Field Trip to the Old Northern Wall (1)
The next day.
I was spending time with Lucia, just as promised.
"Oh, right. Ilisha. You all set for the spring field trip?"
"Spring field trip...?"
Was there such a thing? Well, there was, but... was it already time for that?
Wasn't it a bit later?
As I blinked and frantically rummaged through my memories, Lucia let out a small laugh and said something odd.
"Pfft. That was pretty convincing just now. Almost had me... no way. Right?"
Unfortunately, it was real.
"...It is real."
"Huh."
Lucia stared at me in disbelief, then got serious and asked,
"The first-years' mandatory spring field trip. To the Old Northern Wall for a tour. The dorm head announced it, didn't you hear?"
"Th-that... ehehe. I was kinda thinking about other stuff..."
Even if I remembered the morning assembly, I'd either been dozing off or lost in thought the whole time.
"Other stuff?"
"Yeah."
"Like what?"
"Well, you know, what to eat for lunch, which club to hit up today... that kinda thing?"
The truth was far more devious, but no need to spill that. I threw out some harmless excuses instead.
And the truth? How to make Ern or Lucia cry.
Oblivious to that, Lucia dragged a hand down her face and muttered,
"You're gonna drive me nuts, seriously. Where do you even keep your brain?"
"Right here?"
I flashed an innocent smile and tapped my head. Lucia made a face like she'd rather not even talk about it.
"...Sigh. What would you do without me? Go get ready now, at least. It's just a day trip—out in the morning, back by evening—so nothing fancy."
"Oh, really? Sounds like Einshel can handle it then."
"Einshel...? Who's that?"
Lucia bristled a bit at the unfamiliar name from my mouth and straight-up demanded, who's this chick?
"Oh, right. You wouldn't know. Um... she's from home, here to help me out."
"Figures. Looking at you right now, yeah, you need it."
This girl?
"Hey, I'm pretty thorough with preparations myself, you know?"
I shot back indignantly, but Lucia just brushed it off with a lazy, sure you are~
"Whatever, as long as someone's got your back. Just don't sleep in tomorrow morning."
Despite her worry, I breezed through the weekend and returned to the dorm to find Einshel had everything ready.
Apparently, I was the only one clueless about the field trip tomorrow.
And so, a little time passed.
Morning of the spring field trip dawned.
I left a quick goodbye to Einshel and headed to the square.
Maybe it was my good mood, or maybe the light load—either way, my steps felt feather-light.
Why so chipper? Simple.
It was a chance to legally wreck my body.
The trip itself wasn't grueling.
Just tour the walls, pay respects at the nearby cemetery, play around a bit, and done.
Of course, assuming nothing went wrong.
Naturally, Demon Worshippers were set to ambush us midway.
Which meant I'd inevitably have to swing a sword.
Perfect timing, too—I'd been feeling awkward about scraping myself up in sword practice just to visit Cecilia.
"Hm hm hm~"
I wondered what face Cecilia would make this time.
What about Ern?
Dorothea, Lucia...
What expressions they'd wear, how deeply they'd grieve.
The attention they'd shower on me had me humming without realizing it.
Arriving at the square in high spirits, I was greeted by the lively clamor of packed first-years.
Most were chattering away in their groups, but a few spotted me and started whispering the rumors swirling around the academy.
Something about slicing the Southern Duke's heir in one stroke, challenging anyone who met my eyes to a duel.
The last one's a bit unfair.
Basking in the attention, I headed to our class's spot—and spotted people who had no business being there.
The Imperial Guard.
They stood arrayed before the students.
"Ah, Ilisha. You're here. Good thing you're not late."
"Hey, Lucia. More importantly... why are they here?"
I half-heartedly returned her greeting and asked, but Lucia seemed just as puzzled.
"Was about to ask the same. Why are the Royal Guard here...?"
"...He's just a student in the academy, but he's still the crown prince. Probably extra security."
"Doesn't feel like it. Reinhardt's never pulled rank before... so, like... there must be another reason..."
Ern, who'd been quietly listening, chimed in like he knew something, but it didn't ring true—like Dorothea said.
Reinhardt wouldn't do that.
The guy who stuck to his principles and words like steel wouldn't suddenly deploy guards just because he's the prince. No way.
Besides, if he were that type, he'd have done it in the original story too. But he hadn't.
There had to be another reason.
I barely had time to ponder what it might be before the answer revealed itself.
Cecilia.
She stood beside Reinhardt, speaking to him.
Then our eyes met.
Cecilia smiled kindly; Reinhardt glared at me with clear displeasure.
...Aha.
It's because of me.
The Demon Worshippers are targeting me.
Cecilia must've convinced Reinhardt to mobilize the troops.
It was heartwarming that she and Reinhardt cared this much... but
This messed up my plans.
With the Imperial Guard on the move, even Demon Worshippers wouldn't stand a chance.
Not unless they were high-ranking ones—they'd be swept aside easily.
In other words,
No chance for me to swing my sword.
Hell, I might not even be in danger at all.
A sudden wave of crisis gripped my heart, pounding wildly.
I could feel my happy future of Cecilia's eyes only on me slipping away.
What now?
Should I throw a fit and demand they leave?
No guarantee they'd listen.
I racked my brain desperately, but nothing came to mind.
...Ugh, seriously. I could be less useless at this stuff.
In the end, all I could do was meekly step into the portal forming in the square, my heart sinking.
Surrendering to the torrent of ether, the scenery warped and blurred into green.
When focus returned, a wholly different landscape unfolded.
The crisp, cold air unique to the north—unlike the academy.
And far off, a massive stone wall stretching endlessly.
The legendary Old Northern Wall.
Compared to the empire's current Northern Great Wall, it was little more than a stone fence.
The walls were worn and cracked everywhere, some sections patched with mismatched stones.
Fissures—battle scars or weathering?—crisscrossed the surface, stubborn weeds thrusting roots into every crevice.
Yet it didn't look laughable.
Even shabby, it exuded a grave dignity from enduring ages.
A steadfast resolve that it would never crumble, no matter how ramshackle.
And lining the wall, cemeteries stretched out.
Ancient tombstones eroded by wind and frost, inscriptions faded; some mere piles of rubble.
No explanations needed—I could guess.
Graves of those who'd given their lives defending this wall.
Lost in quiet reflection, the other students began arriving via portal.
Soon, with all first-years and escorts through, a professor stepped forward to explain.
"This is the old wall that guarded the empire's north before the current Northern Great Wall. Now a tourist spot, it was once the front line where humanity clashed with the demons."
I paid little heed to the lecture.
Why bother learning history when I wouldn't live long anyway?
Letting his words flow past, I just gazed at the wall.
It had once been defended with lives on the line.
Were those people happy?
That faint thought drifted by.
Explanation over, students scattered then grouped up.
Ern, Lucia, Dorothea, Reinhardt, and Cecilia gathered near me.
The Imperial Guard and academy security naturally formed a perimeter around us.
...Hm.
Guess I'm the center of it all.
With security this tight, I inwardly groaned—fat chance of stepping up, let alone getting hurt.
Glancing at Reinhardt, he still scowled at me.
Not over it yet? Must've really irked him.
Makes sense. To a guy who shunned privilege, this was like granting even more.
Unthinkable from Reinhardt's view.
"Hehe, feels like I'm some national treasure."
I teased him about the heavy guard, but he didn't respond.
Properly pissed, huh.
"Can't be helped, Reinhardt. Time to drop the grudge."
"...Hah."
Dorothea and Lucia looked like they had words, but Reinhardt's mood kept them peeking cautiously.
Sheesh.
Maybe I should break the ice.
"Dorothea. Find anything... useful?"
"Uh... y-yeah! Not hugely helpful, but some cases that might analyze your condition..."
"Condition? Something wrong with Ilisha?"
"Uh... w-well..."
As Dorothea spoke, Reinhardt bluntly cut in.
Her words trailed off awkwardly.
......This field trip's gonna be a real ordeal.
I thought idly, eyeing Reinhardt's meddling and the tightening wall of escorts.
A black line slashed through the air, splitting open to disgorge someone in black robes.
In its hand, a dagger of ominous design.
The first to react among those who saw it: the Imperial Guard.
"Enemy attack!!!"
With that cry, the guards snapped into formation. As if rehearsed, ominous aura flared from every sword. No bluff—they were all Sword Expert rank.
Some skipped the formation, charging like arrows.
The black robe said nothing, wildly slashing the air with that bizarre dagger. Faster than the guards' rush by far.
No sound on the swings.
But black lines traced the strokes, hair-thin at first—then yawning wide enough for a person to crawl through.
Beyond them, alien darkness writhed.
I knew what that was.
Which made it all the more baffling.
Why was an elite core member—a Dimension Slasher among the Demon Worshippers—here?