Chapter 314

“I didn’t know we weren’t returning to school.”

Elías whispered, standing by my side.

We had come to the main office of the Prussian Ministry of Defense. The management authority over us, which had been scattered in various places like the Eschet Steering Committee, the Militia Headquarters, and the Imperial Mages’ Association, was consolidated into one place. Anyway, the talk about creating a special forces unit wasn’t just nonsense.

“You’re only coming here today. The reorganization isn’t finished yet. From tomorrow, you can report to the Special Operations Command main office.”

Because Elías whispered without casting a sound-proofing Spell, the official in front of us interrupted him. Elías corrected his mistake from earlier, cast a sound-proofing Spell, and said sarcastically.

“Special operations, wow…. Are we taking on assassinations or something?”

“Berserker disposal is indeed a bit special….”

When there’s no precedent anywhere you look, if this isn’t special, what is?

The official, who received a pile of papers from another official, rummaged through them diligently and then put them away with an uncomfortable face. Considering he had focused on something, what he said after coming back to us was quite cliché. It was something we already knew.

“Get a simple checkup, and since it’s your first day, we won’t connect any more reports. And… you probably have many questions, but we will inform you of the details again once the reorganization is somewhat complete. There are still many changes.”

“Still?”

“Well, all of this was decided yesterday.”

The official snapped his fingers to cast a sound-proofing Spell, glanced behind him, and spoke. It hit home that we weren’t the only ones swept up in this situation. Since there was nothing particular to say—unless there was something ‘we must know but don’t’, there was no problem, so I wasn’t even curious—we all came outside. I thought while looking at the attire of people passing by the Ministry of Defense main office.

‘Anyway, we’ve completely entered the Prussian Army now.’

There are three members of foreign ruling families here alone, and even a foreigner, but since they firmly nailed everyone down as Prussian soldiers, it must be very good for Hohenzollern. The Imperial Mages’ Association itself has plenty of room to be mobilized as Wehrmacht officers if you look at its join clauses, so it’s generally included in Prussia’s power, but not satisfied with that, they made it absolutely certain.

Since Anhalt is a pro-Prussian state, even if war breaks out, I would be stuck working here, but the Bavarian Crown Prince here would return to Bavaria if war broke out; still, what does it mean to go this far?

It is clearly felt that Germany has war in mind and is preparing for it.

“…….”

No one opened their mouth throughout the return to the Eschet dormitory reassigned at the First Academy. Everyone must have reached the same conclusion as I did.

To me, who has knowledge of the 21st century, this behavior is not surprising since I know what kind of country Germany was during the World Wars. When you think of militarism, which country comes to mind first? If you grab anyone passing by and ask, 80% will say Germany and Japan. Although I didn’t feel it at the Imperial Second Academy, which was organized liberally, what you can feel immediately upon going to a Prussian Gymnasium is that even schools here run quite strictly. The teacher’s word is law, and if you disobey orders, whether you are a student or whatever, you receive immediate punishment without mercy. Even my grandparents’ generation, who attended school in an era where traces of militarism hadn’t been erased immediately, grew up receiving education with this atmosphere subtly underlying it, didn’t they?

‘But not me.’

Even the Eschet friends here didn’t receive that kind of education. Germany’s militaristic tone reached its peak in the World Wars, and it’s still a little before that, plus the three schools of the Imperial Academy were established with liberalism as their ideology due to the German ruling class’s ‘reform from above’ policy.

‘…So.’

I am currently at the starting point where militarism begins to infect the German Empire in earnest beyond Prussia. I didn’t know I would be standing at a historical moment racing toward destruction in a world with magic.

“Uh.”

The moment we warped to the school, Narce, who was holding my hand, opened his eyes wide in surprise. I was equally surprised. Professors and students were gathered around the warp point.

“You’ve returned.”

Our class professor said while holding a Wand. He lightly hugged Leo, me, and other team members and stepped back. Only then did other professors approach. They were some of the minimum personnel left by the government to guard the school. Whether no words came out because they had too much to say or if it was consideration, they just patted our shoulders instead of saying anything.

It’s clear they were here to check if the students returned alive. Since us and other militia friends all went out as soon as reports came in, they will probably wait here longer. The realization that it has really started hit me once again.

“…It really is a state of emergency.”

Although she said it a bit suddenly as always, Heike must have felt a similar sentiment to mine. Perhaps because no one opened their mouth after that, when we opened the front door to enter the dormitory, Ulrike raised his voice.

“Looking at it again, our new dormitory is nice~”

The newly received dormitory wasn’t divided into rooms from the start, but had a structure with rooms centered around a living room. Friends just smiled and scattered to enter their rooms. At that time, Elías began to call us.

“Guys. Sit down.”

Everyone looked a bit tired, but no friend raised a particular objection. Since I was too lazy to change clothes and lie down anyway, I quickly plopped down on the sofa. As even Heike sat down sluggishly, Elías looked back at us and said.

“In my opinion. We need special training.”

“Huh?”

Ulrike asked with his eyes wide open.

“Let’s borrow the school’s Mimesis. Like when we were in the training ground all day preparing for the test, we go in and suppress everything.”

Elías uncharacteristically looked around at everyone seriously and continued.

“We can’t do it like today forever. Especially Luka, your strategy was good, but a day might come when you get hurt too.”

“…….”

“And… if our skills improve, we can send Berserkers to the hospital faster.”

“Good. I’m in favor.”

Heike answered quietly. Leo and Tsheringen were still resting their chins on their hands and contemplating. Ulrike deliberated whether to speak or not, then opened his mouth with a nervous face.

“Um, first, I think it’s good to have some adaptation period. Since it’s still the beginning, we have to take care of our condition too.”

Elías listened to him calmly without refuting or getting annoyed. Although he didn’t like Ulrike that much, he knew how to listen.

“It’s not because I don’t want to run. To work for a long, long time without burning out… it’s not good to move too hastily from the start. Of course, improving our skills is important, but I think this is a long-term battle, and I think we should adjust our pace accordingly.”

Ulrike asserted firmly while gauging his friends’ reactions.

I know. Ulrike just didn’t stand out today, but according to rechecking the video from the 3rd test, his combat style was quite belligerent, and he liked moving his body more than anyone else. He doesn’t have to worry about us misunderstanding.

Just in time, Tsheringen spoke.

“I want to mix both opinions.”

Train to increase skills, but the degree of leaning towards duty and passion shouldn’t be excessive. Although she spoke indirectly, it actually means she agrees with Ulrike’s opinion.

Leo would probably lean towards Elías’s side—would that magic maniac pass up a training ground?—and judging by Narce’s expression, his opinion seemed similar.

I am also willing to train right now, attracted by the ‘let’s reduce time’ part. In fact, high-risk Berserkers don’t have a very high basic survival probability because they are rescued after their bodies are already heavily damaged. Therefore, it is important to rescue them even a little earlier to prevent damage. I already knew this through numerous statistics I saw while working as Nicolaus Ernst.

For now, Elías’s opinion will pass by majority vote. But….

“Let’s rest today.”

At my words, Elías sat down on the sofa behind him as if lying down, exhaling like a deflated balloon. Heike, who suddenly bumped heads, slightly pushed Elías away. Elías collapsed onto Narce’s lap and nodded slowly.

“…Yeah, right.”

“What.”

“I was a bit hasty.”

” Whatever. I understand.”

I was about to finish speaking there, but seeing Elías’s expression looking disheartened, I continued.

“Your opinion was good too. Once all our friends adapt, how about doing special training as you said?”

“Okay. First, I’m good with that.”

“I’m good too.”

Following Elías’s words, Heike answered immediately. Tsheringen, who was listening, clapped her hands lightly and said.

“It’s settled then. You worked hard today, rest a bit, and let’s eat dinner together later.”

Perhaps everyone lacked energy, the sound of them quietly entering their rooms followed without further words.

Finally, it became quiet. I went to my room, took off my jacket roughly, and sat on the sofa. There was something I had to think about.

‘They said rampages happen frequently in mental hospitals.’

I already knew this too, but having visited in person today, I definitely felt the reason. Rampages are bound to happen. Everything is excessively inhumane. Where on earth is it humane?

It’s not about post-processing; the fact that rampages occur frequently in places like mental hospitals means there is a problem, so it must be prevented in advance. An environment where medical personnel despise patients, coercive treatment for diseases. I don’t have a clue how to improve this, but to lower the rampage rate, it is necessary to take time and think about it.

And….

First, I have to go to Abraham. How she intends to act in this international situation, how much she knows and predicted about Maria von Österreich-Este, and why she entrusted this task to me.

The moment I took my jacket and hat I had briefly taken off and went outside, someone knocked on the dormitory front door.

Knock-knock―

When I opened the door, a school staff member held out a telegram and spoke quickly.

“Ah! You were here. Is there anyone from the 101st class out right now? Quickly.”

Why so urgent. Thinking that, I shook my head.

“Everyone is inside.”

“That’s a relief. You must go to the Tiergarten Victory Column right now.”

Now?

Why?

As soon as I thought that, the staff member continued.

“The 98th class of the Imperial Mages’ Association is waiting.”

***

“You said to come tomorrow.”

“I thought so until then too, but it turned out like this.”

At Elías’s playful remark, the official shrugged his shoulders and replied. We warped to the Tiergarten entrance first and came to meet the person written on the telegram. It was the official we saw at the Ministry of Defense main office earlier. He led us and spoke in a slightly louder voice.

“It has been decided that some of the remaining classes in the Imperial Mages’ Association will be deployed for public security, and some for Berserker disposal. Among them, we had to confirm the classes to handle Grade 1 to 3 high-risk Berserkers….”

“Was it confirmed just now?”

“Yes. Two classes were confirmed 30 minutes ago. The 91st and 98th classes decided to handle high-risk Berserkers, and the rest are still verifying their skills. In terms of Berserker disposal duties right now, the 98th class becomes the class directly above you, the 101st class.”

“We don’t even know the name of the place we belong to yet, but it’s already like that? In fact, let alone the 98th class, we haven’t even met the 100th class seniors, haven’t been to the Special Operations Command Headquarters, and haven’t heard the system of how this special whatever runs.”

“Indeed. I don’t know well either.”

At Elías’s pointed remark, the official answered in a soulless voice.

“Just in time, the 98th class said they wanted to meet you. That’s all I heard.”

“We heard that too.”

“That’s good.”

The official stopped around the Victory Column in Tiergarten and gestured. In the distance, people wearing uniforms with the atmosphere of the Imperial Mages’ Association are visible. I also saw the 98th class people looking at us and talking to each other. We walked silently in front of the Victory Column. By the time we got close, someone who appeared to be one of the leaders of the 98th class—the 101st class is one team, but the other classes are divided into two or three teams—approached with a good-natured smile and extended a hand.

“You’ve come. I am Albert Mecklenburg.”

A member of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg, a Mage from a ruling family like us. Leo smiled appropriately and was about to take that hand but paused. The smile on the opponent’s face and the eyes of the 98th class Mages standing behind him were somewhat strange.

“…….”

It was a look that seemed to be watching how we would react while looking down on us somewhere, but why for just a handshake…. Friends also felt something strange and glanced at each other.

When Leo didn’t take the hand immediately, Mecklenburg tilted his head.

‘Ah.’

At that moment, I intuitively knew what they were waiting for. I should have foreseen it from the time the Imperial Mages’ Association was operated by a class system. Numerous class-based organizations experienced in the 21st century flash through my mind. And the fact that this is the 19th century maximized my disillusionment.

‘…Whether he takes it or not, they’ll say something.’

It’s unconditional.

I didn’t hear specifically that the atmosphere was bad, but since it’s bad everywhere, no one probably thought it was particularly bad.

Leo looked at him and then took his hand to greet him. The opponent and the Mages standing behind him began to laugh as if they knew he would do that.

“…Oh.”

“Doing as told….”

Thud!

Leo stomped his heels and gave a Prussian salute. The opponent froze as he was and erased his expression. I signaled my friends and did the same. Now I was the one who had to hold back laughter.

‘He did both….’

Of course, if they keep nitpicking, there’s no end to it. Regarding this act too, of course, they could drag it out with things like ‘who told you to greet twice’ and it’s a response that could rather make the matter bigger. But since I have a principle that it’s better to escalate things, I have no objection.

The opponent shook his head, stared at Leo, and stepped back. Then he spoke kindly again.

“Nice to meet you like this. It’s been quite a while since the 101st class was selected, and I don’t know how regretful it was not to have a chance to talk in person.”

“We should have visited you. We apologize.”

At Leo’s words, he shook his head.

“Haha…. No, if you apologize for something like this, what do I become? Not that, but since we’ll be doing the same work from now on, I called you because there’s something I want to convey.”

He checked his watch and said.

“Just in time, a Grade 3 Berserker report came in to us 10 minutes ago, so we have to go right now. Let’s go together.”

A report came in 10 minutes ago, but they’re going now? I was dumbfounded. Not only mine, but my friends’ faces also became serious for a moment.

They handed us paper with Warp coordinates written on it and quickly disappeared from Tiergarten.

“…….”

I exchanged glances with my friends. Leo nodded and warped first. Like that, we all moved to the reported location.

‘It’s a building again.’

It was a 5-story general store. Fortunately, all people had evacuated. They exchanged signals with each other, split in half, and took us up divided into 4-3. Arriving on the 3rd floor, Albert Mecklenburg gestured to Leo and me and said.

“You see the Berserker over there.”

“I see it.”

The Berserker was wandering around the 3rd-floor hall. Covered in mud, I don’t know exactly, but the sound it made sounded just like crying.

Mecklenburg put his arm around my shoulder, brought his face close to the artifact, and said.

“Nothing else, but I heard it took you 15 minutes to suppress a Berserker, so I called you because I have something to teach you.”

Are they planning to pick on our skills? Sure, teach us then. Leo, I, and Elías and Tsheringen who came up with us had similar expressions. Leo asked calmly.

“Is there a problem with our processing time?”

“There is no problem. But if we honestly keep that, we won’t live out our natural lifespans.”

“…….”

“It seemed no one taught you a good method yet. I’ll show you how everyone does it, so….”

The Mages who came up through the rear gate and the two Mages standing next to Albert Mecklenburg began to barrage attacks. Surprisingly, up to this point, identical to us, they also surrounded the Berserker from all sides. I’m really curious how they will realize the declaration to reduce time.

Albert Mecklenburg, who was watching leisurely, placed his hand on his Wand holster.

“Watch closely.”

However, what came out was not a Wand. Silver metal flashed under the Magic light. My friends’ eyes widened, and Albert Mecklenburg shutting his mouth and concentrating began to look like slow motion.

Bang―!

Before anyone could stop it, explosions followed two more times. As blood that hadn’t quite become Vitriol began to burst from the Berserker’s head, the Mages let the Berserker go. Albert Mecklenburg looked back at us with a refreshed expression as if he had finished all of today’s work.

“You do it like this.”

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