Chapter 208 — Preparing to Face the Warriors

1

Daily life returned after the sports festival ended.

Today too, Manus finished his dawn exercise and was about to spend an ordinary day.

As always, though he remains unchanged, he faces numerous changes.

“Huff-! Huff-!”

“Working hard.”

“Since we have to wrestle with warriors now. They’ll be different from small fry.”

Someone had joined the dawn training a few days ago — the blonde young noble Guillermo.

Sweat beaded on his slightly tanned bronze skin.

After the sports festival, Guillermo devoted himself to training day and night.

His desire to become stronger was intense enough to affect others.

That dedication seemed to influence his classmates taking the same courses.

Starting with joint training after classes, a system was gradually forming.

‘Definitely a natural leader. Different from Kael and Anais.’

Unlike the two mages who aimed to accomplish things alone, Guillermo was gradually developing leadership qualities.

Though doing dawn training alone now, who knows how it might change later.

Manus felt satisfied seeing these positive changes.

“By the way, we definitely need frontliners. When Melanie or I get tired, there’s no one to take the front.”

“I’m here too.”

“Too wasteful to use a joker card like that. You have the best firepower.”

“True, but anything can become experience.”

Though capabilities bring more burden, they allow preparation for contingencies.

Manus added those words.

Guillermo nodded readily then asked one thing.

“If you’re right, could I become an offensive card too?”

“Yes. So it’s good to train for contingencies. You might get unexpected insights from it.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind. Oh and.”

Guillermo frowned and looked straight at Manus.

I’m sure I mentioned this…

“Looking forward to the field trip. It’ll be hell. I would have given you that necklace if you asked.”

“…”

Manus still couldn’t forget Professor Jennifer jumping around that day.

And suddenly shouting.

That those who return from the field trip will be much stronger.

Everyone glared at Manus after hearing that.

Even the kind Kael and Melanie.

Honestly nothing to say even with ten mouths.

Manus let out a small sigh.

“Well, I do feel sorry about that. But they won’t completely kill us.”

“Hah… thinking we’ll get stronger gives some strength at least. Not a field trip but endurance training.”

“Well…”

“What are you planning about visiting family during break? Honestly, father and mother won’t welcome you either.”

He had thought about it.

Still, he planned to keep his promise to bring light.

Hearing his story, it somewhat overlapped with his own past.

Manus’s face hardened.

Answering lightly here would displease Guillermo too.

Best not to jump to conclusions without knowing the situation.

“Have to face it. Decided not to run away.”

“…Right. That’s enough.”

Guillermo picked up a barbell saying he’d train more.

Manus also turned to head to the dorm to shower.

Now just finals left before break.

Three main tasks during break.

Visiting Guillermo’s family, the Buckleys.

The academic conference, and going to Caesar with Kael.

‘By the way… how to handle clearing during break.’

It was concerning.

If clearing slowed even slightly, Cantati’s warriors would grow very strong.

Plus it would affect clearing the third underling too.

Though Eresis was quiet now, they would surely appear in early June.

Full-scale activity would begin after that.

The Dire Order was also a problem.

‘Mountain of tasks.’

Though tasks were numerous, time was tight and unity uncertain.

The question was whether to push through at once like in the game, or gather regularly for steady clearing.

He soon set aside his thoughts while pondering.

‘Let’s decide details through meetings.’

This wasn’t a world to live in alone.

Better to put heads together — two better than one, three better than two.

Late May as spring passes.

Time to prepare for new battles.

2

The club room after all classes ended.

Manus gathered everyone for substantial discussion.

Everyone gathered after a long time.

For the first time since defeating Invidea, a meeting was arranged for clearing Ziggurat.

With the busy period of post-sports festival cleanup passed, everyone burned with motivation.

Their eyes showed it, all full of energy.

“During semester we’ll clear mainly on weekends. But unsure about during break.”

“The basic framework should be similar.”

“We can steadily break through with whoever can gather.”

Alano and Nia offered opinions.

Before deciding, Manus asked about everyone’s schedules.

That way they could roughly set schedules.

“Tell me your schedules. We’ll adjust details based on that.”

“Nothing special except briefly visiting family? Ah, need to start preparing thesis soon.”

“I have academic conference observation scheduled.”

Nia and Alano spoke in turn.

Next was Guillermo.

“I have no schedule besides my promise with you.”

“So we can focus clearing in July and August.”

“I have important family matters, so I’ll be completely out for June. Him too.”

Anais raised her hand and spoke.

Anais saying she and Pierson had some important schedule.

Manus nodded.

“Others?”

“I… not really.”

Emerson shook his head and Melanie also had no special schedule.

Kael said she’d stay in the dorm except going to Caesar with Manus himself.

In the original work, she led clearing throughout break too.

“Then in June we’ll clear without Anais and Pierson. You two train hard meanwhile.”

“Yes!”

The two answered simultaneously.

Somehow their expressions seemed to be growing similar but they quickly turned away.

“Need to ask Trace too.”

“I’ll handle him.”

Alano who had been quite close with him from the start volunteered.

Overall organization was complete.

The magic stones from desert warriors were large and high grade.

Most artifacts that dropped were rare too.

The desert was a stage teaching concepts of easy farming and occasional boss battles.

Since 3rd stage farming was impossible, they just needed to break through diligently.

“I’m the biggest problem. Have many places to visit.”

“When you’re gone, can’t Kael or someone else take command?”

“Yes, I won’t worry or disappoint you.”

Manus looked into Kael’s eyes.

She had grown much more reliable than before.

Many things happened over two months.

Now she should be able to handle command.

Actually she might have grown even faster.

In this world without Manus, she had to handle all worries and wounds alone.

‘Still, she must have learned things watching from beside.’

“Right. I’ll trust you with it.”

The meeting ended more simply than expected.

Now the important thing was when to do first clearing.

It was Friday and they happened to have plenty of time left.

Nia stretched and spoke.

She seemed antsy too.

“How about going today to check what we learned after midterms?”

“Good.”

“If not now we’ll be busy with finals prep… sounds good!”

Decision was instant once everyone agreed.

Manus nodded.

“Then, see you in 2 hours. Bring what you need.”

“Yes!”

Everyone stood and disappeared thinking of what to prepare.

The last two remaining, Manus and Kael left together.

Kael had places to visit.

She needed to get what she could from Black and White.

She naturally asked, curious if Senior Manus might know how duels with warriors would proceed.

“Senior, can we use consumables in the desert?”

“We can. But better be careful.”

Because the desert warriors have special algorithms.

Since he planned to speak when everyone gathered, Manus held back.

Kael kept asking with a curious expression.

“Careful meaning… interference when using them?”

“Not that, but there’s something we must know. I’ll explain details in the lobby.”

“Yes, then I’ll go to Black first.”

Manus nodded.

Better to be thorough preparing to fight warriors.

But not too thorough either.

Cantati was in an instructor position training warriors.

He was an Apostle who knew warriors weren’t raised through simple brute methods.

He kept accumulating knowledge during his time in the death space.

‘That’s Cantati’s library.’

Knowledge accumulated over time humans couldn’t approach.

Desert warriors were demons raised based on that knowledge.

They became guardians and sometimes successors to Apostles.

“First battle is important…”

Indeed, better to observe at first.

It was also a chance to check the combat power the group had built up.

Manus had preparations too.

First needed to feed the equipment gathered so far.

Time to start investing in Albion too.

From now he planned to actively feed magic stones.

Warriors’ magic stones were like elixir for familiars.

“This much should do.”

Mana flowed from the belt’s sloshing.

Equipment scattered on the dorm floor.

Mana from the belt wrapped countless equipment.

Like slime decomposing prey, equipment wrapped in mana decomposed and was sucked into the belt.

Seeing it in person was quite impressive.

[Krung?]

Albion too was busy watching the mysterious phenomenon, tilting his head.

The absorption ended quickly.

Though changes weren’t clear yet, this equipment showed its true value at the end.

If fed everything unnecessary from now, it would grow into the strongest armor.

Well then, preparations roughly complete.

After visiting Black and White to gather needed items, they could cross to the desert.

“Let’s go, Albion.”

[Krurung!]

Albion followed behind Manus with a cry.

Sand dust blowing hard as they entered the gap, the other world.

Manus spread mana to keep dust off while looking around.

‘Like… a tower lying down.’

A world unknown what magic was cast, what effects were in place.

Would they know the answer after defeating all twelve Apostles?

Or fall into deeper mire?

“Senior, you came.”

“We’re ready!”

“Like a protagonist, always arriving just in time.”

Companions were waiting.

A scene drawing gentle smiles.

Throwing himself into a vaguely imagined scene, a strange satisfaction welled up.

Yes, this is the world I’m living in.

“Let’s go face the warriors.”

Manus’s cape fluttered, signaling the start of the boss battle.

–TL Notes–
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