The two famous figures who appeared at Izelin Academy: Elena and Beatrice.“L… Lady Elena?”“It’s Lady Elena!”“Lady Beatrice is here too!”With their entrance, the mood of the students gathered on the field heated up.“Nice to see you, everyone~”Unlike Elena, who waved here and there with a bright expression, Beatrice wore a deeply uncomfortable look.“Hah… why am I here on my golden weekend.”When Beatrice pressed her fingers to her temples and murmured, Yulina at her side tried to comfort her.“Your Highness, shutting yourself in your room with only books is bad for your health. You need outside activity like this.”“…Even so, I don’t think there was any need to come all the way to such a rural academy. What possessed me, honestly.”As Beatrice scowled, Elena came up beside her and linked arms.“Don’t be like that. Beatrice, since we’re here anyway, let’s enjoy it.”Dragged along by Elena, Beatrice sighed.“Hoo… Elena, what exactly are you plotting?”“Mm, let’s say I owe Loen a debt to repay? Also, this atmosphere is fun, isn’t it?”Waaah—!Cheers filled the field noisily.Thus Elena and Beatrice, with Yulina, moved toward the tent where I was, to the sound of the students’ cheers.When I stood up, Elena greeted me first.“Oh my. Hello, Loen. You’ve been well, right?”“Elena, you really came. I’m grateful.”When I offered thanks, Elena put both hands on her hips and spoke boldly.“Yes, be properly grateful. I paid off the previous debt with interest. Even for me, honestly, it was a bit of a burden.”The observer guaranteeing this Territorial War was Elena.Because she had a debt to repay to me, she demanded repayment through this matter.Although she stood as a mediator, today’s affair would be a political burden for her as well.In such a situation, that she came here at my request was truly something to be thankful for.'And on top of that, I asked her—if possible—to bring Beatrice as well.'I looked at Beatrice, who was frowning beside Elena.I turned my gaze and thanked Beatrice too.“Thanks for coming, Beatrice.”“…There’s no need for thanks. If the information you intend to give me turns out useless, I won’t let it slide, Loen.”“Don’t worry about that. It won’t be a wasted trip. Since you’re here, enjoy the show.”The reason Beatrice came all the way here was not simply Elena’s request.Even if it was a personal visit rather than as an observer, given her status as a Cassandra imperial princess and Eredor’s president, it wouldn’t have been easy for Beatrice to attend something like this.So I enticed her by hinting I would share certain information I had acquired in the past.It was the matter of the Dark Magic Stones I’d mentioned at the dinner last time.I also leaked information about this Territorial War to Yulina, Eredor’s chief secretary.From Yulina’s standpoint, holding a personal grudge against me, she must have wanted to see me go down in flames in this Territorial War.Yulina surely had a hand in dragging Beatrice along.'The appearance of two student council presidents from among the Four Great Academies.'That meant this Territorial War had truly become a match with no retreat.Not that it wasn’t already.“I hope so.”Nodding, Beatrice offered greetings to Chepesh, who was hopping excitedly nearby.“You are Chepesh Jerome, princess of Jerome, yes? I believe we’ve passed each other a couple times between academies. A pleasure.”Beatrice extended her hand to Chepesh, but Chepesh didn’t seem to have the composure to accept it.She bared her sharp teeth as she glared at me.“Tch—so you set Princess [N O V E L I G H T] Beatrice as your representative. Just how far are you entangled!”She seemed to think, from hearing only that our mercenary was from Eredor, that Princess Beatrice herself would take the field in this Territorial War.At Chepesh’s overreaction, Beatrice tilted her head.“I’m not particularly on Loen’s side. I just came as a spectator.”“…R-really? Then good. My mistake. A pleasure.”Chepesh cleared her throat, then took Beatrice’s hand and shook it.The two exchanged brief words and ended with a handshake.“Chepesh, it’s almost time. If you’ve confirmed the observer, go get ready.”“You don’t have to tell me. Let’s go, Kruulin.”Chepesh left the tent with Kruulin.After she departed with her guards, Elena asked me carefully:“By the way, Loen, do you truly have a chance of winning this Territorial War? You didn’t even request a mercenary from our side.”“There’s nothing to worry about. Just watch comfortably. You think I’d make such a spectacle only to be humiliated in front of everyone?”When I shot a glance at Yulina, she looked away for no reason.“Well… someone seems to have come hoping for just that.”While I chatted briefly with Elena, Illeina approached and greeted them warmly.“Thank you for coming, Lady Elena, Lady Beatrice.”“I heard the situation from Loen. I’m sorry we can’t help.”“Not at all. Your mere presence is a great help.”In truth, the atmosphere inside the venue changed dramatically just from the appearance of Elena and Beatrice.Even the once-quiet Izelin tent, now filled with murmurs, showed the shift in mood.As rumors spread that two famous figures had joined Izelin’s side, hope began to grow.“In that case, I’m glad. I wish you victory.”At Elena’s well-wishes, Beatrice too opened her mouth, as if she had no choice.“…In my position I can’t cheer for you, but I do expect a good match.”Beatrice gave a safe answer that left no handle to grab.“Elena, it’s time.”“Okay, then.”Elena, accompanied by a single guard, headed to the platform on the field.Tap, tap—After lightly tapping the magic device imbued with amplification magic to check it, Elena’s pleasant, soft voice soon rang across the field.“Ah—ah. I am Elena—Elena Sion Celestia. As president of Saintea, I will preside over today’s Territorial War. I ask for everyone’s cooperation.”Waaah—!Looking over the students responding to her words, Elena declared the start of the Territorial War.“Then, from now on, we will begin the Territorial War of Izelin versus Jerome, and Jerome versus Izelin. First representatives of each academy, please step forward.”Rustle—Elena unfolded the note she had just been handed and called the first match’s entrants.“Kruulin Havell. And—”At Elena’s next words, the venue stirred.“Illeina Izelin.”***A week earlier.“I will take the vanguard.”While we were selecting representatives and composing the entry list for the Territorial War, Illeina said so.Without even looking at her, I accepted readily.“Do so.”While I was staring holes through both academies’ student rosters, Illeina requested to stand as the vanguard, and I accepted.Only, neither Philip nor Ciel agreed with this decision.“Y-Your Highness, that won’t do!”“Sir Loen, please reconsider.”As the two tried to dissuade us, Illeina spoke with a resolute expression.“No. If I do not stand at the front, no one will step forward as a representative. No one will strive to fight. This is not mere stubbornness, but a strategic judgment.”“Your Highness, there’s no need for you to do so. Those of us in the war party who support you—including myself—will gladly take the field to fight for the academy. If only to punish traitors like Josefin!”Following Philip, Ciel too voiced opposition.“If you go out and get hurt, what then? And if, by some chance, you lose… Izelin’s morale will hit rock bottom.”Their points were reasonable.But reasonable decisions alone would not win this Territorial War.We had to use any means available.Fortunately, Princess Illeina was not a goody-two-shoes who only studied politics and theory—she was a combat-capable mage.She was more than usable in this Territorial War—she was a good card.“Don’t worry, Ciel. Fortunately, Illeina seems to have good affinity against the enemy’s vanguard.”Slide—Running my finger down Jerome Academy’s student roster, I found a name.Kruulin Havell. Jerome’s Disciplinary Head.A likely opponent for Illeina to face as vanguard.“Only—if we shore up a few things.”***“Waaah!”When Kruulin stepped onto the makeshift dueling stage, a sky-splitting roar erupted from Jerome’s side.“Kruulin! Kruulin! Kruulin!”Students chanting Kruulin’s name.Kruulin Havell, Disciplinary Head of Jerome Academy.Shining with 34th place in the Union Competitive War rankings, he could be considered Jerome’s undisputed strongest.Broad shoulders and sharp, piercing eyes. The long scar across his face showed he was a warrior tempered by real battles.Vmmm—A faint aura also rose around him.Seeing it, several students shouted:“Sir Kruulin’s Blessing!”“His Blessing has deployed!”“Blessing” was a personal inborn unique quality, expressed in various media as benediction, gift, or rune.In the story, characters called it Blessing; in the game, it was implemented as a [Trait].His Epic trait, [Overwhelm], was a broken-level trait that nullified all attacks below a certain damage threshold.Puny attacks couldn’t even scratch him.Standing proudly on the stage, he drove his greatsword into the ground.Thunk—His greatsword split the stage floor and sank in lightly.Then Kruulin spoke to the silver-haired girl across from him—Princess Illeina of a small nation.“I have no wish to swing a sword at a woman who is not a warrior. I advise you to surrender.”At Kruulin’s advice, Illeina shot back with a resolute face.“I stand here not as a woman, but as a princess—and as my academy’s representative. Apologize for your rudeness.”“…I apologize. But I will not retract my advice. You—and your academy—have no chance. Give up the Territorial War now and accept merger. It will be better than being completely shut down.”“That… we shall see soon enough.”Illeina drew a wooden staff from her bosom.A magic staff the size of a baton, with a blue orb at its tip.The personal armament of Illeina the mage, [Blue Tear].Watching Illeina take a combat stance, Kruulin let out a low sigh.“…If you insist, I will face you.”Pak—Kruulin drew the greatsword he had planted and looked at Illeina.“But now that it’s come to this, I won’t hold back. As you know, this concerns our two academies—no, our nations.”“That is what I wish.”As the two representatives took their stances, Elena deployed the Relief Paladins near the stage in case of emergencies.“Relief Paladins, to positions.”They would mediate to prevent accidents and provide first aid and treatment in case of emergency.A Relief Paladin acting as referee requested the two students’ IDs.“Please tap your student IDs together.”The Union’s student ID.Duel between students within the Union began by tapping these IDs.It was an artifact also used in Competitive War, serving as a kind of protective barrier.As a minimal safety device, it wasn’t perfect, but it could prevent fatal damage.As long as they didn’t die in a single blow, the Relief Paladins or Elena could treat them, so it could be considered… safe.“When the shield on a student ID is fully consumed, it is considered a loss. Surrender and ring-out are also considered losses. In an emergency, the Relief Paladins may intervene mid-battle. Then—”Beeep—“We’ll begin.”As Elena raised her hand, the first match of the Territorial War began with the sound of a whistle.

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