Chapter 96

It was common for the main characters of a narrative to be retired.

It was an inevitable fact.

With a hundred playable characters in a single world, the numbers were simply too high.

Of course, significant figures would survive until the latter parts.

But those who didn’t were usually fated for different outcomes:

Some were born sickly and died without timely treatment.

Others lost opportunities due to the butterfly effect of the player’s choices.

And some perished fighting against hostile factions.

This inevitable culling always arrived at some point.

***

We chased after the smoke rising from the lowlands.

Belman, running alongside me, spoke up.

“Hersel, we’ll head toward the Adelle Hall.”

Our paths diverged at a certain point. Belman’s unit would want to check on their belongings left behind in their base.

Meanwhile, I headed towards the Schlaphe camp.

The current raid was orchestrated by the young roaming band.

The Schlaphe Hall students were their ideal targets due to their perceived weakness.

Limberton glanced at the backpack slung over my shoulders and asked,

“Why did you bring the entire backpack? It’s not like we’re fleeing.”

“Just in case,” I replied.

Upon arriving at the Schlaphe camp, we saw them in the midst of firefighting efforts.

Ricks was sweating profusely as he directed the efforts.

His face was covered in sweat and soot.

“Magic Division, work in groups of four to extinguish one fortress at a time! Knights Division, fetch water from the nearby stream! And the rest of you, check if anyone might still be trapped inside!” R̃

Ricks darted around, using his magic to spray water.

We joined in, helping to clear the debris.

“Hersel?”

“I saw the smoke and came to help.”

Ricks cautiously asked,

“Where have you been all this time?”

“This is a competition. Even you don’t get to know the location of our base.”

Ricks let out a sound of frustration but seemed to understand, nodding in acceptance.

Despite cooperating in the field, the test remained a test.

It appeared he wasn’t naive enough to deny that fact.

As the firefighting efforts neared completion,

“Ricks! Oh? Hersel and the rest of you. When did you arrive?”

Ricks’s friend, Hadal, appeared, dragging a boy bound with ropes.

I sensed it was time and quietly drew out my dagger.

Ricks asked,

“Who is that? Why is there a child here…?”

Hadal’s expression turned grim.

He pulled out a holder filled with sharp objects with his left hand.

“This kid started the fire. When I caught him trying to escape, I found these on him.”

Ricks quickly approached the boy.

The child’s eyes were filled with fear, trembling.

I urgently shouted,

“Get back! Hadal!!”

I shoved the boy away with my dagger.

As Ricks turned his startled gaze towards me, an explosion echoed around us.

BOOM!

Blood splattered across Hadal’s face and clothes.

The boy had left nothing behind but gruesome remnants of his existence.

Limberton, shivering violently, murmured,

“So that’s why you asked that question…”

He seemed to recall the question I had posed to him.

“Indeed. Now you’ll know if your choice was just empty words, Limberton.”

There were two ways to deal with the young roaming band.

Either hesitate to kill them and wait to be bombed, or send them off without pain.

Both were equally cruel methods.

***

I asked Ricks to gather the leaders of the Schlaphe camp.

Since there were more children who had exploded, the others had already witnessed it.

Additionally, the fire was still fresh in their minds, so they gathered without much resistance.

The location was a slightly charred fortress.

I shared my future knowledge, explaining what the roaming band was.

“According to what my father told me, the Kingdom of Bellam established an organization called the roaming band, modeled after the Pathfinders.”

No one questioned this.

My father was a well-known alumnus who frequented the enchanted forests as a hobby.

“It’s not surprising to have rival organizations. The resources in the enchanted forests are no longer a secret.”

I explained the existence of the young roaming band, their purpose, and the nature of their bomb-related curses.

“This is their test. Since they’re orphans, it doesn’t matter if they die. They’re treated like bombs.”

Ricks clenched his teeth and fists in anger.

“These bastards are using children…”

The other leaders nodded in agreement.

“I always thought Frost Heart was abnormal, but this is even worse.”

Realistically accepting the situation were the majority.

The first to voice their opinions were the leaders from the Lethe division.

“So what now? If they try to kill us, we kill them. They burned all our supplies, after all.”

“I agree. Even if they’re children, killing them in a battlefield isn’t unusual.”

Other leaders nodded in agreement.

Honestly, I shared their sentiment.

Even with a modern mindset, my values had adapted to this world.

Children soldiers dying in battle was nothing new here.

Once they wielded weapons, they became the enemy, regardless of age or gender.

It would have been strange if I rejected their opinion.

But I disliked agreeing with them, not just for moral reasons but because there were also playable characters among the roaming band.

These characters, if allowed to grow, could be significant allies in the future.

“Hmm.”

This was natural.

Just as some started their narratives in Frost Heart, it wasn’t strange for others to begin in the young roaming band.

They were also an academy for training talents to enter the enchanted forests, and there were many main characters.

“So we just kill them? Knights have a code of chivalry. If you aspire to be one, there are lines you shouldn’t cross. Mages also have a responsibility to benefit others.”

Ricks’s opinion, though seemingly valid, swayed some leaders.

His reasoning made sense, even if the origin of chivalry and mage ethics stemmed from the unruly behavior of ancient knights and mages.

Over time, these ideas had become ingrained in societal perceptions, especially with religious influence.

Regardless of the origins, the present norm dictated viewing child soldiers as prisoners, not criminals.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Though killing was permitted in dire circumstances, alternatives were preferred according to the unwritten rules of knights and mages.

In short, we had to at least pretend to consider all options.

Although many ignored these rules, resulting in posthumous disgrace.

Ricks’s statement missed a crucial point.

“What if there’s a way to save them?”

First, suggest an alternative.

“If we kill them knowing there’s a way, it’s different, right?”

Second, appeal to their remaining conscience.

“What happens tonight will be remembered, good or bad.”

Third, use a threat.

“Future memoirs of a successful person might read that a certain noble killed a child despite having a choice. That would be a dishonor, something their descendants might want to erase from their family history.”

The leaders flinched.

“Are you planning to become a whistleblower after succeeding?”

“Frost Heart is a secretive academy, even within the Empire. Do you think they’d allow such revelations?”

I looked at the leaders of the Lethe division with contempt and clicked my tongue.

“Do you think this secret will stay hidden forever? With imitation Pathfinder groups already emerging, the truth will come out someday. Maybe next year, or the year after. You might not face legal punishment, but your honor would be at stake. Think about it.”

The aggressive leaders fell silent, and Ricks smiled bitterly.

“Your approach is always effective in these situations.”

Dealing with naive noble heirs and young ladies wasn’t difficult.

Yet, I hesitated because…

“Although I said there’s a way, I’m not sure it will work. This is an untested strategy.”

The method I thought of wasn’t even an option in the game.

It was a clever idea possible only in reality, so I had no certainty.

Ricks’s face fell as I gave my bleak answer.

“We’ll need the cooperation of all the Adelle, Buerger, and Schlaphe Halls. That alone is a tall order.”

I was just one person.

Saving children intent on killing us would require significant manpower and risk.

“Moreover, I believe this decision should be made by a majority vote among all the leaders, considering the potential casualties. If we don’t meet these conditions, I’ll consider my moral responsibility fulfilled and follow your opinion.”

Ricks asked,

“What exactly is this method?”

“It’s a long explanation. I’ll tell you all at once when all the leaders are gathered.”

I stood up and left the fortress.

Outside, Aslay and Limberton were waiting.

“What’s the decision?” Limberton asked.

I gave a roundabout answer.

“You asked me before if I could kill a child trying to kill me.”

“…..”

Seeing Limberton’s half-fearful face, I hoisted the backpack onto my shoulder.

“For now, we’ve decided to try saving them.”

Limberton sighed in relief.

“Phew.”

“So, I need you two to do something for me.”

The instructions I gave them were clear.

“By now, the students from Adelle and Buerger Halls are likely struggling with the same issues we are. Tell them we have a good solution. If they doubt, remind them that it’s better to band together than to be hunted separately.”

Aslay and Limberton nodded and quickly ran off.

I reflected on the playable character in the young roaming band as I walked.

Could a member of Frost Heart like me save Melin’s life?

No, pointless questions. I would find out soon enough.

***

In the Adelle Hall, a meeting was taking place.

Due to the small number of members, all were present, not just the leaders.

After witnessing the child explosions and realizing through reconnaissance that the enemy moved in military-sized groups, they were on edge.

“There were countless footprints of varying sizes, and many broken branches indicated some were moving through the trees.”

When the report ended, discussions on how to handle the situation began.

The opinions were largely divided into two camps.

Riamon sat with his greatsword stabbed into the ground behind him.

“So, we kill them, right? Our unit is in favor.”

“Riamon, I’ve told you many times, I’m the leader!!”

“You agreed with me, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“So why hesitate now? You were ready to kill a kid when you thought it was justified.”

“That was… under different circumstances. If it wasn’t for the intervention of my big brother…”

“Tsk, all talk, no action.”

Some felt uneasy, but the majority leaned towards approval, including Silla.

“You all saw the explosions. Beheading them is more humane.”

“But Silla, we should be more cautious.”

“You almost got hurt too. If you hadn’t quickly enveloped yourself in aura, you’d have been fatally wounded.”

While Silla and Leana discussed, Belman, who had been silent, spoke up.

“The discussion is too focused on whether to kill or not. We need to consider this from multiple angles.”

Belman’s voice held significant weight within the Adelle Hall.

Riamon might be the top student, but his impulsive actions and twisted personality were problematic.

As the second-best student, Belman was informally recognized as the leader for some time.

Everyone listened attentively.

“We don’t have enough information about those children. We don’t even know why they want to kill us. As for the explosions, they seem like some sort of dark magic. If anyone here has knowledge about it, please raise your hand. We need to know if there’s a way to break the spell.”

If they had such information, it would help in gathering more intel and appeasing the dissenters.

As they exchanged glances, someone raised their hand.

“Dalum, you’re in the Knight Division, but you seem knowledgeable about magic.”

Belman’s tone was surprised as he spoke. Dalum scratched his head.

“No, not really. I just remember there being an extracurricular on dark magic.”

“…You mean non-mainstream magic?”

“Yeah. I saw the registration list by chance. Only one person signed up for that class.”

Belman’s eyes sparkled.

“Who was it?”

“It was Hersel.”

The students murmured amongst themselves. Erucel looked incredulous.

“My brother?”

“What? Your brother?”

Erucel shouted at Riamon and then questioned Dalum again.

“Are you sure it was him?”

“Of course. It’s hard to miss such a notorious figure.”

“…Why him?”

Despite Hersel’s notoriety, they had to acknowledge his intelligence.

“Hersel tied for first in the written exam. Even though dark magic isn’t a main subject, I believe he knows a fair amount.”

Hersel had solved the difficult rune problems in the exam.

His prowess during the wolf incident was no fluke either.

Belman recalled the impressive display and continued.

“Perhaps he has already figured out a solution.”

Belman picked up his staff.

“It’s worth consulting him. I’ll head to the Schlaphe camp right now.”

“Wait.”

Riamon, who had been mocking, stood up and drew his greatsword from the ground.

“I’d like to come along. Mind if I join?”

The students stared at him. Belman was also surprised.

Riamon’s active participation was unusual.

“Do as you please.”

As they started to leave, they saw Aslay and Limberton approaching.

Riamon blinked.

“Isn’t that Limberton? That idiot…”

“You know him too?”

“Of course. Should I tell them?”

Riamon looked at the sky and continued.

“During the third exam, that fool begged me to help Hersel. He ended up giving me all his coins. Without that, Hersel would have been the top student in the Adelle Hall.”

The students’ eyes widened.

“What? He would’ve been the top student?”

Riamon sneered.

“Yes. But for some reason, he gave up the first place. If he wanted to, he could have taken all my coins.”

Belman wanted to ask more, but now wasn’t the time.

“I’d like to hear more about that later.”

Limberton arrived, panting heavily.

“Huff. Huff. Hersel says to gather all forces at the Schlaphe camp.”

“Gather all forces? Hmm.”

Belman nodded.

“Alright. Do you all agree?”

He asked the leaders, who nodded in confusion.

Limberton was surprised.

“Wait, you’re all coming without asking why?”

“No need. You must be facing the same issue. Hersel has found the answer. Am I wrong?”

Limberton blinked.

“…Yes, Belman, you’re right. But how do we get the Buerger Hall kids to cooperate?”

Belman answered nonchalantly.

“It’s simple. If the Adelle Hall moves to the Schlaphe camp, the Buerger Hall becomes the target. Just tell them that.”

Adelle Hall moving was convincing enough.

If the top students were moving, there must be a good reason.

As predicted, convincing the Buerger Hall was easy.

Soon, all forces headed to the Schlaphe camp.

***

The Schlaphe camp’s activity was strange.

They were all gathered, dismantling burnt “multi-fortresses” to rebuild them.

Melin asked the commander beside her,

“Can those really be reused?”

“Don’t underestimate Imperial technology. We only burned the structures, not the core. As long as that’s intact, they can be recharged with mana and reused.”

The fortresses were being reconstructed.

The camp’s layout seemed odd, forming a circular barrier around the main fortresses.

The center was obscured.

The commander cursed.

“…What are they planning?”

“No idea.”

Growing impatient, the commander told Melin,

“We need to attack now.”

“Now? The raid was planned for the day after tomorrow. That’s why we burned their supplies, right?”

The original plan was to attack when they were weakened by hunger and relaxed towards the end of the test.

The commander explained impatiently,

“Think. The longer we wait, the worse it is for us. They’re preparing a large-scale assault, and they’re all gathered, leaving no gaps.”

“I get that.”

Despite the odds, their individual strength was incomparable.

The roaming band’s only chance was to catch stragglers with overwhelming numbers.

“But…”

The enemies were stronger than expected.

Even the commander admitted they hadn’t anticipated the wolves being wiped out in two days.

“…We’ll almost be annihilated.”

The commander sighed.

“Do you think time is on our side? They leave in two days, but we don’t. We’re in worse conditions.”

Melin fell silent.

She couldn’t deny his logic.

They had only two days to bring back their opponents’ heads or face death.

“So now’s the chance. Their knights are exhausted from building, and their mages are recharging mana stones, some even exhausted. Plus, their supplies are burnt. They must be hungry by now. Tomorrow, our chances decrease.”

The argument made sense, and Melin nodded reluctantly.

“I know what you’re worried about. We’ve always done this. Those who fall behind die. Look at the survivors. Ten times more have died.”

“I understand.”

Survival of the fittest was the roaming band’s way, a truth Melin knew all too well.

“So, get ready. I’ll inform the other commanders.”

While he spoke to the commanders, Melin approached the instructor.

He smiled approvingly.

“Starting now? Wise decision.”

“It wasn’t my idea, but yes. Instructor, I need the spell.”

“Of course.”

The instructor drew an electric rune and filled it with mana.

Melin inhaled it.

“Huu.”

“Interesting talent, always. Remember, Melin, you’re a commander because of this gift. Now, go use it.”

The preparations were complete.

The moon was high.

Most of the Frost Heart students were asleep, save for a few guards.

It was the perfect night for a surprise attack.

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