Chapter 16: Is This a Crisis or an Opportunity? (5)

Professor Ilai interrupted.

“Gerard. Even so, wouldn’t it be better for me, a professor, to go? No matter how I think about it, I’m worried about all of you.”

I firmly shook my head.

“No. I’m the better choice. You don’t know the geography around here well, do you, Professor?”

At my blunt remark, Professor Ilai’s face briefly flushed, but she nodded readily.

“You’re right. I can’t deny that part, honestly. But….”

“And while the orcs heading east are important, dealing with the ones that entered the Academy is just as critical. Think about it. When reporting this urgent situation to the Academy and requesting support, whose words would carry more weight—mine or yours, Professor?”

Only then did Professor Ilai let out a short, “Ah,” in realization.

“You get it now, right?”

Professor Ilai gave an awkward smile.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to undermine you this time either….”

“It’s the truth, so it’s fine. Anyway, we’re moving out now.”

“Be careful.”

I nodded and turned around.

There, two cadets were already waiting for me with tense expressions.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

Gwyn and Hannes answered simultaneously.

These two would join me in tracking the swamp orcs heading toward the city.

The reason for taking only them was simple.

They were the only cadets here unaffected by the mana freeze, the aftermath of the beast pouch.

There was also Yuria, but I excluded her because of her shoulder injury.

To be blunt, a Yuria who couldn’t use magic was not just unhelpful—she’d be a burden.

In a situation where every second counted, dragging along a liability was the dumbest thing I could do.

But it seemed she had a different opinion.

“Please take me with you.”

Yuria suddenly stepped forward, blocking my path.

I shook my head.

“You. In your current state, you’d only hinder us.”

“No. This little injury doesn’t bother me at all.”

Damn it.

I was already pressed for time convincing Professor Ilai.

The moment that thought crossed my mind, something in my head snapped.

“Hey. Do you think this situation is a joke?”

“…What?”

Yuria’s eyes trembled violently as she looked at me.

For a fleeting moment, seeing the disbelief in her eyes, I wondered, “Is my expression that scary?” But regardless, my mouth was already spilling words without any filter.

“Don’t you understand how serious this is? This isn’t training or a spar. This is real combat where people could die. Every minute, every second counts right now. The longer we delay, the more innocent citizens will get hurt or killed by those orcs.”

“…Ah.”

“You’re not an idiot. You know this. Taking you, with your injury, would slow us down. Just like in the last battle, right?”

Her body trembled as if struck by lightning.

Yes, that last battle.

If you had swallowed your pride and used magic, it would’ve been a little—no, a lot—easier.

“If you understand, move aside. We don’t have time.”

In the end, her head bowed deeply.

I couldn’t see her expression beneath it. It was hidden.

But her trembling shoulders told me she got the message.

I brushed past her.

“Didn’t you hear? I said we don’t have time. Follow me.”

“Ah! Yes, sir!”

Gwyn and Hannes, who had been standing there dazed, hurried after me.

* * *

Gwyn stared at his back in disbelief.

This was unbelievable.

Was that man really the infamous protagonist?

Truly?

Gwyn’s mind was a mess, overwhelmed by the sense that something was terribly wrong.

“Listen up while we run. Swamp orcs are among the higher-tier 4th-grade beasts. They’re known to be tricky opponents due to their intelligence, which surpasses that of regular orcs.”

They were sprinting at full speed.

Even with their superior dynamic vision and balance compared to ordinary people, running full-tilt down a mountain slope littered with trees, rocks, and other obstacles was no easy feat.

For Gwyn and Hannes, just focusing on running was overwhelming enough.

But he was still briefing them.

While running at full speed, just like them.

No, was that even his maximum speed?

Even more absurd was how his voice cut through the whooshing wind, reaching their ears with crystal clarity.

“You’ve fought them once, so you should know. Especially you, Gwyn. You took on two of them at once, so you’d know better. How did it feel?”

Gwyn swallowed hard to respond.

Running at full speed, he needed to regulate his breathing and speak loudly and clearly.

But he didn’t wait for Gwyn.

“You were probably shocked and flustered. You must’ve thought the two beasts perfectly split their roles between offense and defense to pressure you.”

Gwyn nodded repeatedly.

It was the best reaction he could manage at the moment.

“Right. That’s the kind of creatures they are. Unlike other beasts driven by instinct, they can think to some extent. They’re creatures that survive in the great forest, teeming with high-tier beasts. Even as 4th-grade, they’re not to be underestimated.”

Suddenly, Gwyn recalled a childhood memory of hunting with his older brother, Payne Gaiard.

That day, his brother wasn’t the splendid knight but a fierce, meticulous hunter.

Tracking a bear’s trail, Payne had explained the prey’s habits, precautions, and hunting methods to him.

Driving the bear into a corner and finishing the hunt with unwavering caution—Payne’s image had left a powerful impression on Gwyn.

“Remember this. Swamp orcs never travel alone.”

But why was it?

Gwyn felt as though he was seeing that same image of his brother in the senior before him.

For Gwyn, with his strong pride, this was something he could neither believe nor accept.

Sure, he’d softened a bit.

But this was just a senior who was only two years older than him.

His swordsmanship was unexpectedly impressive, and the fact that he could brief them while running without a single breath out of place was astonishing.

And his judgment?

A mentor might’ve considered taking Yuria, but he cut her out without hesitation because she’d be a hindrance.

That decisiveness was a fresh shock to Gwyn.

“How is that supposed to be a failure?”

Gwyn was gripped by intense doubt.

How was this man the shame of the 888th class, a supposed wreck?

Didn’t he skip lectures? Barely trained, holed up in the dorms to the point his peers forgot he existed?

What if he didn’t attend lectures because he didn’t need to?

What if he wasn’t ostracized by his peers but chose not to mingle with them?

Gwyn glanced at Hannes running beside him.

Hannes was his teammate.

Ranked 13th in the entrance exam, a commoner but highly skilled, with a bold personality and natural charm that made him likable.

But right now, Hannes had an entranced expression.

It was a familiar look.

It was the same expression the vassals wore when gazing at his father’s massive portrait in the manor.

It was the look of someone revering a respected figure.

At that, Gwyn felt both disappointment and anger.

Both emotions were directed at himself.

“This won’t do.”

Gwyn steeled himself.

He had to do better.

No, he had to surpass merely doing well—he had to be exceptional.

From a young age, he’d been taught not loyalty and submission but how to rule.

His life had always been at the top.

The idea of being beneath someone else was unimaginable.

Gwyn recalled his father’s words before he left the duchy for the entrance ceremony.

“‘Bend, but never break. That is the creed of our Gaiard family. Go and show them. Prove that our sword, once called the greatest in the empire… is still formidable.’”

The destiny of his family.

From the moment he left the duchy, he had to be the best, no matter where he was.

Then, Gerard’s words pierced through Gwyn’s thoughts and sank into his mind.

“…And what they’re most confident in is ambushing using the terrain. Just like this place.”

Gwyn snapped to attention.

At that moment, they were entering an area with particularly dense and overgrown foliage.

Even Hannes’s silhouette, running right beside him, was hard to discern.

To Gwyn, there couldn’t have been a better spot for an ambush.

—And in that instant, a flash of light gleamed before his eyes.

Swish!

The only reason Gwyn dodged the ambush was thanks to Gerard’s warning.

It allowed him to stay alert and scan his surroundings, enabling him to evade.

Without Gerard, that attack would’ve put him in critical danger.

And that fact enraged Gwyn.

“Haaah!”

Narrowly twisting his body to dodge, Gwyn gripped his greatsword tightly with both hands.

Gritting his teeth so hard they might crack, he swung the blade with the momentum of his twist.

Clang!

A tremendous noise echoed through the forest.

The strike was powerful enough to disrupt the swamp orc’s stance, which had the upper hand due to the ambush.

Gwyn pressed his advantage, unleashing his swordsmanship again.

The massive greatsword rained down on the orc like a storm.

Just as he was about to split the orc’s skull, another presence emerged from behind.

It was another swamp orc, lying in wait for this exact moment.

Then something astonishing happened.

The greatsword, mid-swing toward the first orc, suddenly changed direction in midair, arcing toward the orc stealthily approaching from behind.

Kiiik?

The swamp orc glanced down at the sudden gust of wind rising from its feet, and that was the last thing it saw in its life.

Having baited and felled one orc, Gwyn charged again at the first orc that had ambushed him.

The orc resisted, but its rusty iron sword broke after exactly seven clashes, and on the eighth strike, its head flew off.

Gwyn plunged his greatsword into the ground to support himself, panting heavily.

“Huff. Huff.”

It wasn’t his first time facing beasts, but such a desperate, life-or-death battle was a first for him.

The overwhelming fatigue made him want to collapse on the spot.

But he had to move again.

During the initial ambush, he’d heard Hannes’s scream alongside it.

Hannes must’ve been ambushed too.

He needed to hurry and help him.

But before he could, the bushes rustled, and Hannes’s face popped out.

Startled, Gwyn shouted.

“H-Hannes?!”

“Gwyn! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. You? What happened?”

“Well, I….”

Hannes stepped aside.

In the space where he’d stood, two swamp orcs lay dead, reduced to cold slabs of meat.

“Senior Gerard helped me. Haha. I thought I was a goner.”

“Ah,” Gwyn exhaled in relief.

“That’s good. Then where’s Senior?”

“He went ahead to track the remaining orcs. Oh! He said you’d handle things just fine on your own.”

“…….”

For some reason, the fact that Gerard had left such words made Gwyn feel a strange sense of pride, but he quickly shook his head, rejecting the feeling.

Acknowledgment was something a superior gave to an inferior as a form of praise.

So instead of foolishly basking in it, he should be angry, Gwyn told himself firmly.

“What’s wrong, Gwyn?”

“…What?”

“You were grinning, then suddenly scowled. Are you hurt or something?”

“…Ahem. It’s nothing. Let’s hurry and catch up.”

As Gwyn hastily left, Hannes tilted his head in confusion.

* * *

Thud—!

A dagger flew and lodged into the neck of a swamp orc attempting to scale the outer wall.

The orc, its nape pierced, crashed to the ground like a bird without wings.

Approaching it, I confirmed it was already dead.

I retrieved the dagger and quickly scanned the surroundings.

No one was around.

No signs of life either.

I hurriedly collected the dagger, dragged the orc, and hid it in the bushes.

“Phew.”

That was close.

Beyond the wall, buildings and chimneys jutted out sharply.

Icata.

If I’d been a few seconds late, this thing would’ve breached the wall and caused chaos inside.

The thought made my head spin.

Phew.

That’s why I had no choice but to use the dagger.

I’d been carrying a dagger for [Telekinesis] training, and it turned out to be a godsend.

I drew my sword from my waist and made a new wound on the orc’s neck to cover the dagger’s mark.

No witnesses.

This should fool the investigation team too.

Then, I heard movement, and two faces popped out.

Gwyn and Hannes.

Hannes asked with a frantic expression.

“Senior! What happened? Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”

“No.”

“Then? Those guys—I mean, the swamp orcs?”

“All taken care of. This was the last one. So stop making a fuss.”

I nudged the orc sprawled on the ground with my foot.

Only then did Hannes slump to the ground, exhausted.

Steam rose from their clothes, evidence of how hard they’d run to get here.

“Ah. Thank goodness! I thought we were in serious trouble.”

“…Good work, Senior.”

Gwyn spoke, looking at me.

His chest heaved relentlessly, but his expression was calm.

It was obvious he was too proud to show weakness in front of me, and I just smirked.

Come to think of it, wasn’t this the first time he called me Senior?

“Well done. You both did great.”

I approached and patted their shoulders, and Gwyn’s face suddenly dropped.

What’s that? Why are his ears turning red?

“Don’t get too comfortable. The situation isn’t over yet. There’s still another group inside the Academy, so we need to join Professor Ilai and deal with them.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Understood.”

But when we reached the forest, everything was already over.

Academy guards in orange light armor were combing through the woods, collecting swamp orc corpses.

Cadets were assisting them.

None of the cadets seemed injured.

In a corner, Professor Ilai was speaking with other professors, her expression grave.

There were two other professors.

One was Baron Tesda, the Student Affairs Officer.

He rarely left the Student Affairs Office unless it was a major issue, yet here he was.

That meant this incident was a significant matter for the Academy.

If so, the other professor with Baron Tesda must be…

My gaze naturally shifted to the other professor.

My guess was spot-on.

He was none other than a department head representing an entire academic discipline.

Allen Desico, Head of the Psychology Department.

A renowned figure not just in the Academy but across the continent.

Ahem! I cleared my throat.

I had no idea what that man thought of me.

Given his personality as described in the setting, he likely viewed me very negatively.

But that was beside the point.

As a mere cadet, showing my best side was the smart move.

A bit of social maneuvering, you could say.

Just then, Professor Ilai, who’d been talking with the other professors, spotted us and rushed over.

“Gerard! Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“Really? Truly?”

Professor Ilai fussed over me, checking my body for injuries.

She did the same for Gwyn and Hannes behind me.

“Gerard.”

Next, Baron approached.

His face suggested he had a lot of questions.

But like Ilai, he first asked about my well-being, and I responded with a silent smile.

“That was a foolish decision. Taking just two freshmen cadets to chase swamp orcs.”

“I had no choice. The situation and time were both limited.”

“You could’ve found another way. The Academy isn’t the only place with capable fighters. Icata has the Central Knights’ headquarters, the Capital Defense Force, and the Magic Corps. You could’ve left it to them.”

“But that would’ve damaged the Academy’s reputation.”

Baron’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Really. You don’t back down an inch.”

But soon, he looked at me with a resigned expression and gave a slight smirk.

He didn’t ask about the outcome of the chase.

He’d already inferred the result from my words and actions.

“It’s good to push hard, but take care of yourself too.”

“Got it.”

“Alright.”

Then, a particularly gruff voice rang out from behind Baron.

“How’d it go? Huh? How’d it go, I said.”

Baron turned around.

Allen, the department head, was approaching.

His eyes glared at me like he could kill.

“So you’re Gerard? You sure look like the type to act recklessly, just as the rumors say.”

What does that even look like?

I wanted to ask, but his intimidating aura made me feel like he’d devour me if I did.

“Hey. Why’re you just staring? I asked you a question, kid. How’d it go? Don’t tell me you gave up the chase and just came back? If so, you’d better brace yourself.”

Allen growled, glaring at me.

Who’d think this guy was a mage? He’s a total thug.

As Allen’s booming voice echoed, all eyes in the area turned to me.

Baron looked at me with expectant eyes, and Professor Ilai, who’d been checking on the cadets, paused to look my way.

Others swallowed hard, awaiting my response.

Everyone here was curious.

Did Gerard succeed in eliminating all the swamp orcs?

Did he successfully prevent the crisis that could’ve tarnished the Academy’s honor?

Finally, I opened my mouth.

“I…”

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