Chapter 115

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 115

Chapter Title: Chapter 115

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 115

Chapter Title: How About Calling It a Draw?

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(1)

1.

Iris had been harboring doubts all along.

To be precise, ever since the mock battle began, there was something that had puzzled her continuously up to now.

The behavior of the student council president, Cliff Anton.

His actions were undoubtedly tyrannical.

He had ignored the orders of Iris, the camp representative, and moved with the explicit intent of ensuring defeat.

'But why...'

was he receiving no warnings or reprimands whatsoever?

This mock battle had referees and broadcast booths set up, so why on earth?

The doubts only grew larger.

And those doubts were finally resolved only after she arrived at the player waiting area.

The moment she saw the broadcast screens.

"...!"

There was only one reason for that.

The broadcasters and spectators alike were showing far more interest in the Eloden camp.

"Whoa, recovering divine power through prayer like that."

"I only heard about it, but it's really impressive."

"Their formation is kind of unique, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Their fighting style is different from ours too."

It was an understandable reason.

The sight of holy knights and priests collaborating to form and fight in their formation wasn't something you saw every day.

And one more thing.

Iris figured out why the referees had no choice but to stay out of it.

'They've never shown the base even once.'

Checking the recording device's history confirmed it.

The interiors of both camps' bases had never been broadcast even once.

'Which means...'

No one could know what was happening inside the bases or what conversations were taking place. There was no way to detect the student council president's tyranny.

The moment she realized this.

Iris bit her lip hard.

'We got completely played.'

Now it made sense why the student council president had volunteered for base duty, and how he could pull off such antics even with the battlefield being broadcast.

In other words, the student council had known all this from the start and proposed the deal to Iris accordingly.

They'd never intended to send Ullan out in the first place. It was solely to humiliate him.

Even more shocking was that this wasn't the first time the student council had pulled something like this.

Ivela Elead's story was proof.

"...So that's what happened."

The behind-the-scenes tale of the entrance ceremony incident.

To sum it up, the reason Ullan had no choice but to become the 'terrorist' at the entrance ceremony was the student council's scheme.

If they hadn't burned the script, Ullan never would have shouted like that.

The student council's misdeeds kept coming to light.

As Iris's expression hardened, Ivela spoke up again.

"But I have a question too."

Her face showed clear displeasure.

She asked accusingly.

"Why is the student council so desperate to sabotage Ullan? Just because he's from a barbarian tribe?"

"...Half right."

"Then the other half?"

"Because he enrolled as top rank."

"Wait, how is that a problem...?"

"It is a problem."

Iris answered firmly.

Her face was tense.

"The Arsen student council has always been a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠group tightly bound by noble supremacism."

No one knew exactly when it started.

But the current student council majority was deeply immersed in extreme noble superiority. Iris spoke with a stiff face.

"There was this incident last year."

A commoner student from the Production Department had taken second place in the end-of-term rankings.

At first glance, it might seem trivial, but it was enough to irk the student council.

"Huh? What part?"

"A commoner outranked a noble."

"For something that petty...?"

Leaving Ivela's incredulous expression behind, Iris continued relentlessly.

"The student council decided to get rid of the second-year who was an eyesore. From then on, relentless bullying and frame-ups followed, and eventually, the student couldn't endure it and had to drop out."

After the shocking story ended.

Ivela asked in bewilderment.

"Wait, they pulled that off and the guards or student guidance didn't do anything?"

"Yes, they did nothing."

It couldn't be helped.

The student council had cleverly hidden any hard evidence.

And their backgrounds differed vastly.

The perpetrators were heirs from great noble houses, while the victim, a second-year, was a powerless commoner with no backing.

Even the guards and guidance couldn't overcome reality. The incident ended with the victim's dropout.

"They see commoners as inferior beings. If one outperforms nobles, they assume foul play."

Iris wore a bitter expression.

With a sigh, she got to the point.

"If a commoner is that bad, a barbarian like Ullan must grate even more. Especially since he enrolled as top rank."

"Wow, that's really childish."

"Exactly. They're petty scum."

Iris bit her lip.

And that incident was why she decided to run for next student council president.

To reform the noble-tainted council and change the unfair system itself.

'But...'

The closer she got to her goal, the more she felt blocked by reality's walls. Just look at this friendly mock battle.

Her confidence waned bit by bit.

As frustration and anxiety built, making her sigh repeatedly, a notification appeared before her eyes, amplifying the feeling.

The defense line had completely collapsed.

Only three forces left. Seeing this, Iris's shoulders slumped powerlessly.

'We're done.'

No path to victory in sight.

Her expression turned hollow, as if she'd given up everything.

Just as she was about to resign herself.

"It's too early to give up."

Ivela's voice rang out.

Surprisingly, she was smiling. The smile of one who hadn't abandoned hope.

"We still have Ullan."

"But? Even with just him... "

"We'll win. No doubt."

A single word brimming with conviction.

Iris, however, shook her head with a resigned face.

"Even assuming that's possible, leaving the base requires the student council president's cooperation."

If he left alone, the president would follow suit. He wanted Arsen to lose, after all.

'Instant disqualification.'

So how could they possibly win?

Moreover, Eloden had Ian Marcus, an Expert like Ullan.

Even if the last defense survivor, Noa, switched with Ullan, the odds were slim.

Thus, Iris was convinced.

Ivela's hope was futile.

Then.

〔With only three survivors left in the Arsen camp, Eloden's vanguard charges forward rapidly! They've already reached the base!〕

The scene signaling the battle's end appeared.

Eloden's vanguard scaling the hill in an instant and entering the cabin.

〔Denver cadet! And Robern cadet lead with shields and enter. Securing the flag ends the mock battle with Eloden's victory...!〕

An excited voice.

As the broadcast reached its peak.

Kwaaaaang!

Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed.

A shock strong enough to shake the screens. Soon, a fierce shockwave swept outward.

And at that moment.

〔...Huh?〕

With the broadcaster's dazed exclamation.

Eloden's vanguard flew into the sky.

Pueok! Kwaang!

The two crashed side by side into the ground.

Next to the two motionless, seemingly unconscious cadets, shards of a shattered orb fell.

Silence fell over the arena in an instant.

No one in the broadcast booth or stands spoke. A while later, at the end of the hush, the broadcasters finally managed words.

〔Wh-what just happened?!〕

〔I don't know. Probably a counterattack from the base defenders...?〕

As the broadcaster trailed off.

Someone appeared.

Flaming crimson eyes like fire.

The moment they saw his bare upper body, the broadcasters recognized him instantly.

〔Ullan! It's Ullan Bator!〕

〔Arsen camp's Expert defender, Ullan Bator, finally appears on the battlefield!〕

Ullan boldly stepped out of the base.

Iris's eyes widened.

She wondered how he'd sent the two cadets flying, but more shocking was that he'd left the base and the student president wasn't following.

Then.

The answer to her question came.

"Noa... succeeded... in the switch, huh."

Choppy speech. It was Dilia.

Iris looked confused at Dilia's triumphant smile and asked back.

"What? Switch?"

"We sent her... specifically... to switch."

"But the student president wouldn't just sit still..."

No way he would.

He'd surely chase Ullan out or take the flag and surrender slyly.

So why wasn't he?

As she pondered.

The recording device filming Ullan briefly captured the base interior. There, Iris saw something familiar.

"...Huh?"

A man planted upside down into the floor.

As Iris's eyes widened.

Ivela and Dilia, seeing the same, said almost in unison.

"He's staying put nicely."

"Got... thoroughly... persuaded."

Very thoroughly.

The two grinned.

As if they could guess what happened in the base. Meanwhile, the broadcasters tried to analyze coldly.

〔Wait, why is the student president there...?〕

〔Regardless, by rules, with two defenders needed at base, Ullan cadet must fight alone!〕

〔Eloden has eight total. Excluding base defenders, still six intact forces.〕

Facing six alone.

Numerically disadvantaged, but the bigger issue was elsewhere.

〔With this mock battle's ace, Ian Marcus cadet still active, can a proper fight even happen?!〕

The moment the broadcaster finished.

The two girls burst out laughing.

"They have... no idea."

"Yeah. He's scarier alone."

Ullan was alone now.

No Ivela, Dilia, or even Noa.

It looked like a force disadvantage, but reality differed.

"Because... Ullan is special."

"In short, the current situation boils down to..."

All brakes that usually restrained Ullan's actions were gone.

A while later.

Ullan proved it.

〔Iiiiiaaaan―!〕

Ullan kicked off the hill and charged.

Swinging his clubs in both hands, he rampaged like a wild horse off the reins. His rust-red hair whipped by the wind like a blazing torch.

Signaling the counterattack's start.

2.

Arsen's base atop the hill.

Eloden's representative, Teron Shlagen, selected two for the vanguard and sent them to the cabin.

The reason was simple.

A bad premonition.

'Currently defending the base: two.'

Ullan Bator and Cliff Anton.

Both needed watching, but Teron was wary of the latter especially.

'Heard Cliff Anton is a master of defensive magic.'

Especially trap spells.

So likely countless traps at the entrance. He sent the vanguard to check.

Of course, Ian said to watch Ullan, not Cliff, but Teron didn't worry much.

'I'm not the one facing him anyway.'

As frustrating as it was, Teron knew he couldn't beat Ullan.

Like only Masters face Masters, only another Expert could match Ullan here.

'So my job is...'

Let Ian duel Ullan one-on-one, or grab the flag before that. Nothing else.

As he set his clear goal.

Kwaaaaang!

Suddenly, a roar from the hilltop.

With a storm of dust, grim news arrived.

As expected.

His eyes flashed sharply.

Teron immediately issued orders.

"Holy Knight Order! Chant the prayer!"

"Deploy 3rd-grade holy shield!"

Holy shields had grades.

A 3rd-grade holy shield perfectly nullified equivalent magic attacks and blocked several physical ones.

In summary, Teron's plan: erect the holy shield, then charge the base and secure the flag.

A victory-only strategy.

'Though duration is short...'

No worry needed.

Next Saintess Laurea was here.

With her, divine power never depleted. As long as she stayed, Eloden's assault couldn't fail.

Then.

Some cadets shouted in surprise.

"President Shlagen!"

"Someone came out!"

Someone came out?

Teron looked up the hill.

His eyes narrowed.

"That's..."

A man baring chiseled muscles.

No need to identify.

Only one Arsen player in the mock battle went shirtless.

"Damn it."

Meanwhile, Ian grimaced.

His feared scenario had come true.

At the same time, his eyes met Ullan's.

Far away, so not clear, but the moment gazes locked, he saw Ullan's lips move.

"Huh? Just now..."

Laurea's eyes widened.

As if understanding Ullan.

A moment later, she whispered so only Ian could hear.

"Sounded like he muttered your name?"

"Nah, no way. Why would he..."

Ian chuckled.

A guy he'd barely seen—why call his name?

Laurea misheard, surely.

But he couldn't finish.

No sooner had he looked away than Ullan charged like an enraged bull.

Ku-ku-kwang!

Clouds of dust trailing him.

At the ferocious momentum, Eloden's assault recoiled in unison.

"Tch! Don't fall back!"

Teron snarled fiercely.

Unable to admit intimidation, he gritted his teeth and yelled.

"Just one opponent! With holy shield forward, we can surely win..."

But he couldn't continue.

More accurately, Ullan's roar buried his voice.

"Iiiiiaaaan―!"

The shout reverberated across the battlefield.

The moment it hit.

Ian, abruptly named, muttered with evident fluster.

"Wh-what? Why my name all of a sudden...?"

"Come to think of it, I heard before."

"Huh? What?"

"Barbarians charge while calling the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠enemy leader's name—the one they must fell."

"..."

Ian clamped his mouth shut.

Ominous premonition.

"Meaning..."

"He plans to kill you?"

Laurea smiled sweetly.

Ian couldn't smile. She patted his shoulder.

"It was fun while it lasted, Ian."

"Wait, why do you say that like it's over?!"

"Beats me."

Laurea shrugged.

"Anyway, good timing."

"Good timing my ass!?"

"Got some business."

At "business," her expression turned serious.

Like vital duty arose. Then she leaned to Ian's ear, whispering gravely.

"So, Ian, as next Saintess, I'll give you a crucial mission."

"M-mission?"

"Yeah. Hold out here as long as possible."

"...Pardon?"

"Till my business is done."

"Wait, what does that..."

Flustered Ian asked back.

No answer came.

Laurea had knelt, hands clasped in solemn prayer. Ian knew the chant.

『Sacred Light Bridge』

Laurea's unique ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠holy prayer—teleport anywhere light touched.

Realizing it.

Ian reached desperately.

"W-wait, Senior!"

But he grasped nothing.

Just empty air.

Laurea vanished in a blink. Ian looked dazed.

Rightly so.

Without Laurea's support, he faced Ullan alone. In harsh reality, Ian clasped hands and muttered.

"...Holy Saintess. We're screwed."

A prayer that might sound irreverent.

But he couldn't just despair.

Right after Laurea vanished.

Ku-uuuung!

Earth-shaking roar.

"I'm here."

The barbarian grinned, white teeth flashing.

Ullan stood before them.

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