been killed, the mission ends unless there is an additional request.”
“Simple enough.”
“Yes. However, the possibility of encountering beastmen is very high, so you must move with caution.”
“I suppose so. The southern Jhan Kingdom is where the White Wolf Tribe is active, so we’ll need to be especially careful.”
The White Wolf Tribe. As their name suggested, they were a race that resembled white wolves and were famous for their exceptional combat abilities, even among beastmen.
“Young Master. If you encounter the White Wolf Tribe, all cadets must immediately abandon the mission and escape.”
“I know that no matter how outstanding this year’s Beginner Class is, we can’t handle a White Wolf warrior. Don’t worry.”
Garon gave a thin smile.
“I am not worried. I know better than anyone that this year’s cadets, yourself included, are very talented. However, isn't it the way of the world that unexpected dangers always lurk?”
Jin met Garon’s gaze and smiled back.
“You make it sound like a dangerous situation is guaranteed to happen, Garon.”
“You caught me. Personally, I am looking forward to seeing you break through such a situation brilliantly, Young Master.”
“You’re quite the teacher. Let me know when everyone who left the main estate has gathered.”
“Understood.”
*
Three days later, as soon as the break period ended, the mission assigned to the Beginner Class commenced.
Jin and the nine cadets headed to the teleport gate to depart for the Jhan Kingdom.
“It is an honor to carry out my first mission with you, Young Master. Our Squad 2 will do our best not to be a burden.”
While waiting for the gate to open, Scut approached Jin and spoke.
“Haha. Are you trying to pressure me, Scut Lyman?”
“Not at all! I was just assigned my first mission during the Beginner Class thanks to you, so I’m speaking out of gratitude.”
“It was a joke.”
Scut possessed a strong loyalty to the Runcandels, and his personality drove him to show Jin an immense amount of respect.
However, Scut wasn't the only one who respected Jin.
“Squad 1, you lot better keep your wits about you and assist the Young Master. Don’t cause any trouble.”
As Mesa snapped sharply, the members of Squad 1 nodded vigorously.
“And listen, even for you lot whose grades are clearly mid-to-low tier… if you complete this mission successfully, you might get a chance to advance to the Intermediate Class. Understand?”
“We get it, Mesa. We’ll work hard.”
Jin smiled to himself as he watched the scene.
At a glance, it might seem like Mesa was speaking recklessly, but she sincerely hoped that the members of Squad 1 would advance to the Intermediate Class with her.
Though she played the role of the Beginner Training Class’s disciplinarian—a role that seemed to suit her aptitude—Mesa was a cadet who cared for her peers more than anyone.
The beginner cadets with Jin this year certainly had something special about them. They were all forming a tight bond centered around him.
It was an atmosphere rarely seen within the Runcandel competitive system. Even when close-knit groups of cadets did appear, the bonds almost never included a ‘Young Master’ or ‘Lady.’
In effect, Jin had made them his people over the past few years.
“Attention, everyone. The teleport gate will open soon, so I will issue orders.”
“Yes!”
The cadets gathered in a circle around Jin.
“Upon arrival, we will immediately set up a base camp in the center of the southern border region. Once the camp is established, Squads 1 and 2 will split up and begin their respective searches.”
Jin pointed to the map and continued.
“The purpose of the camp is information sharing and protection of the injured. Once a day, at a set time, each squad will send one person to the camp to share information.”
“Understood, Young Master.”
“During the mission, my title is Squad Leader, not Young Master. And no one, except for the injured, is to rest at the camp. Take breaks during the search at your squad’s discretion. Any questions?”
“None!”
“That is all. Let’s hope our target is still alive.”
A moment later, the gate opened. The bodies of Jin and the cadets were enveloped in glowing mana.
Once the teleportation was complete, the group arrived at a gate in the south-central region of the Jhan Kingdom.
Normally, they would have had to go through immigration, but as soon as the gate staff saw the robes the cadets were wearing, they skipped the process entirely. The robes were embroidered with the ‘Black Sword’ emblem of the Runcandel Clan.
*
Four days had passed since their arrival.
The cadets had set up camp and were continuing their search, but they had yet to find any significant clues.
The southern border of the Jhan Kingdom consisted of plains and forests. They were thoroughly searching every inch, but finding traces of a single person who had vanished in this vast land was no easy task.
“It seems we should focus our search on the forests. There wasn’t a single trace on the plains.”
“Squad Leader, Eddington said he saw a Water Tail beastman earlier.”
“The Water Tail Tribe? If they’re around, there’s little chance of encountering the White Wolf Tribe.”
The Water Tail Tribe was an extremely docile and kind race that lived by catching fish in rivers and seas with their harpoon-like tails.
They were never found where the White Wolf or Red Tiger Tribes were present. The Water Tail Tribe always built their villages far away from such predators.
“Vellop, you’re the one going to the camp to meet Squad 2 today, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“The sleet will slow you down today, so leave two hours earlier than usual. Don’t return here; go to Sector 13. We’ll be searching that area.”
“Understood, Squad Leader.”
Every night by nine o’clock, Squads 1 and 2 sent a runner to the camp to exchange information.
Once Vellop left, the remaining squad members also began to move. ‘Sector 13’ was a forested area they had not yet searched.
Something feels off. This is definitely a mission Father gave me directly, yet nothing significant has happened. Was I wrong to think this was an evaluation?
No particular problems arose in Sector 13, either, and no clues about the missing person could be found.
It reached a point where being gifted fire-grilled fish at a Water Tail village they stumbled upon felt like the most noteworthy event of the day.
“Human missing? We not know. Water Tail Tribe, kind. You look like beggars. Fish. Eat. Gift.”
“Right, right. I know. Thanks. It’s cooked perfectly. I’ll repay the favor next time.”
Squad 1 continued their search until past midnight, then wiped their rain-slicked swords and waited for Vellop to return. The sleet continued to fall, and it seemed further searching would be pointless.
If there’s nothing even after we finish searching Sector 13, it means we’ll have to look near the Land of the Beastmen…
Searching the Land of the Beastmen was not a mission for the Beginner Class.
There’s no need to overdo it just to get results. That would be foolish. It’s better to spend the remaining three days re-checking the areas we’ve already searched.
At two in the morning, Vellop finally returned from the camp.
“Young Master! Young Master Jin!”
He was in such a state of panic that he even forgot to use the title of Squad Leader. The waiting cadets sprang to their feet and turned to face him.
“What happened, Vellop?”
“Squad 2 was attacked! Kiko came to the camp, and she was injured!”
“Everyone, prepare to move. Was it beastmen?”
The cadets instantly fell into a travel formation.
“No, they said it was humans! They can’t use a signal flare because they’re in hiding. We have to get there as fast as possible!”