The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students – Chapter 49

49.

“Alright. I will listen to your story.”

Duchess Teresa accepted my conditions.

Given her desperate situation, she probably wasn’t in a position to refuse.

As the head of a territory, it was hard for her to openly express her desire to save her younger brother. She had to endure the risks that came with it.

Anyway, I just had to package it well and help both sides win.

“There’s a way to storm into enemy territory.”

“You mean you intend to take their heads in one fell swoop?”

“Yes, and if that’s the case, Duchess, you won’t need to feel awkward.”

“…Your tone suggests you know our situation all too well.”

“It’s just a feeling.”

“I find it hard to believe. If you understand my position, give me a detailed explanation.”

“I understand.”

I had already thought about explaining.

The crux of this operation wasn’t limited to just me. Both Laura and Duchess Teresa had essential roles, so I cast a glance at Laura. She noticed and tilted her head.

“This operation requires Miss Laura’s ‘Frost Binding’ ability.”

“You actually knew I could use it?”

“I heard it from Miss Cletta. Thanks to that, I even attempted to chew on the Frost Bracelet.”

“Oh, I see.”

Laura averted her gaze as if she were uncomfortable. It must have been a bad memory, and she wanted to avoid talking about it.

I had no intention of making her uncomfortable. I continued without dragging things out.

“The steps are simple. I will take you both to the heart of enemy territory. As we do that, Miss Laura will use ‘Frost Binding’ to restrain their movements. I will behead their leader. In the meantime, Duchess Teresa, you can rescue your brother.”

“Was it Yuto? You talk as if flipping a coin makes it easy, but sneaking into the heart of the enemy is impossible.”

“No. I have a plan.”

“A plan?”

There’s really no need to call it that.

The means were singular.

I confidently extended both of my legs.

“I will carry you both on my back while running.”

“What???”

All three of them reacted simultaneously, their eyes wide.

Seeing is believing.

I awakened my dormant muscles.

With a pop!

The muscles bulged, ready to burst through my [Universal Coat].

“Y-Yuto?”

Laura stepped back, her face pale. When I got closer, she collapsed to the ground.

“Why are you running away, Miss Laura?”

“Is that really you, Yuto? What’s with that unsettling imbalance?”

“Unsettling? These are my bragging rights. I was just hiding them to avoid standing out.”

“…What on earth is your body made of?”

Is it really that strange?

I don’t understand why she’s scared of these strong and impressive muscles.

Duchess Teresa and Colonel Margaret were also stepping away from me.

“That’s quite a lot of muscle mass…”

“It’s the result of never slacking off in training. Does it inspire trust yet?”

“But can you really reach the heart of enemy territory with just this?”

It was like a gamble.

That’s the expression she had.

Talking about it would just be a waste of breath.

I tucked Laura under my right arm. With my left arm, I cradled Duchess Teresa.

“Excuse me, Duchess.”

“Ah! W-wait a second! I haven’t made a decision yet! Life is precious!”

“Trust me. I will move you safely and swiftly.”

I gathered my strength from my toes, through my calves, and up to my thighs, channeling it below my navel. Then, like a spring, I leaped into the air.

“Ahhh!”

Laura let out an unexpectedly girlish scream.

“W-wait! You’re jumping this high?!”

Duchess Teresa was busy looking down in panic. It was no surprise with my physical abilities, but they didn’t know that.

I was also experiencing my true strength for practically the first time.

I hope there’s no issue with landing.

The scenery beneath my feet turned into a dot. The main camp we had just been at was long out of sight.

“Hmm?”

I suddenly felt a weight shift to the right and noticed Laura flopping around like a caught squid. Why is the reincarnator’s mental strength so weak?

“I’m landing. Brace yourselves.”

“B-brace?!”

Honestly, this was my first time doing something like this.

I couldn’t guarantee safety.

When I didn’t answer, Duchess Teresa clasped her hands together, praying earnestly.

I could see she was manifesting her magical power.

She must have been quite anxious, preparing some barriers beneath my feet.

Boom!

Landing completed. Through the mist, I saw soldiers staring blankly at us.

Their armors were different, and the makeshift flags on their backs didn’t belong to [Noella].

Looks like we landed smoothly.

Not yet.

I gathered my strength beneath my navel once more. This time, without bouncing, I shot out like a bullet and dashed away fast.

Swish swish—

The ground and scenery began to smear together like a water-stained painting.

“Cough cough…”

“Duchess Teresa?”

She had her head bowed, her shoulders intermittently shaking.

As I wondered if she had lost her mind due to the strain, she suddenly looked up, her cold, icy expression transforming into one of delight.

“Ha ha! This is the best! I’ve been through many battlefields, but I’ve never had such an exhilarating adventure! You’re the best!”

She wasn’t resigned; she was intoxicated with excitement. She was laughing so heartily that her cheeks flushed red.

“You’re amazing. Are you considering working under me? I can guarantee the best treatment!”

“Thank you for the offer, but I have a purpose for this journey.”

“By your expression, it seems quite significant.”

Fortunately, she didn’t press the issue too hard. If she had, things might have turned out badly.

“When this is all over, standing alongside you wouldn’t be… well, it wouldn’t be bad…”

“Huh?”

“Standing alongside?”

When I finally understood what she meant, I averted my gaze.

What a sly woman… willing to sacrifice her chastity for the territory.

A prominent figure indeed.

Just as those idle talks came to an end, we managed to reach the enemy’s main camp.

“The response has been woefully inadequate.”

A bitter smile spread across the Duchess’s face.

Sure enough, they seemed to be in chaos, perhaps because they were running out of time.

Considering how long it took me to breach this place, it would indeed be absurd if they were properly prepared.

Quick and decisive.

To activate my prepared card, I released a surge of Ether into [Insight’s Blade].

Zzap!

“What the?!”

What kind of noise was that?

Laura’s reaction was becoming quite peculiar, but I paid it no mind and directed her.

“Now’s the time. Please use Frost Binding.”

“I-I know!… Frost Binding!”

Sshhhh—

As the binding took effect, the ground rose, and the enemy soldiers began to freeze rapidly from the bottom up.

Laura’s spells didn’t take even a moment to restrain them completely. With her current level, it would have been out of reach, but that’s why I brought Duchess Teresa along.

Thanks to her directly channeling her mana into Laura, it was an effortless execution.

“Duchess, please find your brother quickly. We’ll handle the leader.”

“Please! I rely on you!”

Laura and I stormed straight into the main camp, checking the interior. The leader, unprepared, was already bound.

It was the perfect ambush.

Slice!

With a clean strike to sever his head, our objective was achieved. With this, the opposing forces would retreat, and our expedition would continue.

“Is it really okay to just barge in like this?”

“If this expedition fails, our plans will also go awry. In any case, all the credit will go to her.”

“…Are you really not greedy? With a feat like this, you could earn a whole territory!”

“I’m not interested. You know, Laura, if we fail to fulfill our mission, everything would be in vain.”

If the world ended, money and fame wouldn’t be worth a thing.

“What I meant was after fulfilling the mission. After stopping the apocalypse, you can enjoy everything, right?”

“…That’s true.”

“Come to think of it, Yuto, it seems you never consider what comes after preventing the apocalypse.”

Laura might have been right.

I had been pursuing only the completion until now. As long as the world’s existence was guaranteed, anything else was fine.

We’re still far from that.

Now, the mental training of our comrades had just reached its final stage, and awakening their individual weapons and abilities was still ahead.

Above all, there was something else that needed urgent attention.

“Let’s put off such talks for later. Right now, focus on preparing for the Ice Dragon’s Castle.”

“Weren’t there plans in place?”

Oh, there were plans.

But this time, the ‘involved parties’ also had to put in some effort.

The Ice Dragon’s Castle episode would naturally appear mid-way through, as it was a high-level episode.

To come across it this early…

There was a risk that Laura could die, so we needed to be particularly careful.