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Gilbert immediately raised his guard against Team 4 to the maximum after the elimination of Team 2, led by the protagonist Ian, was confirmed.

Patrick seemed genuinely happy about the victory, but Gilbert, who had been backstabbed countless times in Tactical Combat, never let his guard down.

Such things were only for newbies, and even though it was a mock battle, it was now reality, not a game.

Using his veteran instincts as much as possible and being cautious over and over again was a good habit for surviving in this world.

While everyone was cheering for victory, Gilbert quickly contacted his deputy, Angelina, who had been left at the base.

[Deputy Angelina.]

[Received. Impressive victory, Commander.]

[I just did what I could. Any updates on Team 3’s movements?]

[As soon as Team 2 engaged in combat, we detected movements for troop support and issued orders to delay them as much as possible. However, I didn’t expect Team 2 to be annihilated in such a short time.]

[Too much detail. What’s the current status?]

[All members of Team 3, except for the minimum personnel to defend the base, are heading there. Also, according to the report from the scout sent to Team 4, their members are also heading there.]

Gilbert sighed, realizing that Angelina’s prediction was spot on.

Perhaps it was only natural. Gilbert himself knew best how much of a burden his existence was to other teams.

But it was a bit unexpected that a forced alliance event would occur right after one team was eliminated, just like in a game.

He knew the situation required an alliance, but emotionally, he didn’t want to. He was worried that this situation might make him cling to the game’s story.

Gilbert shook his head a couple of times, as if to shake off unnecessary thoughts, and checked the status of his Colossal Mech. The high concentration must have caused him to think unnecessary thoughts.

After checking the mech’s status, Gilbert judged that he couldn’t perform any better in combat. The accumulated damage from the battle with Ian and the excessive use of high-speed and three-dimensional maneuvering had left the Mana Battery with little charge left.

No matter how skilled he was as a veteran, continuous combat without resupply was impossible.

But if he went back to resupply, the base would likely fall to the enemy during the two teams’ combined assault.

After pondering for a moment, Gilbert immediately contacted Angelina.

[Deputy Angelina.]

[Yes, Commander.]

[I’ll explain the operation now.]

[Understood.]

Angelina didn’t question Gilbert’s decision to explain the operation without further elaboration.

Both knew the current situation was dire, and the Commander’s leadership was needed to turn things around.

As the Deputy, Angelina’s role was to assist and follow the Commander’s orders without question.

Though she didn’t fully trust Gilbert yet, his bold actions and cold judgment during the entrance mock battle were reliable.

Thus, she was determined to use all her abilities to fulfill her role as Gilbert’s deputy in this entrance mock battle.

[From now on, you will leave the minimum troops to defend the base and retake Team 3’s base. If successful, immediately raid Team 4’s base and aim to capture it. All command authority for this operation is transferred to you.]

[…Commander. Are you saying to abandon the main force?]

[Exactly. Most of our mechs, including mine, are in poor condition. Considering that Team 3 has suffered minimal losses except for the initial vanguard, even if Deputy Angelina brings reinforcements, defeating the combined forces of Teams 3 and 4 is just wishful thinking.]

Being a veteran wasn’t just about piloting a Colossal Mech well. If one thought Tactical Combat was just a game of piloting mechs and fighting, they could never become a true veteran.

Tactical Combat was about melting strategy and tactics into the use of mechs, and the gamer was the protagonist navigating through it.

Instant judgment and the ability to navigate through crises were prerequisites to becoming a veteran.

Moreover, Gilbert was the first to achieve 100% completion. Among those achievements were some that required completing the game without ever piloting a mech, relying solely on strategy and tactics.

Recalling the memories of repeatedly saving and loading to barely achieve those feats, Gilbert shuddered. He had restarted hundreds of times due to wrong choices, and just thinking about it made him nauseous.

[The combined forces of Teams 3 and 4 must have brought the maximum number of troops to annihilate our main force. And as Deputy Angelina said, their bases are now left with minimal personnel. Then, there’s only one thing we need to do.]

In real-time strategy games (RTS), when the enemy’s main base is weakened, the course of action is clear.

[We attack their base.]

Operation “Empty House Raid” begins.

***

Lily Roseus Nobilitas glared at Gilbert, who was fighting against overwhelming odds.

The Gilbert she met after more than a decade was quite different from before. His height, which was once similar to hers, had grown so much that she had to look up at him, and his muscular frame was evident even through his cadet uniform.

To someone who didn’t know him, his golden ear piercing, tanned skin, and imposing demeanor might have made him seem attractive, but his notorious personality was worse than ever.

Rumors spread throughout social circles that he harassed commoners and even flirted with married women, earning him the reputation of the worst trash.

Lily clenched the control stick and looked down at her large chest. Despite trying to minimize its appearance, her uniform barely contained it, making her grit her teeth. Her chest had been a complex since childhood.

The lustful gazes from men at social parties had always stressed her, making her psychologically withdrawn and avoidant of men.

The biggest trauma came from Gilbert Lion Heart himself. As a child, she had admired his confident demeanor, but when she mustered the courage to approach him, he shamelessly teased her about her chest, leaving a deep scar on her heart.

Since then, Lily had despised men and devoted herself to becoming a knight.

Her beloved sister worried about her, but Lily was determined to become a knight.

Now, after more than a decade, her nemesis Gilbert stood before her.

It would be strange if Lily’s eyes didn’t burn with hatred.

[Commander! We can’t stop Team 1’s Commander!]

[Stop him at all costs! If he’s gone, the entrance mock battle is ours!]

[Ugh! No!]

One of her team members was lost to Gilbert’s iron sword, cutting off communication. Gritting her teeth, Lily charged at Gilbert, who was in the midst of chaotic combat. Gilbert’s mech was nearing its operational limits due to accumulated damage.

Despite the damage, his piloting skills were impressive, but Lily refused to acknowledge him. His past words and actions still haunted her, and she couldn’t bring herself to recognize him.

For Lily, this was her last line of defense.

With the fear of all her efforts crumbling and reverting to her childhood self, she swung her iron sword fiercely at Gilbert.

[Commander! Team 1’s troops have invaded the base!]

[…!]

Lily, who had been trying to take down Gilbert’s mech, realized she had overlooked the fact that a significant portion of Team 1’s forces were still at their base due to her hatred for Gilbert.

She glared at Gilbert, who was still taking down her allies with monstrous skill. She understood why no reinforcements had come and why he hadn’t retreated despite the unfavorable fight. He had lured the combined forces of Teams 3 and 4 to attack their weakened bases.

Lily shuddered at the realization that she had been used as a pawn on his chessboard. She felt as if she had been doused with cold water, witnessing a different kind of genius.

[Commander! We need further instructions! The enemy is right in front…!]

The communication from the team member defending the base was cut off. The current situation was now unclear.

Team 4 also seemed to be in disarray.

But the battlefield had escalated to the point where retreating would leave them in a worse position. The best decision was to quickly finish here and return to the base.

‘Gilbert Lion Heart!’

Screaming the name of her hated enemy in her heart, she charged like a wounded beast. Having been trained by her sister, a renowned knight, Lily’s piloting skills were far superior to other cadets.

Even if she was inferior to Gilbert, she could still defeat him as his mech neared its limits. Seizing the moment created by her allies, she used high-speed maneuvering to close in on Gilbert’s mech and thrust her iron sword into the cockpit with both hands.

Bang!

That was the final blow. Gilbert’s mech lost its Magic Barrier and was declared lost.

Lily wanted to cheer inwardly, but the dire situation forced her to hold back. She opened the team channel communication magic to regroup and return to the base.

[All units, return to the base immediately…!]

[The bases of Teams 3 and 4 have been captured by Team 1. The entrance mock battle is won by Team 1. All cadets who participated in the entrance mock battle, please gather in the auditorium. Good job, everyone.]

But as soon as Gilbert was lost, the base was also captured. Lily couldn’t hide her frustration as she saw the blond man stepping out of the cockpit.

She had achieved a tactical victory by taking down Gilbert, but the strategic victory ultimately went to him.

Lily found it hard to accept, and her anger towards Gilbert grew even stronger.

I will definitely get my revenge someday.

Swallowing her anger, Lily made a firm resolution.

***

At Demia Empire Academy, outstanding achievements or excellent performance could earn students commendation badges, similar to medals for military honors. In the game, these badges provided various functions, such as increasing stats or experience points within the academy.

Beyond their in-game functions, commendation badges were used to evaluate cadets. High-grade or specially earned badges significantly influenced future见习骑士 selections. They also granted privileges like activity stipends and access to artifacts stored in the academy.

The entrance mock battle, a major event at Demia Empire Academy, awarded commendation badges to the winning team.

Thus, Gilbert and Team 1 became recipients of commendation badges and gathered in the auditorium where the entrance ceremony had taken place to receive their rewards.

As the volunteer Commander, Gilbert received an additional commendation badge, but it wasn’t automatically given to all Commanders. The academy faculty had to judge that the cadet deserved it based on their performance in the entrance mock battle.

Therefore, even though the entrance mock battle was held annually, few received the Commander’s commendation badge. Before Gilbert, the last recipient was Seraphina, who had been called a knight even before entering the academy and had participated in battles. It had been several years since then, and going further back, the number of recipients could be counted on one hand, making the Commander’s commendation badge exceptionally significant.

“I cannot hide my joy at the excellent performance of all of you,” said Lucas, the Academy Head, as he personally awarded the commendation badges. This year’s standout talents made Team 1’s performance one of the most impressive during his tenure.

His eyes particularly lingered on the strong-willed man who had earned the Commander’s commendation badge after several years.

‘He’s the son of that Iron Blood.’

Lucas recalled the days when he had fought alongside William on the battlefield. William, meticulous in everything, had excelled as his deputy and, after the war, returned to his territory to faithfully serve as a border lord.

He had been surprised to hear that William’s son was a troublemaker, but now he saw that wasn’t entirely true. Regardless of his personality, the boy was far from incompetent.

The three-dimensional maneuvering and the strategy of using even himself as bait reminded Lucas of William, who believed that even oneself must be used as a chess piece to achieve victory.

Lucas, curious about how the son of Iron Blood would fare, concluded the awards ceremony.

Meanwhile, Gilbert, who had garnered Lucas’s keen interest, was overwhelmed by the jackpot of rewards.

[You have successfully completed the tutorial entrance mock battle.]

[Your overwhelming performance in the entrance mock battle enhances your rewards.]

[For being the first to volunteer as Commander, you receive a special stat boost.]

[You have achieved the feat “Faster Than Anyone, Sooner Than Anyone.”]

[A skill has been generated under special conditions in a unique situation.]

Gilbert struggled to suppress his rising grin as he processed the flood of rewards.

***

Final victory in the entrance mock battle.

Team 1.

Commander Gilbert Lion Heart.

 

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