CHAPTER 159: SCOUTING EXPEDITION [1]

Nothing happened immediately after handing over the note.

This was because the Margrave who needed to receive it wasn’t in the capital.

A day passed, and in the early dawn, Gerhard woke up. While washing his face and changing clothes, Luina knocked on his door.

"Are you awake?"

"I am."

"You’re up early."

"That’s rich coming from someone who was swinging a sword in the training ground since dawn."

When he woke up and drew the curtains, he’d seen Luina heading toward the training ground with a sword.

"That’s what all knights normally do."

"It seems so."

Along with Aint, Almon, Allia, and Veriana.

All the knight faculty students had borrowed Altriark’s training ground for dawn practice.

It was a good sign. Whether mentioned in the prophecy book or not, they would all have to fight demons anyway.

Unless they sold their souls to demons and became demonic creatures.

"They must have been inspired by you."

"Why would I..."

"Top of the second-year knight faculty."

"Being top-ranked is special, but not to that extent..."

"First place in the mounted lance competition. And."

"And?"

"Future Royal Knight."

"...Do you think I’ll become a Royal Knight?"

"Absolutely."

Without a moment’s hesitation, Gerhard answered promptly.

"You will become a Royal Knight, Luina. An exceptional one at that."

At those words, Luina’s expression sank again. But she couldn’t hide the aspiration within.

Luina took a deep breath, barely suppressing her pounding heart.

"I’m still far from it. Compared to the majesty of real Royal Knights, I’m just a firefly."

"Is that so?"

"But I want to live up to that belief. For myself."

"That’s enough."

Gerhard handed her chocolate.

"Would you like some?"

"Where do you keep getting these from?"

"Subspace."

"Do you always carry them around?"

"I don’t particularly like sweets."

"Well, you did say that last time too..."

The chocolate crumbs in Luina’s hand dropped to the floor.

"...What do you mean? Please explain properly!"

Gerhard heard Luina’s confused cry from behind him.

==

Dawn, before the sun had fully risen.

The Academy students faced fifty Iron Blood Knights and two hundred soldiers.

"I am Elion Sloth, captain of the Iron Blood Knights."

The captain of the Iron Blood Knights was an imposing, dignified warrior.

"Professor Grad from the Academy. If I’m correct, the Iron Blood Knights are Altriark’s..."

"Yes, that’s right. Though I’m embarrassed to say, we are Altriark’s First Knight Order."

This meant they were the finest knight order that Altriark boasted.

’No wonder each one’s bearing seemed extraordinary.’

He had never imagined that the Iron Blood Knights themselves would escort them.

But it wasn’t incomprehensible either. Whatever the reason, the Academy students were currently guests of Altriark.

And look at their profiles:

The heir of House Goldenheim.

The daughter of House Berchef.

The daughter of House Florian.

The imperial prince of House Schwaben and the descendant of House Armian.

Five bloodlines from current and former Margrave houses, and even houses like Kalproten and others were not to be disregarded.

’Including the professors, there’s also Wienderk.’

If any problem were to befall the Academy contingent, the burden Altriark would have to bear would not be light at all.

"We’re departing."

"Thank you."

The Altriark side provided horses for the Academy group, and horseback riding was a basic skill for Academy students.

Thus, all 262 mounted individuals left the capital.

"The horses are in good condition."

"They’re certainly comparable to our family’s horses."

Both Berchef and Altriark had great plains within their territories.

They raised horses by grazing them there, and the horses from both territories were renowned as top-tier.

’When war comes, many horses will be needed. We need to breed as many horses as possible.’

Berchef’s horse industry had declined after being ravaged by monsters.

With one of the Empire’s three pillars collapsed, it was necessary to either find a new path or properly restore it.

’It won’t be easy. The best option would still be to restore Berchef.’

Considering that spirit creatures had nested in northern Berchef, the territory was like a candle in the wind.

’Nevertheless, Berchef must be protected.’

It wouldn’t be good to abandon their abilities and fortresses built over a thousand years.

Even if they were to retreat strategically, they would likely suffer greater damage.

Above all.

’If Berchef is abandoned, the Empire loses two Royal Knights.’

Albinus Berchef, Margrave.

And Luina Berchef, future Royal Knight.

From what Gerhard knew and experienced, they were people who would make their territory their grave rather than abandon it and flee.

’But how?’

Should he pour in money deliberately?

On what grounds?

Is there any guarantee that spending money would definitely solve the problem?

The answer wasn’t easy to find.

==

"..."

There was a pair of eyes watching Gerhard as he was lost in contemplation.

’How on earth did it come to this....’

The owner of the gaze, Carlo Deneb, hadn’t anticipated the current situation at all when the first semester began.

If Rudger Schwaben had taken the top spot from him, he might have accepted it.

But Gerhard?

In his first year, the guy had ranked 10th. The fact that it was all an act still gave him chills even now.

He had been fooled by the act...

’No, in the end, my own skills were lacking.’

Whether using artifacts or hiding his true ability, if Carlo’s skills had been sufficient, he could have overcome everything.

After all, hadn’t he himself eventually used artifacts too?

Nevertheless, he couldn’t help feeling vexed.

’Ariadne Florian...!’

His head turned. Ariadne, chatting with Aint and Veriana, came into view.

He recalled a mistake more painful than losing the top spot.

’Losing to a first-year.’

Not even to someone like the Saint of the Dragon Faith Order, an unconventional wizard.

If it had been the Saint, it would have been better. The Order was a gathering of magic-obsessed people, and the Saint was an especially crazed monster among them.

For generations, the Saints had been monsters unconstrained by academic years, and even if he had lost, he could have understood.

But Ariadne Florian was different.

Even if she was from a Margrave family, even if she was an elf, even if his mana flow wasn’t smooth because his mind was disturbed by Gerhard.

’I should never have lost to Ariadne Florian.’

In self-loathing, he drank alcohol for the first time. It went against his master’s teaching that a wizard should always keep a clear mind.

But it helped.

When he saw himself, soaked in alcohol after losing to a junior, through the mirror.

Seeing that pathetic image, he faced reality—it wasn’t time to drown in alcohol but to dedicate himself more to magic.

That’s why he volunteered for this deployment.

Although he was partly irritated by Gerhard’s application, it was to forge himself through practical experience.