Chapter 588
The five war carriages carrying the Keyzen students were steadily making their way toward the Gahal Tribe’s fortress, cutting through the monsters without hindrance.
And a little distance away from that scene—
“...So they broke through in the end.”
Two men were watching.
“You guys really don’t handle your work all that well.”
The butcher, sitting on a boulder, clinked his two cleavers together. He was still in his bloodstained apron and boots.
“You said you’d just separate the blue-haired kid back there, didn’t you?”
“The boy’s response was impressive.”
The monocled gentleman replied, who had only one eye left, lowering his telescope.
“As per the original plan, we’ll have no choice but to catch them inside the fortress.”
“I don’t care.”
The butcher twirled his cleaver once before sheathing it at his waist beside the apron. In front of him lay a Mimicker, neatly butchered.
“This thing doesn’t have any real flesh, so it doesn’t cut nicely. No satisfaction in carving it.”
“Whatever it is, my condolences.”
The butcher began walking slowly, looking toward the glowing lights in the distance.
“The last fortress of the Gahal Tribe, huh.”
He crossed his arms with a sneer.
“Taking students to a place like that? Keyzen’s teaching methods are just as incomprehensible now as they ever were.”
“That’s nothing unusual. They say sometimes the school drops sleeping children right into the middle of battlefields.”
“But tell me...”
The butcher shifted his gaze toward the countless horde of monsters encircling the fortress.
“With this many monsters, wouldn’t things sort themselves out if we just left them alone? Don’t think we’ve got much reason to meddle.”
“Ordinarily, the Gahal Tribe would have perished here.”
The gentleman’s lone eye rolled.
“But the situation has changed. Fifty-two second-year students from Keyzen, two professors, and the assistants they brought with them... That place is safer than most fortresses in a major fiefdom.”
The butcher let out a coarse laugh.
“You’re not overestimating these kids who came here for a war game, are you?”
“Accurate analysis of the enemy is essential.”
The one-eyed gentleman turned his head.
“And just the same, our preparations are thorough.”
Ke-eee!
Kiii!
All around them, the Mimickers were gulping down potions filled with bright red liquid. Other Mimickers followed suit, spreading the act among themselves.
Scarlet vapors spilled from their mouths, and their eyes flushed blood-red.
The monsters were being strengthened.
“Good, good.”
The butcher ran his bloody fingertip across his tongue.
“Let’s enjoy the party.”
* * *
The distance between the carriages and the fortress closed. From the first carriage, Grerion leaned out the window.
“Assistants! Raise the banners!”
“Yes, sir!”
The assistants hung the Keyzen crest banner crossed with a blue field banner.
The students stared anxiously at the tightly shut gates.
“...What if they don’t open the gates for us?”
“What do you think happens? We all die, that’s what.”
Hearing that, Eshu chuckled.
“If you die, I’ll turn you into an undead. Zombie? Skeleton? Take your pick.”
“Those choices suck. At least make me a lich.”
“Be grateful I won’t use your butt as a chimera part.”
“Ahaha!”
After the fierce battle earlier, morale had dropped. At times like these, Eshu’s lively personality was a blessing.
Even though her endless chatter was annoying enough to ignore, before long one found themselves grinning despite the tension.
Her words made you forget the battlefield, if only for a moment. The students relaxed enough to joke along.
“Wow, look at all the archers on those walls. That’s insane!”
“...They won’t shoot at us, will they?”
Of course, there were also those like Toto Amoriya, who only grew more nervous. Simon gave him a light tap on the thigh to ease the tension.
Kugugu—!
Fortunately, the fortress gate began to open after they seemed to confirm the banners.
“They’re letting us in!”
“We’re going in!”
The students finally cheered in relief.
Crossing the narrow moat bridge, the five carriages entered the fortress safely. The students disembarked one by one.
From the other side, a group of Gahal warriors approached, led by a middle-aged man with strikingly ornate armor.
Professor Grerion, representing them, stepped forward.
“Ha-ha-ha! It’s been a long time!”
“ⴋⴘØⴆⴇÐ!”
The two men shared a hearty embrace before speaking at length.
Simon couldn’t understand the words, but surprisingly, Grerion spoke the Gahal tongue fluently.
Turning back to the puzzled students, Grerion translated kindly:
“He says he’s grateful that we came all the way to this remote place to help.”
“!”
The students tried tossing out whatever foreign words they knew at the Gahal Tribesmen in greeting. Eshu ended with “Huiva huiva”, which meant nothing at all.
Still, handshakes—the universal gesture—worked fine. Some shook hands, others bumped fists with the warriors.
“Professor Aron.”
“Yes.”
The professors held a serious discussion for about ten minutes. Grerion was stern, while Aron Deia worked to calm him down.
Soon they seemed to reach a conclusion. Aron stepped forward.
“Attention, everyone.”
The students immediately silenced themselves and turned.
“According to the Gahal Tribe, the monsters will attack at dawn. Students will guard the walls in three shifts, while the rest rest inside. Light naps are acceptable, but don’t sprawl carelessly.”
“Yes, sir!”
“And regarding command structure...”
Aron’s chief assistant opened a chest, revealing communication crystals.
“While general combat will remain free-form, some minimal coordination is necessary. We’ll appoint a student commander.”
Aron picked up a red crystal.
“There are many talents here...”
His gaze stopped on one.
“Since our department has a Student Council President.”
All eyes turned to Simon.
Hector Moore, who had been quietly hoping for the role, clicked his tongue.
“May I say something?”
Simon raised his hand.
“Go ahead.”
“Normally, I’d accept the role of commander. But this is a department-wide camp.”
He gestured beside him.
“So I think it’s only right that the department representative lead.”
“...!”
Hector glared daggers at Simon, eyes wide, as if to say What’s your scheme now?
“A reasonable point.”
Aron nodded, tossing the red crystal.
“Today’s student commander is Hector Moore.”
Hector’s pupils wavered slightly as he caught the red crystal.
“When the battle begins, follow the student commander’s orders. Of course, the material ‘Guardian’ for a Dullahan may be tempting, but don’t overdo it. Especially do not chase a Guardian down from the wall—that’s suicide. Keep that in mind.”
“Yes, sir!”
Aron crossed his arms.
“If there’s a problem, the faculty will communicate. Whatever you’re doing, stop immediately and follow their instructions as top priority. That’s all.”
* * *
The procedures moved quickly.
The assistants drafted the rotation schedule, and the first guard team went up onto the walls. The rest of the students were led into the Gahal Tribe’s barracks.
“Hi there~”
Eshu waved her hand. Children, wearing only rough cloths around their lower halves, shyly waved back before darting away to play among themselves.
Inside the barracks were many women and children. It seemed odd that they hadn’t fled from a fortress about to face war, but their determination not to abandon their homeland was evident.
Since all the warriors were outside, plenty of rooms were available. The students could pick any and rest.
In the center, a warm fire was burning, smoke escaping through a hole in the ceiling that acted as a chimney.
Simon and his 10th team shared one room, four to a space.
“You idiot! Do you even have a brain? What were you thinking?”
Eshu was wrapping Toto Amoriya’s arm with bandages.
“Why’d you go rushing out to save the president, huh? What’s rattling around in that skull of yours?”
“Sorry, Eshu... ow, my arm hurts!”
Toto whined miserably.
A little distance away, Simon and Loraine sat side by side.
“You say that, but Eshu, you also rushed recklessly to save Toto, didn’t you?”
Loraine gave a sleepy smile. Eshu flinched at the words, fumbling for excuses.
“I-It couldn’t be helped! Toto was in danger... n-no! If someone deserted, the evaluation scores would drop!”
Simon chimed in.
“Do you remember how furious you got when you went after Toto? You yelled he might still be alive, that you’d go even by yourself...”
“Ahhhhhh! I can’t hear you! Not listening! Quiet!”
Simon and Loraine burst out laughing. Eshu turned away with a vexed “Kuh!” while Toto’s face went crimson as though blood was dripping down.
“I... really...”
Gathering every scrap of courage, Toto lifted his head and whispered like an ant crawling.
“Did... did you jump save me?”
“I told you, no! You just stupidly rushed in!”
Watching the two quarrel, Loraine murmured softly,
“Somehow, those two seem closer now.”
Simon nodded, smiling.
“Never mind them—get some sleep, Loraine. I’ll wake you when it’s time.”
“It’s fine. I can’t sleep either.”
They leaned against the wall, chatting quietly—about the recent battle, about school life, about making a Dullahan.
Just then—
“Hello~ Simon. You two look cozy together.”
Serne Eindark, her ivory-hued hair swaying, entered the room.
Simon greeted her with a smile, but Loraine’s brow furrowed in caution.
“I told you not to use feathers.”
Meanwhile, Toto and Eshu slipped off to the next room. Serne shrugged.
“Do you have proof I used them? Maybe they just went off for some fun of their own.”
“Why are you even here? Aren’t you on the first shift?”
Serne smoothed her uniform skirt and sat gracefully across from Simon, smiling as she gazed at him.
“I just didn’t feel like it. I asked someone else to switch.”
Loraine’s jaw dropped at the casual truancy.
“You...! I thought you’d changed at least a little after the Ivory Tower incident!”
“Changed? Me? Don’t be silly. Isn’t that right, Simon?”
“Yeah. You’re the same as always.”
The two chuckled quietly, making Loraine’s lips jut out in a pout.
“Simon, our Ivory Tower is ready.”
Serne’s voice dropped to a subtle, coaxing tone.
“No one up top knows you’re a Legion Commander anymore. No one to pressure you. You can come freely. A fresh new Ivory Tower, led by me and Maelyn Villene—”
“What nonsense.”
Loraine cut her off.
“Simon is the Student Council President of Keyzen. Even Headquarters values him highly—”
“As if Keyzen Headquarters’ evaluation matters. What matters is his choice. Wasn’t it the same with recruiting Phantasus Hugh Ikel last year? We offered him the Crows’ seat as bait, and he still slipped away.”
Loraine bit her lip at the painful reminder.
“In fact, we’re still hoping to bring Phantasus into the Ivory Tower. Imagine it: Simon and Phantasus together—wouldn’t that be the true golden age of the Tower?”
“Hmph. Easier said than done. Your Tower once tried to sneak into the Neutral Zone to escape us.”
A crack appeared in Serne’s smile.
“Hm~ That stupid plan was made before I was even born. Doesn’t matter. What matters is now.”
Her eyes locked on Simon’s, unblinking. Then she reached out, pressing a finger under his nose.
“Mmm-hmm~”
Her face flushed faintly, lips trembling.
“Ten years. Just ten years more~ Honestly, I’d rather just kidnap you, lock you in the Tower, and raise you with only water.”
Simon shuddered. He had the unsettling feeling she just might do it.
“Oh, right—you’ve never seen it, have you?”
Serne turned, smiling cryptically.
“Simon’s future self.”
Loraine stiffened, eyes flickering. She had also been briefed on the Frozen Clock.
“I saw a glimpse of grown-up Simon in the Tower of Time.”
Loraine swallowed nervously, unable to mask her tension.
“...A-And? What was he like?”
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters