Chapter 11: Battle of Elites [1]
In the empty lecture hall after all the students had left.
Grad and Rosalia displayed a map of the northern mountainous region at the front.
The extensive northwestern mountain region map showed the real-time positions of each pair.
This was possible because the maps distributed to them were engraved with not only defensive magic that would determine elimination but also real-time location tracking magic.
The teaching assistant reported the situation.
"Students are being eliminated faster than expected. Most notably, none have been eliminated by monsters."
Only 4 hours had passed since the exercise began, but 11 pairs had already been eliminated.
This rate—nearly one-tenth—far exceeded their expectations.
The fact that no one had fallen to monsters meant only one thing: conflict among the students themselves.
"Three pairs stand out in particular. The Rudger Schwaben and Almon Donertz pair, the Carlo Deneb and Allia Torta pair, and the Luina Berchef and Gerhard Goldenheim pair."
"Gerhard Goldenheim? What do you think, Professor Rosalia?"
"It's somewhat unexpected. Gerhard wasn't a student who preferred to take the initiative."
"I suppose he's following Luina's lead. Luina always gives her best to an almost frightening degree."
From Rosalia's perspective, it was honestly a bit surprising. The Gerhard she'd observed was more of a merchant than a nobleman.
He pursued profit and practicality rather than honor. She didn't understand why he'd chosen Luina as his partner from the start.
"Is it about money after all? But if that's the case, there's no reason for Gerhard to accommodate Luina."
"If Gerhard is acting that way, it must be because it benefits him more."
A student who prioritized profit above all else. That was the Gerhard that Rosalia had observed over the past year.
"The only thing he could gain by pairing with Luina and accommodating her would be high grades. Until now, he hasn't seemed particularly fixated on grades, has he?"
"Gerhard recently visited the Goldenheim family. Perhaps he received different orders from the Duke."
"That does sound plausible."
Grad stroked his chin.
"Well, it's not particularly important. Professor Rosalia, who do you think will take first place?"
"I believe it will be one of the three pairs I mentioned earlier."
"To be more specific?"
"They're all so formidable that I cannot give you a definitive answer."
"You're so rigid."
Just then, Grad's expression changed as he observed two dots meeting on the map.
"At least the three possibilities will soon be reduced to two."
"They might agree to part ways and continue on their separate paths."
"Well, that's possible too."
Grad stepped onto the magic circle.
"Are you leaving?"
"If they clash, those students' safety cannot be fully guaranteed by teaching assistants alone. You stay here and continue monitoring the situation."
"Yes, sir."
With a flash of light, Grad disappeared from the spot.
Left alone in the lecture hall, Rosalia calmly sat and examined the map.
She could see numerous dots moving busily.
Sometimes they met, clashed, and fled. Some searched for other students to earn bonus points, while others steadily headed north solely for their objective.
Among those chaotic dots, Rosalia's gaze focused on only two locations.
"...Rudger Schwaben, Gerhard Goldenheim."
On the two most important second-year students.
***
"Knight Department's Jane Hucks and Magic Department's Ned Falan have been eliminated. Bonus points awarded to Knight Department's Luina Berchef and Magic Department's Gerhard Goldenheim."
Immediately after Luina incapacitated Jane, a teaching assistant appeared and took them away.
The map not only showed locations but also served as a means to protect students and verify elimination.
"Since there's defensive magic, I won't need to hold back from now on."
"That was holding back?"
"I was planning to stop at the last moment. Though with the defensive magic, that wasn't necessary."
"She looked like she was about to faint."
"Jane has always been a bit timid. She'll need to overcome that if she wants to become a knight."
Luina was genuinely concerned about her. Gerhard, realizing that continuing this conversation would only give him a headache, changed the subject.
"So, where are we heading next?"
The two were currently surveying the ground from the sky, with Gerhard having raised the earth high using his magic. Below them stretched vast mountains.
"The location marked on the map is the northern coastal region, and we seem to be around here."
"The western mountainous region."
The north was the largest area among the Academy grounds, divided into east and west.
"We should head northeast."
"Let's do that."
Gerhard dispelled his magic. The tall rock wall descended back to the ground.
"There were quite a few people around, weren't there?"
"Yes."
"What do you want to do?"
"Do I need to answer that?"
Gerhard's lips curled up at her predictable response.
'The top and second-ranked students emerge every year. But very few among them have become Royal Knights.'
But the prophecy book had mentioned it, and at least all the prophecies so far had come true.
That's why he decided to verify further.
'Verification can never be excessive.'
Because he was a merchant. Someone who could suffer massive losses from a single mistake or wrong information. One who always had to doubt, investigate again, and add certainty upon certainty.
He had no intention of ending his proof and verification after just once or twice. His partnership with Luina would not only earn her favor but also test her abilities.
"It's coming from the west."
"Yes, the west."
The presence was felt from the west.
"I'll go first before we lose them."
Luina shot forward like an arrow, kicking off from the ground.
"I wasn't planning on falling behind."
"...What was that?"
"People should use magic when they can. It's less taxing on the body."
Cruuunch—
Gerhard stood still with his arms crossed. Despite not moving at all, the earth flowed beneath him, keeping him right next to Luina.
"I've never seen that magic before."
"I learned it quickly from our family's magician. I detest sweating."
"Regular exercise prevents illness."
"Mana takes care of my health."
"...You're like a lazy merchant."
"...What did you say?"
"Nothing at all."
Luina drew her sword. The sharp blade reflected the sunlight.
"It's Luina!"
"Run!"
"Damn it, talk about bad luck, of all people!"
The battle had begun.
***
Indeed, the second-ranked student deserved her position.
Watching Luina fight, Gerhard thought as much.
Aint Armian's assessment that she was beautiful wasn't wrong.
Luina Berchef's swordsmanship was fast, elegant, and seemingly noble.
'So that's...'
The secret sword technique of the guardian family that had protected the northern empire, which his father had coveted.
Seeing it made him feel greedy.
But he soon shook his head.
A great merchant should pursue distant large profits rather than small immediate gains.
The battle ended in an instant without Gerhard needing to intervene. Partly because the pairs they encountered were low-ranked, but also because Luina was overwhelmingly strong.