Chapter 91: Anticipating the Prince [2]
Right now, Group 4 was just pretending to follow Gerhard to deceive him.
"You don’t mean...?"
"I was faster, Gerhard."
This time, he wouldn’t concede the first place.
***
"Stop."
At the quiet murmur, all members of Group 3 halted at once. Gerhard unfolded the map to check their current location.
Group 1’s base was midway up a mountain covered with dense trees—ancient oaks and towering pines whose branches intertwined to form a natural ceiling that obscured much of the sky. The undergrowth was thick with ferns and wild shrubs, providing countless hiding spots for defenders. Moss-covered rocks jutted from the soil at unpredictable intervals, creating natural obstacles that would slow any direct assault. It was exceptionally good for ambushes and traps, a fortress enhanced by nature itself rather than constructed by human hands.
The other groups weren’t much different, as such locations were deliberately assigned.
"Why? We still have to go further to reach the meeting place."
"We’re not going."
"...What?"
"You mean from the beginning?"
Gerhard nodded and said:
"There’s no such thing as cowardice in war."
"I didn’t say anything."
"Your eyes are cursing me."
"..."
"We’ll attack Group 4 like this."
Distance-wise, Group 3 was the farthest from Group 1, so naturally, the other groups had to arrive first.
But at the meeting place, not far from Group 1’s base, there was no one.
Everyone felt a sense of foreboding, but Gerhard remained calm.
"Then why did we come all the way here?"
"Because there’s something I want to confirm. Only some of you follow me."
"It seems like you know something."
"I do. I know Rudger well. I can anticipate how he’ll act."
Gerhard moved cautiously with a few people. And they discovered.
Those gathered at the promised place and, far away, a small number of people heading toward Group 1.
"...No way?"
"That ’no way’ is probably correct."
"Then what do we do? Are we doomed?"
"Do you mean those three groups are forming a team instead?"
"After agreeing to work with us...!"
Gerhard took out a magic telescope from his pocket. It didn’t show very far, but he could roughly grasp the movements at the base.
"Now, do you understand why I said we should go to Group 4?"
"But will burglary work properly? If we don’t go, those guys will notice something strange too."
"From what I just confirmed, all the students ranked in the top 10 were there. They probably intended to devour us when we let our guard down, but conversely, that means?"
"It’s definitely empty...?"
"Not bad, no, it’s good, right?"
At those words, other students shouted:
"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go quickly!"
***
"Don’t move."
Almon smiled brightly.
In front of him was the flag. The flag with the number 4, symbolizing Group 4. If he pulled it out, Group 4 would be finished.
"...Calm down, Almon. Let’s resolve this with dialogue first."
"Yeah, don’t you think this is wrong?"
The students of Group 4 tried to persuade Almon calmly.
’Damn it, to think they’d divert Almon here...’
’Why us of all groups...!’
’How do we stop Almon who’s determined to break through? He’s a monster.’
They noticed too late, but they did their best. Wizards attacked, and knights blocked the front.
But Almon deflected all magic while eliminating two knights. Then he broke through in a straight line to stand in front of the flag, resulting in the current situation.
’If only Herold or Doria were here...!’
The difference in level between those ranked in the top 10 and those who weren’t was bigger than expected. If they had been here, it wouldn’t have been so easily penetrated.
"What’s wrong is you all, excluding us and forming a conspiracy."
"Ah, no...!"
"Yes!"
With that, Almon pulled out the flag.
At that moment.
Fwoosh-
A simple wave of mana emanating from the flag spread throughout the field, and all the maps of Group 4 students began to burn.
Everyone was eliminated.
"...Ah."
"We’re eliminated so pathetically?"
"No way...!"
"No! It’s all Herold’s fault! He said we should attack together and take him down first!"
The eliminated students sat down with dejected expressions.
"Good, I didn’t disappoint His Highness."
Seeing the defeated ones, Almon smiled with satisfaction.
Due to the forceful breakthrough focusing solely on the flag, his aura consumption was significant, and he had minor injuries, but it was all worth it with this outcome.
That’s what he thought.
"It’s been a while since we met like this. Isn’t that right, Almon?"
If only a large number of people hadn’t suddenly appeared to surround him.
And if only Luina, the only one among the second-years who made him tense, wasn’t at the forefront.
If only Gerhard Goldenheim following behind wasn’t smiling vilely.
"...Luina? Gerhard? How?"
"You’re in the palm of my hand no matter how much you struggle. Thank you for doing our work for us."
"Weren’t you going to attack us?"
"Correct. But Rudger was also making moves. So we decided to finish off another team first. Thanks to you for doing it for us, though."
"...Why here of all places?"
"Because I would have done the same if I were Rudger."
It was because Carlo Deneb was in Group 2. Someone backed by the imperial family.
Rudger would have thought that if he just finished off Group 4, he could easily handle Group 3 together with Group 2. Whom would he send to such a place?
Someone trustworthy, the strongest who could definitely pull out the flag.
Gerhard was certain it would be Almon.
But since it was sort of confidential, Gerhard didn’t bother to mention it.
"It’s a coincidence."
"Ha...!"
Almon, who had been cautiously watching, lunged forward. But he couldn’t achieve his goal.
"Where do you think you’re going?"
"...Luina. You’re a noble knight. Do you intend to participate in such a cowardly tactic?"
"I don’t think someone who sneaked in to pull out the flag should be saying that."
"I broke through fair and square."
"...In war, victory is noble."
"So you’ll also join in the joint attack?"
Luina tried hard to avoid Almon’s gaze.
"Capture him."
As Gerhard’s order fell.
Fwoosh-
Almon’s map burned.
"...Hmm?"
The same happened to Rudger’s, who had belatedly followed Almon after realizing Gerhard wouldn’t come.
"...Ha, Gerhard, you damned bastard."
There wasn’t a single thing about him that was likeable.
Rudger gritted his teeth.