I Possessed a Character in an Academy Without a Protagonist – Chapter 107

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“There’s something you should know before we arrive.”

“….?”

The boisterous interior of the carriage fell silent.

Ainz was rolling around on the floor, gathering the magic stones he had spilled.

Erica had reopened her bag, rummaging through it, convinced she had left something behind.

Only Iris and Trie were sitting quietly…

No, Trie had just fallen asleep.

I turned Trie’s nodding head towards the wall and spoke.

“The situation on the battlefield isn’t good.”

“What? Is it a stalemate?”

“The suppression force has suffered a major defeat, losing seventy percent of their troops. By now, there might not be many left.”

“Gasp…!”

I quickly covered Erica’s mouth.

The way she was gasping for air, she looked like she was about to scream.

Seemingly calming down, she grabbed my wrist and pushed it away, grumbling but holding back her scream.

She almost woke Trie.

We couldn’t disturb the slumber of our most valuable asset.

“That’s… that’s practically a loss. There wasn’t anything about it in the newspapers.”

“That’s actually a good sign. It means there’s still a chance to turn things around. If we can reverse the situation, they won’t have to report on the defeat.”

“But you said seventy percent! That’s almost a complete annihilation. How can we possibly turn things around?”

“That’s what we’re going to do.”

“…”

Even Ainz looked dumbfounded.

Iris was wearing a strange smile.

I couldn’t tell if she was maintaining a poker face or if she had already foreseen this.

“Five measly university students? Are you kidding me, Schlus?”

“We can count the Holy Knights as part of our forces. I’m practically their master.”

“Oh. A knight order? How many are there?”

“About ten.”

“…”

The atmosphere turned frosty.

This wasn’t what I intended.

I had dampened their spirits before we even arrived.

“I thought we were going into a battle with at least a fighting chance… Are you telling me we’re all jumping into a suicide mission?”

“You can back out now if you want.”

“Hey! Schlus!”

“We will win. Trust me.”

To be honest, even I didn’t trust myself.

But what choice did I have?

I couldn’t just admit, ‘I’m freaking out too!’

I wondered if this was how those valiant generals felt when they charged into seemingly impossible battles.

Perhaps even they didn’t truly believe they could win.

Maybe it was a form of self-hypnosis, a way to face the impossible without backing down.

“Why should we trust…”

“I believe you, Schlus. You always have a plan, don’t you?”

“…”

Ainz winked at me.

That was creepy…

This time, I had no plan.

“Schlus’s plan? I believe in it too.”

“…”

Iris’s smile made me uncomfortable.

It seemed like she had seen through my lack of planning and was mocking me.

But if she had foreseen our defeat, she wouldn’t have come… Right?

I had to believe that.

“Can we really win? Really?”

“Yes.”

As Erica sighed in relief, Iris covered her mouth with her hand and gave me a knowing smirk.

She was definitely mocking me.

Damn it.

I knew she was going to demand something in exchange for her silence later.

That sly fox.

“Get some sleep. It’s a long journey.”

“Hey, at least give us an outline of your plan.”

“Do you know the best way to keep a secret, Erica?”

“What?”

“Don’t tell anyone.”

“Hey!”

I leaned back and closed my eyes, ignoring Erica’s protests.

I needed to sleep.

I had a lot to do tomorrow morning.

Then it suddenly occurred to me.

How did Erica even get here?

I had been so preoccupied with making it to the carriage on time that I hadn’t even asked.

“Erica, why did you come?”

“What? You asked me to come, and now you’re asking why? What nonsense is this?”

“I phrased my question poorly. How did you come? I wouldn’t think it would be easy to get permission from Acting Countess Lichtenburg.”

“That sounds like you know my mother very well.”

“…”

I had made a mistake.

I had only met Lady Lichtenburg officially twice.

Schlus shouldn’t know about Lady Lichtenburg’s overprotective nature or that she wouldn’t let her daughter go anywhere near a battlefield.

“It was just… a guess.”

“Really? I’ll let it slide for now. Since everyone else is here.”

“…”

Erica’s gaze was sharp.

It seemed like she had figured out my connection with Lady Lichtenburg.

Damn it… I was just about to let her go after using her for a bit…

Honestly, compared to the price of her life, what I had taken advantage of so far was a mere pittance.

“What? What are you talking about? Schlus and your mother…”

“Shut up. It’s none of your business.”

“Why are you talking about something that’s none of my business in front of me? Now that I’ve heard it, it is my business. What’s going on? Tell me, I’m dying of curiosity.”

“Are you going to tell him?”

“Damn it…!”

Shit.

I should have left either Ainz or Erica behind.

I had forgotten how incompatible their personalities were and how they always bickered.

“Did Acting Countess Lichtenburg give you permission?”

“No. I left without telling her.”

“…?!”

Her answer was completely unexpected.

Erica?

The Erica who was always obedient to her mother?

What was going on?

Had she suddenly hit puberty?

“Wh-why are you looking at me like that? You said you needed me. Shouldn’t you be happy? Don’t worry about my family…”

“I’m not worried.”

“Then why did you ask, damn it…”

It seemed like there had been a change in Erica’s heart.

Perhaps she wanted to escape from her mother’s shadow.

Or perhaps she had come to trust me enough to follow me to the battlefield.

On second thought, the latter was impossible.

“So what’s the deal between you and Schlus and your mother?!”

“I told you I wouldn’t tell you.”

“I’m going to keep asking until you tell me!”

I ignored their bickering and closed my eyes, trying to get some sleep.

…It took a while, but I finally drifted off.

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“We’ve arrived! Everyone, off the carriage!”

“Ugh…”

The carriage came to a halt with a jolt.

I woke up with a stiff left shoulder, frowning in pain.

It turned out Trie had been using it as a pillow.

“Ouch!”

“…”

I flicked Trie on the forehead to wake her up and stood.

Iris, who hadn’t slept a wink, was still sitting primly, just as I had left her.

Ainz and Erica… were sprawled out on the sofa, asleep.

They looked around in a daze as they woke up.

“We’re here already, Schlus?”

“We’ve stopped in the Duchy of Monarch for resupply. We’ll depart again in three hours. I’ve booked an inn, you can rest there or come with me.”

“Where are you going?”

“Sophia Cathedral.”

“…!”

There was a reason why we had departed so late at night.

I intended to take advantage of this brief stop in the Duchy of Monarch to take care of some business.

It would be too much of a hassle to come back later.

I could also use the pretense of receiving blessings from the continent’s largest cathedral.

“Hmph. You? At a cathedral? Do you have an appointment with the Pope or something?”

“Yes, I’m meeting with him.”

“Wh-what?!”

Erica, stepping out of the carriage, stared at me blankly.

For a moment, she looked like she was about to lose her balance.

I reached out to catch her, but—

“Got you.”

“Th-thanks…”

Trie was faster.

She effortlessly lifted Erica onto her shoulder with one arm and then gently lowered her to the ground.

I was glad Trie was with me.

If it were just me and those frail mages, the future would look bleak.

“Wait, you’re meeting with the Pope? You’re lying, right? And Iris, why are you just casually tagging along?”

“Well, if we’re going to the cathedral, I have to be there, don’t I? There are also people I haven’t seen in a while that I should greet.”

“Ah… I see… But Trie, what about you? Why are you following him without questioning anything?”

“Because I’m his bodyguard.”

“Ainz, what about you?”

“Huh? I never doubted Schlus in the first place?”

“…”

Erica was speechless for a moment, but then, with a somewhat displeased expression, she started following me.

Whether I was lying about meeting the Pope or not, she had to see it for herself.

By now, Erica must have realized that she was the only one who didn’t trust me.

It was quite convenient that public opinion swayed in my favor without me having to explicitly explain anything, and Erica couldn’t go against public opinion.

Especially when Iris was part of it.

“Whoa…”

“Wow…”

Trie and Ainz gasped.

The heart of the Duchy of Monarch.

Sophia Cathedral came into view as soon as we left the post station.

The Duchy of Monarch was nominally ruled by a Duke, but the true power lay with the Pope.

Therefore, it was often called the Land of God, or the Papal State.

Sophia Cathedral was where Iris was baptized and appointed as a Saintess.

It must hold many memories for her.

I glanced at Iris, who was looking around with a slightly melancholic expression.

As we ascended the white steps, a priest greeted us at the entrance.

“Are you Mr. Schlus Hainkel and your party?”

“Yes.”

“His Imperial Majesty has informed us of your arrival. Please, come in.”

“Wh-what…? His Imperial Majesty…!”

Erica seemed to have a lot to say.

But she held her tongue, respecting the sanctity of the cathedral.

“We don’t have much time. We would like to meet with His Holiness as soon as possible and depart. Is His Holiness ready?”

“Hey! Schlus! What are you…!”

But I wasn’t particularly devout, so I didn’t feel the need to show much reverence for Aegis or their representative, the Pope.

But I couldn’t be too disrespectful, lest I be accused of blasphemy and burned at the stake.

So I maintained a minimum level of decorum.

“Hahaha, I’m afraid I don’t know if His Holiness is ready. A Cardinal will guide you from here. He’s over there.”

A man in red robes was approaching from the end of the hallway.

A Cardinal would certainly know if the Pope was ready.

I should ask him, but his expression was strange.

He looked… overjoyed.

And why was he staring at me?

“This is Cardinal Brandon Hainkel.”

“Ha-Hainkel?!”

Hainkel.

Oh, shit.

“Schlus! It’s been a while! Do you recognize me?”

“…”

A very troublesome event had just begun.

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[Theres dumb and then theres Erica, still our boi better get some of that milf before the novel ends lmao]