Chapter 321

Stay behind, even me.

It wasn’t hard to guess the reason.

I deliberated whether to sit next to Leo, who is in the same 101st class, but decided to sit in the seat I was sitting in earlier… and at that moment, I had to receive a protest that wasn’t really a protest.

“…!”

Thud―!

My knee jerked up involuntarily. As I hit the desk, everyone’s gaze fixed on me again. The representative Mage of the 91st class, who had an expressionless face today as well, asked with a rarely flustered expression.

“Is something wrong?”

“…….”

“Sir Askanian?”

“…No. Nothing.”

I was about to look at Leo but took a deep breath. As soon as I pulled out the chair and sat down, Leo’s Magic Power pierced my core, so I had to try to keep my mouth shut thanks to that. Leo was just looking at the 91st class representative with an expression as if nothing happened after stabbing me.

Anyway, seeing him send a signal, one thing was clear. He wasn’t telling us to sit together just because we are in the same 101st class—is he kidding? It was five chairs away anyway—Leo probably tried to tell me to be wary because this situation wouldn’t turn out kindly for me. Probably.

This was the most common-sense path I deduced, and if not for this reason, I can’t even guess why he stabbed me. Leo seemed to be imagining even the worst-case scenario as he always has. My thought is different from Leo’s. Clearly, it won’t be a very kind time for me, but I want to turn even this moment into an opportunity.

“Let’s get into the reason why I kept you here today in earnest. We plan to reorganize the teams and create a new organization composed only of A-Class this time.”

“Pardon?”

A reflexive question popped out from the 98th class B team leader. The 91st class representative glanced at him and turned his eyes again, saying.

“I will not explain the purpose right now. What is certain is that there is no more time to delay, and a need has arisen to divide the 45 of us into 4 grades and select only about 10 A-Class members whose skills are clearly proven.”

I exchanged glances with Leo.

I never suggested such a ‘need’ to Abraham. I only asked her to create grades, not to form a new team with those grades. I don’t know what she’s plotting, but the hastily made evaluation system did shine. While I was thinking that, another bolt from the blue was heard.

“Next, regarding the efficiency of Berserker disposal, I gathered you here to hear the disposal method of the 98th class A team.”

“…….”

Certainly, this point is the worst, as Leo expected. First, words in a different direction from what I expected came out earlier, which was shocking in that sense, and mentioning the 98th class A team specifically was also shocking. However, since I couldn’t just stay shocked, I quietly waited for his words to continue.

“The 98th class A team’s Berserker disposal time stood out decisively. Average 4 minutes. By extremely reducing the damage to public facilities caused by Vitriol, the post-processing cost also corresponds to half of the total average. Another team is also showing unusual figures, but putting that aside since temporary verification is needed, most teams handle it according to the recommended processing time set at about 10 to 15 minutes. Therefore, the Chief of Staff suggested that all three of our classes benchmark the most efficient method. Since there is more to convey regarding this part, I will move on to the next immediately to verify it.”

Even though high praise for the 98th class A team continued, Albert Mecklenburg just looked ahead without much change in expression.

“You must be aware that evaluation grades were set for the first time yesterday and the first group training, the Anti-Pleroma Strategy Game, was conducted. I heard that the 1st place in yesterday’s training challenged all sets and won all of them. I proposed raising the training evaluation grade of the 98th class A team vice-leader Erich Reichenau to A-Class, but Vice-Leader Reichenau said something interesting. He answered that it was entirely Lukas Askanian’s credit, so Lukas Askanian should be raised to A-Class, not himself.”

“…….”

The gazes of the leaders of the 91st class B and C teams, and the 98th class A to C teams turned to me. Leo, five seats away, was also looking at me by turning only his eyes slightly. This was an expected topic. The 91st class representative Mage, who had been looking only at the document perhaps having written that story on paper, raised an eyebrow and asked.

“Is it true that Sir Askanian achieved 9 wins in 9 games?”

“…….”

“Lies are not tolerated. A sub-player is also a participant in the game. Since you didn’t commit fraud, answer straight.”

I thought they kept me to talk about the strategy game yesterday. Since the people sitting here are all those who never faced me—the 98th class A team vice-leader Erich Reichenau—in the strategy game yesterday, it was reasonable to ask if the rumor was true or not.

“Yes, Your Excellency. I did it.”

“You are 101st class.”

Emphasis was placed on the three-digit pronunciation of 101.

“That is correct.”

The 91st class representative Mage clasped his hands and looked at the 91st class B and C team leaders. They also exchanged glances with the 91st class representative. As the icy atmosphere continued, I could feel it intuitively.

‘As expected.’

Even if rumors spread, no one here bites it readily. It was clear they didn’t blindly believe the words of the 98th class vice-leader and me as lies, but still thought they should check once more whether it was true or not. It was a understandable doubt since they didn’t see it with their own two eyes.

“The opinion of the soldiers who were at the scene at the time is also the same as the claims of the two vice-leaders. However, unfortunately, please understand that since I wasn’t at the scene at the time, I need to approach cautiously with more data. First, I will ask Leonard Wittelsbach, the 101st class leader.”

“Yes.”

“The result of complete victory is not an achievement anyone can obtain. Do you agree with the claim that yesterday’s score is entirely Sir Lukas Askanian’s performance?”

“I agree. Sir Askanian possesses skills worthy of that.”

Leo answered straight away in a dry tone without an inch of hesitation. The 91st class representative Mage nodded and looked at the 98th class A team leader, Albert Mecklenburg, at the right table.

“Since Albert Mecklenburg, the 98th class A team leader, has watched Vice-Leader Erich Reichenau for a long time, you would know well. What do you think about Vice-Leader Erich Reichenau achieving the final 1st place in this training?”

“I am worried about causing trouble for a colleague I have worked with for a long time, but in my opinion, I think the credit for this training result was actually largely due to Lukas Askanian, the 101st class vice-leader. If the grade needs to be adjusted, I believe the grade of Askanian, the 101st class vice-leader, should be raised, not Vice-Leader Reichenau.”

Mecklenburg answered calmly with an expression devoid of malice or anything. I didn’t expect anything from Albert Mecklenburg, but it seemed he wasn’t a person who could make up nonexistent words just like the 98th class vice-leader. Humans trying to play politics while telling transparent lies actually find it hard to survive in the political world. Considering he is from a ruling family, and considering he is in the representative position of the 98th class without falling out until now… crucially, considering the professor’s evaluation of his character, his honesty wasn’t a point of great surprise.

“Good. Then Sir Askanian. Finally, I will ask one easy question as a test.”

“Yes.”

At my answer, the 91st class Mage showed a faint smile, put down the paper, and spoke quickly.

“Currently, under your view, there are the national army and the French army with similar troop strength, and currently, the Old Human national army and Mages encountered a river while advancing. Naturally, since the French side already deactivated all warp points, the strategy of warping across the river is impossible. If you spread a veil on the river right now and march the Old Humans, the opposing Mages will try to break the veil. Additional troops are about to arrive soon, and you must use those troops to reduce the number of opponent troops here. I will give you 30 seconds.”

“…….”

“30.”

Saying he would ask this directly instead since he didn’t see the strategy game…. Was the reason Leo raised wariness actually to mean prepare for such a question?

There are many empty spots in the question. It’s unknown what kind of soldiers both sides consist of, what other moves the opponent made behind the river, how the opponent’s supply line is, and whether it’s okay to detour the point in front of eyes or not. Decisively, it’s unknown why one must endure the disadvantage of the river and cross it, and why one must reduce the number of their troops in this disadvantageous spot unconditionally without making them retreat. One could say it is truly absurd.

In other words, the intention of this absurd question, which took a piece of space-time from a game board, is clear. Even without considering the above at all, how would you act ‘in terms of the most basic theory’.

The important thing is the river, nothing else. What kind of river it is, what terrain is around the river, is not important. It’s a game that ends once you grasp the intention of the question, and even that intention is clear enough to make me wonder if he’s teasing me.

“…27. 26.”

“Within the line where quick return is possible, and at the same time, in a position where joint attack seems impossible from the enemy’s perspective, disperse the national army along the river. At least the Mages.”

“…….”

All gazes turned to me. I saw the 91st class B and C team leaders exchanging glances, and Leo lightly touching the corner of his mouth with his hand. The 91st class representative Mage, who was folding his fingers, raised an eyebrow.

“Dispersal. Attempting suicide with a river in front…. Why?”

Theoretically, the way an attacker can offset the disadvantage a river has is to attack with numbers and speed. So my words to tear that number apart might sound like that.

Anyway, I answered vaguely ‘within the line where quick return is possible, and at the same time, in a position where joint attack seems impossible’, but the reaction wasn’t bad. Since the question itself was vague, there is no basis to claim that the environment will unconditionally fail to satisfy those two seemingly conflicting requirements. So, the real answer starts from now.

“Deception is needed. Usually, defense against a river does not act as an absolute victory condition for the defender, and the advantage the attacker gains by breaking through the river defense is often not that great. Thinking about the request Your Excellency made at this time, Your Excellency requested not to let the French army defending the river retreat a step or slip into a detour to attack us from a side other than the river until our side’s additional troops arrive.”

I continued, ignoring Mecklenburg’s persistent gaze fixing on me.

“In short, buy time. If the national army reaching the river deployed troops in the wrong way, the opponent is also highly likely to try not to miss the opportunity to inflict damage on our army or the immediate opportunity to defend the river effectively. Since we must make the opponent have a strong advantage against the river immediately, it is necessary to give them the sense that they can win.”

“…….”

“At least if the opponent commander didn’t catch paranoia.”

“Hmm….”

The 91st class representative Mage let out an inscrutable laugh and nodded coolly. He exchanged glances briefly with the other two 91st class leaders and answered.

“You grasped the intention of the question within 5 seconds.”

Although he was silent for now, no words followed, so I answered briefly.

“Your Excellency said it was an easy problem at first.”

“I didn’t say anything, so there is no need to explain. Good. First, regarding the result of the first training, I have no choice but to convey that Sir Askanian’s contribution must be recognized.”

As if what he had to convey was almost over now, he looked around with a slightly more refreshed expression than before.

“Now I can continue saying what I couldn’t about the topic I brought up first. The average Berserker disposal time of the 101st class Eschet is 8 minutes. The first dispatch was 15 minutes, the next report handled was 10 minutes, after that 8 minutes, 6 minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes… it kept getting shorter. The post-processing cost is also below average.”

Bringing up this topic again suddenly…. I had to try to fix my gaze, which was about to turn to Leo, to the front. The 91st class representative Mage looked around the six Mages sitting in their seats and said.

“With this statistic, there was also news of yesterday’s training, and there is also what you saw and heard directly just now, so I would like to check the 101st class’s Berserker disposal process along with the 98th class A team’s disposal process. Do both teams agree?”

For a moment, Mecklenburg’s gaze swept over Leo and me. It didn’t take long for an answer to come from his and Leo’s mouths.

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

***

Narce, who was waiting for us outside, caught up quickly.

Narce, who saw Mecklenburg smiling and greeting the 98th class B and C team leaders, muttered quietly.

“That person always thinks a lot about you.”

“What thoughts. Thoughts of beating me up? Thoughts of rebuking me in front of the 91st class? Thoughts of breaking me with training evaluation?”

“…….”

As I responded with such answers to Narce’s words, I felt Leo standing next to me being dumbfounded. Narce also pondered for a moment and laughed.

“I think it’s better not to know. It’s complicated so it’s hard to put into words.”

“…What is it to be like that. Then why did you say it….”

I squeezed out three of the worst shitty thoughts I could imagine, but it goes beyond that? Then what on earth is he thinking? Narce laughed lightly and patted my shoulder.

“Hahaha! I only thought from the perspective of watching. Sorry. Still, it’s not much different from the hypothesis you thought.”

“You mean he overlaps Adrian Askanian on me.”

Narce smiled and nodded.

I also worried if I was too hasty. Because what is revealed when judging people hastily is also one’s own appearance. People only know the world they have seen and project it onto others. Because I came out seeing the shocking sight of a murder scene, I made an immediate judgment about Mecklenburg to grasp the situation quickly, but actually, it is better to refrain from guessing about others I don’t know well. Because a guess made about someone reflects the judging subject’s life nakedly rather than the other person’s actual circumstances. In short, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Mecklenburg’s act of forcing and justifying the use of firearms, close to stubbornness, could have various motivations, and unlike my guess, he might not be acting more stubbornly due to an inferiority complex towards Adrian Askanian. The thought that I might have dismissed Mecklenburg’s complex calculation simply as inferiority complex because I have always focused on others’ malice directed at me in my past life did not leave my head all along.

So in times like this, I was thankful Narce was there. Because I became able to cut off my obsessive thoughts about numerous possibilities.

Narce continued.

“That’s why he doesn’t just blindly dislike you either. You know?”

Because he overlaps Adrian Askanian on me, he doesn’t blindly dislike me, is that it. Although ambiguous, what I have to do hasn’t changed anyway. First, right now was not the time to talk about that. Activating the communication artifact, I asked Narce.

“There are no reports coming in right now, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I suppose so.”

Because all reports happening now will be handled by the 98th class B and C teams. I mumbled like that and continued immediately.

“Can you call the friends? We have to go to the training ground immediately.”

There was no time to prepare anything.

The 91st class A team Mage’s words that he would compare the Berserker disposal process of the 98th class A team and the 101st class were executed immediately.

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