"This is sowhat the expected scenario."
Imdiately taking control of the group mbers and inciting other groups to jointly attack the most dangerous group.
"Just with a change in the main actor."
In Professor Rosalia’s opinion, Rudger should have been in Gerhard’s position.
"Isn’t Gerhard not that unexpected either?"
"He is unexpected."
She already knew that Gerhard Goldenheim had ability. Otherwise, he couldn’t have ranked 10th.
But at the sa ti, she had noticed that he relatively avoided fully revealing himself or stepping to the forefront.
"He’s not a student who likes to stand out so openly."
"Is it because of Luina’s involvent this ti as well?"
"If not that, then there’s no special reason. Whether Luina is that special reason, I don’t know."
"Then it must be one of the two."
Grad and Rosalia continued the topic from the previous practice.
"Either the burning love of twentysothings."
"Gerhard Goldenheim doesn’t seem like soone who would move based on such personal emotions."
"Or so kind of agreent between the Goldenheim and Berchef families."
"Didn’t we reach the sa conclusion last ti?"
"We did."
Grad stroked his chin.
"You were also scratching your chin then."
"You rember that? Let’s skip the trivial details."
Either way, it wasn’t important.
"Whatever conversations occurred between the two families, it’s none of my business."
"That may be true for us, but not for others."
A deal between the wealthiest family in the empire and the fallen but gradually recovering guardian family of the north.
No imperial citizen could remain indifferent.
"No, not us. Just ."
"What do you an?"
"Are you really not bothered at all? Even if the two families join hands?"
"I’m just an academy professor."
"Your surna suggests otherwise. And you don’t seem completely detached either."
Rosalia looked at him expressionlessly. Grad avoided her gaze and shrugged.
"Well, that’s not my concern either."
"...It’s beginning."
Group 1 and the other groups were about to gather in one place.
***
49 versus 90.
Numbers are sothing that cannot be ignored anywhere, anyti.
Considering that students were assigned to maintain a balance among the four groups, this battle was extrely disadvantageous for Group 1.
Nevertheless, Rudger thought there was a chance of winning.
"Your Highness, what should we do?"
"We must hold out."
Without a base, he would consider retreating and devising various strategies, but for now, there was no option but to hold out. Rudger’s eyes narrowed as he surveyed their defensive position, ntally calculating the odds against them. The mountain terrain offered both advantages and limitations – perfect for ambushes, yet difficult to abandon if overwheld. The dense forest canopy filtered dappled sunlight across their makeshift fortifications, casting shifting shadows that might confuse approaching enemies.
At least from a combat perspective.
"Lure them toward the traps to maximize damage. Do not get excited and don’t advance without my orders."
"Yes."
If there was any consolation in their precarious situation, it was that there were simple but effective traps set throughout the surrounding area and basic defensive structures hastily constructed around their position. The rocky outcroppings had been fortified with fallen logs and branches, creating natural chokepoints that would funnel attackers into vulnerable positions. And perhaps equally valuable was that the students willingly followed his orders without question because he was a prince – their loyalty bolstered by both his royal blood and his evident tactical acun.
"Can Almon do it alone?"
"What do you think?"
David Rifen, ranked 8th in the knight departnt, couldn’t readily answer.
"For one, I don’t think I can defeat Almon."
"Just you?"
"Everyone except Luina is the sa."
In his view, even Luina could only match Almon, not definitely win against him.
"Then we have our answer, don’t we?"
None in the knight departnt could defeat Almon in single combat. The magic departnt might have other thods – binding spells, elental barriers, or illusions to confuse and disorient – but if their main force was focused on defending against Rudger’s group? Their defenses would be spread thin elsewhere.
Of course, it couldn’t be guaranteed that Almon alone could defeat all twenty people left at the base, but stealing the flag? That required only a mont of opportunity, a single opening in their defensive formation.
"We just need to buy ti."
"But I can’t stop Luina. Neither can Herold, Allia, Doria, or Gertrand Pelkan."
"I know. If you could beat them all, you’d be ranked 2nd, not 8th."
The knight departnt valued practical skills and combat prowess more than the theoretical knowledge prized by the magic departnt. Success was asured in victories, not hypotheticals or untested theories. The rankings weren’t arbitrary – they were forged through countless hours of practice, innurable duels, and ruthless assessnt.
If one had the ability to defeat the other top-ranked students in one-on-one duels, the rankings would certainly change. David’s position at 8th reflected his considerable talent, but also the unbridgeable gap between him and those who stood above him in the hierarchy.
"It will be fine. Luina won’t fight properly either."
"Luina, you say?"
"Yes. And the sa goes for Gerhard."
Perhaps even the entire Group 3.
"I trust Your Highness’s words. But what about the others besides those two...?"
"I’ll try to stop Carlo."
"Still, there are a considerable number of remaining people, Your Highness."
Even if Group 3 was half-hearted, Groups 2 and 4 remained.
And there were people stronger than David in those groups. Quite a few of them.
Simply calculated, there were 7 from the magic departnt and 7 from the knight departnt. Of course, the gap between knights and wizards doesn’t exactly work out that neatly in reality.
"David."
Rudger firmly gripped both of David’s shoulders.
"You can do it. I’ll command, so whether you fight or flee, buy ti sohow."
Excluding Almon, David was the strongest knight departnt student in Group 1, so his role was quite significant.
"David. I’m here too."
"That’s not at all comforting."
Jean Brad, David’s partner and ranked 4th in the magic departnt, snorted.
"There are only three wizards better than among the second-years."
"Two of them are currently our enemies, and the one right below you is also an enemy."
"Don’t worry, David. That was a joke."
Rudger added a word.
"Do you think I wouldn’t have a plan?"
He smiled.
"I’ve already finished talking with Group 4, and the result will change depending on how Group 2 reacts."
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