Chapter 93
“Thank you.”
“Yes, I can’t take responsibility beyond this.”
“No, just getting us here is more than enough.”
Erica gave a small bow, and Jacqueline, standing beside her, followed suit with a slight nod.
As soon as the man left, Erica and Jacqueline began scanning their surroundings, almost as if they had planned it beforehand.
They were currently in the camp of the Lorelai Kingdom’s army, in the midst of an active war.
After suffering near-catastrophic losses in just three battles, the Lorelai Kingdom was in a dire state.
They were urgently recruiting mercenaries to bolster their forces while waiting for reinforcements from allied nations.
Erica and Jacqueline had infiltrated the Lorelai Kingdom’s forces under the guise of mercenaries.
“What do we do next?”
Erica pondered as Jacqueline’s monotone question reached her ears.
The original plan was, of course, to infiltrate the Flora Kingdom’s army instead.
That would allow them to gather firsthand and much more direct information on dark magic.
However, infiltrating the Flora Kingdom’s army was no easy feat.
Having essentially become a global public enemy, the Flora Kingdom had adopted an isolationist policy.
Just entering their kingdom was a significant challenge, let alone infiltrating their military.
So, the next best idea was to join the Lorelai Kingdom’s forces.
Erica was now contemplating how to use the chaos of battle to cross over to the Flora Kingdom’s side.
“I suppose we’ll have to head to the front lines first?”
“That makes sense.”
Jacqueline nodded at Erica’s suggestion.
Jacqueline, as usual, followed Erica’s lead almost unquestioningly.
“I’ll cross over to the Flora Kingdom alone. Meanwhile, I need you to observe things here. Think you can handle it?”
“I’ll try.”
Erica reluctantly nodded, though she didn’t have much confidence in Jacqueline’s abilities for this kind of mission.
Jacqueline was unsuited for infiltration missions in every possible way.
If Jacqueline displayed the same cluelessness during a stealth operation on the Flora Kingdom’s side,
‘A battle would probably break out immediately.’
While it was hard to imagine Jacqueline losing, Erica had no intention of creating a commotion.
“Hey, you two! New here?”
“Oh, yes!”
“…A woman? Well, that’s unexpected.”
“Let’s go.”
At the call of a soldier from afar, Erica pulled Jacqueline along and quickly moved forward.
The real infiltration was about to begin.
‘I need to wrap this up and go see the commander.’
Erica hastened her steps, recalling the article she had read earlier that day.
The Black Shadow Corps defending the Academy against the Undead.
She had more than a few questions to ask the commander.
***
O’Neill Kingdom.
A massive kingdom located in the southern continent, rivaling the Crescent Empire in power.
Though historically adversaries, the Crescent Empire and O’Neill Kingdom had recently been on relatively good terms.
The two nations even engaged in exchanges like academic field trips for students—a testament to the improved relations.
‘Wow, it’s been a while.’
The scenery of the O’Neill Kingdom, visible from the carriage, stirred old memories.
Stealing the Dragon Heart had been far more challenging than expected.
Deciding to steal it only took a few seconds, but successfully pulling it off had taken several months.
During those months, I had lived in the O’Neill Kingdom.
While the kingdom considered me their greatest enemy, to me, it was a place of fond memories.
The O’Neill Kingdom was truly a pleasant place to live.
The people were mostly kind, the weather was great, and the food was delicious.
“We’re almost there.”
Professor Amilion’s voice snapped me out of my reverie.
As expected, having the identity of an Academy student was incredibly convenient.
Crossing the border was quick and easy, and entering the capital city took no time at all.
‘Being an Academy student might just be the ultimate disguise.’
“When we arrive, we’ll first pay our respects to the Knight Commander.”
“Yes!”
The responses from the first-year Class S students were filled with nervousness.
Understandably so.
Visiting a Knight Order in the Empire was nerve-wracking enough, but visiting one abroad?
It was undoubtedly a unique experience, as Professor Amilion had emphasized.
This might be a far more valuable experience than going to the northern continent.
The northern continent could be visited after graduation, but visiting another nation’s Knight Order was a rare privilege.
“As I’ve said, we’ll quietly stay here and return. Understood?”
The nervous voices of the students responded to Professor Amilion’s reminder.
‘That part doesn’t make sense, though.’
If the plan was to do nothing and just quietly return, why bring us here at all?
I didn’t say it out loud, but the question loomed large in my mind.
The reason Crescent Academy had gone to such lengths to send us to the O’Neill Kingdom was already clear.
The continent was in turmoil due to dark magic, and even incidents had occurred within the Academy.
Yet, they still insisted on sending students outside the Academy?
Though it seemed like a puzzling decision at first, Professor Amilion’s explanation had clarified things.
The Empire planned to conduct a thorough investigation of the Academy while the students were away.
A meticulous examination in their absence.
Hence, all students, across all grade levels, had been sent away for various plausible reasons during the same period.
Being Class S, we received special treatment and went abroad, while other classes were sent to domestic locations.
Whether domestic or international, the goal was to empty the Academy.
‘But going back without doing anything…’
Still, this and that are two different matters.
It would be such a waste to come all the way to the O’Neill Kingdom and leave without accomplishing anything.
‘Come to think of it, didn’t they say there was an incident here in the O’Neill Kingdom?’
“You all know that the atmosphere in the O’Neill Kingdom hasn’t been great recently. Don’t do anything to offend the knights.”
“Yes!”
Professor Amilion’s words triggered a memory.
While the world’s attention was focused on the war in the western continent, the O’Neill Kingdom had also fallen victim to dark magic.
Though it was never officially announced, it was said that an entire knight order in the O’Neill Kingdom had been wiped out.
And not just any knight order—it was reportedly the strongest knight order in the O’Neill Kingdom.
According to Addy’s investigation, dark magic was most likely at the center of it.
‘Oh-ho.’
A good idea came to mind.
Since Addy had been stressed over recent events caused by my actions, I thought I’d handle this one myself.
The O’Neill Kingdom’s knight order annihilation incident. While I’m here, I might as well gather information on it.
“We’ve arrived.”
As the carriage came to a stop, Professor Amilion was the first to step out.
The carriage had already entered the knight order’s grounds.
The knight order looked just as I remembered.
There was a time I had secretly infiltrated this place, memorizing several points suitable for Spatial Movement.
I had forgotten most of them by now.
As I and the other students, including Elaine, reflexively glanced around, the architecture, built in a completely different style from that of the Crescent Empire, caught our attention.
While we were looking around, someone appeared in the distance.
No, they were running.
“Yaaaaaah!”
“Uh…”
A knight in the O’Neill Kingdom’s uniform was charging toward us, shouting in a high-pitched voice.
If seen from outside, one might have thought an enemy was approaching.
“Amilion!!”
Wham—
The charging knight smiled brightly as she lunged at Professor Amilion, embracing her tightly.
And I mean very tightly.
“Hey, hey! Take it easy—mmph!”
“It’s been so long!!”
Everyone, including me, watched the two women in stunned silence.
The embrace lasted for quite a while.
Though, from what I could see, it was mostly one-sided.
“I can’t believe you actually came!”
“Hey, hey! Greet them first. These are my students.”
“Oh, right! Welcome, everyone. I’m Elizar, a knight serving in the O’Neill Kingdom’s knight order. You can just call me Knight Eliza.”
The woman, who introduced herself as Elizar, appeared to be of a high rank.
The few knights standing stiffly behind her reinforced this impression.
“And I’m very close friends with your professor, Amilion!”
“Wowww.”
At Elizar’s words, Professor Amilion gave an awkward cough, while the students marveled in amazement.
I, too, was a bit surprised.
I never would have guessed Professor Amilion had such a close friend in the O’Neill Kingdom.
Making friends abroad is usually no easy feat.
“She’s the one who made it possible for you to visit the O’Neill Kingdom’s knight order. So, be on your best behavior during your stay.”
Elizar smiled brightly as she listened to Professor Amilion’s explanation and looked over at us.
Her behavior seemed a bit too animated for a knight, especially after that overly cheerful display.
She didn’t quite fit the image of a knight.
She had short, tied-back golden hair, even brighter than Elaine’s, and wore a stiff-looking knight uniform.
“Looking forward to working with you!”
Bow—
Elizar’s words prompted Elaine to bow at a perfect 90-degree angle, followed by the other students cautiously mimicking her.
I half-heartedly followed suit.
“Alright, let’s first go greet the Knight Commander. You all know who he is, right? Commander Ordin. Oh, maybe the Crescent students don’t know him?”
‘Ah, that guy.’
“I know him well! It’s an honor to meet Commander Ordin in person!”
Elaine was the only one who responded.
As expected of Elaine, the model knight.
‘That old man is still the commander?’
I knew Commander Ordin quite well.
He was the one I had clashed with during the Dragon Heart incident years ago.
Even back then, I thought he was getting on in years. I can’t believe he’s still the commander.
‘This feels like a trip down memory lane.’
Heh—
A chuckle escaped my lips.
—
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