Brand finally managed to compose himself, but when he looked up again, he couldn't help but be slightly startled because he saw Count Bari standing in front of him:

This guy, what does he want?

"Mr. Brand, is it?" Count Violet put away his smile and asked seriously.

"What is it?" Brand replied, moodily.

"Although we have different opinions, our positions seem to be aligned. At least I can be sure that you're not on the opposing side, right?" Without waiting for Brand to answer, Count Violet continued, "Of course, we each intend to revive the kingdom with our own methods, but there's no need for hostility between us. I admit Mr. Macaro's approach is somewhat extreme, but after all, he is just a mortal."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Would you be willing to join us? Instead of complaining, why not put it into practice? I hope to see excellent young people like you in our camp," Earl Bari sincerely invited, as if he had completely forgotten the previous unpleasantness.

This suits your usual style, Brand thought. But he shook his head, thinking that it was nonsense. If not for being on almost the same side, would they still be standing here talking? With his Gingko Leaf and Alorz's assistance, it would only take a moment to keep this army— But Brand did not want to push things to the extreme. He had already taught Macaro and Liwu a lesson with matters involving Qian and Sanfde, but any further action would lead to inevitable conflict. Brand was not a reckless youth blind to the situation; he knew if he detained Duke Lune's army, Princess Anlek's forces might pose a danger to Frey and beyond.

Since the other side wisely refrained from further complications over the Golden Apple, he was reluctant to bring it up, but joining them?

What a joke.

Brand looked at the Earl, for whom he still had a bit of goodwill, shook his head, and replied coldly, "No," he refused decisively, but his next words made Earl Bari slightly stunned: "You'll see me very soon, trust me, but not here, and not in the way you wish—"

Count Violet listened with a complex expression, then gazed deeply at Brand.

"We'll see." he replied.

*********

The real battle was concluded by upper-year knight students under the leadership of the preparatory-year officers. By the time Frey and the other lower-year students arrived, they were only left with the task of clearing the battlefield. Like everyone else, Frey saw the carriage looking like a porcupine surrounded by silver-armored knights from a distance in the central avenue of the forest— A number of corpses lay around the knights, yet they still refused to let anyone near the carriage and insisted on tending to the wounds of their deceased and companions.

Thus, the battlefield was distinctly divided into two colors— silver and purple, with neither side interfering with the other. The avenue was filled with corpses, just as the forest was, and now and then a piercing wail or the shocked scream of a noble daughter or son rang out— In fact, the upper-year students had deliberately left many severely injured individuals on the battlefield, leaving the job of turning them into cold, lifeless bodies to the new students.

Many were so horrified they couldn't bring themselves to do it, some even vomiting from disgust. But young people like Frey, who had been promoted from the Guard Team and Militia, coped much better; she merely guessed the identity of the person in the carriage and then focused on her task. Count Bekeberg's second son, with a pale face, had already vomited all he could and now could only dry heave pathetically.

He leaned against a spruce, admiringly watching Frey's efficient work, thinking she truly was a girl with character.

"...Do you know who that is?" he gasped.

"What?" Frey looked back, slightly puzzled.

"The carriage."

The girl from Buqi countryside looked at the carriage in confusion, her bright eyes revealing her innocence; she shook her head.

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