Episode 59
Andrei stepped into the special compartment.
As an associate professor at Valhalla, his presence prompted Diego and Aster to stand up.
“Hello, Professor.”
Zeke, however, remained seated and asked Andrei directly.
“What brings you here?”
Andrei set his bag down and took a seat across from Zeke.
“I’m here on assignment.”
“Are you joining us on the Black Night mission?”
“Yes. We wouldn’t send students alone on a mission to subdue a continental threat.”
Andrei held the rank of a mid-level Draker knight, a position that would easily qualify him as a deputy commander in most knight orders.
Crossing his legs, Andrei looked at Zeke and asked, “Do you know what Delphoa is like?”
Zeke knew well enough from his studies, though he hadn’t visited in this life, so he shook his head.
“I only know what I’ve learned in class. I heard it’s a place where mages hold the power.”
Andrei nodded. “Yes, it’s a place with a rather unique system.”
Aster, who had been listening, chimed in. “Professor, usually knights form the front line and mages provide support from behind, right? Is it the opposite in Delphoa?”
Andrei turned to Aster. “That’s a good question. But no, it’s not the opposite.”
“So, knights still lead the charge?”
“Yes, but Delphoa’s knights primarily use shields. They push the enemy back with their shields, allowing battle mages to attack from a distance.”
Aster frowned. “Doesn’t that mean the allies close to the enemy take a lot of damage?”
“Sharp observation, Cadet Aster.”
Andrei’s expression softened, indicating his growing fondness for Aster.
“That’s why Delphoa’s knights train more with shields than swords, running across the battlefield.”
This was why Delphoa’s knight order wasn’t popular among Valhalla graduates. They were essentially a protective wall for the mages.
Diego, listening in, chuckled. “Isn’t running around with a shield something regular soldiers could do?”
Zeke clicked his tongue. “Regular soldiers can’t run around in heavy armor and shields in the chaos of battle. To buy time for mages to prepare their spells and retreat when necessary, you need at least the training of a proper knight.”
Andrei nodded in agreement. “Exactly. I mentioned this so you won’t be too shocked when you get to Delphoa.”
Zeke understood Andrei’s warning all too well.
‘Those Delphoa mages are insufferably arrogant.’
Delphoa mages, proud of their nation’s magical heritage, were known for their strong egos. Many renowned battle mages hailed from Delphoa, more so than from the Magic Tower or Nirvana. As a result, they were well-versed in combat magic and had a solid system in place. However, they often regarded knights as little more than expendable pawns, mere bodyguards until they could cast their spells.
Eighty percent of knights who left Delphoa’s order did so due to conflicts with mages, and the remaining twenty percent left because of harassment. It was a predictable outcome.
But Andrei’s warning didn’t quite resonate with Diego and Aster. Zeke watched them, shaking his head internally.
‘Just wait until you experience it. It’ll be a cultural shock.’
“Are you the Valhalla delegation?”
A large man with a beard greeted Zeke’s group at Delphoa’s central station.
He extended a hand to Andrei with an air of arrogance.
“I’m Jorge Outer, captain of Delphoa’s 8th Knight Order.”
Andrei, as the leader, shook hands with Jorge.
“I’m Andrei Draker, an associate professor at Valhalla.”
Jorge was taken aback to learn that a Draker had been sent, and he clasped Andrei’s hand with his other hand in surprise.
“I didn’t realize the Draker family had sent someone directly.”
Andrei shook his head. “I’m here as the students’ chaperone for this mission.”
The bearded man glanced at Zeke, Diego, and Aster, his expression betraying disappointment at their youthful appearance.
Sensing Jorge’s thoughts, Andrei spoke up. “These cadets are among the best at Valhalla. They won’t hinder the mission.”
Jorge masked his skepticism and led Andrei’s group onward. “This way, please. The commander is waiting.”
Diego tilted his head in confusion. “Commander? Didn’t that bearded guy say he was the captain?”
Though he whispered, Zeke nudged him. “Just stay quiet, Diego.”
Diego was oblivious to the situation.
Outside the station, a lavish carriage awaited. As Jorge approached, a window rolled down, revealing a pale man with sharp eyes who scrutinized Andrei and the group without a word. After giving Jorge some instructions, he closed the window, and the carriage departed.
Diego nudged Zeke. “Is that the mage commander?”
Zeke nodded.
With the mage commander gone, Jorge led them to a less impressive carriage. Despite its plainness, Andrei and the group boarded without complaint.
As the carriage set off, Diego couldn’t hold back any longer. “What the heck! I don’t expect special treatment just because we’re Valhalla students, but this is too much! We’re here on a cooperative mission!”
Zeke kicked Diego’s shin. “Ow! Why aren’t you or Professor Andrei saying anything, Zeke?”
Zeke looked at Diego. “Didn’t you hear what the professor said? Delphoa’s just like that. At least the commander came out to see us because we’re from Valhalla. If it were any other knights, they wouldn’t have bothered.”
Andrei nodded in agreement. “You’ll encounter many unexpected situations when you become knights in the central continent. Delphoa is quite different from Midland cities, so take note of what you see and learn here.”
He glanced at Zeke, the youngest among them, who seemed to understand Delphoa’s atmosphere well.
‘Zeke Draker. Even up close, he’s still a mystery. Truly an enigma.’
Andrei had been able to learn from Duke after listening to Zeke’s advice, which had piqued his curiosity and admiration for the young man. He wanted to witness Zeke’s incredible growth firsthand, which was why he volunteered to lead this mission, though he wasn’t fully aware of his motivations.
The carriage traveled for a long time, eventually reaching the outskirts of Delphoa.
Upon disembarking, they found themselves in what appeared to be a military camp, with unique training equipment designed primarily for combat magic.
“This way, please.”
Jorge led them into the camp, where Valhalla students were given facilities typically used by regular soldiers, while Andrei was provided with a private room.
‘Looks like they prepared this in a hurry.’
It seemed they hadn’t expected a formal Draker knight to accompany them, as one of the knight quarters had been hastily vacated.
Diego lay on a worn-out cot, grumbling, while Aster, looking sleep-deprived, stared blankly.
Having experienced worse in his past life as a wandering mercenary, Zeke was unfazed by the accommodations. His main concern was the Black Night mission itself.
‘That Black Night guy survived long enough to reach the northern continent, if I remember correctly.’
In his past life, Zeke had been busy as a hitman in the south during this time. Even after dismantling the McCain cartel and moving to the central continent, he occasionally heard news about Black Night, suggesting the target had survived this mission.
Recalling the mage commander’s attitude at the station, Zeke thought it might be inevitable.
‘As long as we don’t get ambushed, we’ll be lucky.’
However, since Zeke had applied for early graduation in this life, he wasn’t sure how things might have changed. He’d have to face it head-on.
Just then, Andrei entered. “They’re holding a briefing in the situation room. Let’s go.”
Under Andrei’s guidance, Zeke and the group headed to the situation room, where a magical projection displayed the area where Black Night had set up camp.
Zeke clicked his tongue at the expensive magical equipment. ‘They sure spent a lot on this.’
Mages discussed strategies and tactics while Jorge and the knights stood by, focusing on when and where to use their shields to drive the enemy back.
The wizard with the beady eyes, whom they had seen earlier in the carriage, gestured arrogantly for Zeke and his companions to approach.
As they drew near, he spoke in a voice as unpleasant as his appearance suggested. “There’s nothing much for you to do on the Valhalla side. Don’t get yourself injured by meddling with magic and causing trouble. Just stay quiet and head back.”
Zeke and his group almost blurted out, “Then why did you ask for our cooperation?” but they held their tongues.
At the same time, Zeke quickly realized from the wizard leader’s words that their organizational structure was a mess.
‘It seems there aren’t even any knights of the Purple rank here. Maybe just Jorge, the leader.’
The absence of any Blue-ranked knights was absurd, but considering it was the 8th Knight Order, it seemed more like a supplementary force rather than an official Delphoa knight order.
Just then, the wizard leader turned his head and caught sight of the black gloves Zeke was wearing, visibly startled.
He stood up and addressed Zeke. “Could it be that you’re a pureblood awakener of the Draker line?”
Zeke looked at the leader and replied, “Yes, but is there a problem?”
The wizard leader’s expression twisted at Zeke’s tone. In Delphoa, it was unheard of for a knight to speak to a wizard in such a manner.
But Zeke was no ordinary knight. The leader gritted his teeth and said, ”…It would be wise not to take off those gloves here if you want to complete your mission and return safely.”
Pureblood awakeners of the Draker line had the power to disrupt magic, which naturally didn’t sit well with wizards.
‘Touchy, aren’t they,’ Zeke thought, choosing not to respond and letting the matter drop.
After some time, the briefing in the situation room concluded, and everyone began to disperse. Zeke and his group were to wait in the barracks until their mission at dawn the next day.
As they were about to head back to the barracks, someone approached Zeke, calling his name.
“Zeke!”
Turning around, he was surprised to see a familiar face.
“Professor Feynan?”
He wondered why someone who had moved to the Delphoa Royal Institute of Magic was in such a remote military outpost.
“Zeke, it’s been so long! How have you been?”
“I’ve been well. But what brings you here, Professor?”
Feynan gave an awkward smile.
Zeke had a hunch without needing to hear it.
‘Seems like he lost out in the power struggle.’
For wizards, aligning with the right people was crucial for advancement. But Feynan was a born scholar, unlikely to have survived the cutthroat political battles of Delphoa.
“Zeke, just a moment.”
Feynan pulled Zeke aside, leading him somewhere more private.
“What is it, Professor?”
With a grave expression, Feynan spoke to him. “Zeke, about tomorrow’s mission. You mustn’t go.”
“What do you mean?”
Feynan whispered with a hardened face, “This mission… it’s set up to fail. So, whatever you do, don’t go.”