—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Ambush!”
BOOM!
On the outskirts of the Velutos Academy territory…
The students guarding the perimeter were caught completely off guard by the sudden explosion. Eliminated before they could even react.
Stunned by the unexpected attack, the Velutos students scrambled to cast reconnaissance spells, desperately trying to locate the source of the assault.
–The first step is to draw attention with a big explosion. Taking out a few of their mages guarding the perimeter with fire magic is the ideal opening move.
The attacker was none other than Bellos Belon.
Following Lee Seok-hyun’s instructions, he led a small group of eleven students—seven nobles and three commoners—into Velutos territory.
“Who dares?! Who dares attack Velutos Academy?! …Y-Your Highness…!”
“That’s right. It’s me.”
The Velutos students, initially prepared to unleash their full magical might, abruptly canceled their spells. Despite the ambush and Bellos’s brazen appearance, they couldn’t bring themselves to attack a prince, especially not the fifth prince of the Skerian Empire.
Even if they were students from rival academies, attacking royalty without provocation would have severe repercussions. They couldn’t risk the consequences.
‘This commoner’s plan is actually working. How unsettling.’
Bellos had vehemently opposed Lee Seok-hyun’s strategy when he’d first heard it.
How could he possibly launch an ambush and then reveal himself? It went against every principle of fair play and honorable conduct.
He’d even briefly suspected that Lee Seok-hyun was deliberately trying to get him eliminated.
–Trust me. They won’t attack you. And if you went alone, they might be suspicious, but with a mix of seven nobles and three commoners, no one will question your motives. They’ll see you as one of their own.
And indeed, as the eleven students emerged from the smoke and flames, the Velutos students hesitated.
A prince leading an attack, accompanied by both nobles and commoners? There had to be a reason, a hidden motive. That thought paralyzed them.
–Just say a few words. Improvise if you need to.
Bellos, recalling Lee Seok-hyun’s instructions, cleared his throat and spoke.
“Do you really think it’s acceptable for a commoner to represent an academy?”
“W-Well…”
“I find it preposterous! That’s why Velutos Academy is superior. A pure-blooded academy! How wonderfully ideal.”
He delivered his lines with a blend of authority and subtle flattery, subtly appealing to their shared noble heritage while simultaneously reinforcing his own superiority.
The carefully crafted speech, a perfect blend of Imperial etiquette and calculated rhetoric, stunned the Velutos students.
“Does that mean…?”
“Yes. I still need to speak with Elua, but I’ve decided to join Velutos. And these students agree with me.”
“Your Highness, with all due respect, it appears some of your… followers… are not of noble birth.”
Even this question had been anticipated by Lee Seok-hyun, and Bellos responded smoothly.
“They’re here to perform menial tasks. Do you really think nobles should be performing manual labor?”
“Gasp… Such profound wisdom! Of course not!”
“They’re essentially my personal servants. You can ignore them.”
“Yes! Right this way, Your Highness! I’ll escort you inside!”
If the Velutos students guarding the perimeter had been of higher rank, they might have been more suspicious. But these were mostly low-ranking nobles, the children of barons with little to no land or influence. To encounter a prince? Rational thought went out the window.
‘If I make a good impression…’
‘…could this be my chance to climb the social ladder?’
Instead of analyzing Bellos’s motives, their minds raced with thoughts of potential rewards and social advancement.
As they eagerly escorted Bellos and his entourage deeper into their territory, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was all too easy.
‘Is this… staged?’
Was this all an elaborate act, a carefully orchestrated play with him as the unwitting pawn? Was Lee Seok-hyun manipulating him?
The commoner’s plan was working with almost frightening precision.
–If you tell them you want to speak with Elua, they’ll bend over backward to arrange a meeting.
–That’s still too convenient. Eleven students, including myself? Do you really think they would let so many of us into their territory without question?
–That’s why I told you to bring food supplies.
Food supplies.
Bellos glanced at the three commoner students struggling to carry the mountain of food containers.
He still couldn’t grasp their significance. Weren’t meals a given? Why emphasize something so trivial?
But Lee Seok-hyun’s voice echoed in his mind.
–They can’t do it themselves anymore. Trust me. The higher their rank, the less likely they are to have any practical life skills. They can use magic to create shelters, sure. But what about clothes? Food? That’s what you’ll be providing.
And indeed, the Velutos camp had luxurious shelters, but little else.
‘While we were washing clothes, building showers, and setting up kitchens…’
Mirinae’s camp was already well-established, even starting to decorate their living spaces.
In contrast, the Velutos camp resembled a refugee settlement, lacking even the basic comforts of a functional society. There wasn’t even the familiar aroma of cooking meat.
Bellos, observing the stark differences, felt a renewed appreciation for Mirinae Academy’s practicality.
“Haha. To think His Highness would bring us so many supplies… Did you… steal all of this?”
“They just… gave it to me. I told them I was leaving, what were they going to do? Stop a prince?”
“As expected of Your Highness! I, too, find it… distasteful… that a commoner represents your academy… Your Highness always makes the right choices.”
Bellos exchanged pleasantries with the student escorting him as they walked towards Elua’s command center.
‘The right choices…’
He considered the stark contrast between Mirinae, where students worked together regardless of their social standing, and Velutos, where labor was clearly divided along class lines.
‘I think I know which choice is right.’
Bellos smiled, following his escort into the meeting room where Elua waited.
No one suspected a thing.
“I’m Elua. I hear you’ve decided to join us.”
“That’s right. Pleasure to meet you.”
No one could have predicted this.
A commoner manipulating a prince, and that prince willingly following his instructions.
Blinded by their deeply ingrained sense of hierarchy, they couldn’t even conceive of such a possibility.
“It’s an honor to have you.”
Elua extended her hand, and Bellos, smiling warmly, shook it.
‘I can’t wait to get back.’
Bellos eagerly anticipated the end of this charade, longing to return to Mirinae and utilize the three sparring sessions Lee Seok-hyun had promised him. He missed the casual camaraderie and the surprisingly egalitarian atmosphere of Mirinae Academy, where even a commoner could address a prince by his first name, a place where he was treated not as royalty, but simply as another student.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Bellos should have made contact with Elua by now. And Ruamos will be making their move soon.”
“Probably.”
–Chomp, chomp, chomp.
A strategy meeting conducted amidst a barbecue feast.
Eating and working simultaneously—the epitome of efficiency.
There was nothing quite like discussing work over a delicious meal. Lee Seok-hyun continued, savoring the barbecued meat Meiri had cut for him.
“Hyun-su, Do-hyun, after we’ve eaten and rested, we’ll head towards the Tanteroi territory.”
“Just the three of us?”
“Yes, just the three of us.”
“Why?”
Woo Do-hyun, pausing mid-chew, grinned, clearly enjoying the intrigue. He loved Lee Seok-hyun’s elaborate plans.
“We’re going to offer them a deal. Second place.”
He would extend a helping hand to those languishing in last place, offering them a glimmer of hope in their despair.
He would promise them second place in exchange for their full cooperation, a chance to choose the forest terrain next year, to restore their pride. It was an offer they couldn’t refuse.
“We’re not forming an alliance. We’re taking them as our subordinates.”
“Seok-hyun, try some of this. I cut it specially for you.”
“Ah, thanks.”
–Munch, munch, munch.
As he ate the meat Meiri offered, Lee Seok-hyun continued explaining his plan.
‘I’ll show them.’
He would unleash the skills he’d honed during his glory days as a salesman in Dongdaemun and Yongsan.
‘Guaranteed lowest prices!’
He glanced towards the Tanteroi territory.
It was time for a special, limited-time offer they couldn’t refuse.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
