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The National Border Station of the Yuglia Kingdom's Northern Legion, located somewhere 5 km west of the assigned make-believe defense border that Class A had secured.
While there wasn't much to speak of about its size, a part of it had been used as an office for the current outdoor classes.
"I can't believe someone managed to clear the scenario devised by Esteemed Older Brother, moreso by first-years...... Their unity is really impressive."
Viscount Zeifun Wangyus, the younger brother of Godorfun, shook his head in disbelief.
As someone who had been providing support from behind the scenes, like opening a part of the territory for the current outdoor classes, he had been privy to the details of the scenarios devised by Godorfun.
Then again, they were receiving their due compensation from the Royal Academy for their help, plus they also had the authority to receive the monster materials hunted by students during their tasks, so the situation was quite favorable to them as well.
"Unity? No, their performance has long since surpassed any other records. This task,
<Swift Transportation Duo Squad Tactic>
, of Sir Godorfun would normally be used to beat down any leftover naivety from the new recruits of the knight order.Originally, the task was for 2 squads with 8 members each to carry 800 kg of supplies, allowing for some flexibility in numbers. However, for rookie knights, it's an exercise they fear as a grueling hell march, leaving them almost spitting blood.
But Class-A completed it in merely 44 hours and 20 minutes, not to say four other scenarios are also waiting for them ...... How did you bring them up to this level, Sir Godorfun?!"
The next voice came from Tim, the vice-commander of the 5th Legion, which was in charge of leading the northern troops. He came to take a look at the performance of promising seedlings from the outdoor classes.
He was an expert in tracking and scouting, so it was easy for him to make out the details even from afar.
The tradition was that aside from their class teacher, there would be one knight with exceptional scouting ability from the knight order joining in to judge the abilities of the students of outdoor classes per class. However, since their presence might overwhelm the students, they adopted the stance of staying hidden from the students’ sight.
"Fuhahaha. If anything, I’m just as surprised. I know how tough their endurance runs were, but their coordination has surpassed even my expectations. Frankly, I was expecting them to already be arguing with this pressure, but...... now I’m looking forward to how they’ll surprise me again."
Godorfun said, his lips twisting into an impish smile.
"......I presume this is the effect of living together in the general dorm that I’ve heard about, huh? I thought it was some kind of gimmick or trend, like experiencing poverty, but I guess I can't look down on them anymore.
They still lacking in martial abilities, but their endurance for their age is truly monstrous. Speaking of which, I’ve also heard about the Hill Road Club, something that Sir is an advisor of, seemingly running around the premises of the Academy every morning before the start of the day."
Godorfun stroked his beard, looking amused.
"You've heard it right, Tim. Their monstrous endurance is due to their own effort in their morning club activities. Therefore, their practical lessons have currently been suppressed to some extent, but even then, their classes drain almost all of their stamina.
Do you know what that implies, Tim? Despite stamina training being often boring and repetitive, with effects not always immediately evident in the short term, the prodigies of this generation still sweat it out non-stop, pushing themselves to the limit nearly every day. And all that at their current age.
......I want to train my body and mind, especially the mind, huh?
It is quite a simple phrase when you say it, but not many know about the intricacies behind it. The teachings of Master Schord drilled into that kid are all simple and clear at a glance, but only when you stop to think about them do you see the vast meaning hidden within them."
Tim audibly gasped.
"The rumored teachings of the 'Unceasing Prudence', is it? I dismissed him to be just some passing rumor, but the performance right before my eyes is… certainly a slap to my face.
To be frank, I expected Sir to go rescue them when those 'Mystic Foxes' suddenly appeared. But while I was flustered in my heart wondering if I should take action seeing Sir's inaction, Leo Zatsinger wiped them out easily. They are already comparable to the knight order's recruits with their strength and of course along with their monstrous endurance."
Godorfun showed his acknowledgment of Tim's words,
"It was just three Mystic Foxes, but each of them was stronger than your normal monster. With their elusive nature and hard-to-spot nest, it was just a matter of time before the damage spread to the commoners and even explorers before a subjugation request could come to the knight order,
It was fortunate that they killed them, though these kids will surely count it as their misfortune."
"......However, I’m more astonished to see Leo Zaitsinger fitting in so perfectly in his class. It's common for prodigies of his level to not match gears with their classmates and fight under a lonely banner.
It's just that the sight I had envisioned was wildly different. When people like him become loners, it's actually normal that they would build walls around themselves. Yet, he had been working together in tandem with his class like salt in water.
So it has been such a treat to see that instead of falling into what was usually the norm, Leo was able to lead the class of prodigies naturally without any clashes of egos. It naturally makes me admire him for pulling that off. And he's every bit… no, abnormally strong."
At the rave reviews of Tim, Godorfun stroked his beard with a pleased look.
"Haha, it's really not a bad feeling to hear your pupils get praised. I guess I’ve finally slipped into my role as an instructor, huh?
But indeed, they all are children of various talents, waiting for someone to guide them on their journey. So, have any of the students caught your eye besides Leo Zatsinger, Tim?"
At Godorfun’s question, Tim tilted his head, his expression one of extreme dilemma.
"Weellll~...... It's really a tough question because they’ll get an instant okay if they apply for the 5th Legion...... It's not easy to drop Dan-kun either, but… I guess Berd-kun is the most interesting among the bunch."
Godorfun squinted his eyes and asked Tim, "Oho? What led you to that conclusion?"
"The students of the Royal Academy are all prideful and possess incredible strength, but Berd-kun instead had been keeping a clear outlook to keep communication between the team members coherent rather than just focusing on himself. His caring personality was apparent from his subtle movements.
But, he’s soft, not spoiled, and Sir's teaching was not lost on him as well. Also, that supportive spirit he has for others isn't something that can be taught, it should be his inherent personality I guess.
He may not have shown much martial prowess, considering his preference to support the others from the back, however, I’m sure he could become a fine tactician knight. There's nothing to speak about latent potential, with good teaching he’ll surely become a historical figure."
That praise seemed like it struck a chord with Godorfun.
"Fuhahaha! You do know your stuff well, Tim. It's a thorough evaluation, just as I expected."
Then Zeifun Wangyus asked Tim, "How do you see Allen Rovenne, Tim?"
Tim became silent for a while and then shook his head.
"It's just...... hard to evaluate him. Since Sir had informed them of the path through the steep mountain trail, I had arranged a squad from the Torveil army to watch the route to see which path he would choose. However...... I didn't receive a single magic bird informing me about him, but here he is, suddenly appearing on the route of the main squad out of nowhere.
Meanwhile, we also had an unexpected increase in monster attacks after he joined the main squad. We had to distance ourselves or else we would have been discovered by them, so I couldn't assess him well.
I have heard about him being trained by the 3rd Legion commander Dew-kun, but I can't believe that simple detection magic would grant him a way to look for a shorter, more optimal route. I wonder how he did that. Does Sir know?"
With Tim's question, a bitter smile spread on Godorfun's face.
"He really got me there, too. I hadn't expected that he would decide to bring Stella Achilies without a second and that they would be gunning to join the main squad as early as possible. He also knows her ability like the back of his hand, and only by trusting her completely was he able to achieve this miracle.
According to Dew, that brat had been truly devoted to learning everything he could about detection...... wind magic, as he says, and he’s already surpassed Dew with the range he can detect.
He’s been thoroughly researching and learning about wind magic in the Academy’s Emission Magic Club. Honestly, I had also laughed at his idea, which had been hidden in obscurity, but what that brat had done in the tournament...... cough it's really hard to endure my mirth recalling his antics."
Godorfun said as he once again stroked his white beard.
"While not comparable to that brat, I believe that as long as it can be confirmed that anyone is capable of using wind magic with enough training, I’m sure that the kingdom will support him.
Mujikka, the advisor of the Emission Magic Club, has been putting effort into learning wind magic too, and is seriously examining this possibility. After all, the theory that wind magic is based on has already deviated from the source of modern detection magic...... Hmm, but don't reveal that to anyone, alright?"
Tim and Zeifun were instantly speechless.
"Anyway, he didn't use any trick or anything. And while it's generally impossible to extend the mana radius to such length and drive monsters away, that brat is capable of doing that. It's as simple as that.
I presume that you’ve yet to read Rosetta's report about the Brier Barony's Dark Wolf Subjugation Battle this summer. That brat has already figured out our position, by the way, even though you brought a magical tool to prevent that."
Tim's jaw almost dropped to the ground when he heard that.
"I wouldn't claim myself to be unrivaled, but a 12-year-old kid being able to see through even Sir's movement? But neither his expression nor body language shows that he has......"
Godorfun sighed.
"Because that's the kind of twisted person he is. After keeping an eye on him for so long, it's easy for me to tell. He’s definitely noticed us. The monster attacks were no coincidence but were instead instigated by him.
In short, that brat has just used us as his sword. Even though I hadn’t expected that brat to beat me like this, I admit that I did fumble here."
Godorfun shook his head in dismay while Tim audibly gasped.
"......So Sir mean… he already expected how the second half would play out?"
"Alas, he beat me to it and I can't tell how far he has anticipated for the situation to turn this way. But I may have some ideas."
Godorfun said with a bitter smile and after a long pause, he mumbled and sighed.
".........Let's adjust the tasks. It wouldn't be training otherwise."
Zeifun, the younger brother, was astonished when he heard Godorfun's words.
Certainly, the score was determined not only by the time the tasks were finished but also considered the difficulty and the accomplishment of the tasks. Therefore, the score tended to increase as these factors improved.
However, if a student managed to shorten their time through ingenuity and quick thinking, only to have the difficulty of the tasks raised afterward, no amount of effort could reduce their time.
This approach didn't seem fair to the students competing for speed in the class competitions. And Zeifun knew his brother well; he hated such manipulations.
"But Esteemed Older Brother, that would be—”
"I’m well aware. I’ll ask for forgiveness from the kids after the outdoor classes are over. But I must have them learn the strength to never give up through this training, to make them remember 'the desperate urge to live'.
For that to happen, I’ll gladly accept their hatred. After having so many war brethren take their last breath in my arms...... this is a must to avoid that fate."
As Godorfun solemnly turned and walked away, his back seemed less like that of an indomitable warrior feared by many to Zeifun, and more like that of an elderly teacher trembling at the thought of losing his students in the future.