【The academy representative participating in this operation must ensure that the academy personnel obey the joint command, and shall bear direct responsibility for the academy's refusal to execute temporary missions.】
This was one of the clauses signed before the operation.
“If you do not wish to send students, that is of course not a problem.”
“However, as an instructor, you would have to personally join the rescue operation and serve as the commander of the main rescue squad.”
Finn instantly understood the other party's goal.
Once he joined this independent squad, the academy would be left without a lead instructor.
The academy would be unable to continue participating in this operation.
They had targeted the exact moment the academy's Dean was absent to completely eliminate the academy's threat from this mission with minimal cost!
They had also calculated that the academy would never throw its students into this rescue operation!
Because any students participating in the rescue would completely leave the academy's jurisdiction.
Finn was momentarily indecisive.
Someone had to go to this rescue team!
If he left the academy's main column to join the rescue team, the academy would have to delay its departure. The other factions would enter the main area first, and the academy would completely miss out on any information regarding the compass.
Furthermore, he would be recorded as having “delayed the academy's main column due to personal judgment.”
This time, they could not refuse the royal family's order!
And right now, the academy's Dean was not here!
Seeing Finn hesitate, Lance smiled faintly. “I know that Instructor Finn is currently undergoing an evaluation for promotion to professor...”
“Don't you need to apply for the next stage of active instructor certification?”
“This incident can serve perfectly as material for your ability evaluation.”
“It's merely delaying the academy's departure by a few days for a rescue. It's nothing major...”
“I'm sure the reasonable Dean won't blame you, and... I will also help you...”
“...achieve your promotion to professor.”
“You're just a good instructor who rushed to the rescue to protect unfamiliar citizens, aren't you?”
Catching the hint of confusion in Finn's eyes, Lance quietly cast his magic.
Soon, countless malicious thoughts and wishful thinking completely overwhelmed Finn, and a faint black mist appeared in his eyes.
‘That's right, I'm just an instructor, I don't have any great power...’
‘It's just delaying the academy's departure for a few days. What's the big deal?’
‘I'm just doing it to save lives...’
Satisfied, Lance deactivated the barrier magic, and the sounds of the outside world flooded back into their ears.
“Anyone who goes will basically be leaving our academy's team, right?”
“Definitely... mainly because there's that Tier 5 monster there. They say it's hibernating, but it's still there...”
“There's absolutely nothing to gain by going!”
The students were still kept in the dark.
To them, this was just a simple assessment of risk versus reward.
If they went, they would face danger without any benefits or rewards.
After all, they weren't saviors.
If they didn't go, nothing would happen.
“Lord Grand Chief Arbiter...”
Looking at the confusion in Finn's eyes, Lance was highly satisfied.
As long as Finn declared that he would represent the academy in this rescue operation, Lance's goal would be achieved.
“Then, I, Finn, shall—”
Just as the corners of Lance's mouth began to curl upward, a voice completely cut Finn off.
“Instructor! I want to go!”
The moment those words were spoken, all eyes gathered on Ain.
Ain's words struck like a bolt of lightning, instantly dispersing the confusion in Finn's eyes.
Only when Finn gradually regained his senses did he ask in a dazed voice,
“What did you say?”
Ain said calmly, “I said, I want to go.”
“I want to join this rescue team.”
Not only Finn, but even the surrounding students were dumbfounded.
They never expected that someone would actually volunteer to jump into this fire pit.
“Did I hear that right...?”
“Wasn't that guy injured yesterday? And by those mercenaries, too...”
“He's still going? Isn't he afraid of getting targeted again...?”
The students whispered among themselves, completely unable to comprehend why anyone would willingly take on such a thankless task.
Finn was also stunned.
If it were Erylin, he could understand.
After all, her personality and strength made sense for it.
But the person volunteering now was Ain.
The triple-threat nobody of a student who had been late, entered through the back door, and possessed zero actual achievements!
Just as Finn was about to criticize what a Tier 1 Mage like him could possibly do, Ain immediately followed up: “Instructor, someone has to do it...”
Lance also hadn't expected someone to jump out at this moment.
“Instructor! Ever since I was a child, I have harbored a dream!”
【Word Spirit: Prayer】
【Current affected targets: All target characters within the unit area】
Ain clenched his right fist, tears streaming down his face.
“When I was young, I was saved by a gentleman dressed as a mage...”
“He told me that to be born human is to leave one's own value in this world!”
“I trained diligently, studying and reflecting night and day, just to get into the Golden Branch Academy!”
“I once swore that I wanted to learn more magic to save more people, just like that gentleman did!”
“Whenever someone falls into the abyss, someone has to pull them out...”
“Instructor! I was born for this very moment!”
Ain swept his right hand out, his gaze burning as he looked at Finn.
“Instructor, I want to save them from their misfortune...”
“Just thinking about them suffering such an undeserved disaster makes me restless!”
“Even if I can only contribute a tiny bit of help, I want to do everything in my power to save them!”
With that, Ain walked up to Lance. Under the Grand Chief Arbiter's astonished gaze, Ain grabbed Lance's hands, weeping as he pleaded, “Lord Grand Chief Arbiter!”
“Please let me participate in this rescue operation!”
Finn instantly snapped out of it. Just as he was about to pull Ain back, he realized the boy was looking at him with an unspeakable, pleading expression.
“Instructor...”
“The academy once taught me...”
“A mage's magic exists for the happiness of others!”
Feeling the sheer power behind Ain's words, the confusion and the dark mist in Finn's eyes gradually dissipated.
【Word Spirit: Prayer】
【Current primary affected target: Finn Valen】
Lance tried to slap Ain's hands away, threatening, “You're that student from yesterday, aren't you...”
“That swordsman named Harrison is also in this rescue team. You had better...”
Ain roared.
“What does that matter!”
“Should personal grudges strip innocent people of their lives?!”
“Lord Grand Chief Arbiter, the distress signal has already been sent! Time is of the essence! How can we delay the operation for such trivial matters?!”
At this moment, Ain appeared in everyone's eyes as a completely selfless, self-sacrificing champion of justice.
But no one noticed that Ain's eyes were actually flashing with special symbols.
Ain's expression right now was like this:
$▽$
Cassandra's forbidden zone was the most mineral-rich area in the original game.
It was an area that would only open up in the late game.
However, precisely because it was inaccessible early on, very few people discovered its secrets.
And the magic clash with Noctis had actually affected that area, perfectly dispersing the chaotic mana currents around it.
An imperial forbidden zone?
The gathering place of the most dangerous monsters?
That means money! Endless money!!!
As long as he could get his hands on a few of the rarest mana crystals in there, he would never be short on money for the rest of his life!
Ain grit his teeth, thinking to himself.
‘Ain, oh Ain, as a man, you must keep your own destiny firmly in your hands!’
‘Erylin actually thinks she can buy me?’
‘Just wait until I get all those mineral crystals! I'll turn around and buy you instead!’
And regarding the distress signal, it was actually a commotion caused by the royal family's Third Princess in the original game.
And the compass just happened to be right there!
Furthermore, Harrison was also in this rescue team.
Everything was falling perfectly into place!
Not only that, but the area in the great rift valley had a huge variety of monsters!
Once he activated his blessing and blasted them with a few spells, wouldn't the dropped mana crystals cover the ground in heaps?
‘Damn, I'm going to be rich!’
Ain could already see countless Corona Gold waving at him.
Hearing Ain's words, Finn clenched his fists, his nose growing warm.
As an instructor, he couldn't even match the resolve of a single student!
Even as a Tier 1 Mage who suffered from a mana-related illness, he was still willing to lend a helping hand to a complete stranger!
Just moments ago, he had almost been blinded by the olive branch Lance had extended!
In Finn's eyes, Ain's image as an angelic figure grew larger and larger.
“Instructor, please leave it to me.”
Looking at Ain's incredibly firm gaze, a wave of self-reproach washed over Finn.
He had actually forgotten his responsibility as an instructor for a sliver of personal gain!
‘Finn, oh Finn, look at your student!’
‘There isn't a shred of selfishness in his eyes, only the ultimate desire to realize his own value!’
‘Compared to me, Ain isn't doing this for money or benefits at all!’
‘My student actually possesses such noble character and spirit!’
“Alright! Ain, I will leave it to you!”
He took the bait!
A wicked smile played at the corner of Ain's mouth.
Although the original game didn't feature the formation of a rescue team, it didn't matter.
The plot had indeed deviated.
But since the destination of this rescue team was where the distress signal originated...
That was the location of the compass!
At this sight, even Lance's lips twitched slightly.
He never expected an Ain to suddenly disrupt his plans halfway through.
“Your student... certainly has quite the personality.”
Hearing what sounded like praise, Finn was even more deeply moved.
“Yes, my student!”
Finn was so touched he was on the verge of tears.
‘Ain, you've really made me proud!’
Meanwhile, Ain's eyes could no longer hold anything else; they were filled entirely with an extreme yearning for wealth.
‘Ahahaha!’
‘It's all money!’
‘It's all money!’
‘I'm going to be rich!’
The plan is going exactly as scheduled!
Seeing this, Imeve smiled softly. “That really sounds like something you would say...”
“What?”
Under Ain's puzzled gaze, Imeve smiled and gently took his hand.
“Then let us go together.”
“My...”
“...Swordbearer?”
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