Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Spring Festival Mock Battle
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With spring in full bloom, the academy was buzzing with even more energy.
It was all thanks to the events held alongside Plato's Spring Festival.
The academy had carried over the festivals from the old empire days unchanged.
Its official name was the Plato Thanksgiving Festival—a harvest origin celebration stemming from the irrigation projects built to use the river flowing near Plato for agriculture.
Thanks to its location in the capital of the Pensilon Empire, it had evolved into the continent's grandest festival, spawning all sorts of side events.
The military department's inter-class mock battles were one of them.
The sixteen military classes, combining first- and second-years, would each command mock forces of 500 to compete.
It was an event with considerable weight in the game, where the protagonist shone as a key figure in Class 3.
‘Als showed up there too, I think.’
From memory, it was Caliper's Class 7.
That was then, but now I was in Bekavia's Class 8, so things wouldn't proceed according to the story.
The fine details of the plot had already fallen apart anyway. Only the major currents were crashing in like tidal waves.
“—Ilrain. Are you listening? Ilrain!”
Lost in thought, Sophia snapped at me.
“Focus. You're the key to this mock battle.”
“So that's why I'm telling you to leave me out. If I join, it'll kill the fun.”
“That might be true, but... stay behind a moment. We need to talk. Everyone else, you're dismissed.”
It felt just like being called to the faculty office.
Once we were alone, Sophia spoke in a pleading tone.
“You know this isn't just about you. Your classmates are all hoping you'll participate.”
“Then that makes it even worse, doesn't it? Relying on me for something this important. For their own sakes, they shouldn't be doing that.”
“Ugh, you're right, but still! You need to compromise a little sometimes. That's why you have no friends.”
“...”
Hitting me right where it hurts.
The only same-sex friend I had was Dorothy. Even Banningss, who we'd been somewhat close, had grown distant once he learned I was Wade.
“Can't you act a little friendlier toward others? Loosen up just a bit, and friends would come naturally. People mess up sometimes, act foolish—that's normal.”
“Hmm...”
In terms of likability alone, I wasn't bad. I'd gotten along with most of the kids back in Rainpole.
I just avoided those who acted purely on calculations.
Sophia was saying I needed to embrace even those types.
“Ahem...”
Her advice wasn't wrong. Since she'd given it with my best interests in mind, I decided to go along.
“Alright, here's the deal. You command the mock battle, Sophia. I'll assist.”
“Me?”
“I heard teachers participate too. Is that wrong?”
“It's true, but... fine. Then you better work hard too!”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Hee hee, good answer. Shall we grab a meal and discuss strategy?”
Lately, she seemed to see me as a prickly little brother.
It didn't feel bad. Was this what social savvy was?
Back home, I mulled over Sophia's advice.
It wasn't wrong, and that nagged at me. Only fools ignore the right path when it's there.
‘Friends, huh...’
In the higher academy, surrounded by immature kids, I hadn't wanted to cater to them just to make friends.
Deep down, I knew that immaturity was their privilege and common ground back then.
Still, I'd planned to adjust my attitude upon entering Pensilon Academy, but Wade's identity being exposed made it tough.
Now, even I was struggling to form relationships.
But I couldn't just give up.
Making friends now directly led to recruiting retainers.
With most academy talents being peers, starting as friends was the only way to turn them into vassals.
‘If I'm no good at building relationships myself, I'll have to ask others to introduce me.’
My friends were Estelle, Erina, Berial, Dorothy, and Melodia—five at most. Kinda depressing.
That was when it happened.
“Hya! Hyaah!”
I spotted Lisitea training her martial arts in the mansion garden.
Seizing the chance, I made the request.
“What?”
Lisitea furrowed her brow.
“You want me to set you up with Ash?”
“Too much trouble?”
“Not really, but why?”
“To build some rapport.”
“You...”
“What? Any issue?”
“Hmm... alright. I'll try setting something up.”
As expected, time spent together had softened Lisitea's attitude quite a bit. She and Eowa even seemed to get along with playful bickering lately.
If I succeeded in recruiting Ash, she'd likely stick with our camp automatically.
*
*
*
On the weekend holiday, I saw Ymir off as she left the mansion.
She was heading to Rainpole for about a fortnight to share the pregnancy news with her family. I wanted to go too, but academy schedule prevented it.
After Ymir departed with Master Illya, I changed clothes and headed to the meeting spot in the city square.
Ash waited there with a bored expression.
It felt weird, like a date with a guy, but since Lisitea had set it up, I'd give it my all.
“Ash.”
“...!”
He flinched at my call, then clicked his tongue.
“...Heard from Lisitea. What's the deal today? If it's about Ballast's undercurrents or the Saintess, I don't know details either.”
“What're you talking about? Not here for that.”
As Ash said, things with Alicia were moving behind the scenes.
The city was peacefully festive, but the surroundings weren't.
Intel reported the West and Albad quietly mustering troops, and noise was rising within Ballast.
The calm before the storm.
“If not that, then what do you want?”
“Just thought I'd try building some friendship.”
“...”
“...”
“You joking?”
“Wish I were.”
I felt awkward as hell too.
“I told you before. Ash, I'm interested in recruiting you. Think of today as part of that.”
“You just admit your scheme outright? What am I supposed to do?”
Ash looked exasperated but nodded.
“Fine. If Lia went out of her way to set this up, it can't be bad. Seems you're treating her well.”
“Work environment's good.”
“But... what're we doing to build this friendship?”
“Dunno.”
“Think ahead next time!”
We took dance classes together, but with so many participants, we weren't in the same group.
This was our first real conversation.
Ash pondered briefly, then nodded.
“Got an idea.”
He then tempted me with hunting.
“You nuts?”
The words slipped out.
Not weird, though. Ash was a playboy type in the game.
“Tell Lisitea?”
“Th-this is unavoidable!”
“Unavoidable how?”
“It's acting.”
Ash, hidden prince of Tunkai. He couldn't stand out.
If his talents got known, he could be targeted.
The playboy act was part of it—to seem frivolous and dim.
“I see... but that face? Not acting. You look thrilled.”
“Hah, if you gotta do it, enjoy it, right?”
“...”
“Just don't tell Lia. She doesn't know.”
“Scumbag.”
“Call me what you want. You in or not?”
With a pregnant wife, hunting felt off, but it wasn't serious—just hanging out.
I nodded, and Ash called over another guy, saying we shouldn't idle.
“Senior! Over here!”
A mountain of a man.
At least two meters tall, bulging muscles that seemed to sweat any second.
I knew him.
‘Guinter of Strong Strike!’
An SR character in the game, with a martial prowess of 84.
But that wasn't lacking talent. His 84 was without using aura.
Pure strength and skill alone got him there.
He was a minor role who shone as a guest general when the protagonist pacified the Bekavia region.
He came running with a friendly grin.
“Ash! Finally heading out!”
“Yeah, Senior!”
“But who's that...”
Narrowing his eyes, he glared at me, instantly on guard.
“Wade...!”
“Nice to meet you, Senior Guinter.”
“You know me!?”
“Heard from Sophia Veron. Said there's a bear-like guy among Bekavia's second-years.”
“The princess...”
Only then did Guinter lower his guard. Curious, I asked, and he explained.
“Princess Sophia gathered us Bekavia students and said not to hate Wade too much. That Bekavia's loss at Carrington was entirely her fault for being inadequate.”
“Hmm.”
Even Sophia, who should hate Wade most, saying that made the students grudgingly accept it.
“Anyway, nice to meet you. Orlean Guinter.”
“Als Ilrain.”
“So? You joining today's expedition?”
“If picking up girls on the street counts as an expedition, then yeah.”
“Hah, might be tougher than war. For me, at least. Not bragging, but I've never even held a girl's hand.”
“Right...”
“Not even talked properly to one besides my mom! Haha!”
His enthusiasm was impressive, at least.
And so, our trio launched the expedition(?).
*
*
*
Talk is cheap—both Ash and Guinter hemmed and hawed when it came to action.
Ash's first time hunting too, apparently. No wonder he called it an expedition.
Finally resolved, Ash said,
“Al-right, one at a time. Senior Guinter, you're oldest—show us first!”
“Guh! Ash, you punk—only treating me like senior now!”
“Jealous? Shoulda been born a year later.”
“Fine! I'll do it.”
Guinter swallowed hard and approached a passing woman. His face was stiff with nerves.
To her, it must've been pure terror.
“Kyaa—!”
She screamed and fled.
Guinter returned looking a decade older.
Ash, feeling guilty, pulled out a handkerchief.
“S-Senior, use this. Ask if she dropped it—natural approach!”
“I see! Brilliant!”
Guinter tried it right away.
She didn't run, but once she saw it wasn't hers, terror hit again.
Still, they exchanged a few words.
“Phew! Success.”
Back, Guinter wiped sweat, satisfied.
“What success?!”
Ash yelled.
“Sheesh, hopeless. Watch me.”
Clearing his throat, Ash approached a noble-looking lady.
“Excuse me, miss?”
“Yes?”
Ash had decent-enough looks to earn goodwill.
His talk smooth too. When she coughed lightly, he pounced.
“Careful there. It's Marolin petal season. Could be Marolin Plague?”
“Marolin Plague...?”
“You don't know? Well, in Ballast, there's this Marolin tree...”
A viral pneumonia from mutated pollen between spring and summer.
‘Using knowledge to steer the convo, huh.’
One flaw: it peaks in summer, but Ash skipped that.
“Oh my, I didn't know. I'm from northern Tunkai.”
“Tunkai! Me too!”
Ash tried shifting to a teahouse, but she smiled and declined.
“Sorry, but no. Got an appointment. See you.”
Ash returned wailing about what went wrong.
I answered.
“Your intentions were obvious. That's why.”
“What! Then you try!”
“...I really gotta?”
“Duh!”
No backing out now.
I tossed off my hood, half-hiding my face, and headed to the woman Ash pointed at.
A noble lady with one servant.
“Mind if I have a moment?”
“...Pardon? Wh-what is it?”
“Nothing specific... I stopped you without thinking. Sorry if I imposed.”
“No! Not at all!”
I lightly probed her background.
“First-year at the academy from Euurope, right.”
“Yes, but... if I'm not mistaken... are you Lord Wade?”
She caught on, as expected.
“That's me.”
“Yes!”
Her eyes sparkled. She hurriedly asked her butler for something. He pulled a book from a small pack.
Trembling, she held it out.
“I-I'm a fan! Could I get an autograph!?”
“Ah...”
This again.
One change since Wade's identity leaked: novelist Platina's fame skyrocketed.
Sales of my published *Their Circumstances* exploded.
Quality aside, it was *that* Wade's work. Among women, it was decent enough, riding my fame to the top.
No real money, though—mostly bootlegs.
Thus, a signed copy was premium upon premium, hugely valuable.
“I've carried it hoping to meet you someday. Please...?”
“Of course.”
“Ah... Th-thank you! I'll treasure it!”
Handing it back signed, her face lit up in bliss.
She invited me to her mansion to chat more.
I politely declined. Another woman approached right after, like she'd been waiting.
Declined that, and two commoner girls came up.
‘This is...’
I was the one getting hunted.
I somehow extricated myself and returned to Ash.
“...”
“...”
They stared with dead eyes.
Guinter bellowed.
“It's the face! The face matters!”
“Right! Girls come without you doing anything. How?!”
Ash ranted on.
“Even at academy! Cassius Lloyd, Wade, Als Ilrain! All the ladies talk about is those two! Especially you, Als! You get all that attention and ignore them like some clueless fool! You'll get yours someday!”
“Told you I'm not interested.”
“Then help!”
“Fine. How?”
“You just set the mood. Mood only. Don't step in!”
He targeted three passing commoner girls.
With my support, Guinter managed some chat. Ash clenched his fist, sensing success.
But then.
“...Lord Als?”
“What are you doing, Ash.”
A chilling voice.
Estelle. And Lisitea, her guard.
They glared murderously.
Seizing Ash's panic, I struck first.
“I said no, but that Ash guy forced me!”
“What!?”
Ash shivered under Estelle's gaze.
Perfect pass. I decided to head back with her.
“Oh yeah, Estelle. Wanna hit a clothing shop on the way? Check baby clothes. And get you something too—as a gift.”
“Really!?”
Estelle cheered up instantly. She knew I wasn't the type, so suspicion vanished.
Ash wasn't so lucky.
“...Ash.”
“W-well, Lia, this is just performative...”
“No excuses. Come.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Guinter froze like ice watching Ash dragged off and me leading Estelle to the shop.
Then he started trembling.
“You deceivers! You bastards! Uwaaaah—!”
His desperate wail echoed behind me.