23. The Medal of Honor (Please)

In an instant, the venue was engulfed in thick smoke as if a dozen smoke bombs had been thrown, leaving no time for anyone to react. Following that, several youths who looked like third-year students from the Lubyanka Academy—who indeed were third-year students—began shouting slogans that became increasingly inaudible as the chaos unfolded, while simultaneously unleashing ice magic towards Letty.

Perhaps lacking precision, some spells were not powerful enough, but this group had already achieved their goal! The smoke was meant to create confusion in the venue, preventing the Russians accompanying Sister Rasputin outside from rushing to Letty’s aid in time! And as for the latter… it was even more about buying time, drawing Letty’s attention once again, allowing the next “attacker”—who was different from the cannon fodder that Letty had just sent flying—to slip in unnoticed!

【Students from Lubyanka Academy attacked Ivan Letty!】

No wonder I couldn’t find any trace of the attackers before the award ceremony began, no matter how much I tried to prepare! It was because the attackers this time were those promising students from Lubyanka Academy!

The enemy was within the academy, the enemy was in the first three rows! In such a situation, it would be strange for an ordinary person to “prevent” anything! So now, I couldn’t be bothered to think too much; instead, I immediately turned to the figure rushing up to the stage, already masked!

The crisis had just begun! Kephiel was dealing with those students causing chaos in the venue and wouldn’t be able to arrive in time, so I had to handle Letty myself!

“Letty, step back; these seem to be assassins coming for you.”

“……”

In any previous instance, the domineering and tough Letty would have already unleashed a barrage of magical bullets from her firearm, but this time, she appeared surprised and hesitant!

“But… but this isn’t…”

I certainly understood why Letty was so flustered!

【Letty is shocked by the attackers being students from Lubyanka Academy!】

Being attacked by the most elite students from the best academy in her empire was something even Letty found hard to accept! Thankfully… no, it’s fortunate that I was the only one by Letty’s side right now!

“This isn’t the academy; the attackers are students, right!? You’re not mistaken, Letty! But it has nothing to do with their identities!”

I had no such reservations!

The new attacker rushing onto the stage wore the academy uniform draped in a black cloak, their face obscured, and the overly ornate longsword in their hand made them look like the male lead of a “revenge prince” in a musical, but…

【The attacker on Letty is a female student!】

Her movements, combined with the script, couldn’t escape my eyes!

“What should we do now that we’ve been stopped!?”

A voice, ambiguous in gender, boomed out!

“What else can we do!?” The students below, creating chaos, immediately responded with shouts, “The Rosian Empire doesn’t need the tyrant’s lackeys! Let’s kill them all!”

The attacker stood firm, silent for a moment, then lunged forward with her sword aimed at Letty!

Perhaps she had indeed been startled earlier, but I had at least protected Letty once. Now, shouldn’t this Empress of Rosia be a bit more alert!? However, when I turned to look, Letty had indeed drawn her “Celestial Thread,” yet she still made no move to respond. Clearly, with just a thunderous strike, not only would this attacker be dealt with, but everyone in the venue would be laid up for days!

【Leiti cares for the innocent students, making it inconvenient to intervene!】

Tsk, Leiti, oh Leiti! Usually not acting cute, but now don’t be too naive! This is a matter of your life!

Since that’s the case, I have no choice but to “take a risk”!

Pushing past Leiti, I stepped forward alone! The script had certainly informed me of this attacker’s intentions, but unlike the usual “escape” or “dodge,” this time I was going to stop this guy!

In the next moment, the blade swept by, and as I stumbled to evade, I nearly had my throat slit just like in the death script! At the same time, the attacker let out a disdainful snort.

“Outsider, mind your own business! Otherwise, you’ll die too!”

Outsider…?

But now is not the time to think too much! Seeing that I had no intention of yielding, the attacker’s attitude towards me became even more straightforward with the reappearance of the death script!

【Ogilid died protecting Leiti!】

If this death script doesn’t end in death, according to the usual pattern of GAL games, doesn’t that mean I should get a bonus next?

Soon, I heard Leiti’s voice from behind; the little midget had finally woken up, although… it was a bit late.

“B-big brother! This has nothing to do with you! Hurry and get away!”

Leiti’s voice was already tinged with tension, “This is aimed at me, the Great Emperor! I’ll handle it myself!”

But Great Emperor, that hesitation just now didn’t seem like an act at all. Could it be that these attackers are students, and elite ones from Rosia Academy at that, leaving you unsure of what to do? In such a situation…

“You little fool, how am I supposed to run?”

With a sigh, I turned to look, and the opponent’s longsword was already leveled at my face.

“A brutal attack has no chance of success; I suggest you all surrender quietly.”

“Hmph, as expected of the Great Yīng Empire, all talk and no action.”

Feeling “confident,” the attacker even seemed pleased with themselves, “None of the people here are armed; we have plenty of time to eliminate the tyrant of the Rosia Empire.”

Tyrant…

“In your eyes, is Leiti a tyrant?”

In the next instant, the sword’s edge even drew a line of blood across my neck, “You Great Yīng Empire folks who only think of despicable things should save your breath! Why not think about how to keep your dog life intact!”

Hah… Nonsense, strange motives, and most importantly… completely uncommunicative. It seems I can only resort to the most extreme measures.

With a sideways glance, I locked eyes with the opponent, feeling as if it was her who was retreating, but I had no time to ponder further.

“You said it, think about how to survive first.”

“!”

Then, at the moment when the opponent was furious enough to “slit my throat,” a swirling ice-blue figure suddenly flew in from the chaotic crowd below!

【Crack】

Althas swiftly sliced the attacker’s longsword in half, which fell into my hands! Then, with a flick of my wrist! As I knocked away the opponent’s weapon, I also forced them back!

Finally, at the moment when this attacker was ready to flee, I tossed Althas into the air, allowing the incoming Kfeir to leap up and catch her, then unleash a barrage of solid ice! Although the opponent barely managed to block with their ice magic, they were still sent flying off the stage!

“Why… you…”

Not done yet, little rascals, this is what you get for refusing a toast and drinking a penalty instead.

“Rasputin, sister!”

In the next moment, I shouted even louder, “Shut the door and unleash the dogs!”

Sure enough, my initial sense of crisis was not wrong; this was not some random act of violence, but an organized and disciplined “attack.” This group seemed to regard Letty as a “tyrant” and wanted to take the opportunity to eliminate her.

Hoo…

So, none of you are getting away!

——

Recently, there’s a new color illustration, it’s almost done, stay tuned.