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The Resistance suppression operation ended successfully. Most of the Resistance members were killed, and some were captured.

However, despite Gilbert’s efforts, the core figure, the Resistance Chairman, was ultimately missed. The entire Banneret Forest was combed thoroughly, but he had already vanished without a trace.

Failing to capture the core figure was painful, but it was highly encouraging that the Resistance was completely wiped out without any significant losses to the punitive force. The punitive force suffered almost no casualties, with only a few minor injuries.

In that sense, no matter how much they called themselves the Resistance, they were ultimately an untrained militia. The punitive force was composed of talents from the Demia Empire Academy and the Royal Knights Brigade, so even if they had found the Colossal Mech in ancient ruins, the gap was too wide.

Moreover, the punitive force had Briana and Seraphina. The combination of Seraphina, known as a prodigy, and Briana, a seasoned veteran on the battlefield, was something the untrained Resistance couldn’t handle.

But if we had to pick the most outstanding performer, it was undoubtedly Gilbert. With the support of CT-777, Gilbert literally flew across the battlefield. Especially when he took down five Colossal Mechs in one go to capture the Resistance Chairman, it was almost an art form.

Even the Royal Knights who came for support asked Seraphina about Gilbert’s identity. That’s how impressive and groundbreaking Gilbert’s performance was.

Meanwhile, the Empire rewarded the punitive force for quickly suppressing the Resistance. Although not as groundbreaking as Gilbert’s knighthood, the rewards were satisfactory for everyone.

The Demia Empire Academy also awarded medals to the cadets who participated in the punitive force as a reward. It was given to elevate the Academy’s prestige. The cadets who participated in the punitive force were pleasantly surprised by the unexpected rewards.

However, Gilbert, who had made significant contributions in the Resistance suppression, didn’t look happy. While the reward was something to welcome, the fact that the Resistance Chairman had changed bothered him.

During the interrogation of the captured Resistance members, it was revealed that the Chairman was a man named Bandike. This information was shared with all participants of the suppression, and Gilbert couldn’t help but stiffen when he first heard the name Bandike.

The Resistance Chairman he knew was Brecht. He had played Tactical Combat for a long time, but he had never heard the name Bandike before. During the suppression, he thought Brecht had made a realistic choice to flee, but in reality, a completely different person was in the Chairman’s seat.

According to the interrogation, Brecht and Bandike had co-founded the Resistance, and Bandike became the Chairman on Brecht’s recommendation. Brecht later died in an Imperial trap while conducting Resistance activities.

As Gilbert processed the interrogation information, he sighed. Things were increasingly diverging from the game, and it made him feel a bit frustrated. His greatest weapon was his knowledge of this world. Even the Great Sage Horizon couldn’t know everything that was in his head.

He thought he could use this knowledge to survive in this brutal world, but things were already going off track from the start, making him anxious.

But he shook his head and brushed off the negative emotions.

He had decided from the beginning to use his knowledge as a reference.

He shouldn’t assume that game knowledge was always correct. It could narrow his thinking and create unnecessary stubbornness.

Alright. Next problem.

Now, he had to figure out where the Resistance leader had disappeared. The fact that he slipped through the search net and detection magic spread across Banneret was enough to raise alarms.

Even the Royal Knights were deployed, but they still missed the core figure of the Resistance. Evading detection magic and the search net was quite a feat.

He suspected there might have been external assistance.

Or maybe internal assistance.

Suddenly, that thought crossed his mind. Considering the level of the punitive force, evading detection magic and the search net was no easy task. Even Gilbert, a veteran of Tactical Combat, couldn’t have done it easily.

The only reason he didn’t call it impossible was because his physical abilities were superhuman. After the Entrance Mock Battle, his Physical Ability Stat was 90. Most first-class knights had stats below 90, and even Briana, a top-tier swordsman, was in the mid-to-high 90s.

Moreover, with the recent medals and the early Academy buffs, his Physical Ability Stat had risen to 91. Even now, it might have been possible for him to break through the encirclement and escape.

So, was Bandike, the Resistance Chairman, really at that level?

In reality, it didn’t matter. It could have been possible or impossible.

But whether he escaped with external assistance or internal help was more important. If there was external or internal assistance, it meant the Resistance wasn’t completely wiped out.

Especially if it was internal assistance, the story would get even more complicated.

‘What a headache.’

He compared various hypotheses, but they were just that—hypotheses. There was no concrete evidence of external assistance, internal help, or a solo escape.

In the end, all he could do was continue training and progress through the main story as he had been doing. Whether it was internal or external assistance, it was most likely tied to the main story. That would be the variable, but he was used to dealing with variables.

It was also something he was confident in.

With a lighter heart, Gilbert roughly organized the parchment and put it in the drawer. Since the topic came up, he figured he should start today’s training.

***

Meanwhile, Ian was thinking about Gilbert, who had once again outshone him. It wasn’t the same explosive anger as before. Instead, it was a cold, burning rage deep inside.

‘Hmm, that’s a good expression.’

Ian wrote “a cold, burning rage” on the parchment. He was compiling quotes to use when he finally stepped into the spotlight as the protagonist.

A protagonist’s words and actions had to carry dignity. So, whenever he came across a cool expression, he would write it down and practice using it in appropriate situations.

He had several quotes prepared for this suppression operation.

“Don’t show mercy to the enemy. That’s just our hypocrisy.”

“Fear death. There’s nothing less honorable than dying without protecting anything.”

“I am the sharpest spear of the punitive force. Follow me, all troops.”

He had dozens of variations, but as a mere non-commissioned officer, he had to follow Gilbert’s orders. The humiliation made his face burn red, but he had no choice but to endure.

“Though crouching is the path of a hero… it’s getting more and more annoying.”

He acknowledged Gilbert as a rival and accepted this as a trial for the hero Ian. But Ian was human, and he didn’t want to endure this forever.

He didn’t want Gilbert to keep looking like the protagonist, and he felt it was time for him to shine.

Like a Hestelgia bud blooming with the morning sun.

‘Let me write this down too.’

He wrote down another good expression and immediately thought of when to use it.

The Demia Empire Academy’s long-standing tradition of cadet competitions.

The first one was next week.

The storyline was perfect.

After quietly enduring his rival’s growth, he would bloom like a flower with the morning sun, taking first place in the competition.

Ian Tigress Linebarrel, like Hestelgia, in full bloom.

What a sweet sound.

All the hardships and trials he had endured would be blown away in that moment.

He chuckled, roughly organized the parchment, and put it in the drawer. Since the topic came up, he figured he should start today’s training.

 

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