Battle Race in the Fantasy World

EP.120 A Coincidence Disguised as Inevitability

The Academy freshmen’s academic field trip to the southern Empire. Also known as the “Other World MT”.

Thanks to this, Kyle had a lot to do before leaving.

“Can’t you not go? I’ll do whatever I can for you.”

The biggest problem was, of course, the 5th Imperial Princess Yurika, asking what to do while you’re gone.

Every three days, she would either come for a sparring match or propose marriage.

Since she always did one of the two, she was at a loss when Kyle said he’d be away.

‘Her reaction was quite amusing. She was just like a puppy left alone at home, not knowing what to do when its owner goes on a business trip.’

…Hmm. On second thought, she might not be like an ordinary puppy.

Perhaps it would be more accurate to describe her as a fiercer, more troublesome kind of puppy.

However, the academic field trip is mandatory for all freshmen.

Unlike last time, this isn’t a matter of national importance, so he can’t use an imperial decree as an excuse.

If the princess really insisted on using her authority, she might be able to do something about it.

But Kyle was determined to attend no matter how much the princess tried to stop him.

It’s not just about the academic field trip; he has other plans in mind.

“Don’t bring up the imperial family for something like this, Your Highness. Just wait patiently.”

“But!”

“When I come back, I’ll spar with you to make up for the missed sessions.”

“Have a safe trip.”

Honestly, Kyle had hoped she would hold him back a bit more, but Yurika immediately wished him well and even waved goodbye.

It was quite nice to see a slender beauty whining for him not to go, after all.

Clicking his tongue in disappointment, Kyle pushed aside his regrets and moved on to the next arrangement.

“Saintess. You know, right? When I return, we’ll start using equipment instead of just bodyweight exercises.”

“Will I be able to do well?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be right there with you.”

It’s absurd for Jonathan to worry about exercise. It’s simply unthinkable.

So Kyle confidently pounded his chest, telling her to rest assured, but…

Somehow, it seemed the Saintess took his words in a different, somewhat ambiguous direction.

“…Yes, Brother Kyle. I’ll trust only you.”

“Excellent. Then, using what I’ve taught you, as much as possible…”

The Saintess’s form is perfect, even if her set count might be lacking.

So he instructed her to continue with bodyweight exercises without overdoing it.

He was confident that as a Saintess, she would diligently work out without slacking off.

With this, the arrangements for the Imperial Princess and the Saintess were complete.

As for the rest – Tisha, Elga, Ian, Leto, and Nell.

They all have to participate in the field trip as freshmen anyway.

He wondered if they would have time to exercise there, and if there would be a suitable place.

If not, he might have to make them squeeze in workouts during meal times or even while sleeping.

He believed they wouldn’t complain. After all, they had requested the PT themselves.

‘Now all that’s left is preparing for this side.’

How should he exercise once they get there? It’s not like he can bring a bunch of weight plates and dumbbells.

Just thinking about losing muscle mass over two weeks is a nightmare like no other. Damn it.

He should have been grumbling like this while packing his bags, as per usual.

But not this time. This time, there’s no room to pack anything else.

Kyle neatly folded and packed clothes for various purposes into his bag.

‘This is for running, this for swimming, and a waterproof outfit too, in case blood seeps in.’

Whether by coincidence or inevitability, the field trip was set for the south.

He wondered if the imperial family had intervened to change the location.

He could certainly investigate if he wanted to. But he decided against it.

Given the situation, he thought it would be better to step up and handle things cleanly himself.

His hometown folks would be busy with… no, that’s not right. Let me correct that.

His hometown folks and family would be in high spirits thanks to the Hunting Festival.

He didn’t want to deliver this unpleasant news and make them travel far again in the midst of that.

‘They’d definitely whine about losing muscle mass again when they come, it’s so predictable.’

Let’s just tell them to exercise while laughing and having a good time back home.

The youngest should handle matters like this on his own.

‘The Emperor seems to be keeping an eye on the south anyway, so he’ll cover for me.’

Kyle thought that taking out a few islands should do the trick, simple as that.

===

**

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‘This academic field trip is to the southern part of the empire….’

Tisha nibbled on her lip as she looked at the notice posted on the bulletin board.

She knew the general idea of academic field trips. She had heard about them a few times from a senior in the magic club.

It’s an academic field trip during the day, but in the end, as it usually goes, the main event becomes the party, they said.

The senior had gone east, so they didn’t know much about the south.

However, there was a huge lake in that eastern area where they went swimming.

Hearing that part, Tisha suddenly remembered the most important aspect of this trip.

‘The south! And the sea! Yes, that’s it!’

She didn’t know Kyle’s preferences exactly.

But one thing she knew for sure. He gave high marks for being healthy.

And to show off that healthy beauty, there’s nothing better than the sea and swimsuits!

Fortunately, Tisha was confident in her toned body.

For the sake of magic, she had to climb mountains almost forcibly to gather herbs.

Though rarely, she might also encounter small monsters.

So she had to develop the physical ability to chase them away.

As a result, she was able to attain the healthy body that Kyle viewed favorably.

‘To break down the barrier between friend and lover more quickly… this is definitely the best way.’

Just because she practiced magic didn’t mean all she did was read books and sit at a desk.

Sometimes, she had to make bold decisions, take action, and face situations head-on.

Not being a noble, she didn’t care much about others’ opinions.

She knew when to push forward. And she would act without hesitation.

A meaningful light began to flicker in the eyes of the ‘witch’.

As Tisha began to show her witch-like side bit by bit,

The ‘noble lady’ Elga found another way to narrow the gap in her relationship with Kyle.

‘Heading south? This is a heaven-sent opportunity. It must be!’

She had formed a good relationship with a guest from an independent lord in the south who had visited the Grand Duke’s estate before.

Despite the dismissal from her brother and others, she continued to maintain an amicable relationship.

As a result, she was able to receive very detailed information about the south, like now.

“We recently rescued a drifting ship. There were castaways, and according to rumors, they’re not from the south but from somewhere else.”

In the south, there are numerous islands and a vast sea surrounding them.

Besides the independent lords, there are dozens of imperial southern cities, so the castaways could be from there.

But Elga focused on a different possibility. Kyle’s story was decisive.

She hastily sent a letter asking who had taken the castaways.

She even wrote an outright request hoping for a quick reply.

Perhaps as a reward for maintaining friendly relations all this time,

Soon, an answer arrived from the south.

“It’s the lord of Pardal Island.”

Elga, holding the letter, inwardly exclaimed. Found it!

She wanted to tell Kyle this news right away.

He would surely be pleased. He who trembled at the mere mention of the amplifier.

To hear about the whereabouts of that drug and its associates from her, not the imperial family!

But she held back. For now, she decided to wait.

They say there’s a crucial moment to give a gift, not just any time.

Elga thought to hand this gift to Kyle at that moment.

‘This is a golden opportunity for me, who’s fallen behind, to leap ahead in one go.’

A grateful heart is like magic that makes everything appear favorable.

By first turning Kyle’s gaze towards her in a positive way like this,

Then, from there on, they could gradually, slowly get closer not as the young lady of the Littorio Grand Duke family and the son of Jonathan, but as Elga and Kyle.

Besides these two female students, there were various reactions from others waiting for this academic field trip.

For example, Ian seriously pondered how he should train once they got there.

He had just gotten a taste for exercise, and he felt uneasy if he didn’t handle equipment even for a day.

The indoor training ground was being expanded, and they had to leave the academy for over two weeks.

After much deliberation, Ian went to find Leto.

At first, they had no acquaintance, but now they had built a decent friendship.

A sense of camaraderie. It was born from being tormented together by Kyle.

“Let’s do this. Leto, you pack the bars. I’ll pack the plates.”

“Are you only going to pack the barbells?”

“Hmm… I’ll try to pack the dumbbells too.”

“We don’t need to worry about the weight. They said they’d support us with transportation magic anyway.”

“That’s a silver lining, I suppose.”

The two, tormented by Kyle and unknowingly mentally conditioned in the Jonathan way,

Were in the midst of pondering how to train even when they got there.

Nell had the same concerns, but unfortunately, she didn’t have anyone to share those worries with like Ian or Leto.

So she ended up committing the outrageous act of packing bars, plates, and even dumbbells.

‘It’s heavy, but… if I consider this all part of the training, I’m sure Kyle will praise me for doing well!’

If the academy professors or senior students saw this scene, they might have let out a scream.

It’s called an academic field trip, but in the end, it’s a kind of trip for freshmen to become closer to each other.

But to exercise there? And even bringing equipment along!

They would have cried out, asking what kind of nonsensical, bizarre act this was.

So, some thought of swimsuits, some of gifts, and others of training.

Amidst this situation where truly strange thoughts were running rampant, Kyle was, of course, the best.

‘I should visit during the day, right? If I go at night, they might misunderstand it as a surprise attack.’

If the Minister of War had heard this, he might have screamed, asking what nonsense this was.

But it was a very important issue. A surprise attack was absolutely unacceptable for Jonathan!