Team 1, which would be the first to enter the front line, climbed the foot of the mountain.
Their role was reconnaissance.
The plan was simple.
Batir, a Defensive Mage, and Galev, whose mobility was exceptional, would draw the enemy’s attention.
Meanwhile, Verdi, the Detection Mage, would identify the terrain and any traps.
Team 2 would then advance using the information she brought back.
“We should follow them so that we can provide support as soon as they send the signal.”
“Understood, Leader.”
Alvan spoke while holding a Crystal Orb between the prongs of his Staff.
Ivali, who had removed the outer layer of her combat uniform and tied it around her waist, also nodded.
“I heard that you are a Mage of the Enhancement Branch. I will ensure that you receive proper cover, so―”
“Do not worry. I have never lost to anyone in a contest of firepower.”
“That is admirable confidence. Even so, you should keep your uniform in order.”
Ivali looked away primly and sighed.
“I get hot easily.”
“Hey, you should listen to the Leader.”
Unable to remain silent any longer, Alvan admonished her.
“Why does it matter how I wear my clothes? We are not inside the Knight Order. We are in the middle of a combat exercise.”
“Y-You insolent girl! Can someone who refuses to follow discipline call herself a knight?”
“Enough, both of you. Do you wish to alert the enemy?”
An enemy within was more dangerous than an enemy without.
Joshua had to prevent the team from falling apart before they had even begun fighting.
‘…She does not seem easy to manage.’
As the head of a prestigious house, Joshua had encountered every conceivable sort of person.
Compared to those from his past, someone like Ivali was almost endearing.
Team 2 continued climbing the mountain by a different route from Team 1, moving as silently as possible.
They took every precaution to remain concealed and behind cover so that Freya would not discover them.
“L-Leader!”
“Yes. It seems to have begun.”
Thick smoke suddenly rose from halfway up the mountain.
It began at a single point before spreading across every possible route of entry.
‘As expected, they made use of Hannibal’s magic.’
Unlike the survival examination, every method was permitted in this combat exercise.
If an avalanche were triggered, for example, any ally who failed to escape it would be the one eliminated.
“Will we even be able to join them after they send the signal?”
Ivali asked uneasily.
“We are still fine. We have a Healer, so we can force our way through flames of this degree.”
“I cannot do something that barbaric.”
“You little…!”
Joshua restrained the outraged Alvan and smiled instead.
“You will certainly be able to do it. I will make certain of that.”
For reasons she could not explain, the smile filled Ivali with fear, and her body trembled.
“Y-Yes.”
Meanwhile, Team 1 was desperately responding to the relentless counterattack.
“Verdi! How much longer will the Detection Magic take?”
“I am not finished yet! Hold out a little longer!”
The girl poured her mana into the ground and began reading the surrounding terrain.
‘The flames have blocked most of the entry routes. I have to find the safest possible path for Team 2!’
A powerful shockwave swept across the area.
Lights of every color flashed around them.
“We will buy you all the time you need, so concentrate!”
SLASH―!
Galev raced across the battlefield, cutting through Hannibal’s and Jemar’s spells.
Batir blocked any attacks that Galev missed.
“You worthless sword-wielder! Let the flames swallow you and roast you alive!”
“That is going too far, Hannibal.”
Freya appeared after scouting the surrounding area through Teleportation Magic.
Jemar, who had been gathering power for a powerful spell, asked her a question.
“What about the remaining enemies?”
“I still cannot see them! But Joshua is bound to be planning something, so I will keep watching!”
After the girl disappeared once more, Jemar launched his attack.
“Danger!”
Galev charged toward the enormous mass of magic.
Remembering Joshua’s teachings, he concentrated his strength into the blade.
Unfortunately, no Aura appeared.
Even so, he could not retreat.
There were comrades behind him whom he had to protect.
‘I will cut through it somehow.’
He planted both feet firmly upon the ground and swung his sword.
The blade collided head-on with the raging magic.
“Have you forgotten about me, sword-wielder?!”
A cluster of red light appeared within the violent wind pressure.
Galev’s heart lurched.
The flames rapidly approached.
His eyes squeezed shut.
For a moment, his concentration wavered.
BOOM―!
In the end, he failed to cut through Jemar’s spell completely.
The force of the explosion hurled Galev far away.
“Elf!”
Batir could not move because he had to protect Verdi.
In addition to Hannibal, Jemar, and Freya, the opposing side had five more Mages.
Batir had been maintaining a Barrier continuously, and his mana was rapidly being depleted.
Watching her teammates sacrifice themselves, Verdi gritted her teeth and concentrated even harder on her Detection Magic.
“You foolish long-eared wretch. Why do you refuse to put down that sword? With a piece of scrap like that, you could never even reach my feet.”
Hannibal relentlessly targeted Galev.
The boy lay in the snow, wiped the blood from his mouth, and barely managed to raise his sword.
“That does not matter. You will never reach my comrades either.”
“Wh-What did you say?!”
“A sword is not a weapon for killing people. It is the strength used to protect one’s comrades-in-arms.”
Amid a battlefield bursting with countless lights, a distinct blue glow flickered.
It remained faint.
Nevertheless, the Aura born from Galev’s conviction—
Pierced through every scorching flame and carried him directly before Hannibal.
FIZZLE―
Then, regrettably, it vanished.
Even so, Hannibal recoiled in alarm, chilled to the bone.
“Wh-What could you possibly accomplish with such a feeble conviction?!”
“I already told you. I can protect people.”
“You cannot protect anyone with an antiquated sword!”
The flames of Hannibal’s fury burned a deeper red than ever before.
“Hannibal! Control your power! Otherwise, we will be caught in the flames as well!”
Even Jemar was alarmed.
“You talk too much. We win if we defeat all of them, do we not?”
“It is not that simple!”
“Be quiet before I burn you too!”
While the 2nd Squad descended into discord, Verdi finally completed her reconnaissance.
“I have identified the enemy base, every trap, and the safest route.”
“Excellent. Then send the signal immediately!”
Batir fired an ordinary spell high into the sky.
However, contrary to their plan, no reply came.
He sent the signal again, but the result was the same.
“…This is bad. The smoke must be blocking their view.”
Verdi rapidly analyzed the situation.
“Th-Then what should we do?”
“We should retreat first. I will guide you through the safe route, so cover me.”
However, Jemar noticed their suspicious movements and pressed the attack.
“Where do you think you are going after disturbing the hornet’s nest?”
“I found Joshua within fifty meters of this area! Let us neutralize these three first!”
To make matters worse, Freya returned after locating Team 2.
All three members of Team 1 bit their lips simultaneously.
“And Hannibal, are you trying to kill all of us? Put out the fire.”
“We only need to defeat the enemies first―”
“Now. While I am still asking politely.”
After bringing even the rampaging Hannibal under control, Freya smiled and blocked Verdi’s path.
“Sorry, but I cannot surrender the Weekend Leave Pass! If you let us capture you quietly, I promise we will not hurt you.”
“…We will not give up until we fall.”
The information they had obtained through immense hardship remained within the girl’s mind.
She could not allow her comrades’ sacrifices to go to waste.
“Batir! Galev! We will break through at a single point!”
“Very well. I will draw out all the mana I have left.”
Batir tightened his grip upon his Wand and surrounded them with a Barrier in every direction.
At the same time, Galev kicked off the ground and charged toward Freya.
“Move aside.”
“Do not make me laugh!”
However, Freya vanished through Teleportation Magic, and Hannibal unleashed a torrent of flames in her place.
The agonizing heat tormented Galev’s entire body.
His vision turned red.
Left with no choice, he retreated inside the Barrier.
BOOM―!
Jemar’s magic exploded immediately afterward.
Batir was also approaching his limit.
Amid the crisis, Verdi thought desperately.
‘How can I tell them where the safe route is?’
The smoke had grown even denser than before.
Her allies were on the verge of collapse.
Galev offered advice to the girl, who had become excessively lost in thought.
“Verdi, if you detonate your magic with all your strength, do you not think Joshua will notice?”
“B-But my magic is weak.”
“Believe in yourself. You are more than capable.”
Batir also spoke as he struggled to remain standing on his trembling legs.
“Leave the protection to us.”
Their encouragement resonated within Verdi’s heart.
‘Yes… I can do this.’
The girl had no talent for magic.
That was why she had chosen the Detection Branch and devoted herself obsessively to tactics.
Yet for the first time, she had found comrades who acknowledged her.
For their sake—
‘My skills may be lacking… but I have to succeed!’
The girl found the strength to act.
FWOOSH―
A frail gray light burst from her body.
“You call that magic?”
Despite Hannibal’s ridicule, she continued gathering mana.
“Leave the cover to us!”
“Focus only on your chanting!”
Batir and Galev protected the girl with all their strength.
“Haa….”
Verdi gasped heavily.
The dizziness made her feel as though her head would split apart.
Nevertheless, she did not lose concentration.
“Joshua… Please notice.”
It was a Secret Technique that Verdi could complete only by giving it everything she had.
At last, an utterly basic explosive spell left the girl’s hand.
“Pfft. Where are you even aiming―”
The seemingly laughable magical sphere sailed harmlessly past Hannibal and reached the nearest safe route.
And then—
BOOM―!
A deafening explosion rang out from the left front.
Joshua, who had been avoiding the flames raging throughout the area, understood on instinct.
“Alvan, Ivali. That is the signal.”
“The signal, Leader?”
“Magic exploded far from the battlefield. Since the smoke concealed the light, they found another way to inform us.”
A considerable amount of time had passed since Team 1 entered the battle.
Joshua had considered altering the plan several times, but he had trusted the three of them.
And as a result—
“As expected, this is the safe route.”
They were able to penetrate a gap in the enemy’s defenses through a path containing no traps.
However, the final passage was engulfed in intense flames.
“Alvan, Healing Magic.”
“I am already prepared, Leader.”
There was no time to waste.
Unlike the two boys, who prepared to charge in without hesitation, Ivali faltered.
“Have you both lost your minds? Can you not see the flames? Our entire bodies will melt!”
“I know.”
“I cannot do it.”
“You can.”
“I said I cannot!”
Joshua embraced the terrified girl.
While receiving Alvan’s Healing Magic, he ran into the flames with her in his arms.
The scorching heat constricted Ivali’s breath.
All the pain fell solely upon Joshua.
“How can you possibly…?”
She opened the eyes she had squeezed shut and saw the boy.
WHOOSH―
Even as his entire body burned, he silently continued swinging his sword.
Then an unbelievable sight unfolded.
The raging inferno was being divided by a mere piece of steel.
The girl’s heart began to pound.
Before long, the heat subsided.
When she cautiously raised her head, she found herself looking at Joshua’s ash-covered face.
“Are you all right?”
“Well… I am….”
Naturally, she was unharmed.
Yet the words were swallowed by a painful emotion.
“Is our Leader not remarkable?”
Alvan, who had followed along the path Joshua had opened, asked her.
Seeing the boy with whom she had been bickering moments earlier filled Ivali with embarrassment.
She quickly slipped out of Joshua’s arms and looked away.
“…You are truly reckless.”
Team 2 then raced toward the empty enemy base.
Galahad’s flag hung above the wooden barricade.
“Ivali!”
“…I will destroy it in one blow.”
Powerful magic shot from the girl’s Staff.
As she had claimed, her destructive power was exceptional.
After completely demolishing the final obstacle, they were about to enter the base when—
“How underhanded. Just what I would expect from sword-wielders.”
Figures appeared in a cluster of blue light and blocked their path.