The National Border Station of the Yuglia Kingdom''s Northern Legion, located somewhere 5 km west of the assigned make-believe defense border that Class A had secured.

    While there wasn''t much to speak of about its size, a part of it had been used as an office for the current outdoor classes.

    "I can''t believe someone managed to clear the scenario devised by Esteemed Older Brother, moreso by first-years...... Their unity is really impressive."

    Viscount Zeifun Wangyus, the younger brother of Godorfun, shook his head in disbelief.

    As someone who had been providing support from behind the scenes, like opening a part of the territory for the current outdoor classes, he had been privy to the details of the scenarios devised by Godorfun.

    Then again, they were receiving their due compensation from the Royal Academy for their help, plus they also had the authority to receive the monster materials hunted by students during their tasks, so the situation was quite favorable to them as well.

    "Unity? No, their performance has long since surpassed any other records. This task, Swift Transportation Duo Squad Tactic, of Sir Godorfun would normally be used to beat down any leftover naivety from the new recruits of the knight order.

    Originally, the task was for 2 squads with 8 members each to carry 800 kg of supplies, allowing for some flexibility in numbers. However, for rookie knights, it''s an exercise they fear as a grueling hell march, leaving them almost spitting blood.

    But Class-A completed it in merely 44 hours and 20 minutes, not to say four other scenarios are also waiting for them ...... How did you bring them up to this level, Sir Godorfun?!"

    The next voice came from Tim, the vice-commander of the 5th Legion, which was in charge of leading the northern troops. He came to take a look at the performance of promising seedlings from the outdoor classes.

    He was an expert in tracking and scouting, so it was easy for him to make out the details even from afar.

    The tradition was that aside from their class teacher, there would be one knight with exceptional scouting ability from the knight order joining in to judge the abilities of the students of outdoor classes per class. However, since their presence might overwhelm the students, they adopted the stance of staying hidden from the students’ sight.

    "Fuhahaha. If anything, I’m just as surprised. I know how tough their endurance runs were, but their coordination has surpassed even my expectations. Frankly, I was expecting them to already be arguing with this pressure, but...... now I’m looking forward to how they’ll surprise me again."

    Godorfun said, his lips twisting into an impish smile.

    "......I presume this is the effect of living together in the general dorm that I’ve heard about, huh? I thought it was some kind of gimmick or trend, like experiencing poverty, but I guess I can''t look down on them anymore.

    They still lacking in martial abilities, but their endurance for their age is truly monstrous. Speaking of which, I’ve also heard about the Hill Road Club, something that Sir is an advisor of, seemingly running around the premises of the Academy every morning before the start of the day."

    Godorfun stroked his beard, looking amused.

    "You''ve heard it right, Tim. Their monstrous endurance is due to their own effort in their morning club activities. Therefore, their practical lessons have currently been suppressed to some extent, but even then, their classes drain almost all of their stamina.

    Do you know what that implies, Tim? Despite stamina training being often boring and repetitive, with effects not always immediately evident in the short term, the prodigies of this generation still sweat it out non-stop, pushing themselves to the limit nearly every day. And all that at their current age.

    ......I want to train my body and mind, especially the mind, huh?

    It is quite a simple phrase when you say it, but not many know about the intricacies behind it. The teachings of Master Schord drilled into that kid are all simple and clear at a glance, but only when you stop to think about them do you see the vast meaning hidden within them."

    Tim audibly gasped.

    "The rumored teachings of the ''Unceasing Prudence'', is it? I dismissed him to be just some passing rumor, but the performance right before my eyes is... certainly a slap to my face.

    To be frank, I expected Sir to go rescue them when those ''Mystic Foxes'' suddenly appeared. But while I was flustered in my heart wondering if I should take action seeing Sir''s inaction, Leo Zatsinger wiped them out easily. They are already comparable to the knight order''s recruits with their strength and of course along with their monstrous endurance."

    He’s been thoroughly researching and learning about wind magic in the Academy’s Emission Magic Club. Honestly, I had also laughed at his idea, which had been hidden in obscurity, but what that brat had done in the tournament...... cough it''s really hard to endure my mirth recalling his antics."

    Godorfun said as he once again stroked his white beard.

    "While not comparable to that brat, I believe that as long as it can be confirmed that anyone is capable of using wind magic with enough training, I’m sure that the kingdom will support him.

    Mujikka, the advisor of the Emission Magic Club, has been putting effort into learning wind magic too, and is seriously examining this possibility. After all, the theory that wind magic is based on has already deviated from the source of modern detection magic...... Hmm, but don''t reveal that to anyone, alright?"

    Tim and Zeifun were instantly speechless.

    "Anyway, he didn''t use any trick or anything. And while it''s generally impossible to extend the mana radius to such length and drive monsters away, that brat is capable of doing that. It''s as simple as that.

    I presume that you’ve yet to read Rosetta''s report about the Brier Barony''s Dark Wolf Subjugation Battle this summer. That brat has already figured out our position, by the way, even though you brought a magical tool to prevent that."

    Tim''s jaw almost dropped to the ground when he heard that.

    "I wouldn''t claim myself to be unrivaled, but a 12-year-old kid being able to see through even Sir''s movement? But neither his expression nor body language shows that he has......"

    Godorfun sighed.

    "Because that''s the kind of twisted person he is. After keeping an eye on him for so long, it''s easy for me to tell. He’s definitely noticed us. The monster attacks were no coincidence but were instead instigated by him.

    In short, that brat has just used us as his sword. Even though I hadn’t expected that brat to beat me like this, I admit that I did fumble here."

    Godorfun shook his head in dismay while Tim audibly gasped.

    "......So Sir mean... he already expected how the second half would play out?"

    "Alas, he beat me to it and I can''t tell how far he has anticipated for the situation to turn this way. But I may have some ideas."

    Godorfun said with a bitter smile and after a long pause, he mumbled and sighed.

    ".........Let''s adjust the tasks. It wouldn''t be training otherwise."

    Zeifun, the younger brother, was astonished when he heard Godorfun''s words.

    Certainly, the score was determined not only by the time the tasks were finished but also considered the difficulty and the accomplishment of the tasks. Therefore, the score tended to increase as these factors improved.

    However, if a student managed to shorten their time through ingenuity and quick thinking, only to have the difficulty of the tasks raised afterward, no amount of effort could reduce their time.

    This approach didn''t seem fair to the students competing for speed in the class competitions. And Zeifun knew his brother well; he hated such manipulations.

    "But Esteemed Older Brother, that would be—”

    "I’m well aware. I’ll ask for forgiveness from the kids after the outdoor classes are over. But I must have them learn the strength to never give up through this training, to make them remember ''the desperate urge to live''.

    For that to happen, I’ll gladly accept their hatred. After having so many war brethren take their last breath in my arms...... this is a must to avoid that fate."

    As Godorfun solemnly turned and walked away, his back seemed less like that of an indomitable warrior feared by many to Zeifun, and more like that of an elderly teacher trembling at the thought of losing his students in the future.