30 Years Have Passed Since the Prologue

41 – 9. In the Academy field study, an assault always occurs. (5)

*

“Miss Isabel, are you really going alone?”

“Yes! Don’t worry. There’s something I need to prove. hehehe.”

“Prove…?”

“You should prepare yourself. You might fail the moment you underestimate it…!”

Isabel laughed frightfully and ran into the forest beyond. In essence, she had taken the lead.

While most students were still cautiously observing each other on the open field, Isabel’s actions captured everyone’s attention.

She ran into the forest alone as soon as the test began?

It’s an impossible feat unless there’s something to believe in. Unknown attackers waiting in the forest, and even fellow students to be wary of when wandering alone.

Undergraduate students, exchanging glances with each other, soon gathered in small groups and slowly moved their steps toward the depths of the forest.

And Ivan, who had been watching the scene unfold, also began to walk slowly.

“Ivan, where are you going?”

“I have something to check myself.”

“Hmm…? Very suspicious. Who could it be? Which troublemaker caught the attention of our ‘little’ Ivan?”

Enrique chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. When Ivan, without answering, tried to leave, Enrique spoke up.

“Don’t interfere with the kids’ exams. They’ll manage just fine. And you, with all that heavy gear, it looks a bit excessive.”

“It’s for precaution.”

“If you say you’re preparing for the worst in Frechenka, it feels like a coup might happen. Relax your shoulders, disciple. That’s paranoia for you.”

“Well.”

Ivan had no intention of persuading the stubborn old man stuck in the pre-modern era.

If we were to list the top three events at the Academy that were most vulnerable to attacks, they would be as follows: the entrance ceremony, field practice, and the festival. The reason they planned such a seemingly pleading exam curriculum and remained so calm about it was that they lacked common sense.

Ivan, being a very practical person, only attempted what was possible. Teaching common sense to an old man who had been living for over a century was not within his range of possibilities.

Without saying a word, Ivan jumped up into the trees and disappeared beyond the forest.

“Lately, he’s become a bit… annoying, hasn’t he?”

Enrique pondered Ivan’s expression as he mumbled.

*

“What is that man really doing?”

Isabel murmured as she dashed through the forest.

Everything she had learned in Ivan’s class was vividly displayed before her eyes.

– In nature, there are no straight lines. From the angle of the sun during the day, anything that sparkles in a straight line is a trap.

Indeed, that was true. Isabel was already dismantling her sixth pitfall trap, running without hesitation.

And one more thing.

– If enough time is given to a well-trained agent, a single trap never exists independently. So, think about it. Where would you end up if you managed to avoid the trap?

Guiding traps. On the cleanest route that could avoid an ambush-type trap, there was always a second trap.

The lesson was also appropriate. These agents, as Enrique’s disciples, seemed to have been adequately trained according to Ivan’s standards.

After dismantling the trap and drawing the escape route in her mind, there was always a second trap in that spot.

As she ran, Isabel heard a rustling sound in her ears.

“Who’s there?”

It’s a student. Isabelle crouched in the bushes, gripping her knife silently.

Soon, rustling sounds echoed, and a student appeared. What was his name? Allen? Probably a freshman from Teles like her.

And he seemed to have a fair share of connections.

But appearing alone? Hard to believe.

Isabelle coldly smiled, scanning her surroundings. Indeed, behind Allen, a distant shadow swayed. It seemed to be hiding behind a tree, but such a clumsy concealment was not convincing.

Just raising my guard for no reason.

Isabelle chuckled. Seeing such a sight made her realize how impressive her uncle was. That’s why kids can’t handle it.

Unconsciously, I thought so and flinched. Not that we’ll meet.

‘Just gratitude, that’s all!’

At least, confessing is not my role. No matter how much the world has improved, history proves it.

According to Teles’ court etiquette, there is only one case where a woman confesses first. When a woman’s father approaches to pursue a strategic marriage.

Unfortunately, Isabelle has no father. Maximilian has been missing for four years now.

So Isabelle has to follow the history and tradition of Teles. If I confess first, I’ll think about it, but I’m willing to consider it positively.

‘Confess first? That’s a bit much. Even if he’s an uncle, I’m much more valuable. A warrior’s daughter, noble, pretty, young.’

Normally, when Isabelle chattered, Echidna or Yuri would have appropriately intervened, but unfortunately, there was no one by her side now….

“Hey, isn’t anyone here?”

“It’s weird. I’m sure I heard a sound.”

When Allen grumbled, a group of students hiding behind the tree appeared. Familiar faces, Allen’s group.

Five. A number that is difficult to handle without damage head-on.

But Isabelle held the knife and quietly climbed up the tree.

Counter-ambush training is, in other words, ambush training. To respond to an ambush, one must first be familiar with the method of ambushing.

So, Isabelle, who directly received practical training from the best field agent in Krasiloph, now possesses a level that cannot be matched by university freshmen.

‘First, one.’

Isabelle covered the mouth of the man at the back and thrust the knife into his neck.

“Ugh… Ugh?!”

“Shh. Just stand still.”

“Isabelle Yang…?!”

“Oh, be quiet. If you don’t, you might get hurt.”

She took a bead from an unknown classmate’s pocket, lifted it, and struck the back of his neck.

“Kwahh!!”

“Hey, mister, he used this to knock people out.”

“Attack…! It’s an attack!! They took my beads!!”

“Oh, this is cheating. If you’re eliminated, you should keep quiet.”

Isabel mumbled as she raised her sword. The classmate who took a hit to the back of the neck groaned in pain, but it attracted four others to rush towards her.

“Isabel…! Attacking someone who charged alone! Are you brave or just ignorant?”

“Oh, Allen. Are you starting to talk to me now?”

Isabel chuckled as she raised her sword. Well, four were better than five. She decided to think positively.

Whether it was this guy or that guy, she didn’t like the sight of them awkwardly laughing while looking at her.

And on top of that.

‘What’s with that posture.’

The awkward posture, the charging momentum, and the clumsy trajectories that didn’t match each other.

Each aspect was so ridiculous.

Compared to the admission train where she had faced terrorists and fought for her life, and the past week where Ivan had attacked her as if it were a real battle, it was boring.

She smiled wryly. Seriously. When she thought about it, it was all because of that mister. It was so serious.

“If I have five beads, maybe I’ll become the top student? This time, I really want to be the first.”

Isabel laughed softly as she faced them.

*

About two hours had passed since the exam began.

By the time half of the students were receiving failing grades and leaving with escorts outside the forest.

So, when the number of students each of Enrique’s disciples had to deal with decreased, the attacks became even more intense.

-Kugugugugug…

A deep vibration began from deep underground.

“Kyaa?!”

Yuri, who was running at full speed, lost her balance and fell. She immediately got up, holding the hilt of her sword, and cautiously surveyed her surroundings.

But there was no one. There were no signs of an attack.

“What’s going on?”

*

-Kugugugugug…!!

The ground tremors intensified. Gradually, heavier, the trees in the forest swayed, rustling, shedding leaves.

Enrique furrowed his brow and leapt straight up onto the tree.

“…What’s going on?”

*

-Gugugugu…!!

As the ground shook, Ivan urged the tree forward and leaped. Reaching the top of the tallest tree, he scanned the surroundings.

The entire forest was trembling.

“Where is it?”

Despite the sudden earthquake, Ivan didn’t flinch. It was expected that an attack would occur, so he wasn’t someone to be startled by unfolding events, as fragile as common sense might suggest.

Where could the target be?

With an icy gaze, Ivan surveyed his surroundings. The range was too vast. While he had already pinpointed the locations of Isabelle and Oscar, the direction of the earthquake wasn’t limited to just their positions.

The entire forest was quaking.

“Hah, this.”

Ivan smirked. It was because a familiar figure had caught his eye.

It’s a hit from the dwarves. Just as I anticipated.

Ivan swiftly scanned the forest. If not for the abrupt earthquake, and if he didn’t get flustered, there were things to be seen by observing the entire battlefield with a wide field of vision.

An earthquake is, after all, a ripple. The roughest shaking occurs closest to the epicenter.

Therefore, let’s deduce.

Shaking trees themselves became excellent markers. If he could gauge the extent of the tremors, he could scrutinize the epicenter.

As he had reflected before, a forest is akin to a complex maze. It’s made up of randomly grown trees, entangled and intertwined into a complicated apparatus.

Without being beguiled by such a form, if one were to observe and independently analyze each object of the shaking trees…

“It’s a spider’s web.”

A long epicenter stretched out in a spiderweb-like pattern, forming a circular shape.

A characteristic assault of the 5th Legion Engineering Corps, the ‘Webmaker’ attack style.

It’s been a while. Ivan almost felt a sense of longing. It was a remarkably textbook assault and brought back memories of the past ‘Gangway Wars.’

Though on a much smaller scale than those days.

-Kwagwagwagwagwa—!!

Accompanied by a thunderous roar reminiscent of a landslide, the entire forest suddenly collapsed.

Trees tangled and fell, soil overturned, revealing deep burrows.

Everything above it was engulfed and swept down into the earth,

As dust and shattered wood surged and burst forth, creating a significant upheaval.

In the dense battlefield, Ivan could hear the screams of many students.

“Rescuing the students is Enrique’s responsibility.”

Enrique would grasp the situation instantly. Dwarf attacks were familiar to her.

Most students carried ‘location-tracking magical devices.’ So, rescuing them within the golden window was feasible.

It was an external exercise, an almost real ‘ambush response’ test. The priests would be on standby, even for significant injuries, recovery was possible.

Ivan swiftly leaped from the tree.

“Who’s closer, Isabelle or Oscar?”

If Isabelle or Oscar was the target, deal with the closest first.

Mapping the path in his mind, Ivan hurled himself into the crevice of the unseen depths of the underground tunnel.

The battlefield was close, the target clear, and he was well-armed.

For the commander of the eradication unit, nothing more was needed.

*