"It’s nothing special, but help yourself."Not the reception room inside the Cube…… but my room.I served refreshments for Elena, who had come all the way here.Even if all I had to offer were hard preserved-food cookies and black tea brewed from teabags."What do you mean, this is perfectly wonderful for the jungle. You must have packed extra ingredients, right?""Well, yeah."I shrugged and asked Elena, who was sipping her tea."What kind of nerve did you come here with all by yourself? Are you not afraid?"Elena had come alone to my base without even a single guard in tow.Without exaggeration, it was something you could only call having a lot of guts.But Elena just shrugged like it was nothing special."Come on, as if you’d actually attack me, Loen. I came because I trust you.""It’s not like I can’t attack you."If I took Elena down here, victory in this faction war would be guaranteed.She had come all the way here by herself without a single escort, so no matter how strong Elena was, she wouldn’t be escaping here unscathed.But even at my warning, Elena only kept smiling brightly, showing no sign of tension at all.She clearly seemed convinced I wouldn’t attack.'……This is annoyingly unsettling.'It was true I had no intention of attacking right now, but the fact that she had read that intention didn’t sit well with me.Well, it was just that the damage from getting on Elena’s bad side would be bigger than the profit from removing her here and taking first place in the faction war.It wasn’t because I was nice that I was leaving her alone."You’re not going to attack me after all. Don’t try to scare me for nothing.""……."I downed some cold water and asked."So, why did you come all the way out here?""I didn’t really have anything to do anyway, so I just came to take a look around. My faction grows on its own even without me.""……."What a deceiver."Since I had time, I came to see how you’d set things up and were living, Loen. And this place is amazing? It’s smaller than our base, but you’ve even got air conditioning. The layout’s efficient too.""If you want, I’ll take you in under my command. I’ll treat you lavishly. Give you tasty meals and even install cooling for you."At my joking offer, Elena let out a small laugh and shook her head."I appreciate the offer, but I can’t. There are too many people who surrendered believing in me. I can’t guarantee their scores."That sounded like she was declaring she would absolutely seize first place.In the end, we couldn’t avoid a fight.Elena emptied her teacup and parted her lips."Loen, you’re going to take care of the other factions first and then challenge me anyway, right?""Yeah. It’s hard to hit your faction right away."There was about a tenfold difference between Elena’s faction and mine.Our team, including subordinates, barely numbered a bit over fifty, but Elena was already nearing five hundred."I see. Then it’s not much in return for being treated to delicious food, but I won’t interfere in the battles until then.""Hooh, really?"I widened my eyes and asked back.She was saying she wouldn’t interfere until I had cleaned up and absorbed the other factions. That was incredible news.Honestly, when people of roughly equal level were fighting life and death battles, having the strongest barging in out of nowhere was a massive headache."Yes, not that I’m going to help you either, though. Instead, you absolutely have to survive and come challenge me.""Of course. I’ll have my blade sharpened and be waiting.""Oh my, are you planning to cut my neck?""It’s just an expression."Elena let out a small laugh and stood up. Even then, she kept eyeing the refreshments."Ah, can I pack some to take back for the road? I want to give Adler some too.""Sure."Food obtainable on this island alone wouldn’t be enough.The jungle island’s ecosystem had abruptly had seven thousand or so outsiders injected into it.With ordinary hunting and gathering, there was no way to handle the food problem.There was food that Union had scattered around the island, but at the end of the day, that was preserved rations, so it probably didn’t taste very good."Thank you. And um, you couldn’t lend me the air conditioner, right? I’d like to use it for about a week.""Of course not."That air conditioner was playing far too big a role in our faction."Then at least the temperature-and-humidity control artifact you’re wearing……""Quit spouting nonsense and get out."And thus Elena’s visit came to an end.***That evening. Noble Alliance camp.A single letter arrived at the Noble Alliance camp.[The day after tomorrow at noon, I will come to declare war. - Loen Dvralis]Esetra Lorvaker, representative of the jungle island Noble Alliance team, snorted and crumpled the letter."Declare war, my foot. Who’s going to fight him head-on like that?""If it’s the day after tomorrow at noon, it’d be better to hit them before that. Aim for their opening."Another member of the Noble Alliance, Yurkov Westcott, added from the side."Yeah, we have to attack before that bastard can get ready. Tomorrow night sounds good. If it’s that sly bastard Loen, he’ll say ‘the day after tomorrow at noon’ and then move earlier than that.""It’d be best to read his moves in advance and take the initiative. This time we absolutely have to break his nose.""Exactly, thanks to Meyer losing to that bastard, we look ridiculous now. And on top of that, that bitch Hildegard went and crawled under Loen. It’s a disgrace to nobles, a disgrace."Crack—.Esetra clenched her fist and recalled that bastard Loen from back when he had come to study abroad in the Empire.The bastard who strutted around the entire intermediate school, acting like the center of the world.If only for the sake of avenging the animals sacrificed in his experiments, she absolutely had to land a solid blow on him."We definitely have to get payback on that guy. You feel the same, right?"At Esetra’s question, Yurkov also nodded."Yes, I can’t let Loen, who harassed my fiancée, go unpunished."Most of the Noble Alliance members each had one or two grudges against Loen.The fact that Meyer and Hildegard didn’t hold much ill will toward him was what was unusual.Those two might react lukewarmly, but the other allies were different.So long as they could land one punch on that bastard, they were willing to endure just about any amount of trouble.This faction war was the perfect opportunity to break his pride."Let’s get a plan to wreck him ready in advance."So the two leaders of the Noble Alliance spent hours staring at the map and planning the upcoming battle.All in order to completely crush Loen’s faction.And that night.A report from one subordinate came to Esetra as she slept soundly."L-Lady Esetra, there’s big trouble!""Hrrng? What’s going on?"As she rubbed her eyes, having just been dragged out of deep sleep, came a report that was hard to believe."Loen is currently attacking Teon’s faction!"***Late at night. Teon’s camp.Teon’s camp was filled with blazing torches, the clashing of weapons, and the screams and shouts of students."S-stop them!""How are we supposed to stop that?!"Boom—!"Uwaaaah!"With the sound of a barrier being smashed, students went flying off into the distance.It was a night raid they had never anticipated.The combat personnel of Teon’s side, jolted awake from sleep, were hurriedly thrown into the battlefield, but there was no one who could stop Ciel’s advance.Vwoooom—.An overwhelming flow of mana poured out of Ciel.Right now Ciel was in a strengthened state thanks to the [Blessing] Hildegard had temporarily bestowed on her."Die!"Champions from Ishtal charged in to stop her.Thwack—."Guh."But they either coughed out a dry wheeze and went flying from a single punch from Ciel.Creak—."M-my, my sword’s crumpling!"Or they lost their fighting spirit as they experienced unbelievable things like their swords turning into scrap metal under Ciel’s grip strength."Thunder Bolt!"Flash—.An attack from the few mages among Teon’s team, which was mostly swordsmen.If it was a magic attack rather than physical damage, it might have worked even on Ciel, but.Poof—."Huh?"The magic attacks were also blocked by the magic barrier Hildegard had cast and came to nothing.Ciel smashed everything in front of her like a wrecking tank and pushed forward smoothly.To stop her, every skilled fighter in Teon’s team finally stepped out.They were Freya’s subordinates belonging to Ishtal’s Steel Knight Order.Sring—.They drew their swords and, in a well-organized formation, blocked Ciel’s path."……."Even Ciel, who had been smashing everything in her way and advancing until now, had no choice but to stop before them.Unlike the rabble she had been mowing down up to now, they were quite tricky opponents.When Ciel stopped moving forward and stood in place, Teon shouted at her."How could you do something so underhanded! How can you form an alliance and then launch a night raid in the middle of the night!"Teon’s side had never even envisioned something like what was happening today.For one, Loen’s side had already declared war on the Noble Alliance, and on paper, Loen and Teon’s team were in an alliance.At Teon’s shout, Ciel opened her mouth."These are Sir Loen’s words. Ahem."Ciel cleared her throat, readying her voice to imitate Loen’s manner of speaking, and then spoke again."For someone who’s been colluding with the Noble Alliance behind our backs, you sure have a long tongue. If you have even the bare minimum of conscience left, you can’t blame me, is what he said.""……!"Teon quietly ground their teeth and thought to themself.'He already knew everything?'But the water had already been spilled. At times like this, all you could do was brazen it out.If Teon panicked, their subordinates would waver.Teon steadied their mind and spoke to Ciel."It was a despicable act, I admit that. But even so, nothing changes. You should surrender, Miss Ciel. Even if you are strong, you can’t defeat us all with just a detached unit."Even though they had suffered a night raid, there was an overwhelming difference in forces between the two sides.Loen’s detached force that had launched the night raid numbered barely ten.In contrast, Teon’s camp still had over thirty fighting members.Even if more than half of that force was staggering after being pounded by Ciel, that was."And soon, reinforcements from the Noble Alliance will arrive. We’ll join with them and launch a counterattack right away, so you have no chance of winning."Ciel listened quietly to Teon’s words, then opened her mouth again."These are Sir Loen’s continued words. Ahem."After clearing her throat, Ciel continued."Of course, the Noble Alliance will hear the news that you’re under attack and rush straight here. ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Whether they’ll really be reinforcements, though…… that I’m not so sure of, is what he said.""……!"For a moment, Teon felt as if lightning had struck their head.'Loen’s right. Expecting the Noble Alliance to send reinforcements and help us is a naïve thought.'It was far more likely that they would seize the opportunity created by the night raid breaking our forces, devour our team members, and steal our Cubes.They’d profit much more that way.On top of that, if you considered the character of Esetra, leader of the Noble Alliance, that option seemed even more plausible.She had been the one to push for the despicable plan to stab Loen in the back in the first place."What are you talking about! We’re allies with them!"One of the comrades shouted, but it was a cry with little substance.Alliances in name only were flimsy things.Once Teon’s thoughts reached that point, Teon ground their teeth."Dammit."Seeing Teon’s reaction, Ciel drove the wedge in."What you’re thinking is probably right. Teon’s team will most likely be shattered to pieces tonight. By the very people you trusted.""…….""Here are Sir Loen’s words."Ciel cleared her throat again and spoke."How about surrendering to us instead? Rather than the side that will try to snatch up the spoils like a pack of wolves by exploiting your misfortune, isn’t it better to side with the one who wisely made the first move before you could stab us in the back? You can use it to wipe away your sense of debt for trying to deceive me, too, is what he said.""…….""And Sir Loen also said that the Noble Alliance will soon destroy itself.""What does that mean?"At Teon’s question, Ciel answered with a smile."Because Sir Loen is currently heading to the Noble Alliance’s food stores with a detached unit."That was right.Ciel’s detached unit’s night raid on Teon’s side was a feint meant to lure the main force of the Noble Alliance here.Loen’s true objective had originally been somewhere else.

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