Chapter 78: Live Combat Practice

"Ho. So they’re the famous Nobless Academy, are they?"

We were gathered in the central square of Bruno, surrounded by a sea of adventurers. It seemed the soldiers were assembling under a different set of commanders. Trying to force two different command structures to coordinate on short notice usually ends in disaster, so they were likely keeping us separate for efficiency.

Standing before us now was a man with a physique every bit as imposing as Darius’s. He had closely cropped hair and a rough patch of stubble.

I recognized him from the Original Story. This was Boldic, an A-class Adventurer who also handled the administration for the Adventurer’s Guild. I’d expected nothing but small fry to be here, but having him around was going to make my life a lot easier.

Boldic stomped over to me, his presence heavy.

"So, you’re Weiss Fancent. I’ve heard the rumors."

"I’m honored," I replied, my tone dry. "But more importantly, do we really have time to stand around chatting?"

I was a noble, sure, but this guy held a position of significant power. I didn't bother with formal honorifics. Right now, I was here as an adventurer, and so was he.

"I know exactly when they'll arrive," he grunted. "I just wanted to get a feel for our combat strength first."

The elite adventurers—Teacher Milk included—could gauge a person’s mana just by focusing their eyes.

"Well? Did you see enough? Like I told the guys earlier, we are moving as a separate unit. We’ve already got ourselves a damn good commander."

I jerked my chin toward Cecil, giving Boldic a pointed look. In the end, we had decided that the Noblesse group would operate independently. We would be on the same front, but our chain of command was our own. Everyone had agreed—including Allen and Olynn.

It spoke volumes about how much they trusted Cecil. It was probably a huge blow to the Adventurer’s Guild’s pride to have a bunch of students acting on their own, but frankly, I didn't give a damn. Being a noble had to come with some perks, and getting to ignore the bureaucracy was one of them.

But then—

"So, that’s Cecil Antwerp, is it?"

For some reason, Boldic let out a dark smirk. Before I could process why, he called her over. What is this guy planning?

"Cecil, girl, I’ve got a favor to ask."

"Yes? What is it?" she asked, tilting her head.

"I want you to take over the command for me."

"…Pardon?"

What the hell is he talking about? Cecil was still just a C-class Adventurer. Sure, she was famous in Battle Universe, but to be handed a responsibility this massive…

"I know what you did during the Calamity," Boldic continued. "Look, I love a good fight, but I’m not exactly a 'strategy' guy. If you’re the one calling the shots, we’ll get better results. Simple as that."

"With all due respect, I don't think anyone here will accept that," Cecil countered.

She wasn't wrong. The square was packed with hot-blooded adventurers. If things went south, they’d be furious about taking orders from someone with a lower rank—and, not to be a realist about the setting, but a girl younger than most of them.

"If anyone complains, I’ll personally crush them," Boldic said with a shrug. "Age, rank, gender—none of that matters. We fight with the best hand we’ve been dealt. That’s the only thing that's important, isn't it?"

I couldn't help but grin. In the Original Story, he was described as a total muscle-brained A-ranker, but clearly, the text hadn't done him justice.

I expected Cecil to turn him down again, but to my absolute shock, she nodded.

"In that case, I will give it my absolute best."

"Hah! I’m counting on you, Cecil! You hear that, you lot?!" Boldic roared, his voice booming across the square. "This is Cecil, the woman with the brains that repelled the Calamity itself! She’s taking over command in my place! Anyone who’s got a problem with that has to answer to my fists! But don't you worry—she’s a student of the Noblesse Magic Academy! And so are Weiss and Allen over here!"

Just as he’d promised, Boldic used every card in his hand without a hint of hesitation. He’d just dragged us into the spotlight. Usually, making a noble the center of attention like this is a recipe for disaster if they get offended, but he didn't seem to care in the slightest.

The adventurers who hadn't recognized us yet suddenly looked a lot more motivated. If the "Noblesse" kids were involved, maybe they actually had a chance of surviving this.

"A-alright! We’re counting on you!"

"Let’s do this! With the soldiers here too, we can win!"

"Let’s go, everyone!"

The soldiers were driven by duty, but for the adventurers, it was all about the gold. Honestly, I preferred that mindset. It was more honest.

"Cecil, are you sure about this?" I whispered.

"About what?"

"If this goes wrong, the blame for everything is going to land squarely on your shoulders."

This wasn't a game. It wasn't a school drill. The old Cecil would have run a mile to avoid this kind of pressure.

But she just gave me a confident, radiant smile. "It’s fine. After all, I can do this better than anyone else."

"…Heh. Fair point."

She wasn't bragging; it was the truth. If Cecil couldn't lead us to victory, nobody could. And if anyone tried to pin a failure on her afterward, I’d just have to kill them myself.

Still, according to the original plot, this country was supposed to be completely overrun. Defeat was the intended outcome. Changing that was just one more way I was rewriting this world. It wasn't going to be easy.

"Cynthia, Lilith—don’t push yourselves too hard. If you think we’re losing, retreat. Even if it means leaving me behind."

"Fufu, do you really think we would ever do that?" Cynthia asked with a light chuckle.

"Even if I’m reduced to nothing but a lingering soul, I will remain by Lord Weiss’s side!" Lilith declared.

Good grief. Their loyalty is as terrifying as ever. Though, knowing Lilith, she probably actually would find a way to haunt me if she died.

We moved out to the West Gate. Naturally, the soldiers took the vanguard. It felt a bit cruel to use them as a shield, but that was their job. We adventurers spread out behind them to the left and right. Our enemies weren't a disciplined army; they were monsters. There was no telling how they’d swarm.

Since the city walls were still under construction, the fortifications were thin in places. Cecil took up a position at the highest vantage point available. Looking at her up there, I couldn't help but chuckle. It felt just like our school exercises.

Gathered here were my team, the Allen Team, and the Cecil Team.

Time to show the world the results of our training.

[[ "Now then, I will be assuming command. I will transmit specific instructions to each of you individually. I look forward to working with you." ]]

Cecil’s voice echoed clearly inside my head. Her ability to identify mana was peerless; she could distinguish every single person’s signature with ease. The other adventurers looked stunned. They’d clearly never experienced high-level telepathic coordination like this before.

Up ahead of us, Boldic looked like he was having the time of his life. His expression actually reminded me a bit of Teacher Milk’s.

Wait. Did this guy only hand over command because he hated the paperwork and just wanted to hit things?

"Hah. Seriously, everyone at the top of this 'Noblesse Oblige' hierarchy is a total battle junkie."

"Whoa, look at that girl!"

"Flight Magic… are those Nobless students for real?"

"Yeah! And if we win this, the payout is gonna be massive!"

High above, Carta was hovering on her staff, waiting for the signal. Just flying was impressive enough, but staying perfectly stationary in mid-air was a feat of mana control she didn't even realize was incredible.

"Nell, won't forget! Debt of food and bed!" Nell shouted nearby, swinging her arms to warm up.

Her rain magic was going to be a lifesaver, even if her social skills were still a work in progress. And for the record, Nell, no one gave you a bed.

A long, heavy silence followed. Just as the tension reached a breaking point, a sound began to vibrate through the soles of my boots. It was a low, guttural rumbling—the sound of the earth itself screaming. Gooooooo. It felt like an approaching earthquake.

Then, Cecil spoke to us.

Everyone steeled themselves. I felt my own pulse quicken. But the moment the monsters crested the horizon, I felt a genuine jolt of shock. I hadn't been underestimating them, but the sheer scale of the horde was breathtaking. A literal wall of monsters stretched out as far as the eye could see, an endless tide of destruction.

"N-no way…"

"How are we supposed to kill that many?"

"You've gotta be kidding me…"

The resolve of the rank-and-file adventurers began to crumble. I could see their shoulders shaking, their faces turning pale with terror. Cecil noticed it too.

In the next instant, a thunderous boom shook the air as a Mana Cannon fired from the sky. It was larger and more powerful than anything I’d ever seen. The beam of pure energy lanced through the air, slamming into the center of the monster vanguard and erupting in a massive explosion.

The adventurers and soldiers all looked up in awe.

The shot had come from Carta. It must have been Cecil’s opening move. Damn, she’s gotten even stronger since the Siren incident. Just like Allen, Carta seemed to find an extra gear when she had people to protect.

Immediately after, the monsters leading the charge suddenly tripped and collapsed into one another. Shari’s pre-placed traps. Seizing the opening, the soldiers surged forward. At the same time, Boldic’s voice rang out—not with an order, but with a roar of pure encouragement.

"Here they come! The bell has rung, boys! Steel your hearts!"

I didn't wait. I lunged forward, leaving the startled adventurers in my wake.

[[ "Do not follow Fancent-kun. He… moves as he pleases." ]]

I had no intention of sitting in the back and waiting for the monsters to come to me. I’d told them I was going to play this my way. And, much to my annoyance, someone else had the exact same idea.

Allen was running right beside me, matching my pace.

"Don't go dying on me, Runner-up," he quipped.

"Worry about your own skin, 'Winner,'" I shot back.

We wove through the ranks of the soldiers like twin streaks of lightning. Together, we reached a massive Cyclops at the front of the pack and sliced it clean in half.

"Gigaaaahhh…!"

"Small fry," I muttered.

Alright. Consider this the dress rehearsal for the Calamity.