Battle Race in the Fantasy World

EP.138 Ah Monsters! What an Excellent Evaluation Tool!

“Listen, Kyle. Just calm down for a moment.”

“Isn’t my going beneficial for the Empire as well? More than me…”

“I know. I know, but I’m worried about you.”

The Crown Prince, who stopped Kyle, points his finger at the ground, or more precisely, at the Academy.

“What about your attendance? I graduated from the Academy too, so I know. The attendance score seems like nothing, but it actually plays a quite significant role. Everyone tries not to be absent if possible, so absences can be a major deduction factor.”

I was wondering what was going on, but he’s worried about Kyle’s grades.

Well, if your score falls short, you’re out, whether you’re a commoner or a noble.

Of course, there are hardly any who have achieved such a legendary feat, but it does happen.

Those who caused trouble while drunk. Those who became good-for-nothings and were constantly absent. And so on and so forth.

Moreover, absences at the Academy don’t reset each year. They keep accumulating.

It means that as talents of the Empire, diligence should be valued above all else.

That’s why it’s natural for the Crown Prince to worry about absences.

If it were another student, they might have been moved that the Crown Prince himself was showing such concern.

They might have given up, agreeing that his worry was justified.

“I understand. However.”

However, the one sitting in front of the Crown Prince now was Jonathan.

“However, I can’t miss this incredible opportunity.”

At Kyle’s answer, the Crown Prince let out a sigh.

And he thought about why his youngest sister, Yulika, had fallen for this young man.

Yulika had said he was different from herself, but there were still similarities.

Yes. If they were completely different, they would clash and conflict every day, and it would eventually end.

There need to be differences, but also commonalities for them to blend together.

“…I see. I suppose that’s not something I can have a say in.”

After all, the Crown Prince had come here to get a definitive answer.

He didn’t have the confidence to go directly to Jonathan and ask, ‘Where is your family head going?’

So asking Kyle, who knows Jonathan well, for his opinion was the best option.

“Your Highness, may I ask something?”

“What is it?”

“I’m not sure about the details, but is the situation in the West that serious?”

Before going on the academic field trip. That is, when Mathieu came to the Empire.

He recalls the time when he entered the palace by imperial order. And there, he heard about the situation in the West.

“How much do you know?”

“I remember up to the part where a legion would be officially dispatched.”

The Empire has ‘Defense Forces’ responsible for internal security and ‘Legions’ in charge of external combat.

The main duty of the Defense Forces is, as the name suggests, all actions to protect the interior of the Empire.

Exterminating monsters, suppressing internal rebellions, all of these are their duties.

People misunderstand because of the name ‘Defense Forces’, but they are also clearly regular troops.

They are by no means weak or lacking in training. It’s just a misunderstanding due to the name.

On the contrary, the Legion is responsible for all military actions directed outside the Empire.

Their main mission is, of course, war with other countries. They are arrows ready to be fired at any time, spears and swords with sharpened blades.

That Legion has been dispatched to the West. To exterminate monsters.

They are a massive group that is, if anything, superior to the Defense Forces, certainly not inferior.

“That’s right. The Legion has been dispatched. Monsters should have been crushed long ago. But it seems the situation there is unexpectedly fierce. They’re requesting reinforcements, even calling for the Top Ten.”

Wait, what kind of monsters are they dealing with to call for even the Top Ten?

Has the Imperial Legion become some kind of camp these days? Struggling with monsters?

The Imperial Legion. I know they fought really hard against Jonathan in the past.

In fact, it’s said that the Jonathan people dealt with them moderately, but it’s still a great feat nonetheless.

But now that Legion is being pushed back even by monsters?

No matter how much those Alliance guys did strange things, isn’t this crossing the line a bit too much?

“From what I’ve learned, it seems something unexpected has happened, even for the hardliners of the Alliance.”

“What do you mean by unexpected?”

“The monsters are becoming more powerful. Especially those that have engaged in cannibalism.”

So, to put it metaphorically, they’ve been killing each other and gaining experience points?

Thanks to that, they’ve become high-level to an extent incomparable to before.

“The Legion is now facing everything from trolls to werewolves, wyverns, and even ogres.”

“…No wonder the Legion is struggling. Thinking about those creatures becoming several times stronger.”

They might be able to handle trolls and werewolves somehow.

The problem is the flying monster, the wyvern, and the ogre, said to be the strongest among monsters.

Those two monsters could potentially turn even a fairly skilled person into prey if they’re not careful.

Not only have these creatures been enhanced by some drug addicts, but they’ve also…

Cannibalized each other, concentrating their power. It seems it would be difficult for the Legion to handle.

No matter how strong they are, in the end, their members are only human.

‘That’s why it’s even more intriguing. I absolutely must go. Absolutely.’

As a human, harming other humans is not very welcome.

While causing injuries might be possible, taking a life is entirely different.

But monsters are different. There are no good monsters in this world.

If there are any, it’s only one kind: those that are already dead and spewing out byproducts.

That’s why we can face and eliminate them without any guilt.

And when hesitation disappears from the mind, the highest level of performance naturally follows.

I wonder if that’s why Father went too? Because he doesn’t worry about his opponents dying?

“Anyway, it’s fortunate. To think that Baron Jonathan will end up helping the Empire.”

The Crown Prince lets out a sigh of relief, as if a worry has been lifted.

It seems he was quite concerned about Jonathan making a move.

“If you’re thinking of going west, there’s something I can help with within my authority.”

“What is it?”

“A teleportation magic circle. Of course, I know the Jonathan people don’t like it. But it would be good for you to move as quickly as possible and return, don’t you think?”

Is he trying to add a bit of debt at this opportune moment?

It’s a transparent move, but not one that can’t be accepted.

After all, there’s nothing bad about strengthening ties with the Imperial family.

“I gratefully accept that favor. Then I can depart this very afternoon.”

“Today? Kyle. Shouldn’t you at least talk to the professors…”

“I’m only planning to leave right now because I haven’t finished today’s workout yet.”

At Kyle’s response, the Crown Prince had to slowly nod his head.

He had heard that Kyle was quite unlike the typical Jonathan.

Meeting him in person, he was indeed very different from Leah or Leanna.

He was easy to talk to, and there was no trace of the arrogance typical of the powerful.

Nevertheless, the unavoidable Jonathan part of him was still Jonathan.

“I’ll quickly finish today’s workout and then head to where the teleportation magic circle is.”

At those words, the Crown Prince simply said to do so.

After meeting with the Crown Prince, Kyle had two things to do.

One was, as mentioned, to quickly finish today’s workout.

The other was to inform the other women about this fact.

The first one was very easy. He just had to do what he always did.

Just add triple the speed to that, and it’s done.

The overload that came with it added just the right amount of tension, which was great.

The problem was the second one, which was more difficult than expected.

“Suddenly the west again?!”

“What is it this time? What on earth is going on?”

Tisha, greatly surprised, and Elga, asking about the situation with piercing eyes.

It would be strange for an academy student to be constantly traveling here and there.

“Will you be okay? To think you’re even going to be absent. There’s even an exam next week.”

“Tell me. Did the Princess pressure you? If you can’t say it, at least express it with body language. If you’re being forced to go, what was it… wave a carrot, Kyle.”

Their methods were different, but both women were sincerely worried about him.

So Kyle lightly hugged them as a gesture of gratitude.

Of course, he didn’t hug them together, but met them separately and hugged them separately.

“Well, have a safe trip.”

“…A farewell kiss wouldn’t be bad either.”

Tisha, blushing and tightening her arms around him.

Elga, expressing her desire for a little more than just a hug.

“If Ian, Leto, or Nell happen to look for me, please let them know on my behalf.”

After saying goodbye to them, he heads towards the chapel.

‘I should explain the situation to the Saintess as well.’

The Saintess is also a member receiving his PT.

Moreover, she’s an excellent member who puts in great effort and shows remarkable growth.

He needs to let her know that he’ll be away for a few days again.

‘But…’

The chapel that came into view was different from usual.

The place that was always filled with tranquility is now bustling with activity.

The holy knights who usually stand quietly are busily preparing something.

Next to them, unfamiliar priests are also diligently packing luggage.

Just as he was wondering what on earth was going on,

“Brother Kyle.”

The Saintess quietly approaches from the side and takes Kyle’s hand.

“Ah, Saintess. What’s all this? Has something happened?”

“I was just about to tell you. I’m glad you came. Actually, I’m going to the west this time.”

At those words, “Going to the west,” he finds himself asking, “Pardon?”

The Saintess seems to have interpreted his reaction differently, as she waves her hands and quickly adds,

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not leaving the academy forever, nor am I closing down the chapel. Recently, there have been many severe casualties coming from the west, so the Order decided to dispatch priests, and it seems I should go too. It would be better to go and heal them directly.”

The severe casualties coming from the west must be those injured in battles with monsters.

There are field hospitals and healing mages affiliated with the Empire, yet even the Order is moving like this.

It seems the monsters’ rampage is more serious than expected.

“That’s surprising.”

“Pardon?”

“As it happens, I was also planning to head west today.”

At those words, the Saintess looks at Kyle with eyes wide like a surprised rabbit.

Kyle is going west. She was feeling disappointed that she wouldn’t be able to see him for a while.

And suddenly, he appears before her saying that he too is heading west.

‘Could this be… what they call fate?’

A smile tickles the corners of her mouth, her heart suddenly pounding.

For the pure-hearted Saintess, the word ‘fate’ was that powerful.

“Brother Kyle? Why are you…”

Trying to hide her fluttering heart, she continues the conversation.

Why is Kyle going west? She wants to know. She wants to know more.

“Well… To put it very briefly, I’m going to see my father.”

I see. He’s going to see his parents.

The Saintess nods, thinks for a moment, then parts her lips.

“Could I… meet him too? Ah, I mean! That is… the Order’s branch. I’d like to discuss even just building a chapel. So…”

“Of course. Someone as good as you, Saintess, is always welcome in Jonathan.”

A good person. A good person. Those words spun around in her mind, making her heart pound heavily.