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The day of the competition tournament had arrived. Gilbert, who had left the dormitory early in the morning as usual to attend Professor Briana’s class, noticed that the cadets were up unusually early.

Some cadets were grooming themselves, while others were meditating.

The competition tournament must be important.

It was a mundane observation. Since he had no great ambition for the tournament, he didn’t pay much attention to what they were doing. His mind was already preoccupied with the upcoming academy attack that would happen after the tournament.

He wished he could deal with the mastermind right now, but preventing it early was impossible. Even in the game, the true mastermind behind the attack was never clearly revealed.

In the game, there was no way to find out, and the game company never officially disclosed it, so the identity of the mastermind behind the attack was always a hot topic among users.

Ultimately, without clear evidence, nothing was confirmed, but the most plausible theories were that it was either remnants of the Resistance or a special forces unit sent by the enemy nation Infractus to throw the Empire into chaos.

Of course, both theories had their flaws, so the mastermind behind the academy attack remained a MacGuffin.

The Resistance…

Originally, Gilbert believed both theories were wrong, but after the last punitive mission, he formed a new hypothesis.

What if Bandike, the chairman of the Resistance, who was revealed through interrogation, was the MacGuffin?

What if he was the mastermind behind the attack that couldn’t be uncovered in Tactical Combat?

Gilbert felt a chill run down his spine and stopped in his tracks, blinking.

If he was the mastermind, there was one more thing to consider. During the Resistance punitive operation, he had slipped through a tight encirclement and detection magic, disappearing without a trace. At the time, it was simply thought to be the work of an insider or outsider, but what if it was an insider?

The academy attack part of Tactical Combat’s main story was the most criticized. The mastermind was never revealed, and the sudden invasion by enemies without any logical explanation was unsatisfying.

Moreover, the forced event where the popular Professor Briana died while protecting the cadets didn’t sit well with players.

But if that illogical part was actually a MacGuffin, and an insider had facilitated the attack, the story changes.

If Brecht, the chairman of the Resistance in Tactical Combat, had acted that way to save Bandike, the story becomes more plausible.

If he had staged an incident during the general assessment, predicted the punitive force’s arrival, and sacrificed some Resistance members to pave the way for the academy attack, everything becomes clear.

Gilbert felt as if he had been hit on the head with a hammer. The missing puzzle pieces came together, and the flow became clear. It was all a play orchestrated by a man named Bandike.

But knowing this didn’t change anything. If he suddenly claimed the academy would be attacked, how many would believe him?

Although the way people looked at him had improved recently, it wasn’t enough to cover all the rumors. They just couldn’t look at him the same way as before.

Moreover, if he revealed this, the insider within the academy would find out, which was a problem. At least now, he could estimate the attack date, but if the information leaked and the date changed, even that would be impossible.

Caught in the dilemma of a transmigrator, he decided not to tell anyone. Thinking about it, revealing the source of the information would also be problematic, so keeping it to himself was the best choice.

Returning to the starting point, he cleared his mind and entered Professor Briana’s personal training facility for her class.

“Good morning, Master.”

“Hmm…”

Briana, who had been meditating, slowly opened her eyes. Her cool, winter-sky-blue eyes turned toward Gilbert, who had just entered the training facility.

“I told you you didn’t have to come today.”

“Training is part of daily life.”

As he stretched his stiff body, Briana chuckled. Regardless of the rumors, seeing his diligent demeanor as a student pleased her.

“Not interested in the competition tournament?”

“Do you want me to win?”

Gilbert asked while stretching his arms. Considering the upcoming attack, achieving a decent result was best, but if his master, Briana, said so, he had no choice but to follow.

“Confident, aren’t you?”

“I’m not being arrogant. I just don’t want to fold before it even starts.”

“Fair enough. It’s not my place as a master to force anything on a cadet who has already earned a knight title. Do as you see fit.”

“Different from what you said during the general assessment.”

Back then, she had said that as her disciple, she wouldn’t tolerate poor results. At the time, she was worried Gilbert might become lazy, but now, she couldn’t imagine him slacking off.

“Enough of that.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed by her earlier words, she quickly dismissed the topic. Gilbert, knowing this was Briana’s way of expressing awkwardness, chuckled inwardly.

“Draw your sword. Since the competition starts today, we’ll end with a light duel.”

“Understood.”

Having fully warmed up, Gilbert drew a sword from the side of the training facility and faced Briana. Their gazes settled calmly, and in a flash, they charged at each other like lightning.

***

Dorothy finally arrived at the gates of Demia Empire Academy and looked at the entrance with deep emotion. This was the place where Briana, whom she admired, resided.

Where could she be?

Dorothy’s heart began to race.

She had dreamed of becoming a knight since she was very young. The reason was simple: she thought the knights she saw as a child were incredibly cool.

But her dream of becoming a knight took shape when Briana visited the Lithuania Territory.

The moment she first saw Briana, with her cold, sharp, blade-like demeanor, Dorothy realized this person was her role model.

The fact that Briana had risen to the top of the continent with just a sword alone made it no surprise that Dorothy became her fan. Especially as a fellow woman, she naturally became an ideal and goal.

After that first meeting, she had always admired Briana, working hard to reach her current position. Now, she could face her a bit more confidently.

Barely calming her racing heart, she followed a servant’s guidance to the seat assigned to the Lion Heart Count Family for the competition tournament’s opening ceremony. Looking around, she saw prominent noble families seated nearby.

Immediately, she straightened her posture and sat up straight. As the representative of her family, she couldn’t act as she usually did.

“To our distinguished guests who have taken the time to visit Demia Empire Academy, we express our deepest gratitude. We will now commence the opening ceremony of Demia Empire Academy’s competition tournament.”

The opening ceremony of the competition tournament was even more splendid than the entrance mock battle. Starting with the academy’s anthem, the ceremony began, followed by the introduction of the event’s schedule.

Though the proceedings were a bit tedious, the significance of the competition made the atmosphere different. Dorothy, swept up in the mood, scanned the cadets lined up to see if there was anyone worthy of being recruited into her family.

And at that moment, the cadet representative’s oath began. The representative was someone she knew well.

‘He’s the cadet representative now…’

Blonde hair, ruby-red eyes.

Broad shoulders and a solid, muscular build.

It was her older brother, Gilbert.

She began to scrutinize her older brother’s appearance with sharp eyes. The carefree demeanor he had back in the territory was gone. His movements were restrained and precise, exuding discipline.

Was that really the older brother she knew?

Judging solely by appearances might be premature, but the aura he gave off was entirely different.

“Our resolve.”

It was a unique oath. Unlike the usual fixed format, this one had a different start. Particularly, the deep, powerful voice had a strange charm that captivated the audience.

“We are the cadets of Demia Empire Academy, loyal to the Empire.”

It was a declaration as a proud member of the Empire and a cadet of Demia Empire Academy.

“First, we will protect the Empire and its people, becoming the sword and shield that defend our homeland.”

But to the enemy, there would be no mercy.

“Second, through training as intense as real combat, we will become unyielding guardians of our beliefs.”

Through grueling training.

“Third, we will abide by the Empire’s laws and absolutely obey the commands of our revered Emperor.”

Following the commands of His Majesty the Emperor.

“Fourth, we will never lose our honor and faith.”

We will become those who uphold honor and faith.

The short but resolute oath drew applause from the audience without hesitation. It was the first time applause broke out during an oath at an opening ceremony.

Even Dorothy, who had always looked down on her older brother, felt something resonate within her. One thing was clear: her brother had become a different person. The frivolous Gilbert she knew couldn’t have delivered such a speech.

I need to talk to him after the ceremony.

Dorothy resolved.

Meanwhile, Gilbert, who had received the applause, thought to himself.

‘The military service creed worked well.’

Recalling the Republic of Korea Army’s service creed, he chuckled inwardly.

 

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