HTACS 55

Chapter 55

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Actually. I was exempt from military service.

Well, of course. Orphans don’t have to serve.

But that means I had the right to choose exemption, and conversely, if I volunteered, I could enlist.

So I enlisted. I was a winter recruit, and I was a combat engineer.

The reason I joined the military was simple. I was going to live and die at construction sites anyway, and I heard that if you had a combat engineer background, you could get an extra 10,000 won per day at the office.

Anyway, since I was a winter recruit, I went through extreme cold training as a private.

And I felt it then.

If you underestimate a mountain night, you die.

I’m not joking—you die. It’s so miserable that dying would be easier. Your feet feel like they’re falling off, and when you breathe in, the inside of your nose freezes. You can feel frost forming on your eyelids, and if you keep your eyes open too long, you get the illusion that your eyeballs are freezing. Maybe it’s not even an illusion.

Anyway, mountains are dangerous. Especially sleeping on a mountain is even more dangerous.

Nevertheless, the reactions of our proud Zefflin Student Council members were quite varied.

“Lighting a fire and watching the stars at night would be really nice, right?”

“Yeah. There’ll be tons of stars visible, right?”

Keep that up and you’ll become stars yourselves, seriously.

“Now, everyone. The Sleeping Mountain Range is a place where real monsters appear, so don’t take it too lightly. Understood?”

“Yesss!”

“……”

They listened to Eve’s advice like a teacher’s words before a field trip and even answered in unison like that.

That’s exactly how elementary school sixth-graders felt.

“No, it’s really dangerous…”

“Don’t worry too much, my liege. We are also members of the Zefflin Student Council. Everyone can defend themselves to some extent.”

“Silphia…”

“Trust us.”

“Th-true. No, this is my lack of virtue. How can I again…”

“My liege. The next expedition, depending on circumstances, might be several months away.”

“Uh, hmm. Ughhh… ugh… hnnng…”

Steam puffed from Eve’s head and she broke down.

“Eve von Lohengrin.”

“……”

“This expedition is genuinely dangerous if carried out. I’m not joking. You know that, right?”

“I know.”

“Then why don’t you stop it?”

“There’s no budget. No time either. If we try to gather again next time, it could be months from now.”

Well, that’s how administration works.

“Then why is everyone wearing uniforms and leather shoes? Weren’t we going to a mountain?”

“We are the student council at all times. We dress accordingly.”

“Isn’t there anyone from the Knight Department in the student council…? If there was even a third-year from the Knight Department, they could have advised on attire.”

“It’s the professor’s instructions.”

According to Eve’s brief explanation, even gathering like this and going on an expedition itself was quite a stretch. Professors’ approval, acquiring information on the Black Flag’s hideout, timing of the subjugation, costs for equipment, schedules of all students—this was the one and only opportunity created with all of those aligned.

After that explanation, I was able to make one inference.

“What was so urgent? The Eve von Lohengrin I knew would never have pushed things this hastily. You didn’t even resist the professors’ words?”

“……”

Eve just clenched her fist and trembled. Complicated sixteen-year-old, I suppose.

Anyway, the budget shortage is partly my fault too.

I’ll have to think about whether to help or not if things go south.

—

The thumping adventure with about twenty student council executives began.

These were the ones who pointed their swords and spears at me and dragged me down from the student council president’s chair.

They glanced at me riding the cart up the mountain path.

“Wolfram…? Why?”

“Shh. Don’t make eye contact.”

Yeah, don’t make eye contact. Don’t pay attention to me.

“Ha…”

“What’s so funny?”

When I chuckled, Silphia spoke to me.

She just butts in every time I say something.

“Nothing. I was just thinking how much attention these students pay to me.”

“…Do you even understand your situation? How can you be so shameless…”

“Situation? I know it well. I’m an outside guest permitted to join the expedition at the invitation of Student Council President Eve von Lohengrin, am I not?”

“…Ugh.”

“The guest treatment is rather poor. Don’t forget that your hospitality reflects directly on your president, Eve von Lohengrin.”

“Don’t act so high and mighty, Wolfram!”

“Is that the hospitality of this year’s cohort?”

“…Ugh. Fine. I’ll treat you that way for now. But, but remember this. We haven’t forgiven you yet. We don’t even think you’ll be of any help on this expedition!”

“Watch out for the rock ahead.”

“Eek!”

Silphia nearly tripped and barely caught herself by grabbing my cart, and I chuckled.

“Looks like I helped you after all, didn’t I?”

“…There won’t be a next time!”

“If there is?”

“…I’ll stake my life on it—there won’t be!”

Right. That’s a good mindset.

I hope that’s true. Really.

“I don’t care if you’re hostile to me, but don’t waste your stamina unnecessarily.”

“What?”

“If you underestimate the mountain, you’ll actually die.”

“What are you talking about…?”

Well, you’ll understand once you experience it.

Let’s see. Eve said the hideout was quite deep inside, and we’d probably arrive around lunchtime tomorrow.

So today, we’re looking at four more hours of hiking, no exceptions?

—

“…Hii. Hiiik.”

“Huff… huff.”

“Ah…! Ugh!”

Four hours of hiking—and that too in patent leather shoes and sparkling white uniforms.

At some point, the students who had been glaring at me one by one lost interest, and instead directed even more hatred toward the hill ahead of them.

Even walking on the paved road the great ancestor built directly on the Sleeping Mountain Range, the difficulty was no joke.

“Hoo. Hrrh…!”

Silphia Evergreen Grove wasn’t saying anything either, but it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was half-dead.

In the official setting, she’s the eldest daughter of an urban elven noble family, so this might be her first mountain hike.

Well, anyway.

Not only the crazy professors forcing them to climb in patent leather shoes more uncomfortable than combat boots, but I can also understand the students’ hardships having to endure it.

So I sincerely comforted them with all my heart.

“Didn’t I tell you? Don’t underestimate the mountain.”

“Sh-shut up… you’re riding comfortably…!”

“Mhm.”

Well, that’s true.

Patrasche performs well. Pulls well. Even on a paved road, he does well.

Of course, this is the power of the lowest-grade magic stone placed on Patrasche’s back.

The durability of that magic stone is probably around 100, and the output is 1 per hour, so Patrasche receives 1 MP per hour for 100 hours. It’s a pretty expensive item, but I splurged on it for today’s exploration.

How should I put it—I’m not sure if this expression is right, but it’s like an office worker on night shift getting IV fluids.

“…Someday, when I break my contract with you, I might kill you. Master.”

“Mhm. I’ll look forward to that day.”

I hope that day comes. Right?

—

There’s a saying, isn’t there.

The moment you say you want to die, you’re still in a position to live.

The students gradually fell silent, and only irregular breathing echoed around.

The gazes that had hated me riding on Patrasche’s cart turned to envy and jealousy, then realizing it was useless, they withdrew their gazes, and by the time they forgot about dying and were truly just dying—

So, about three hours into the hike.

We encountered our first monster.

By my estimate, we’d gone much deeper than when I came with Nephti and Rudika. The number of monsters had noticeably decreased compared to before.

I wondered why, and then a voice rang out from somewhere.

“They fear daggers! When they cast magic and close in, thrust a dagger at them!”

……Was there a pattern like that?

I pondered for a moment, then nodded.

“Rudika must have killed that many of them. That’s only natural.”

The mountain of corpses and sea of blood she piled up eventually gave the monsters psychological trauma and ended up helping the student council.

Anyway, they took down a series of monsters. There were no injuries, but fear had taken root in the students’ faces.

They realized that they had to come this deep into the mountain and actually fight real monsters. There was still a long way to go to the destination, and they couldn’t turn back now.

“W-we’ll make it, right?”

“We won just now! We just have to keep winning!”

“We have Eve-sama with us too! We’ll be f-fine!”

This isn’t good.

They might lose the will to walk. If they stall and collapse here, they’ll be truly done for.

“…Eve. Set up camp.”

“Huh? But we’re still…”

“Wolfram. What do you know, anyway…”

Silphia interrupted, but I shot her a sharp glare.

“Shut up, rookie. You know nothing about mountains. Also, you have no authority here. And I’m speaking to Eve von Lohengrin right now.”

“…Wh-what?”

“Eve. The students are severely unsettled. Set up camp, have a meal, and give them advice and encouragement. Otherwise, they’ll actually break down.”

“……”

“Besides, night comes early in the mountains. By the time the sun sets, setting up camp becomes impossible. Now is the right time.”

“You’re right, Wolfram. I’ll begin preparations for camp.”

“Eve-sama…”

Silphia looked at Eve’s choice as if she couldn’t believe it, and I glared at her.

“Silphia Evergreen Grove.”

“……Why are you calling me?”

“Enough. Opposition for the sake of opposition is disgusting. Was there anything wrong with my logic? Listen up now. After this moment, keep your mouth shut.”

“U-ugh.”

“If you’re Eve’s guardian knight, think first about Eve’s objective and what you need to do to achieve it.”

“……”

“A useless retainer has no place by Eve’s side. If you show such disgraceful behavior again, I will advise the imperial family to remove you from your position as guardian knight.”

“Any objections?”

“…N-none.”

Silphia bowed her head deeply, her fists clenched tightly.

So obedient.

How well-behaved.

—

Anyway, camp preparations began, and as expected—the worst-case scenario came true.

“W-well, somehow. Somehow we made it work. Really…”

“Mhm.”

Even though we started camp preparations while the sun was still up, by the time we finished meal preparations it was already midnight.

After eating, setting up tents, lighting the bonfire, and before entering the tents, Eve gathered everyone for a brief briefing on future instructions.

“And so. After sleeping tonight, we will reach the Black Flag’s base tomorrow.”

“…So tomorrow will be a real big battle.”

“Uh, yeah, I suppose so?”

“…What if we’re exhausted from encountering monsters on the way, and the Black Flag picks a fight then?”

Someone’s words were picked up by another. Fear spread in an instant.

A bunch of kids gathered together, fighting real monsters, and tomorrow they might have to fight villains who casually ignore school rules.

“Now, calm down. Surely tomorrow will be fine.”

Eve was the same. Saying things like “Surely tomorrow will be fine” is something a leader facing battle should never say.

“……It’s cold.”

“Even with the bonfire? …I’m a bit cold too.”

Of course you’re cold. The night on a mountain is no joke.

…

…Hmm.

I really don’t want to step up. But if the kids are anxious, isn’t it an adult’s job to soothe them?

“Finding it tough?”

“Ugh, n-no.”

“Eve von Lohengrin. Hand over the speech. I’ll wrap things up neatly.”

“P-pardon?”

“Hand it over.”

“…Understood.”

Eve stepped down from the podium, and when I went up, the crowd looked up at me with dead fish eyes.

I scanned them briefly. Wolfram is an adult, and he has to soothe the children.

Thinking that, I looked at them. It felt quite novel.

When I first opened my eyes in this world, weren’t these the first faces I saw?

They cast me out, persecuted me, and I nearly starved to death because of them.

And now I’m supposed to encourage them.

……

“Is this the bunch of brats who kicked me out and seized power? Huddling together, crying that you want to go home, that you miss your mom—what a wonderful sight, you little chicks.”

Encouragement?

Why would I?

“You lost all your spirit after just four hours of hiking and one monster encounter, and you’re going to fight the Black Flag? Don’t talk nonsense. Go back to the dormitory, wash up, sleep well, and try again next time.”

At my words, the chicks cowered even more. Some of them hung their heads.

“However, at least the two of us—me and Eve von Lohengrin—will head to the Black Flag’s main camp tomorrow morning. Right?”

“…Yes. That’s correct. I’ll go even if I’m alone.”

“I’ll accompany you as well.”

When I glanced sideways, Eve answered immediately, and Silphia followed.

“The two of them are going. They’re both highly respected, so aside from me, do you intend to send just those two to the battlefield? Is this year’s student council like that?”

The other students were still hesitating. In their hearts, they wanted to go, but they were too afraid to take a step forward.

This is the point.

The turning point where I have to speak properly.

**【Imperial Bloodline activated!】**

**【Then, I shall erase your fears all at once.**】

In an instant, everyone’s gaze fixed on me.

“Do you see that cart? What do you think is inside? My camping gear? No. If you’re a student council executive, you must have at least heard the rumors. 【The stat-boosting snacks handled by Trista Trading Company】. I have procured and brought them.”

Murmurs grew louder. I’ve heard of it. That’s right. Such words spread among them. Why does Wolfram have them? He’s that Trista lady’s fiancé! That’s right! Similar words emerged. Thank you, Ayla. Thanks to you, this will be easier.

“With these snacks, ordered by Eve von Lohengrin, produced by Ayla Trista, and personally transported by me—【you will surely win.】 【Your mind will be stabilized,】 【your stats will rise,】 【they taste good,】 【and they won’t make you gain weight】—these snacks will 【lead you to victory.】”

At those words, the students’ eyes slowly lost focus. Before long, people started saying things like “We really can win. Yeah, we can win!” began to increase.

It’s working. It’s working.

This is the control of a master of Imperial Bloodline. A skill akin to brainwashing—activating only the words that leave a strong impression and hammering them in.

“That’s not all. The night on the mountain is cold. But I’ve also brought something that will dispel your chill. Look—heat packs!”

With that, I handed a heat pack from my pocket to a student in front, and they passed it around, confirming the warmth. …It’s hot. It’s warm.

“With these heat packs, you will be able to endure this cold—no, 【even the cold in your hearts.**】

Not that it actually has that function.

“At the same time, 【by eating these snacks, you will gain valor comparable to the Magic God Guard that walked alongside the great ancestor in tomorrow’s battle.**】

Though if that actually came out now, it’d break the balance.

“Now, every factor that could make you speak of defeat is gone. Or, 【are there still any mama’s boys or girls left, crying like chicks and saying they want to go home?】”

As I scanned the crowd, one person clenched their fist.

“Can we win? With this much, can we seize victory?”

“Not ‘can we’… We will win. We can win!”

“We’ll definitely win! Let’s show that bastard Wolfram what we’re made of!”

“Damn it, Wolfram you bastard! Can you stand hearing that from him?! He’s the one we kicked out! If he’s better than us, then what does that make us?!”

“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!”

“RAAAAAH! We’ll win! WE’LL WINNNN!!”

The students clenched their fists and raised them to the sky.

Yes, yes. A great mindset. It’s because young people like you protect Zefflin that a kicked-out Wolfram can sleep with both legs stretched out.

I stepped down from the podium and faced Eve.

Her eyes slightly bloodshot, she trudged toward me.

“Was that a speech worth listening to?”

“Big brother Wolfram…”

Before Eve could say anything, I first drove the nail in.

“Ah, Eve. I forgot to mention something.”

“Hm. Mm. Hmm. Yes. Wh-what is it?”

“I’m billing everything—including the cost of this speech—to the student council.”

“…………Pardon?”

“Don’t worry. We also accept central bank card installment plans.”

Do they even have cards?

Well, whatever.

“Wolfram?”

“What?”

“Go die.”

“Unfortunately, I have no intention of dying until I see just how far my family register mate below me can run the student council into the ground.”

And so we smiled and raised our middle fingers at each other.