Book 1 Chapter 316

As the exam period approached, the students became busy.

Chen Xia muttered, looking at the Glory base visible before her eyes.

"…It feels like something is missing. What could be missing from our base?"

Chloe, with her arms crossed at Chen Xia's muttering, began to ponder seriously.

It wasn't just Chloe.

The magic department students who were building defensive towers at the base also pondered deeply.

Eventually, the magic department students spoke in unison.

"Firepower?"

"What are we supposed to do if we increase the firepower here? The base's purpose is defense. We should focus more on defensive power."

Chen Xia let out a small sigh.

Then she looked at Leo.

"Leo, do you think there's anything lacking?"

"This should be enough."

At Leo's words, Chen Xia looked at the Glory base.

"If it were me, I think I could infiltrate it sufficiently."

"There isn't anyone in our year with infiltration abilities like yours, so this is enough."

"That's true."

Chen Xia nodded as if she understood.

Hearing their conversation, Chloe gathered the Glory students.

"All preparations are now complete."

Chloe said, looking at Leo.

"Leo, as soon as we start, you attack the Noble base with the others. I'll attack the Harmony base with Chen Xia."

Chloe looked at Iliana.

"Iliana, you defend the base with the others."

At that, Iliana pouted.

"I want to go attack with the class president too."

Chen Xia smiled faintly at Iliana's disgruntled voice.

"Iliana, you would undoubtedly attack recklessly. I think it's better for you to defend the base."

"Ugh."

Iliana let out a groan as if she had no response.

The Glory students burst into laughter at the sight.

"Anyway, the decisive day is in three days. Rest well until then. Take care of your condition."

As Chloe said with a smile, resentful voices erupted from here and there.

"We have written exams, how can we rest well?"

"Right! Do you know how hard it is to manage our condition?"

Chloe tilted her head at the complaints of her fellow dorm mates.

"Isn't preparing for written exams something you can do in your spare time while studying and preparing for practical exams?"

Chen Xia smiled faintly at those words.

"That's something only you, Chloe, can do. Ordinary people can't do that."

"…You did it, though. Chen Xia."

Iliana said with a weary expression.

Chen Xia smiled brightly at Iliana.

"I only slept about 30 minutes a day. I was trained to be able to do that."

"…If Chloe finds it absurd, you're just scary."

Iliana shook her head.

"I can help you sufficiently with your studies."

"Ooh!"

"Chloe-nim!"

"Ice Goddess! Ice Queen! Ice Witch!"

"Who just called me a witch!"

Chloe yelled with a flushed face.

***

Lumen was crowded with people.

Riina, the principal of Lumen, pressed her temples as if she had a headache, looking at the packed stands.

"Why are the board members making me a figurehead? They don't even like me because I'm from the Shadows anyway."

Yura, who assisted Riina, agreed with Riina's annoyed grumbling.

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Why are they making me do this!"

Yura, who usually wore revealing clothes that were comfortable for movement, was dressed as a very dignified lady today.

Ren said, looking at Yura.

"Senior Yura, you seem plausible if you just keep your mouth shut."

"Why does the phrase 'if you just keep your mouth shut' get attached to that?"

"Do you really not know? Then I'll explain it so Senior Yura can understand…"

Yura, with veins bulging on her forehead, grabbed Ren by the collar.

The external guests who were approaching to greet them fled with fearful eyes at the sight.

Riina laughed heartily, watching the two of them.

Ain let out a deep sigh at that.

"Principal, shouldn't you stop those brats' disgraceful behavior instead of just watching?"

"It's good that those guys keep bothersome people away, isn't it?"

Ain pressed his brow.

'I miss the late Kalian at times like this.'

Kalian, the principal, who was somewhat flippant and often passed off his duties to professors, but he certainly maintained a sense of gravitas during external events.

Riina, while more diligent than Kalian, tended to detest external events.

Looking at Ain, Riina rested her chin on her hand and smiled.

"Don't worry so much, Professor Ain."

Riina taunted.

"Everyone already knows I'm from the Shadows, so external guests probably won't want to interact with me much. There are few powerful figures without skeletons in their closets."

The Shadows have, for generations, been tasked with not only executing traitors but also eradicating cancerous presences in the world.

In extreme cases, there were even Shadows who considered assassination their calling.

As such, powerful figures had a strong instinctual aversion to Shadows.

"By the way, should we say there were no upsets in the first-year students' exam results?"

Riina rested her chin on her hand, watching the first-year students who were receiving cheers from the audience after completing the combat practical exam.

This year's first-year midterm combat practical exam was a dungeon conquest.

It was a labyrinth dungeon created arbitrarily by the professors, not a hero dungeon.

The team that broke through the labyrinth in the fastest time received a high score.

"Aina and Beidou. Should we say it's as expected of Kalian's great-granddaughter?"

Riina narrowed her eyes and looked at Aina standing on the training grounds.

"She's also first in the knight academy exam, right?"

"That's what I heard."

Ain nodded.

"She narrowly beat Habiden."

"Ho. What about the other departments?"

To Riina's question, Ain reported.

"There were no upsets. In the Summoning Department's beast race, Shasha won. She's the overall first in the Summoning Department. In the Magic Department's magic combat, Juwen took first place."

"Hmm."

Riina stroked her chin.

"What about Leo Flov's mentees?"

"Regarding Luke Elda, his written exams are in the upper-middle tier, but all his practical exams are at the very bottom."

"Should we say that's expected?"

"It's the expected result. However…"

"However?"

"He hasn't grown at all compared to the beginning of the semester."

"…I heard he was working hard?"

"Harder than anyone."

Riina showed an amused expression.

"Did the student council president do something? Can we look forward to the final exams?"

Riina, who had nodded, casually checked her watch.

"You guys should go and get ready now."

"Yes, I understand."

Ain bowed his head, and looking at the junior professors who were still fighting, he said coldly.

"Let's go, you idiots."

"Who are you calling an idiot!"

"Senior Ain. I'll explain what an idiot is so you can easily understand…"

"Shut up."

Riina shook her head, watching Ain drag the junior professors by the scruff of their necks.

'Ain will get old quickly.'

***

At the Noble base, Abad gathered the dorm students and said.

"According to Kal's information, Glory will have Chloe and Chen Xia attacking Harmony's base, and Leo will attack our base. I shared this information with Celia because I thought it was necessary."

"Is that necessary?"

Taid asked with a puzzled face, and Abad said.

"We have a non-aggression pact with Harmony anyway. We can't attack each other until we take down Glory's base. Given that, I thought it would be best to gather all our core strength and attack Glory's base."

Eliza cleaned her nails.

"It'll be difficult to take down the base with our dorm members divided, won't it?"

"Right. Chloe will probably devise a plan to quickly deploy core forces and secure kill points."

"…Does that mean Glory didn't choose a King among the dorm leaders?"

To Duran's words, Abad shook his head.

"No, they probably chose a King among the dorm leaders."

"Then isn't that too risky of a plan?"

"Strong people don't die easily. They probably thought of using a strong person as the King to catch the opponent off guard. The problem is, who among the three is the King…"

Abad stroked his chin.

"Kal, what do you think?"

To Abad's question, Kal scratched his head.

"Well, if I were Chloe, I would have chosen Leo as the King."

"Why?"

"He's the most trustworthy."

"…Indeed, if it's Leo Flov, his mobility is good, so he could quickly disengage from the battlefield."

Eliza narrowed her eyes.

"Shall we target Leo Flov?"

"No. Leo has good mobility. Of course, in the air, it's me. On the ground, Duran, and underwater, Eliza, can keep up with Leo's mobility."

Abad narrowed his eyes.

"Leo has high mobility in the air, on the ground, and underwater. If we try to capture him rashly, it will only lead to more casualties on our side."

Abad shook his head.

"Let's just reliably take down the base."

Abad unfolded a map.

"Celia is probably thinking the same as me. We will attack the front of Glory's base with our core forces. And Emio. You take the others and go to the rear of Glory's base as stealthily as possible."

***

Celia looked at the students.

"If you go behind Glory's base, you'll meet the detachment of Noble students. If those guys keep their promise, don't fight them. Attack together. Of course, it will be difficult to take it down at once. However, if we deal a significant blow to the base, the Glory students won't be able to actively participate in the battle."

"It's non-aggression… but we've unintentionally formed an alliance."

To Nella's muttering, Celia adopted a serious expression.

"The moment we gain an advantageous position against Glory, Noble and we will immediately engage in combat. So, don't let your guard down just because it's an alliance."

As the strategy meeting was nearing its end.

Fweeeeee-! Boom-!

Signal flares rose across Lake Rumelia.

Seeing that, Celia said.

"Alright, let's move!"

At those words, the second-year students began to move.

***

Emio led the Noble students towards the rear of the island where Glory's base was located.

"It's nice weather."

Emio curled the corners of his mouth.

There was a mist covering the entire lake.

A perfect environment for stealthy movement.

Just then, a presence was felt from afar.

The Noble students looked wary.

"Harmony?"

"Yes, it's me. Emio."

"It's Nella."

Emio scowled.

"Abad devised this plan trusting your commander. Celia Zerdinger and Abad seem to have some understanding, despite their bickering."

"They've known each other since they were kids."

Nella gave her characteristic languid smile.

"Please take care until we bring down Glory. We'll take the lead, so follow behind."

Emio moved forward.

"Why does she want to take the lead? Does she think she's the commander?"

A Harmony student grumbled, and Nella smiled faintly.

"Soldiers always consider who occupies first the most important."

Nella shrugged her shoulders and led the Harmony students, following behind Noble.

Emio, who was advancing at the front, muttered inwardly.

'This feels unpleasant. It seems to be going according to Abad's plan.'

This time, it was an exam with many strategic elements.

As such, he thought that he, as the heir to a military family, would be able to play an active role.

However, the students unanimously chose Abad as the commander.

That's fine.

The problem is…

'Why did they make that commoner, Kal, his staff officer?'

Moreover, Kal had perfectly figured out the opponent's attack route.

That fact bothered him even more.

'It means that commoner is going to be active perfectly, doesn't it?'

He wished Kal's information was wrong, when suddenly.

Shhh—!

A presence was felt from the front.

Emio paused, inwardly cheered, and curled the corners of his mouth.

"It seems Kal was wrong after all."

"What?"

"It's Glory."

At Emio's words, the Noble students urgently entered combat readiness.

The Harmony students also prepared for battle.

"This is going to be interesting. Let's see who's here."

As Emio began to deploy his magic.

"I'll wipe you all out."

Emio quickly chanted a spell.

However, the opponent's chanting finished faster than his.

Fwoosh—!

Moreover, the power was as strong as the magic Emio was preparing.

Emio, who had been caught off guard by the unexpected powerful magic, widened his eyes.

Kua-ga-ga-ga-!

"What?!"

The fire-elemental magic that evaporated the mist in an instant engulfed Emio.

Emio, who was caught in a sudden ambush, tried to defend hastily, but the flames were faster.

Fwoosh—!

Emio, hit by the flames, was instantly judged dead and returned.

"You shouldn't let your guard down."

Nella, seeing the figure that appeared through the gap in the dissipating mist, let out a groan.

"Leo?"

"Why is he here!"

"Was the information wrong?"

Leo, who was supposed to attack Noble, appeared in the rear.

The mist hid Leo's figure again.

"Read the presence!"

"How many Glory members have come to intercept!"

"I can't feel anything!"

"No way…"

The Harmony and Noble students had bewildered expressions.

"Alone?"

"Correct."

Vroooom! Fwoosh—!

Seeing the soaring flames, the students' faces hardened.

Kua-ga-ga-ga-!

A giant flame maneuver rose.