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Chapter 48
Elbadin’s office.
Riat was carefully reviewing the documents for the upcoming field training one last time.
After checking every page to the end, he placed them on Elbadin’s desk.
“Your Highness, this is the field training plan.”
Elbadin set aside the papers he had been reading and picked up the training plan first.
Riat continued.
“This time as well, the field training will proceed as a purification mission—subjugating the monsters that appear in each border area of the Grand Duchy and protecting the nearby villages.”
Along the vast borders of the Grand Duchy, monsters frequently appeared.
To protect the people of the land, twelve outposts were built, each fortified with barrier stones.
Constructed with ancient magic circles and mana stones, these outposts served as great beacons of magical power, sustaining a defensive barrier around the Grand Duchy.
At each outpost, the Grand Duke’s knights were stationed to maintain the barrier and guard against threats.
Field training meant being dispatched to one of these twelve outposts, joining the knights of the Grand Duchy to carry out real missions.
The duration ranged from a week to half a month.
“Since Her Majesty the Empress’s birthday banquet is coming soon, I adjusted the schedule so that it would not overlap with that event.”
Elbadin curtly replied.
“There’s no need for that.”
“…Pardon?”
“Proceed with the original schedule. The Grand Duchy has no reason to alter its affairs for the sake of the Imperial family’s schedule.”
Riat looked troubled at Elbadin’s firm words.
“But, Your Highness. This banquet will even be attended by Marchioness Belgar…”
Riat knew well the temperament of Anasis.
Moreover, since she had allied with the Empress, this banquet was likely to become more dangerous than any other battlefield.
“In case of any incident, it would be better if you were accompanied by capable retainers. At the very least, having Sir Serdian return early by moving up the training schedule would—”
“Riat.”
Elbadin cut him off. A chilling shadow passed through his red eyes.
“Our Grand Duchy’s strength isn’t so lacking that we’d need to drag the children into it by rescheduling.”
“….”
Riat understood the true meaning behind Elbadin’s words.
‘He doesn’t want to put the children in danger.’
As if to show agreement, Riat nodded—when suddenly Elbadin added:
“But… there may be no better training than this.”
“…What do you mean?”
Elbadin lifted the paper he had been reading before the training plan.
“There’s been a report of a griffin appearing on the northern mountain road to the capital.”
“Ah, yes. Merchants traveling between the north and the capital have been reporting sightings as well.”
Recently, rumors had been spreading about sightings of a griffin, one of the ancient divine beasts, in the northern mountains.
A griffin had the upper body of an eagle with wings, and the lower body of a lion—a creature from ancient legends.
Although reports of sightings increased, whenever knights of the Grand Duchy were dispatched, none had ever managed to see it.
“Perhaps they mistook a similar monster. After all, divine beasts rarely reveal themselves to humans. For one to be spotted is nearly impossible.”
“Then it’s perfect timing.”
“…Pardon?”
Unable to grasp Elbadin’s intent, Riat asked again.
Leaning back in his chair, Elbadin continued:
“Divide them into groups of four and send them to the usual border outposts. But one group will accompany me to the Imperial Palace.”
Riat’s eyebrows shot up.
“And if, along the way, we happen to find the griffin, all the better.”
The griffin, as a divine beast, was long called the Shadow of the King.
Legends told that the first emperor—who had unified the continent—was always accompanied by a griffin.
Some claimed the emperor himself tamed it. Others said someone who had tamed a griffin remained by his side.
The truth was uncertain, but one fact was clear:
Whenever a griffin appeared, the course of an age was overturned.
Riat nodded slowly.
“So the training task will be both searching for the divine beast and protecting Your Highness until the banquet ends.”
“Exactly.”
In reality, Elbadin needed no such protection.
But this was, after all, training.
Through it, the children would learn how to compensate for each other’s weaknesses and survive unpredictable real-world dangers in their own ways.
Riat voiced another concern.
“Might some say it’s unfair?”
“Unfair?”
“To be assigned to accompany Your Highness is no small matter. Even if danger arises, Your Highness’s presence would make that group’s training feel far safer than the others’.”
“…Is that so?”
Elbadin tilted his head and declared flatly:
“Then tell any who are dissatisfied that they’re welcome to join my group.”
“Ah…” Riat sighed softly.
He was certain—no one would volunteer.
And besides…
‘Traveling with His Highness may seem safest… but it will bring the gravest dangers of all.’
With that thought, Riat bowed.
“I’ll quickly arrange the groups and report back.”
The next morning.
From early hours, the first-floor bulletin board of the west annex was packed with children.
The group assignments for field training had just been posted. The cold hallway air was heated with the buzz of nervous excitement and anticipation.
“I’m in Group 3. Phew, thank goodness. Ours is a purification mission in the 9th sector.”
One child sighed in relief, and a friend beside him clapped his shoulder enviously.
“Damn it, I’m in Group 7! Their instructor is notorious for being strict!”
“Still, that’s better than ending up with His Highness the Grand Duke.”
Children murmured, each finding their names with either joy or dismay.
Most eyes were drawn to the nine groups assigned ordinary ‘purification missions.’
None dared to look at the bottom of the board—where that fated group was written.
Then, someone whispered in shock:
“Hey… what’s this last ‘special group’…?”
As if on cue, all chatter stopped. Holding their breath, the children turned their eyes downward.
“‘Northern Mountain Monster Subjugation & Escort of His Highness to the Capital’…?”
“Wait, does that mean… they’ll be exploring the northern mountains and subjugating monsters all the way to the Imperial Palace?!”
“Looks like it.”
“Whoa… that group’s doomed.”
The mission alone earned it the nickname the death squad, or the group of disaster.
<Special Mission Group: Irenel, Kaelin, Tessian, Lucilea.>
The list left many children wide-eyed.
“What kind of team is that?”
As murmurs spread, the bulletin board area grew rowdier.
“Tessian and Irenel, in the same group? Those two practically try to kill each other whenever they spar!”
“More than that—why’s that little one in there? She only joined a month ago, and she’s already in a field training mission, and a special mission at that?”
“Right? Don’t tell me… His Highness is giving her some kind of special favor?”
“Huh? Do you really think being assigned to that special group is special treatment? Escorting the Grand Duke all the way to the capital?”
“…Oh.”
The child who had briefly been suspicious quickly realized the truth.
For these children, traveling with the Grand Duke was no favor at all.
Then—
Someone roughly shoved the crowd aside.
“Move it, you worms! Unless you want a beating!”
It was Tessian—the boy who had been suspended because of Lucilea.
Though he’d been barred from attending classes, he was still required to join the field training.
That was his only chance to leave his room…
“…What…?”
After checking the posted list, Tessian’s face drained of color.
‘Special Mission Group?!’
Monster subjugation in the northern mountains… and escorting the Grand Duke?!
Being grouped with Lucilea was fine.
It gave him the chance to show her what happened to anyone who defied him—or who grew too close to Serdian.
But joining the Grand Duke himself? That was something he absolutely did not want.
Showing up Lucilea was far less important than avoiding Elbadin.
‘Damn it! Damn it!!’
Then a cold voice rang out from behind him.
“Switch with me.”
“…What?”
Tessian spun around.
