Chapter 112

Episode 112: The Noble Lone Wolf (Petra’s Perspective)

A large-scale mock battle in the dense forest.

One of the academy’s most significant events, held every six months.

It takes place in a vast stretch of forest owned by the Filnorts Officer’s Academy, where students face off in mock combat under near-real battle conditions.

There are no set teams. You’re free to form alliances—or to fight alone in silence.

It’s not just about pure combat ability.

This trial tests a student’s overall competence—strategy, adaptability, decision-making.

In simple terms, joining a large group is the surefire way to survive this mock battle. It’s common sense.

Numbers win wars.

The more people you have, the better your odds.

Those who fight alone are at a severe disadvantage, while those with wide social networks can have a great time with minimal effort.

…And of course, I fall into the former category—the ones at a disadvantage.

“Oh my, if it isn’t the promising Miss Petra. How are you feeling today?”

“……”

“Heh. Enjoy the silence while it lasts. Once the battle begins, I’ll make sure that smug little face of yours is twisted with regret.”

Naturally, someone like me—surrounded by enemies—attracts these types like moths to flame.

Weaklings love to band together and come after me.

I saw it coming before the match even began. After all, they’re kind enough to declare war on me right to my face.

It’s always the same noble ladies who’ve resented me from day one.

I don’t know their names. Don’t want to, either.

But one thing’s for sure—I’m not so weak that I’ll go down without a fight.

“…That all you wanted to say?”

“What? Do you not understand the position you’re in? Once the match begins, all of my lovely friends will be gunning for you.”

“I figured as much. Spare me the idiotic reminders.”

“Wha—! How unbelievably rude!”

—So they’re planning to gang up on me and beat me down. Typical nobles. Cowards to the core.

But in the end, it’s just a pack of feeble-minded fools—no real threat.

The longer I looked at her face, the more it made me sick.

I turned my back on the noblewoman.

“W-Wait! If you apologize for your past behavior, I might consider forgiving you!”

Ridiculous.

Why should I apologize?

I haven’t done anything wrong.

Maybe I’ve bruised a few noble egos along the way, but that’s their problem, not mine. I have no intention of playing along with such a farce.

“…I’ll be waiting for you on the battlefield.”

No need to waste words.

If they’ve got a problem, they can bring it to me head-on.

In a fight, there’s no room for mercy. This isn’t a game where saying sorry wins you points. I won’t lose to someone that soft.

Alone, I waited in the forest for them to come.

—It’s strangely quiet. Not a single footstep.

The bell rang, signaling the start of the mock battle.

And yet, I sensed no one nearby.

Off in the distance, I could hear spells being fired and the clash of steel ringing out in dull, metallic echoes. Don’t tell me they’ve actually lost track of my position?

Anyone who managed to get into the Filnorts Officer’s Academy should be able to figure out where I am.

It’s not like I’m hiding.

I’m standing right here in the forest, out in the open.

Just waiting—for whoever dares to challenge me.

No movement, even after all this time. That’s not normal.

And just as that thought crossed my mind—

I sensed it: the faint ripple of spell activation.

It was behind me. A decent distance away, but there was no mistaking it—the target was me.

“Hmph!”

I leapt away from the spot at once.

Not a second later, a hail of fireballs rained down where I’d been, engulfing the area in searing red flames.

“Well, well. You dodged that? Impressive—for the top student of our year.”

—So you finally showed up.

Click, clack. Footsteps echoed through the forest as another girl stepped forward—not the same one who had confronted me earlier.

This one was worse.

Unlike the previous noblewoman, this girl didn’t know the meaning of mercy. She was a textbook noble—one who delighted in thoroughly tormenting her opponents.

Naturally, she had her entourage at her sides, flanked even further by a mixed formation of magic and knight course students.

“Hehe. So, how does it feel knowing you’re about to cry?”

“You’re the ones who’ll be crying when this is over.”

“Oh my. Confident, aren’t we? I wonder how long that’ll last.”

—To be honest, I was panicking.

The number of enemies wasn’t the problem. That I could handle.

What bothered me was the presence of knight course students among them.

If this were a pure battle of magic, I’d have no trouble coming out on top.

But when frontline fighters get involved, it becomes a different story.

For mages who fight at range, letting close-combat specialists like swordsmen or spearmen get too close is fatal.

Which means I’d have to keep attacking to suppress their advance—while dodging spells from the rear line at the same time.

—What a pain.

I raised a hand toward the enemy.

There was no point in retreating. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

The noblewoman smirked with smug satisfaction and gave a snort.

“How brave of you. I do admire that. …Everyone, you may proceed.”

The knight course students stepped forward, clad in heavy-looking armor.

“Fine by me… Let’s do this.”

I immediately began preparing my next spell.