The Latest Game Is Too Amazing

Chapter 24: Unrest

After making it past level 25, the monsters near Stolbrussen stopped giving experience points, so Im heading for Brandenburg, a city in a remote border region of the Weichsel Empire. By myself. Irene said that Alexia couldnt come because she has things to do, so Im back to being a solitary player. If I keep on leveling up, I wont be able to party up with Alexia and Irene anymore because of the level difference, so I decided to use my free time to travel.

In Castal, it took a week of sprinting at full speed to travel to the neighboring town (one day in total time spent logged in), so itll take too long with Warp Portal alone.

So, Im using something called Dragon Transport. As the name suggests, its an incredibly fantasy-esque air transport service where you ride in a basket on a dragons back. The downside is that there arent many dragons that can be ridden, so theres a limit to the number of people who can board and there arent many flights. You dont instantly move from the starting point to your destination like in some games, so the flights take time, which is pretty inconvenient. Its also expensive, which is probably why not many people use it. This is one example of how making things too realistic or being too fixated on the setting can make things inconvenient.

Still, dragons are crazy fast. I know its faster than a car, though I cant tell exactly how fast it is (apparently, the in-universe explanation for why I cant really feel any wind pressure even at this speed is because dragons use magic to fly), and since were at such a high altitude, looking at the scenery below is a bit scary. I dont think Id want to ride it too often. But travelling takes time, so I do want some sort of mount. Maybe I should buy a horse or something?

After half a day, I arrive in Brandenburg. Its a bit small in comparison to Stolbrussen, which was my base for almost two weeks, but its no less lively, with merchant wagons coming and going and stalls along the road. 

Its heavily influenced by the Allied Commune, which is past the eastern border. The Allied Commune is surrounded by two large countries, the Castal Kingdom to the east and the Weichsel Empire to the west, so it was created by three smaller countries uniting to counter military threats. Although the threat later subsided when both the kingdom and the empire signed non-aggression pacts with Commune, it remained as a single country rather than dividing.

The current Commune is a country that takes advantage of their geological position, between Castal and Weichsel and facing the sea to the south, to serve as a transit point for trade between both countries and is widely referred to as a trade nation, according to the official site.

I want to go there someday. I remember that the capital of Commune, Clermont, was listed as a starting location, so maybe I should start in Commune when the official release happens. I wish I could go to Commune with Alexia and Irene. Well, for now, I should focus on the monsters near Brandenburg. Near here, theres an area full of monsters over level 20 a short distance away. For the ruins in particular, its common for there to be over 50 monsters lurking within. In this place, reaching Class Rank 2 is definitely within the realm of possibility. While Im at it, Ill go check out the Portals in the ruins and the surrounding area.

A mountain of papers is piled up on the desk. Alexia looks at it and sighs.

With the extracurricular training system, students can earn credits by completing a certain number of quests within half a year. Since extracurricular training takes almost the entire day, part of the training involves managing your health and adjusting your schedule, so each student needs to make adjustments so that it doesnt affect their normal classes. However, what if a student didnt attend classes or go to school at all for almost two weeks? Naturally, it would have an adverse effect on their normal classes. Even if Alexia wasnt allowed to attend, if she doesnt complete the assignments given in class, she wont get credits for that class.

This morning, the professor suddenly called her in and gave her a mountain of homework. Although she didnt see why it was necessary to complete assignments for classes she couldnt attend, with her grades on the line, she had no choice but to reluctantly obey.

Normally, Id be going out for extracurricular training around this time, she complains to herself. She wonders if Chaos is angry with her. Even though she asked Irene to give him a message, shes suddenly forcing him to plan things at her own convenience, so thats what shes most worried about. But, then again, her teacher isnt that petty of a person.

Instead of abandoning the talentless Alexia, Chaos helped her by bringing out a new talent in her. Hes a wise person who calmly took questions that even the academy professors avoided and revealed information that was entirely unheard of. Hes not just wise, but also so honest and enthusiastic about research that, if hes asked a question that he doesnt know the answer to, hell research it the next day. And he doesnt boast about it, either.

On the other hand, hes strict and doesnt compromise when it comes to practical skills. In the beginning, he was probably holding back for her sake. Gradually, as both the level of magic required in fights with monsters and the number of enemies increased, it became so harsh that, on the first day Irene joined them, she passed out from exhaustion as soon as she returned to her room.

But he isnt just strict. He also generously used the Book of Blessings, a valuable growth-accelerating magic item that she had never heard of and which he only had five of, for her sake. Deeply moved by how much hes done for her and feeling the need to repay him, she made every effort to stick to it, and now, shes used to fighting and has enough self-confidence to say that shes grown considerably.

Looking back, those days were almost golden, with every day being fulfilling. Thinking about this makes her even more depressed that she cant go and join him.

In the first place, the homework shes doing right now doesnt even compare to extracurricular training in terms of value. She doesnt want to waste a minute or even a second of her time on something as trifling as this. However, if she neglects this, its possible shell have to deal with something even more inconvenient, such as supplementary lessons or being banned from extracurricular training. Ultimately, she has to do it even if she doesnt want to.

One of the reasons why shes so unenthusiastic about it is the contents of the homework. These assignments were made to follow the lessons, which, to be frank, greatly differ from Chaoss teachings.

In these past two weeks, Chaos has destroyed the conventional wisdom that she believed in until now, so its hard for her to look at assignments that are still bound by the old wisdom. Of course, not everything deviates from what she learned from Chaos. The basics are the same, such as elemental attribute-related information on the four major elements and the non-elemental attribute. However, while it is essential to read spellbooks and understand the principles of magic, its possible to learn spells even without the spellbook as long as you know the spells name and effects, and theres no end to her doubts as to whether the contents of the spellbooks are even correct in the first place.

However, the answers to the homework created with the current magical theory may simply be incorrect information. Its probably unavoidable that she cant suppress her complex emotions towards the current magical theory which considers incorrect information to be correct.

But is it really okay to leave it like this? Alexia wonders to herself. Since she was young, shes heard of the fate of nobles who cant use magic. Thats why she was afraid of being abandoned by her family and desperately studied magic. It didnt pay off in the end, but she was fortunate enough that she was saved by Chaos.

But what about the other nobles who cant use magic? If theyre Wisdom-type mages like Alexia, then the current magical theory wont allow their talents to bloom. If the conventional wisdom doesnt change, theyll be stricken with despair just like Alexia and their lives will end in disappointment. Considering that, she can keenly feel just how blessed she is.

To save them, she needs to reconsider the current state of magical theory. Shes the only one who knows the things she learned from Chaos. So, why not try writing down all of his teachings? Shes still thought of as talentless, so even if she shouts as loud as she can, those around her wont listen. However, if she conducts an examination of various spells and demonstrates her findings, that should change. Thinking this, her dreams grow larger. Shell use the knowledge she learned from Chaos to reach out to others in the same circumstances and guide them. Just like her teacher.

Until now, she would have been satisfied if she could just use magic like the average person. Her only perspective was that, if only she could use magic, that would be the end of it. And now, for the first time, Alexia has started thinking about what she wants to do in the future.

For this reason, theres still a lot she has to learn from Chaos. She starts working through her assignments more quickly. She has to finish her homework today and continue learning from Chaos from tomorrow onward. She wants to spread Chaoss teachings all over the world as soon as possible.

Chaos is a foreigner. Therefore, hell surely leave here someday. She must inherit his knowledge while hes still here.

Chaos will leave. When that thought passes through her head, she feels a stinging pain in her chest.

The young emperor of the Weichsel Empire, Wilhelm the Third, Wilhelm Viktor von Weichsel has an anxious expression on his face.

What is the matter, Your Majesty? asks Otto, the one in charge of his education.

Old man, read this, Viktor says, shoving a letter at Otto. Its an informal letter sent by the Castal Kingdom.

From the Castal Kingdom, is it? Whats this, an alliance?!

Written in this letter is a proposal to form an alliance with the Castal Kingdom. Currently, its one of their trading partners across from the Allied Commune and isnt quite an enemy, but in the past, they had a hostile relationship where they fought for control over the Allied Commune.

Well, I can see why theyd want an alliance. Although we both border Commune, that doesnt mean theres no mutual benefit. The issue is their reason and the gift they will prepare.

Its a three-way alliance against the evil god. They have approached the Allied Commune as well. But, to offer the production techniques for the highest-level potions and a new medicine It is far too extraordinary.

Even in the Weichsel Empire, they use part of the national budget to fund the study of production techniques.

Yes, and all we offer them in return is military strength and supplies in the event of an emergency. What is that Castal geezer thinking? Is he really so cautious of the evil god?

Its true that the monsters becoming more active has been a problem even within the Empire. However, since the evil god who is said to be the cause is still only an unconfirmed rumor, is it really necessary to be this cautious? The Castal Kingdom may have discovered something about the evil god, but theres no definite proof.

And if Castal really succeeded in making those potions, he doesnt understand why they would hand that over so easily, imagining the expenses that would be involved in producing them. He even gets the impression that they didnt develop this technology themselves, as if theyre handing over something that they stumbled on by chance. That makes him even more suspicious that they might have some ulterior motive.

Come to think of it, about a month ago, Castals royal army launched a large-scale monster subjugation. Though, they took quite a bit of damage.

Hm, I do remember hearing something about that. Perhaps we should send a spy to collect information. Old man, make the arrangements.

Understood, Your Majesty. Ah, speaking of spies, weve lost communication with some of the spies dispatched to Commune.

Viktor gives him a dubious look. So, Commune found us out? But thats not so unusual of an occurrence, is it not?

Its fairly undesirable for spies to be caught during a non-aggression pact, but its not rare for large countries to plant spies. Even if they get caught, it shouldnt have a particularly large effect.

No, there are some mysterious aspects of it. Weve lost contact with spies several times in the same region.

I see, so that region is so vigilant that all the spies are caught. In other words, Commune is hiding something. Is that what youre saying?

Otto nods.

Alright. Dispatch spies there too. The most skilled ones we can manage.

As Otto leaves, Viktor looks out the window. The view from high up in the towering castle is the same as usual. However, considering what has happened with Castal and Commune, some sort of strange incident is occurring. Though he doesnt show it on his face, Viktor is driven by an inexpressible anxiety.Re𝒂d updated st𝒐ries at n𝒐velbin(.)com

Really, what is happening on this continent?