CHAPTER 163: THE DESERT HUNT [1]

It was.

"Next."

A beautiful sight.

"Next."

And a satisfying scene as well.

"Next one, please come up."

Every time Luina Berchef’s sword danced, Altriark’s knights fell like scarecrows.

The spirit that didn’t bow even before demons certainly wouldn’t bend against mere knights.

The swordsmanship honed in Berchef and blossomed at the Academy was nothing short of sublime.

Already five trainees from the first class had fallen under her sword, and when an Altriark knight stepped forward out of concern, even he had just knelt before her blade.

It meant that Luina’s skill had already surpassed the level of a mere student.

If not that, then perhaps the Altriark knights’ level was simply inferior.

Of course, they weren’t from the Iron Blood, Light Blood, or Noble Blood Knight Orders, but Altriark’s knights were certainly not at a level to be dismissed.

It was simply that Luina was exceptional.

It was proof that Gerhard Goldenheim’s choice to invest in Luina Berchef, trusting in the prophecy book that had suddenly scrambled his mind, was not wrong.

"Ohh."

"Indeed... they say she won the mounted lance competition..."

The admiration of others added confidence to Gerhard’s thoughts.

"Even so, how can knights lose to an Academy student, two of them at that?"

"Pathetic guys. And they call themselves trainees of the Altriark Knight School..."

Of course, there wasn’t just pure admiration.

Just as Luina of Berchef had a competitive spirit toward Altriark, the reverse was also true.

"This time, I will..."

"Why don’t we stop there?"

As one knight tried to climb onto the dueling ground, Grad, who had been standing with his arms crossed, stopped him.

"She’s already fought five trainees and two knights. Wouldn’t it be against fairness for a Noble Blood knight to step in?"

The Noble Blood Knight Order was one of Altriark’s three major knight orders.

Though considered slightly inferior to the Iron Blood and Light Blood, that didn’t mean their level was low.

"Luina, right?"

"Yes, that’s correct."

Contrary to her previous demeanor when she was shouting "Next," Luina obediently sheathed her sword.

She sat down in the makeshift waiting room where a chair was placed and wiped away the flowing sweat.

"Professor Grad thinks highly of you."

"Since when have you been here?"

Luina was startled by the softly whispered voice.

"Shouldn’t you be able to easily detect my presence?"

"I expected you to just sit next to me, not whisper in my ear—who would have anticipated that?"

She touched her ear with a slightly flushed expression.

Gerhard handed her a chocolate. Luina naturally accepted and ate it.

"Were you confident you could win?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don’t ask when you already know."

"I haven’t faced the Noble Blood Knight Order before, so I’m not sure, but..."

"But?"

"If their level is similar to Berchef’s Red Lion Knight Order, then yes, I am."

Contrary to her words, Grad stopping Luina wasn’t for her sake.

It was for Altriark.

To prevent the humiliation of the core of the family losing to Luina, who was merely an Academy student despite being the Berchef heir.

No matter how much they were competitors, they weren’t enemies, and she was just temporarily staying with them, so he appropriately stopped it.

Meanwhile, a new Academy student climbed onto the stage.

"I am Aint Armian, first-year at the Academy. Pleased to meet you."

"Armian?"

"Aint Armian, you say?"

"Come to think of it, they said it’s the first time in nearly a hundred years that an Armian has enrolled in the Academy, right?"

The trainees murmured with expectation at the name Armian.

"I want to experience the Armian swordsmanship!"

"Me!"

"...Uh, one at a time, please..."

The duels continued.

==

"Your Excellency."

The chief attendant approached and whispered. The Margrave’s brow furrowed slightly.

"I heard the results of the duels between the Academy students and the knight school students."

"Is that so?"

"The Academy students won them all."

"Should I be surprised?"

"It’s not so much surprising as it is expected. Nevertheless, it does somewhat wound my pride."

"I don’t think it’s particularly something to be wounded about."

The woman, Rosalia Wienderk, responded expressionlessly.

"Everyone hushes it up, but isn’t it ultimately a place for those who couldn’t enter the Academy?"

"That’s true."

The Margrave nodded.

"Though no one would say that to my face."

"The tea scent is pleasant."

A moment of silence fell.

"Honestly, I didn’t expect them to not win a single match. I hear Luina Berchef defeated not only the trainees but also two knights."

"They’re all students who rank in the top three. Luina Berchef is this year’s mounted lance competition champion."

The difference in level was bound to be stark, but that didn’t mean Altriark’s level was low.

After all, among Altriark’s knights, there were also Academy students.

"But they’re just first and second years."

"Talent transcends age."

"How is the Duke doing?"

"Right now, I’m not Rosalia Wienderk, but Professor Rosalia, Your Excellency."

"Then our departure is in two days."

"...Departure?"

For the first time, Professor Rosalia’s poker face cracked.

"I’m sorry, but weren’t we originally supposed to help defend one of the fortresses?"

"That was the original plan, but the schedule has changed."

"Suddenly?"

"You’ll be going to the Tacklakan Desert at dawn in two days."

"I don’t understand what this means at all."

"The Iron Blood Knight Order, the Light Blood Knight Order, and five hundred elite soldiers will accompany you."

Rosalia’s eyes widened.

With the two knight orders and five hundred elites, they could easily devour a small kingdom.

"What are we going there to do?"

"I don’t know either."

"...Pardon?"

"I’m joking."

The Margrave laughed heartily. But Professor Rosalia didn’t laugh at all. It wasn’t even funny.

"Your Excellency."

"You quite resemble your father. Well, that’s why you became a professor at the Academy at such a young age."

"Your Excellency."

"If you’re curious, don’t ask me, ask someone else. Among your company, there’s someone who caused the schedule to change."

"...Among my company?"

Since it couldn’t be Grad, who had a habit of being bothersome, it was one of the students.

And among the students, there was only one person who could do such a thing.

"Gerhard Goldenheim..."

As if confirming her answer, the Margrave shrugged.

==

"Explain."

"I’ve found a clue about the evil species. So I reported to the Count, and he allowed us to participate."

At this concise explanation, Professor Rosalia didn’t ask why the professors were excluded.

She simply calmly asked the next question.

"What’s the clue?"