Chapter 208 – 58. Midterm (3)
“Ignoring Reef’s party, I will break through to the boss area.”
At my words, two people looked at me. A dungeon with dozens of times more monsters than normal.
And the center of the dungeon was full of more monsters, comparable to the plains of Bernige.
Naturally, the closer they approached, the thicker the pressure and curse of demonic spirit power became. Means very dangerous.
The faces of the two men hardened.
‘That’s the reaction I expected.’
In other words, my remarks a while ago were like directing a suicide charge. Maria raised her glasses with her fingertips. Asked me back
“The count is the head of the party, so I don’t want to throw up. It’s not easy to understand. The Count must be confident in his swordsmanship skills. Even if the other cadets die, he can only survive himself. Are you that confident?”
Saying that, I glanced at Eric. Unlike Maria, who was slightly out of breath. In fact, Eric now looked very tired.
Although with my guidance and encouragement I regained my confidence. It was quite overworked to show such a good performance.
“Eric is already tired. If you stand in line like now and order a breakthrough, you’ll die in no time. Of course, this dungeon is not a real dungeon.”
“No!! Lord! You can! I will open the way for the lord in the battle line…”
“No. I will stand in the battle line. Eric is in the middle. And let Maria follow her.”
Maria nodded her head in agreement with my words.
“Okay. Anyway, the only party that got this far was our party and Leaf’s party. Either party will come out on top, so you have two choices. Retire another party. Or get to the boss area first.”
“I know you well.”
“Did you choose the Beast rather than an all-out war with that party? Surprisingly. It would be easier to attack the leaf party directly than those monsters.”
Maria was right. Rather than that large amount of demons. Still, dealing with three humans would be easy.
The only party that has already come this far is Leaf and us. Defeat Leaf and our party will be in first place.
‘But I don’t know. Eric will definitely retire during the battle.’
And Maria, too, won’t show her skills beyond the line she’s set for her. If I want to overdo it, I will retire.
Then even if I survive, the party members will be annihilated. Unless the reef party is an idiot. It’s clear that you’ll target those two first before me.
‘Then it’s a deduction for the party leader.’
So that means you shouldn’t be fighting the leaf party right now. And I was planning two things at the same time.
And annihilate the leaf party. Entering the boss area with all of our party alive. In other words, I was thinking of getting the highest possible score through this evaluation.
‘Because in Demon King’s Slaughter, there was definitely a bonus reward with a perfect score in this evaluation.’
Although Instructor Darren didn’t announce it in advance. There is a special reward for the first place party in this test.
Imperial Guard. The Royal Guard Knights, the core of the Royal Guard. Along with the Midnight Sun and the Sentiac Knights, it is one of the three major knights representing the Empire.
If you score enough points on this evaluation to satisfy Darren. With his connections, he finds a position with the officers of the Royal Guard Knights.
‘I’ll give you a commendation in the name of the Knights of the Royal Guard, and I’ll set up a place for a short dinner party.’
At first glance, the reward isn’t that great. Most of the Pantheon’s cadets graduate and want to join the Royal Guard.
Putting a face stamp on the officers of the Guard Knights in advance. It means that the path to advancement for the future is open.
Although strict Darren. His affection for his cadets was so great that he planned such a special reward.
However, I am the heir to the Grand Duke who will own the White Night Knights in the future. So even though that great reward seems insignificant at first glance.
The reward was unexpectedly important to me as well.
Although now the imperial faction and the Greek faction are divided, the power is weakened. Still, the strength of the Guard Knights is strong.
Of course, Instructor Darren’s personal connections are the officers of the imperial faction. A chance to connect with those executives naturally. I never meant to miss it.
‘Cleaning up the group of Cardinal Grius. And also to prevent confusion in the future from the pursuit team. It must be done.’
And also for my and her fiancée, Lilia. Their loyalty to the imperial family was unquestionable. It was a good opportunity in many ways.
Of course, what was right in front of me came first. To Maria who is misunderstanding my plans. I explained the true intention of the charge I ordered earlier.
“My instructions must be embarrassing. But don’t worry. I’m not a pervert who would blindly choose suicide.”
And after my words, Maria’s expression changed with interest.
“I’m thinking of fishing a reef party.”
***
Maria was surprised by Julian once again.
Swordsmanship skills. And the ability of the commander to raise the morale of the party members. Although she confirmed those two facts with her own eyes and rated him quite highly.
The plan he made at the end of the evaluation. She didn’t expect it at all.
‘He’s much more clever than I thought.’
It was. Now, the three of them were ignorantly charging towards the boss area. A place that can be said to be the most dangerous living hell in this dungeon.
So, blinded by the evaluation results, it may seem like they are losing their temper and making a crazy charge. In fact, it was the count’s clever deception tactic.
In the battle line, Count Yulian is forging a path with his ignorant swordsmanship.
And the other two. Eric and Maria just follow without doing anything behind them.
No, strictly speaking, the two are recovering through Eric’s divine power. And instead of a front full of monsters. The two were watching the rear.
‘I never thought I’d use Reef’s psychology.’
Grand duke’s successor. A person with such a high status is said to be the representative of the cadets, but he was also well aware of the feelings of Leaf, who was only a commoner.
Riff is popular as a student representative because of his good skills and personality.
But because of Count Julian’s return and Lucia’s growing skills. His mind couldn’t have been more complicated.
‘It’s not even second place. Because I was pushed to third place.’
And the riff is also excellent. You probably already know the difference between the two and yourself. There is simply no chance of winning in a 1:1 match.
However, this evaluation is an evaluation through a party, not an individual confrontation. So, for Leaf, this is a good opportunity to regain the honor of being a cadet representative.
Count Yulian cleverly took advantage of Leaf’s nervous feeling.
“Younglord… You are amazing. How did you expect that when I was observing the reef party… They found us too.”
Eric hinted at Maria. Because the road is pierced by Julian. The two had time to talk.
When Maria heard Eric’s words, she thought about it.
‘That’s natural. Leaf should be able to use as much divine power as Eric.’
If Eric can detect Leaf’s party. Of course, the opposite is much easier. The moment Eric looked at the leaf party. It was also possible for Riff to find this one.
However, that was also Count Julian’s intention. He deliberately revealed the location of his party. He then launched an unreasonable charge as if to provoke a leaf party.
‘And it went as the count said.’
Leaf party instead of creating an alternate path to the boss area. He immediately started pursuing Yulian’s party.
‘It’s a matter of course. Waiting for our group to run out of energy. It’s just a surprise attack.’
The competitors in front of me, blinded by the rankings, started charging towards the boss area. Then Leaf’s party would get impatient and head to the boss area in a hurry.
A better way is to choose a fisherman’s geography. Ambush Yulian’s party, who lost their strength while clearing the road.
Then, the last party left is the leaf party. Yulian’s party has pierced the road, so the boss area is in no time. That was a reasonable choice. It was pretty cowardly though.
‘If it was a normal riff, I would have tried to compete with a straight attack instead of a surprise attack. The Count read that psychology well.’
It was a rare opportunity to save face as the cadet representative. Besides, the count is now facing a large number of monsters in the front row.
Before long, the three of Leaf’s party came close to the party.
“Aim for Count Julian first!!”
As expected, they aimed at Yulian first. A state where it is difficult to cope with a surprise attack due to dealing with the Witchbeast. And you must have lost enough stamina.
It must be a bunch of people who have survived the combined effort of three people.
However, Count Julian knew that a joint venture would come to him.
At that moment, Eric shouted.
“Maria! Riff together!”
And Eric and Maria, who have already finished recovering their physical strength. The two of them took down Leaf with a pincer attack.
“Damn it! Riff got hit!”
Of course, the leaf party’s attack didn’t even touch Yulian. And looking back at the two remaining members of the leaf party. Count Julian grinned.
“Eric. Maria. Our party is number one.”
***
The evaluation of the battle end is all over.
My party and I easily handled the leaf party. We arrived at the end of the dungeon, the boss area, right away.
‘We were the only ones among the parties that went through evaluation together.’
Besides, all three party members survived.
And the magic record stone that each person brought with them at the beginning of the evaluation. All the activities of each party member will be recorded on the record table.
Although the results have not come out yet. I felt intuition the moment I left the dungeon that I would become the chief of this evaluation.
‘I crossed a big wall in this midterm exam.’
I didn’t know who the party members would be. There were many variables in this evaluation.
But thanks to meeting really good party members named Eric and Maria. I have successfully achieved the results I was aiming for.
‘Maria…’
And when all the evaluations are done. She obediently confessed her identity.
‘I am Lilia-sama’s handmaid and royal guard.’
It wasn’t that I was hiding my skills for nothing.
Royal Guard. A faithful bodyguard who protects the safety of the imperial family. His skills were comparable to those of the 3 major knights. It was natural for her to feel her alienation to her.
Of course, when I told Maria the difference I felt. Although she was surprised for a moment.
‘It would have been the perfect camouflage. After all, the Reinhard family is different.’
And she soon found her composure. She told me why she dared to reveal her identity.
‘His Highness Lillia is worried about the Count these days. So what I want to say to the Count…’
She said something unexpected for her.
‘If, by any chance, Her Highness Lilia is avoiding sexual love. There’s a reason for that. I want you to know that it’s not because I hate the Count.’
Having said that, Maria left her seat. It was so stealthy that Eric didn’t even notice when she disappeared.
‘This is why Lilia avoids her sexuality.’
Maria was right. Lilia avoided sexual intercourse with me in her imperial library.
She couldn’t have direct sexual relations with her.
So, she tried to have sex with her anal as usual. For that day, she didn’t try to come out with Lilia unlike usual.
Of course, before that, she had Lilia run over me first, paizuri and fella. She probably didn’t really hate me.
‘Since she’s an anal person… I thought Lilia might have been reluctant that day. Is there another reason?’
The reason was not readily apparent.
Maria said she didn’t have to worry. Still, Lilia’s changed attitude bothered her, so she sent a separate letter to Lilia.
‘We decided to study for the exam together starting tonight.’
Wednesday, one day after the evaluation of the combatants. The midterm exams were finally coming to an end. All I have left now is the theoretical evaluation and practice of the Alchemy Order.
I’ve been studying alchemy, but I’ve done quite a bit. I’ve been busy with work lately, so I haven’t had time to review. It would be the last exam anyway, so I thought I would study all night.
‘So I invited Lilia to the atelier.’
The Imperial Library isn’t bad either. Because there is no place like my atelier to stay up all night. Since it was supposed to be just the two of them today, Eirin was also sent back to the mansion in advance.
After spending time alone in the atelier, it was quickly evening. And finally, the door to the atelier opened.
‘Lilia has arrived.’
I got up from her seat to greet her.
“Welcome to. Her Highness Lilia…?”
But it wasn’t Lilia who opened the door and entered. The young lady with silver eyes. She was chloe
