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“For that reason, cadets must always agonize. A single moment’s choice could determine their life or death on the battlefield.”

The exchange meeting wasn’t just about duels between academy cadets. Rather, the main purpose was to observe the education of the hosting academy.

The lectures of an academy reflected its educational philosophy. Some academies prioritized colossal mechs, while others emphasized individual weapon techniques.

Each academy had developed with such distinct educational philosophies, making the opportunity to observe another academy’s education a foundation for growth.

The cadets from other academies participating in the Demia Empire Academy this time were also observing the high-quality lectures of Demia, learning and growing.

This lecture was no different. Despite being about colossal mech piloting, the professor focused more on reading the battlefield and making quick decisions rather than just teaching piloting skills.

While they did discuss piloting, the lecture emphasized how to move the colossal mech effectively in the right place at the right time.

The professor repeatedly stressed that achieving maximum efficiency with minimal movement was the pinnacle of piloting skills.

Gilbert was staring blankly at Professor Alexander’s passionate lecture.

Today, his lecture just wasn’t sinking in. It wasn’t because Gilbert already knew the material.

The reason he couldn’t focus was the sub-scenario troubling his heart.

Just yesterday, while lying in his dorm bed, Gilbert had suddenly received a system message.

Two sub-scenarios he hadn’t even known about—’Seeker of the Sword’ and ‘Possessor of Desire’—had developed anomalies, merging into a linked scenario.

Linked scenarios occurred when specific conditions were met, a system Gilbert had often encountered while grinding achievements. Some achievements could only be obtained by triggering and clearing these linked scenarios, so it was a familiar system.

However, even Gilbert had never seen two scenarios develop anomalies and merge into one.

What kind of harmony was it for two sub-scenarios to merge into one?

From the start, this wasn’t a normal situation. At least, unlike before, this bizarrely named sub-scenario, ‘Possessor of Desire,’ had a few more lines of explanation.

<Sub-Scenario – Possessor of Desire>

Type: Sub

Clear Condition: ?

Reward: Reward grade determined by progress (F~S)

– ???

Progress:

– The seekers have realized their twisted hearts and lost their way.

What the hell?

Gilbert almost cursed out loud.

The scenario description in the mission window was so absurd it left him speechless. The clear condition was unknown, and even the progress wasn’t clearly displayed.

Even the reward, arguably the most important part, was a mystery. It made no sense to expect him to clear this sub-scenario with such vague information.

Even the ruthless Tactical Combat at least gave some direction, but this real-world system offered nothing. It was like telling him to figure it out on his own without any clues.

Gilbert irritably closed the mission window. Staring at it wasn’t going to magically provide answers.

Instead, he decided to look at the situation as objectively as possible. He began by analyzing how the ‘Seeker of the Sword’ sub-scenario, which had merged, had originally come about.

‘Seeker of the Sword’ was a sub-scenario he had been forced to accept a long time ago. If his memory served, it was around the time he had gone on a not-date with Briana.

So, emotionally, he had associated ‘Seeker of the Sword’ with her. He had even hypothesized that the reason he hadn’t seen it in Tactical Combat was because she had definitively died during the Lion King’s birthday event.

Since then, there had been no major developments, so he had shelved it in the back of his mind. But now, another scenario he hadn’t known about had unlocked and been forced upon him.

‘Possessor of Desire.’

From the moment he first saw it, this creepy scenario made it unclear who had triggered it. It had appeared after the 100-man slaughter, and there had been too many people present to pinpoint anyone.

But again, there was someone he suspected. The person who had appeared right after the 100-man slaughter.

Princess Seraphina, his former master, was that person.

From the perspective of ‘desire for possession,’ no one fit better than her. Known as the embodiment of the ‘desire for talent,’ she would undoubtedly salivate over someone like Gilbert, a top-tier asset.

If that ‘desire for talent’ had twisted into a ‘desire for possession,’ such a scenario could have been triggered.

But here’s the problem: why had these two sub-scenarios developed anomalies and merged into a linked scenario?

If they had been separate, he could have at least made some rough guesses based on their names.

‘Possessor of Desire’? What kind of name was that? Forget whether it was grammatically correct—what did it even mean?

After going in circles, Gilbert’s conclusion was that he had no clue. He hadn’t even figured out how to clear the original separate scenarios, and now they were merged, leaving him even more clueless.

Gilbert sighed deeply and gave up on analyzing it. He figured it would work out somehow—a comforting thought.

“Cadet Gilbert. It seems my lecture isn’t to your liking.”

“No, sir.”

Gilbert calmly responded to Professor Alexander’s question. While it was true the lecture wasn’t interesting, he wasn’t foolish enough to say so outright.

“Then, can you summarize what I just said in one sentence?”

“Consider your choices, but don’t hesitate. The moment you hesitate, you’ll only see the enemy’s gun barrel.”

“Excellent. You’ve grasped the essence.”

-Clap clap-

The cadets listening to the lecture applauded Gilbert’s response. Considering the start of the semester, such a reaction would have been unimaginable, but it showed how much he had grown.

As Gilbert looked around at the applauding cadets, he noticed Ian scribbling something intently.

Come to think of it, how much had Ian grown since he had been left alone?

He had been ignoring Ian, but now he was curious. With his talent, Ian should have grown stronger than the average cadet, as long as he hadn’t done anything too strange. But without seeing it firsthand, Gilbert couldn’t be sure.

Still, Ian seemed to have joined the student council, so he must have reached a certain level. But Gilbert, with his high standards, found it hard to give him a passing grade just for that.

Though Ian had gone down the chuunibyou route, his potential meant he could be a significant help in the upcoming main scenario. Of course, Gilbert had no intention of making him an ally, but he needed to check Ian’s skills soon.

Gilbert’s ultimate goal was to return home. Living comfortably here was never part of the plan.

Clearing all the main scenarios and going back—that was the only thing driving Gilbert.

The problem was whether he could actually do it.

Gilbert’s expression turned indifferent.

His plan was full of uncertainties. For starters, he had no idea why he had woken up here. There had been no warning—he had just opened his eyes here the moment he created his character.

Naturally, he had no idea how to return. If he knew why he was here, he might have been able to guess a way back, but this unhelpful system hadn’t even told him why he was here.

Still, he focused on the main scenarios and aimed to clear them all to reach the ending, believing that would allow him to return. It was all he could do.

It was a blind act based on conjecture, but he had no other options. That’s why he was so fixated on clearing the main scenarios immediately.

At least it wasn’t entirely meaningless. He had managed to save Briana, who should have been impossible to save, and her survival had allowed him to conclude an event that could have resulted in massive casualties.

The war with the Sigurd clan might have resulted in countless casualties if he hadn’t participated. Even the Lion Heart Count family couldn’t have stopped the Sigurd clan without any losses.

In that sense, clearing the main scenarios was a must for Gilbert.

By the way, what is that guy muttering about?

As Gilbert reaffirmed his resolve, he tilted his head slightly, noticing Ian.

Ian had been muttering to himself since earlier. At first, Gilbert thought Ian still hadn’t shaken off his chuunibyou phase, but the consistent rhythm and pattern of his muttering made Gilbert realize it wasn’t just that.

Gilbert adjusted his posture and focused on Ian. Even though Professor Alexander was lecturing loudly, Gilbert could tune in to what he wanted to hear.

“That’s it? Thanks. I understand now.”

Gilbert’s eyebrow rose.

Ian wasn’t just muttering to himself. It sounded like he was having a conversation with someone.

Gilbert habitually stroked his chin.

Then, a possibility struck him.

What if Ian had obtained what Gilbert thought he had…?

“Got it. But saying it this way would be better. Still, thanks for worrying, Fressia.”

That’s it!

Gilbert realized his guess was correct.

Ian had obtained Fressia, the top artificial spirit in Tactical Combat’s official lore.

 

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