Continental Elm Calendar Year 734—one month into the new year. Ars and Franz had advanced to third year at the Knight Central Officer Academy.
Even with winter's chill lingering, the annual grand finale event was held as always. The vast academy grounds included an arena for individual swordsmanship tournaments, a battlefield for group mock exercises, and open plains for cavalry drills.
As a school attended by nobles and royals, its facilities were on an entirely different scale. The stone-built main building exuded dignity, and the clash of swords echoing across the training fields spoke of the passion of future warriors. The comprehensive exercise was the culminating event for final-year students.
It consisted of overall maneuvers, cavalry charge drills, and a grand mock battle to close it out. Around four hundred students were divided into two camps, assigned roles such as cavalry units, infantry, archers, messengers, scouts, and generals, then pitted against each other. This mock battle went beyond mere training—it was a touchstone to test their qualities as future military officers.
Yet in reality, it was a microcosm of noble society. The glamorous cavalry commander positions were almost entirely filled by noble sons through parental connections and pressure. Infantry, meanwhile, was conventionally the domain of commoner students. The walls of class were as stark here as anywhere.
In the midst of this, Ars was appointed general by the academy. The moment he received the notice, a heavy sense of responsibility and expectation settled on his chest.
As general, he had authority over personnel assignments, though the cavalry was untouchable due to noble influence. Infantry, archers, scouts, and other units, however, fell under his discretion. Overlooking the battlefield in his mind, Ars began piecing together strategies.
"Hmm…"
Ars frowned at the squad leader recommendation list provided by the school. It listed top-performing students, but something about it didn't sit right.
"What's up?" Franz asked casually, noticing Ars's grimace. His usual mischievous grin eased some of Ars's tension.
"The squad leaders. The school gave me this recommendation list."
Franz peered at the sheet Ars held out. The names reflected the academy's preferences heavily.
"Let's see… Oh, it's all the high-achievers."
"But a lot of them are rigid thinkers. They ace tests, but in command exercises, their snap judgments are slow."
"Yeah, true. They're strong when things follow the pattern."
Franz gave a wry smile. The mock battle was conducted under textbook conditions, but real battlefields were full of the unexpected. Some students employed surprise attacks or tricks, but such flexible thinking was limited to a few—especially people like Ars and Franz. The instructors disliked unconventional tactics and preferred textbook battles, but Ars had no intention of fitting into that mold.
"But there's one good one."
"Who?"
"Here—look at this."
Ars pointed to the bottom of the list: "Günter Horn."
"Günter, huh! He's got serious skill with sword and spear. He placed pretty high in last year's individual tournament too."
"Yeah, but more than that, it's how he moved in the command exercise class. He strikes precisely at weak points and decides fast. Franz, in a group fight, even you might not beat him."
Ars grinned slyly, and Franz's eyes sparkled.
"Is that so? I beat him in singles, but I'd love to face him in a group battle too. That said, I've never beaten *you* in one. I'd rather get my revenge against you!"
Ars laughed it off. The academy's tactics curriculum emphasized textbook patterns, but actual battlefields rarely followed them. Unorthodox ideas and swift judgment—that was exactly what Ars sought in squad leaders. Günter was one of the rare talents who had it.
Franz, naturally, was another obvious choice for squad leader. Ars promptly went to see Günter. The red-haired young man was courteous—quite the opposite of Franz's laid-back style—and gave Ars a proper salute despite his royal status.
"You don't have to do that," Ars said with a wry smile, feeling a touch awkward. But recognizing it as part of Günter's character, he accepted it. When Ars asked him to serve as squad leader, Günter accepted with a shy but willing nod.
Then came an unexpected suggestion.
"Your Highness Altus, there is one person I would like to recommend as well. May I?"
"Someone you recommend? Tell me about him."
"A friend of mine—Werner Yunger. Have you heard of the dual-sword user?"
"Dual-wielding… Wait, you mean Clear Stream Werner?"
"Yes, that's him."
The dual-sword Werner was well-known at the academy. In individual swordsmanship tournaments, he wielded shorter paired swords to disrupt opponents' timing and perfectly parry attacks. His style—calmly absorbing even the fiercest assaults like a gentle stream—earned him the moniker "Clear Stream Werner." According to Günter, Werner also demonstrated excellent foresight and calm judgment in group battles.
Ars asked playfully,
"If you fought him, who would win?"
Günter paused to think. He hadn't faced Werner directly in a group battle, but Werner's composure as a commander was beyond question.
"I'm not sure. But I think it would be a close match."
"That's impressive! There aren't many students who could go toe-to-toe with you."
"We're from the same hometown. We've both worked hard to get into this academy. If you're inviting me, I'd like you to invite him too, please."
"Got it. I'll do that. And by the way, just call me Ars."
"Understood, Ars-sama."
That day, Ars accompanied Günter to visit Werner. The quiet young man carried a similar calm air to Günter. Average height, but his shoulders and arms were forged with the muscle of a true dual-sword fighter. When Ars requested him to serve as squad leader, Werner—who had been tense from the sudden royal visit—finally relaxed and smiled.
"I see. Very well. Then I will humbly accept the role of squad leader."
"Thank you. We'll go over the details together later."
After Ars left, Günter and Werner exchanged glances and laughed.
"Ars-sama has a completely different vibe from most nobles, doesn't he?" Werner murmured. Günter nodded.
"You feel it too, huh."
"I don't really understand royalty, but at least he doesn't have an ounce of that arrogance other nobles carry. He's surprisingly approachable even to commoners like us."
"He's a rare one. Even from the little I talked to him, there's something about him that draws people in. If we're going to fight on a battlefield anyway, I'd rather fight under someone like him."
Later, Günter received word from Ars and gathered with the others in a room on campus. Ars, Franz, and the other squad leader candidates were already there. Tension and anticipation filled the air, sunlight streaming through the window illuminating swirling dust motes.
Ars looked over his comrades, a new resolve burning quietly in his chest. No matter the noble pressure or class barriers, in this mock battle they would prove their strength. That determination rose steadily, silently, but with certainty.