Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Extra Strategist's Royal Road
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Turning eighteen, the cold winter of January arrived.
It was the point where enrollment at Pensilon Academy was just around the corner.
Having already secured my admission, I was spending my time handling miscellaneous tasks.
Among those tasks was visiting the ruins of the Kurabel Holy Kingdom.
I headed to the Isran Mountains, located at the far northeastern edge of the continent, accompanied by Bisceta Clen and Eonia.
To be honest, I wasn't harboring high hopes for discovering any magic-related clues.
If the Kurabel Holy Kingdom had truly held hints about magic, Bisceta, who had been in the position of prime minister, would never have been unaware of them.
The only potential lead was something about the elves that even Bisceta didn't know the full details of.
If we could find that secret elven storehouse she mentioned, things might change.
"Even so, it's cold..."
Perhaps because it was at the northernmost edge. And the altitude here was quite high.
Even bundled up in multiple layers of clothing, the chill seeped in.
'It reminds me of my army days.'
Winters in Yanggu were exactly like this. Thanks to that experience, I thought I was used to the cold, but experiencing it in Als's body for the first time, I just couldn't adapt.
Bisceta shook her head with a wry smile.
"You'll feel better once we get inside. There's hardly any wind there."
From her explanation, it seemed the interior of the Kurabel Holy Kingdom was a basin nestled within the mountains. So, even in winter, it wasn't as bitterly cold inside the holy kingdom.
"If it's really too much to bear... Eonia, you should hug him tight."
"Yes!? Gr-Grandmother. What do you..."
"It's a tradition passed down in our holy kingdom. Hugging people shivering from the cold."
As if such a tradition existed.
It was Bisceta's blatant joke, but Eonia was trembling in awe, as if thinking, *'Such an incredible tradition existed!'*
Then she began cautiously glancing at me.
I chuckled in exasperation.
"I'm fine. Let's just review the work I brought along. If I focus on something else, it'll be okay."
With that, I pulled out the documents from my bag.
They were files on talent scouting.
There was information on local notables from various regions, but mostly it was details on people I knew from the game.
I was calculating the feasibility of recruiting them.
*'Most of them are a long shot.'*
Because my identity was now known across the entire continent. Now, any approach from me carried political implications.
Even if I had no such intentions, the other party would perceive it that way.
When they saw me, they would first see Crossing and the Caliper Kingdom standing behind me.
Some might respond positively, but most would be negative.
Especially those from Byurang.
So, I decided to boldly give up on Byurang talents and focus recruitment efforts on neutral figures.
*'For now... my seven retainers.'*
Saintess Alicia. Master Craftsman Luke. And Relief Squad Meisen.
First, Alicia was a princess of the Ballast Kingdom, praised as a saintess for her character and abilities.
She forms a chance connection with the protagonist at the academy and later joins the party.
*'She becomes lovers with Als, but the details never come up...'*
Still, I knew her traits. She loved arts like painting. Since I was writing a novel, I could use that as an in.
However, recruitment chances weren't high. Now that Wade's identity was revealed, personally approaching Ballast's princess would be extremely difficult.
So, if it works, great; if not, oh well.
Second was Relief Squad Meisen Roipier.
The second daughter of the Roipier Ducal House of the Europe Kingdom.
Deeply knowledgeable in pathology and pharmacology, highly interested in public health, and a priestess capable of wielding advanced divine magic herself.
Her skills could be utilized not only in war but also in domestic affairs.
*'But I have no idea why she follows Als.'*
She had no particular connection to Als.
I thought figuring out why such a woman became one of the seven retainers would be the key to recruitment.
*'And finally...'*
Master Craftsman Luke.
*'This is weird.'*
Information on Luke had suddenly cut off starting a month ago.
I figured it was because, unlike others, Luke was just a civilian with low priority for intelligence gathering.
He wasn't the kind of person state spies would bother collecting info on.
So, I had separately asked Gaspar to gather intelligence.
"Lord Als, we've arrived."
Eonia's words snapped me out of it.
The carriage had already stopped before I knew it.
I stepped out, ordered the 200 accompanying soldiers to rest, and decided to tour the holy kingdom's interior with Eonia.
*
*
*
After its fall, the Kurabel Holy Kingdom's population had drastically declined.
Crossing had relocated all the surviving residents to other areas and brought in new slaves to settle here and make a living.
Bisceta seemed utterly disgusted by this, but seeing the people diligently going about their lives seemed to drain her malice.
"Hoo... You're right. Yelling at these people won't change anything..."
Instead, she met with the local administrators and shared valuable information about the region.
After chatting with the locals, we headed to the palace.
Eonia said with a bitter expression.
"This is the palace of the Kurabel Holy Kingdom where I served."
"I see... It's different from what I imagined."
I had pictured a pure white palace since it was a holy kingdom, but what lay before us was nothing but dark, crumbling ruins.
Bisceta sighed.
"It's because of the fire. It used to be so beautiful..."
"Is reconstruction underway?"
"No, King Parain ordered demolition. Makes sense, right? The materials used in palace construction are mostly high-grade. If not using it, demolishing and recycling for local buildings is practical. I have no objections."
"Nothing else noteworthy..."
Since what I really wanted to see was the elves' former residence, I had little interest here.
Bisceta promptly guided us to the elves' domain.
It was a forest behind the palace. The palace seemed to serve as the entrance to the forest, surrounded by cliffs and rugged mountains, making it hard to access from outside without passing through the palace.
"...!"
An uncanny atmosphere made me shudder.
*'What is this place?'*
It felt like stepping into another world.
Towering trees the size of apartments stood in rows, looking down at me.
It gave the eerie sensation that they were watching me.
Bisceta, who had rarely visited, looked overwhelmed as she scanned the surroundings.
"It's spectacular... in every sense."
The words slipped out unbidden.
Overwhelming nature and a mystical aura.
"How many elves lived here initially?"
"About 50,000 pureblood elves at the start. By the time I became grand duchess, it was down to around 5,000. Then, a few years later, they vanished without a trace."
"Vanished without a trace..."
It had always felt off to me.
Hoping to find Bisceta's mentioned secret storehouse, I looked around the forest, but there was no sign of anything like that.
No luck, as expected.
I was about to suggest heading back before dark when—
"Um... Lord Als?"
Eonia approached me, sweating profusely.
"You're not the one calling me since earlier... right, Lord Als?"
"What are you talking about? Calling you? Who?"
"Ah, it's nothing."
"It's clearly something. You're drenched in sweat."
Finally unable to hold back, Eonia collapsed to her knees.
"Someone's calling me. What is this... Please, stop...!"
Wondering if only she could hear it, I glanced at Bisceta, who shook her head.
"Where's the voice coming from? Can you follow it?"
"No!"
"N-No?"
Eonia reacting so harshly to me was a fresh shock.
"I can't... Following this voice feels like I'll never see you again, Lord Als. So please... let's leave this place...!"
Eonia was in a full panic. Like she was possessed by a ghost, she kept muttering to herself and trying to ward something off.
With no choice, I led her out of the forest.
Once she calmed down, I asked about the voice, but she stubbornly only repeated that we should return to Reinpol.
Just in case, I mobilized a hundred soldiers for a thorough search of the area, but found nothing.
*
*
*
More time passed, and by late February, spring was approaching.
*'That took forever.'*
Enrollment at Pensilon Academy, where the main story unfolds.
I thought the story would kick off properly around this time, but countless events had already occurred.
The future was utterly unpredictable.
"Have a safe trip. Take care of yourself."
"Yes, I'll be back."
With my parents seeing me off, I boarded the carriage bound for Platon.
A fellow passenger was already seated.
Estelle greeted me with an excited expression. She had barely passed after vowing to get into Pensilon Academy no matter what. She had boasted about beating Erina handily, but as expected, that was impossible, and she avoided specifics on her scores.
"It's like a dream to attend the same academy as you again, Lord Als."
"I'm a bit worried."
Estelle and Erina in the same place. I couldn't even imagine what might happen.
"...But Lord Als?"
"Yes?"
"How long do you plan to speak formally to me?"
"That's random. I use formal speech with most people, not just you."
"True, but... you use informal with close ones like Remyu, Eonia, Dorothy. Yet only formal with me and Erina. It feels weird."
"It's... a habit."
"A habit?"
It was my habit, not Als's.
As a child prodigy hailed from a young age, I spent most of my childhood with older people.
My go surroundings were all older, and go emphasizes etiquette—one year older meant formal speech. I barely attended school to make friends my age because of go.
Surrounded only by elders, formal speech became my default.
*'Juras is probably the same.'*
According to Anton, Juras had been hailed as a prodigy from a very young age too. Maybe that's why he always used formal speech—like me.
"Do you want me to speak casually?"
"Hmm... I like the formal, but sometimes it feels like you're keeping distance."
"Alright, then casually? Suits me fine."
"..."
"What's wrong?"
"...Something's off. It doesn't feel like you, Lord Als. Just stick to formal like always."
What did she want?
On the way to Platon, I passed the time chatting with Estelle.
She showed interest in my life with Ymir, as if dreaming of her own future. Listening with a happy face.
"Then Mother said to Ymir, 'Ymir Ilrain.' She said she'd always wanted to call her that."
"Oh my."
"Mother got all teary alone. We didn't know how to react and just laughed."
"Ymir Ilrain... Will I become Estelle Ilrain soon too...?"
"Who knows."
Estelle asked with subtle expectation, but I could only reply that way.
I said I'd sort out romantic ties, meaning no more complications—not that I'd marry right away.
Marriage isn't a game; it was too early for that talk.
With Ymir, our long time together left no hesitation for marriage, but the other two were different.
For Erina and Estelle, things would likely conclude in some form after Pensilon Academy ended, maintaining the status quo.
"We have plenty of time. Let's get to know each other slowly."
"Ugh... Fine."
Estelle nodded, unsatisfied with my vague answer but accepting it.
Platon, the former capital of the Pensilon Empire, was now an absolute neutral zone.
Under Ballast's jurisdiction, but the city's shares were divided among nine nations including Ballast.
Residence zones were designated by nation.
For example, Caliper Kingdom and Crossing Republic in the south, Svenner in the northwest, Byurang in the east.
Living in another nation's zone wasn't impossible, but students were advised to stay in their nation's area.
The mansion I prepared was a three-story grand estate in the Caliper Kingdom's residence zone.
Olaf, who had scouted it beforehand, purchased it, with rooms ready for my retainers.
Only the master couple and Lutger with his daughter had set up separately in the Crossing zone.
After unpacking, I headed straight to Pensilon Academy in the central district for enrollment procedures.
"Ooh, even better than I heard."
As expected of the continent's top academy—the reputation wasn't empty.
It was on the scale of a U.S. university campus.
It had its own residence areas, a parade ground for military drills, and even special zones for hunting and fishing.
Above all, the highlight of Pensilon Academy—and a staple in the game.
The combat training ground where mock battles took place was inside the academy.
To me now, it was kids' play, but since active generals occasionally joined, it could be amusing.
More importantly, my main goal was talent recruitment. This place drew all sorts of talents.
Not just game characters—even capable, trustworthy unknowns were worth approaching.
"Th-that's him! It's Wade!"
"What!? Wade?"
The surroundings buzzed. New students here for enrollment like me.
As I approached, they backed away like herbivores facing a predator.
Their gazes held admiration, but also blatant hostility.
It was only natural.
No continent nation except Crossing and Caliper liked Wade.
Bekavia, Albad, Byurang, and Tunkai had fought us directly; Europe had bad blood from holding their prince hostage.
*'I've made a lot of enemies.'*
Ironically, only Svenner had decent relations.
I planned to finish procedures quickly and leave, but fate had other plans—I ran into her.
A long-haired beauty with blonde hair down to her waist. Identical to her illustration.
*'Relief Squad Meisen Roipier!'*
Per intel, she was a second-year at Pensilon, a year ahead.
Why she was here among freshmen was unclear.
*'Here to see me?'*
Possible. I entered Platon with a flashy escort, so my arrival was city-wide news.
Even kids who didn't know my face recognized me thanks to the entourage.
And her gaze confirmed it.
For some reason, Meisen was glaring at me intently.
Her eyes burned with hostility, anger, and hatred.
She had no intent to hide it—rather, she seemed ready to unleash it.
So, easy to guess she came for me. But why eluded me.
*'Why the hostility toward me...?'*
Thud, thud! Meisen strode toward me quickly, then swung her right hand without a word.
Stunned, I couldn't react.
Thwack! If Anton, my guard, hadn't grabbed her arm, I'd have taken a slap.
"What do you think you're doing to Lord Wade? Depending on your answer, I'll restrain you."
"Let go! I... I'm just doing what I must!"
I had no clue why she was this furious.
Then, Roipier Ducal House attendants rushed over in panic.
"L-Lady, please calm down."
Intimidated by Anton's killing intent, they sweated as they pulled Meisen away.
I watched, piecing together the puzzle in my mind.
Why Meisen hated me.
Why Meisen became one of the seven retainers.
A few solid hypotheses led to the truth quickly.
*'So that's it. Damn.'*
Not confirmed yet—I'd need to verify with someone.
Meisen could be shelved for now, but another was impossible.
No, it was already beyond passing over.
On my way back from procedures, Gaspar delivered the news.
About one of the seven retainers. Master Craftsman Luke's death.