Chapter 64
Chapter 64
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Offer
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dinitas was one of the empire's three great knight orders, alongside Tropeum and Luminous.
They had been watching the Venderford students and hurriedly approached as soon as the 3rd Echelon Druid fell.
*Clank!*
"We greet Your Imperial Highnesses."
"Sir Pavel, I presume."
The man who saluted Frantz and Ellington was Theo Pavel, the vice-commander of the Dinitas Knight Order.
With brown hair and a robust build, his appearance wasn't much different from that of an average knight.
However, the three scars running across his face were striking.
They added a fierce, sharp edge to his features, giving him an unapproachable air.
"We are students right now, so please dispense with the formalities."
"Understood."
At the third prince's request, Vice-Commander Theo withdrew his salute with a stoic expression.
Despite the princes' lives being in danger, the Dinitas knights remained utterly composed.
It seemed they had delayed their intervention because Squad 15 was already engaged with the 3rd Echelon Druid.
"Begin tending to the wounded and clearing the battlefield. Move out."
"Yes, sir!"
The Dinitas knights checked on the fallen students scattered about and gathered the druid's corpse in one place.
Meanwhile, the vice-commander approached the uninjured students with a question.
"Who killed the 3rd Echelon Druid?"
"..."
As it happened, the question was directed at Bizolt.
He had been knocked out of the fight with the 2nd Echelon but had stealthily rejoined later, leaving him almost unscathed.
Bizolt couldn't easily answer the vice-commander of one of the three great knight orders.
He seemed reluctant to say anything that would praise Squad 15, where Ray Carter was.
"Seeing as you have no injuries, it seems you didn't participate in the battle. You must have seen everything, so are you telling me you don't know?"
"Well... ahem! It was them."
But after hesitating, he finally pointed to Squad 15 and muttered in a barely audible voice.
From his displeased expression, his pride seemed quite wounded.
This was because Theo Pavel had pointed out that he hadn't actively fought.
Still, he couldn't talk back.
The vice-commander of one of the three great knight orders was not someone who could be intimidated by the prestige of a prominent provincial marquis's family.
"I see. And what is your name?"
Averting his gaze from Bizolt, the vice-commander directed his question to Ray.
***
'Wow! This guy's a good actor.'
I had to admire Theo Pavel's audacity.
To think he watched my squad's performance from afar, only to feign ignorance and ask questions now.
He seemed to be a man who valued appearances greatly.
Or maybe he'd already figured out the relationship between Bizolt and me and was doing this on purpose.
Of course, that was unlikely.
In any case, I didn't feel bad about it.
It was rather satisfying to see that spiteful guy's face contort like a wrinkled pumpkin.
"Ray Carter."
"Carter... I haven't heard that name before."
"My father is a merchant."
"Ah, a donation-based admission, I see."
At my answer, the vice-commander's gaze shifted.
It was as if he had been waiting for this.
Sensing the strange atmosphere, I kept my mouth shut and observed him.
Theo Pavel was staring intently at the recovered black spirit seal.
"Did your squad take down the 3rd Echelon Druid with your strength alone?"
"No, sir."
"But what is that in your hand?"
"While we did play a decisive role, it was only possible because Their Imperial Highnesses weakened him first. The credit is not ours alone."
"Oh? Is that so?"
I bowed my head respectfully, showing my intention to share the credit with the princes.
At this, the vice-commander nodded with a satisfied expression.
Of course, my inner thoughts were completely different.
'As if. To be honest, I did it all myself.'
It felt a bit like tooting my own horn, but it was the undeniable truth.
Still, if I acted all high and mighty here, I'd face a public backlash.
The various checks and balances aimed at a genius could be dodged with the right social skills.
"You are quite the talent. Are you affiliated with any knight order?"
"I am still just a student."
"Ahem! Of course, you are. A foolish question. In that case, may I make you an offer?"
"What kind of offer?"
"If you wish to learn the true way of the sword, come find me."
*Thump!*
At Theo Pavel's words, the expressions of the spectating students changed completely.
It was as if they had received a great shock.
The vice-commander's statement could be interpreted in several ways.
Beyond just an invitation to join the knight order, it also implied he would genuinely teach him.
Naturally, the opinions of the whispering students were divided.
"He's already being offered a position? What's so great about a 3rd Echelon Druid...?"
"He didn't say that yet. It could just be an invitation to meet again sometime."
"Yeah. That guy can't keep standing out forever."
"And talent doesn't shine forever, either."
Envious gazes and jealous remarks.
The more those malcontents criticized me, the more it was like they were burnishing my reputation.
Great figures always attract such opposition.
I felt pretty good, but I replied in a calm voice.
"I will come see you when the opportunity arises."
"Haha! A man of character indeed. We'll see each other again."
Pleased by my composed answer, Theo Pavel let out a hearty laugh and turned away.
He and the knights, having finished clearing the battlefield, moved toward a spur of the Deser Mountains.
It seemed they intended to monitor the students' movements from a moderately high mountainside.
'But this is a little different from the plan. I should contact the main house and ask about a knighthood.'
Having received an unexpected offer, I was lost in thought.
The purpose of infiltrating Venderford was to catch the princes' eyes and infiltrate the empire's high ranks.
Creating a suitable identity would be a great help to the family.
Like Count Ruberic, the manager of the Black Market, for instance.
'It's not my decision to make anyway, so I'll just report it for now.'
Nodding slightly, I broke from my reverie and noticed my squad members had gathered close.
"Whoa... How long has it been since we enrolled, and you're already getting recruitment offers?"
"We fought him together, so why didn't he say anything to us?"
The ones giving me envious looks were, of course, Frixon and Curtis.
Both of them were guys who desired to make a name for themselves in the empire.
Of course, Mac Ties and Kamil Felton were also watching with interest.
"His growth rate is much faster than we expected. Have you ever seen anyone like this?"
"I was that good when I was young, too."
"Really?"
"Well, I mean, my growth rate was that fast."
Faced with Mac's persistent questioning, Kamil answered evasively.
He seemed embarrassed that his bluff had been called so easily.
It seemed even the direct descendants of the continent's four great families found my skills surprising.
Well, a donation-based student who had just started learning the sword had taken the lead in defeating a 3rd Echelon Druid. That said it all.
'I guess I should start controlling my pace.'
Whatever the squad members were saying, they were smiling and focused on me.
It felt like unspoken pressure to say something, since I'd received such an amazing offer.
"Are you guys going to keep staring at me like this?"
Don't stare unless you're a woman.
You'll wear my face out!
***
The headquarters of the Physics Sect, located east of the Deser Mountains.
A druid wearing a silver spirit seal around his neck looked around and spoke.
"I summoned all the 3rd Echelons, so why is one missing? This is a crucial moment, facing the emperor's army. How can we function if orders aren't being relayed properly!"
"W-well..."
"Speak."
"Kazrat, who was dispatched near the Kalendron territory, has lost his life sign. It seems he has fallen in battle."
"What?"
The 4th Echelon Druid's glistening eyes glared fiercely.
The very idea of a setback in his operation seemed to displease him.
"Have you identified who is responsible?"
He asked while staring at the flags pinned across the map, but the one reporting hesitated.
The news seemed to be unusual.
"Report the truth."
"...A contingent of the Dinitas Knight Order was dispatched, but it was the students of Venderford who defeated Kazrat."
"Hah! Students?"
The 4th Echelon Druid let out a scoff and paused the hand that was about to move a flag.
If the report was accurate, it meant the three great knight orders hadn't made any unexpected moves.
It seemed there would be no need to revise the operation.
Of course, that didn't mean he could accept the report nonchalantly.
A 3rd Echelon Druid possessed skills roughly equivalent to the top of the 4th tier.
And mere students had defeated such a being?
Even with luck on their side, it was unbelievable.
Besides, the 3rd Echelon hadn't been dispatched to the Kalendron territory alone.
Faced with this incomprehensible result, the 4th Echelon Druid fell into thought.
"An unexpected variable... Still, the activities in the Kalendron territory were merely a decoy, so the main operation should not be affected."
"That is correct."
"Then we'll feign an attack on the Picharti Sect and detour north of the Deser Mountains."
"We are intentionally leaving a trail. The emperor's army will catch the scent and follow soon. It seems some losses will be unavoidable..."
"I know. Some sacrifices are necessary for the grand plan."
The Physics Sect's uprising was known as an internal power struggle.
But this was just a smokescreen.
In reality, they were preparing a secret maneuver.
"How far have the dispatched units gone?"
"They have likely escaped the encirclement by now."
"I hope they reach their destination safely."
"I agree."
"It is time to reveal ourselves. Let's go."
"Yes, sir!"
At the 4th Echelon Druid's command, the executives of the Physics Sect moved in perfect unison.
Soon, they spotted the empire's formidable forces and began their diversionary tactics, hiding within the mountains.
As planned, it was a very loud affair.
"For the Great Lord Brezhnev!"