Chapter 320

“Nine games played and nine wins? The 98th class?”

“How? Even Witzleben with 8 wins is amazing… Witzleben was originally good at strategy so I can honestly understand that side. But I haven’t heard any stories about that 98th class friend doing anything.”

“Me neither.”

The 98th class vice-leader held his breath at the conversation of the 91st class leaders heard from beyond the wall. 4 hours had passed since the game ended. He was currently on his way back after receiving the 101st class dispatch log under Albert’s orders.

There were 29 main players in this game. 6 leaders from the 91st class A team to the 98th class C team and some team vice-leaders couldn’t participate because they had gone to the Ministry of Defense.

Since it wasn’t a tournament game but a game where you challenge as much as you want within 9 sets regardless of winning or losing, the number of people who played all 9 times was small itself. Because usually, people quit the game completely after losing a couple of times.

And… ironically, the only person who showed a result of 9 wins and 0 losses in 9 games in this game was himself, that is, Askanian. Even that 91st class called Witzleben had 8 wins and 1 loss in 9 games; usually, since Mages who make it to the Imperial Mages’ Association are those with the best skills in the country—elite Mages belonging to the Kingdom of Bavaria like Nicolaus Ernst are considered exceptions—losing one or two cases while competing with each other has always happened. It was possible because it wasn’t a tournament match. Winning all matches in a competition where the best fight each other was rare.

“Amazing. The 98th class achieved 9 wins in 9 games, which even Witzleben and Hannover couldn’t do….”

“Wasn’t the 98th class the one buried because of His Excellency Adrian Askanian?”

“It was. The only memorable juniors were Albert and Nepomucena, but that friend named Erich is definitely worth keeping an eye on.”

‘…Keeping an eye on what? Please don’t even think about looking….’

Who on earth took that title of complete victory right now.

Thinking about it, he felt like going out and banging his head right now. How could he say that it was a fake number and the real brain was actually Lukas Askanian? What he could do now was to leave this place as quickly as possible so no one would recognize him.

“I’d like to see the face of that number 1….”

Ending with the voice of the 91st class C team leader, the 98th class vice-leader quickly ran to the common training ground.

“…35 of the missing persons succeeded in escaping as a group and are currently contributing to creating the Imperial Mages’ Association’s anti-Pleroma strategy materials.”

As he arrived breathing heavily, Albert, who was reading a newspaper while making the 101st class stand, raised his head. Albert took the log the 98th class vice-leader handed him and continued reading what he was reading earlier.

“On the other hand, the situation is such that we do not know what happened inside Pleroma to the more than 100 Mages who haven’t returned yet. The 35 Mages who returned alive strongly argue that Pleroma will no longer maintain a reserved attitude as before….”

Albert closed the newspaper and walked in front of the 101st class. Making eye contact with all of the 101st class, he asked in a low voice.

“As you heard, everything surrounding us is racing toward the worst even right now. You might not feel it since you are peacefully subduing Berserkers, but we no longer have time to be leisurely.”

“…….”

The 101st class returned after handling a report that came in immediately after the game ended. Similarly, not much time had passed since Albert returned from the Ministry of Defense, but the 101st class was caught by us again for opposing the use of firearms in that short time.

In the meantime, the 98th class vice-leader stared blankly at Askanian. An expression he hadn’t seen before catches his eye. Knowing that bowing his head isn’t polite, he is looking straight ahead, but no fear could be felt in those eyes. Even if inflicted with a weak punishment, if seniors… no, upperclassmen came out like this, honestly, one would be disheartened. That New Human from the Junker family called Ulrike or whatever actually seemed somewhat afraid. Yes, that was the general reaction. But Askanian rather seemed to be enjoying this situation, and in a way, it seemed like he wanted the 98th class to educate him more thoroughly. The 98th class vice-leader, who had lived the same age as his brother, had a guess as to what the motivation for that idea, impossible unless one’s head spins extraordinarily, was.

He is currently holding his breath until a good hand comes out. Or a good hand came out, but he is observing this situation purely out of interest. Adrian Askanian was also such a person. Unless it’s us who have studied with him for over ten years, no one would know he is such a person. We know. That this Askanian and Adrian Askanian are not much different from each other.

Even their looks were terribly alike, except that this Askanian looked much colder and indifferent. Although it’s a face with no intention of pretending to be nice at least, it’s a mug that completely evokes trauma.

“Erich.”

The 98th class vice-leader snapped to his senses at Albert Mecklenburg’s words calling him. He felt the Magic Power of a sound-proofing Spell around him.

“I heard the news as soon as I returned. You said you took 1st place in this strategy game.”

“…….”

The 98th class vice-leader slightly bit his drying lips. What should I answer? Actually, that wasn’t me…. The rank went up under my name of course, but that was….

Watching that appearance, Albert Mecklenburg smiled and shook his head.

“Congratulations. It was a truly remarkable achievement. By the way, who did you say the sub-player was?”

“…….”

As soon as he heard those words, the 98th class vice-leader felt the strength that had entered his whole body drain away. He knows now too. That the achievement of 9 wins and 0 losses in 9 games is not the merit of the 98th class vice-leader, the main player. Feeling all sorts of emotions raging, the 98th class vice-leader answered in a crawling voice.

“Lukas Askanian.”

“I see.”

Albert Mecklenburg smiled and patted his shoulder.

“You feel out of it today. Will you take care of the rest?”

“Ah… Yeah. I should.”

Because I’ve always done so. Though the problem was that today wasn’t that ‘always’. The 98th class vice-leader swallowed those words and said to the 101st class.

“Dismissed except Askanian.”

Six members of the 101st class saluted and disappeared from their spots.

Do you know what you did wrong… Will you definitely improve, it was time to reflect on what Albert nitpicked earlier and speak, but his lips wouldn’t part. Askanian stood straight as ordered at first, but looked at the 98th class vice-leader curiously who said nothing. He felt him looking with eyes saying if you have something to say, say it quickly. The 98th class vice-leader himself had too much to say, so he dared not say anything. The words he spat out only after a long time were just this.

“How did you do it today?”

“…….”

Clearly, there were tons of things to ask. Even this question should have been asked accurately as ‘How did you achieve 9 wins and 0 losses beating grand seniors in the strategy game played about 4 hours ago?’. Otherwise, how would he know and answer how he handled today’s dispatch report or how he handled Mecklenburg’s admonition.

However, even to the rough question, Askanian knew the 98th class vice-leader’s inner thoughts and slowly opened his mouth.

“Are you talking about the game?”

“…Yes.”

“Clausewitz said this. The probability of the real world replaces the limitlessness of the concept of war.”

“…….”

The 98th class vice-leader flinched at those words first. To think he spat out that name after being scolded for asking if he studied Clausewitz’s On War. Now, he could easily think that Askanian would be brighter than himself, a 98th class, in various war theories and military science knowledge, let alone Clausewitz. Askanian continued calmly.

“Your Excellency Reichenau, who knows Clausewitz’s theory well, must have already understood the exact meaning of these words as well as what I intend to say long ago.”

“Th, that’s….”

“In the extremely limited environment and resources of a game, that is, within strict probability, the degree of divergence of atypical behavior is extremely reduced compared to reality. Such an artificially created small world is not much different from an academic model, and when facing an academic model, it is best to think based on theory. Therefore, I approached it according to some military knowledge and economic logic.”

“…….”

“Would you like me to say more?”

“No…. No.”

I understood. Having explained the phrase ‘The probability of the real world replaces the limitlessness of the concept of war’ by breaking it down twice, he wants to explain more here? I don’t know how much he sees the person in front of him as an idiot, but anyway, thinking he wouldn’t understand even after saying this much himself, the 98th class vice-leader couldn’t help but think it was a bit too much.

“I had no intention of offending Your Excellency. I asked to find where the appropriate line is.”

“…….”

Askanian answered as if he read his mind, perhaps having experienced such situations often. That familiarity made the 98th class vice-leader feel awkward for no reason, so he nodded for now.

However, even if he understood, he couldn’t easily accept how he won the game. Everyone studies that. War, strategy, military science, things learned like crazy at the First Academy. Furthermore, the 98th class vice-leader could fully understand why he mentioned economics. The economic way of thinking, that is, the basic premise that an individual is a rational being who makes decisions after predicting the benefits and losses that will arise from a certain choice—this is definitely a way of thinking required to predict human behavior within a model. But studying doesn’t mean everyone takes 1st place.

He couldn’t bring himself to ask what the reason was once again. He didn’t want to. But Askanian continued speaking looking forward.

“To answer following the probability logic I mentioned earlier, I was able to win consecutively because this was strictly a game. The so-called mathematics finds no firm basis anywhere in the calculations of the art of war, and that from the beginning there is a play of possibilities, probabilities, good luck and bad luck in the art of war, that such play weaves its way through all the threads large and small of the fabric of war, that of all branches of human activity, war is the most like a gambling game… Your Excellency would also know.”

Askanian tilted his head slightly as if seeking agreement. He quoted Clausewitz’s On War again. Although the intention wasn’t hard to know already, to abbreviate it more intuitively, it’s a humble remark that he won because it was a game and it wouldn’t have been like this in actual combat.

However, the 98th class vice-leader thought differently. Askanian didn’t produce this result simply with knowledge, unlike his words.

As one rises to the position of supreme commander, spirit, intellect, and insight become that much more important in the commander’s activities, and boldness, a characteristic of emotion, is pushed back that much, so boldness becomes worthy of respect in itself. Boldness guided by a superior spirit is not a characteristic that bumps into the essence of the problem or clumsily violates the laws of probability, but a characteristic that powerfully supports genius judgment that happens lightning-fast when making a choice—high-level calculation that happens half-unconsciously. As boldness gives more inspiration to spirit and insight, spirit and insight fly further with boldness, and that vision widens that much and the result also becomes more accurate. …Therefore, we cannot conceive of a great commander without boldness.

If he intends to degrade his achievement by quoting Clausewitz, likewise, this description by Clausewitz should be returned as is. In the 98th class vice-leader’s own opinion, Askanian was the commander and strategist Clausewitz spoke of. Otherwise, he couldn’t admit that he, his peers, and seniors were overwhelmed by him throughout the game. The more he reveals humility, the more miserable he feels about himself who only messed up throughout the 9 games.

“Do you have anything more to say?”

“…….”

There was something more important than that.

If this Askanian is truly a person resembling his brother, he won’t end the proof of ability here. Absolutely. The 98th class vice-leader mumbled.

“You may return. Before that.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“…Seo.”

The 98th class vice-leader couldn’t say anything as if a stone was stuck in his throat. Askanian, who waited for a long time, smiled wondering what was wrong, leaned his upper body slightly, and opened his mouth.

“Seo…? What are you trying to say….”

“…Call me Senior.”

“Ah.”

“…When it’s just the two of us. Well, we are also vice-leaders together…. So.”

Askanian stood still with his mouth open, eyes slightly widened. Realizing that the hidden meaning of the addendum ‘when it’s just the two of us’ was read too clearly by anyone, the 98th class vice-leader wanted to bite his tongue. Askanian was about to laugh, then corrected his expression seriously.

“Yes, I will do so.”

Askanian stomped his heels, saluted, and disappeared. Meanwhile, the 98th class vice-leader just stared blankly at his back walking out directly without warping.

He felt defeated.

Yet he was comfortable. He didn’t fail to know what kind of comfort that was. Since it was the same kind of survival strategy already offered to another Askanian.

***

“We got scolded a bit less today?”

At Elías’s muttering, Ulrike answered energetically.

“That Senior Reichenau seemed a bit out of it. Seeing he didn’t tell us to get down today, it’s definitely so.”

“He must be excited because he took 1st place in training.”

Heike added briefly. Not scolding because he’s excited… I had to hold back laughter at my friends’ leap of logic.

Perhaps thanks to that, Ulrike, having stamina to spare, ran like a high school student, threw his bag in his room, and ran out to the hall in the center of the corridor. Since it was a ‘Prussian’ military residence, I didn’t expect the facilities to be good at all, but whether it’s because they became financially much wealthier in the era after magic or because the Mage preferential practice was applied strongly, surprisingly, the residence looked like a noble mansion. In other words, there was no problem adapting. Since there was a structure where we could come out and be with friends like this.

I plopped down on the couch in the hall. As I took off my hat and messed up my hair which was boringly slicked back, Tsheringen, who was staring at me, spoke in a low voice.

“Lukas.”

“Yeah?”

She asked with a faint smile.

“This 1st place, you did it, right.”

“Eh? What do you mean.”

Following Ulrike’s immediate question, I felt Leo’s gaze fixing here. Narce was smiling from the beginning, probably because he knew I actually took 1st place. Tsheringen looked at such Leo and stood up.

“Lukas. Want to follow me for a moment?”

There was no particular reason to refuse. Calling me solemnly, Tsheringen burst into laughter as soon as we went down to a place where friends couldn’t see.

“Ah, it’s funny.”

“What is.”

“Well, everything.”

Tsheringen, who went down the stairs first, turned around and extended her hand to me. I stared at it and asked her intention.

“Escort?”

“Something like that.”

Unbelievable…. Who is doing it for whom. This friend should have been born in the 19th century where only Old Humans existed. Not the 21st century, but exactly the 19th century. I turned her hand over and held it. Since both were laughing while doing so, I didn’t think of it in a particularly negative sense.

We came to the garden behind the residence. As Tsheringen snapped her fingers, a trolley with a tea set flew from the open rear door of the mansion and landed next to the table.

“…What did you do? I can’t believe it even after seeing it.”

“Let’s drink tea here.”

“It’s novel since we’d get scolded if we brought things like this at school.”

“There are so many people there. Ah, I spilled a bit anyway.”

Tsheringen cleared away the water that flowed from the teapot, made tea, and handed it to me. The words that followed were neither about the game nor anything, just ordinary conversation. Stories about the missing professors, the tendency of Grade 3 Berserkers appearing…. Realizing it wasn’t particularly ordinary upon thinking about it, I changed the topic slightly.

“I might have to receive ten more uniforms alone.”

“Because they keep punishing only you? You seem to get called out often alone?”

“Yeah, because of that. From now on, I might not get called out particularly, but….”

When I said that, a smile appeared on Tsheringen’s face. She seemed to know I was talking about the game. I smiled and finished my words.

“For a few days for the time being. It would be comfortable to change about five times a day.”

“Hmm, still, I never felt you weren’t clean. You like being neat.”

“The cleaner, the better.”

Actually, recently, I’ve been spending time with Tsheringen often like this. Taking this opportunity, it might be good to focus on relationships with classmates as Lukas Askanian. I thought it might be a kind of preparation.

Tsheringen looked at the black night sky and spoke calmly.

“I wish it could always be peaceful like today. It seems internal strife among ethnic minorities has become severe because the leadership became noisy due to this incident in Austria. Austrians, dissatisfied with that, suppress minorities again… and suppress….”

“…….”

I had no choice but to hold my head at those words.

“What’s wrong?”

“No….”

Considering which ethnic group of which country the person who assassinated the Austrian Crown Prince in the world I lived in belonged to, could I not react like this? Tsheringen drank tea and continued.

“That’s why an analysis came out that Pleroma might extend its hand to Austria this time. Leo must have been shared this too.”

“…It’s a total mess.”

“Yeah. So it’s not like I don’t understand why Your Excellency Mecklenburg keeps emphasizing efficiency.”

I nodded at her words.

“Even so… I think your intention is right, Lukas. Using firearms appropriately on enemies is good, but I think that direction shouldn’t be towards civilians, especially people we have to rescue.”

I suppose so.

That’s why you are friends with Leo and Elías. Even if not an adventurous friend enough to be revealed in the front of the novel, she shares certain traits with them. Tsheringen continued on that topic as if proving my guess.

“I hope fewer people go berserk tomorrow.”

“Tell me about it. The amount of Divine Power granted nationwide is continuously increasing, but there is no sign of berserk decreasing.”

“Haha, it definitely wasn’t like this around this time last year. In the first place, there was no such thing as a Berserker then, right? Around this time, finishing preview of subjects for tomorrow’s class, finishing assignments to submit…. Taking out Leo caught by classmates and training together at the personal training ground. I also remember talking about what we want to do in the future while drinking alcohol Elías brought.”

Tsheringen, who was looking at the sky, grinned looking at me. I also smiled along and said.

“I must stop it somehow before we end up reminiscing about even today.”

“Good resolve. But sometimes it’s right to let things flow.”

I raised only my eyes to look at her face. Tsheringen looked around where other classes’ residences were and continued.

“If I try to change what cannot be changed, I fester. Don’t try to shoulder too much alone so you don’t end before the world ends. It’s not something that happened because of your responsibility anyway.”

Correct words. Words I wanted to say to someone, and words someone had already said to me before that. Before I could answer anything, Tsheringen looked at me and asked.

“Now, so. Since you defeated Erich Reichenau, is it time to defeat Albert Mecklenburg now?”

“Defeat.”

I answered like that but smiled.

Erich Reichenau, the 98th class A team vice-leader, became my ally. In any sense. It must have looked like that to Tsheringen too.

“The 91st class won’t have a very good image of me.”

“I know. They are people who have worked in the Imperial Family together since Askanian was a teenager, right?”

Tsheringen, who spoke up to there, laughed and added.

“I mean Adrian Askanian.”

“Yeah, right. They are people who treated the 13-year-old Adrian Askanian as a senior, and most of them remained in the position of Imperial Mage for ten years while Adrian Askanian advanced to the Imperial government. Some worked in the Prussian Army in earnest, and some advanced to various governments, but….”

Tsheringen nodded and took my words.

“There is no one who succeeded as much as Adrian Askanian.”

“…Direct. Anyway, they are already loyal to Adrian Askanian, but I can’t be sure they will show the same attitude to me, his younger brother. Even more so if there are many who inwardly disapproved even though they pretended to be loyal to Adrian Askanian outwardly. Even so, it won’t be harder than the 98th class, though.”

“You mean it’s time to bring the 91st class.”

At Tsheringen’s concise reply, I replaced the answer with a smile.

And, the next morning.

“…….”

Throughout entering the conference room, everyone from the 91st to 98th class just stared at me intently. Perplexed expressions followed. I also saw them whispering among themselves casting sound-proofing Spells.

‘…It seems the rumor spread faster than expected.’

The 98th class vice-leader seemed to be a person who couldn’t do dishonest things unlike his actions. I see him bowing his head with an expression of sitting on a bed of thorns. I ignored the gazes pouring on me and sat down.

Like that, today’s meeting—notification—ended quickly as yesterday did, and concluded with the same words as yesterday.

“Today as well, only the representatives of all teams of each class remain here.”

Representative means the leader. I stood up from my seat. The moment Elías poked my back sending a sign to go out quickly, the 91st class representative Mage stood up and gestured to me.

“Ah, Lukas Askanian, the 101st class vice-leader, also remains.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep