Chapter 60 – Field Trip to the Battlefield (6)

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 60 – Field Trip to the Battlefield (6)

“Wow, this is incredible.”

I couldn’t help but marvel at the sight before me after passing through the dimensional gate.

The gate’s exit was on the flatland below the Ivronic Castle in the Hoshria Canyon.

Now, there was no trace of the past horrors in Hoshria Canyon, allowing me to fully appreciate the stunning scenery.

The steep cliffs on either side rose vertically, with sharp rocks and jagged protrusions.

Small waterfalls created mist that reflected rainbows in the sunlight, cascading down between the cliffs.

Clear streams, fed by these waterfalls, meandered through the canyon, with colorful wildflowers blooming around, gently spreading their fragrance.

These were things I hadn’t been able to see while climbing the cliffs back then.

I could also see things that hadn’t existed at that time.

People crowded everywhere, and vertical elevators ascended the cliffs.

The fierce battles had turned the once-destroyed canyon walls into gentle, moss-covered mounds. In front of these were shops and cafes.

So, it really had become a tourist spot.

Ivronic Castle stood majestically above it all, unchanged from ten years ago.

The fortress walls built to extend the cliffs, the hidden loopholes and traps, and the towers providing a commanding view of the entire canyon—all stood as an impregnable fortress.

But the wyverns that once filled the skies and the blood flowing down the walls and cliffs were now gone.

“Let’s go up, everyone!”

The large elevators, donated by the Dwarves, could carry ten people at a time and five were installed along the cliff.

We had reserved one elevator in advance, so we sent the students up in turns.

“Professor?! Why are we taking the elevator?!”

Suddenly, Knightley pushed through the line of students, running towards me.

“Then what, do you want to climb?”

“It’s a field trip to a battlefield!”

“What are you talking about? Why would we suffer when there’s an easier way?”

“This... this wasn’t supposed to happen...!”

I tilted my head, confused by Knightley’s despair. What on earth is she talking about?

“But, did you hurt your hand?”

I pointed to her bandaged hands, and Knightley, on the verge of tears, shouted.

“I thought we’d have to climb up there!”

She pointed to Linus’s infiltration route I had seen earlier.

“Up there? Are you crazy? How could anyone climb that?”

She’s lost her mind, seriously.

“Enough. Get on the elevator quickly.”

I pushed Knightley into the elevator, and as I got in, it started to rumble and ascend.

“Wait for me!”

At that moment, Kirrin sprinted over and barely made it into the elevator.

“Headmaster, you shouldn’t do such dangerous things. You should set an example for the students.”

“Hehe, sorry. I was just excited because it’s my first time here.”

Kirrin smiled awkwardly, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

“But it’s a bit cramped. They should have made it bigger.”

At the same time, she pressed her body closely against mine.

“Sorry... it’s just so tight...”

The feel of her chest against me was unmistakable under her usual white turtleneck.

The Empire tried to reclaim the castle, but it was nearly impregnable due to its location.

Moreover, the Demon King’s army’s poison gas and mines caused immense casualties, leading to prolonged bloody sieges.

Finally, the Emperor sent the continent’s hero, Linus, to end the hellish battle in this narrow canyon.

“At that time, Sir Linus realized he couldn’t break through the poison gas and minefields head-on and devised a bold and creative infiltration plan.”

The guide pointed to the bottom of the cliff with his flag.

“That’s where Sir Linus climbed the cliff alone and opened the impregnable gates of Ivronic Castle.”

I noticed yellow markers on the cliff, indicating the exact route Linus and I climbed.

Wow, I can’t believe they marked the path we climbed. Now that I see it, it’s really high. What a crazy thing we did.

“Ugh!”

At that moment, Felimia, who was standing next to me, suddenly covered her mouth and bent over as if about to vomit.

“Are you okay? Do you have a fear of heights?”

“N-No... Ugh!”

“Go see Priestess Maya over there.”

Felimia couldn’t even respond and staggered towards the Priestess at the back.

“Professor Felimia doesn’t seem well. She’s been like this since the pub incident.”

Lina looked worriedly at Felimia retreating.

“She brought this on herself.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Never mind.”

What I had shown Felimia were my memories of the battle to reclaim Ivronic Castle.

She probably hasn’t been able to eat properly since then.

I walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down at the route Linus and I had climbed.

There was nothing left now, but back then, the cliff was slick with blood and bodies.

I could still hear the screams of the soldiers who flew through the air.

# # # # #

Linus and I arrived at the Hoshria Canyon, assigned to reclaim Ivronic Castle.

Wyverns flew densely under the low, dark clouds.

It was a measure by the Demon King’s army to prevent infiltration via a dimensional gate above Ivronic Castle.

Hence, the human alliance was desperately trying to enter the castle from below the canyon.

“Are they really fighting with just their bodies? Without catapults or anything?”

No sooner had I spoken than catapults launched rocks towards the castle.

The rapidly rising rocks crashed into the walls and burst like tomatoes.

‘Why are they bursting instead of breaking? Were these new explosive projectiles?’

“What... what is that?!”

Linus, who had better eyesight than me, saw it first and was horrified.

“Stop at once!!”

Linus yelled and started running towards the battlefield.

“Wait up!”

As we ran, the catapults launched another volley at the castle.

“Uwaaaaaaaak!!”

Only then did I see what it was.

Bound demon soldiers screamed as they flew and crashed into the castle and cliffs.

Responding in kind, something arced over the wall towards us.

A human soldier landed and exploded right beside me.

[Translator – Peptobismol]