Chapter 178

After all the duels ended.

Just before leaving the academy, Rimer was chatting with Fertisha.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but honestly, I didn’t really care.

However, as their conversation dragged on, Noa awkwardly smiled and said, “Uh, should we head out first?”

“That might be for the best,” Ulan replied, as if he was just waiting for that.

It was about time for the dining hall door to open, and he turned his body, showing no signs of wanting to delay.

As they headed toward the dining hall, suddenly Ivella’s eyes widened.

“Ah!”

It was as if she spotted someone.

Her gaze fell on a girl with ashen hair, wearing big glasses and hurriedly making her way to the library.

‘Silfi Rudrik.’

Descendant of Kazan Rudrik.

Clearly someone tied to the Abyss. As Noa squinted at her, Ivella’s voice broke through.

“Sorry, could you wait here for a moment?”

“Huh? Why?”

“I have something to pass on to Silfi.”

Ivella pulled something out from her possession.

A letter embossed with the Deorg family seal.

Ulan nodded.

“Got it. I’ll wait.”

“Okay! I’ll be right back.”

And off Ivella dashed toward Silfi.

Seeing this, Delia grabbed Ulan’s arm with a satisfied expression.

“Let’s sneak out quickly.”

“No, I’m going to wait.”

“… Tch.”

It was a chance to ditch Ivella.

Delia clicked her tongue. Just as they waited patiently for Ivella to return, a light mist suddenly rolled in.

And it encircled only Ulan’s group. It was an alarming sight, but no one was puzzled.

They had a hunch about what was coming.

[Grrrrrr!]

Moments later, a familiar sound echoed.

It was the howl of a wolf.

Before long, a white wolf leaped from Ulan’s shadow. The minion of Rudrik, the Mist’s White Wolf.

“Do you have business with me?”

[Grrr!]

The White Wolf lightly bowed its head.

As if it had hit the nail on the head.

Then, it opened its mouth and began to produce incomprehensible sounds.

[Grrr! Woof! Garrrr!]

The White Wolf waved its forepaws while barking out sounds.

Ulan, confused by this sudden behavior, tilted his head.

“What’s going on?”

“It seems like it wants to say something?”

Noa’s guess was spot on.

As soon as she finished speaking, the White Wolf eagerly nodded its head. After that, it resumed its animated gesturing.

Some time later.

“Hmm, I see.”

Ulan nodded seriously.

In response, the White Wolf looked at him with sparkling eyes full of expectation, as if it believed he would definitely understand.

But that hope was quickly crushed.

“I don’t understand a word.”

“Well, it’s strange to understand it.”

Of course.

Noa let out a deep sigh.

However, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

There were named characters in the original story who could understand animals, spirit beasts, and converse with them.

‘For example…’

The first name that popped into mind was Sven Isaac.

As the sniper of the Hero Party, he belonged to the Myoin tribe and had a high affinity for animals and spirits, allowing for simple communication.

‘Oh, right!’

At that moment, another candidate came to mind.

‘If I remember correctly…’

While pondering that, the White Wolf furrowed its brow and stomped its forepaw on the ground, looking like it was complaining about how no one understood it.

Just then.

“Uh-huh, I see.”

A melodious voice suddenly chimed in.

There sat Fertisha, now crouched down, petting the White Wolf.

“Sorry, could you repeat that? This time I’ll make sure to get it right.”

She said with a beaming smile.

This wasn’t just idle chit-chat.

Fertisha truly had the ability to converse freely with spirits and spirit beasts.

Ulan too seemed to have suddenly recalled this fact as he stared at Fertisha in silence. Delia, on the other hand, wore an astonished expression.

“No way, you actually understand?”

“Yes, I got it.”

“What did it say?”

“Um, it said something about… the rift opening?”

“… What?”

A short yet impactful line.

Ulan and Noa, not to mention Ivella who had just joined, all wore shocked expressions.

“A-a rift? You don’t mean…!”

“Yes, it says the Abyssal Rift has opened.”

“…!?”

At that confirmation, everyone’s faces hardened in unison. They had grasped the seriousness of the situation through previous encounters.

“When? P-please don’t say now!”

“No, it opened a few days ago, while you were all away.”

Then she continued with the details.

According to the White Wolf, while Ulan’s group was absent during the semester break, someone entered Zone 3 and opened the rift.

After hearing the full story, a shadow fell over Noa’s face.

“Ugh, that’s unexpected.”

It really was out of the blue. Who would have thought there were other Abyss Worshippers aside from Diplyn?

“Do you have any idea who opened it?”

“From the scent, it seems to be one of the Imperial Investigation Corps that came to probe the spring before.”

“The Imperial Investigation Corps?”

“Uh, what did they look like?!”

Noa hastily asked back.

However, the desired response never came back. They were covered head to toe in robes, making it impossible to discern any facial features.

Yet a clue for resolution appeared.

If they could secure a list of those who had participated in the last investigation, the range of candidates would at least narrow down.

“Where can we get that list?”

“Let’s ask Marquis Gorphant.”

“But, would he really hand it over willingly?”

“Yeah, he’s got to.”

The Imperial Investigation Corps was mostly made up of Mages.

And the Magic Tower where the Mages resided is at the heart of the Empire. It’s unlikely Marquis Gorphant would want Abyss Worshippers lurking around there.

‘Just when I thought things were quiet for a while…’

I never thought another rift would open.

Wouldn’t they end up opening the Gate of the Abyss soon? At such grim thoughts, Noa shivered her shoulders.

However, contrary to her worries, no incidents took place. Time flew by swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

Then came the Monday of September.

The sports festival was about to begin.

3.

On a foggy dawn.

The Imperial Castle of the Rubens Empire was enveloped in a serene silence. Perhaps due to the dark intertwined with the hazy mist, there was hardly any presence that could be felt.

Yet, there was an exception.

It was the Crown Prince Chartang’s castle.

Here, a large crowd was bustling.

Knights armed with swords and shields formed groups, and even Mages could be spotted; as was the case with the castle’s owner, Chartang.

“……”

A man gazed silently out the window.

Clad in pure white armor, Chartang stared with dry eyes at the mist-covered scenery.

How long had it been?

Knock knock!

With the sound of a knock, two knights entered the office. The middle-aged knight in the front spoke with a respectful tone.

“……Your Excellency.”

The Sword of the Imperial Family, Saxen Yul Orden.

The knight reputed to be the strongest in the Empire bent his head and continued.

“All preparations are complete.”

“Please give any orders.”

The female knight beside Saxen, the Eastern Wild Sword, Rimer Yen Lapis, also bowed respectfully. Just as they said, the castle was brimming with the Empire’s elite troops.

At least forty Expert knights were ready.

Along with twenty Mages of the mage level coming out of the Magic Tower.

And it didn’t stop there.

Grand Nobility and local warlords had gathered their forces in the capital under the cover of night. Ready to move at a moment’s notice.

Now, only Chartang’s orders remained.

While they quietly awaited commands, Chartang, who had been staring out the window, turned his body.

He then called out to Rimer.

“Lady Lapis.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Once everything here is settled and all missions completed, what do you want to do?”

Why was he asking this all of a sudden?

Rimer’s eyes reflected her confusion. It seemed an out-of-place question for the current situation.

Nevertheless, she couldn’t ignore her lord’s question, so she provided the answer a knight should.

“I would dedicate myself to serving your side.”

“And you won’t return to the East?”

“No, as I mentioned before, the East is very secure now. Even in my absence, the front lines won’t collapse.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Chartang nodded.

After a moment, he posed the question again.

“Then, would you perhaps consider becoming an honorary professor at the Military Department of Arsen Academy?”

“Huh? Where’s that coming from all of a sudden…?”

“Didn’t you face off against those barbarians?”

A sharp remark that struck a nerve.

Rimer immediately clammed up. It seemed word had reached him about her duel with Ulan.

It would have been strange if he hadn’t known.

After all, both the Imperial military and the Information Agency operated alongside him. Rimer bowed her head in silence. In response, Chartang chuckled.

“I’m not reprimanding you. However, all the masters that crossed swords with those barbarians have been asking to become professors at the Arsen Academy.”

Faithful Sword, Seoric Al Gorphant.

Fierce Sword, Istan El Deorg.

Both masters expressed their desire to become honorary professors at the Military Department. Naturally, only Seoric was appointed as a professor among them.

“That’s why I was just checking if you had similar thoughts.”

As the intention behind the question became clear.

Fortunately, it was nothing serious, and Rimer inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

“The only place for me is at my lord’s side.”

“I’m glad. I was worried that three out of the Five Swords would wish to become professors.”

Chartang laughed heartily.

Of course, it wasn’t a sincere worried expression. He probably made a joke to lighten the tense atmosphere before the operation.

“So, what do you think?”

“… Yes?”

“About those barbarians.”

He asked in a teasing way.

As if to gauge Rimer’s thoughts.

“Marquis Gorphant said they were incredibly strong, do you think so as well?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Without a hint of hesitation in her answer.

Rimer described Ulan as ‘an absurdly strong monster.’ Chartang seemed curious, asking again.

“How does he compare to Lord Orden?”

Chartang’s gaze turned toward Saxen.

Simultaneously, Rimer glanced slyly at Saxen beside her.

“… Can I be honest?”

“Of course. You think the same, don’t you?”

“Indeed, Your Excellency.”

Saxen nodded.

A kind smile—one that encouraged Rimer to speak freely.

She cautiously opened her mouth.

“If I were to express my personal view, I would have thought that Lord Orden would undoubtedly win until I fought him.”

That was the natural thought.

Saxen’s domain stretched for forty steps.

In the entirety of history, there were only a handful of people who possessed such extensive territory.

“However, my thoughts have changed since then.”

She felt it vividly after facing Ulan.

The size of the domain wasn’t what mattered.

That’s why she could confidently assert.

“I dare say Lord Orden cannot win against Ulan.”

This might sound a bit arrogant.

Yet Saxen didn’t even flinch. Chartang, too, asked back with interest rather than anger.

“How intriguing. Why do you think so?”

“Because he has reached a level that cannot just be defined as a master.”

Starting from that response.

Rimer sorted out the realizations she had felt in her duel with Ulan and conveyed them. After some time, Chartang stroked his chin as he smiled.

“For you to say that after Gorphant and now Lapis; you certainly pique my interest.”

As if he had found a fascinating new toy.

With an innocent smile, a low murmur escaped into the air.

“I’ll arrange a meeting later.”

“A meeting, you say…?”

“I’ll invite that barbarian to the Imperial Castle.”

“……!”

Rimer’s eyes widened in surprise.

Saxen was no different.

Facing their shock, Chartang chuckled as if to say, what’s with the surprise?

“Yeah, I found quite an interest in him. Of course, that would come after everything is wrapped up.”

Having wrapped up his brief response.

Chartang moved on.

Just like there was nothing to worry about, he walked quickly and soon stopped at the door. Then, without looking back, he spoke.

“Lady Lapis.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Eliminate all the foreign rats that have infiltrated the castle and capture my traitorous brothers who dared challenge my authority.”

Not a single one should be spared.

At the order heralding the beginning of the operation, Rimer immediately gripped the hilt of her sword.

“I’ll follow your orders.”

On the day of the Arsen sports festival.

Including Rimer Yen Lapis, the tens of thousands of troops gathered in the capital began to move in unison.

Their sole purpose was one.

To make their master, Chartang, the Emperor of the Empire.

Chapter 42: A Fight That Cannot Be Lost

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