# Ep 18. Academy Genre Dating.
"We need to establish an order."
Isabelle spoke with resolute eyes as she surveyed the group. Her two eyes shone blue like the morning star, reflecting her unwavering determination. It was persuasiveness worthy of a hero's bloodline.
"Shall we decide by strength?"
Elfihera, daughter of the great wizard who allegedly collapsed three fortresses in just a day and a half, stood up with purple magical energy crackling from her eyes.
"Strength! How about arm wrestling then?"
Asidis, who closely resembled Einar (at least in terms of combat prowess) who reportedly piled mountains of corpses and dyed seas with blood, raised her hand enthusiastically. The iron rod held in her slender, pale hand crumbled with a crunch.
"Let's stop this nonsense and use dice. I'll roll last."
While the disciple of the vampire warlord—who had claimed the throne of Pritzenkaya's back alleys by killing an Elder Vampire with nothing but her dexterity—smirked and answered...
"No, I seriously want to go home now. Everyone, isn't this situation strange? Am I the only one who thinks this is weird?"
"What is?"
"Logically speaking, if multiple people are interested in one person, we shouldn't be sitting here talking about it like this."
Oskar, who somehow became the voice of reason in the Hero Party, let out a deep sigh.
He honestly didn't understand why he was hanging out here. Sincerely. He thought it would be more constructive to go out with his friends from the Knight Department (mostly women) or even practice his swordsmanship one more time.
"That's only in normal situations."
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."
"Besides, with Uncle's personality, it's not like any of us have much hope anyway."
Isabelle surveyed the group. A thick cloud of defeat hung over the Hero Party. This couldn't continue.
She had to acknowledge reality. These people were almost all competitors. They were predators who had suddenly appeared and were eyeing Ivan hungrily.
But competition only has meaning if you at least make it to the starting line.
"For now, we need to join hands at least to the point where we have a possibility."
This was the only solution the Hero Party could agree on.
'Even if it means allowing polygamy...!'
'Whether concubine or wife, it only matters if we can drag him to the altar first!'
'Still, the primary wife should be an elf, right?'
Even in a pre-modern fantasy world, polygamy wasn't something to be proud of. Only a few high nobles would cautiously take a concubine and get scolded by their primary wives.
Noble marriages naturally meant unions between aristocratic families. In this era, marriages between nobles were often more equal than in the 21st century. Taking a concubine meant dealing with the cooling of relations with the primary wife's family.
Therefore, in a society where monogamy was the norm, it was strange for multiple women to court one man simultaneously. Most would click their tongues in disapproval.
However, even capitalist America didn't hesitate to form an alliance with communist Soviet Union to defeat the Demon King (pre-art school applicant).
Sometimes, for the greater cause and strategic objectives, joining forces becomes a rational choice. Even Kitaljer hunters adopted 3-to-1 asymmetric tactics as their standard protocol.
According to Lanchester's laws, sufficient numbers can overcome qualitative advantages.
"This isn't the time for us to fight among ourselves."
"Let's acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged. I'm first."
"Honestly, if we're talking priority, I should be first. I've heard humans have difficulty comprehending time in years, but let's be clear about this."
After fierce arguments between Elfihera (met 12 years ago) and Asidis (met 8 years ago), the Hero (6 months after first meeting) decided to resolve the party's conflict with outside advice.
"This is driving me crazy..."
Thus dragged into the situation, the strategist Yu-jin sighed softly. Was this how Paris felt when he had to choose "Miss Universe Greece" among three goddesses?
At least the three goddesses brought gifts and asked him to choose, but the Hero Party refused to compromise with fate.
"Let's go in this order: Droan, Kalion, Tilles, Krasilov."
"Yes!"
"Yay!!"
"Why? What's the criteria?!"
Yu-jin quietly answered while looking over the women's heads.
"Reverse level order."
"Ah."
"But come to think of it, aren't there no students from Droan at our school?"
The core of this plan was to group students by their countries of origin and check for spies one by one, but there were no students from Droan.
The only new students from Droan were Mord and Asidis, and Mord was a Huskarl. Moreover, he was a Huskarl who had been beaten nearly to death by Droan rebels.
The first step already presented a challenge. As Oswald frowned, Yu-jin chuckled and answered.
"When did we ever actually try to catch spies? We're just planning date courses. We just need to tell Brother to take Miss Asidis out first!"
"I guess you're right."
"Of course! You worry too much."
Ivan looked at Asidis with somewhat perplexed eyes. He had called her out separately according to the plan to divert attention, but Asidis's reaction was too natural.
"So I just happened to? By coincidence? Surprisingly! Accidentally! Reserved a restaurant for two people! What a fortunate coincidence!"
Asidis chattered as she strode ahead. She was heading toward one of the top-rated restaurants in Pritzenkaya.
This was an era without the concept of fine dining. However, as the economic population grew rapidly and a wealthy commoner class emerged, restaurants selling aristocratic food culture weren't uncommon.
"..."
Ivan silently ate the dishes served one after another. They were oily and sweet. As typical of Krasilov cuisine, high-calorie dishes suited for cold regions dominated the menu.
All the dishes coming out were familiar. He had already experienced plenty of Krasilov noble cuisine. Mostly at victory banquets, between the greasy lips of high nobles.
The menu reminded him of those days. Ivan continued eating, quietly moving the clinking expensive tableware.
'This is a disaster...!'
Asidis couldn't hide her dismay.
Since Uncle had only shown intense emotion during mealtimes, her plan to take him to the city's best restaurant had spectacularly failed.
Unlike Droan, this country had a highly developed food culture. Asidis had memorized the city's list of great restaurants after just half a year of studying abroad.
And yet the carefully selected restaurant was a bust. Asidis put down her spoon with a sad expression.
It was a failure typical of Droan people who believe others will like what they themselves enjoy.
[Character: Asidis Einarsdottir Likability]
[25 (Neutral)]
"How did the score drop in just half a day?"
"She said they went to a restaurant."
"If Brother liked food, he wouldn't eat the way he normally does."
Yu-jin held his forehead and sighed deeply.
"Let's not expect too much from a Viking..."
"Miss Asidis is second in the orchestra conducting department."
"Let's not mention that the conducting department is worse than being a Viking."
A conductor must master all instruments in a symphony orchestra and simultaneously coordinate all parts holistically.
Naturally, this is impossible for young freshmen who have just turned 20. To outsiders, conducting students of this age are just magicians waving batons.
Since specialists who diligently pursue one path typically have an advantage over generalists proficient in various fields, to Yu-jin who had steadfastly pursued theology, the conducting department wasn't much better than Droan.
Fortunately, there were no music students present, so they could quickly move on to the next topic.
"Let's leave it to Miss Elfihera. She said they went boating on the lake, right? Where are we with our checks?"
"We just finished with Kalion, and we're just starting with Tilles. But do we really need to take this so seriously? There's no way there's actually a demon spy."
"If we're sloppy and Brother finds out later, our relationship status might become 'hostile.'"
"Oh."
Not wanting to die within three seconds, Yu-ri and Oswald nodded without further comment and left to meet the next students.
"Aaaah?! Who are you people! Let me go!!"
"Shh, Mr. Patrick. From now on, you're hometown friends with that man."
"Who is he! Let me go! Do you know who I am...!"
"Shh, quiet. Focus on this coin."
The abducted student nodded, drooling clear saliva.
"Now, what's that man's name?"
"My... friend... Yevgeny... who liked me since childhood... In a country where same-sex marriage is legal... we had a ceremony..."
"...Why do you keep making up settings like that?"
"Because it's more fun."
Oswald, already half-transformed into an elf, smiled as he swung the thread with the coin.
Peaceful days continued. The Hero Party took turns going on dates, while getting "friendly" with Ivan's students in between.
Two weeks later.
While investigating the 13th student who had come under suspicion, Yu-jin paused and looked up into empty space. As soon as he raised the intimacy level, the status window began to glow blue.
[Quest Registered!]
["??? Level Quest" Dark Clouds Over Tilles.]
[You have detected a conspiracy circulating among the Tilles noble families. The seeds of a long war, continuing from the Eastern Front in the past, are just now igniting.]
[Objective: Prevent civil war among the three major count families of Tilles.]
[Optional Objective: Ensure the survival of Gil Ber de Etakrih.]
[Optional Objective: Encounter with Maximillian de Etoile.]
[Additional Objective: Keep destroyed territories under 15 in total.]
[Additional Objective: Preserve the Tilles royal family.]
[Reward: Extension of the United Kingdom's existence by 10 years.]
"Wow... shit."
Yu-jin bit his lip and fell silent.
A demon spy? That's ridiculous, but let's assume it's possible.
But what? Preserving the United Kingdom? Aren't Gil Ber and Maximillian those Hero Party people?
??? level quest? This has the same difficulty rating as the quest to kill Brother...?
"This doesn't seem like something we can handle ourselves."
"Is it serious?"
"More than you think. Call Brother. This is no time for dating or playing around."
Yu-jin sighed as he held his forehead.
He had started this with such a light heart, wondering why things always got complicated like this.