IWLMS 40🔐

Chapter 40

Lunadeluze Este was an even more tempting person than expected. His words about taking first place hadn’t been mere arrogance.

“This isn’t what we agreed on!”

When Alfonso immediately rushed to confront him, Lunadeluze shut him down with a calm reply that left Alfonso speechless.

“It was you, Sir Alfonso, who chose not to designate me as your Esquire. I, on the other hand, kept the promise—I took first place in the exam.”

Grit. Just recalling that proud, pale face made his teeth clench.

Yes, the condition for clearing his debt had been to secure first place in this promotion exam.

The repayment certificate had already been issued through the bank, so there was no way to undo it now.

“Damn it! I was the one who found him first, and yet Kylian Heraith snatched him away!”

If one wanted to take another lord’s Esquire, they had to challenge that lord directly. Even with his father, the Marquis of Liechtenstein, backing him, there was no way he could oppose the Archduke’s house of Heraith.

And there was no chance Alfonso could ever defeat Kylian, who had already reached the realm of the Sword Emperor.

Grabbing Jerhan by the collar, Alfonso flung him to the ground as if throwing away trash.

“Ughk!”

Jerhan, sprawled out, clawed at the dirt with trembling fingers.

Wiping the blood from his hands with a silk handkerchief, Alfonso spat at him. Ptui!

The sight of Jerhan lying there, face mangled and pitiful beneath his feet, only made him seem all the more worthless.

“If not for my father, I wouldn’t have wanted you in the first place!”

If he couldn’t steal Lunadeluze away from Kylian, then at the very least he had to destroy him—only then would his rage be satisfied.

“This disgrace and humiliation, I’ll make sure to repay you, Lunadeluze…!”

*

After the promotion exam came a holiday. Having achieved his goal, Lun should have felt both physically and mentally at ease.

But as he sat with a book, he found his thoughts so tangled that he had to reread the same passage again and again.

His father, who had said he would come to the academy, had not been there on the day of the exam.

Did he really come and go without seeing me?

Maybe he had foolishly hoped his father would at least watch him, because now he found himself unreasonably disappointed.

No—at least he hasn’t taken me back home. That’s enough. I should just focus on the academy for now.

Especially since, thanks to recent events, even more cadets had begun keeping their distance from him.

Just as Lun was steadying his unsettled thoughts and forcing himself back to the book, Ethan returned from a summons by their squad representative, Vernon Gillian.

As always, Ellen picked up the clothes scattered on the floor and tossed them to Daniel.

“We have to head out. It’s a mobilization order.”

“Mobilization? On a holiday?” Daniel frowned as he caught his tunic. “Has Lankersk finally gone senile?”

“No—it’s from the corps representative.”

“What? Alfonso?”

Daniel, halfway through pulling on his tunic, leapt up.

“Ugh! That useless bastard! I thought he’d gone quiet for once!”

Raking his hair furiously, Daniel yanked open a drawer under the bed and rummaged inside.

Leaning against the bed, Lun gave Ellen a questioning look, but Ellen just shrugged—he didn’t know either.

“Damn it. Still bossing cadets around like they’re his lackeys. Here—take these.”

Muttering curses, Daniel tossed armbands at the two of them.

“Best strap them tight. Ankles, wrists, every joint you’ve got.”

“Protective gear? Just what is he making us do?”

Turning over the sturdy leather guard, Lun asked, baffled. Daniel clicked his tongue and strapped one onto his wrist.

“What else? Slave labor.”

*

Summoned without warning, the new cadets gathered in confusion at the training grounds.

Squad leader Vernon walked down the rows of 3rd Squad, checking names one by one.

He, too, looked flustered, his freckled cheeks reddened.

“Nineteen, twenty, twenty-one…?”

Reaching the back row, Vernon stopped and gaped at Daniel in disbelief.

So the rumor was true—Lunadeluze Este really had managed to whip Daniel Tutor into shape.

The same Daniel who barely attended classes or official events had obediently shown up to a mobilization order.

“…What.”

“S-squad, full attendance!” Vernon snapped to attention at Daniel’s fierce scowl, then hurried back toward the front.

Before he could go, Lun grabbed his wrist.

“Vernon! What about Professor Lankersk?”

“Ah—the professor’s away, attending a meeting at the Imperial Palace.”

Glancing nervously at Ellen and Daniel beside Lun, Vernon answered quickly and fled forward.

Don’t tell me… he issued this mobilization without the professor’s permission?

A frown creased Lun’s brow. With both Professor Lankersk and Corps Commander Kylian absent, this was all too suspicious.

At the platform, each squad leader reported headcounts to a 4th-year sub-officer.

Leaning toward Ellen, Lun whispered,

“Where are they even taking us?”

“Probably to the outskirts. A while back, the upperclassmen cleared out the low-level monsters there.”

“Monsters? But we’re not even cleared for real combat—why bring us?”

Lately, low-class monsters had been appearing near the capital’s outskirts more often.

It wasn’t unusual for senior cadets, who already fought in real missions, but for first-years without even live steel? That was another matter.

Daniel muttered darkly, massaging his stiff shoulders.

“Told you. It’s just forced labor.”

From the front, Ellen passed back a sack.

“They’re making us harvest mana stones. Too many carcasses for the soldiers to handle alone.”

Staring at the rough burlap sack in his hands, Lun’s face twisted in disbelief. Looking around, he saw every cadet holding one too.

“This is ridiculous… they even assign quotas, don’t they?”

“Don’t bother. Even if you fill it, they’ll just hand you another. Just do half.”

Reaching over from behind, Daniel grabbed his own sack and jabbed his boot into the muddy ground.

“Damn it. And of all days, it’s raining—this is going to be back-breaking.”

Yes, it was labor, plain and simple. Lun clenched the sack tightly, his face cold.

“Does a corps representative even have authority to mobilize cadets for this?”

“If there’s some official excuse, yes.”

Ellen’s calm reply was followed by Daniel leaning his chin on Lun’s head, pointing over his shoulder.

“See? They’ll claim it’s ‘charity work’ for the outer slums. They always use that pretext.”

Sure enough, a dozen priests bowed to Alfonso, who sat proudly on his white horse. He didn’t even dismount, just nodded arrogantly at them.

“Cowardly bastard. Always pulls this crap when Lankersk’s away.”

Daniel muttered venomously, his voice trembling with hatred.

Lun frowned at the extravagant feathered hat Alfonso wore.

“I’ve always wondered—why does a cadet representative strut around dressed like that?”

“Don’t ask. He trains indoors so he doesn’t tan, too.”

Soon Alfonso led the column forward, with Squads 1 and 2—armed with swords, bows, and even spare weapons—riding behind on horses.

Watching them march like they were heading into battle, Lun tilted his head.

“They’re supposed to be collecting stones. Why the full armament?”

“Just for show. Makes him look impressive.” Daniel’s sneer was sharp.

So he really did see cadets as mere ornaments.

Lun lifted the rusty dagger he’d been issued along with the sack and laughed bitterly.

Yes—clearly this side was meant for labor.

“Move it!”

A 4th-year sub-officer shoved the 3rd Squad cadets toward the waiting wagons. One by one, they climbed aboard.

“They won’t even give us horses?”

“Those wagons are for hauling the stones. We’ll have to walk back.”

Indeed, the wooden carts looked more suited for freight than passengers.

“Grab my hand.”

Taking Ellen’s hand, Lun climbed up. The wooden floor groaned beneath them. Daniel followed last, and once everyone was inside, the black cloth flaps were pulled shut.

The cart grew dark, almost pitch black.

“Careful. This way.”

Following Ellen’s voice, Lun felt along the wall until Daniel tugged her down beside him.

In the suffocating dark, the warmth of his comrades on either side eased her chest a little.

“…Feels like we’re being sold off.”

“Long trip. Get some sleep.”

Daniel tapped his shoulder for her to lean on.

Soon the cart jolted forward, and the cadets’ uneasy whispers faded into silence.

Lun stared at the faint light seeping through the flap, then finally closed his eyes.

Having them with him—that was a real comfort.