The Extra's Academy Survival Guide Chapter 176: Reclaiming the Elte Company (5)
Three days before the start of school.
The students began to return to the dormitories one by one, and news of the catastrophe that took place at Rothstaylor Mansion also started to reach Acken Island.
As students who had visited their hometowns returned to Acken Island, they also brought the news with them, so it began to spread.
After going to the Elte Store to see how things were going, I returned to camp when people started to contact me from all over.
The reorganization of power within the Elte Company was deeply connected to the reorganization of power within the Imperial household. The people behind the incident were also powerful and influential people, so it was difficult to ask others for help.
"I also heard that the student council president will return to school soon. I hope that everything worked out."
Still, I thought I should gather people who could be of help right away and share information about my plan with them…
"Ziggs, you… Why are your cheeks like that?"
"I fought Elka."
"So even the two of you fight sometimes …"
"It's a bit of a long story…"
Ziggs Eiffelstein, the second-year runner-up student in the magic department, had swollen red cheeks with palm prints on them.
There was no need to ask who did it, as he wasn't the type of person to get slapped by just anyone.
"Back at Lorail Hall, I went there trying to help Elka with her daily life, but… I guess that was being too 'wildly friendly'…"
"What the hell did you do to get slapped by that gentle librarian?"
"Whenever we were at Islan's Mansion or Ophelis Hall, I always had a servant there helping me wash my body. So, I thought that since Elka was having a hard time, I should personally go and…"
"Never mind, forget it… you don't have to say anything else. It's entirely your fault."
One of the first people I contacted after returning from the Elte Store was Ziggs.
That was because I heard that Elka had returned to school early due to a conference, so Ziggs had also returned with her.
"I heard from Yennekar that you ran into each other at the docks."
"Yes. We returned to school around the same time as Yennekar. We ended up talking about various things at the dock."
"What did you talk about?"
"Uhm…"
"What we talked about isn't important! Forget about it! It's nothing important! Ahh! Ahhhhhh!"
It just so happened Yennekar was also sitting around the campfire.
It was a bit strange to see her desperately try and move past what Ziggs and her had talked about at the docks, but it wasn't all that important, so I moved on.
Aside from Yennekar and Ziggs, there was one other person.
"I was a bit surprised to see you come and ask me for help like that, Ed."
The top student in the alchemy department for the second-year students, Elvira Aniston.
It must have been rather strange for her to come to the camp for the first time, but after seeing Ziggs and Yennekar casually sitting around the campfire, she came over and sat down as well.
She was definitely a person who adapted quickly.
"Even though you said you need our help so desperately, what exactly happened for you to feel bad about having to ask us?"
I spent a full day walking around Lorail Hall, Trix Hall, and Ophelis Hall.
Those were the locations where I had contacts with all sorts of people, but… there were only a few people that I could ask to come to my camp to help.
Because break wasn't over yet, there were quite a few students who hadn't returned to school. Most of the faculty members hadn't even started going back to work yet, either.
"This time, it's something much more troublesome than I thought. And it seems like it might also put you guys in an uncomfortable situation as well."
The Elte Company's Silvenia Branch was nearly in the hands of Dune.
Because of the support he was receiving from the Elte Company's main branch and the other influential figures behind him, he was able to recruit the workers within the company one by one.
Still, the scale of what he managed to accomplish over a month's break was massive. Then again, if you considered the people behind him, it wasn't completely incomprehensible.
The second princess, Persica. The next director of the Elte Company Slogg. Even the deputy headmaster, Rachel.
Even considering Dune's skill at measuring the distance between people and what they wanted, it mustn't have been easy to convince all of the employees in the store right away.
Even for me, my brain had briefly stopped hearing him bring up early graduation, financial support after graduation, as well as long-term support in the future from the Elte Company.
"Still, I'm not asking for help for free. I can promise you a commensurate monetary reward. As you can see, now I am… a member of the Elte Company."
I stood up, showing the cloak that had the Elte Company's design on it.
The facial expressions of everyone gathered by the campfire were strange. Among them, Yennekar's expression stood out the most.
"Ed… So, you become a full-time employee of the Elte Company?"
"That's the case for now."
"F-For now…?"
After saying that, I sat down on a wooden workbench near the campfire.
I looked down at all the people who were gathered together sitting on a tree stump. This was a good position to brief them on the situation.
"Lortel Kehelland will soon be removed from her position as the Elte Company's deputy director. She was stabbed in the back."
Everyone has a different reaction upon hearing that girl's name.
For Yennekar, she had complicated feelings towards her.
For Ziggs, she was just a fellow classmate in Class A and a merchant he didn't know much about.
For Elvira, she wouldn't have been all that interested, but it was still a famous name she had heard before.
"I don't know what you guys think about her, but I've received a lot of help from her in the past… So, I can't pretend that I don't see what's happening."
I then briefly told them about Dune's plans to take over the Elte Company's Silvenia Branch.
The problem was what I would do about it.
"But right now, it isn't good timing for me, as my body can't use much magic power right now… Which is why I desperately need your help."
"Aha! So, you're saying you want us to break into the Elte Store and break Lortel out?"
Elvira smiled as she spoke playfully, though what she was saying was quite grim.
"That is quite the request, Ed, but… Don't we have to think about our school life as well?"
Both Elvira and Ziggs had a point.
Even if we broke in, attacked them all, and managed to secure Lortel's body, it would all be meaningless unless we solved the fundamental issue: the reorganization of power within Oldek and the support from Princess Persica.
"That's true. It won't be easy for us alone to have a major impact on the trend of politics that is taking place. However, there is someone else who is capable of that."
"Someone else?"
"I received a letter that Princess Penia will be back before school starts. She's bringing Lucy, as well."
The carriage, which departed from the capital Kroelon, was currently heading towards Acken Island with Lucy on board.
Once we had Lucy, we wouldn't have to worry about the manpower… And with Princess Penia as well, we would be able to rely on her to stand on equal footing against Princess Persica in terms of politics.
"We just need to hold out until Princess Penia arrives. With her power as a princess, we will be able to somehow stand on equal footing with them."
"I don't really like Lortel all that much."
Suddenly, a comment struck me.
The words came from an elementalist who was hugging her knees tightly by the campfire, warming up.
Ziggs, who was sitting diagonal of her, swallowed his dry saliva as he looked at Yennekar.
"Y-Yennekar."
"To put it bluntly… I hope that you won't take the risk to go and save Lortel, Ed."
For a moment, there was silence in the camp. Elvira alone tilted her head, as if she were relaxed.
When I suddenly looked at Yennekar, she had a grumpy expression on her face, with her cheeks puffed out.
It looked like she wasn't happy and willing to agree with me saving Lortel without a fuss.
She said she would do anything to help me, but it seemed like she was in a bad mood because she would have to help rescue Lortel.
Though in reality, it wasn't like Yennekar was heartless.
No matter how much she fought with Lortel, if she were in a situation where she was on the verge of being thrown into the gutter… she would do something.
However, it seemed that even though Yennekar wanted to help Lortel, she didn't want me to endanger myself.
"But Ed… If you are still determined to do so even after I say that, I will support you."
"..."
"Ah, I can't live…" she sighed.
Once again, silence.
Ziggs was looking at Yennekar strangely. The moment I was about to say something… Yennekar raised her voice again.
"So, what I will do is make sure that you are in less danger, Ed."
"It seems like you always end up worrying about me."
"No, that's not it. Actually, I always worry about everything. So… What are we going to do?"
Yennekar's eyes lit up.
She didn't like Lortel, but she made the distinction between her personal and private life clear.
More than anything else, Lortel was a person who always treated me kindly. So, from her position, it was better to have her as the head of the Elte Company for my sake.
She came to that strange conclusion, but… In fact, it was all just self-compromise.
Yennekar was only taking action because she sympathized with me. I should just be grateful for that fact.
"Like I said, even if we break Lortel free, the timing is important."
"Do we even need to break her free? Can't we just report everything to Princess Penia when she comes to school?"
"Unfortunately, time doesn't seem to be on our side."
I couldn't get all of the information at the Elte Company.
At that moment, I didn't know 'how' Dune was planning to bring Lortel down from her position as deputy director.
After all, politics was a fight for cause.
In order to drag Lortel down from her position, there needed to be a cause that could make it happen.
However, although Lortel was cold-blooded, she was always a principled leader.
There were barely any flaws that you could fault her for. And to be honest, Dune was much dirtier than she was.
There was no way that someone like Dune, who always planned things out well, would do something like that without any guarantees.
He took action because he was convinced that he could create a cause that would force Lortel from her seat.
"Soon, the school break will be over, and a new semester will begin at Silvenia. Until then, if we can continue to make sure she is unable to do anything, things will work out."
However, there were some things that I could infer from what Dune said.
When the 'new semester' began, Lortel would be removed from her position as deputy director. In other words, we needed to break Lortel free before the start of the new semester.
"Then, are we going to head in there together and beat them all up to get Lortel out?"
As Elvira spoke without sugar coating anything, I shook my head.
"No, I'm not going to have you guys participate in that."
Hearing those words, Elvira smirked. She had a confused expression on her face.
"It's too much to expect you guys to spit in the face of a member of the Imperial household and a wealthy merchant of Oldek."
"I don't mind, but I'm afraid that Elka or House Islan will be affected."
"I feel the same. I've already caused trouble for House Aniston more than once or twice."
"That's why I'm having you guys 'join' in the plans of the Elte Company. Not to fight against them."
Hearing what I said, Ziggs and Elvira tilted their heads. It seemed that they had no idea what I was talking about.
"Your role is… to stop Taylee."
What did you say?
Before they could ask, I raised my hand and stopped them. They had to be wondering about the nonsense I was spewing.
"I'm going to kidnap Ayla."
* * *
Lorail Hall
Middle of the Night
"E-Ed… Is this really alright…? Is this really okay to do…?"
Lorail Hall, a dormitory for honor students, was much larger than the luxurious Ophelis Hall dormitory—even though the facilities were not as good.
Unlike Ophelis Hall, which was only one building, Lorail Hall was made up of a total of five buildings. So, it was difficult to see the entirety of it at a glance.
The reason it was so large was simple. It was because there were a lot of students who used it. However, compared to Dex Hall—the general dormitory—it was rather quiet.
There was still a bit of the break left before school started, so the majority of the lights in the rooms were off. Still, some students had returned early, and their rooms were lit up. Looking at the second floor, although some of them were lit up, our target's room wasn't.
After looking around for a while, I was able to find Ayla's room.
"Don't worry, Yennekar. Because I have a plan for everything."
After I declared that I was going to kidnap Ayla, Yennekar followed me in surprise.
"I took care of everything myself to make sure there isn't a mess leftover afterwards."
"Th-That…! What do you mean…?"
Yennekar was following me, but it seemed like she was having a major internal conflict.
No matter what, kidnapping people wasn't something that should be done, no matter how you look at it.
I was not a person who lived such a clean life to the point of being able to judge what was right and what was wrong. That was why it was kind of ridiculous that I felt a bit guilty at that point.
However, Yennekar seemed to be in the middle of a major conflict, as if she were hesitant to drag an innocent person into the current situation.
She said that she would do anything for me, but if I were to ask her if she could really commit a criminal act with me, one that would surely harm another… It was only natural that Yennekar would feel conflicted.
"Okay… Well… Since it's you, I'm sure there's a reason for all of this…?"
"It's a bit much to trust me so blindly like that…"
It was better to show her directly than to explain in detail.
However, Yennekar clasped her hands tightly, as if she finally managed to settle her internal conflict by herself.
"Alright… Let's go, Ed… I already told you… But whatever you ask of me… Yeah…"
Rather, after seeing her look more determined than necessary, I ended up swallowing my dry saliva.
"Let's go… We're going to do it…"
After saying that, we headed to the second-floor window to Ayla's room. It wasn't as difficult as I thought, since we could ride a spirit that Yennekar had quietly manifested.
So, as I approached the window on the second floor of Lorail Hall, I quietly lifted it up. The window wasn't locked, so it quickly opened.
"We're going in."
Yennekar closed her eyes tightly as she slipped inside. I also went in with her at the same time.
Inside a student's personal room in Lorail Hall.
I could see the entirety of Ayla's room, which was neatly organized.
It wasn't very spacious, but the room had everything one would need. A desk to study, a closet, a bed, a small table, and even a private bathroom.
It was a room that looked strangely girly. There were a few cute dolls, portraits of family members from her hometown, and things like hair combs and hand mirrors scattered all around.
The moonlight was the only source of light illuminating the room. In the center of the room, Ayla Triss, a girl with brown hair, sat quietly.
Seeing her look straight at us as we crawled in through the window, she looked completely fine and rather creepy.
"H-Heub…!"
As soon as she made eye contact with Ayla, Yennekar shivered in surprise.
She was immediately caught after breaking into someone else's room without permission. Maybe she thought that Ayla was sleeping, since the room was dark?
Ayla slowly raised her head, looking at us as she said,
"So, you came."
"..."
"Wait a minute, I've packed some things. I'll just grab my bag quickly. Eugh, ugh…"
Ayla took out a suitcase that she had prepared in advance without looking the slightest bit surprised.
"A change of clothes should be enough…? Should I be bringing toiletries as well? Are you going to tie me up with rope or something? I think it would be better to wear clothes that won't tear, if that's the case…"
"…We're not here to play, so just keep your things to a minimum."
"Still, I don't know what kind of environment I will be living in after being kidnapped… It's best to prepare as thoroughly as I can."
Indeed, she really was a skilled teaching assistant.
And it wasn't like she had only been kidnapped once or twice… Seeing her so prepared for it, as the kidnapper seeing her like that… was rather strange.
"...??"
"...What's with that strange expression?"
"...????"
Yennekar looked as if she had lost her soul as she looked back between me and Ayla. It seemed like she was asking why the two of us were acting like the situation was completely natural.
"Well, there's the issue with the Elte Company and the thing with Taylee… It's all a bit complicated to fully understand, but… Since you asked for my help, it can't be helped. After all, there are many things I owe you for. If all you need is this worthless body of mine, then by all means, Ed…"
Looking at Ayla, who spoke so politely towards me, Yennekar had an absurd expression on her face.
Checking Taylee's growth, helping him grow as much as possible, and taking care of the Elte Company all in one go.
With that one plan, I aimed to get rid of all of my worries regarding the scenario, the power dispute within the Elte Company, my curiosity about Taylee's current specs, and the preparations for the upcoming battle against Velbrok…
I quietly brought Ayla outside.
"Ah! Wait! I forgot to fold my blanket! If the supervisor catches me, I'll get deducted points. Can I go back and fold it quickly?!"
Adding up all the time it took to drag Ayla out of her room after all of those minor problems… We ended up a bit delayed.
Could that really… be called kidnapping…??
Wasn't it rude to real kidnappers, who worked up a sweat doing their best to abduct people…???
* * *
An agreement arrived in the form of a document.
It was an agreement reached with the Elte Company's Silvenia branch. When she opened it up, it was about the behind-the-scenes details of Ed Rothstaylor, a current student of Silvenia, and Dune Grex, a working employee at the Elte's Company's Silvenia Branch.
Oh my…
In the private room of the second princess, within the Rose Palace located in the Kroel Imperial Palace, Princess Persica looked at the documents she had received from her close aide with interest.
It was clear that Dune Grex was a man of great resourcefulness and wit.
He quickly figured out the worth of Ed Rothstaylor within the current Imperial household.
By giving him an offer to join the Elte Company and form a close relationship, naturally the princesses aiming for the throne would want to get their hands on the Elte Company.
He was using Ed to raise his own value. That was the characteristic of someone who knew how to succeed in life.
Because of that, Persica began to become more and more interested in the name, 'Ed Rothstaylor'.
A surviving member of House Rothstaylor, the fallen aristocrat whom the hero Lucy Mayreel was obsessed with, and the one whom so many within Silvenia Academy were trying to win over to their side.
Did that wealthy merchant Slogg also make his own plans?
The wealthy merchant Slogg, of the Elte Company, supported Princess Persica.
She lent her hand to him for a bit to help him become the next director, and it seemed that he had created a connection with Ed Rothstaylor as proof of his loyalty towards her.
As a result, if the Elte Company ended up falling into the hands of Princess Persica, she would finally be able to officially meet with Ed Rothstaylor. After all, Ed Rothstaylor would also be a member of the Elte Company.
I want to meet him.
Princess Persica didn't even know what Ed Rothstaylor looked like. She only heard news of him.
However, according to the recent situation… it was clear that he was definitely an extraordinary person.
He was important enough for even Princess Selah and Princess Penia to pay attention to his every move. However, for Persica, he was completely unknown and shrouded in darkness.
Princess Persica smiled quietly, imagining Ed Rothstaylor.
The scary thing was that one's imagination always unfolded to their ideals.
Thinking of how to ideally use him… Princess Perscia quietly folded the document.
The competition for the throne would intensify.
It wasn't the time for her to get caught up in a wall of delusions like when she was stuck in the library, reading tons of books.
Persica quietly got up from her seat as she headed out of the Rose Palace.
Times were changing, and the power structure was also ready to be changed.
Persica… She had no intention of giving up her power.
-x-X-x-
In order to defeat the Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok, we needed Taylee McLaure's Swordmaster's Skill.
That was a problem that had been bothering me chronically. The best solution would be to just have Taylee McLaure be strong enough to defeat Velbrok.
However,
It was clear that Taylee's growth would be much slower than I was hoping for.
The subjugation of the Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok was the final ordeal that I needed to overcome after coming to this world.
If Taylee couldn't handle Velbrok, then I had to take over. That was because the catastrophe that would occur if Velbrok wasn't dealt with at that moment… It wasn't just one person's problem.
If Velbrok completely finished its resurrection on Acken Island, then it would begin to affect the entire continent… It was impossible to even guess just how much damage it would cause to the entire continent and empire. Naturally, it would also have a significant impact on my future, as well.
I planned to quietly get my diploma and leave everything to Taylee, but those plans had been ruined a long time ago… However, Velbrok wasn't an enemy that I could deal with alone, either.
So, I had no choice but to pray.
I prayed that Taylee McLaure's specs were a little bit better than normal.
* * *
Surrounded by a large iron fence, the branch's backyard was completely covered in darkness at night. No one could see anything.
After knocking on the back door of the Elte Company's Silvenia Branch, the workers inside opened the door.
Behind the quietly opened door was Dune Grex, who was now completely supervising the Elte Company's Silvenia Branch.
Behind him was Secretary Lienna and some other employees of the store.
Among them, there were quite a few employees who had previously pledged their allegiance to Lortel. It was quite strange to see them there.
"You're more intense than I thought, Ed."
What Dune was looking at shouldn't have been a sight that was easy to accept.
Me violently dragging Ayla, who was tied up with a rope, inside as Yennekar stood behind me.
Since Dune wasn't behind anyone when it came to intelligence, he didn't need to question why Yennekar was with me.
Yennekar was always a part of whatever I did. Though, as if he didn't think that she would even be so blatantly involved with kidnapping another person with me… Dune got rid of his surprised expression with a subtle smile.
"Hmm…! Hmmm…!"
Ayla, whose mouth was covered with a cloth, tried to scream and shout. However, it was impossible to make out what she was trying to say.
"Tie her up."
The other employees standing behind Dune grabbed Ayla's arms as they dragged her around. Ayla, who had completely lost her will to resist, was dragged further inside by the employees.
"I didn't expect you to personally go and do something like this. Is there something special about that girl?"
"She's capable of various advanced magic powers… In particular, she is someone born with a special resonance with Celestial Magic Power."
"Celestial Magic Power?"
As we walked down the hallway with Dune, we continued our conversation.
Behind us, Yennekar and Secretary Lienna followed us down the hallway.
I raised my hand as I gently added some strength to it.
The recoil of the Phoenix Ring had been somewhat alleviated after resting for a long period, but its energy was still there, making it difficult for me to draw out my magic power.
However, I could still bring out a very small amount of magic power if I focused on doing so.
Whoosh.
Dune narrowed his eyes at a small amount of dark red magic power that slowly started to rise.
The employees who were following behind Dune also swallowed their dry saliva. At a glance, it was clear even to people who weren't familiar with magic… That it was Celestial Magic Power.
"Do you know how to use Celestial Magic?"
"Yeah. However, I can't research a higher level of Celestial Magic on my own. In other words… Even though it might be unethical, I need a sacrifice that has a good level of resonance to it."
Actually, that was not the reason I kidnapped Ayla. In actuality, it was to anger Taylee McLaure and see his full strength.
However, I couldn't tell them the truth. So, that was the reason I had come up with for them instead. Just like Professor Glast did, my 'reason' for kidnapping her was because Ayla's resonance towards Celestial Magic was good.
"The condition of my body isn't great at the moment, so it is difficult for me to conduct my research properly… So, I needed to get a hold of Ayla before the break was over. If I abducted her during the semester, her sudden absence would stand out even more."
Saying that, I glanced at Dune.
"It goes without saying, but this isn't something I can say to just anyone. To abduct a person and use them for my research… If that becomes public, the aftermath will be severe."
"The school wouldn't sit still about this either. If a regular student of theirs had suddenly been kidnapped…"
"Yeah. So, I hope news of this does not spread outside. Ayla was alone in her room before she suddenly disappeared. We can just say she ran away or something."
The reason I was saying all of that was simple.
It's to express that… 'I showed you my weakness.'
Though, in reality, it was not my weakness. Even Ayla knew that I didn't kidnap her seriously.
However, a true relationship of trust could only be created when both sides were aware of the other's weaknesses.
If the other person had a change of heart, your plans could go awry. So, you needed to be certain of your partner in order to make sure that everything went as planned.
"For a group like the Elte Company… This shouldn't be the first time they've had to hide a girl."
Saying that, Dune laughed softly.
"There are more than twenty empty rooms in the basement of the store. Most of them are used as shelters for the employees or storage for goods, but… If you lock the door, it's like a prison cell."
"I'll have to look at it with my own two eyes."
"Of course."
So, I went down to the basement with Dune.
The Elte Company's Silvenia Branch was a four-story building on a golden piece of land right in front of Mexes Bridge.
The space and building were both quite large… It wouldn't be easy for someone to search the entirety of the building to find Ayla.
As we went down the stairs to the basement, I could see the entirety of the large underground space. There were rows of rooms in the basement crammed with various inventory items.
The door in the middle, all the way inside, was open. The employees pushed Ayla inside.
"Hmm!"
Ayla rolled on the floor as she let out a moan, looking up at the employees. It must have been scary, since there were so many burly looking men gathered around and staring down at her… Her entire body was trembling.
"The room's condition is pretty good."
"We don't have a space to accommodate just a single person, and the sound won't leak outside, so it'll be difficult for anyone to figure it out."
I went to Ayla, who was rolling on the floor, and I crouched down.
"I'm sorry, you must be very startled by this."
Speaking slyly, I checked Ayla's condition.
Making sure the workers standing behind me weren't looking, I gently nodded my head to her. Ayla, who was captured, nodded her head subtly at the same time.
I had already warned her in advance that things would end up like that, but she might have been startled since the atmosphere was more violent and cruel than I was expecting.
So, I wanted to check how she was doing, but… Surprisingly, she looked fine.
Having a talent for being kidnapped… I guess Ayla really did have a knack for it…?
Then, I thought to myself,
Since I made you go through much more than I expected, I'll help you with anything you need next time…
"So, how are you going to bring down Lortel?"
"We'll have to use the classic method. There is a perfect method for pulling people all the way down, and that's to blame them."
Just like when Lortel brought down Elte.
However, back then, it was actually partially Elte's fault. This time, though, Lortel was being treated completely unfairly.
"Everything is moving steadily and according to plan. When the next semester at Silvenia starts, control over the Elte Company will have already been passed on to us."
Dune never revealed his entire plan. It was as if he had revealed his own weakness, but he only spoke about the overall plan, and never the specifics of it.
"Fine… You all have your own plans."
I closed my eyes as I said that. If I tried to dig any further, he would only become suspicious of me.
"Then, I should take a look at Lortel."
* * *
There was silence inside the majestic imperial carriage.
Lucy and Princess Penia weren't all that close. Although they were in the same grade, for Princess Penia—who was always being heavily escorted—and Lucy, who was usually taking a nap in a remote location… The number of times they ran into each other were close to none.
Only the sound of the carriage's wheels could be heard in the awkward silence.
With Lucy Mayreel's soft breathing as a background noise, Princess Penia continued to look out the window as if she were uncomfortable.
The movements of the escort soldiers were certainly unusual.
Penia, who had been escorted by soldiers since she was a child, had developed a keen eye to recognize something like that.
It seemed that there weren't only the normal soldiers who escorted her, but other soldiers as well that were assigned to help.
It was as if escorting Princess Penia wasn't their only purpose.
In the princess escort group, there shouldn't be anyone who can do something, though?
Not just anyone could become an escort for the princess. Most of them were people she was already familiar with.
Most of the escorts had quite the career and were quite a bit older than other soldiers.
Half of them were close acquaintances with Princess Penia, but the other half were faces that the Princess had trouble recognizing.
It was strange that the Imperial Knights had sent so many soldiers to escort Princess Penia. However, the fact that there were also people she didn't normally see made her a bit confused.
However, since they were all soldiers of the imperial family, they wouldn't try to do any harm to Princess Penia.
So, why were they in the escort group that was following Princess Penia?
"They're supposedly members of a convoy."
Suddenly, Lucy—who she thought was asleep—spoke with her head flat on the table.
She spoke suddenly, without any warning. Princess Penia looked at Lucy with a puzzled expression on her face, but… Lucy spoke as if she didn't really care.
"They are traveling along because they are going to arrest a criminal on Acken Island."
"Pardon?"
Lucy had good ears.
It was not simply having good hearing. If she really tried, she could spread her magic power out to hear at a range that surpassed a regular human's even when she was asleep.
Of course, if it were someone she trusted completely or someone who didn't pose a threat, Lucy wouldn't even bother reacting even if you got close to her.
However, Lucy had to live in the midst of somewhat hostile people for the past few days… So, she had completely heightened all of her senses.
Although she looked lazy and tired, Lucy was always well aware of her surroundings.
Princess Penia swallowed her dry saliva upon witnessing Lucy's sharp senses. Even though she was able to listen to everything… it was impossible to notice just by looking at her.
However, she was currently Penia's ally. So, she felt reassured by that fact.
Overwhelming strength, sharp senses, somewhat knowledgeable, and even possessing the ability to judge a situation accurately.
Having her as an ally was enough to give one the feeling of having an entire army behind you. However, if she were an enemy, one couldn't help but think it would be impossible to win.
In short, she was someone that you should never make your enemy.
"A convoy…? Criminal…?"
"Are there criminals on Acken Island?"
"No way…"
Ed Rothstaylor?
Saying that, Lucy slowly raised her head.
Even though she thought she was just asleep, her eyes were surprisingly clear.
"..."
"Don't be too quick to judge, Lucy Mayreel."
Lucy Mayreel quietly sat up.
It was as if a massive bomb was ready to light its own wick at any moment.
Princess Penia, having an ominous feeling, decided to calm the disaster that was right in front of her.
"Getting ahold of Ed Rothstaylor is a sensitive matter that can't be easily decided, even within the imperial central meeting. No one within the imperial household would hastily try to get ahold of Ed Rothstaylor."
It would be a political misstep. It was obvious that they would be blamed if things went downhill.
Perhaps Lucy Mayreel knew that fact as well, as she quietly listened to Penia.
"Besides, they know that you are with me… So, they wouldn't be ignorant enough to send a convoy to arrest Ed Rothstaylor with us."
"Then, who is the criminal?"
"I'm not sure… We'll… Just have to wait and see. For now, let's pretend we don't know anything and keep our eyes on the convoy."
There weren't many people who were influential enough to add members of their own convoy into Princess Penia's escort team.
A person who had the authority to organize personnel or who held an equivalent level of influence.
It would require a person at the level of the commander of the imperial knights, at least the level of prime minister, or one of the three aides that were close to Emperor Kroel… Or one of the three princesses.
One of them… Penia's heart had suddenly hardened to some extent.
"Sister Persica."
The commander of the Imperial Knights, who had the authority to organize personnel, was on the side of Princess Persica.
So, it was most likely Princess Persica who had exercised her influence to do it.
When Princess Penia mentioned Persica's name, Lucy Mayreel's gaze became sharp.
Princess Persica was an ambiguous person who was neither friendly nor hostile towards Ed Rothstaylor.
Unlike Princess Selah, who was openly hostile, or Princess Penia, who was openly friendly, it was difficult to judge what she was.
Lucy wasn't sure what to think of her, but if she really was planning to use a convoy to capture Ed Rothstaylor, her opinion of her would completely change.
However, she couldn't hastily come to any conclusions yet.
They were crossing over the territory of a peaceful empire. Outside the window, a glorious field of beautiful vegetation spread out… But the two inside the carriage weren't in a situation where they could enjoy such scenery.
Inside, only the sound of the carriage's wheels could be heard. The two of them maintained a nervous tension.
It seemed that when they arrived at Acken Island, something unexpected was going to happen.
Princess Penia shouldn't want to provoke Lucy in any way. So, to make sure of that, she shouldn't be trying to get her hands on Ed Rothstaylor either.
Thinking about that fact, the tension continued.
The carriage had already passed the Zahul border. Once they crossed over the estate and reached the southwestern coast, they would come into view of Mexes Bridge, which connected to Acken Island.
They would soon arrive at Acken Island.
The cold air of the early morning had disappeared, and the vitality of morning was slowly starting to rise.
* * *
Knock!
The office of the deputy director, Lortel Kehelland.
When I opened the door and entered, Lortel had her head completely lowered.
The hood of her brown robe, which she always wore around her, was completely snug on her head. Her hands were tied behind her back and to the chair, so she didn't move a bit.
A simple meal was prepared on her work desk. There was bread and dried fish, which could be eaten even with her hands tied.
However, Lortel didn't put even a single piece in her mouth… She was completely quiet.
"..."
It looked as if her wrath was coming out.
An employee of the store, who used to be one of Lortel's closest aides, was completely nervous as he guided me to the office.
It was absurd to go in front of one's previous boss, who they had backstabbed themselves, but she continued to have a cold aura around her as she didn't say a word about being captured.
It was as if, should he blink, the blade of her revenge would pierce his throat right away… Perhaps he felt such a threat?
Lortel's cold appearance, which was usually more like a snake or a fox, gave the employees—who had gone through it all with her—a chill down their spines.
Rather, because it was Lortel who was acting like that, that difference from her normal behavior felt that much more terrifying.
Just by breathing in the same space as her, it felt as if thick mud was flowing down your throat.
It felt as if you were walking with a sword pointed at you.
The feeling that if they didn't successfully subdue her in time, Lortel wouldn't sit still and would come back in a furious rage.
"Can you wait outside?"
"O-Okay."
I wouldn't call it consideration, but when I asked him to wait outside, the employee quickly accepted.
"I will be waiting in front of the door. Come out when you're done."
Saying that, the employee quickly opened the door and left.
The door closed with a bang. In front of me was Lortel Kehelland, tied up behind her desk.
Contrary to the way she always sat proudly while leading the store in a relaxed manner, she now looked like a queen on the verge of being imprisoned.
I walked further in as I sat down across the desk from her.
Lortel didn't raise her head.
"You haven't eaten anything."
I tried to start a small conversation like that, but Lortel didn't move at all.
I wondered if she had passed out, but seeing her occasionally act as if she could sense I was there, it seemed she was still fine.
"Why are you here?"
Eventually, the long silence was broken as Lortel spoke clearly.
"To make fun of me?"
Her voice had an edge to it. It was like the voice of someone who was right in front of their enemy.
There were all sorts of emotions in those short words. However, she didn't cry or raise her voice… She only spoke quietly towards me.
"I thought things over while sitting here by myself. However, no matter how much I think about it, there is no benefit for you to take my side, Ed."
Lortel Kehelland had sat there, thinking about that.
Was there any benefit for Ed Rothstaylor if he sided with Lortel Kehelland?
If there was anything he could gain by being on Lortel's side rather than Dune's… then maybe Ed Rothstaylor could really be supporting her.
However, Lortel Kehelland was a smart person and would have quickly realized it.
Looking at profit and loss, there was absolutely nothing Ed Rothstaylor could gain by standing at Lortel Kehelland's side.
"Congratulations. Being friendly with me was great for you."
However, it would be a lie if she said she didn't feel bad.
Over the past two years, the various places where they were next to each other and comforted each other… Everyone became meaningless in the face of reason and profit.
"It seems that, thanks to me, you can make a profit."
She was really a merchant, down to her bones.
In particular, Lortel Kehelland had never been so affectionate towards anyone else before.
Because she was always on her own, without family, friends, or trusted colleagues… She was a girl who longed for such a relationship.
Perhaps because it was her first time, she felt such a great pain of loss…
That feeling of betrayal must have felt unbearable, even though she knew the decision was logical.
For the first time in her life, Lortel Kehelland understood the horror and pain of losing a relationship.
For a girl who only lived a life with calculated relationships, it must have been the first pain she experienced.
I felt a strange sense of guilt from that fact, but there weren't many other choices I could have made at the moment.
So, what I could do for her was… be straightforward with her.
"Right now… What's the deal with you?"
And like that, I made an unexpected remark.
Lortel, with her head still lowered beneath her hood, didn't move at all.
"Aren't you the deputy director of the Elte Company? Aren't you an honor student in the Magic Department at Silvenia Academy?"
I asked her simple questions, but she still didn't answer them.
However, I didn't stop.
"Or are you someone who became a wealthy merchant on your own from a young age? Aren't you my business partner, who supplies me with my magic engineering equipment?"
"..."
"At this moment… You're nothing. Absolutely nothing."
The only thing she could say with confidence was probably… Only one thing.
"You are simply Lortel Kehelland."
I sat hunched over on the wooden chair as I told her something seemingly insignificant, yet very important.
"Unfortunately, that's the only reason why I'm here now."
"Reason for what?"
"The reason why I should save you."
I pulled a dagger from my waist.
Before Lortel could say anything, I slashed the rope that tied her wrists.
The rope was easily cut by the sharp-edged dagger.
Lortel's hands were now completely free. As I had the thought that I only had to cut the rope that tied her feet together—Lortel quickly looked up.
Lortel, who raised her head… smiled triumphantly.
"Oh my goodness."
"Hey, you…"
"I was waiting for you to say that."
In the first place, Lortel felt neither heartache nor agony….
She was just sitting there, waiting for me to come to her.
However, it was ridiculous for her to be that shy, regardless of who she was… In the end, she had waited all that time with her head lowered, as if she were heartbroken and waiting for me to say something.
"What is it? Did you think I ever doubted you?"
'There is no other reason. I'm saving you because you're Lortel.'
Did she want to hear that?
Laughing sly like a fox, Lortel slowly lifted up her hood with her now-free arms.
The corners of her lips raised as if she was extremely happy.
"I almost died waiting for you."
"..."
"My legs are tied too tightly, and it hurts. Please cut the rope quickly."
I bent down as I raised my dagger. I carefully cut the rope with the dagger, making sure that Lortel's ankle wouldn't get hurt.
"Ever since you first came in, I had something of a hunch. After reading the negotiation contract, I knew right away. If you were really going to be on Dune's side, there was no reason for you to show up in front of me in the first place."
"That's too bad. I thought I was going to see you acting heartbroken."
"Ahah! Because you secretly felt bad as well. To a girl who was heartbroken because she thought she was betrayed… Did you want to show up and give me hope, saying that there was no reason to worry because you never betrayed me in the first place? Was that what you wanted to do?"
Lortel let out a gasp as she smiled casually.
"Unfortunately, that didn't happen. From the first time I saw you, I thought you had a plan."
"Haah, whatever. What's there to even say at this point? Let me just cut the rope and let's think of how to escape. I think Taylee will arrive soon."
"It seems you've been scheming something up again. I got it. Let me calmly organize my thoughts first."
Saying that, I slowly cut the rope that bound Lortel's ankles.
Well, I supposed that was how things always were. Just how dramatic would it actually be?
As was always the case in the world of merchants, even if it seemed like a major ordeal, there was always a way out.
Because Lortel knew that fact… she didn't worry one bit.
As expected, she really was the embodiment of reason. Someone who always maintained their composure. Lortel acted exactly as I thought she would.
There was no need to settle our emotions. I just had to quickly brief her on the next step of the plan.
Thankfully, because of that, we saved quite a bit of time.
Clang.
Thud!
The moment I had that thought, I was attacked.
My body was pushed from behind as my head hit the floor. There was a slight pain, but what surprised me more was seeing Lortel jump into my arms.
The moment my body was free, Lortel put her face on my chest as she hugged me tightly.
In the aftermath of that, I rolled over on the wooden floor. By the time I got ahold of myself, Lortel, who had been stuck in my arms, was rubbing her face across my chest.
"..."
"..."
I scratched the back of my head, feeling the chill of the cold wooden floor against my back.
"I thought you already knew everything."
"Just because I know doesn't mean that I wouldn't feel bad."
I didn't even have to ask what that meant.
Betraying Lortel Kehelland, staying on Dune's side, selling her off for my own profit… A future where I had completely abandoned her.
If you thought about it, that future wasn't completely impossible.
Feeling that fact deep down, Lortel might have been feeling shivers run down her spine.
"One thing is for sure…"
It was my first time seeing Lortel like that, buried in my arms as she was.
She, always so cold-hearted, was acting so weak… It was probably something that would be difficult to see in the future.
"This… Wasn't all that great of an experience."
Without saying anything else, I gently stroked Lortel's hair.
"…I'm sorry."
I also had my own reasons. However, I didn't go and explain it all to her.
And like that, for a while… We stayed together on the office floor.
Boom! Bang!
Crash! Crash!
Then, a massive explosion was heard at the front of the store.
A massive vibration that even shook the ground could be felt on the floor of her office.
-x-X-x-
After all of the ordeals in the storyline are over, Taylee, who has now become a swordmaster, leaves the school with a diploma in hand.
The world outside of Silvenia is vast. Since there are many other parties and forces that get entangled, there are still many ordeals and incidents left.
A close-up of Taylee's back as he leaves Mexes Bridge. A large sword hangs from the back of his now broader frame, while his colleagues stand around him.
The ending credits start to roll as the faint music plays. It's a scene I'd already seen several times and was now ingrained in my memory.
On a black screen, the ordeals that the swordmaster Taylee McLaure had overcome began to play, one by one.
With names written in English shown, the life of Taylee McLaure is summarized.
Born into a poor family, he had no talent and was looked down upon.
One day, after getting beaten up by a local bully, he wandered the streets at night because he didn't want to show his parents that he had gotten hurt.
He hid in a barn, hugging his knees and crying. Looking up at the stars, he dreamed of the day he could become someone who could stand proudly before others.
Covered in scars and curled up in the night's air, his childhood friend Ayla sat quietly next to him.
Sitting next to him, looking up at the night sky, she pretended not to see his wounds as she spoke about what to eat for lunch tomorrow.
Taylee tried to hold back his tears, lowering his voice. That weak appearance of his didn't change.
After that, he went through many ordeals.
The Act 1 boss, Yennekar Palerover. After quietly continuing her school life, she graduates as a top student and a scholarship student… but her rather mature yet quiet appearance made her look even lonelier.
The Act 2 boss, Glast, is also briefly shown in the credits. His wife and Assistant Professor Cleoh lay a wreath in front of his tombstone, which stands in his hometown of Kohelton.
The Act 3 boss, Lucy Mayreel, lost much of her magic power resonance due to Taylee's Swordmaster Skill. Even so, she remains incredibly strong and is shown drifting around the school, wrapped in magic. In the credits, she sits in a coastal cave somewhere on Acken Island, staring blankly out at the sea as she watches the sunset.
The Act 4 boss, Krepin Rothstaylor, is shown in a large portrait. With Tanya sitting quietly in front of him and bowing her head, the image of the burning mansion is briefly shown.
And the Act 5 boss, Velbrok. Its fallen scales lie near a cliff, while the Amulet of the Great Sage Silvenia sinks into the depths of the ocean.
An image of Silvenia, who reached the end of her life on Acken Island to seal Velbrok. As her image is revealed through a portrait within the amulet… all of the bosses' afterstories are quietly concluded.
After that, as the storyline progresses, the appearances of all the extras who were there quickly pass by… and the image of Taylee, who has become a swordmaster, appears at last. The location eventually changed to his hometown.
Taylee, who used to be unable to defeat even one of his local bullies, had now returned home. Even after graduation, the barn that he returned to was the same.
Then, a late, starry night.
A young Taylee from the distant past stands up, wiping his eyes. He wipes his wounds as he clenches his teeth, holding a gauntlet for training as he stands up.
Then, he suddenly makes eye contact with the current Taylee. Clenching his fists, he runs away somewhere.
In that empty memory, Ayla looks at the Taylee who ran away before she makes eye contact with the current Taylee, nodding her head.
Then, she runs off with Taylee, who has gone out to practice.
Swordmaster Taylee quietly sits at the back of the barn as he leans back like he did before.
The night air tickles his nose. As he rests, the Great Sage Ayla comes to him in the darkness of the night.
She's matured quite a bit compared to when she was young, but even so, her youthful spirit hasn't completely disappeared.
She fixes the collar of her magician's outfit, which fits her perfectly… and sits down next to Taylee.
Even when the entire world considered Taylee a loser, she was a girl who always stood by his side.
She then rests her head on Taylee's shoulder as she rests, thinking back on her memories.
The credits end and the music stops.
Taylee closes his eyes. The screen goes dark.
* * *
When Taylee McLaure slowly closed and opened his eyes, the store employees were already in a panic as he took a fighting stance.
"I won't beat around the bush."
In the commercial district, the golden piece of land right in front of Mexes Bridge.
There, the massive Elte Company's building was built.
An iron fence was built high up, looking quite grand. However, with a single attack from Taylee McLaure, it all came crumbling down.
"Where is Ayla Triss?"
Bang! Booooooom!
Dune quickly appeared in the front courtyard of the store after receiving a report. He grasped the situation at a glance.
Not only the mercenaries that were guarding the entrance to the store, but even the employees of the store were rolling on the floor.
A dozen burly men lay on the ground groaning. At the center of it all stood a boy with a sword in one hand.
Already…?
Dune frowned.
The Elte Company agreed to help Ed Rothstaylor kidnap Ayla.
Of course, it would have been great if it were taken care of neatly with no problems. However, when abducting a person and keeping their body tied up, it was difficult to avoid running into any problems.
Issues with the school or a manhunt to look for her… He was expecting that there would be something that he would have to take care of.
However, he had tracked her down much too quickly.
At the very least, he shouldn't have learned that Ayla was missing until the next morning. Then, it would take a few days more to come to the conclusion that she had been abducted.
Considering how long it would take to search for her and for suspicion to eventually come upon the Elte Company… That should have taken about a week.
Yet in less than half a day, he had already come after the Elte Company… It was far too fast, no matter how Dune thought about it.
"I know Ayla is being held here, so bring her out quickly!"
The employees who rushed forwards to subdue Taylee were already some of the strongest within the store.
After all, the Elte Company was not a combat group. Although they made contracts with mercenaries, there was a limit when it came to dealing with strong individuals.
Neither members of the headquarters nor powerful mercenaries could be dispatched to the Silvenia branch, located in the southern tip of the empire. In the end, there was a clear limit to stopping Taylee.
However, since they weren't a combat group, that meant the only way to resolve the situation was not through force alone.
"Please, calm down."
"…And you are?"
"My name is Dune Grex. I am currently in charge of the business affairs of the Elte Store."
Dune had broken out into a cold sweat, but he still managed to quickly organize his thoughts.
"At this moment, I am the current de facto chief of the Elte Company."
"Wasn't Lortel Kehelland the one in charge of the Elte Company's Silvenia Branch?"
"Currently, our deputy director is unable to be involved in the store's business due to personal circumstances."
Dune raised both hands as he spoke slyly.
"If there is something you want, I will hear you out. However, it will become a serious problem if you continue to riot inside the store like this."
"I came here knowing that you guys kidnapped Ayla!"
Taylee, who was always respectful, had completely lost his temper as he shouted disrespectfully at the employees in the store.
"If you guys are planning something, I won't just sit still. Got it?!"
"Calm down. There's nothing good about causing a scene like this. However, this is the first time I've heard of us kidnapping Ayla Triss. Where did you hear such a thing?"
"I already received a letter from Ayla herself!"
It was a letter delivered in advance at the request of Ed Rothstaylor.
When she was kidnapped at Lorail Hall, the letter had already been delivered to Taylee.
The contents of the letter were obvious.
[I'm being kidnapped now. The kidnappers are breaking in through the windows and trying to get in.
Ed Rothstaylor and the Elte Company have teamed up. It seems they are sacrificing me to research Celestial Magic.
Ask the school for help. I'll try to hold out somehow.]
After writing the letter, she left it on the corner of her desk. It was a somewhat inconspicuous location. However, Ed thought that—with Taylee's keen eye—he would be able to find it quickly.
Because of Taylee's personality, he wouldn't wait until he received help from the school. That was why he had already broken through the front door of the store.
"This is slander. What profit does the Elte Company gain by kidnapping Ayla Triss?"
"You're working with Ed Rothstaylor! The fact that Ed Rothstaylor is behind you guys… I already know the truth…!"
What he was saying was the truth.
Dune thought that Ed had cleanly kidnapped her, but he had made a mistake.
A few employees rushed at Taylee, but with a single stomp of his foot, he emitted a shockwave that knocked them all back.
Shock Release.
The combat magic used by the combat department was quite simple compared to the magic learned in the magic department. However, it worked well enough to be used directly in battle.
Taylee then gripped his greatsword with both hands and unleashed a massive horizontal slash. The employees around him were subdued at once.
Then, employees holding onto weapons and wands ran out of the front door of the store. They were much more skilled than the guards who were guarding the gate, and there were many more of them.
Taylee frowned as he closed his eyes and focused.
Then, his black hair was dyed white, and his eyes turned red. The magic power surrounding his body also grew stronger as it overwhelmed those around him.
Swordmaster's Skill.
It was a Swordmaster's Skill created by the first swordmaster, Luden McLaure. An original technique that was handed down to his descendants who shared the same blood.
The sword that Luden McLaure had set as the goal of his life was a sword that could cut through all 'existence'.
From things that were physically visible in the world to things that were invisible to the eye. He pursued the extremes of a sword… cutting everything and erasing its complete existence.
Elemental Slash, Thought Slash, Stream Slash, Space Slicing, Explosive Sword, Double Edge Sword, God Slaying Sword, Empty Sword, Dragon Slaying Sword, Predation Sword.
Cutting everything that could be cut.
Because he walked down a path with that single intention… he solely pursued honing his techniques.
Because of that, no wealth or fortune remained in House McLaure. He lived by cutting and defeating the countless monsters that were recorded in the history books of the Empire. However, he never received any rewards or glory. Even his whereabouts were unknown, so it was not easy to meet him.
Because of his dedication towards the sword alone, he was able to remain as the strongest swordmaster in history.
And the potential of Taylee McLaure, who was born with that blood… it was on a level completely different from ordinary people.
Even with the slightest of hardships, he was able to grow rapidly. Able to overcome any hardship and ordeal that came his way, that was how he lived his life.
Each time he swung his sword, three or four people collapsed. The screams of the employees filled the entire yard.
It was late at night and there was no one outside on the street. Thus, their screams echoed, alone on the quiet night.
"For now, escape to the inside of the store! You will get hurt if you stay here!"
One of the employees shouted towards Dune, who was clenching his teeth. For now, he needed to escape to a safe place to come up with a plan to deal with the situation.
Dune and some of his closest aides quickly ran inside the store as the other employees closed the door. At the very end, through the crack of the door before it shut… what he saw wasn't a human, but a monster.
He made eye contact with the boy who covered his entire body with magic power to use it like a weapon. The boy who was singlehandedly cutting through hundreds of employees all by himself.
Only after the door slammed shut… did Dune sigh in relief.
However, it was still too early to be relieved. Nothing had been resolved. The internal forces within the store weren't enough to stop him.
"Find Ed Rothstaylor! Right now, he's probably… in Deputy Director Lortel's office!"
"Some have already gone looking for him! But…"
The worker who ran down from the upper stairway panted heavily as he reported in. He was holding onto someone behind him.
"There was… No one in the office! Neither Ed Rothstaylor, nor Deputy Director Lortel…"
"What?"
"Thiel, who was serving as his guide, was attacked! And… there's a problem on the upper floors of the store!"
Dune clenched his teeth as he gripped his beret tightly.
"What do you mean?!"
"From the reports… It seems there is an intruder that came in from the roof. I was just confirming it to report…"
Bang! Boooom!
Another explosion rang out. However, that explosion didn't come from the entrance, but rather the upper floors of the store.
Aside from Taylee McLaure, another person had broken into the store.
"…Keuk!"
Dune barely grabbed ahold of his body from the sudden vibration. The employee, who was staggering, quickly continued his report.
"Ziggs Eiffelstein! The Guardian of the Northern Grasslands!"
The worker shouted in an urgent tone as he reported to Dune.
"He broke in through the roof."
"What?"
"I don't know what his intentions are! I came straight to report it after hearing it from one of the upper managers."
"I knew he was someone with a strong sense of justice, but I didn't imagine he would be the kind of person who would get involved in such a behind-closed-doors fight. Block all of the entrances at once! Block them by using the furniture nearby!"
First of all, the most urgent thing to do was hide Ayla.
It wouldn't be easy to stop Taylee McLaure through force. However, if they could somehow manage to hide Ayla Triss, Taylee would lose justification for his use of force… Then, they could hold him accountable for his reckless behavior.
A merchant should fight like a merchant. With that in mind, Dune quickly started to move.
"Prepare to blockade the upper floors, too!"
Dune clenched his teeth as he spoke. Although he was distracted by the sudden change in situation, he needed to maintain his sense of reason.
"And… find Ed Rothstaylor!"
There was a lot to be done in a short time. Distribution of manpower was key.
Dune quickly came to his senses as he calmly began to sort things out.
* * *
Boom! Bang! Crash!
"It's a building that is only maintained through the quarterly budget decided by headquarters…"
"Is money really the problem now?"
I grabbed Lortel's arm as I dragged her swiftly down the corridor.
Lortel, who had calmed down, wrapped her arms around me as she followed me closely.
"I can't help it. But… What are your plans after this?"
"For now, I have to get you out of here. I don't know what Dune's plan is, but it seems like it won't work unless he is able to keep hold of you."
"This is rather flashy for something as simple as that."
"Well, since things are like this, I figured I should take care of my business with Taylee as well."
Since I was planning on checking Taylee's specs, now was the chance.
As I was able to get ahold of the Elte Company as the perfect sacrifice, I just needed to create an opportunity.
It wasn't easy to find a place for Taylee to go all-out, nor was there a good reason for inciting it, either.
However, with the situation as it was, using Taylee to deal with Dune was the perfect opportunity.
"Taylee McLaure?"
"Yeah. The one who is likely to be the next swordmaster."
"He has potential. Everyone admits that… But the Elte Company isn't a combat group… It would be an issue for him to suddenly show up and go all-out."
Although the mercenaries of the Elte Company were quite competent, they couldn't be compared to the main characters in the storyline.
The reason the Elte Company could stay on Acken Island was financial and political power. So, if he started running wild like he was, of course they would be in a difficult situation.
"It will be difficult for the Elte Company to stop him with their forces alone. I'm not sure if the school and security personnel on the island will take action… but it's pretty late right now, so I doubt it."
"Yeah. So, I brought some people to help the Elte Company."
"What did you say?"
The moment she said that, a familiar face appeared after cutting around the corner.
It was Ziggs Eiffelstein… who had subdued various employees while walking around the store.
"You're here?"
"I didn't know you were going to make things so flashy, Ed."
Ziggs, who knew how to use all sorts of weapons fluently. Currently, he held a small rapier in one hand. It seemed that he had cleaned the entire hallway out in an instant.
"Everything upstairs has been cleaned up as well. I also tied an escape rope to the roof."
"Taylee is coming."
I didn't say much.
Elvira would block him on the first floor.
Ziggs was in charge of the second floor, and on the third floor, Yennekar was waiting in the VIP waiting room. On the fourth floor, there would be an even more difficult opponent waiting for him.
I planned to head up to the roof from the fourth floor and use the escape rope that Ziggs had attached to escape from the store.
I didn't know how far Taylee would be able to climb up. To be honest, they were far too formidable as opponents for Taylee to face in his current state.
I didn't even think he could beat me. Though, I was currently unable to use my full powers because of the recoil of the ring.
"I'm glad you look healthy, Lortel."
"I didn't realize you had come too, Ziggs."
"We don't have time to explain things in detail, so let's chat about it after things are over."
Lortel and Ziggs knew each other because they both belonged to Class A. After a brief chat with each other, Ziggs spoke to me.
"I think it would be better to not go near the VIP waiting room on the third floor."
Ziggs spoke as if he was troubled, looking at Lortel, who had her arms crossed.
"I came to see Yennekar on the way down, but… She was kinda scary."
"What…?"
"It's just… It seems she doesn't like the situation all that much right now. She was only sitting in the VIP waiting room sipping on tea, but… She had an indescribable energy around her… I couldn't even say anything to her."
I noticed the way Ziggs was glancing at Lortel. He was thinking that we shouldn't put Lortel in front of Yennekar in the current situation… And to be honest, I was in full agreement.
"Shucks, I wanted to see her."
"Lortel."
"It's so touching to see Ed go so far to save me."
After laughing like a fox for a while, Lortel shook her head.
"Well, we have to distinguish between public and private life. After all, a minute or even a second is a precious moment. Right now, there is a lot of work to be done."
Lortel spoke as she frowned. She seemed to have already grasped the overall picture of the power struggle that surrounded her to some extent.
"Then, we'll escape from the store and head to the camp."
"All right. If there are any changes, I will let you know."
Saying that, Ziggs sat down on a nearby wooden chair. He rested his sword against the wall as he crossed his arms.
"Then… I guess I should go and watch the situation."
I nodded as I continued upstairs to the upper floors of the building with Lortel.
* * *
Wooooong.
It took less than five minutes to take care of the near-hundreds of employees in the store.
In front of the mountain of defeated employees, Taylee quietly swiped his sword.
He didn't even drop a speck of blood because of the overwhelming skill gap. They were opponents where he didn't even need to risk his life.
As he gently lifted his creepy red eyes, he looked at the front door of the store that was tightly closed.
Taylee had a serious energy around him as he slowly walked to the main entrance, holding his sword. With one swing from the sword, the entire front door could be destroyed.
"Oh my gosh, you really did cause a riot."
However, a familiar voice tickled Taylee's ear.
Behind the mountain of employees that were piled up. Elvira's voice could be heard as she walked around it.
"…Elvira?"
Elvira wore a shabby magician robe… and she was fully armed.
Her bag was full of all kinds of alchemy reagents and magic engineering supplies.
Elvira sat on top of the mountain of employees as she crossed her legs and smiled slyly.
"It's nice to see you, Taylee."
"Why are you here…?"
"I'm sorry, but I have to stop you here."
The Elte Company's Silvenia Branch joined hands with Ed Rothstaylor.
Elvira, who appeared in the garden on the first floor of the building… did not seem particularly friendly toward Taylee.
Taylee sensed that as he quietly gripped his greatsword tightly. In terms of senses, he was someone who was particularly sharp.
Like Ed Rothstaylor had said, she was in charge of Phase 1.
Elvira Aniston, top student in the Alchemy Department among the second years.
The moment she proudly showed up to stop Taylee, an ominous feeling began to creep up on him.