Northern Grand Duke.
The bulwark of humanity against the invasion of demon clans from the barren North, a guardian of the land.
Every human on the continent grew up hearing tales of the Northern Grand Duke’s valor and achievements, instilling a deep-rooted respect.
“Wow, I’m really looking forward to it.”
“What kind of person could he be?”
“He must be incredibly strong.”
The students’ guesses were spot on.
He was indeed a powerful man.
Not only his innate physique and trained muscles but the beastly spirit radiating from him was particularly striking.
GULP.
As the rivalry between Oknodie and Jaidas heated up, the students’ fervor, which was soaring at the news of the Northern Grand Duke’s arrival, cooled down in an instant.
They were overwhelmed by his presence.
Among the titans ruling the world, he was a competent person whose prowess could be counted from the top down, the Northern Grand Duke Yuda.
He silently surveyed the students.
Those who met his gaze dared not utter a word and shrank back in fear.
‘Is that… a gaze meant for students?’
‘I absolutely must not offend him. Just one act of rudeness, and I feel like I’d be killed!’
Unlike his trembling classmates, who couldn’t withstand even a second of his stare and quickly turned away or lowered their heads, Jaidas clenched his fists, forcing his head to remain upright and smiling as he wanted to flee.
He wanted acknowledgment.
As if responding to his longing for the giants, the gaze directed at Jaidas lingered for over a second.
[Unique Domain Expansion]
[Do Not Dare to Harbor Such Thoughts]
He was so overwhelmed that he couldn’t even fathom the thought.
It didn’t matter what he did.
For every person, there would be as many thoughts.
The Northern Grand Duke did not understand.
The Northern Grand Duke did not analyze.
He simply suppressed all intentions and ruled over them.
The moment he was exposed to that domain, Jaidas realized his foolishness.
The act of leaving an impression on that man was meaningless.
He bore no goodwill towards anyone.
Attracting the gaze of a beast was merely a shortcut to a quicker demise.
Three seconds.
That was how long Jaidas endured.
“…”
Facing the overwhelming domain pressing down on him, Jaidas immediately lowered his head.
The Northern Grand Duke neither laughed at him nor made any evaluations.
He merely passed by the subordinates without even sparing a split second.
“Ugh…!”
Hestia, who also took on a reckless challenge, stumbled on her legs.
Four seconds.
That was the limit of her recklessness.
Jaidas couldn’t even begin to gauge the size of the pain Hestia had to endure in that single second.
Yet he could sense her recklessness.
They were standing before a test.
No one knew what outcome her injury would lead to.
Even now, as they were freed from his gaze, Hestia’s face contorted in pain, and cold sweat poured down her forehead.
The Northern Grand Duke was a disaster for all.
“I’m a fan!”
A small disaster, Oknodie, cheerfully greeted such a catastrophe.
Even she was exposed to that overwhelming domain.
Everyone swallowed hard as they felt the turbulence of nature mana without even raising their heads.
But the pressure didn’t let up.
Four seconds. Five seconds.
Wouldn’t a person die from this?
Even amid those thoughts, Oknodie chattered on.
“Can I come over later to Irene’s house?”
“Dark Princess Oknodie. I have received your name.”
“What an honor!”
“Dark Mana. The poison the demon clans have spread into the human realm.”
As the oppressive aura of the Northern Grand Duke mixed with a different kind of energy, the students hurriedly distanced themselves from Oknodie.
He would kill.
A profoundly simple and clear primal instinct awoke in them.
With cold eyes that seemed ready to reach out and destroy Oknodie’s flesh at any moment, the Northern Grand Duke glared at her.
“From the moment you set foot on Northern land, you will die by my hand.”
“Wah. That’s too harsh.”
Thirty seconds.
Ten times Jaidas’s duration.
After a staggering interval, Oknodie was liberated from the Northern Grand Duke’s gaze.
“The fight on the Northern Front is akin to battling Dark Mana. The monsters from the Demon Realm all harbor Dark Mana, and their invasion contaminates the soil. All flora and fauna that grow in tainted soil are imbued with Dark Mana, and creatures that consume them evolve into monsters.”
Despite the sudden lecture, Professor Raregrills gestured for the students to listen attentively.
“Noble houses of the Empire possess at least one technique for purifying poisons from flora and fauna tainted by Dark Mana. Naturally, this is not permitted for the soldiers.”
“The frontline soldiers face the cold, fear, and hunger. They are so much at risk that they might even have to eat monster corpses to survive.”
“Those contaminated by Dark Mana are rendered incapable of maintaining their bodies when even one demon appears on the battlefield and, worst of all, will point their weapons at fellow soldiers. The worst cases willingly become servants of the demons.”
The trials of the academy felt like a warm-up compared to the hell on Earth unfolding in the Northern region!
“In this test, you will confront the demon clans invading from the Demon Realm. But it’s not just the demon clans that are the enemy. You will also have to fight against the cold and hunger imposed by the harsh environment of the North and, above all, the contamination by Dark Mana.”
“…!”
“Even the unit that was an ally until yesterday may perish in the demon clans’ invasion, returning as traitors alongside the demons.”
The Northern Grand Duke especially glared at Oknodie.
Watching her bashfully twisting her legs in a shy manner left Jaidas flabbergasted.
“That’s not a compliment, you idiot!”
The Northern Grand Duke continued his explanation.
“Unit morale drops easily. It’s extremely hard to lead an army that crumbles before it even fights. The qualities of a commander are tested more than on any battlefield.”
“…”
“However, those who can survive and preserve their units are already presumed to possess the abilities of frontline commanders. If you drop out of the academy midway, you will be appointed as the commander of the Celestial Unit on the Northern Front.”
“!!”
“Acceptance or rejection. That’s your choice, but the opportunity will be fairly given. So those who wish to rise should check the detailed list of units they will risk their lives to protect.”
Grades, points, self-esteem.
This was a different kind of exam from before.
As soon as the Northern Grand Duke finished his declaration, Professor Raregrills quickly added.
“Additionally, unlike the first practicals, I will allow you time to purchase preferential rights for positioning or expanding your scale, bringing competent persons into your ranks with the scores and extra points you earn from the midterm assignments. If you want to show your worth before the Northern Grand Duke, you must seize an advantage, even if it means spending your points.”
At the same time, a printout appeared on the large mana board placed under the tactical map.
━━━━
Battlefield Briefing
The demon clans from the Demon Realm have launched a massive invasion.
Only ten months remain until the dread season, which even demons fear, arrives.
Units surviving until the 40 turns after the dread season arrive will gain a survival bonus.
If your faction loses, the students on that battlefield will face point deductions.
━━━━
Unit Selection List
Marsos Volunteer Army (5,000 Volunteers), Frontline Risk Level 2
Impal Lance Infantry (3,300 Pike Soldiers, 250 Archers), Frontline Risk Level 3
…
Border Defense Force (5,500 Defenders), Frontline Risk Level 5
Snowfield Knights (20 Knights, 80 Apprentice Knights), Frontline Risk Level 6
Golgotha Execution Unit (50 Executioners), Frontline Risk Level 6
…
Lenin Punishment Unit (2,500 Convict Infantry), Frontline Risk Level 8
White Mage Corps (20 Magicians, 40 Apprentice Magicians), Frontline Risk Level 8
Apnonia Pilgrimage Unit (35 Pilgrims), Frontline Risk Level 9
━━━━
Jaidas immediately purchased [Priority Selection Rights].
“I’ll pick first.”
Previously, Jaidas had selected the [Border Defense Force] and waited it out to gain an advantage but suffered absolute defeat due to Oknodie’s betrayal.
Thanks to that, this time he chose the [Snowfield Knights], allowing him to act actively and seize the initiative without being stuck in a stronghold.
“Oknodie, aren’t you going to buy priority?”
“I’m okay. It seems like there will be leftovers anyway!”
Before Oknodie’s turn, three more priority buyers emerged.
“I’ll take the Punishment Unit meta!”
“There’s no reason to choose an easy front line when there’s a hard one available. The Impal Lance Infantry is mine.”
“I’m going for the Regular Infantry Legion.”
As expected, the unit Oknodie was eyeing was still available.
━━━━
Apnonia Pilgrimage Unit (35 Pilgrims), Frontline Risk Level 9
━━━━
They had strong combat power, but they were also the most dangerous unit, constantly rushing into fierce battles!
It was evident that significant risks would accompany the process of manipulating the Apnonia Pilgrimage Unit, which mirrored the tactical map’s reality.
“Ugh. Oknodie has taken the Sacred Meta.”
“Apnonia? That’s a crazy unit that only charges down the toughest path.”
“Why would anyone choose a unit that can’t even fight and effectively commits suicide?”
Did the Northern Grand Duke share the same question?
Cold eyes bore into Oknodie.
Hestia couldn’t hide her worry either.
“Was your hand trembling? Did you press the wrong button?”
“Oh, I pressed it properly!”
“You’ve lived in the academy without using a faith cheat as a non-believer. Didn’t you dislike such things?”
“If I were actually hanging out with them, I wouldn’t have chosen it. But here, I’m just manipulating it through the tactical map!”
“You speak as if you’ve experienced the Apnonia Pilgrimage Unit firsthand. Have you seen it at the Foundation?”
“…That’s right! I saw it at the Foundation. Where else would I have seen it?”
Putting on a brave face, Hestia gritted her teeth at the blame directed at the Foundation.
“Those rotten Foundation bastards. Forcing Oknodie to undergo harsh training just to face the Apnonia Pilgrimage Unit, a place they call a place for self-sacrifice!”
Papa, I’m sorry!
But the Foundation’s reputation was already a mess before I sullied it, so this little dirt should be fine, right?
Looking at it that way, I really didn’t do much.
With a blissful expression, Oknodie concluded her thoughts.
Apologies? Not a chance!
