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An unknown silence flowed through the battlefield where Gilbert had intruded. Everyone was tense because of an unidentified skilled individual who had cut through the dense barrage of bullets and artillery fire with a single sword strike.

Gulp.

All members of the New Resistance broke into a cold sweat and swallowed dryly at the sudden appearance of this skilled individual. None of the comrades present here could replicate the feat they had just witnessed.

It was the act of cutting through a meticulously planned barrage of bullets, fired by a whopping 23 Colossal Mechs, with nothing but an iron sword. It was a top-tier skill that even high-ranking knights couldn’t mimic.

According to their investigation, there weren’t many people at Demia Empire Academy who could perform such an absurd feat. Aside from Lucas, the Academy Head, a few high-ranking knight faculty members, Briana, who had tried to cut off their breath with the barrage, and the First Princess Seraphina, no one else came to mind.

After communicating with other teams conducting sabotage operations, it was confirmed that all members except Briana were engaged with other teams. Although the intense combat prevented them from receiving accurate updates, it was certain that the Colossal Mech before them was not part of their prior intelligence.

But that wasn’t the only problem.

[That… That must be a Colossal Mech from Team 1…?]

[W-What kind of nonsense is happening?]

[Communication with Team 1 has been lost!]

The New Resistance members were thrown into a panic. The Colossal Mech the intruder was piloting wasn’t one of the Academy’s generic models but one of their own allied mechs. Logically, since only those with formal contracts could pilot these mechs, it meant there was a traitor among Team 1.

When did this happen?

After the old Resistance was crushed by the Empire, their Chairman never gave up. With unwavering determination, he rose again to ensure the rights of the common people, using the failures of the old Resistance as a stepping stone to establish the New Resistance.

Having deeply felt the failures of the past, the New Resistance absorbed the remnants of the old Resistance while fervently strengthening their ranks. They not only assessed basic skills but also devised separate methods to weed out any potential traitors.

All these preparations by the Chairman earned the admiration of the New Resistance members, further solidifying their loyalty to him.

But the problem was that a traitor had emerged among the members they had so painstakingly vetted. When a belief held as firmly as stone crumbles, people begin to doubt.

The members participating in the Academy raid also fell into this spiral of suspicion. They couldn’t tell if the comrade next to them was a hidden traitor or not.

[Get a grip! Are you doubting your comrades now?!]

Atreos, the overall commander of this Academy raid, shouted at the shaken members. With a high-ranking knight-level traitor appearing before them, they couldn’t afford to fight among themselves.

Fortunately, Atreos, who was well-respected, managed to stop the members from doubting their comrades. They had come to Demia Empire Academy for a noble purpose. Even if there was a traitor, they couldn’t let that stop them.

Meanwhile, Gilbert, who had unleashed the ultimate technique of the Winter Sword, felt a sudden dizziness. The backlash from using a technique he wasn’t yet permitted to use had caught up with him. Luckily, the enemies didn’t attack, giving him time to regain his composure.

I’ll have to be more careful next time.

After steadying himself, he glanced back. In his sight, he saw Briana emerging from the hatch of the halted Colossal Mech. He had pushed himself, but it was worth it.

“Gilbert.”

It was a soft voice, but thanks to amplification magic, he could hear it clearly.

Gilbert let out a sigh of relief, knowing Briana was safe. It was another moment of realizing that this world wasn’t a game.

“You overdid it.”

“Thanks to you, I’m alive. I owe you my gratitude.”

“I only did what was necessary. Please ensure the cadets’ evacuation first.”

“Understood. But don’t push yourself. I’ll return to combat soon.”

Gilbert chuckled at Briana’s usual demeanor.

Watching Briana lead the remaining cadets to safety, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Perhaps because his mind was at ease, the backlash from overexertion seemed to fade.

[Gilbert. Initiating combat support.]

“Is that even possible? I have a formal contract with an Artificial Spirit. My Characteristic Skill has a penalty that only activates under specific conditions.”

[No problem. I’ve gained access to the currently equipped Artificial Spirit.]

Is that even possible?

It was something he hadn’t seen in the game, but then again, obtaining CT-777 was also a first.

Originally, CT-777 was slated for disposal after the development of the next-generation Artificial Spirit was completed, but a researcher smuggled it out and sold it on the black market. It eventually ended up in the hands of the Resistance and later appeared as a main story antagonist.

Moreover, hijacking someone else’s mech was a first, so interfering with another Artificial Spirit like this was also unprecedented.

But CT-777 wouldn’t lie, so he decided to take it as a good thing. Even though he needed a formally contracted Artificial Spirit to activate “Your Mech is Awesome,” it was frustrating not to receive combat support from CT-777, a next-generation Artificial Spirit based on the data of the Colossus’s Artificial Spirit.

Now that he could receive support, there was no reason to complain.

“CT. Set an additional mission.”

[Mission setting prepared.]

“Complete annihilation of the Academy invaders.”

[Mission set.]

“Then. Commence combat.”

[CT-777. Initiating combat support.]

Gilbert led his Colossal Mech toward the Academy invaders, synchronized with CT-777’s combat support.

***

After ensuring the cadets’ safe evacuation, Briana sprinted toward the hangar as soon as their safety was confirmed. She was worried about Gilbert, who was facing 23 Colossal Mechs in her stead.

Of course, Briana, who knew Gilbert’s skills better than anyone, was aware that he wouldn’t be easily defeated.

Even before becoming her student, Gilbert’s physical abilities were nearly perfected, and he possessed a natural talent for swordsmanship. Despite having a talent that even Briana found astonishing, Gilbert never grew complacent and continued to train diligently. No matter the numerical advantage, subduing him in a short time would be difficult.

Moreover, if she wasn’t mistaken, the technique he used to cut through the dense barrage was the ultimate technique of the Winter Sword, “Winter Sky Cleave.” He had demonstrated it once as a preview of the next level, and now he had used it in actual combat.

But that was precisely the problem.

Briana climbed into her Colossal Mech, her eyes sharp. While Gilbert’s use of the ultimate technique had saved their lives, it could also be tightening the noose around his neck. The ultimate technique of the Winter Sword was not yet within his permitted range, akin to an insurmountable wall for ordinary people.

However, individuals like Gilbert, brimming with talent, occasionally stepped beyond their limits in moments of life-or-death crises or similar situations.

And that was the problem. Stepping beyond one’s limits without proper preparation meant placing an immense burden on the body. For Gilbert, who had to face 23 Colossal Mechs, this burden could be fatal.

Closing the hatch and connecting the mana pass, Briana hurriedly left the hangar.

Hadn’t he stepped beyond his limits to save her?

If something happened to Gilbert because of that, Briana would never forgive herself.

Rushing out of the hangar, Briana mapped the shortest route to Gilbert and activated her Mana Booster to its maximum, darting forward as if flying. She encountered a few invaders along the way, but no one could stop her in her prime.

After cutting down four or five Colossal Mechs with a single sword strike, she finally reached Gilbert’s location.

[You’re a bit late, Master.]

[Gilbert…]

But her worries seemed unfounded as Gilbert’s communication magic came through. Seeing Gilbert speaking in a calm tone, Briana could finally relax.

It seemed her second prospective disciple was more of a monster than she had thought.

The only Colossal Mech standing in the area where Briana arrived was Gilbert’s. The 23 Colossal Mechs she had seen before leaving were all half-destroyed, scattered on the ground.

[Did you take care of all of them?]

[Yes.]

[I see. I’m glad you’re safe. But…]

Now that her mind was calm, Briana realized that Gilbert’s Colossal Mech was the same as the invaders’. It didn’t make sense that the lunatics infiltrating Demia Empire Academy would come without formal contracts with their Artificial Spirits, yet they were piloting their Colossal Mechs.

Moreover, despite having stepped beyond his limits, Gilbert showed no signs of distress, which was both a relief and a mystery.

But she buried her curiosity for now. This wasn’t the time for such trivial questions.

[Gilbert. Any issues continuing the fight?]

[None.]

[Understood. Then, let’s deal with the invaders first.]

With that communication, Briana steered her Colossal Mech toward the nearby invaders, with Gilbert closely following.

Thus, the two priests joined forces with other Academy professors, systematically defeating the New Resistance invaders. With the addition of two individuals capable of taking on dozens of Colossal Mechs single-handedly, the suppression of the invaders proceeded smoothly.

Soon, Seraphina and Yanik joined the fray in their Colossal Mechs, tipping the scales in an instant.

Finally, the last invader fell to Seraphina’s sword strike.

Hearing from CT-777 that the remaining invader signals were zero, Gilbert finally let go of the tension that had been gripping him. While the number of casualties from this raid was unknown, it was no exaggeration to say he had done his best.

Compared to the original, it was clear that more cadets and citizens had survived.

And most importantly.

“You did well, Gilbert.”

“You did well too, Master.”

As Gilbert opened the hatch and stepped out, he heard Briana’s voice praising his efforts. She was slightly frowning as she coordinated with the professors, just like her usual self.

It was then that Gilbert truly felt he had prevented the future where Professor Briana would die.

With Professor Briana surviving as per the original goal, the damage from this raid was minimized. With her, at the pinnacle of the Empire, joining the battle in full strength, the suppression of the invaders accelerated.

In the meantime, they managed to evacuate the cadets and the festival-goers, resulting in the Academy raid, which could have caused numerous casualties, being contained with minimal losses.

All of this was possible because Briana had survived.

Gilbert clenched his fist, filled with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.

This world was indeed not a game.

And he loved that fact.

 

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