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Gilbert’s final assessment task was to stop a monster wave. Considering that stopping a monster wave alone was quite a difficult task, it could be said that luck was not on Gilbert’s side. The prepared tasks were randomly assigned to each cadet, and he ended up with one of the most challenging ones, so it was hard to call it good luck by any stretch.

However, from Gilbert’s perspective, it was a bit more nuanced. Purely in terms of luck, it was indeed bad, but the fact that the difficulty was tailored to a cadet’s level changed the benchmark.

Gilbert, who had already mastered the Colossal Mech Piloting Technique, had recently achieved the feat of single-handedly defeating a monster ogre. So, was stopping a monster wave really that hard for him?

Not at all. If the monster wave was adjusted to a cadet’s level, he was confident he could handle it.

In fact, a heated debate had erupted among the faculty about Gilbert. The question was whether it was appropriate to include him in the assessment, as he had already far surpassed the level of a cadet.

The debate split into two opinions. One side argued that it was right to assess him, as excluding him from the evaluation while he was undergoing the Proof of Blue Blood would be unfair. The other side argued that assessing him alongside other cadets would inevitably lead to disadvantages, given that he had grown beyond the standard.

Both opinions were valid in their own ways. The Academy was a place for advancement and a proving ground for nobles, so having Gilbert, who had grown beyond the norm, would relatively lower the evaluations of others.

Gilbert’s achievements were unparalleled and unprecedented. Even based on what was publicly known, he was receiving such high praise, making the other cadets seem undervalued by comparison.

However, the faculty’s debate ultimately concluded that it was right to assess him. It was only natural for him to be evaluated alongside other cadets as an Academy cadet, and it couldn’t be considered unfair or disadvantageous.

Thinking back to the Academy’s founding purpose, this was only natural. The goal was to produce outstanding talents, so excluding an exceptional talent from the evaluation would go against the institution’s founding principles.

Meanwhile, Gilbert, at the center of this debate, was seated in his Colossal Mech, awaiting the start of the practical assessment. As always, his expression was stoic, showing no signs of tension despite the task of stopping an artificial monster wave.

But beneath that stoic exterior, a hint of concern was visible. His mind was entirely occupied with the Main Scenario.

After the written assessment, the Main Scenario’s internal enemy had begun.

Gilbert had deduced from the scenario name that the Resistance was planning another attack on the Academy, but the problem was that he couldn’t pinpoint the exact timing.

Unlike the Sigurd clan’s attack, which had kindly announced the time, this one didn’t provide such clues. His knowledge from playing Tactical Combat wasn’t helpful either. Since this was reality, it wasn’t like a game, and the fact that a Sub Scenario had been forcibly accepted only made it more complicated.

Still, one saving grace was that since it was part of the Main Scenario, he could anticipate their attack. Even if he didn’t know the exact timing, the fact that the Main Scenario was progressing and the current chaos of the practical assessment suggested that now was the opportune moment.

He didn’t like being in a position where he had to react to their moves, but knowing about the attack in advance was a significant advantage. At least he wouldn’t be caught off guard and could act accordingly.

[Cadet Gilbert. The practical assessment will now begin.]

Gilbert decided to focus on the practical assessment first. Even if an attack was inevitable, he couldn’t neglect his Academy life.

Considering his reputation so far, he didn’t need to worry about his grades, but minimizing variables was always a good idea. Once a “reckless” label was attached, it could quickly lead to a downfall.

If he maintained good grades only to suddenly falter, public opinion could flip just as quickly. People loved heroes, but they loved a hero’s fall even more. Nothing sparked interest like juicy gossip.

Of course, bad Academy grades wouldn’t necessarily lead to a downfall. As the Empire’s hero, being used for propaganda, such a flaw could easily be overlooked.

But throwing away the reputation he had painstakingly built would be foolish. The title of Academy valedictorian was a card he could use for a long time. If he had such a good card, there was no reason not to play it.

[Practical assessment commencing.]

The alert sounded, and the hangar doors opened. Gilbert, gripping the controls smoothly, cleared his mind and focused on piloting the Colossal Mech.

[Cadet Gilbert! Return immediately!]

Just before the monster wave began, a near-screaming order to return made Gilbert’s expression twist. The desperation in the voice was palpable.

“What’s going on?”

[Attack! The Academy is under attack!]

Gilbert gritted his teeth. The enemy’s move was much faster than he had anticipated.

***

The tension of the practical assessment was shattered by explosions and the screams of cadets. A large-scale Colossal Mech force had launched a surprise attack on the Academy.

This was on a completely different scale from previous attacks, which had involved dozens of mechs. This time, hundreds of Colossal Mechs were indiscriminately bombarding everything in sight, destroying anything they could see.

The faculty hastily declared a state of emergency and rushed to the hangar, but a Colossal Mech unit was already guarding it. Even the Academy professors couldn’t face modern Colossal Mechs bare-handed.

Although Gilbert had recently sliced a Colossal Mech in half with just a sword, that had been an early model. The current generation of Colossal Mechs was incomparable in size, and with their magic armor, facing them bare-handed was nothing short of suicide.

A few professors, driven by a sense of duty, tried to sneak past the Colossal Mech unit to reach the hangar, but all failed. The attackers’ mechs were equipped with superior detection capabilities.

At least, the mechs the invaders were piloting seemed to be of a higher spec than the Academy’s standard models. They tore captured professors in half, creating an atmosphere of terror. Even the Empire’s top professors couldn’t act recklessly in this situation.

“Damn it! We need to get into the Colossal Mechs somehow.”

“How? The mechs they’re piloting seem to outperform ours. Charging out now would be suicide.”

“So, are we just supposed to sit here? Is that the best we can do?”

“Of course not! But blindly rushing to the hangar is reckless… Didn’t you see what they did to Professor James? They tore him in half.”

“Both of you, calm down. You’re too worked up.”

The tense situation led to a small dispute among the faculty. The thought that cadets might be dying at this very moment, combined with concerns about the Academy’s reputation and their own safety, made everyone on edge.

But the professors, knowing that emotional outbursts wouldn’t solve anything, calmly reined in their emotions. A clouded mind wouldn’t help in breaking through this situation.

“We need to distract them.”

One professor suggested. While it was the most reasonable idea in the current situation, acting as bait against Colossal Mechs was akin to a death sentence. The other professors, about to point this out, fell silent upon seeing the resolute expression on the proposer’s face.

It was a look of determination. Those who had experienced the battlefield knew exactly what that expression meant.

“Professor Vincent.”

“It’s fine. I’ve already prepared myself.”

The professors could say nothing to that face.

Professors are human too, aren’t they?

Of course, they are. They, too, fear death and have the desire to live. But they try to forget these feelings to fulfill their duties and responsibilities.

Inspired by Professor Vincent, the others steeled themselves. If a colleague was ready to face death calmly, it was time for them to make a decision too.

“I’ll be the bait. Alone, I won’t buy much time. I’ll join you.”

“Professor Palmer, considering your age, I should go.”

“I can’t just stand by either.”

The professors exchanged smiles and determined looks. For the first time since the attack began, their hearts were united. They took a deep breath and glared at the Colossal Mechs guarding the hangar.

Without saying a word, they agreed that whoever reached the hangar would take charge.

Professor Vincent, feeling the camaraderie of the battlefield once more, took the lead. With the situation as it was, it was only right that he go first.

“Count to three, and we go.”

“Alright, I’ll follow right behind.”

The professors, joking until the very end, charged toward the hangar with Professor Vincent at the forefront. Not one of them showed fear of death. Their eyes were fixed solely on the hangar entrance, and even as the Colossal Mechs reached out to grab them, they didn’t waver.

As the shadow of the Colossal Mech’s hand loomed over them, the professors desperately prayed that someone would make it to the hangar.

**- Crash!**

The professors, facing death, blinked in surprise as the Colossal Mech reaching for them collapsed. Though the situation was sudden, the experienced professors didn’t miss this golden opportunity.

They ran forward, not looking back. Who had helped them could be figured out later.

Fortunately, the Colossal Mech Knight who had come to their aid was highly skilled, holding his own against multiple mechs. Thanks to him, the professors managed to reach the hangar.

Gasping for breath, they boarded the Colossal Mechs without a moment to spare and immediately launched to support their savior outside.

“Has he already taken care of them?”

But by the time they emerged, all the Colossal Mechs had been dealt with. Limbs were shattered, and cockpits were split in half.

The professors, seeing the lone Colossal Mech standing with an iron sword, opened a communication channel.

“Who are you?”

Though piloting an Academy-standard Colossal Mech, the situation made it impossible to distinguish friend from foe. Even if he had helped them, in this situation, everything had to be questioned.

The professors held their breath, waiting for the mech’s response. Soon, a blond-haired man filled the screen.

Some laughed in disbelief, some sighed in relief, and others groaned as they recognized the man. In unison, they called out his name.

“Cadet Gilbert!”

Gilbert Lionheart, now the pride of the Academy.

His arrival had changed everything.

 

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