Preparedness Averts Peril
Time flew by, and a little over a month had passed.
-Ding! Ding! Ding!
"The exam is over. Collect the test papers from the back."
As the bell signaling the end of the exam rang from outside the window, Fernand, who had been sitting on the podium, rose from his seat.
At his words, the students sitting in the last seats of each row began to collect the test papers in turn...
"Ugh...!!"
Stretching with a hint of fatigue, Rudell reached his hands above his head.
"How was the exam? Do you think you did well?"
"So-so? How about you?"
"It was all stuff I knew."
"That's good then."
Leje replied with a faint smile, as if it was all trivial, and Rudell stood up, lightly stretching.
"What are you going to do now?"
Today was the last day of exams.
In other words, including the weekend tomorrow, it meant that they had free time from now on.
"My sister called for me... I think I need to go see her for a bit."
"I see. Want to eat dinner out tonight for a change?"
"That sounds good. I'll go as soon as I'm done."
"Alright."
Rudell nodded at her words, and Leje slung her bag over her shoulder and headed out of the classroom.
Watching her go, Rudell also packed his things and went outside.
"Phew..."
A short sigh escaped Rudell's lips as he walked down the hallway.
The midterm exams could also be considered a hurdle for him as a student, but the real hurdle was just beginning.
"What to do..."
The Chimera he had faced in the Back Alley.
It certainly possessed a considerable level of completion.
In other words, it meant that the Cult forces within the academy might have already secured a sufficient number of Chimeras.
"The timing is just too bad..."
Rudell couldn't hide his anxiety at the fact that the Princess was visiting the academy in such a situation.
That was because, in the original story, she played the role of a fuse for a certain major incident.
The Kingdom's civil war.
It could be said that it was the event that signaled the story's descent into a full-fledged tragedy.
The Princess, who had been considered the early successor, was assassinated by the Cult's agents who had infiltrated the Kingdom.
Her uncle and a collateral branch of the royal family, Duke Franz, claimed the right to succeed to the throne and seized the royal palace by force.
In addition, the Cult's incitement and conspiracies led to the outbreak of civil war within the Kingdom.
The mass acquisition of high-risk monsters, the Chimeras, coupled with the entire Kingdom being in a festive mood.
And finally, the Princess walking straight into the danger zone.
It was truly a golden opportunity for the Cult.
"I need to prepare..."
Of course, there was a good chance that the Cult wasn't ready yet.
However, the importance of the matter was too great to neglect preparations based solely on possibilities.
"Then, where do I start..."
First, he had to think about how to deal with the Chimeras.
If even a few Chimeras were released, the academy would surely turn into chaos.
No matter how skilled a mage Rudell was, he couldn't possibly handle dozens of Chimeras all by himself.
"Hmm..."
There was the Disciplinary Committee and the academy guards, but their skills and level of armament were not enough to deal with Chimeras.
To deal with the Chimeras while minimizing damage, at least the combatants from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Divisions of the Security Guard, who were in charge of combat, would have to be involved to barely stand a chance.
"Ugh..."
Rudell let out a low groan, feeling a headache coming on.
And then, it happened.
[E-Excuse me...]
"...?"
Rudell turned his head with a puzzled expression at the familiar mechanical voice coming from behind him.
And what he saw was a large mechanical suit, emitting steam as its gears moved.
[H-Hello, Young Master Weinstein...!!]
"Ah, Silfier."
Rudell greeted her as he saw her.
[D-Did you do well on the exam...?]
"So-so, how about you?"
[I-I think I did well too...]
"So? What's up?"
The two hadn't had much of a conversation since the incident in the Back Alley.
It was only natural when he thought about it.
They had been busy preparing for exams, and Silfier's social phobia wasn't something that could be cured overnight.
If it could have been cured that easily, she wouldn't have encased herself in armor in the first place.
[I-It's nothing... I-I just wanted to say hello...]
"Wanted to...?
[W-Well, you seemed to be in deep thought about something...]
"Do I look that serious?"
If she, who rarely talked to others, came up to him first and asked if he had any worries, how serious must his expression have been?
With the thought of wanting to see his reflection in a mirror, Rudell let out a flustered voice.
[I-I'm sorry...! Was it presumptuous of me to interfere...!? I-I'm sorry for talking to you, someone like me...!]
"No... You don't have to put yourself down like that..."
Rudell let out an awkward chuckle at the sight of her bowing repeatedly while emitting steam.
[O-Oh, I see... Thank you...]
"Thank you for trying to help, but it's not something you can help me with. I'm sorry."
[N-No, I'm sorry! I should be the one apologizing for not being able to help...!!]
"Ahahaha..."
Silfier waved her hands and shouted at him as he bowed his head slightly.
The sight of the massive armor, at least two meters tall, waving its hands like a little girl, evoked a strange feeling in Rudell that was hard to describe.
And then, an idea flashed through Rudell's mind as he looked at Silfier.
Did they really need to eliminate the Chimeras?
Wouldn't it be enough to just neutralize them?
At the same time, the pieces of the puzzle in his head began to fall into place one by one, and a smile gradually appeared on Rudell's lips.
[Y-Young Master Weinstein...?]
Silfier's voice was tinged with puzzlement at his reaction.
And then, Rudell exclaimed with sparkling eyes,
"Silfier!! No, Lady Pelleneas!"
[Eek!?]
Silfier screamed in surprise at his reaction.
At the same time, the gazes of other students passing by turned towards them.
"Ahem... I apologize for startling you. I got carried away..."
[N-No... Don't worry about it...]
Feeling embarrassed, Rudell coughed and bowed his head.
Then, he raised his head and spoke to Silfier in a polite tone.
"If you don't mind, could you please help me?"
* * *
A secret laboratory located in the basement of the North Tower of the academy.
Against the backdrop of water tanks containing Chimeras, monsters created by mixing various creatures, a man was watching them.
In his murky gray eyes, ambition that had been extinguished for a long time was burning.
"Even the heavens are helping me."
The unexpected visit of the Princess.
The mysterious collaborators had promised to grant him anything he desired if he eliminated her.
The secret art of immortality he had longed for, as well as vast treasures, power.
They even promised to give him the entire Kingdom.
The competitors who had pushed him out with their dirty tricks and taken the place that should have been his.
And the Kingdom that had failed to recognize his worth.
To him, they were things that had no reason or value to exist.
"It's almost time... Just a little longer, and everything I've ever wanted will be within my grasp...!!"
There had been a mysterious entity that had been hindering him and getting on his nerves lately, but at this point, it didn't matter.
That person hadn't shown himself since the incident in the Back Alley.
Whether he was dead or just hiding in fear, he didn't know, but even if he reappeared, he now had over ten Chimeras that were fully developed and awaiting activation.
Top-class Chimeras, each meticulously crafted.
If they were unleashed, it wouldn't be difficult to turn the Royal Capital into ruins.
As he imagined the rosy future that lay ahead of him, lost in ecstasy,
"You seem to be enjoying yourself..."
"You've arrived."
Someone's voice came from behind him.
Slowly turning his head, he saw a man standing behind him.
He was clad in a dark black robe and hood, making it impossible to see his features clearly, but even he could clearly sense the aura of intimidation emanating from the man.
"Are the preparations going well?"
"Of course. I'm itching to unleash them right now."
The man spoke in an expectant voice, as if he didn't care at all about the lives that would be lost in the carnage caused by the Chimeras.
"I hope you understand that there can be no mistakes in this operation."
"Humph! I hope you're prepared to keep your promise!"
Immortality, power, vast wealth, and even the Kingdom.
All of it would soon be in his grasp.
As if unable to contain his excitement, the man's voice trembled with exhilaration.
"You don't have to worry about that. Unlike them, we always keep our promises."
"That's good to hear. Now, please leave. I don't want to be interrupted during the final adjustments."
"Very well."
The man nodded at his words and began to operate the control panels, and numerous cables began to make noise with a humming sound.
At the same time, the man's figure disappeared into the darkness with the sound of footsteps.
"Khehehe... Khahahahaha!!!"
Then, a laughter filled with madness began to echo through the laboratory.
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