"...The West."
Luciana muttered the words as if to herself, but I immediately realized the remark was directed at me.
"The reason I designated the West as the dispatch site was not without cause."
"Indeed. Since it was your proposal, Hans, I did not block it in council. But may I hear your reasoning?"
"First, I must apologize for not consulting beforehand. The matter was urgent."
If anyone deserved to know, it was Luciana.
She was the undisputed highest authority of the Student Council—and above all, my favorite character.
"The dispatch to the West was to strengthen ties with Camilla Roberc."
"…Ho? Wasn't she, after the suspicions in the North, an archrival of yours?"
"Among nobles, there are no eternal enemies nor eternal allies. Ah—though my bond with you, Luciana, is different, of course. I swear eternal loyalty to my lady."
"Enough flattery. Explain."
I then laid out everything for her—including the secret matters of House Roberc.
"…Hans, don't tell me she intends to rebel against Duke Roberc himself?"
"Your insight is exact."
"A reckless endeavor. We are speaking of the Iron-Blooded Duke. One misstep, and we could lose Lady Roberc, an excellent student, during this very dispatch."
"But for us, it is a gamble worth taking."
Even if we lost her, it would only be Camilla Roberc, with whom our ties had always been tenuous.
But if we succeeded, we'd secure a monumental favor from the next Iron-Blooded Duke.
Low risk. Immense return.
To stay out would be a greater loss.
"I understand your aim. But, unfortunately, I will not be able to join this dispatch."
"…What?"
What was she saying?
Luciana, who had always leapt headfirst into dispatches for the honor of her house—why now?
"I've only just assumed the role of Student Council President. There is too much paperwork to handle. Passing on duties from Lady Parnell is more work than expected."
"I-I see…"
That was a variable I hadn't considered.
Camilla's rebellion had originally relied on the protagonist and fellow students' aid…
"Furthermore, Bathory cannot accompany you either."
"Ah, that I had anticipated."
"Wait! Isn't this absurd?! Hans and I are practically one body! How dare you two decide my treatment without me?!"
The news was a thunderbolt to her ears, and Bathory leapt from the shadows where she'd been eavesdropping.
"It can't be helped. Whatever goodwill you enjoy, you are still a demon."
"Grr… and what of it?!"
"Think of the recent high demon attack. The faculty may well view you as a ticking time-bomb."
"What an insult! Had I wished, I could have staged an uproar greater than that Levine bastard ever caused!"
Her face flushed crimson. I quickly reached for the pendant she wore, to calm her.
"Ah—this is…?"
—I figured the blood in the mana-stone must have run out by now, so I prepared more in haste. How is it?
At my single word, Bathory always quieted.
And now, receiving a gift, she stilled in an instant.
Luciana, tilting her head at Bathory's sudden silence, then spoke aloud, as if to make a point:
"Still, it is a relatively lenient measure. Since she promised not to harm you, Hans, it will likely be only an investigation."
Ordinarily, being a demon would have meant harsh interrogation.
"That woman, though… who was she? The one in maid's garb, with wings spread, who saved us…"
"Ahem. Quite a beauty, was she not? If I knew who she was, I'd hire her away as a lady's maid at once."
"I'd like to see her again. At least to thank her."
Her public heroics during the terror attack had earned her goodwill.
And with both president and vice-president speaking in her defense, not even the Headmaster could gainsay.
"…Then, may I request her cooperation, in the interest of student safety?"
"For that much, you may borrow her."
"But remember this well, Headmaster: she is a prisoner and property of the North. The single most important key to the Northern Campaign. If she is harmed… the Sword Saint will be furious."
The Headmaster may have been frustrated at his failed attempt to bind her tighter, but for us, the outcome was favorable.
'She was meant to be our hidden dagger, reserved for Professor Marks in the endgame…'
But so be it.
At least we'd established that not all demons were evil, achieving our aim in part.
"Hrmm! Even so, I cannot condone this! If I refuse, what could the Headmaster truly do?"
"It is a necessary formality."
"Formality, my foot! O noble heir of a warrior, can you not see? He only seeks to keep me from joining Hans in the West—"
"Should I simply send you back to the North, then?"
"Urk… fine. Fine, I'll comply, just don't—"
Bathory, cowed into silence and drooping her head, was quite a sight to behold.
'Still… will this work without Luciana?'
I did some mental calculations.
Deposing the Duke without Luciana…
We could still bring Rene, the walking font of blessings.
Substitute Luciana with Frigia, and the gap in power could be filled.
Yes, it was still winnable.
Rene would join by necessity of story progression.
Frigia, ever eager to roam, would leap at the chance if I leaked a little information.
"I'd love to assist you with paperwork, Luciana, but… my grades are still my top priority."
"Hmm. Are you not just angling for this seat yourself?"
[Student Council President – Luciana Speda]
She tapped the nameplate on her desk, smiling provocatively.
"As if I, her loyal retainer, would ever."
"Your challenge would be welcome anytime."
Nonsense. I had no intention of being shredded by her unique skill.
"Well, Lady Roberc should be fine. You and she have clashed, Hans, but with the demon removed, nothing dire should occur…"
"…Pardon?"
"Nothing. Simply ensure you return safely from the dispatch."
Her voice turned absent as she bent back over her documents.
"Woooow, so much sand…!"
"Careful. You might fall."
"Don't worry! If nothing else, I'm good at keeping balance."
Freesia leaned out the window, busy gawking at the view.
'So easy to handle.'
Her desires were transparent.
All I had to do was grant them—and exploit them in turn. A perfect win-win.
"But I don't see any second- or third-years."
"There's one."
"He's only coming because he's of House Roberc."
Elizabeth, my pink-haired fiancée, slid into the seat beside me, and I chuckled.
"It seems the rest had no will to leave the safety of the Central lands. The West is too harsh."
"…True. It's understandable."
"Harsh? What do you mean?"
Freesia, overhearing, turned curious eyes to us. Elizabeth answered:
"Not as bad as my North, but the West is rough country too."
"Really? It looks like golden sand as far as the eye can see."
"…That sand is the problem. Life can't grow there."
"Indeed. The spirits of water are scarce."
There was reason the Empire had long used it as a place of exile.
Under the blazing sun, save for rare oases, the soil had dried to sand.
And the land teemed with poisonous insects and monsters.
For noble sons and daughters, it was too rough.
If only that were the extent of it…
"It is also a den of criminals."
The voice came from Camilla, now beside Freesia, clearly having overheard.
"…Criminals? Like the slave hunters of the South?"
"Exactly as Lady Evergreen says. Pickpockets, swindlers, brigands, even murderers."
Though the West imprisoned criminals for labor, many escaped weakly-guarded facilities to form bandit gangs.
"That's why Lady Frontal gives warnings. Lady Evergreen, please be cautious."
Ironically, the City of Iron Discipline was also the place most rife with crime.
Still, only a lunatic would dare touch a carriage flying the crest of House Roberc.
'And with our party, it's the bandits who should fear for their lives.'
Rene, the walking blessing.
Freesia, of a cheat-born race.
Elizabeth, mistress of flame, and Camilla, mistress of earth.
Plus, that unnamed Roberc heir who'd made it to the Student Council tournament finals.
A truckload of brigands wouldn't faze us.
"By the way, what did House Roberc request for this dispatch?"
The North had the Wendigo hunt.
The South, monitoring beastmen and elves.
But the West? Officially, "investigate anomalies and recapture escapees."
Yet no specifics had been given.
'Surely they don't expect us to chase petty criminals…'
This was dispatch class, not a playground errand.
Not in a time when Calamities roamed.
"I hear an escapee fled from the Duke's prison."
"…What? From the Riskraza?"
The very labyrinth infamous even in the game?
One I'd only cleared by following walkthroughs?
Yes, it was serious.
For the Iron-Blooded Duke's proud facility to be breached—
The escapee had to be a most heinous criminal.
But…
'…Something smells.'
No ordinary mortal could escape that hell.
"House Roberc's prestige will suffer. To allow a second breakout…"
"Just so. Unless someone let them out. Then the culprit must be punished too."
Though unspoken, Camilla's eyes betrayed the same suspicion.
—If you think as I do, nod twice.
I sent the thought secretly.
—You believe the Duke released them himself, as he did in the Duchess's assassination?
Camilla's head dipped twice.
And when she raised it, her eyes burned with vengeance.
'A plea bargain, then.'
Why would the Iron-Blooded Duke loose a felon now, just as the Academy's dispatch arrived in the West?
The truth… would only be found in the jaws of the wolf.
"Young Lord Bern, Lady Camilla. We've arrived—at House Roberc's fortress."
The coachman's words announced our arrival at the wolf's den.
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