HTACS 54

Chapter 54

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“Pardon?”

Silphia Evergreen Grove.

Yggdrasil’s messenger and Eve’s guardian knight. The second-ranked student in the Knight Department’s fourth year.

She has silver ponytail as her feature and excels in empathy with nature, earning the title of 【Spirit Knight】.

She widened her eyes at her liege lord Eve von Lohengrin’s instructions.

For a vassal loyal to the imperial family, this was an unbecoming display.

But because Eve’s instructions were so unexpected, Silphia had no choice but to ask again.

“What did you just say?”

“I said Wolfram will be joining this Black Flag expedition.”

“P-please wait a moment, my liege. Why did you make such a decision?”

“Mhm. Well, you see…”

Eve’s words became hesitant.

To question her liege lord and even make her hesitate!

This was a matter worthy of self-execution as a vassal.

Before waiting for her liege’s answer, Silphia reasoned it out first and reached a conclusion.

“Ah. I understand completely.”

“Y-you understand? How?”

“Because I am my liege’s sword.”

“……?”

Silphia, raised in the Evergreen Forest.

The exact opposite of her name’s meaning.

Born into a noble family and raised in the city, she was able to grasp this truth.

Why must Wolfram, reduced to a common student, accompany Eve?

She had realized the dirty imperial power struggle hidden within!

Imperial bloodline.

The difference between Eve von Lohengrin and Wolfram.

And the complex politics.

“It can’t be helped. Is it external pressure from the imperial family?”

“P-pardon?”

“It’s unavoidable. However, I will engrave this humiliation in my heart and move forward.”

“?”

Eve floated a question mark above her head, but Silphia nodded with tears welling in her eyes.

“I swear upon the name of Silphia Evergreen Grove. I will chew over this humiliation and walk the path of glory alongside my liege. Until the day you take hold of the world.”

“…Ah, mhm. Thank you, Silphia.”

She doesn’t fully understand, but it seems Silphia is satisfied.

“Ah. So shall we organize the expedition team with Wolfram von Lohengrin included?”

“That’s right?”

At Eve’s words, Silphia answered with a troubled expression.

“As you know, this is our first expedition too, my liege.”

“Yes. That’s right. We’ve been managing internal discipline, but this is the first time we’ve learned there’s a hideout outside.”

“But in the midst of that, we have to include Wolfram as a destabilizing factor… His stats are also atrocious, aren’t they?”

“Aha.”

In a sense, Silphia was right.

Wolfram von Lohengrin’s stats were nothing but destabilizing.

They were at a level where you could just call him trash.

However, that doesn’t mean it determines Wolfram’s limits.

“That part will be fine.”

“Is… that so?”

“Yes. Wolfram von Lohengrin’s inclusion won’t be a big problem.”

“I will follow your will.”

At Eve’s words, Silphia nodded.

There’s no way her liege’s chosen path could be wrong.

But if her liege is human and sometimes makes mistakes, then as a vassal, it’s her duty to support her as much as possible after the mistake.

Silphia intended to respect Eve’s choice.

As long as it wasn’t a major mistake.

As she left the student council room, Silphia murmured softly.

“Please, do not burden Eve-sama any further. Wolfram von Lohengrin.”

She sincerely hoped it wouldn’t be a major mistake.

—

Thump-thump expedition day with the people who exiled me!

Wow! Today we’ve invited the Wolfram von Lohengrin we personally exiled!

“…Mhm.”

They’re not going to pull a sudden surprise execution party for Wolfram von Lohengrin afterward, are they?

Surely, Eve wouldn’t do something that evil. Big brother trusts his little sister.

But what if they put out an ending saying the Black Flag killed Wolfram, and unfortunately recovered his corpse from the hands of the beasts, with the entire student council becoming accomplices?!

“…No. This is a question with no answer. I’ll have to experience it to know.”

It’s true I’m anxious, but Eve is naturally incapable of lying. If she says she’ll promote me, she’ll actually promote me.

“Besides, I remember this expedition. There’s nothing to lose by going.”

I’ve played it from Kelterus’s perspective before, but it was a 2-1 event, and it drops a fairly symbolic item.

An item I absolutely must obtain to accomplish this Wolfram von Lohengrin’s great undertaking.

Moreover, aside from this episode in the main story, it’s difficult to acquire.

“Mhm.”

This really seems like it’ll be a thump-thump camping event.

The students under Eve who hate Wolfram, my only ally being my family register mate Eve—plus—

“Come to think of it.”

Originally, Act 2 was called “Thump-Thump Academy” or “Fling-Fling Academy” by players.

“So it applies to me in a different sense too.”

Well.

If it’s going to thump anyway,

rather than romance or flings, wouldn’t the thump of feeling life-and-death crisis be more intense?

—

And the next day.

After what felt like forever, I visited the forest street where Yggdrasil’s elves do business.

The last time I came was to sell clothes, I think? How nostalgic.

“…Wolfram? Oh, for crying out loud.”

“I-I-I!! Wolfram! Wolfram, why?!”

Wow, what a warm welcome, thank you. And you, why are you hiding?

Tch.

Anyway, avoiding their furtive glances, I walked through the forest street.

On one side, new buildings constructed with recently introduced methods. On the other, classic wooden structures.

City elves and forest elves. This street where the past and present of elves coexist was complex yet harmonious, crowded yet orderly.

Normally, novels would describe it that eloquently, but if I summarize my impression in one word:

“Total mess.”

That would be it.

How should I put it? On one side, it’s like Dongdaemun’s bustling market under construction…

Well, anyway. I have things to buy today, so let’s buy them quickly and return. As I walked with that thought, I spotted a figure.

“Hey Nep! It’s lunchtime! Eat your snack and get back to work!”

“Yes!”

…Why is she here?

Nephti lightly dropped the H-beam she was carrying to the ground and stretched her waist and arms.

Her sweat glistening in the sunlight. Watching Nephti with steam rising off her in this spring weather, I thought that’s what a true working youth looks like, but I pretended not to notice.

Lately, we’ve been meeting too much. Meeting you is a hassle. Don’t come barging into the convenience store in the middle of the night to argue about split ratios.

“Oh, Senior!”

“Mhm.”

Damn. Busted.

“What brings you all the way here?!”

“Nothing important. You’re working hard. Good work.”

“Not at all! You’ve worked hard too, Senior!”

“……”

What did I do to deserve “good work”?

As I tilted my head, Nephti grinned.

“The settlement money. Thank you.”

“…Mhm. Ah, right. Since you handled the sales.”

So I gave her about another hundred thousand lin more. Nephti got 400,000. Me and Rudika got 300,000 each.

Rudika said she’d take all of it, but I couldn’t let that happen.

“A hundred thousand lin is my daily wage. My day has been extended thanks to you, Senior?”

“Uh, mhm. Is that so…”

“Yes!”

With that, Nephti giggled.

I stared at Nephti and tilted my head.

“Was your hair always like that?”

“Huh? Ah… It’s comfortable, so I just tied it up for a bit.”

“I see.”

Nephti with her short hair tightly tied into a ponytail. Not her usual wavy bob, but such a sharp look. This old Wolfram envies that kind of youth.

“So, where are you headed, Senior?”

“Mhm. I’m looking for a workshop. Somewhere that sells cheap and sturdy blankets or sleeping bags.”

“Ah! I know a place like that!”

“How do you know? …Can it be trusted?”

“It’s where we order all our site work clothes! My gloves and tank top are all ordered from there!”

“Oh.”

Then it’s trustworthy.

—

At Yggdrasil’s site-supply fabric shop, I bought a sturdy and durable tent, sleeping bag, blanket, pillow, heating tools, and countless other items. After requesting delivery, I returned to the convenience store.

I glared at Patrasche, who was yawning lazily at home.

He scratches his belly with his foot as if to say “what are you gonna do about it.” What’s up with that.

When I explained the upcoming mountain hike, he made a disgusted face, but I offered him half a day of freedom in exchange, allowing us to open a labor-management grand compromise session.

“I see. So you’re going out somewhere else tomorrow.”

“Mhm. This time it could get truly dangerous.”

“…I don’t know much about the Sleeping Mountain Range, but I’ve never felt a strong presence from that direction?”

“I’m talking about the students accompanying me—they might try to kill me.”

“I see. What do we do then?”

“Load me onto the cart and run. Absolutely don’t look back, no matter what.”

“…Understood. Simple enough.”

Anyway, with the escape plan neatly set, I laid out the crafting kit and activated the skill.

“What are you making?”

“Heat packs that last through the night.”

“That’s quite a lot, isn’t it?”

“It’s because everyone might need them.”

“…? Didn’t you say you’d be sleeping with people who are hostile to you?”

“I did.”

“Indeed. Even if they hate you, you’ll wrap them in affection?”

Patrasche bared his teeth in a grin, and I smiled back.

“I’m going to sell them to the ones who suck up to me.”

“…I see. I see.”

What.

Have you ever seen anything given away for free at a convenience store—aside from disposals?

—

And the morning of the thump-thump camping hike arrived.

The meeting point was in front of the academy exit leading toward the Sleeping Mountain Range, and since we agreed to meet early in the afternoon, I arrived around noon.

And there were Eve and one familiar Knight Department student.

“You’re here.”

“Mhm. Did I keep you waiting?”

“No, it’s fine. Um, that… thing.”

“What?”

Eve hesitated, then let out a deep sigh, and as if swallowing bitter medicine in one gulp, she spat it out rapidly.

“You’re early. Good work. Diligent. Impressive.”

“……”

That’s the first time I’ve ever heard praise with absolutely zero emotion in it.

Is this your version of “promoting me”?

I believe you. You really are an idiot.

“Enough. Don’t do things that don’t suit you.”

“……Ugh.”

“I’ll take care of myself. You just protect me when it looks like something irreversible is about to happen.”

“Understood.”

Good.

With this, even if everyone turns against me, Eve won’t attack me.

Then it’s worth trying to escape.

“…What does that mean? Wolfram von Lohengrin.”

“What do you mean?”

“Something irreversible—I’m asking what that means.”

Fluttering her silver hair, the Knight Department student glared at me.

Silphia Evergreen Grove.

Eve’s sword, and the knight who picked a fight with me when I successfully pulled off my rebellion against her.

I think she threatened me, saying I couldn’t survive on my own. And I replied with, “What are you gonna do about it?”

So she’s obviously—just looking at her aura tells you—she’s completely blue, meaning she’s full of hostility toward me.

Honestly, she’s pretty strong, and her elemental-enchanted sword attacks are fast and sharp, which is scary. She’s one of the people I shouldn’t provoke.

Right, I shouldn’t provoke her. I shouldn’t.

“What are you going to do about it?”

“…What?”

“Know your place, elf. You have no authority to intrude on a conversation between imperial bloodlines.”

“Tch.”

What am I supposed to do when I shouldn’t but I do?

My gut is telling me to diss you. The little Wolfram inside me is yelling, “Go ahead and flip them off! Haha!”

“……Hoo.”

Eve also sighed as if there was nothing she could do. In her heart, she probably wants to side with Silphia, but since she’s supposed to promote me, she has no choice.

Anyway, it was Wolfram von Lohengrin who broke the awkward atmosphere. Wolfram’s so kind. He knows how to change the mood when it gets shitty.

“By the way, everyone’s late. Isn’t this a hike? We should leave early.”

“…Is that so?”

Eve tilted her head.

?
Wait, you’re asking me that?

“The Sleeping Mountain Range from here… I’m not sure exactly where we’re heading, but just to the midpoint takes at least two hours?”

“Yes. We’re camping anyway, so it’s fine.”

“Did you finish your camping preparations properly?”

“Of course. I told everyone to bring tents and bedding.”

“And meals are prepared too.”

……

Something feels ominously off.

“Then, let me ask one more thing. You’ve assigned night watch, right? Bonfires? Auxiliary tools for perimeter defense or heating tools to prevent hypothermia?”

“……?”

Eve tilted her head.

“Hmph. It’s just the Sleeping Mountain Range. How strong could the monsters there possibly be? And it’s spring. Even if it gets cold at night, how cold could it get?”

“…Eve, what do you think?”

“…Ah.”

While Silphia fully affirmed her own words, Eve’s expression turned slightly pale. My words and where they were heading finally integrated in her mind.

“Let me ask you one thing, Eve. Is this your first outside expedition?”

“…I’ve done it under a professor’s guidance before.”

“That time… it wasn’t outside, but a place set up to simulate the outside, right?”

“…………….”

It’s obvious when you think about it.

These people… have never been outside even once.

They’ve only experienced similar environments provided by professors.

Just as Marine boot camp is different from being a Marine.

Just as indoor climbing is different from rock climbing.

They’re underestimating the fact that the place they’re heading to now is a real battlefield where real monsters appear.

“Don’t come crying and clinging to me later.”

I really don’t know what’s going to happen.

You idiots.