"!"The instant he declared victory, a dizzying burst of mana slammed into his solar plexus.From that unexpected blow, Kruulin felt his body lift helplessly into the air.'Th… is…'If he kept flying like this, it would be an out-of-bounds loss as is.Through pain and confusion he forced himself to focus, gathered mana, then tried to kick against the air on the opposite side and use the pressure to twist his center of gravity back—but—Thud-.His body hit the ground first."…"Silence settled over the field with Kruulin’s crash.But soon that silence flipped into cheers."Uwaaah!!""We won! Her Highness won!"The Izelin camp exploded."…"By contrast, the Jerome side had nothing to say.Even Kruulin himself didn’t understand what had happened; it was only natural their students were struck dumb.Kruulin slowly pushed himself up where he’d fallen, then asked the referee with a stiff face,"Referee, what happened? I clearly broke Illeina’s protection. The match should have ended at that moment."If he’d shattered her student ID’s barrier, his victory should have been decided then and there.But the referees showed no particular reaction.Illeina explained instead."No. What you broke was not my student ID’s barrier."Whoosh-.When she stretched out her hand, something transparent caught the light and revealed itself.A shattered artifact—Shaped like a full-body cuirass wrapping her entire form."What is that?"To his question, Illeina showed the snow-white steel orb in her hand."This is the Aegis Shield. An artifact I borrowed from Loen for a time.""A defensive artifact? That’s against the rules. Other than a weapon, you can equip one artifact at most. Aren’t you already wearing artifacts that increase Strength and Agility?""That’s not so. The only artifact I’m wearing is this Aegis Shield.""Then your reaction speed…?""Those are consumables that temporarily raise Strength and Agility. Something like elixirs. You merely mistook them for artifacts.""…"Illeina continued toward the speechless Kruulin."And I had pre-cast a spell onto this Aegis Shield.""A counterspell, then.""Yes. A spell that reflects the opponent’s attack as is. The very thing that sent you out of bounds.""…A victory of tactics, then."At his resigned words, Illeina nodded."Exactly."Tactics that bridged an overwhelming difference in raw power.All thanks to Loen, who had perfectly analyzed the opponent named Kruulin—his combat style, the techniques he used, his weaknesses, and how to break them."Are you saying Loen planned all of this?""Yes. I merely moved according to his words.""…I’ll need to revise my evaluation of Loen."Just then the referee approached and asked Illeina for her student ID."Here it is."Shrrr-.When she breathed mana into the card, a translucent barrier enveloped her again.Her protection remained intact."Upon inspection, Student Illeina’s protection function is intact. The first bout of the Territorial War goes to Izelin Academy!"With the referee’s declaration, another wave of cheers burst from the Izelin side."Waaaa!"Listening to the cheers, Illeina smiled even brighter and waved toward the Izelin students.***The Jerome camp’s tent, heavy with gloom.Kruulin returned with leaden steps and bowed his head to Chepesh."I have no excuse.""I’ll address blame later. Go and deliver every detail from that fight to our analysts.""Yes, President."After sending him off, Chepesh bit down on her thumbnail.'A loss… a loss, to them.'To be beaten by Izelin Academy of all things. A humiliating defeat she’d never even conceived.She wanted to storm out and teach them a lesson right this instant, but she reined herself in.An indelible wound, yes—but it didn’t change the overall picture.If anything, their power disparity over Izelin was still overwhelming. The only problem was—'The mercenary…'Chepesh looked toward Loen’s tent.She didn’t know exactly who the mercenary Izelin had recruited was, but since Izelin had seized the initiative in the first match, it was highly likely they would field their mercenary in the second to cement momentum.'At times like this, you play a strategic sacrifice.'Even if it meant swallowing a stinging two straight losses, the right call was to plan for later.And if defeat was a foregone conclusion anyway, she needed at least to dent their morale.This would also be a good chance to give an opportunity to one of the Izelin figures who had defected to Jerome and later use it for propaganda.'Even if the opponent doesn’t send their mercenary, it doesn’t matter.'The representative she would send now was stronger than anyone in Izelin Academy.There would be no defeat.Having decided swiftly, Chepesh chose one of her entry members and sent him out.Her choice: a blond male student—one of those who had crossed from Izelin to Jerome."Josefin, your turn. Put a period on this long conflict and prove your loyalty."Josefin Ingrid—once Princess Illeina’s right hand and guard knight—would step forward.Chepesh added one more line."If you succeed in this, I will personally ensure your little sister receives treatment."Josefin bowed his head and accepted her command."Yes, President."***After the victory, back in the tent.Illeina bowed her head to me in thanks."Thanks to you, we won. Truly, thank you.""Too early for gratitude. The Territorial War isn’t over."Just one win. Two more steps remained for a complete victory.The first bout had gone by the plan, but there was no guarantee the rest would as well.'Of course… I’ve played the inter-academy Territorial Wars in the Mir-Elin Saga dozens, hundreds of times.'A fun piece of content where you compose teams from academy rosters and fight using Traits and Skills.There was a time I’d been more absorbed in this mini-game than the main story.So I knew Jerome Academy’s entries too, and I also knew the probability was very high that Kruulin would open as first—But what I knew wasn’t one hundred percent; I couldn’t relax yet.'Because this game has RNG.'Some games add random variables to the progression to block the trick of loading and saving to cheese hard sections.The Mir-Elin Saga was the same.On top of those random seeds, who knew what effects my altered actions as “Loen” had exerted on this world.It wasn’t ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) time to let our guard down."Philip, your turn.""Y-… Yes."Princess’s guard knight, Philip.Not exactly someone who inspired confidence, but this time I’d trust him.'Well, it might be we win this one without even fighting.'I glanced at the Jerome tent and shrugged."Come back with a win, no matter what.""Yes, Your Highness!""Go, Philip!""Win it!"Buoyed by everyone’s cheers, Philip stepped onto the dueling ground on trembling legs.And from the opposite side, a student approached the arena.Tap, tap.Philip saw the male student—and stopped dead."…Josefin."With a twisted face, Philip spoke the opponent’s name.Josefin Ingrid.He’d been a fellow guard knight serving Illeina at Philip’s side.But in the end he’d betrayed Izelin and left to join Jerome—a traitor.Philip glared and ground his teeth."You bastard… what face did you use to crawl out here?"If you’re a traitor, you could at least hide in a hole; to come out to a Territorial War and hinder Izelin like this—Even treachery and malice have limits.How many nails did he plan to drive into the princess’s heart?Philip gripped the sword at his waist and bit his lip.'I’ll win. I’ll win, no matter what.'Despite Philip’s bitter reproach, Josefin answered with a blank face."…Shut up, you idiot.""…"The two stared each other down."Then Izelin vs. Jerome—Jerome vs. Izelin—the second bout of the Territorial War begins now!"Bweeet—With the whistle, Philip and Josefin’s bout began.At the very start, Philip sprang forward."Die!"Fwoosh-.Drawing his sword, Philip charged blindly at Josefin.But his fierce shout was rendered meaningless when—"I forfeit."Josefin raised his hand high and spoke in a calm voice."?""Huh…?""Eh?""What the—"The field was instantly wrapped in puzzlement.In a situation so absurd it beggared belief, the crowd of thousands fell silent.This bout ended anticlimactically with Josefin’s declaration of forfeit."Uh… by Josefin’s forfeit, the victory goes to Izelin Academy."Even the referee, bewildered, declared Izelin’s win.And as everyone stood there dumbfounded—"You cur! What do you think you’re doing!"Chepesh leapt from her seat, grabbed Josefin by the collar on the arena floor, and shook him as she shouted."Traitor! You think this changes anything? Izelin ends today regardless!"Even if she’d sent a sacrificial card, she had never imagined he’d simply forfeit without a fight.At her enraged bellow, Josefin looked back with a cold gaze and said,"Traitor? How cruel. I have never once… betrayed our homeland, Chepesh."He turned his head to Illeina."Isn’t that right, Your Highness?"At his question, Princess Illeina answered with a proud smile,"Of course, Sir Josefin. My knight.""W-…What? You—you didn’t betray Her Highness?"To Philip’s dumbfounded question from the side, Josefin snorted."Hmph. How could I dump Her Highness somewhere and side elsewhere, leaving her to someone as unreliable as you?""Y-…You bastard…"With a complicated look, Philip swore under his breath and hugged Josefin.Anger was anger, but right now he couldn’t help being overjoyed.The friend he’d thought a traitor was actually a spy sent into the enemy under the princess’s orders.Like something out of a play.Josefin twisted and shoved Philip off."Let go, you creep.""Shut it, you punk. You’re dead later."While Philip and Josefin had their… emotional reunion, Chepesh screeched, calling out to Elena."I—I refuse to accept this! Elena! This match is invalid!"At her protest, Elena lifted the submitted bracket and shrugged."Josefin’s name is clearly listed on Jerome’s entry. Failing to grasp his intention is your side’s mistake. Also, the forfeit came after the match began, so there’s no procedural issue. It’s a legitimate win for Izelin.""Grk!"Snapping back, Chepesh shouted at Josefin,"So you don’t need your little sister’s medicine after all? Wasn’t that why you defected in the first place!""It was. But not anymore. I already received the remedy from Loen."With that, Josefin glanced my way. I smiled faintly and asked after his sister."How’s Joshua’s condition? I hope it’s improving.""…I can’t say for sure yet, but thanks to you, she’s past the crisis.""Good."Josefin Ingrid.Orphaned young, he entered as a squire and served Illeina for years; at the academy he was a leading war-hawk and one of her staunchest backers.Izelin Academy’s undisputed strongest asset.Their Competitive ranking had climbed several places on his presence alone—enough said.But as Izelin’s situation worsened, he succumbed to enticement and transferred to Jerome Academy.'In exchange for the cure to his younger sister Joshua’s rare illness.'Joshua—the only family Josefin had left and the sister he cherished.Illeina had known this in advance; after discussing it with him, she willingly allowed him to go to Jerome’s side—Half as a double agent, half in the hope his sister might receive treatment.Even if Josefin had crossed over to Jerome completely, Illeina would likely have accepted it calmly.She wasn’t cruel enough to demand he pledge himself to her at the cost of his sister’s life.And in truth, had I not intervened this time, there was a real chance he would have ended up fully on Jerome’s side.Illeina had accepted that possibility and sent him as a spy regardless.But because I intervened, Josefin could act as entirely Illeina’s spy.During the week we prepared entries, the information he handed us proved quite useful.And in the end, he plunged a dagger straight into the enemy’s heart like this.He’d fulfilled his role perfectly.Having suddenly lost the second bout as well, Chepesh screamed at me with a twisted face,"Loen! Do you think you’ll get away with this trickery!"I rolled my shoulders."…What’s wrong with it? Winning by any means—that’s war. In that sense, I’m prosecuting this war perfectly. Shut up and prepare the next match."Flutter-.I shrugged off my coat, handed it to Ciel, and strode confidently up onto the arena."What are you— Don’t tell me…"Chepesh glared up at me on the stage, and I crooked a finger at her."That’s right. I’m Izelin’s mercenary and third representative. From Eredor.""…""Come up, Chepesh. Let’s settle this now."

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