[V4C30] Strong Creatures, Weak Creatures
Translated by Jodas 4: Flying Through the SkyOnce the criticisms against Rose settled down, Wren tried to get the conversation back on track.
“Oh, right. This might be a good opportunity to touch on this point. Let’s talk about the grading rubric.”
Grading rubric? Tia tilted her head.
Roswitha frowned as she spoke.
“Does that have anything to do with the stupid attack plan Rose brought up?”
“It does, it totally does! I think we might not get a very good grade, even if we do win, if we exploit loopholes in the rules or fight suicidally.”
“And what makes you think that?”
Roswitha’s expression was tense as she asked that question. As if she had already deduced what Wren was about to say.
Wren responded with his usual, characteristic tone of voice.
“The entrance exam was designed to be easier to pass if the applicants worked together, right? I think Director Hegelich is probably gonna be checking our cooperation skills.”
Roswitha’s cheeks shook.
But without missing a beat, Sevil spoke up.
“Certainly, that would be logical to assume. I presume Director Hegelich’s grading rubric will focus on two points: whether we collaborate with our allies, and whether we minimize casualties.”
“Right? If it was Mr. Hütter, he’d give us bonus points for finding a loophole in the rules, but since this whole magic battle was Director Hegelich’s idea, I think we’ll be graded on Director Hegelich’s rubric.”
Tia knew Wren’s intuition could be trusted at times like this.
Wren had the necessary perceptiveness and presence of mind not to jump straight for a challenge, but instead to interpret the intentions behind that test and tease out the most optimal outcome.
Suddenly, Tia realized something. For just a split second, Wren and Sevil met eyes with each other.
—I’m counting on you, Sevil.
—Leave it to me!
They communicated with just their eyes.
Tia knew that, when this happened, the conversation was about to progress quickly.
Sevil smiled towards Roswitha.
“Now, even after hearing the discussion just now, do you still intend to fight alone, Roswitha?”
“…….”
For a brief moment, Roswitha made a face like she’d been hit in her weak point.
Ever since the talk of a magic battle first emerged, Roswitha had stubbornly continued to assert that she would fight by herself.
However, if Wren’s guess was correct, this magic battle would require them to work as a team. If they didn’t all work together, they wouldn’t get a good grade.
“I don’t mind. It’s not about the grades to me.”
Roswitha grasped her fluffy orange hair tightly and hung her head.
The brim of her pointy hat tipped over, covering Roswitha’s eyes.
“… I’d much rather do that than betray my convictions.”
Previously, Roswitha had mentioned something.
Her mother lost because she was held back by Modern School mages.
That was why she had decided to only ever fight alone.
She didn’t think that idea by itself was all that bad. However, there was one detail that bothered Tia.
So she asked that question honestly.
“Roswitha’s convictions means fighting by yourself?”
Tia stared at Roswitha as she asked. Roswitha’s eyebrows shot up, and she looked back at Tia.
“Yes. I will always…”
“Even if your opponent is stronger than you are?”
“Of course. I am a daughter of the Ohlendorf Family after all.”
“Then, Roswitha is a weak creature.”
The corners of Roswitha’s mouth tensed.
Ella tried to make eye contact. She probably sensed a fight brewing between them.
However, Sevil raised a hand, signaling for her not to act.
“I’m not weak at all. I won’t lose, even if I don’t have a flock of companions with me…!”
“Piyo?”
As Roswitha grew more irate, Tia’s amber eyes widened.
Tia couldn’t help but find it befuddling.
Roswitha was smarter than Harpies, and knew a whole lot of difficult things, so why couldn’t she understand something so simple?
“Creatures who get separated from the flock get eaten right away. Those are the first ones Monsters go after, you know. Are humans not like that?”
“…….”
Roswitha’s expression darkened.
Even though there was no way she didn’t understand something so obvious. Was she just purposely choosing not to think about it?
When you were fighting against a group, it was only obvious that you would go after the ones who separated from the flock and started acting by themselves first.
“Roswitha’s Mama fought with her companions and survived, didn’t she? That means Roswitha’s Mama was a strong creature.”
She didn’t think it was a bad sentiment to want to fight alone.
However, there weren’t many days left until the magic battle against the Extermination Office, and their attack options were limited.
Deciding to go off and fight by oneself in this situation was not the behavior of a strong creature.
“A really strong creature is strong even when they’re with their flock. The really strong ones are the ones that can protect their whole flock while keeping themselves alive too.”
Tia had no thoughts of wanting to be Julius’ friend, but his desire to try and build a faction was not a bad idea for him as a creature.
Building a flock was one of the basic strategies of survival.
Roswitha was being stubborn and trying to do the exact opposite of that.
“Piroro… If you want to fight and die by yourself, I won’t stop you, but…”
“……..”
Deep creases formed on Roswitha’s forehead, and her lips were sucked in tightly. Her whole face expressed her pure obstinance.
One person silently stepped towards Roswitha in this state: Ella.
“Roswi. I know we don’t have many options available to us for this magic battle.”
Roswitha still had stubbornness plastered all over her face.
Ella faced her and bowed deeply.
“I want to win! Lend us your strength! Please!”
With Ella bowing before her, Roswitha’s face twisted with doubt.
And without missing a beat, Gerald bowed his head as well.
“I’m also begging you. I hate forcing other people to fight, but… if you want to fight, then please fight alongside us! Without your strength, we won’t be able to win this magic battle!”
“Ooh, me too!”
Standing alongside Gerald, Wren bowed his head in turn.
Sophie interjected with eyes half-closed.
“I feel like you planned this whole thing, Wren~”
“Shh, don’t say it out loud! … Hey, Roswitha. I’m invoking my privilege as a pretty boy to beg this one favor of you.”
With Ella, Gerald, and Wren all bowing to her, Roswitha’s doubts began to multiply.
Tia quietly stepped closer to Sevil and whispered to her.
“Sevil, aren’t you going to say something?”
For whatever reason, she’d expected Sevil to step forward and shout “I beseech you as well!”
However, Sevil lightly shook her head.
“If I were to beg her, I feel Roswitha would only become more obstinate. Additionally…”
“Piyo? Additionally?”
The corners of Sevil’s mouth raised into a smirk.
“Roswitha is weak to weak ones asking for her help.”
Sevil’s gaze lingered on Finn as he hesitantly approached Roswitha.
“I- I don’t… want to force you into fighting if you don’t want to… I know scary things are scary…”
“Hold on just a second! I never said I was scared of anything! I’m saying I don’t like it when other people hold me back!”
Roswitha clenched her fist, and Finn’s eyebrows drooped nervously.
“Umm, you’re real nice, Roswitha, so… I was thinking you might want to fight alone because you just don’t want to watch your friends get hurt…”
“Wha-!?” Roswitha failed to make the words come out of her throat.
But immediately, the two adults piled on.
“Then we’ll do the best we can to avoid holding you back.”
“Sorry if we’re a burden on you~ But I’ll try to protect everyone with my defensive barrier!”
“Eughhh…” Roswitha’s throat made a strange noise.
Her gaze wandered before ultimately landing on Julius and Rukiye. It was less that she was trying to look at those two, and more that they happened to make eye contact with her as her eyes darted about the room.
Rukiye spoke with a cold demeanor.
“I won’t say anything. Just do whatever you want?”
“Kuku… I can’t imagine you expect me to bow my head, do you?”
Roswitha looked down for a second, then forcefully lifted her face up.
The momentum caused her pointy hat to lean over, so Roswitha straightened it out before projecting her voice.
“Oh, for crying out loud! Fine! If you want me to that much, I guess I have no choice but to work with you! Don’t misunderstand me, okay?”
The whole class let out a sigh of relief.
Among them, Tia spoke her thoughts honestly.
“…Piyo? Roswitha, why are you so mad?”
“You’re asking me that!?”
Roswitha approached Tia with a scowl and grabbed both of her cheeks. Tia warbled “Pevuvuvu…” in response.