"This was more or less expected."
Take immediate control of your own team, incite the others, and join forces to take down the team that poses the greatest threat.
"Though the key player's changed a bit."
In Professor Rosalia's mind, Ludger should have been the one in fernan's position.
"Still, fernan stepping up isn't that surprising, is it?"
"It is surprising."
She already knew fernan Pellenberg was competent—after all, someone who couldn't be wouldn't rank 10th.
But she had also noticed he was the type to avoid standing at the forefront or fully revealing himself.
"He's not the kind of student who enjoys openly taking the lead."
"Could it be because Ruina's involved again?"
"If not that, there's no other apparent reason. Though I'm not sure Ruina is that particular reason either."
"Then it must be one of two things."
Grad and Rosalia continued the topic from a past training session.
"Either a passionate love burning in their twenties—"
"I don't see fernan Pellenberg being swayed by emotions like that."
"—or a secret agreement between House Pellenberg and House Berchev."
"Didn't we reach the same conclusion back then?"
"We did."
Grad stroked his chin.
"And you scratched your chin that time too."
"You remember that? Let small things slide."
In any case, it wasn't something worth fussing over.
"Whatever deals went on between the two families, it's got nothing to do with me."
"That's true for us, but there are bound to be others who see it differently."
A transaction between the Empire's wealthiest house and the once-fallen but gradually recovering northern guardian family—no imperial citizen could ignore such a development.
"No, not 'us'—just me."
"What do you mean?"
"Are you truly indifferent? Even if those two houses join hands?"
"I'm just a humble academy professor."
"But your surname says otherwise. And you don't seem entirely detached either."
Rosalia looked at him with a blank expression. Grad avoided her gaze and shrugged.
"Well, it's not something I need to concern myself with anyway."
"…It's starting."
Team 1 and the other teams were now beginning to converge.
49 versus 90.
Numbers are never something to ignore—no matter the time or place.
Considering that the four teams were assigned with some semblance of balance, this battle was incredibly unfavorable for Team 1.
And yet, Ludger believed they still had a chance.
"Your Highness, what should we do?"
"We hold."
If they weren't restricted by their formation, they might've fallen back and tried various tactics. But right now, there was no option but to hold their ground.
At least when it came to the battlefront.
"Lure them toward the traps to maximize their losses. Whatever you do, don't get excited and charge ahead without my command."
"Yes, sir."
If there was anything they could be thankful for, it was that they had at least some hastily constructed traps and a semi-fortified position. And perhaps the fact that, because he was a prince, the students obeyed his orders without question.
"Can Almon handle it alone?"
"What do you think?"
David Liffen, ranked 8th in the Knight Department, couldn't answer right away.
"Well… I don't think I can beat Almon."
"Just you?"
"Everyone except Ruina would say the same."
In his view, even Ruina could only hold her ground against Almon—they couldn't say for certain she'd win.
"Then there's your answer."
No one in the Knight Department could defeat Almon. Maybe the Magic Department had other ways, but what if their main force was concentrated here?
Of course, it couldn't be guaranteed that Almon could beat all twenty students left in the base. But what if his only goal was to take the flag?
"All we need to do is buy time."
"But I can't stop Luina. Not Harold, not Alia, not Doria, not Gert or Felcan either."
"I know. If you had beaten all of them, you'd be ranked 2nd, not 8th."
The Knight Faculty valued real combat and practical skill more than the Magic Faculty.
If he had the ability to beat them in one-on-one duels, his ranking would certainly have changed.
"It'll be fine. Luina probably won't fight seriously either."
"Luina, you say?"
"Yeah. Fernan's probably the same."
Maybe all of Group 3 was planning on that.
"I trust Your Highness. But what about the others besides those two…?"
"I'll try to take care of Carlo."
"Even so, there are still a lot of people left, Your Highness."
Even if Group 3 took it easy, Groups 2 and 4 were still out there.
And in those groups were students stronger than David. Quite a few, actually.
Simple math showed seven students from the Magic Faculty and seven from the Knight Faculty. Of course, the gap between knights and mages wasn't always that clear-cut.
"David."
Ludger firmly grabbed both of David's shoulders.
"You can do it. I'll command, so whether you fight or run, just buy us some time."
Aside from Almon, David was the strongest knight in Group 1, so his role was critical.
"David. I'm here too."
"That's not comforting at all."
David's partner, the Magic Faculty's 4th-ranked student, Jin Brad, scoffed.
"There are only three second-years better than me in magic."
"And two of them are enemies, and the one right below is an enemy too."
"Don't worry, David. I was joking."
Ludger added another word.
"As if I wouldn't have a plan."
He smiled.
"I've already talked with Group 4. Depending on how Group 2 reacts, the outcome will change."
Right now, Group 4 was only pretending to follow Fernan to deceive him.
"No way…"
"I was faster, Fernan."
This time, I won't give up first place.
"Stop."
At the low murmur, the members of Group 3 halted in unison. Fernan spread open the map to confirm their current location.
Group 1's base was on a forested mountainside. It was an excellent place for ambushes and traps.
The same went for the other groups. Positions had been deliberately assigned in such areas.
"Why? We still have a way to go before the rendezvous point."
"We're not going."
"…What?"
"You don't mean from the start—?"
Fernan nodded and spoke.
"There's no such thing as cowardice in war."
"I didn't say anything."
"Your eyes are complaining."
"..."
"We're going to attack Group 4 right now."
Group 3 was the farthest from Group 1 in terms of distance, so naturally, the other groups should've arrived first.
But at the designated rendezvous point not far from Group 1's base, there was no one.
Everyone felt a sense of foreboding, but Fernan remained calm.
"Then what's the point of coming this far?"
"To check something. Just a few of you, come with me."
"You sound like you already know something."
"I do. I know Ludger well. I can more or less predict how he'll act."
Fernan moved carefully with a few members. And then they saw it.
The people gathered at the designated location—and, in the distance, a small group heading toward Group 1's base.
"…No way?"
"That 'no way' is probably correct."
"Then what do we do? Aren't we screwed?"
"They're actually teaming up?"
"They promised to side with us…!"
Fernan took out a magic telescope from his coat. He couldn't see very far, but it was enough to roughly gauge the movement of the camps.
"Now you see why I said we should go to Group 4?"
"But will looting an empty base work? If we don't go, won't they realize something's wrong?"
"From what I just saw, all the top ten students are over there. Maybe they planned to ambush us, but on the flip side?"
"That means it's completely unguarded…?"
"Not bad—no, it's actually great."
At those words, the other students shouted,
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's move now!"
"Don't move."
Almon smiled brightly.
In front of him stood a flag—the flag bearing the number 4, symbolizing Group 4. If he pulled it out, Group 4 would be eliminated.
"…Calm down, Almon. Let's talk this through first."
"Yeah, don't you think this is going a bit too far?"
The students of Group 4 tried to reason with Almon calmly.
'Damn it. I can't believe they actually diverted Almon here.'
'Why us of all people…?!'
'How are we supposed to stop someone like Almon if he charges in? That guy's a monster.'
They had noticed him a bit too late, but still did their best. They attacked with magic, and the knights tried to block him from the front.
But Almon deflected all the spells and eliminated two knights, breaking straight through to the flag—bringing them to the current situation.
'If only Harold or Doria were here…!'
The skill gap between those ranked in the top ten and those below was much greater than expected. If those two had been around, it wouldn't have been so easy to break through.
"You're the ones in the wrong—for scheming behind our backs and cutting us out."
"Ah, no—!"
"Oh yes."
Almon yanked the flag out.
At that moment—
Fwoosh—
A wave of mana spread across the field from the flag, and the maps of every Group 4 student began to burn.
Total elimination.
"…Ah."
"We got knocked out… just like that?"
"This is insane…!"
"No! This is all Harold's fault! He said if we ganged up on him first, we'd be fine!"
The eliminated students collapsed in disbelief and frustration.
"Good. I didn't disappoint His Highness."
Looking at the defeated students, Almon gave a satisfied smile.
He had taken some minor injuries and burned a lot of aura forcing his way through to the flag, but the result was worth it.
That's what he thought.
"It's been a while since we've met like this. Don't you think, Almon?"
If not for the large group of people suddenly surrounding him.
And if the one standing at the front wasn't the only second-year who could actually make him nervous—Luina.
And if Fernan Pellenberg wasn't trailing behind her with a wicked smile.
"…Luina? Fernan? How…?"
"You're dancing in the palm of my hand. But thanks for doing our job for us."
"You weren't going to attack us?"
"We were. But Ludger was making a move too. So we figured we'd just eliminate another team first. Lucky for us, you did it for us."
"…Why here of all places?"
"Because that's what I would've done if I were Ludger."
Because Group 2 had Carlo Deneb—the one backed by the royal family.
Ludger probably assumed that if he eliminated Group 4 first, he could then easily take down Group 3 with Group 2's help. And who would he send for such a job?
Someone he could trust. The strongest one who could be sure to pull the flag.
Fernan was convinced it would be Almon.
But since it was meant to be a top secret move, Fernan had never spoken of it aloud.
"It's just a coincidence."
"Ha…!"
Almon, who had been quietly watching for an opening, sprang into action. But he didn't get far.
"Where are you going?"
"…Luina. You're a noble knight. Are you really going to take part in such cowardice?"
"You're hardly one to talk, pulling the flag after sneaking in like that."
"That was a fair and square breakthrough."
"…In war, victory is noble."
"So now you're justifying a pincer attack?"
Luina looked away awkwardly.
"Take him."
At Fernan's command—
Fwoosh—
Almon's map burst into flames.
"…Hm?"
The same happened to Ludger's map, who had belatedly followed after Almon once he realized Fernan wasn't showing up.
"…Ha. Fernan, you bastard."
There really wasn't a single thing he liked about that guy.
Ludger ground his teeth.