Chapter 21. In the Forest

I was running through the forest.

“It rained all day yesterday, too……”

Rodrigo, who had been looking out the carriage window, spoke with concern.

“Are you alright?”

He then asked Bethel, who was riding on horseback. Bethel quickly scanned the surroundings. Then he told the soldiers escorting the carriage with him to be on alert.

“Nothing unusual.”

“That’s not what I asked, but alright, I get it.”

Rodrigo closed the carriage window and let out a sigh. I had felt this before, but Bethel was a bit slow on the uptake.

“Are you alright?”

Rodrigo looked at me with eyes full of worry.

“Yeah. Why?”

“Because of the bad things you went through at the school……”

“Ah, that? Well, I’m fine.”

I wondered if the memories of what the 5th Prince had endured remained in his body as fear, but that wasn’t the case. After all, there had been no reaction even when I faced the 3rd and 4th Princes. Normally, if memories of fear remained, a reaction would have occurred regardless of my will. Like my heart pounding erratically or my muscles tensing up. The opponent would have noticed this and acted more easily. But nothing of the sort happened.

That must be why the 4th Prince had gotten even angrier.

“It seems there are good things about losing your memory, too.”

“There are probably more good things.”

“Still, I hope your memories return.”

Rodrigo’s wish was just that, a wish, so I could only show a bitter smile. Because I was not the 5th Prince, Maximilian Caesar, I could not bring back his memories.

“Ah! This is a big problem.”

Suddenly, Rodrigo’s eyes widened.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“You have no memory. I should have explained at least a little about Saint-Denis, but I missed it.”

It didn’t seem like that big of a deal, but there was a world of difference between having no information and having even a little. I figured I should listen for now.

Inside the rattling carriage, Rodrigo’s explanation began. The school was comprised of a total of six classes. The Black Lion Class, the White Bear Class, the Blue Dragon Class, the Silver Wolf Class, the Golden Eagle Class, and the class I belonged to, the Red Deer Class.

‘Good grief, the Red Deer Class.’

The other classes gave a strong impression. But the Red Deer Class looked so pathetic that it automatically brought to mind a spotted deer.

“It’s a place where they’ve gathered the outcasts.”

“……It’s not because Your Highness was lacking that it ended up that way.”

“It doesn’t matter if it was because I was bad at it. I’m different now from how I was then.”

“Yes, that’s right. Still, it was by no means because Your Highness was lacking.”

I nodded at Rodrigo’s words. I roughly got the picture. The 4th Prince’s side must have pulled some strings. ‘The Royal Saint-Denis Military Academy.’ As the name suggested, it was a place where the royal family’s influence was absolute. So, whether it was the school headmaster or the teachers, they would have had no choice but to be wary of the 4th Prince.

“If things get difficult during your school life, please tell me anytime. I will speak to Count Dorléans and have you complete your studies……”

“It’s fine. There’s no need for that. You don’t have to worry unnecessarily.”

“But still……”

“Rodrigo. I’m serious, I’m different now. Think of me as a different person.”

Because I really was a different person.

Well, that wasn’t the only reason I was heading to the school. I had to return to the school to grant the 5th Prince’s request. In addition, it would also allow me to try and paint the picture I had in mind. A military academy was a place where talented individuals gathered, so couldn’t I snatch up some decent guys before they got too big for their britches? If I asked them to join me after their heads had gotten all big……. Ugh, just thinking about it was tiring.

They would obviously present every little thing they wanted and say I had to grant it. They might also treat me like a crazy person, saying the things I was trying to do were absurd. It was better to entice them to create a new world when they were still ignorant of the ways of the world.

“Yes. I understand. I believe in Your Highness.”

“Good. Good.”

Blessings upon those who believe.

The school explanation, which had paused briefly after the introduction of the classes, continued. From Monday to Wednesday, there were theory classes. On Thursdays and Fridays, missions were given, and it was a practical class where they had to solve them. Weekends were free time to supplement what was lacking or to rest.

“It’s ordinary.”

“It is. But there is one difference.”

What was different was that points were awarded to the class itself based on the degree to which the given mission was resolved.

“They will grade based on the mission’s difficulty, the participating students’ contribution, and how strategically it was approached.”

“……Just hearing about it is exhausting.”

“It can be. As I said before, if you find it difficult……”

“Hey, I told you that won’t happen. By the way, what’s good about having a high score?”

He said the eligibility to participate in the martial arts tournament varied depending on the class ranking. I knew that the martial arts tournament was the most important event at the military academy. So much so that the royal family and powerful noble families would come to observe.

“The 1st place class can have all its members participate. For 2nd place, it’s two people fewer. The last-place class can only have one person participate.”

“What’s so good about participating?”

“Just by participating, you can choose the unit you’ll be assigned to. If you win, you can go to the Royal Guard. Regardless of your graduation grades.”

Was it because it was an era of peace? Serving in the Royal Guard didn't offer many opportunities to build a saga. So it wasn't a very good choice for a knight, but now everyone was eager to go… Tsk tsk tsk.

“Well, since they have Mana Circles, there's no need to build a saga. They probably don't want to go through the grind.”

“Pardon? Go through… the grind?”

Rodrigo looked surprised. I guess it was because it was an old-fashioned word for me to be using.

“No, well… I just mean it’s like that. Then what happens to the 3rd and 4th Princes when they graduate?”

“They are assigned to the Royal Guard.”

“Even if their grades are bad?”

“Ah……”

Rodrigo scratched his forehead and thought it over.

“Why? Are both of them good students?”

“They are on the rather good side.”

Were they receiving relatively good evaluations because they were princes? Or were they actually good?

“What if their grades drop and they become middle to low-ranking?”

“Uhm……”

“Why? Have there been no such cases so far?”

“Historically, the princes have always been the top or second-top students.”

It seemed they received good grades because they were princes. Fine, that was all well and good. They could be evaluated relatively well because they were princes. It was necessary to establish their authority so that the title of 'prince' wasn’t taken lightly. But then, shouldn’t the princes be going to the front lines instead of the Royal Guard? If they were given a generous appraisal for their title, shouldn't they create value worthy of it?

“What is it?”

Rodrigo asked. Instead of answering, I looked at my face reflected in the window. I was making a thoroughly displeased expression.

“It’s nothing.”

At my vague words, Rodrigo tilted his head.

My, it seemed the world had changed a lot. It might be my problem for not being able to adapt to this era of peace. Let’s just say that. Just because I was old-fashioned… Ugh?

Rattle.

Just as my body shook violently, the carriage came to a stop.

“What? Why all of a sudden?”

Rodrigo, who felt something was off just like I did, knocked on the window of the coachman's seat.

“What is going on?”

“It’s nothing, sir. It seems the ground has softened because of the heavy rain, and a wheel has gotten stuck in the mud.”

“Do we need to get out?”

“No, sir. We can get it out right away by putting some wood under the stuck wheel. You can just stay inside.”

“Understood.”

After the brief conversation, the sound of the coachman moving was heard. Rodrigo, feeling uneasy, opened the window and looked for Bethel.

“Bethel.”

“Yes, Viscount.”

“Help the coachman with what he’s doing. That way, we’ll move faster.”

“Yes, I’ll do… huh?”

Bethel’s reaction was strange.

“Your Highness! Get down—!”

He shouted urgently. In that moment…….

Kwoong!

Something heavy mercilessly struck the side of the carriage. The impacted carriage shook violently.

“What? Bethel!”

Rodrigo shouted. There was no response.

Koong!

Another strong impact was delivered. This time, the carriage moved a great deal.

“Rodrigo, outside.”

The carriage was about to tip over. Trying to get out after it had fallen would be a perfect way to get shot by an arrow and die. So we had to get out before that.

“Your Highness!”

Rodrigo opened the carriage door and shouted at me. He meant for me to go out first.

Without a second thought, I threw myself out. Rodrigo followed, throwing himself out of the carriage. Rodrigo and I tumbled and rolled on the ground. The carriage tipped over, making an unpleasant kwa-jik! sound.

“How on earth did this……”

Rodrigo couldn't finish his sentence at the sudden situation. I quickly hid behind a tree and looked for Bethel. He was collapsed on the ground. Fortunately, nothing was torn or severed.

Seeing his chest move, he was alive.

“Rodrigo, take cover!”

Rodrigo followed my words and lay down behind a rock. He didn't seem to have gathered his wits yet.

Swaaaa!

The rain poured down even harder. I composed my breathing and surveyed the area. Most of the escort soldiers Bethel had been commanding were dead. The coachman too. This meant I had to break through on my own.

I perked up my ears. The sound of the rain was loud, but I was trying to find the dissonant sounds within it.

“Kill any of them that are still alive!”

An unpleasant voice came from the direction the attack had flown from.

“Another carriage is coming!”

It seemed they had discovered the carriage of Elliot and Michelle that had been following us.

They had an escort detail too, but in an ambush like this, they would be killed without being able to lift a finger.

“Rodrigo!”

I pointed to a sword that had fallen next to Rodrigo. Rodrigo, confirming the sword, picked it up. I gestured with my hand, meaning for him to hurry and give it to me. But…….

‘What is he contemplating?’

That idiot, he seemed to be planning to come and hand it to me directly, looking around and fidgeting his bottom. He was making that choice because he lacked practical combat experience.

“Throw it!”

“How could I do that to Your Highness……”

“Cut the idle talk and hurry!”

Piiing!

The sword I wanted wasn't coming, only a murderous arrow.

“Hurry!”

“Ah, yes!”

Rodrigo threw the sword. The sword landed neatly at my feet. Good. Now, let’s sort this situation out.

I picked up the sword and steadied my breathing. The Mana Heart was pounding, screaming at me to let it run wild. I surveyed my surroundings. It wasn't exact because of the rain, but I could hear footsteps. About seven of them.

“Rodrigo. Can you shoot some fire? To secure our line of sight.”

I couldn’t see anything because of the rain, so it was not easy to move. If it had been me back in Leonhardt’s time, I would have blown away a forest of this size in a single blow and exposed the enemy’s bare faces.

“I will try.”

“An arrow will fly over. Do it from behind the carriage.”

“……Yes, I understand.”

Rodrigo looked at me with a nuance of surprise. That friend seemed to be getting surprised quite a lot today.

Rodrigo headed behind the carriage and drew out the power of Ignia, the God of Fire. In the meantime, I looked to where Bethel was. That bastard, he had moved his position ever so slightly. He was still lying there, pretending to be dead.

“Bethel! You bastard! Aren’t you going to get up? I can see you faking it!”

He pretended not to hear. But what could he do? I could see his slightly open eyes.

“So that’s how it is? Then I’ll have to check if you’re really dead or not.”

I stabbed the ground with my sword.

“Uuugh.”

Bethel let out a groan. I really should just kill that guy.

“Stop whining and pray to Terion. Ask him to make a moving wall.”

Piiing!

As soon as I said it, an arrow landed next to Bethel’s face.

“Heeik!”

Bethel was startled. If it had come just a fist’s width closer, it would have been embedded in Bethel’s eye.

“Do as I say if you want to live!”

“Your Highness!”

While I was pressing Bethel, Rodrigo got into position and imbued his sword with power. I pointed in the direction the arrow had flown from.

Kug-geu-geuk!

Rodrigo poured out his power without holding back. Hot flames lit up the darkness. For a brief moment, the rain stopped, and steam rose.

“One, two, three, four.”

Four of them, 300 paces back, were hiding behind trees, aiming for our lives.

“Rodrigo, you go to where Elliot is.”

“Pardon? Your Highness. I am to protect Your Highness……”

“They’re important too. I’m fine since I have this bastard… Bethel.”

Rodrigo looked at Bethel with untrusting eyes. Bethel scratched his head, embarrassed.

“Will you really be alright?”

“Don’t trust him, trust me. I have a plan. Go quickly! I think three or four of them went that way.”

“I understand.”

Rodrigo ran off.

Tiiing! Ting!

Arrows were shot towards Rodrigo.

“Hey! What are you doing! Are you just going to watch?”

“Ah! No, sir!”

Bethel assumed a stance and plunged his sword into the ground. The earth distorted, and a tree fell. The arrows aimed at Rodrigo were blocked by the tree. In addition, the path for Rodrigo to run on was cleared.

“You’re useful, aren't you.”

“Hehet.”

“Don’t laugh. It’s not over.”

I readjusted my grip on the sword. Now it was time to catch the bastards who had caused this incident.