I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

48

The puppeteer Pavella has fallen, and Act 2 has ended.

On the way back together.

The ‘Cabin,’ the boss battle location with Pavella, was not far from the Shadow Residential Area in the Implication Market, so we headed towards one of the many exits through the Black Auction.

Upon reaching the surface, a message popped up as if waiting.

[Updated rewards are being settled!]

[Congratulations!]

[You have successfully completed the boss battle with the puppeteer Pavella in ‘Adrian’s own way.’]

[You cleared it alone! Amazing! Solo play! You gain the title ‘The Lone Wanderer!’]

[You recruited the witch Pavella of the puppeteer as a subordinate without killing her! However, the feeling is more of ‘transaction’ than ‘loyalty’! Beware, she can betray you at any time!]

Once an enemy, now recruited as a subordinate for the second time! I have cleared the achievement of ‘turning an enemy into a comrade.’ My leadership as a ‘fated comrade’ has slightly increased.

A changed clear reward is given!

Stepping back for a moment while chatting with the group walking ahead, as I extended my hand, something suddenly dropped there.

Obtained the ‘Marionette String Telephone!’

Through the ‘Marionette String Telephone,’ orders can be given to ‘Marionette Pavella’ without being noticed by anyone!

Communication is impossible!

Glancing over, it was a string telephone connected to a paper cup.

It’s not clear where this ‘string’ leads to.

However, according to the description in the status window, this item is something that allows for ‘unilateral orders’ to be given to Pavella hidden in the ‘darkness.’

Communication is impossible.

Do I have to call directly to make an information exchange?

This must be the changed clear reward for Act 2 due to ‘my’ actions.

Huh? Isn’t that so?

This is the boss clear reward! The clear reward for Act 2 will be granted after achieving the remaining final conditions.

Wait.

What’s that supposed to mean?

This is Act 2.

Pavella’s boss battle wasn’t the end of Act 2, was it?

The things that followed came to mind.

“Act 2, until the end of the ‘Ultimate Debut,’ only one final step remains. On the last day of the Sports Festival, splendidly debut ‘Lumen Rebirth’ as ‘Princess Consort Rezelirias.'”

Act 2 clear condition added: Complete the ‘Ultimate Debut’ to unlock the achievement ‘Princess Consort’s Producer.’

Is that so?

Originally, defeating Pavella should have marked the end of Act 2.

It seems like this Act 2 has also undergone some sort of ‘change.’

“Adrian? Why do you look like that?”

“It’s nothing. I just think it’s time to finally see the end of all this.”

Yes.

From now on, I.

Must become the ultimate producer solely for her.

“Adrian, don’t you have anything to say to us?”

Looking up at me with concern, Reyna, I smiled subtly and said to the guys who wished for Reyna.

“Thanks for coming to save us.”

“That’s exactly it!”

***

The next day was the final day of the Sports Festival.

“Die, die, just die! 【Intermediate Earth Elemental Magic: Abyssal Cliff】!”

“Hmph, do you think that kind of magic will work on me! 【Intermediate Ice Elemental Magic: Ice Hammer】!”

Kwaaang!

A large thorn rose from the ground towards the sky, and a giant hammer of ice shattered that thorn.

“Huh? Huh?”

“Stay still and fall asleep just like that!”

Quaquakwong!

“aaah!”

A girl collapsed to the ground, powerless against the pouring magical bombardment.

The undefeated legend of the Blue Team continued into the second day and remained the same on the third and final day.

“Ha!”

However.

The morning of the third day’s match looked a bit different.

The mounted combat.

A mandatory event where all members of the Blue and White Teams participate.

Forming teams of three, the goal was to snatch the ribbons tied to the rider’s head or arm.

But this was Salenium.

The battlefield of youth and learning.

Magic pouring from all directions, the earth flipping, explosions happening, and swords targeting throats and swinging wildly.

The vast stadium was packed with people, bustling with activity.

“Already five.”

Reyna von Wolfang, holding five ribbons of the Blue Team, smiled broadly, displaying them in her hand.

The knights, the mages, whatever they were, were all sent to the infirmary fairly by her.

“Now, who’s next?”

As Reyna spoke, a woman entered.

A woman casting gem magic in the distance.

Purple hair.

“…Schucross!”

Her staff clenched tightly.

“I will bring it down here today. It’s revenge from last year!”

***

Loud cheers echoed.

Gems flew in the distance, and on the opposite side, a magical storm poured down.

‘Finally met.’

If Schucross Yeong-ae had to pull out her ‘Interruption’ to ‘Quartz’ level, it meant things had escalated significantly.

Well, she wasn’t a combat mage to begin with, so against Reyna, a pure combat mage with firepower, she was bound to fall behind.

Although the White Team, including Evinis, had been seizing victories in the local battles, it was certain that the Blue Team would emerge victorious.

Within the category of ‘combat,’ there was no one to match Lizerelias.

Even if she got stuck, she would unleash mercenary skills that no one could even think of in an instant.

Alright.

So, while I have a substitute ready for the mandatory event… what am I doing?

“hahahaha, the athletic festival. I used to participate every year, but it’s always an entertaining event, isn’t it?”

“Yes, indeed.”

The prince of Lutellus possessed a Titaime.

“What’s Titaime, you ask?”

Surprisingly, they were the ones who invited me first.

“By the way, I was surprised too. Am I now a perfect commoner?”

“That’s about right.”

“hahahaha, it’s hard to find a commoner with such perfect etiquette. I feel inadequate.”

The man with silver hair, elegantly laughing, raised his cup.

I gazed at him silently.

“Your Highness Lutellus, may I make a request?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Rather than small talk, I would appreciate it if you could address the matter properly.”

“……Hmm.”

The prince of Lutellus furrowed his brow for a moment, then turned his gaze to the field where a match was taking place.

“You, come under my command.”

Hmm.

He might say something like that vaguely.

During the “Empress Maker,” before the showdown with Lutellus, they would send someone to meet and persuade directly.

“If I devote myself to Your Highness, what benefit will I gain?”

“I will give you everything. Oh, the throne is mine. What do you need? Wealth? Women? Power? The grand mansion of the emperor? Noble title? Marquis of Repelheight? Of course, I can provide it all. It will be a tempting offer to you, as I am the prince of the empire.”

An offer tempting enough.

And naturally.

“I will refuse.”

There’s no way that would work.

When I declined, Prince Lutellus briefly pressed his forehead, then spoke with magical power.

“【Think again, with this alone, you will gain wealth and talent much better than your younger sister. No need to do anything else but accept my words】.”

Just as Princess Lizelilia 6 excelled mysteriously in “battle” and “mercenary skills,” Prince Lutellus also possessed a peculiar ability.

“I believe I have clearly conveyed my intentions already.”

“Oh, what?”

A bewildered expression.

Prince Lutellus has the ability to indirectly control the minds and emotions of those who listen to his “words.”

Especially if it is related to a person’s “emotions,” the effect is doubled.

Like mentioning my “inferiority” and “younger sister.”

This ability is inherent in his “bloodline.”

Therefore, Prince Lutellus specializes in “speech” and “rhetoric.”

In contrast, his ability to judge talent or personal power, overall political sense, lags far behind for a royal.

He must have relied solely on that ability.

That’s why.

It doesn’t work on me.

“The prince ‘Lutellus’ has ‘commoner blood’ mixed in. Your ‘pure-blood’ lineage makes you completely immune to Prince Lutellus’s abilities.”

“You resist the mental attacks.”

[You are of the purest lineage of Repelheight!]

It’s not about social status, but about the dignity of lineage, simply stamped with a thud.

“Alright, then, I will appoint you as the heir of Repelheight once again…”

“Your Highness.”

Since the knights were standing far away, I spoke with a light smile.

“It’s not about borrowing Your Highness’s power, but about achieving the goal solely with my own strength.”

“…what?”

“And, I already have a lord whom I serve.”

“…you.”

“This match.”

I turned my head to look down at the field.

“The sports festival, the overwhelming victory of the Blue Team. The one who stands out here.”

“…”

“The one who benefits the most from this match.”

“This rascal…”

“Another match orchestrated so blatantly for ‘someone else’.”

Even without saying the next words, the face of Prince Lutellus was already flushed with anger.

“Your Highness may or may not already know.”

I casually set down my teacup and rose from the table.

“Well then, I’ll go first.”

* * *

As I walked down the stairs.

“…what do you want.”

“We’ve been waiting for you.”

“Seniors.”

“Adrian.”

“Hmph, what is it.”

From Reyna to Milije, Kalen, and Efnis. The four were waiting for me.

No, there was one more.

“Hello, Adrian.”

“Senior? You’re not in the Blue Team booth…”

“Just come with us, Adrian.”

Unaware of what was happening, I was led by them, and only then did I understand why I was going with them.

“Alright, it’s the Borrowing Items Race! The final event of the sports festival! Oh! Someone’s coming over there! The first place winner is here, huh? Oh? Blue and White Teams together?”

Being led without hesitation, half dragged along, I and the four others sprinted, easily passing through the final round.

“Wh-what happens to the winner? Should we check the notes first? Oh… a comrade, a senior, and a cherished junior!”

The host nodded while reading the notes, and then, looking at the one she hadn’t handed a note to, she said, “Show your note!”

“Uh…”

Trembling, Efnis handed over the note.

The host scrutinized it intently.

[…Family, it’s family!]

He shouted.

“Well, why are you looking at it like that!”

This is something.

“Adrian!”

What.

It doesn’t seem bad in itself.

And.

I turned my head to look at Lizelilias.

She asked with her lips.

“Are we going to start?”

As I nodded, she also nodded lightly and reached for the ribbon-bound hand.

Unraveling hair.

And

Whoosh!

She even threw off the gym clothes she was wearing.

Her long white hair fluttered in the wind, and the school uniform underneath fluttered in the breeze.

Pulling out the sword at her waist and plunging it into the ground, particles of light floated around her.

The large stadium was packed with spectators in the stands outside the track, and everyone in this place was looking at us.

Even colleagues who didn’t know the details of this incident.

Even the eyes of Prince Lutelus, watching from afar, were the same.

Amidst the pouring gazes, I lightly picked up the host’s microphone and opened my mouth.

Since everything had been planned in advance, the host didn’t say a word either.

“Welcome. Ladies and gentlemen.”

My resonant voice immediately caught everyone’s attention.

Now, all preparations were complete.

Let’s go.

It’s time to decorate the finale of the long and arduous sports festival.