Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Chapter 66- The last option?

It was another day for Harold in the academy as a professor.

He was currently in charge of third-year students, his main subject remains beast anatomy.

Well, he applied for a physical training educator; however, considering his not-so-friendly fighting style, the board decided that he would be too much for the young children. And in the end, he was told to stick to books.

Harold used to work as an Executioner, a post given to a hunter whose sole job was to hunt and kill his prey. There are porters, warriors, tanks, supporters, healers, and the least desirable job: executioner.

Harold has spilled tons of blood from his enemies in the past. He was only told to hunt beasts and demons who loitered around the nation; however, at one point, his craving for blood elevated so much that he ended up intruding into the Cursed Realm.

A world on the other side of the Riftline.

He wanted to kill and kill, as such, rather than searching for one or two prey, he chose to jump into the den of demons.

…he barely managed to return alive. It was not a place, it was a literal hell.

Dark red skies, suffocating thick and heavy air, and a world devoted to chaos.

It was thanks to the Union Council that pulled him away from there or Harold was dead that day.

Then, the Union Council ordered him to serve the Academy for a few years as a punishment….and once Harold began his journey as a teacher, he stopped seeking the same bloody path he once loved to tread.

“Morning, Professor.” One of the early waking students, the vice-president of the student council, Sheldon Runebound, greeted him.

“Good morning, Sheldon. I can see that you are following your routine as always.” He was one of the very few students in the academy who seemed more mature than his age and had a definite life goal.

Someone who thrives to become the best.

“Discipline is one of the most basic necessary traits for a student.” He responded; his face not revealing any emotion.

Harold nodded, “Continue then.”

Sheldon nodded before he resumed his jogging.

The vice headmaster had woken up a little earlier than usual, so he was just casually patrolling around the school.

Unexpectedly, he found a pair of students, so early training as well.

“Hmm?” It was Valerie and Austin; currently engaged in a non-typical routine of training.

Valerie’s eyes were covered with a blindfold, while Austin moved around the ground, trying to close in without letting her notice

Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t.

Harold frowned; an S-rank is having trouble tracing a being who was purposely radiating his Soul energy(Austin was wielding his Shard)?

“Ah, Professor Harold.” Austin noticed the man standing nearby, so he called out.

Valerie lifted the blindfold before greeting him, “Good morning, sir.”

Harold gave a short nod before asking, “What you two were doing just now?” Although he guessed it, he needed confirmation.

And as he expected, “I was helping Valerie train her senses.”

Harold’s brows knitted in a tight frown, “Valerie? Did you not give a rank evaluation test before assuming your rank?”

The violet-haired’s expression turned a little solemn, while Austin visibly frowned in displeasure.

After a brief pause, she responded, “Their testing method is flawed and doesn’t evaluate all the attributes of a warrior. I overwhelmed the parameters with my strength and magic control.”

Harold received his answer, “That is correct. I apologize for doubting you.” Heaving a sigh, he added, “Don’t you have a better way of training? Austin has adopted a good method, but that’s not how you train your basics.”

Austin raised his brows, “But I thought sensing the source of Soul Energy should be the basic?”

Harold shook his head, “The most basic level of observation requires you to listen to your opponent’s movements. Their footsteps, and if that’s not it, you need to hear their breathing, their heartbeat.”

Valerie and Austin were amazed as the latter asked, “Is that even possible? And in the first place, is it required?”

Harold chuckled, a very rare laugh escaping his throat, as he enlightened the duo, “If you don’t know, seventy percent of assassins and mercenaries are non-awakened. Why? Well, because most of the time they are told to hunt those who can sense Soul Energy clearly or have a tool for that. That’s why there is a demand for non-awakened hunters in the market.”

Austin slowly nodded, acknowledging that what he was saying, made sense.

Harold folded his arms on his chest before relaying, “I have a perfect tool to help you, Valerie, in my storage. An artifact I once won in a bet that allows one to sharpen their observation skill.”

For some amusing reasons, more than Valerie, Austin seemed excited as he said, “Is that so? Can we get that?”

Harold smiled fondly, “Yes, I can lend you that. However, don’t let anyone find out that it was me who gave you the artifact.”

Austin nodded, “Thank you, sir.”

———**——–

[Capital of Eryndor]

“The situation is getting severe.” The Prime Minister voiced as he sat on the round table along with the other ministers.

The situation of Drenovar was getting serious; recently five spies were caught snooping around in Eryndor. Although they killed themselves before the authorities could have taken them for interrogation, it was pretty much evident which country would have sent spies to Eryndor so aggressively.

Cedric had a frown on his face as he looked at the map of the Capital; there were four main entrances, and the guards of the front entrance were slaughtered, possibly by the five assassins.

This was not an attempt to spy on them since if spying had been the motive, they wouldn’t have slaughtered seventeen top-ranking soldiers in the first place.

It was an announcement that Drenovar could enter Eryndor anytime and annihilate them on will.

“Father, I think we should send forces in retaliation.” The First Prince of the nation voiced with a serious look on his face.

The Captain of the Imperial Legion agreed, “Indeed, we must portray that we are not weak, Your Majesty. I am in support of what Your Highness just suggested.”

Cedric heaved a sigh, before telling them, “Direct retaliation means we have accepted their challenge and are ready for a war.”

“But what’s the problem with that? We can’t just let them send forces one after another and lose our people’s faith.” When Aiden said that, several heads turned towards each other; muttering and nodding in assent.

From their perspective, it would be disastrous if the civilians lost their faith in the government and decided to migrate.

However, only the Prime Minister and the King know the actual problem here.

Eryndor was not prepared to face Drenovar in battle unless they received support from any of the three major countries.

Their army supplies and human resources were limited and comparatively very little.

And under such circumstances, it would be like harming oneself to retain one’s pride.

Aiden narrowed his eyes and said, “If the number of soldiers is a problem, then we can ask non-militant entities to fight for their nation.”

That statement gained many confused looks as the Chief Advisor asked, “What do you mean, Prince? Are we talking about forced recruitment of the general masses?” There have been several cases when some nations recruited civilians into the military during a war.

However, Aiden had a different opinion, “That would be a little too much for them…after all, the general masses are completely unrelated to military works.”

Turning his gaze towards the Supreme Authority, the silver-haired added, “However, it won’t be unfair to ask those who are aiming to become warriors in the future. For example, the students of the Academy?”

“…!” Several eyes widened in realization, and the Prime Minister was stunned at the suggestion too.

Surely, those who have been admitted to the academy are aiming to become a renowned warrior in the future, however, they still were kids.

The Prime Minister—Oakdine Arthur, couldn’t help but glance at His Majesty and think, ‘What will you do, Your Majesty…’ As the Prime Minister, he had the authority to say something here, however, considering how many ministers seemed convinced by Aiden’s idea, he left the burden on the King.

And as Arthur wished, “We cannot push young children to bear the burden of a war. True, they are preparing to become a warrior in the future, but not all of them wish to fight on the frontline.”

Looking at Aiden, Cedric clearly stated, “So no, we are not going to recruit any students for this war.”

Aiden lowered his head, seemingly accepting whatever his father wished; however, under the table, his nails dug into his flesh as he clenched his fist in agitation.

Fuck!

Cedric intertwined his fingers on the table as he thought,

‘This is concerning…I might have to..ugh…’

“Your Majesty?” The Prime Minister rose from his seat seeing the King clutching his chest

However, Cedric shook his head and said, “I am fine…”