Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Decision at the Circus
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The festival was drawing to a close.
As promised, I headed to the circus grounds to escort Ymir.
I planned to use the circus later as entertainment for the soldiers, so this was essentially an inspection visit.
It was my first time seeing a circus up close, so I sat in the audience seats with some quiet anticipation, but the show wasn’t as fun as I’d hoped.
‘This is basically just a stunt show, isn’t it?’
In my mind, a circus was a fantastical performance laced with magic tricks, but this one lacked any sense of wonder—it was merely a display of feats.
‘Not that it could be anything else.’
In this world, magic had once existed but vanished for unclear reasons, making people sensitive about illusions.
Show a magic trick, and you risked being mistaken for a mage.
That might just lead to misunderstanding, but the real problem was that the state would arrest and interrogate anyone suspected.
With so many nations eager to develop magic, rumors of a mage would trigger an immediate warrant.
If it turned out to be mere sleight of hand, harsh punishment followed—which stifled any progress in magic performance.
‘If they’re going to do this, they might as well develop sports instead of a circus.’
I watched listlessly, but Ymir, sitting beside me, was different. Her tail stood straight up as she gripped her seat, sweating with excitement.
I whispered to her.
“Is that kind of thing impressive to you? You could pull off something even greater, Ymir.”
For example, their knife-throwing act.
Ymir was skilled enough that you could rest a target on someone’s head without worry, so she could definitely top their feats.
“It is, but seeing how ordinary people reached that level—what efforts they must have made—makes me hope their hard work pays off.”
“You can think of it that way, huh.”
“Besides, this is my first time at a show like this.”
True enough. Unlike me, who’d seen all sorts of performances in the modern world, this must seem astonishing here.
“Then you came to the right place.”
If Ymir was enjoying it, the trip was worth it.
Still, it wasn’t entertaining by my standards, so I zoned out, lost in other thoughts.
That story Juras had brought up.
‘The Western tribes advancing into the continent...’
This would shake up the continental balance once more.
And I held the key to this pivotal moment.
Let the Western tribes occupy Bekavia and recognize them as a nation on equal footing? Or stick to the original plan, drive them out, and claim Bekavia’s territory?
The former would bring them into diplomatic channels. Official ties would deter reckless Western aggression.
The latter would bolster Juras’s plan to divide the realm into three.
‘I...’
That’s when it happened.
“Hello! We’re the Aegert Mercenary Company! We’re just crashing here for a bit!”
Aegert, the guy I’d seen before, led ten burly men onto the stage.
Despite his youth, he had solid leadership—his group included several near retirement age.
Aegert and his crew put on a goofy stunt show.
The comedic elements made up for the lack of skill, earning good reactions. Even I preferred it to the plain feats.
“Heh heh! If we get the chance, we’ll come see you again! Thank you!”
He burst in with flair and left the same way.
‘Full of energy, that one.’
Maybe his vibe rubbed off.
I made my decision.
‘Alright. We’ll drive out the Western tribes.’
My main concern had been whether they could truly be allies.
‘I have to be skeptical.’
My current situation—and the game’s story—suggested otherwise. From what we’d uncovered, Als was likely branded a traitor by the Western tribes and Svenner forces.
Hero or villain in the game, Als and the Western tribes were enemies.
Plus, their continental push wasn’t supposed to happen now.
I didn’t want them gobbling up Bekavia only to expand ambitions later. That would derail the main story I knew.
I’d decided not to meddle in the plot, but I’d block what I could.
I arranged to meet Juras before he left Raynfall.
He nodded at my proposal to expel the Westerners, as if he’d expected it.
“A satisfying answer. Excellent.”
“Looks like you were leaning that way too. What if I’d opposed it?”
“I’d have persuaded you first.”
“And if that failed?”
“I’d have respected your will. ...Just this once.”
“That’s got some bite.”
“I put the bite in it.”
“Fine. We’ll go with your plan on this. So, what do you want me to handle?”
“Nothing.”
“...Pardon?”
Juras smirked and continued.
“I just wanted your opinion. You don’t need to join the war on our side.”
“Hmm.”
Fair enough. Crossing didn’t need me that badly.
Unlike Caliper, short on military talent, Crossing overflowed with it. And with Juras taking command himself, my spot wasn’t essential.
We could force a role, but he said it wasn’t necessary.
“I appreciate that, but your attitude feels off somehow.”
Call it a hunch. I wanted to know what he was scheming—and staying close was the way.
Reading my mind, Juras made an offer.
“Heh. If you feel left out, how about lending me Anton? I need a good aide.”
“Anton?”
Anton had overheard it all.
‘Master’s due date is coming up.’
A long war might make him miss it. I was about to refuse, but Anton spoke first.
“If victory here helps you, Als, I’m fine serving as Juras’s aide.”
“What are you saying, Anton? You might miss the birth.”
“Helping you comes first. Iliya would agree.”
She would, as he said. No grounds to stop him.
Juras gave a wry smile.
“What’s this, Anton? Talking like you’ve already defected. Aren’t you still officially Crossing?”
“It’s just a title. My loyalty is with you, Als.”
“Impressive growth. Just yesterday you were snapping at everyone. Thinking back to your kid days, it’s remarkable.”
“We agreed not to bring that up.”
“Come on. In hindsight, they’re good memories for both of us.”
“Ugh...!”
“Anyway, Anton—get ready. We leave for Carsten in one hour.”
“Yes, sir.”
Anton’s deployment was settled just like that.
Juras took him and left right away.
*
*
*
The war would proceed as Juras directed. Master understood and cheered on Anton’s participation, as expected.
‘Juras won’t overburden him.’
Losing Anton would sour things between us, which he wouldn’t want.
I could just attend the academy quietly, receiving updates from Anton—but something nagged at me.
A bad feeling this wouldn’t end smoothly.
As if to prove it, trouble hit the academy.
“Attention, all.”
A bald man barked at the cadets with a stern voice.
His stern face made them gulp.
It wasn’t just looks. He was infamous for his inflexible nature.
Second Army General Delbadova Rguin—the top military figure now that Dunan was gone.
“Hmph. Golden generation, my ass. Bunch of snot-nosed brats.”
Delbadova’s scathing assessment.
He held the highest military post but lacked influence, tied to the royal direct army.
That status kept him factionless, hard to promote.
Now, by the king’s order, he’d become instructor to the so-called golden generation cadets.
“Let me be clear: I have zero expectations. Some say you’ll outshine active officers—don’t make me laugh. If you’ve got any delusions of privilege, drop them now. That mindset won’t help you grow.”
A murmur of protest rose. No surprise—Wade was here.
Not me, of course.
“But General! We grew through the Chimera War! And Wade, who avenged General Dunan and led us to victory, is here too! Please reconsider!”
It was Denian Geglish, head of one faction.
“Avenge Dunan? Wade’s here? Hahaha!”
Delbadova burst into laughter, then sobered abruptly.
“You idiots would make stray dogs laugh. If that guy were really Wade, do you think he could stroll the academy carefree? Albad, Tunkai, Bekavia, Madon remnants—they’re all after his head! Assassins and spies must be swarming!”
As Delbadova said, countless forces targeted me.
Some to recruit, most to kill. That’s why, with Crossing and Duke Helian’s help, I hid my identity.
My retainers could fend off assassins now, but the hassle would be immense.
I couldn’t attend peacefully, as he said.
“I get youthful hero fantasies, but Casper Milias—if you want to be a real hero, quit the charade now.”
“Ugh...!”
All eyes turned to Casper.
Sweating bullets, he shot up and yelled.
“What do you mean, General? Everyone knows I’m Wade—the great nobles, even His Majesty! A-Are you questioning the king?”
“...Fool. Fine, sit. Class starts.”
Casper sat, trembling. The other cadets sighed in relief—predictable.
They knew it too. If Casper was exposed as fake, their factions would crack.
Their power would vanish.
Whether he was really Wade might not even matter anymore.
‘How childish and ugly can it get?’
Spouting flattery once in charge seemed worse than staying a loner like now.