novelraw Chapter 588: Episode 588
Chapter 588: Episode 588
The five combat carriages carrying the Kizen students moved smoothly toward the Gahalic tribe’s fortress, leaving the swarm of monsters behind.
A short distance away, two men watched them go.
"So they broke through after all," muttered the Butcher, who was perched on a rock, scraping two cleavers together. He was still in his blood-stained apron and boots. "Your people are sloppy."
"I thought the plan was just to separate the blue-haired kid."
"The boy was resourceful," said the One-Eyed Gentleman, lowering his telescope. "We have no choice but to proceed with the original plan and capture them inside the fortress."
"Makes no difference to me."
The Butcher twirled a cleaver with a flick of his wrist and slid it into a sheath on his hip. In front of him lay a neatly butchered Mimic.
"Not much meat on these things. Hardly a satisfying cut."
"I don’t know what you mean, but my condolences," replied the One-Eyed Gentleman.
The Butcher slowly walked over and looked toward the distant lights.
"The last fortress of the Gahalic tribe, eh?"
He sneered and crossed his arms.
"Taking students to a place like that? Kizen’s teaching methods are as incomprehensible as ever."
"That’s practically tame for them. I’ve heard they’ll drop sleeping students right into the middle of a warzone."
"Still," the Butcher said, his gaze shifting to the countless monsters surrounding the fortress. "With a horde this size, won’t this problem solve itself if we just wait? I don’t see where we fit in."
"Under normal circumstances, the Gahalic tribe would have been annihilated here," the One-Eyed Gentleman said, his single eye rolling in its socket. "But the situation has changed. Fifty-two Kizen second-years, two of their professors, and the teaching assistants they brought along. That fortress is likely safer than a high lord’s citadel."
The Butcher let out a gravelly laugh.
"Aren’t you giving a little too much credit to a bunch of kids playing at war?"
"A precise analysis of the enemy is essential," the One-Eyed Gentleman said, turning his head. "But by the same token, our own preparations are flawless."
A chorus of shrill hisses filled the air as the surrounding Mimics began chugging potions filled with a crimson liquid. Others followed their lead, the act spreading like a virus. Reddish vapor streamed from the monsters’ mouths as their eyes turned bloodshot.
They were being enhanced.
"Good, good."
The Butcher touched a blood-stained fingertip to his tongue and licked it clean.
"Let’s get this party started."
---
The distance to the fortress narrowed. Grelion, riding in the first carriage, stuck his head out the window.
"Assistants! Raise the flags!"
"Yes, sir!"
The assistants raised a flag bearing the Kizen crest, crossing it with another on a blue field. The students watched the firmly shut fortress gate, their faces etched with anxiety.
"...What happens if they don’t open the gate?"
"What do you think? We all die."
Hearing this, Eshe snickered.
"If you die, I’ll turn you into an undead. Zombie? Skeleton? Take your pick."
"Those are some garbage options. Make me a lich, at least."
"Be grateful I don’t turn you into a chimera’s backside."
’Hahaha!’
The mood had been heavy after the battle. At times like these, Eshe’s vibrant personality was a godsend. Her non-stop chatter was a welcome distraction. Though sometimes grating, it had a way of cutting through the tension, reminding them of the mundane world that existed beyond the battlefield.
The other students, their anxiety easing, also began to chime in.
"Wow, look at all the archers on that wall. There are so many it’s creepy!"
"...Th-they won’t shoot at us, right?"
Of course, there were those like Toto who seemed determined to find something to worry about. Simon lightly tapped his thigh, a silent gesture for him to relax.
With a low rumble, the gate of the Gahalic fortress began to grind open, their flags having clearly been spotted.
"They’re opening it!"
"We’re going in!"
A wave of relief washed over the students. After crossing a narrow moat and a bridge, the five combat carriages safely entered the fortress.
The carriages stopped, and the students disembarked. A group was approaching to meet them: Gahalic warriors led by a middle-aged man in particularly ornate armor.
From their side, Professor Grelion stepped forward.
"Hahaha! It’s been a while!"
"ⴋⴘØⴆⴇÐ!"
The two men shared a warm embrace and spoke for a while. Simon couldn’t understand a word, but to his surprise, Grelion seemed fluent in the Gahalic tongue.
Grelion turned to the bewildered students and kindly translated.
"He says thank you for coming all this way to help."
The students murmured in understanding and returned the greeting, spouting whatever foreign languages they knew. Eshe finished with a cheerful, "Hyvä, hyvä," though its meaning was lost on everyone.
Still, a handshake was a universal language. The more sociable students shook hands with the soldiers or bumped fists.
"Professor Aaron."
"Yes."
The professors held a serious meeting for about ten minutes. Grelion seemed to be arguing for a firm stance, while Aaron appeared to be calming him down.
A moment later, a decision was reached. Aaron stepped forward.
"Everyone, listen up."
The students immediately fell silent.
"According to the Gahalic tribe, the monsters will attack at dawn. You will stand guard on the walls in three shifts. The rest will rest inside. Light naps are permitted, but do not let your guard down."
"Yes, sir!"
"Now, regarding the chain of command."
Aaron’s head assistant stepped to his side and opened a box containing communication crystals.
"While the basic strategy will be free-form combat, a minimal command structure is necessary. We will select a student commander."
Aaron picked up a red crystal from the box.
"There are many talented individuals here, but..."
His gaze swept over the students before settling on one person.
"Our department has the Student Council President."
All eyes turned to Simon. Hector, who had been secretly hoping for the position, clicked his tongue.
"May I say something, Professor?" Simon asked, raising his hand.
"Go ahead."
"Normally, I would take command, but this is a department-wide training exercise. So, I believe it’s only right that the department representative takes command."
Hector’s eyes widened as he glared at Simon. ’What kind of scheme is this?’
"A reasonable point," Aaron said, nodding. He tossed the red communication crystal. "Today’s student commander is Hector Moore."
Hector’s pupils trembled slightly as he caught the crystal.
"When the battle begins, follow the student commander’s instructions. I know you’re all eager to get your hands on a ’Guardian’ for your Dullahan, but don’t overdo it. Chasing a Guardian off the walls is suicide. Keep that in mind."
"Yes, sir!"
Aaron crossed his arms.
"The faculty will communicate if any problems arise. Follow our instructions with top priority, stopping whatever you are doing. That is all."
---
The procedures moved quickly. The assistants created a shift schedule, and the first team headed for the walls. The remaining students were guided into the Gahalic barracks.
"Hi," Eshe waved.
A group of young children, their lower halves barely covered by cloth, waved back shyly before running off to play, embarrassed.
The barracks were filled with women and children. It was puzzling why they hadn’t evacuated a fortress on the brink of war, but they all seemed determined not to abandon their home.
With the warriors outside, there were plenty of empty rooms. The students could rest wherever they pleased. A warm bonfire crackled in the center, smoke escaping through a hole in the ceiling.
Simon and the other members of Squad 10 claimed a room for themselves.
"You idiot! What were you thinking? Do you even have a brain in there?"
Eshe was wrapping a bandage around Toto’s arm.
"Who do you think you are, jumping out to save the President? Huh? What possessed you to pull a stunt like that!"
"I’m sorry, Eshe. O-ow, my arm hurts!" Toto whined.
A short distance away, Simon and Lorraine sat side by side.
"You’re one to talk, Eshe," Lorraine said with a sleepy smile. "Didn’t you jump out just as recklessly to save him?"
A flicker of guilt crossed Eshe’s face before she stammered out an excuse.
"I-I had no choice! Toto was in danger... n-no! If we lost a member, our performance evaluation scores would be shot!"
Simon chimed in.
"Remember how angry you were when we were going to save Toto? You said he might still be alive. That you’d go by yourself if you had to..."
"Aaaaaaah! I can’t hear you! Be quiet!"
Simon and Lorraine looked at each other and burst out laughing. Eshe huffed in frustration and turned away, while Toto’s face was so red it looked like it was about to catch fire.
"R-really..."
Toto, mustering every last bit of courage, lifted his head and spoke in a voice as quiet as a crawling ant.
"You... you really tried to save me?"
"N-no, I didn’t! It’s because you jumped in so stupidly!"
Watching them, Lorraine said quietly,
"Somehow, those two seem to have gotten closer."
Simon nodded and smiled.
"You should get some sleep, Lorraine. I’ll wake you when it’s time."
"It’s okay, I can’t sleep either."
The two leaned against the wall, talking quietly about the battle, about school, about their plans for their Dullahans.
It was then that she arrived.
"Hello, Simon. You two look close."
Serne entered, her ivory hair fluttering. Simon smiled in greeting, but Lorraine immediately narrowed her eyes.
"I told you not to use your feathers."
Before they knew it, Toto and Eshe were heading to the next room. Serne shrugged.
"Do you have proof? For all you know, they went off to have a little fun on their own."
"Why are you here? Aren’t you on the first shift?"
Serne adjusted her uniform skirt and sat gracefully opposite Simon, smiling as she gazed at him.
"I just didn’t feel like it. I asked someone to switch with me."
Seeing Serne openly admit to skipping her duty, Lorraine’s mouth fell open.
"You...! I thought you had changed a little after the Ivory Tower incident!"
"Changed? What’s there to change? Right, Simon?"
"Yeah. You’re the same as ever."
As the two of them giggled, Lorraine pouted.
"Simon, our Ivory Tower is ready," Serne said in a suggestive voice. "There’s no one in the higher-ups who knows you’re a Legion Commander anymore, and no one to force you. You can come join us. To the new, revitalized Ivory Tower that Meirin and I will lead—"
"What are you talking about?"
Lorraine interrupted.
"Simon is Kizen’s Student Council President. Headquarters also has a high opinion of him..."
"What does Kizen headquarters’ opinion matter? His own choice is what’s important. It was the same with recruiting Senior Phantastus last year, wasn’t it? You dangled the Crow position as bait, but you let him get away."
As if struck in a sore spot, Lorraine bit her lip.
"Actually, we’re trying to recruit Senior Phantastus as well. If you and Senior Phantastus were to join, wouldn’t that usher in the true golden age of the Ivory Tower?"
"I wonder if it’s that simple. Coming from the Ivory Tower that tried to flee to a neutral zone to escape us."
A small crack appeared in Serne’s smiling facade.
"Hmm. That foolish plan was made before I was even born. What’s important is the now."
With that, Serne gazed at Simon. She raised a hand and held it just under his nose, inhaling deeply with a soft hum.
A faint blush colored her cheeks as her lips quivered.
"Another ten years, just ten more years. If I had my way, I’d just kidnap you. Lock you in a tower and raise you on nothing but water."
Simon’s shoulders trembled. He was a little scared, because it sounded like something Serne would actually do.
"Oh, right. You haven’t seen him in person, have you?"
Serne turned her head, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.
"The future Simon."
Lorraine flinched. She, too, had been briefed on the ’Frozen Clock’.
"I saw a glimpse of the grown-up Simon in the Tower of Time."
Lorraine couldn’t hide her tension and swallowed hard.
"...Wh-what was he like?"