The students of the Royal Spada Academy line up and proceed up the gentle incline toward Ischia Castle.
Leading the way is a noticeable member of Wingroad among the hundreds of students.
“Yawn… so sleepy, and my hands hurt.”
On the back of a pure white unicorn, Nero mutters such complaints without much meaning.
Well, perhaps there is some meaning to it.
The fact that only his palms hurt indicates that he hadn’t received a single blow to any other part of his body, and it also means that even mastering ancient jujitsu at a master level, he still struck with a fist strong enough to hurt his palm.
With just this fact, one could consider the abilities of both parties to be worthy of Rank 5.
“You’re the only one having fun, and that’s all you have to say?”
Kai, riding next to him with a face expressing even more dissatisfaction, appealed.
“I’m not having as much fun fighting as you are.”
“Then let me take your place! It’s not often you get to fight someone as strong as that old man!”
Even so, it’s too late to say that. The ones who exchanged blows were Nero and Gustave, and under those circumstances,
“If you say my friend will take your place!”
Then it’d be just as pathetic as someone thinking they’ve grown stronger by hiring bodyguards.
Nero, who has at least some sense of male pride, would never say such a thing.
“Hey, you guys, where were you and what were you doing last night?”
Cutting into the conversation between the two men from behind was Charlotte, her long twin tails swaying on horseback.
Her golden round cat-like eyes had changed to a glaring look, sending the two a piercing gaze of suspicion.
“Huh? What are you talking about? I was peacefully sleeping in the tent yesterday.”
“Yeah, yeah, we didn’t get into any fights at the guild tavern!”
“Idiot!” The same phrase was uttered separately by both, each with a different meaning.
“I just can’t believe this! I was willing to overlook going drinking, but to think you also got into a fight—”
“Keep your voice down, Shal. What if the teacher hears?”
“Who do you think is responsible for that!”
“Kai.”
“Hey, you were the one who got into a fight, right, Nero!”
As the three began to make a commotion, Safi, who had been keeping a distance of one horse length, muttered,
“Really, idiots everywhere.”
On the back of the faux Sleipnir, she quietly remarked.
Today, as usual, the Wingroad students saw Ischia Castle towering on a small hill ahead.
Even in modern times, it retains most of the same construction techniques, constituting a solid and nearly complete Spada-style castle, generally rectangular in shape.
The four corners at the north, south, east, and west become cylindrical defensive towers, and the sides connecting the corners are fortified with castle walls lined with soldiers above. Just outside is an empty moat without water, and the only entrance, a drawbridge, is raised, with the main gate also securely closed.
Thus, the sturdy castle of the borderlines, still maintaining its ancient defensive capabilities, awaits the arrival of the young knights who will bear the future of Spada.
Ischia Castle is a precious historical site that retains the history of the fierce territorial disputes between Spada and Fahren that occurred more than a hundred years ago.
However, it has been fifty years since the relationship between the two nations has shifted from hostility to neutrality and then to friendship. This place is unlikely to become a frontline of hell again.
“O ancient warriors’ souls, may you sleep peacefully in the requiem of the name of peace that has been realized, forever—”
“What are you daydreaming about, Wil? We’re not here for sightseeing.”
“My apologies, Simon, it’s just a usual episode of mine, please forgive me.”
While still functioning as a castle and having undergone repairs up to the present day, on top of the uncollapsing castle walls, Wilhart gazes at the sinking sun with a dazed expression, receiving relentless comments.
As he dramatically strikes a pose with one foot on a nearby wooden box, further attacks ensue.
“What’s with that pose? It’s embarrassing, so just stop already!”
“Thus, the dignity of the Spada royal family is being tarnished, truly lamentable.”
Faced with such harsh criticism, even Wilhart could not maintain a composed expression as he mused about history.
“Enough, you uncultured brutes who understand not the romance of history…”
Reluctantly, he lowered his foot from the wooden box.
“Just because we could enter the castle without incident, don’t be overly complacent.”
“Ah, you strike a painful point.”
The students of the Royal Spada Academy had arrived at Ischia Castle slightly ahead of schedule, just before dusk.
What Simon referred to as “without incident” is precisely true; despite marching through the dungeon, they hadn’t faced a single monster attack.
Sometimes, humanoid monsters like goblins and orcs can inhabit the castle, and during past outdoor exercises in the Ischia Hills, there had been several pseudo-siege battles to sweep out monsters barricading the entrance before entering.
“I just hope nothing got stirred up yesterday, but the absence of anything here is oddly unsettling.”
“Indeed, it’s strange that not a single centaur shadow is visible, even if there weren’t any attacks.”
The monsters most commonly found on the scenic hills of the Ischia Hills are centaurs, half-human, half-beast creatures with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse.
Adventurers who step into this dungeon usually encounter these monsters first, though it’s possible they may even find them first.
The sight of centaurs hunting a flock of silent sheep with their favored bows is not too rare around here.
“However, in the past, there have been instances when they encountered not a single monster until the third day, so the possibility of just dumb luck this time remains.”
“That’s true; for now, it depends on tomorrow’s scouting—”
At that moment, they heard footsteps running toward them, including the protective maid Celia, and instinctively turned their gaze in that direction.
The one who appeared was a boy clad in light armor, one of the knight apprentices belonging to Wil’s direct squad.
“Excuse me, Prince Wilhart—”
“I told you to call me Your Excellency now!”
“Ah, don’t worry about it, go on.”
With a wry smile, Simon poked Wilhart’s side with the rifle’s stock, who had theatrically spun his red cape.
The brown-haired knight apprentice, though showing a bewildered expression, continued to report.
“The establishment of the command center has been completed, I will guide you.”
“Very well, then I shall rely on you, my knight Eddie.”
“Huh?”
Wilhart’s response was quite a reasonable one, yet the knight apprentice displayed an expression of surprise without trying to hide it.
“I thought I had the name Eddie correct?”
“Y-yes, you did, but I didn’t think you would remember my name—”
“What general doesn’t remember the names of their subordinates? In my gray matter, I have memorized the faces and names of all three hundred participants in this outdoor exercise overnight!”
“Ha ha ha!” Wilhart boasted with his usual high laughter, but this time it was rare for him to have something truly to brag about.
“Well, shall we go?”
“Yes, Prince Wilhart—Your Excellency.”
“Indeed!”
As Wilhart began to walk forward, led by Eddie, he seemed in a good mood, almost ready to hum a tune from being called Your Excellency.
However, having witnessed a side of his friend’s genuinely respectable talent, Simon merely broke into a charming smile, giving it no further thought.
On the 20th of the platinum moon, it is the same day as Chapter 272, “Strength Enhancement!” where Chrono is visited by Nel while practicing magic. The setup shows that while Nero is having fun with his companions, his sister is engaging in even more enjoyable activities.