CHAPTER 154: SELECTING THE NINE [2]

"Now that I’ve announced the participants, I’ll inform you about the schedule."

The six students nodded slightly.

"Tomorrow at dawn, we’ll go to Count Altriark’s estate through a teleportation magic circle."

Altriark. If Berchef was the shield protecting the northern Empire, Altriark was the wall guarding the western Empire.

This was possible because the Academy had teleportation circles installed for all Margrave families.

Of course, the cost would be enormous. That showed how important the Chancellor considered this matter.

’Surely they didn’t reduce the number to nine just because of money?’

While thinking this, Professor Grad continued his explanation.

"...Our purpose is simply to experience war and spirit creatures. If anyone acts recklessly, thinking they’re some kind of hero, I’ll personally punch them in the face. Understood?"

"Yes!"

"The six of you, return to your dormitories immediately and pack your belongings. Be at the Dimension Hall by 5 AM tomorrow, don’t be late."

The Dimension Hall was where the Academy’s teleportation circles were installed and specially managed. Only authorized individuals were allowed to enter.

"And since we also need to prepare, today’s lecture will be given by other professors. The six of you are dismissed."

Gerhard left the lecture hall with Luina.

"Isn’t it interesting?"

Rudger, who had followed them out, put his arm around Gerhard’s shoulder.

"What do you mean?"

"We all ended up going in pairs. Don’t you think it was intentional?"

Come to think of it, that was true.

Both top-ranked Gerhard and Luina.

Third and second-ranked Rudger and Almon.

And second and third-ranked Carlo and Allia.

The divine move was that Allia, who had been in fourth place, moved up a rank when she became Carlo’s partner.

"I suppose so."

"Luina, last time I couldn’t compete properly due to poor physical condition. But this time will be different."

"This time we’re fighting together as allies, not dueling."

"I was thinking we could make a wager on who kills more spirit creatures and monsters."

"I refuse."

"Why?"

"We’re going to protect the Empire. There’s no time for entertainment."

Gerhard smirked as he watched Luina stiffly rebuff Almon.

It was because he could sense that while she usually acted like her normal self, she changed slightly when dealing with him.

"..."

Just then, he felt a burning gaze from behind. It was Carlo Deneb.

When their eyes met, Carlo strode over.

"Do you know what Ariadne Florian said to me?"

An unexpected opening.

But Gerhard maintained his merchant’s poker face and asked back.

"No."

"She said she was disappointed."

Carlo continued speaking, as if muttering to himself.

"Not in me, but that she wished you had competed instead of me. She said I was weaker than you."

"The words of an ignorant child."

She provoked him quite skillfully.

The funny thing was that, knowing Ariadne, this wasn’t provocation at all but her honest opinion.

"The funny thing is, I couldn’t deny it."

Carlo gritted his teeth.

"Because I lost the top spot."

His voice grew a bit more intense.

"I was angry despite it being true. I thought that no matter what, I shouldn’t be disrespected by a first-year. So I wanted to defeat Ariadne Florian and win the magic competition to prove my worth once more."

"But you lost."

"Yes. I lost. It’s pathetic."

It was by a narrow margin, but a loss was a loss. The second-year who ranked second lost to the first-year who ranked second.

It was an enormous shock to Carlo, who had considered himself special and had stood out even among the special students at the Academy.

That’s why, as soon as Gerhard applied for the deployment, his body moved on its own. He had an ominous feeling that if he fell behind any further, he would never be able to catch up.

"I realized how lazy I’ve been, intoxicated by the pretense of being first. I was an arrogant fool. I don’t repeat the same mistakes. Losing the top spot will be the first and last time."

"...This isn’t the place to say it, but honestly, I’m not that interested in rankings."

"I don’t believe you."

"Suit yourself."

Gerhard shrugged. Carlo, after staring into his eyes with renewed determination, turned and left.

"Let’s go too."

"Yes."

Gerhard headed for the Golden Turtle Company branch.

==

"Here’s the proposal sent from the Bardian branch."

Bardian referred to the island between the two continents where the Academy was located.

In other words, this proposal was from his son to the Duke.

"A plan regarding the black adamantium mine."

That was the only thing he could send right now.

The Duke opened the documents. They clearly organized various factors such as the environment of the discovered black adamantium vein, nearby monster colonies, profitability, and more.

"...What’s this?"

Also included were the funds and troops needed to develop and maintain the black adamantium vein.

The Duke rubbed his eyes.

"Is there a problem, Your Grace?"

"Take a look at this for a moment."

The butler leaned in closer. The Duke’s finger pointed to the required troops.

"Five hundred mercenaries plus the Red Turtle Knights and Blue Turtle Mages?"

The Red Turtle Knights were the finest knights of House Goldenheim, and the Blue Turtle Mages were the house’s finest magical regiment.

Considering that their commanders were a Royal Knight and an Arch Mage respectively, the strength of these two units was enough to easily crush any ordinary kingdom.

"...Is the Young Master planning to wage war against Pragia?"

"He can’t be that ignorant."

After a moment of confusion, the Duke soon caught on to his son’s intentions.

"He’s playing me."

It was a shallow trick of asking for something big first to achieve his real purpose.

"What he really wants is... half the mercenaries, and the Red Shell Knights and Blue Shell Mages."

"Even those two knight and mage regiments are top-tier forces. We can’t use such strength just to maintain a single mine."

He was sure Gerhard knew that would be an excessive waste.

The Duke considered why his son had drafted such a reckless proposal.

"...Until now, has Gerhard ever done anything that deviated from proper conduct?"

"No, he hasn’t."

"But when it comes to Luina Berchef and matters related to demons, he acts differently."

"Yes."

"Then this time it must be one of those two."

No, it was one.

Unless Luina was mining black adamantium, she wouldn’t be involved.

"Demons or demonic species."

If so, the large-scale troops made sense.

"Such an audacious fellow...!"

The Duke gave a hollow laugh.

Gerhard wasn’t the type to take on impossible tasks alone.

If he made such a decision, it meant he had judged it feasible.

"Never met someone greedier than me."

It meant he didn’t want to share the profits with others, even his father.

And he was using his father’s own forces to do it.

That was quite presumptuous, even if he had made a down payment with the black adamantium vein.

"The pupil has surpassed the master, it seems."

"Duke, whose side are you on?"

"Yours, of course. What do you intend to do?"

"Send the Red Tail Knights and Blue Tail Mages, along with one hundred mercenaries."

These were the third knight and mage regiments owned by House Goldenheim. Though they were the lowest in quality among the house’s forces, they would still rank highly if deployed across the continent.

"Although it’s presumptuous, there’s a high probability that demonic species are involved, so we can’t let them slip away."

"Yes, I’ll arrange it."

The butler nodded. The Duke’s gaze changed.

"What about the demonic species hiding under Goldenheim?"

"We found a total of 41. In a major purge operation, we killed 33 and captured 8."

"Quite a number had infiltrated."

"What did you learn?"

"I apologize."

The butler bowed deeply in apology.

"Despite removing their tongues, they have double binding spells—when they try to speak after torture, they vomit blood from their throats and die."

"Binding spells? Even Dwarleo couldn’t remove them?"

"Yes, we’re investigating, but he says it’s not something that can be removed quickly."

"If even Master Dwarleo finds it difficult..."

It was hard to gauge how much preparation they had made over the past thousand years.

The Duke clicked his tongue and changed the subject.

"War supplies?"

"We’re purchasing them steadily and discreetly. However, prices are rising due to the Monster Wave in the Tacklakan Desert."

"Keep buying anyway."

"Yes, sir."

It seemed like a loss now, but it certainly wasn’t.

The moment he saw Andromalius through the recording crystal, he had a premonition.

That the war was just beginning.

That the tragedy from a thousand years ago was once again raising its head.

"House Goldenheim became a Margrave of the Empire and the continent’s wealthiest through the war with demons a thousand years ago."

If so, then...

"What can we gain from this war?"

I’m looking forward to it.

His eyes were tinted with greed.