Chapter 317

“Let’s wrap it up here.”

At the Crown Prince’s words, people stood up from their seats. Acknowledging those leaving the room with a nod, she turned her head and spoke to me.

“I didn’t expect you to find your way here even though I didn’t call you on purpose.”

“Your consideration is remarkable.”

“Hasn’t it always been?”

Having stormed into the advisory committee and convened a meeting, I also sent word to the Crown Prince, and she attended instead of the Chairman, the Emperor. Her saying she ‘didn’t call on purpose’ means she accommodated me considering I only have one body. Since I cannot attend the advisory committee as Nicolaus while simultaneously active as Lukas Askanian, I have been repeatedly answering their questions via mail.

When everyone left and only the two of us remained, she lit a cigarette and began to treat me with a more comfortable attitude.

“I heard everything. The 98th and 101st classes must have had a good spectacle.”

“I doubt it was that good.”

Instead of answering, she just raised an eyebrow with a laugh.

As expected, news travels fast. Of course, just as Bavaria has an intelligence agency, there is naturally a similar organization here, so she must have received reports on all information regarding political opponents including me and colleagues within the collectable range.

“I wonder how the 98th class would react if they heard that the 101st class vice-leader is Nicolaus Ernst.”

“I wonder if you keep wondering about such things because Your Imperial Highness is in a similar position. If Your Imperial Highness gets exposed, it’s unconditionally the front page of the Imperial Newspaper for a whole month.”

Abraham shrugged with a laugh as if that was a decent answer. Not wanting to waste any more time here, I handed her the paper file I brought. Abraham, opening it, looked at me with one corner of her mouth raised.

“Press release, huh.”

“It’s material to be released at 6 AM tomorrow, and to summarize, it’s an agenda decided with the goal of securing public stability by expanding information transparency.”

“That’s not what’s important. You wouldn’t have just brought something that hasn’t even been announced yet…. There must be something you want.”

I smiled instead of answering.

It’s an obvious fact at this point, but Bavaria is the most ‘separated’ place among the federations of the German Empire. Separatists are active everywhere, and even if they aren’t separatists, the people’s pride in their state is strong, and frankly speaking, there would be no major problem in operation even if it became an independent country right now. It often happens that Bavaria alone ignores the instructions of the federal government while other places are struggling. As such, it is the state Prussia is most wary of within the federation.

And, the fact that Bavaria is a state with such power is taken for granted even outside Bavaria. The German public compares Bavaria and Prussia and can demand the same level of operation from the Imperial government. Especially in the chaotic situation hit by a triple whammy with the January berserk event, the February Pentalon terror, followed by the mass disappearance of Mages.

“You will have to respond unless it’s unavoidable. At least if you don’t want to face a mass migration phenomenon, you should prepare.”

“Of course, I should do so. But….”

Abraham burned the documents I brought this time as well, and clasping her hands together, said.

“I asked why Sir Nicolaus dared to give Prussia a half-day of leeway.”

“…….”

“There’s no need to hear the answer. You said the use of firearms caused problems, so you intend to stop it. The problem is that if we disclose data in detail like Bavaria, the financial burden increases, and unfortunately, the treatment cost is much higher than the cremation cost for Berserkers. Since more than half die even if treated, you could say the loss is already increasing astronomically primarily.”

“An unsurprising remark. Seeing you say ‘primarily’, it seems Your Imperial Highness also knows the reason why that loss must be borne. So, are you going to tell me to take responsibility or something?”

“You hit the nail on the head.”

“Since you will handle the response yourself, I don’t think I need to tell you about the countermeasures. Instead, I have one more suggestion regarding what Your Imperial Highness just mentioned. Let’s say the extra cost is the state’s responsibility, and some Mages in the field are saying Berserkers should be killed because the safety of killing is higher than the safety of rescue. Then wouldn’t it be enough to increase the safety and efficiency of rescue to the extreme?”

How can that be increased? Naturally, the only method at present is strategically training to death. Conveying this specifically and systematically is what I must do from now on.

Abraham rolled her eyes, grasped what I would ultimately say, and burst into laughter.

“I don’t think I have an incentive to grant your request regarding this matter. Is there a reason I must listen to the proposal you are about to make?”

Tricky bastard. I pondered for a moment and smiled.

“I’ll show you a good spectacle in a different sense.”

***

It was 10 PM when I returned from the advisory committee, and about 30 minutes after I returned, someone entered the 101st class residence and knocked on my door. As soon as I opened the door, I saw Albert Mecklenburg. He had also been in Berlin except for this morning—the headquarters and residence are in Brandenburg—and seemed to have returned just now. He smiled before I could even greet him and said.

“Let’s take a walk.”

“…….”

I stood still for a moment, then turned my head.

“I’ll get my coat.”

“Go ahead.”

Without even checking what was there, I took out the clothes within reach and walked to the back of the residence.

Behind the residence was a forest, and the headquarters was a 30-minute walk from here. Other than that, there is nothing even if I wash my eyes and look. It’s surprising to come to such a desolate place for a mere formality affiliation change. While I was thinking that, Mecklenburg’s voice came from the side.

“How was your day today?”

When I didn’t answer, he glanced back at me and changed the topic.

“I came here as a TF member about 7 years after Pleroma emerged as a social problem, and this place hasn’t changed.”

“Wouldn’t you have been about twenty at that time?”

“That’s correct. I was in charge of responding to the Brandenburg cemetery desecration incident. I worked with your brother too.”

It means he worked with the government, albeit briefly, even before being selected by the Imperial Family…. Amazing at a young age. But when this topic comes up, my thoughts bounce in another direction.

There is something to point out again. In most cases, the Imperial Mages’ Association selects at least prospective university graduates.

When the revolver was placed in my hand before turning back time, I was certain that the age of the 98th class was around 25, similar to my brother, and the process was as follows. As can be seen from the fact that the Eschet leader position almost passed to me, the 1st place in the 3rd test, the representative position of a team goes preferentially to the person with the highest score at the time of screening. Usually, the age of members of the same class doesn’t differ much because magic is a field heavily reliant on talent, so it is extremely rare to get in by studying a bit more. Considering the early graduation system of universities, the 98th class is the same age as Adrian Askanian or one year older.

‘Considering’ he was competent enough to work for the government at twenty, Mecklenburg’s selection by the Imperial Family was late. Why was it late when they mostly select from prospective graduates? Well….

‘Considering the precedent of entering the Imperial Family at 13, it couldn’t be not late.’

Saying my thoughts bounce in another direction meant that Adrian comes to mind whenever he says something related to his ability.

Adrian Askanian, Albert Mecklenburg’s friend, is a Mage of the 89th class of the Imperial Mages’ Association, selected in October 1886. The reason I had to find out how much of outliers the two students were lies here. Adrian Askanian is a genius among geniuses who skipped over 10 years and was immediately employed by the Imperial Family, and Albert Mecklenburg is a brilliant mind of a grade level.

‘That they were the only students who could communicate with each other.’

The professor’s words are likely wrong. Of course, I am considering the possibility that he was truly close with Adrian Askanian… but based on experience, the hypothesis that Mecklenburg truly cherished and loved Adrian is almost close to fantasy. While I was at it, I asked.

“I heard you were close with my brother.”

“That is correct. Have you ever heard about me from Adrian?”

“No, it is a story heard through the school.”

For a moment, his face stiffened, then quickly regained its composure from earlier. I roughly know why. Mecklenburg answered briefly.

“Still a cautious friend.”

“It’s just that I didn’t have many opportunities to talk with my brother. Because he was often in Berlin due to school and the Imperial Family.”

“I suppose so.”

We walked silently for a long time. Perhaps because I didn’t speak even after waiting, he laughed lightly and asked.

“Are you originally this untalkative?”

“Yes. I apologize.”

The professor wasn’t praising his character seeing things. He spoke to me keeping pace with me without showing temper even at my answer with no will to improve.

“I heard there were three reports today. It must have been very hard.”

“It was, but one was a misjudgment, so it was actually Grade 4.”

“Grade 4 isn’t easy either. I know well enough how much effort you must have put into handling it directly and sending it to the hospital.”

He found a worn-out bench and sat down. Although he didn’t specifically say to sit, I also sat on the edge. He looked into the air silently and opened his mouth.

“As of yesterday, after being transferred here, I was entrusted with the mission of educating you all. Do you know what I received while doing so?”

“I do not know.”

He took out a leather-bound booklet from his bag. It was the Old Human Recruit Training Manual. He laughed lightly and said.

“It was quite perplexing. I also entered here yesterday, so I’m in a position where I have to learn rather, and I haven’t even met the 101st class. Besides, decisively, aren’t you guys neither Old Humans nor soldiers? Another problem was that I couldn’t call you officers either.”

This is the reason why the Imperial Family selects prospective university graduates in ‘most cases’. It is because they intend to draft people who can become officers by graduating from the military academy—in this case, the magic academy. However, early this year, even high school students came to be employed as Imperial Mages, and at this time, our position began to float ambiguously. And as you can see from the mess so far, it is also true that we are still floating ambiguously.

“Since we were never commissioned, that is a natural statement.”

“You know well. Furthermore, because there is a decisive problem that the Wittelsbach Crown Prince is already in the Bavarian Royal Army, the Ministry of Defense still cannot confirm any system externally. Instead, they are trying to seek Bavaria’s help.”

‘Looking at it again, this is a total bomb….’

I mean us, the 101st class.

More than that, I wonder why he is saying this obvious thing so elaborately. I already know well that we are floating ambiguously and that the Ministry of Defense, already complicated by the state of emergency, is still lost regarding Berserker disposal. Actually, I had just made my argument using this loophole when making the second proposal to Abraham.

“As you know, from the commander to the chief of staff, everyone here is a Mage of the Imperial Mages’ Association, reorganized by gathering the most elite personnel currently active among the Association. The essence will not be much different from before… so for now, I will teach you as I learned. Every word I say from now on is clearly spoken as a senior of the Association.”

I stared intently at his face. Looking at the residence buildings in the distance, he turned his head to me and spoke slowly.

“We must become murderers.”

“…….”

“Since no one would have told you, I will tell you this way. You must forget the peace you learned in high school. What we must protect is the order itself. If His Majesty says that some subjects must be sacrificed for the greater cause, we must be able to dispose of the designated subjects as ordered, and if he ordered to do our best to prevent more Berserkers from appearing, we must strive to realize those words literally. If an order comes down to kill my colleague, we must do exactly that as well. As His Majesty’s subjects, that is what we do.”

“Are you killing people because His Majesty ordered to do your best to prevent Berserkers from appearing?”

“It is different. However, some part could be seen as correct. What is certain is that this is the most efficient and most economical method.”

Economical…. His opinion matches someone’s. Although there is a decisive difference from that someone.

Suppressing numerous other thoughts, I smiled.

“Why do you say such things to me?”

“That’s because you are the person who rebels most severely against our instructions among the 101st class.”

Even though a senior wouldn’t be able to smile while talking about a junior rebelling against them, he smiled gently with an understanding expression. My question’s intention was not that but why he tries to force this method on us, but thinking about it, that wasn’t much different from asking why he tries to strengthen the evils of the class system, so I quit.

“I understand that it will be hard to adapt yet. What fault is there with the 101st class? I just feel bad that I have to inform you, who haven’t even entered let alone graduated from the First Academy, about such things.”

Finishing his words, he beckoned to me. Not knowing what he wanted me to do, I frowned slightly, and he gestured to my hand with his eyes.

“…….”

This person’s friend also asked me for my hand once. Feeling a sense of déjà vu, I offered my hand. He pushed my glove to check the skin and said with a pitying expression.

“I should at least send you some medicine. When I return, I will have someone send it.”

Because admiration came out in many ways, I had no choice but to shut my mouth this time as well. I realized why the professor said he wanted to raise his own child like this. If he was this thorough everywhere, he is truly praiseworthy in some sense. He spoke with a gentle face.

“As I said earlier, you really worked hard. However, from tomorrow, we will take charge of our share of reports.”

“…….”

“You can stop proving now. See you at the first dispatch tomorrow.”

He means we’re going to kill Berserkers tomorrow too, right?

Seeing that he said to see us at the first dispatch, he intends to drag us to the 98th class Berserker disposal site again. Since we receive reports from the control center and move separately, there is no need to meet. The strategy to break the 101st class’s will by pushing us physically and make us agree to the use of firearms ends today, and tomorrow they also intend to go hard.

Mecklenburg patted my shoulder. I responded with a smile instead of an answer. Whether trying to guess the meaning of my smile, his gaze remained on my face for a long time.

***

He really sent medicine. Since Leo took it saying he would check what was in it, I didn’t use it.

And we met both the 91st and 98th classes today. Contrary to my expectation, the place where we all gathered was an ordinary conference room. However, thinking I would hear the same thing I heard from Leo if I said it was unexpected to my friends, I didn’t say it out loud.

Each class was divided into three teams, with 20 people in the 91st class and 18 in the 98th class. Somehow, there are only a total of 45 people to handle high-risk Berserkers occurring nationwide.

The representative Mage of the 91st class, who introduced himself briefly and sat at the head table with a face devoid of thoughts, continued speaking with his eyes fixed on the document.

“…Therefore, from today, all Berserker reports in Hessen-Darmstadt will be handled by the 91st class. Second, the Bavarian government has reorganized the scope of information disclosure in line with the declaration of the state of emergency.”

When those words came out, Elías, sitting next to me, reached under the table and hit my hand. I looked at him briefly and turned my gaze back to the 91st class Mage.

“The Imperial Family showed deep interest in the survival rate by process of berserk among them. While Bavaria subdued and transported Berserkers to hospitals in a whopping 98.3% of berserk incidents, our Prussia’s hospital transport rate is 72% of total reported cases, ranking among the entire federation….”

He narrowed his eyes disapprovingly and continued.

“Second from the bottom. Although the Imperial government said they had no plans to disclose this, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Friedrich heard this news and ordered improvement in preparation for contingencies. You must raise the transport rate to 95% by March to meet the federation average. What happens after is the hospital’s share.”

“…….”

Albert Mecklenburg’s head, sitting far away, turned slowly. He must have grasped the meaning of my smile only now.

This is the beginning of the beginning.

I looked at him expressionlessly. There was no panic on his face looking at me either. The emotionless voice of the 91st class Mage continued.

“There is one more instruction. Only the representatives of all teams of each class remain here, and the rest are dismissed.”

***

With this, they cannot kill people and send them away, nor can they force that method on us.

And, succeeding in the operation to tie their feet primarily is not the end.

“It seems the Askanian family hands over information quite well.”

Mecklenburg looked straight into my eyes and said. I faced him still with an expressionless face.

I couldn’t relax my expression even a little because I felt like I would laugh. Delusion. It is none other than me who made such instructions come out of the 91st class representative’s mouth. Naturally, he doesn’t even expect that, and rather believes I heard the information from Adrian Askanian.

The 98th class standing behind him was looking at me with hardened expressions without knowing the circumstances. Ironically, the person with the most ordinary expression among them was Mecklenburg. He smiled gently and patted my shoulder again.

“I’m not saying it’s bad. Let’s do well in the future.”

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